#62 Sony Pictures TV Studios’ Executive Director of Casting, Amanda Richards

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When you audition for a pilot, there are TWO different casting offices that need to sign off on you before you are booked. There’s the project casting director – these are the names you’re familiar with like Michael Nicolo & Anya Colloff or Bonnie Finnegan & Steven Jacobs. And then there’s the studio/network casting directors – the folks at CBS or NBC who are responsible for… wait, what are they responsible for exactly? If you’re like me, you picture these folks in fancy, gated buildings wearing high heels and eating expensive salads while giving orders during important meetings at grandiose conference tables a la</span> <em><span style= "font-weight: 400;">The Morning Show</span></em><span style= "font-weight: 400;">. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Amanda Richards is Sony Pictures TV Studios’ Executive Director of Casting and she clears it up for me on today’s episode of the podcast. She gives us a “backstage studio tour” of how pilots move across her desk and through the development process all the way to casting and production.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now that self-tapes and zoom callbacks are the norm, testing for a pilot/network has changed – big time. And since I have ZERO doubt that you’ll test for a Network pilot someday, I highly recommend you give today’s episode a listen so you’re prepared.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Plus, Amanda created the first ever Diverse Actors Showcase at Sony and shares exactly how it came to be  – (and how you can get involved!).</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pilot season strikes abject fear in most actors because it’s like giving candy to your compare-and-despair demons. And now that they’re hyped up on sugar, they can quietly chisel away at your confidence and purpose… NOT ON MY WATCH! Knowledge is power and I believe educating yourself during this time is pivotal – let this episode be just one way you can empower yourself to DECIDE how you’ll think about this time of