Casting Websites: #1 in Acting Resources
A professional actor looking to work in the business competitively needs to belong to casting sites to be taken seriously. Below are the job sites most commonly used in the industry by actors, casting directors, agents, and managers. So basically everyone in the industry.
Actors Access is a parent company of Breakdown Services Ltd. and the gold standard in casting websites. If you’re without an agent, you can self-submit on this site. It’s a must for actors with or without representation. There are union and non-union castings on this site.
Casting Networks is another casting website also known as LA Casting. There are several subscription options to choose from. And you can self-submit. If you have an agent, setting up an account is free. Otherwise, there is a fee involved. Offers union and non-union casting.
Casting Frontier is a website primarily used for commercial casting. Actors can also self-submit on this site. There are free and premium plus account options which allows actors to bulk up their profile, add more headshots, online resume, and a reel. Union and non-union.
Industry publications: #2 in Acting Resources
I got a story for you about a dear friend of mine I trained with at Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, who shall go unnamed. Reading one of the trade papers, he came across an article about a new project in development that featured a huge part he knew he’d be perfect for. He fit the physical description and character traits to a T. Before the project had even gotten to the point where casting got involved, he alerted his reps that he wanted to get in the room for the role. When casting started seeing people, he was one of the first in, and he booked it.
“Damn, I wish I knew they were casting that.’
Now obviously a lot of variables go into booking a part in in a big deal project, but knowing it’s going to be on the casting table and getting your reps on the case ahead of time is certainly a major advantage. Certainly beats the, “Damn, I wish I knew they were casting that!” – feeling.
Knowing ahead of time what’s on the horizon in the industry is one of the benefits of browsing the trade publications.
The Hollywood Reporter is a print magazine and online news source that focuses the entertainment business at large from production deals, to project development, to breaking casting news.
Deadline is an online entertainment news source that prides itself on frank reporting and “unfiltered, no holds-barred analysis’ of goings on in the industry. They cover a lot ground and update the site daily.
Variety partnered with The Hollywood Reporter and covers much of the same ground. Add The Wrap to your list too. It’s a leading independent digital news source about the entertainment world.
