Overview of the role
A casting researcher thrives on helping the casting team find diverse and engaging contributors, providing both creative and administrative support. In Children’s TV the casting could be for over-18s, for example subject experts or entertainment performers. Or it could be for under-18s, for example contestants on an entertainment show, or pre school children participating in a natural history series.
A casting researcher will be pro-active, resourceful and have an eye for spotting an engaging contributor and story. Importantly, they will demonstrate an awareness of the children’s TV industry and adhere to all of the relevant regulations around safeguarding, communicating and working with children along with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code and broadcaster editorial guidelines. The role also requires a high level of organisation and subject research as well as attention to detail.
Core responsibilities
These core responsibilities are provided as a guide and are not exhaustive. The exact responsibilities in a particular job will vary depending on the size of the production company and team, the type of show and the budget available and age of the potential contributors.
- Consume and analyse output made for children from a wide range of broadcasters and platforms, understanding the attributes of successful shows and content and their contributors, presenters and performers.
- If sourcing, and filming with, under-18s, keep up to date with all of the regulations around working with children including production company and commissioner safeguarding guidelines and the Ofcom Broadcasting Code on working with and for young audiences.
- Understand the casting brief alongside the editorial objectives of the programme and understand the target audience of the channel.
- Understand, and be diligent in applying, GDPR/data protection rules throughout the casting process.
- Devise a targeting strategy including the types of contributor/groups, stories, locations and events that are relevant to the programme subject matter and agree it with the producer.
- If targeting subject experts, conduct thorough background research before contacting. Spot new experts, presenters, role models performers that could make engaging TV for children.
- Make enquiry phone calls to appropriate organisations to promote the casting, where necessary abiding by all of the rules around working with, and communicating with, children and families.
- If appropriate for contacting adults/parents and carers/organisations, assist casting producer in social media targeting by understanding the right platforms for the call outs, creating appealing and exciting social media content to generate interest.
- Understand how AI could be used to support content creation, presentation and ideas generation and ensure any tools and outputs accessed are fully disclosed to, and pre-approved by, producers.
- Monitor application phone lines and inboxes highlighting strong applications to the casting producer.
- Record and monitor application data regularly to assess how each area of outreach is working and feed back to casting producer and wider team.
- Keep a record of contributor demographics to monitor diversity within the casting process and feed back to casting producer.
- Ensure potential applicants (over-18s) or their parents/carers are sent initial casting paperwork application forms and general programme briefs.
- Be a central point on contact for the wider casting team, log calls and emails and share with the senior team.
- Once contributors have been shortlisted, assist senior members of the team with any appropriate online and background checks.
- Be an available point of contact for contributors or their parents/carers and flag any concerns to the producer where appropriate.
- Notify contributors or their parents/carers of aftercare practices and liaise with casting producer to hand over any notes.
- Carry out subject research to help with new ideas for casting. Research similar programme formats, content and talent and contribute these perspectives in casting brainstorms sessions.
- Assist the casting producer with background context, facts and figures in advance of commissioner meetings, understanding how to use verifiable and official sources for fact checking rigorously and accurately including contacting experts.
- Assist in creating biographies, high quality pitch materials and casting edits for pitch meetings.
- Brief contributors or their parents/carers on the stages of the casting process, the programme outline, and the expected contributor commitment ensuring that participants of all ages fully understand what will be required of them.
- Follow all of the relevant safeguarding and consent guidelines on under 18s to arrange and conduct initial research calls with applicants to gauge their suitability to take part.
- Follow a casting script pre-approved by senior colleagues and use age appropriate approaches and questions when dealing with young contributors, consulting other colleagues or experts beforehand if necessary.
- Log all casting calls and contributor research notes to create comprehensive application timelines.
- Feed back to casting producer and use editorial judgement to assess applicants’ suitability for the format and discuss these ideas with the team.
- Work with the casting producer to develop contributor story ideas.
- Update all potential contributors on whether they have been selected for the next stage or not, offering timely, age appropriate and sensitive feedback to them or their parents/carers.
- Ensure all working with children and safeguarding guidelines are adhered to in the set up and conduct of the sessions. Manage expectations carefully beforehand ensuring that potential contributors know it is still not guaranteed that they will be selected to appear.
- Highlight and prioritise any contributor duty of care needs, welfare issues and accessibility requirements to the casting producer or welfare executive.
- Help to create a relaxed and open environment where potential contributors feel comfortable to share their stores and are excited to be part of the casting process.
- Assist the casting producer in managing the schedule and briefing contributors on what to expect on the day. Be a general point of contact for contributors on arrival.
- Assist in setting up the audition location, filming on second camera or logging interviews.
- Ensure all necessary release forms and paperwork are signed by contributor before leaving.
- Write clear, concise and engaging pitch documents with the ability to summarise a strong contributor/ story in succinct headlines. Assist the team in creating compelling casting edits, sourcing music and additional footage.
- Pitch your contributors internally to the casting producer and wider team.
Skills
Check out the role specific skills, transferable skills and attributes for the role of casting researcher in children's TV.
- Actively engage with the output of a range of children’s broadcasters and platforms and become familiar with the commissioning landscape for children’s content.
- Good working knowledge of the regulatory frameworks and guidelines that govern content production for children and working with children.
- Communication skills: be able to fully communicate the concept of the show, the format and the role to be filled including in a way that is accessible to children.
- Confidence: to make outreach calls and have a personable, positive and age appropriate interview manner.
- Research: a genuine passion for people finding and subject research.
- Editorial judgment: use casting and storytelling instincts to spot potential contributors.
- Organisation: be meticulous in ordering casting documents within the shared drive.
- Social media knowledge: have a good understanding of social platforms and how best to utilise these for the needs of the casting.
- Deliver under pressure: responding quickly to the needs of the team and urgent deadlines calmly and efficiently
- Managing data: ensuring information for contributor and outreach databases are inputted correctly with due care taken to follow GDPR guidelines.
- IT skills: familiarity with a range of software to support the team in the logging and monitoring of applications.
- Relationship building and networking: establishing and maintaining relationships with third party organisations to help promote the casting.
- Technical skills: working closely with AP and producer to edit engaging and impactful casting tapes.
- Passionate about helping to create inspiring, inclusive and empowering content for children. Relatability including with young contributors.
- Curiosity: about people and the world around them, and an active interest in learning more about the children’s industry, including consuming content from a range of different broadcasters and platforms.
- Positivity: bring a a can-do attitude and be a good ambassador for the production to organisations and contributors.
- Resilience: adapt to changing work priorities and patterns, ensuring deadlines continue to be met
- Proactive and productive: good at spotting problems and solving them.
- Versatility: able to flex quickly to differing demands of production
- Productivity: organise work effectively and meet deadlines
- Drive: demonstrate the energy to get things done in pressurised situations and escalate appropriately when necessary
- Respect: demonstrate inclusivity and integrity at all times.