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

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CDA Ukraine Fundraiser

on Mar 16, 2022 in News and Events, Public News

Ukrainian Flag

Casting Directors Association are joining forces with Spotlight to offer our support to those caught up in the desperate situation in Ukraine. 

We would like to invite you to take part in our day of casting workshops to help raise funds for the humanitarian efforts.

 

On Thursday 24th March the CDA will be hosting a series of workshops and Q+A’s over 7 hours, covering topics such as Commercial Castings: Do’s and Don’ts, Zoom Castings and Recall Advice and How to Prepare for and Succeed in Remote/Online castings. 

Performers are invited to attend one of the workshops in return for a donation of between £10 and £20 to our Just Giving page which has been set up to raise money for DEC & Choose Love who are working on the frontline with those most affected. 

In this unique one-day event casting directors including Shakyra Dowling (CDA, CSA), Tree Petts (CDA, CSA), Nikki Meadows (CDG, CDA), Jessica Jefferies (CDG, CDA), Brendan McNamara (CDA), Hannah Birkett (CDA) and Hannah Marie Williams (CDG, CDA) will be offering workshops sessions followed by a Q+A on the following topics:


10am – CVs & Photos 

11am – Commercial Castings: Do’s & Dont’s 

12pm – Film & TV Castings: Do’s & Don’t 

2pm – Video Game Casting 

3pm – Zoom Castings/Recalls Advice 

4pm – CV Clinic / 5pm – Remote Castings

Spotlight members – Please refer to the email you would have received directly from Spotlight containing booking info.


Non-Spotlight members 
– We have 5 slots available for each session – please email admin@castingdirectorsassociation.com with your preferred time/session and we’ll send you the booking info. First come first served! 

 

Thank you for your support!

CDA

CDA Code of Conduct – Proudly adhered to by all CDA members

on Nov 9, 2017 in Public News, News and Events

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 commercial 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”. However the CDA does expect professionalism amongst its members.

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

3. The Code of Conduct outlines the behaviour and professionalism that we expect from CDA members. Matters serious enough to warrant ejection of a Member from the CDA will be clearly defined 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 a “Provisional Membership”.

4. No Member may solicit business by foregoing fees in a case where a fee would normally be paid to another Member.

5. 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.

6. 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. CDA casting directors association
a: 1st Floor, 59 Charlotte St, London W1T 4PE
e: info@castingdirectorsassociation.com w: castingdirectorsassociation.com

7. Unreasonable demands may not be made of the Chair. All inquiries or requests for assistance should be restricted to normal office hours except in extreme circumstances.

8. The Membership agrees that all invoicing deemed as unreasonably overdue must be reported to the Chair even if no action is requested by the Member involved.

9. If a CDA Member is represented by an agent or if a Member of the CDA has any other professional association with a Management Agency /Talent Agency, this could be considered a Conflict Of Interest. For transparency the CDA would need to see the Code of Conduct of said Talent Agency. The proposed CDA member would also need to sign a declaration stating that talent is sourced from all appropriate talent sources and shows no bias towards his/her agency.

10.Similarly if a Casting Director holds Actors’ Workshops, is an Actor, owns a Production Company or provides any services to either actors or production companies (e.g. Headshots, showreels, works also as a production manager etc.) then the proposed Casting Director would have to sign a declaration that they will not source business whilst working on a job as the Casting Director.

11.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.

12.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.

13.When a job is cast by more then 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.If a complaint of any kind is brought against a member to the CDA, that member will be informed immediately and discreetly given the opportunity to respond. The members of the Board will attempt mediation. If the Board decide the complaint is valid and the CDA member has not acted within the professional guidelines of the CDA, then Membership may be revoked.

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

Diversity Award

on Mar 12, 2017 in News and Events

The CDA are delighted to announce a special Diversity Award, sponsored by Casting Networks, to be presented at the CDA Casting Awards 2017 taking place on 17th March in London.

As actor Riz Ahmed highlighted in his speech to the House of Commons earlier this month, it is vital that all sectors of society feel represented in the media. As Riz said ” Every time you see yourself [reflected] in a magazine or on a billboard, TV, film, its a message that you matter, that you’re part of the national story, that you’re valued.” Casting Directors are key to making this happen. 

