The CDA is an alliance of professional UK Casting Directors dedicated to upholding professional standards within the industry.

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Code of Conduct

CDA CODE OF CONDUCT

The CDA Constitution guarantees uniform and superior standards and business practices by all members, building an improved level of service. We endorse, promote and encourage professionalism amongst Casting Directors. All clients will be treated with the same superior level of service and expertise. CDA members maintain professional and friendly relationships with all agents and managers.

1.The CDA does not propose to define ethical codes or declare edicts beyond the normal and reasonable ethics of good and fair business practices and the reasonable expectation of “behaviour as benefits a CDA member”. The CDA does not wish to make declarations on
how an individual conducts their business other than where it reflects poorly on the casting community and the CDA as a whole, or in the case of “Conflict of Interest” (please see point 10). However, the CDA does expect professionalism amongst its members.

2. The CDA should reflect the highest professionalism within the industry.

3. Members are encouraged to add the initials CDA after their name to symbolise that they adhere to this Code of Conduct and the standards of the CDA. This is particularly encouraged when receiving casting credits or billing, and when posting a casting breakdown.

4. We promise to support equal employment opportunities regardless of race, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability or national origin. Casting Directors and Casting Associates affiliated with the CDA are committed to maintaining the highest levels of
professionalism and ethical responsibility.

5. Members should be aware of and keep up to date with changes to employment law as it pertains to casting. Performers should not be asked for personal information, verbally or in writing, as part of the audition process. This includes actual age, ethnicity, disability,
pregnancy, marital/civil partnership status, gender or sexual orientation.

6. No CDA member is permitted to accept work that contravenes employment law and/or jeopardises paid work for performers and artists. Unusual and exceptional circumstances may exist in which case the Board must be consulted prior to acceptance of this work. Please refer to government guidelines on volunteers and
minimum wage https://www.gov.uk/volunteering/pay-and-expenses

7. Members are encouraged to respect and do their utmost to protect and keep intact the agreed APA rates for Casting Directors. This includes not actively or intentionally offering any reduction or discount to the APA rate, or undercutting, in order to solicit work. In
exceptional circumstances a member may decide to accept a reduction or an alternative rate suggested by the client . In these circumstances we encourage our members to make it clear to the client this is a “non-quote deal” which is only being accepted on a one-off basis and will not be automatically or routinely applied to any future work for this or any other client.

8. In the event that a member has not received payment from their client, and deems the invoice to be unreasonably overdue, they are encouraged to inform the Board even if the member does not wish the CDA to take action on their behalf.

9. It is mandatory that the membership maintains discretion about all subject matters discussed at meetings and that memoranda distributed amongst the membership must be dealt with as private and confidential matters. Respect for each other dictates that this be
given utmost priority, and breach of this clause will result in loss of standing within the CDA.

10. CDA members should actively avoid creating a Conflict of Interest. With this in mind, members are asked to declare if they have an affiliation with any other business that could potentially lead to a Conflict of Interest. This includes, but is not limited to, a business
affiliation with a Management Agency, Talent or Artists Agency, Production Company, Headshot Photographer, Showreel Company, or working as a performer, production manager or any other industry related profession. This includes being represented by an
Agent, Manager or Agency for their work as a Casting Director. CDA members should make such a declaration when applying and reapplying for membership and should update the Board should their circumstances change.

Examples of a Conflict of Interest, include but are not limited to:
i. Taking commission from any talent you represent whilst also being employed and remunerated as a Casting Director on the same job.
ii. Using information garnered via your affiliated business to actively promote your position or secure work as a Casting Director. (For example, using information taken from Spotlight breakdowns sent to you in your capacity as an actor / agent to then approach Production Companies, or other potential clients, to promote your work as
a Casting Director.)
iii. Using your position as a Casting Director to actively promote your affiliated business.
iv. Using your position as a Casting Director to actively approach / recruit talent to your affiliated agency or to guarantee employment to said talent.
v. To show undue bias towards talent represented by your affiliated agency.  If in doubt about any potential Conflict of Interest, members are encouraged to seek prior clarification from the CDA Board.

The CDA reserves the right to revoke the membership of any member who is deemed to
have misused their position and created a Conflict of Interest.

11. CDA members who run classes or workshops must make it clear to organisers and all participants that the class / workshop is purely for educational and learning purposes and in no way constitutes an audition, job interview or casting session. It should be made clear to
participants that taking part in the class / workshop is no guarantee of future employment or preferential treatment. It is recommended that CDA members clearly state this in writing and circulate it to organisers and participants prior to the class / workshop, ideally at the
time of announcement or advertisement.

12. No member may invoke the name of the CDA as a means to further private agenda. Any use of the name of the CDA over and above as an addition to your credits must be brought to the attention of and approved by the CDA in advance.

13. When a job is cast by more than one Casting Director, a co-credit is given only if both Casting Directors have contributed to the final selection. No CDA member should put commercials on their website/portfolio unless they have cast the actors/models in that commercial. If a CDA member was a Casting Assistant or Casting Associate on a job then this must be clear on their website/portfolio.

14. It is recommended that all CDA members have a Child Protection Policy and are DBS checked in accordance with Child Protection Policy.

15. Members need to treat all personal information in accordance with data protection law.

16. Members should foster and maintain good working practice when working with actors, agents, creatives, audition venues and employees, and treat them with respect and consideration at all times.

17. Members agree that castings, both in person and virtual, need to be safe spaces for all involved, where actors and performers are respected and are allowed to thrive, without fear for their safety.  CDA Members will not request actors or performers to be fully nude at a casting or recall session. It is not appropriate.  In the event that an actor or performer needs to cast in swimwear, or in exceptional
circumstances where some partial nudity is required at the casting session, we expect our Members to fully inform the agent / actor / performer prior to the casting and state a valid and adequate reason why it is required. We suggest you do so in writing and also list all
personnel who will be ‘in the room’ at the casting and state whether or not the casting will be filmed.

18. All actors/models pencilled for jobs should be taken off a pencil should they not be booked. This is good manners and expected of our members.

19. Members should be responsible for training Casting Assistants and Casting Associates in best practice in the industry.

20. The CDA is a not-for-profit association and members have the right to view the accounts.  Requests must be made in writing to the Board, who will respond within 10 working days.

21. Unreasonable demands may not be made of the Chair or any CDA Board member. All enquiries or requests for assistance should be restricted to normal office hours except in extreme circumstances.

22. The Code of Conduct outlines the behaviour and professionalism that we expect from CDA members.  If a complaint of any kind is brought against a member to the CDA, that member will
be informed immediately in writing and given the opportunity to respond. The members of the Board will attempt mediation.
If the Board decides the complaint is valid and the CDA member has not acted within the professional guidelines of the CDA, then membership may be revoked.  Matters serious enough to warrant ejection of a member from the CDA will be clearly defined in writing prior to ejection. Under such circumstances, the offending member will be offered the opportunity to reapply to the CDA after a period of six months, providing the problem surrounding the ejection has been rectified and with the understanding that the first application after suspension will be for an “Associate Membership”.

23. Members will adhere to the Code of Conduct as listed and not bring the CDA into disrepute by their professional actions that may contradict the Code of Conduct.