Casting Society Cares Training & Education Program

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.

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.

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:

1. Review all program information on the Casting Society Cares website
2. Confirm availability for all 9 program dates (October 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31, and November 1, 2026)
3. Watch the required introductory webinar
4. 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.

Cost and Scholarship Support

The 2026 cohort is scholarship-supported, meaning participants pay no tuition. This is a significant change from prior years and reflects Casting Society Cares' goal of reducing financial barriers to entry in the casting profession. Prospective applicants should confirm current cost details on the program website, as scholarship availability may vary by cohort.

Related CSA Programs

Casting Society also partners with Syracuse University on the Tepper Semester Casting Apprenticeship Program, a separate initiative that places college and graduate students in New York City casting offices for a full semester. That program is a 15-credit immersion experience that includes four days per week in a casting office alongside coursework. It is open to Syracuse University students and eligible students from other universities. The Tepper Semester program is distinct from the Training & Education Program and has its own application process.

Who Should Apply

Individuals who want to build a career in casting and need structured training before applying for entry-level casting assistant positions. The program is designed for people with genuine interest in the profession - not casual explorers. No prior experience is required, but applicants should be prepared to commit to all 9 program days and the subsequent two-month mentorship period.

For filmmakers, this program is worth knowing about because its graduates represent the next wave of trained casting professionals. Building relationships with program alumni - who are hungry for experience and typically available at lower rates than established casting directors - can give independent productions access to professional-level casting support on limited budgets.

See Also

For understanding production roles and how casting fits into the pre-production timeline, see the Production Schedule Calculator. For a broader view of production career development resources, see Documentary Financing: Building Your Stack.