Rude Casting Director

[JTBmum]

DS had audition for film with American CD. When he walked in the CD didnt look at him once but was on the phone saying they had found someone they liked for the part. DS was tsken into other room by some other guys and then did lines in about 2 minutes and then left. Was quite demoralised after that!

[daisydancer]

Hi JTB Mum, Am so sorry you had such a horrible experience - and that is the right word to use - horrible - because there is absolutely no defence for treating a child in that way, or anyone for that matter. You may want to scroll down this board and see the thread on recalls where you'll notice you are not alone - there are too many parents out their who have confronted casting directors without manners or respect and it is time for things to change, as in no other industry would they get away with it. Try not to despair because if you keep going hopefully your child will come across a CD with manners, as I believe there are still a few around.

[Irishdancer]

When oldest ds was 8 he went to a casting for a advert I took youngest ds who was 18 months at the time youngest ds was walking around looking at things picked up a video before I could get it off him cd shouted and told me to take it off him did so, ds started to scream cd was on the phone and through me and youngest ds out, cd baned oldested ds from his auditions this cd dose not like children but dose a ,lot of casting with children, oldest ds was filming a few days later, I was talking to some well know actors and told them what happened they said that this cd was very rude they had been for castings with this cd and he had been rude to them so ot to worry, so I thought if cd could be rude to such well known actors then my ds did not stand a chance. so there are some nasty cd out there but then there are some great cd as well

[JTBmum]

Hi, discovered yesterday evening a big name had accepted the role. It was a major film role and there had been loads of articles in the US media about it with several names touted. One of these got the part. Its a bit frustrating when your agent says a director is really interested in you, when they were probably always going to give it to a name! Its happened a few times now. Guess you have to grit your teeth and keep smiling

[daisydancer]

I know that happens a lot and it seems so very wrong - why hold a huge casting and then go for the name they always wanted in the first place. we had this a couple of years back - my D got very close but later we found out they were always going to cast in the US. Sometimes I think it is all to generate publicity/interest in the film. I really do feel that some CDs have got above themselves and simply don't value anyone's time. The quality ones are always polite and treat people auditioning with respect and give feedback so you aren't left wondering, but it is a sad fact that this happens all too rarely. Thing is the more we grin and bear the poor treatment, the more they get away with it. This kind of thing would never happen in other industries and I just keep hoping that some time soon - things will change.

[alibozo]

Think I know the CD you are talking about she rarely talks or looks at the kids my son was demoralised although she did at least talk to him
last week to congratulate him on learning the script. That was all though LOL

[alibozo]

Daisy Dancer sorry don't seem to be able to pm u back but yes exactly she's very rude. At least we know from your post it's a no go hope your son hasn't been put off x

[razzle dazzle them]

Hello all

I have been subject to severe rudeness by casting director and as a result this CD will not see my ds due to me standing up to them. I will not mention details but I guess if all parents stood up hey wouldnt get away with treating children this way. The parents who keep quiet so that it wont damage their childs chances only make matters worse for the children in the industry.

[julie4travel]

jtb mum - how awful , i hope it hasn't knocked your ds at all.
I think I know the casting and we also went for it and it was one of those castings where the reception area was packed to say the least and i wrote the casting off before ds had even been called in!
Lots of these films do seem to end up seeing loads of kids and going with a big name actor!

[daisydancer]

Thanks Alibozo - don't worry about the PM - just glad you got back to me as sometimes it can feel as if you are the only one being treated this way but if we start talking more we find out how common it is. I'm at the point where I have just about had enough of the huge egos of some casting directors and their rudeness is especially unacceptable to children. We all know the entertainment industry involves rejection - and most performing kids are perfectly okay with that as they understand so many factors involved in a casting - but there is absolutely no reason for the rudeness with which children are sometimes treated. Yes, there are some lovely CDs out there but it is wrong that the others are allowed to get away with it. I agree completely with you Razzle and Julie we all have to stop putting up with it as in no other industry would they get away with it. The more we put up with it for fear of damaging our children's chances the worse it gets. Tough I know but what example are we setting our kids if we allow them to think that they should be treated in this way.

[katmandu]

I guess my dss have been lucky in that the cds have been unfailingly charming and friendly and while not necessarily contacting them afterwards, we always work on the basis that it's a "no" unless you hear otherwise then there is not the same level of disappointment for the child - they do their best at the audition and move on. I don't think the non communication is rude on the part of the cd, I think it's a necessity of their job and the work pressures they are under. Sometimes at open auditions there appears to be an underestimation of quite how many might turn up and then it adds to their pressures - maybe that can lead to rudeness, but not that we've experienced, and that includes massive opens such as I'd do Anything.

[daisydancer]

Thanks Katmandu - good to hear that you have had only good experiences - perhaps we have just seen the wrong casting directors. We live in hope. Re what you say about feedback I still don't think in these days of automated e-mail that there is any excuse for not getting back to people who give their time, money and energy to attend. perhaps I am just old fashioned but it is a matter of courtesy and I don't think we should teach our children to accept anything less. Yes, the CDs are busy but who isn't these days and I just can't see how the job of a CD can be considered stressful - being a nurse or a fire fighter or someone on the front line now that's stressful.

[janine]

sorry but i totally agree with DaisyDancer here! EVerybody , every single one of us is stressed at some points in our life, & while ensuring that you cast a project correctly may be stressful, it is by no means a direct life or death situation(as a firefighter/nurse/doctor/surgeon faces on a daily bases).NOW THAT REALLY WOULD BE A REASON TO BE STRESSED!! & it is certainly no excuse to treat people so rudely as described above. Have read this thread with horror( would somebody mind plse PM me the CD that has been discussed here. I would like to ensure that I never put my daughter infront of them,as id rather she didnt get a job than put up with the abuse describedhere)

[whycan'thejustplayfootie?]

Please let me know CD involved too via PM as my DS has had one bad experience already that really affected him for a year or so, took a lot of work (and money) to get to the bottom
of it, never want to subject him to anything like that again Thanks x

[wissymo]

we have also been lucky to only meet the nice ones,but then we havn,t been doing it very long!
if someone could pm me the name of the rude one in question that would be great.at least then
i can be prepared if we do meet at some point!