Casting Society (CSA)

Overview

Casting Society (CSA), formerly the Casting Society of America, is the professional association for casting directors and associate casting directors working in film, television, theatre, commercials, and video games. Founded in February 1982, CSA currently boasts close to 1,200 members. Members are based in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Asia, and Africa.

CSA is not a union. It is a professional organization open to all casting directors and associates who meet eligibility requirements. Unionized casting directors and associates are organized under Teamster Local 399 in Los Angeles and Local 817 in New York. CSA and the Teamsters are separate organizations with cooperative but distinct functions.

The organization was founded with the intention of establishing a recognized standard of professionalism in the casting field and providing members with a support organization to further their goals and protect their common interests. CSA serves as a global resource for producers, directors, and creative teams seeking casting professionals.

Membership Requirements

Casting Director Membership

To become a CSA Casting Director member, applicants need:

• A minimum of 100 weeks in the last 5 years (from date of application) of experience as an on-line Casting Director casting principal roles in Film, Television, Theatre, or Commercials. "On-line" is defined as having received casting credit without the title "associate" or "assistant."
• Extras/background casting, videos, documentaries, re-enactments, and print work do not qualify.
• Alternatively: currently employed in a director-level or above position by a studio, network, or production company recognized by CSA, overseeing other casting personnel.

Associate Casting Director / Casting Producer Membership

Applicants must be an on-line Associate Casting Director or Casting Producer for a minimum of 75 weeks within the last 5 years, working in Film, Television, Theatre, or Commercials. "On-line" means having been present or participated in casting sessions, with experience running pre-read and/or producer/director sessions, negotiating actor deals, and generating creative casting lists.

Key Restrictions

• Casting directors, casting producers, or associate casting directors who are also personal managers or talent agents are not eligible for CSA membership (conflict of interest).
• Casting Assistants are not eligible for membership.
• Applications are vetted quarterly in March, June, September, and December. Applications must be received prior to the 15th of the previous month.

Conversion from Associate to Full Member

Associate members can petition the board in writing to convert to full membership by providing proof of 100 weeks of on-line casting director credits. A conversion fee of $150 is charged upon approval. Letters of recommendation are waived for conversions.

Membership Dues

Casting Director

• Annual dues: $275.00 per year, payable on June 30th
• One-time initiation fee: $175.00 due upon approval
• Dues are pro-rated if joining mid-year. CSA fiscal year runs July 1 to June 30.

Associate Casting Director / Casting Producer

• Annual dues: $150.00 per year, payable on June 30th
• One-time initiation fee: $50.00 due upon approval
• All dues must be paid by July 1st to remain in good standing.

Video Game Membership Category (New in 2026)

In 2026, CSA added a video game casting membership category. Professionals in game casting who have worked in senior or principal casting roles, including casting directors, senior casting managers, and senior casting producers, are now eligible to apply for CSA membership. Applicants must have cast principal roles and been involved with voice over, motion capture, or performance capture on released titles. Associate casting directors in video games are also eligible with similar requirements.

CSA President Destiny Lilly stated: "As the entertainment landscape continues to evolve, CSA remains committed to recognizing excellence in casting across all performance media. Establishing video game casting as qualifying work for a membership category acknowledges the significant contributions of casting professionals in interactive media while preserving the organization's longstanding membership standards."

Artios Awards

The Artios Awards are the CSA's annual awards recognizing excellence in casting. First held in October 1985 at the Beverly Hills Hotel, the awards have grown to honor casting in over 20 categories across film, television, theatre, commercials, and short films.

41st Annual Artios Awards (2026)

The 41st Annual Artios Awards will be held on Thursday, February 26, 2026, with simultaneous ceremonies at:

• The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills (host: Harvey Guillen)
• The Edison Ballroom in New York City (host: Jeff Hiller)
• One Moorgate Place in London (host: Jessica Gunning)

2026 Artios Awards Timeline

Artios Eligibility and Voting

For the film category, eligible films must have been released between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025, with at least one week of theatrical release in a major metropolitan area or capital city. Film festival releases alone do not qualify. Films must have received commercial theatrical distribution.

The lead Casting Director on a project must be a CSA member for the project to be eligible. Nominees are voted on by Casting Director level members. Winners are voted on by all members (Casting Directors, Associate Casting Directors, and Casting Producer members).

The Artios is awarded to CSA members who receive primary screen credit for casting on the winning project. Location Casting Directors, Casting Executives, and Department Heads who are CSA members and receive credit on winning projects also receive an Artios Award. CSA Associate Casting Directors on winning projects are recognized in the press and at the ceremony.

2025-2026 Board of Directors

The 2025-2026 Global Chapter Board of Governors includes representatives from multiple international chapters: Cassandra Han, Claudia Blunt, Tamsyn Manson, Dave Bennett, Harika Uygur, Kei Kawamura, Louise Kiely, Maria Laina, Olissa Rogers, Paulina Krajnik, and Sien Josephine Teijssen.

What Filmmakers Should Know

For directors and producers, the "CSA" designation in a casting director's credits signals professional affiliation and commitment to industry standards. CSA members have been vetted through a rigorous qualification process requiring documented weeks of professional casting experience.

CSA is not a union and does not negotiate collective bargaining agreements. For union matters involving casting directors, Teamster Local 399 (Los Angeles) and Local 817 (New York) are the relevant organizations. CSA and the Teamsters are cooperative but separate.

The correct professional term is "Casting Director," not "Casting Agent." A Casting Director is hired by studios, networks, or production companies to present actors for consideration and negotiate deals on behalf of those companies. Casting Directors do not represent actors or receive fees from actors. The term "Casting Agent" is frequently used incorrectly in media but is not accurate.

For aspiring casting directors, the path to CSA membership requires accumulating 75 weeks (Associate) or 100 weeks (Full Casting Director) of qualifying on-line casting experience within a 5-year window. The organization vets applications quarterly.

See Also

For how casting relates to SAG-AFTRA performer agreements, see SAG-AFTRA in this directory. For the Artios Awards in the context of industry recognition, see Film Awards in this directory. Use the Indie Film Budget Calculator to estimate casting department costs for your production.