Meet Craig Campobasso | Casting Director/Writer/Producer/Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Craig Campobasso and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Craig, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind my success has been consistency and genuine passion for the work. Casting isn’t just about filling roles—it’s about intuitively understanding a director’s vision and finding the performers who can truly bring it to life. Over the past three decades, I’ve built lasting relationships by treating every project, whether big or small, with the same level of dedication. I approach each casting session as both a creative collaboration and a responsibility to honor the story being told. Staying curious, evolving with the industry, and never losing the joy I felt the very first time I walked onto a set have kept me inspired and successful.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
What truly sets Craig Campobasso Casting apart is our ability to see beyond the obvious. While others might focus solely on established talent or conventional looks, we pride ourselves on discovering the extraordinary in the unexpected. We have an eye for finding actors who possess that indefinable spark—the ones who might not fit the traditional mold but have the raw authenticity that transforms a good project into something memorable.

Our approach is deeply intuitive yet methodical. We don’t just cast roles; we craft the emotional DNA of productions. Whether it’s finding a newcomer who embodies a character’s vulnerability or matching a seasoned actor with a role that reignites their passion, we understand that casting is about creating chemistry, not just filling positions.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would go to Rome and visit all the sites with my bestie. And eat lots of pasta! And never have pronounce my last name.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Without question, I have to dedicate my shoutout to the legendary filmmakers and visionaries who took a chance on a young guy fresh out of high school and shaped everything I know about this industry.

First and foremost, David Lynch deserves enormous credit for giving me my start. Working on Dune as a production assistant for four years was my film school education – and what an intense, creative education it was! David’s uncompromising artistic vision and his approach to storytelling opened my eyes to the magic of filmmaking. Those four formative years on set, watching how every department contributed to bringing his incredible vision to life, were absolutely foundational to who I became as a casting professional.

I also owe tremendous gratitude to producers Raffaella and Dino De Laurentiis, who gave me the opportunity to work on both Dune and Conan the Destroyer simultaneously.

And then there’s Amazing Stories as an Associate Casting Director at the beginning of my casting career. David Vogel, its producer, was a terrific mentor.

These masters of cinema didn’t just give me jobs – they gave me a masterclass in storytelling, creativity, and the art of bringing characters to life. Everything I do at Craig Campobasso Casting today is built on the foundation they helped me create.

Website: https://www.CraigCampobasso.com

Instagram: @craig-campobasso

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-campobasso-bb702812/

Twitter: @CraigCampobasso

Facebook: Craig Campobasso Casting

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CraigCampobasso

Other: https://www.autobiographyofanet.com/ ;  https://www.strangeratthepentagon.com/