Overview
The Casting Society Cares Training & Education Program (formerly the Casting Assistant Pathway Program, or CAPP) is a structured educational initiative run by Casting Society Cares, the 501(c)(3) affiliate of the Casting Society. The program teaches the fundamentals of casting through 12 virtual modules delivered by working casting directors and associate casting directors. The 2026 cohort is scholarship-supported, meaning participants pay no tuition. The program is designed for individuals who want to build a career in casting but have no formal training pathway available to them - because none exists. Casting is learned on the job, and this program exists to give newcomers a head start before they land their first office position.
For filmmakers, the program matters because it expands the pool of trained casting professionals. Independent films routinely struggle to find casting directors they can afford, and early-career casting professionals who have completed this training can offer more value at lower rates than established offices.
History
Casting Society Cares is the 501(c)(3) affiliate of the Casting Society, the professional organization of casting directors in film, television, and theater. The Training and Education Program was formerly known as the Casting Assistant Pathway Program (CAPP). The program was created to address a structural gap in the casting profession: casting is learned on the job, and no formal training pathway existed for newcomers. The program provides structured training through 12 virtual modules taught by working casting directors. The 2025 cohort selected 10 participants from the national applicant pool. The 2026 cohort is scholarship-supported, meaning participants pay no tuition, reflecting Casting Society Cares' goal of reducing financial barriers to entry. Casting Society also partners with Syracuse University on the Tepper Semester Casting Apprenticeship Program, a separate initiative placing college and graduate students in New York City casting offices for a full semester.
Program Structure (2026 Cohort)
The 2026 program runs from October 4 through November 1, 2026, across 9 days of sessions. Each session runs from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM Pacific Time on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays). The 9 days are divided into 12 program modules covering the core skills a casting assistant needs on the job.
Attendance is mandatory for all 9 days. Participants who complete all sessions receive a Certificate of Completion. There is no partial credit - the program is designed as a continuous curriculum where each module builds on the previous one.
After the training program, graduates are matched with a mentor through the T&E Alumni Mentorship Program for a two-month mentorship period running November 2026 through January 2027. This gives graduates a direct professional contact they can consult as they begin applying for casting assistant positions.
What the Curriculum Covers
The 12 modules are taught by working casting directors and associate casting directors, not academics. The curriculum covers:
- Casting office operations: How a casting office functions day to day, from breakdowns to bookings
- Audition facilitation: Running sessions, managing actor traffic, operating the camera during auditions
- Actor relationship management: How casting directors build and maintain relationships with agents and actors
- Breakdowns and submissions: Reading a script, writing breakdowns, reviewing actor submissions
- Session running: The logistics of scheduling, confirming, and running audition sessions
- Production coordination: How casting interfaces with production, from prep through filming
- Professional judgment: How experienced casting directors evaluate actors and make recommendations to directors and producers
The program does not place participants in a working casting office. It is a training program, not an apprenticeship in the traditional sense. The old CAPP program name referred to a pathway concept - the training program feeds into the CSA Mentorship Program, which then ideally leads to paid work in a casting office.
Typical Award Size Range
The Casting Society Cares Training and Education Program is not a cash grant program. The 2026 cohort is scholarship-supported, meaning participants pay no tuition. The value of the program includes 12 virtual modules taught by working casting directors, a Certificate of Completion, and a 2-month mentorship through the T&E Alumni Mentorship Program. The program does not provide stipends or living expenses to participants.
Payment Structure
The 2026 cohort requires no payment from participants. The program is scholarship-supported, covering all tuition costs. Participants are responsible for their own living expenses and internet access during the 9-day program. No stipend or financial compensation is provided. The mentorship period (November 2026 through January 2027) is also provided at no cost to graduates.
Eligibility Requirements
The 2026 cohort has the following eligibility requirements:
- Applicants must be at least 18 years of age
- Applicants must possess a high school diploma or high school equivalency credential
- Applicants must be committed to attending all 9 program days (no exceptions for partial attendance)
- No prior casting or entertainment industry experience is required
- Applicants must watch a required introductory webinar before submitting an application
The webinar covers the casting profession, career pathways, program expectations, and curriculum structure. It is a mandatory step - applications will not be considered without confirmation that the applicant has viewed it.