The nominees for the Casting Network Diversity Award are: 

• Hannah Birkett for Scope ‘End The Awkward’ 

• Leanne Flinn & Camilla Arthur for Selfridges ‘EveryBody’ 

• Heather March for Dove ‘Love Your Hair’ 

• Brendan McNamara for Pampers Unicef ‘Amazing Babies’ 

• Chris Snode for the co-cast Apple iPhone 7 ‘Dive’ 

• Mark Summers for the co-cast Taco Bell ‘Bigger Than’ 

Judging this special award will be a panel from UK Equity headed by their Equalities and Diversity Organiser, Hamida Ali. 

Inaugural Casting Awards

on Feb 27, 2017 in News and Events

The CDA are proud to announce the nominees for the Inaugural Casting Awards, which will take place in London on 17th March 2017.

The nominees are:

Best Casting of an Online Commercial:

– Hannah Birkett for Scope ‘End The Awkward’

– Ali Fearnley for Samsung ‘Best Present Ever’

– Brendan McNamara for Pampers Unicef ‘Amazing Babies’

Best Street Casting of a Commercial:

– Brendan McNamara for Boots ‘Gift Of Beauty’

– Mark Summers for Pearson Education ‘Inspiring Teachers’

– Amanda Tabak for The Co-Op ‘Ask’

Best Casting of a UK Commercial:

– Hannah Birkett for Money Supermarket – Price Comparison Website ‘Epic Squads’

– Ali Fearnley for The Green Party ‘Grown Up Politics’

– Tree Petts for Worcester Bosch ‘The Long Day’

Best Casting of a Short Film:

– Shakyra Dowling for ‘The Nest’

– Leanne Flinn for ‘Marina and Adrienne’

– Amanda Tabak for ‘Balcony’

Best Casting of a Feature Film:

– Camilla Arthur for ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ (Authentic and Celebrity Casting)

– Shakyra Dowling  for ‘Spaceship’

– Brendan McNamara for‘The Fitzroy’

Best Casting Stills:

– Kate Evans for Tesco ‘Bring It On’

– Leanne Flinn & Camilla Arthur for Selfridges ‘EveryBody’

– Sue Odell for Princes Trust ‘Parallel Lives’

Best Casting of an International Commercial:

– Kate Evans for IKEA ‘ Meet the start of the new Ikea Catalogue’

– Ali Fearnley for Clash Royale ‘Rules of The Duel’

– Tree Petts for Seat Leon ‘Imaginary Friend’

An independent panel of expert, industry jury will select the winners in each category. Sitting on the panel are:

– Gabe Blair (United Agents Commercials Department)

– Matt Buels (Managing Partner Hungryman)

– Steve Davies (Chief Executive, APA)

– Paul Gay (TV, Film and Commercials Director)

– Ella Sanderson (Senior Producer, Partizan)

– Jason Solomons (Film Critic)

– Charley Stadler (Commercials Director)

– Mark Waites (Founder & Creative Director, Mother)

Winners will be announced at the Casting Awards ceremony on Friday 17th March, which will take place at The Crypt of St Etheldreda’s. We are delighted that our host for the evening will be comic actress and writer Sally Phillips.

For ticket information please contact: info@castingdirectorsassociation.com

CDA Inaugural Awards Ceremony 2017

on Jan 17, 2017 in News and Events

CDA Inaugural Awards Ceremony 2017

This spring will see the first ever award ceremony in the UK to honour the work of the Casting Director.

On Friday 17th March the Casting Directors Association will hold their inaugural awards in London. The awards will celebrate the art of casting – finding the perfect talent for every role.

The CDA Awards is open to all its members and has categories that recognise casting for Film, Commercials and Music Videos.

Controversially, the work of the Casting Director has remained unsung when it comes to major awards.

In recent years there has been a call for award bodies such as The Academy Awards (the Oscars) and BAFTA to recognise the invaluable contribution they make to the industry.

The CDA Awards are paving the way forward.

Further information including ticket sales will be available at the end of January