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They say casting is 90% of the film. Some people assume that this 90% consists of the look of the actor, but in reality there are many other characteristics that are important. It's true that the look of an actor significantly affects a film, but it's not the only thing.

Flexible

Independent filmmaking requires nimble teams and quick thinking. As much as you try to plan, those plans don't always come to fruition. Rain comes unexpectedly, an owner of a location changes his or her mind, or a major script change is made last-minute. A good actor will be able to roll with the punches and thrive in an environment that is less than ideal.

Full Of Ideas

Film directors often have a specific vision of how they'd like an actor to portray a character, but they can't think of everything. There will be times where the director's ideas fall flat and a new way is needed. A good actor will have lots of his or her own ideas and be able to fill that void.

Consistent Attendance

A day when production is able to take place is a special day indeed. Those days are hard to come by and when they come all pieces need to fall into place. An actor that shows up is worth more than a brilliant actor that can't seem to get out of bed on time ever.

Long Attention Span

As much as we would like for production to run smoothly, it often doesn't. It's common for there to be times when hours pass by without any shooting at all. It's times like this that an actor needs to be able to entertain him or herself and not badger the rest of the crew to keep them from being bored. Also there are times when a scene isn't going right and will need to be re-shot multiple times. It's crucial that this actor stay on task and be able to deliver even when it is no longer exciting to do so.

Deference Toward Director And Script

Every actor comes with their own conception of what the film should be like. A good director will welcome any ideas they have. Certain types of actors don't understand that the script and the director hold valuable functions and may know something they do not. Although it may be fun to just throw out the script and improvise a scene, it may not be what is best for the production. So a healthy respect for the director and script is necessary in a screen actor.

Can Learn Lines, Doesn't Need Much Training

There are professional actors in the world that are unable to memorize lines. It was purported that Marlon Brando needed an earpiece and would get his lines read to him by an assistant. As an independent low-budget director the talent you work with might not be perfect actors, but will need some kind of minimum level of training. Only you will know what level that should be. It's important that you weigh the actors training and fundamental abilities when casting.

It's not as simple as whether the actor can read a few lines well in a casting session. It's more than whether or not they are beautiful people. To get your film finished you're going to need your actors to bring more to the table than just voice and face. As important as their acting skills are, you want them to be all-around good people to work with.