Spotlight, the professional casting platform for actors, has published an inflammatory casting call, which includes misleading political statements about Israel.  UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) has called on Spotlight to ensure that its platform is kept free of inappropriate content, in accordance with its terms.

The casting advertisement by Lane Casting for the short film Broadcast breached industry standards and Spotlight’s own terms of use, by including gratuitous and misleading political statements about Israel and Gaza.

The advertisement claimed that “the ongoing genocide in Gaza has seen the Israeli government be caught out with their frequent statements of disinformation”. UKLFI has made clear in letters to Lane Casting and Spotlight,  that these assertions were politically partisan, and wholly irrelevant to the film being cast. The film Broadcast concerns themes of disinformation and state power but has no connection to the Israel–Hamas conflict.

In a letter to Hannah Ashby Ward, Casting Director at Lane Casting, UKLFI expressed concern that the advertisement used “offensive, discriminatory and politically inflammatory language” in a way that “promulgate[s] a partisan political view” in the context of a deeply sensitive real-world conflict.

UKLFI highlighted that:

• The advertisement refers to an “ongoing genocide” in Gaza as if it is an undisputed fact.
• The advert’s claims of “frequent statements of disinformation” by Israel appear to rely uncritically on Hamas-sourced casualty figures and overlook evidence that terrorists have posed as journalists and aid workers.
• The inclusion of these statements breaches industry requirements that casting calls be professional, legal, ethical and inclusive, as set out in the Equity Casting Manifesto and required by Spotlight.

UKLFI requested that Lane Casting ensures that future advertisements do not contain similar “gratuitous information that is offensive and hostile to minorities”.

In its letter to Matt Hood, Managing Director of Spotlight, UKLFI pointed out that Lane Casting had breached both Spotlight’s Terms and Conditions and the Equity Casting Manifesto requirements.  Spotlight expressly prohibits content that is “defamatory, harassing, offensive… or otherwise unsuitable, inappropriate or objectionable”, and Lane Casting’s  advertisement was harassing and offensive and likely to cause annoyance and needless anxiety to Jews, Israelis and Zionists.

A spokesperson for UKLFI commented: “We were disturbed to see a casting notice using misleading and inflammatory language about Israel in a context where it had no place. Spotlight has a duty to ensure that its platform is not used to promote divisive political propaganda or to single out or alienate minorities. We are asking for simple adherence to industry standards and for casting briefs to remain neutral and respectful.”