U.S. HISPANIC Versión en español
Casting By Takes Another Step in Its International Expansion by Joining the Casting Society of America
Maribel Ramos-Weiner| 28 de marzo de 2025
Jessica Caldrello: "Not being a local Casting Director, despite having local teams in each country, allows me to offer a more international service—something increasingly in demand"
Casting By continues to solidify its international expansion. The company, founded by Jessica Caldrello, an executive with over 20 years of experience in the casting industry, will receive its certification as a member of the Casting Society of America (CSA) this April, making her one of the few Latinas to join the organization.
Caldrello was also recently nominated for a Children’s & Family Emmy Award for her work as the Live-Action Casting Director for One Piece on Netflix.
“I believe that having American nationality and having lived in the U.S. for about 20 years, along with my love for traveling and discovering new countries and cultures, has been key. Even though I have an accent when speaking English, I can recognize and assess if an actor speaks perfectly and, therefore, whether they can play an American/English role. The Hispanic market has a lot of talent, and in recent years, I’ve noticed that English proficiency has significantly improved. This allows us to introduce new talent to U.S. productions and bring fresh faces to their screens. Not being a local Casting Director, even though I have local teams in each country, enables me to offer a more comprehensive, international service, which is increasingly in demand,” Caldrello told PRODU.
BEING A CSA MEMBER TAKES YOU TO ANOTHER LEVEL
When asked about the significance of being a CSA member, Caldrello explained: “It elevates you to another level. There are no other Latin American Casting Directors in this organization.”
She detailed the rigorous requirements for joining the CSA, which include having at least 100 weeks of work on credited projects as a Casting Director within the last four years, equivalent to working three of the past four years.
Additionally, CSA membership provides access to Hollywood’s top talent, which means producers no longer need to hire a U.S.-based Casting Director to find such talent.
PROJECTS IN 2025
Caldrello revealed that this year, her team is working on several English-language films and series for the U.S. market, further strengthening their position in that territory.
“Tax incentives and production costs in our market make us highly competitive. As a result, more and more English-language projects for international markets or the U.S. are being filmed in Latin America and Spain. Our knowledge of local talent, combined with an understanding of the target market’s needs, makes us an ideal partner for producers. We can find local talent that helps sell content in an international market,” she stated.
BRIDGING TWO WORLDS IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE
Discussing the challenges of international productions, Caldrello noted that such projects often involve producers and directors unfamiliar with how different markets operate.
“Helping an American understand how the Hispanic market works isn’t easy, and vice versa. The timing, requirements, and needs of the Anglo market differ and can sometimes cause frustration. Acting as a mediator between these two worlds is one of the biggest challenges we face.”
ACCIDENTE AND LOS 39 AMONG THE MOST CHALLENGING PROJECTS
Caldrello highlighted Accidente (10×60’), a Netflix series, as one of the most challenging yet rewarding casting projects she has worked on, including its second season.
“Accidente is a great example of harmony between directing, production, and casting. From the first script, communication was excellent, allowing us to fully understand the creative vision. We had significant creative freedom, which helped us assemble a highly talented, globally appealing cast.”
She emphasized the hours of auditions and character analysis, stating that casting young talent was particularly demanding. “However, the discovery of Paula Mena, a promising young actress, was one of the project’s highlights”.
Similarly, the casting for Los 39, filmed in Colombia and the Canary Islands, posed significant challenges due to its historical setting during Christopher Columbus’s era.
“We had to find Indigenous talent resembling the Taíno tribes of the Dominican Republic. We traveled across the Amazon and Santa Marta to discover natural actors—an incredible yet demanding experience. Additionally, we needed to cast Spanish conquerors in Colombia and Spain, ensuring they had an authentic accent.”
TRENDS IN CASTING EVOLUTION
Caldrello has observed a return to realism in casting and audiovisual production.
“Nowadays, if you sit at a café in Mexico City, Bogotá, Miami, or Madrid, you’re surrounded by people from different nationalities—English, Americans, Colombians, Mexicans, Spaniards, French, Germans. Life has become increasingly global, and casting must reflect this reality. Integrating diverse nationalities and cultures is essential. Being ‘local’ also means understanding how global a place truly is. If you depict a Madrid filled only with Madrileños, you’re reflecting a reality from decades ago.”
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