Application Process and Timeline
The 2026 application window is narrow: applications open Monday, July 6, 2026 and close Monday, July 20, 2026. Applications are only accepted during this two-week window.
Before applying, prospective participants must:
- Review all program information on the Casting Society Cares website
- Confirm availability for all 9 program dates (October 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31, and November 1, 2026)
- Watch the required introductory webinar
- Complete and submit the application during the application window
The 2025 cohort selected 10 participants from the national applicant pool. The program is competitive but accessible - the lack of experience requirement means the applicant pool includes career changers, recent graduates, and people transitioning from other entertainment roles.
Past Recipients and What They Made with the Money
The Casting Society Cares Training and Education Program has trained cohorts of aspiring casting professionals:
- 2025 cohort - 10 participants selected from the national applicant pool. The cohort included career changers, recent graduates, and people transitioning from other entertainment roles. Graduates received a Certificate of Completion and were matched with mentors through the T&E Alumni Mentorship Program.
- 2026 cohort - Scholarship-supported, meaning participants pay no tuition. The program runs from October 4 through November 1, 2026, across 9 days of sessions.
The program does not publish a comprehensive public list of all participants. Graduates represent the next wave of trained casting professionals, typically available at lower rates than established casting directors.
What Makes an Application Competitive
Casting Society Cares evaluates applications on several concrete signals:
- Mandatory webinar: Applicants must watch a required introductory webinar before submitting an application. Applications will not be considered without confirmation that the applicant has viewed it.
- Full attendance commitment: Applicants must commit to all 9 program days. There are no exceptions for partial attendance. The program is designed as a continuous curriculum where each module builds on the previous one.
- Genuine interest: The program is designed for people with genuine interest in the casting profession, not casual explorers. No prior casting or entertainment industry experience is required, but applicants should demonstrate commitment to building a career in casting.
- Accessibility: The lack of experience requirement means the applicant pool includes career changers, recent graduates, and people transitioning from other entertainment roles. The 2025 cohort selected 10 participants from the national applicant pool.
- Age and education: Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and possess a high school diploma or high school equivalency credential.
Application Process
The 2026 application window is narrow: applications open Monday, July 6, 2026 and close Monday, July 20, 2026. Applications are only accepted during this 2-week window.
- Review all program information on the Casting Society Cares website.
- Confirm availability for all 9 program dates (October 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31, and November 1, 2026).
- Watch the required introductory webinar.
- Complete and submit the application during the application window.
After the training program, graduates are matched with a mentor through the T&E Alumni Mentorship Program for a 2-month mentorship period running November 2026 through January 2027.
What Filmmakers Should Know
The Casting Society Cares Training and Education Program is not a film grant. It is a training program for aspiring casting professionals. For filmmakers, the program matters because it expands the pool of trained casting professionals. Independent films routinely struggle to find casting directors they can afford. Early-career casting professionals who have completed this training can offer more value at lower rates than established offices. The 2026 cohort is scholarship-supported, meaning participants pay no tuition. The program runs from October 4 through November 1, 2026, across 9 days of sessions on weekends. Attendance is mandatory for all 9 days. The 12 modules cover casting office operations, audition facilitation, actor relationship management, breakdowns and submissions, session running, production coordination, and professional judgment. The program does not place participants in a working casting office. It feeds into the CSA Mentorship Program, which then ideally leads to paid work in a casting office. The 2025 cohort selected 10 participants from the national applicant pool. Building relationships with program alumni can give independent productions access to professional-level casting support on limited budgets. The application window is narrow: July 6 to July 20, 2026.
Watch
See Also
For understanding how casting fits into the pre-production timeline, see How to Build an Indie Film Budget. For a broader view of career development resources, see Film Grants and Funding. For festival strategy, see Film Festival Strategy. For distribution strategy, see Film Distribution Deals Explained.
