2017

Backstage now offering free casting director and talent agency submission labels

Are you serious about your acting career? Do you send postcards to casting directors to announce performances or to invite them to plays? Are you signed with a reputable talent agency? The majority of lead roles in films and starring roles on television shows are cast through talent agents. I can provide you with a completely free set of casting director and talent agent mailing labels, along with a free subscription to Backstage Daily. The labels have current addresses for casting directors and talent agencies, and are updated constantly. Backstage Daily lists casting calls, auditions information, and talent searches for feature films and television series, for all areas. If there is one good piece of advice I can give to actors, it is to take advantage of this opportunity. You can get the free mailing labels and free subscription exclusively by signing up with the following link - http://goo.gl/nX8qDn

If you have any questions, you can contact me at my Verified Facebook Profile - https://www.facebook.com/alanbaltes

You can also follow me at my Verified Twitter Page - https://twitter.com/alanbaltes

Still no 'Best Casting By' award at the Academy Awards

Why don't casting directors have a category for "Best Casting By" at the Academy Awards?

To comprehend this issue, you have to have a deep understanding of how the casting process works.

Casting directors are contracted by production companies and/or studios to cast specific projects. The casting directors (and their associate casting directors and assistants) filter through massive amounts of submissions for specific roles, mainly through talent agents.

The casting directors then audition actors for the specific roles being cast. They then choose what actors that they personally deem "right for the role", at their discretion, and they subsequently advance those actors to a "call back", to audition for the director, writer(s), producers, and for major roles.. the studio executives.

Eventually, the right actor for the role is hired. The actor is not hired directly by the casting director, but rather the director/production company/studio.

Other than for small speaking roles on TV series, the casting director does not have the ability to hire actors, they simply select a certain group of actors to advance in the casting process. I am not talking about extras. Extras are cast directly by Extras Casting Directors/Companies.

For there to be an Academy Award category for principal actor casting directors, the voting members of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences would have to be able to see all of the hundreds (and even thousands) of actor's auditions for each role by the "Best Casting By" nominee, to be able to judge whether or not each casting director nominee did the best job.

And just to narrow down the casting nominees, there would have to be a massive amount of that material available to the Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences nominating committee. That is a logistical impossibility.

Directors, producers, writers, and studio executives have the final say in who is cast in specific roles, not casting directors. The best casting directors do a great job, and they have a great collaboration with those who do hire the actors, however there is no definitive way to establish a criteria for an Academy Award category for "Best Casting By".

I can elaborate much more about the casting process, however that would require much more than I can post here, it would be a complete eBook. I do want to elaborate about why casting directors are never credited in films as a Casting "Director", but rather credited as "Casting By".

The Directors Guild of America does not allow, by contract, any other persons on a film being credited with the word "Director", unless they are actually a "director" i.e. 1st AD (First Assistant Director, etc). That includes the Cinematographer (widely called "DP" or "Director of Photography" on the set).

Casting directors are some of the hardest working people in the entertainment industry, but there you go, that is why there is no Oscar Award category for "Best Casting By".

Chicago casting call for feature film 'Captive State'

Focus Features and Amblin Partners are set to begin shooting the feature film "Captive State" in Chicago, IL beginning in early March, 2017. Casting needs for extras and actors are posted below.

"Captive State" is a sci-fi thriller set in a Chicago neighborhood nearly a decade after it has been occupied by an extraterrestrial force. Captive State uses a grounded sci-fi setting to shine light on the modern surveillance state and the threats to civil liberties and the role of dissent within an authoritarian society.

Starring in "Captive State" is Academy Award nominee Vera Farmiga, Golden Globe Award winner John Goodman, also Ashton Sanders and Machine Gun Kelly. Saturn Award nominee Rupert Wyatt is directing from an original screenplay that he wrote with Erica Beeney. Wyatt will also produce with David Crockett. Executive producers are two-time Christopher Awards winner Jonathan King, Primetime Emmy Award winner Ron Schmidt, and Primetime Emmy Award winner Jeff Skoll. 1st AD is Jonas Spaccarotelli.

"Captive State" Chicago Casting Call Details

All talent must be legally eligible to work in the entertainment industry in Chicago, Illinois. You can find eligibility and work permit information in the Chicago Actors Resource Guide eBook.

The feature film "Captive State" is now casting in Chicago, Illinois. Background actors are now being hired to work on the project. Producers are looking for background extras to work on a HUGE stadium scene filming in April, 2017. They are shooting an outdoor, night shoot in a stadium venue in Chicago on or around Monday, April 3rd to Thursday, April 6th. They will start later morning and shoot until sunrise the next day. They are searching for approx 500 paid extras for the first day and then about 300 the next three days. If you can work all 4 days send a recent color photograph with your height, weight, age, phone number, city and state, clothing size and shoe size to the following:

xtracstate@gmail.com

Put "500" in the subject line.

Principal Actor Casting Directors

See the post titled Headshot and Resume Information regarding how to submit for acting roles.

Submit photos and resumes by mail only.
No phone calls or personal drop-offs.

Los Angeles:

Sheila Jaffe Casting
6671 Sunset Blvd.
Building 1509, Suite 104
Los Angeles, CA 90028

Chicago:

Christal Karge
Marisa Ross
Karge + Ross Casting
1501 N Kingsbury Street
Chicago, IL 60642

NOTE:

Starring and supporting roles are mainly being cast through talent agents. You can find comprehensive listings and submission addresses for talent agents here. However, if you are not signed with an agent and wish to self-submit, I highly recommend that your 8x10 color headshot and resume along with the cover letter be sent in a 9 x 12 Clear Full Face Window Envelope with the photo visible in the window.

Click Here to purchase 9 x 12 Clear Full Face Window Envelopes.

Click Here to purchase the best resume and cover letter paper.

Crew Members

Experienced film crew members available to work in Chicago can submit resumes only to the following:

captivestatefilmchicago@gmail.com

Production Companies:

Do NOT send photos and resumes to the production companies, as they will end up being thrown away. They do not cast the films, rather they hire casting directors who sort through the thousands of submissions (see above).

Executive Producers:

Jeff Skoll
Jonathan King
Ron Schmidt

Producers:

Rupert Wyatt
David Crockett

Writers:

Rupert Wyatt
Erica Beeney

Director:

Rupert Wyatt

Starring:

Vera Farmiga
John Goodman
Ashton Sanders
Machine Gun Kelly
Kevin Dunn

Story:

Set in a Chicago neighborhood nearly a decade after an occupation by an extra-terrestrial force, Captive State explores the lives on both sides of the conflict - the collaborators and dissidents.

North Carolina casting call for 'American Animals'

The feature film "American Animals" is accepting email submissions from people interested in working on the film as fully paid extras and featured background performers. The story for "American Animals" takes place in 2004, and Tona B. Dahlquist Casting is especially looking for people with clothing from that era, and vehicles from that era. Shooting will run from February 6th through April 5, 2017.

The film stars two-time Young Artist Awards nominee Evan Peters, and centers on four young men who mistake their lives for a movie, and attempt one of the most audacious heists in United States history. BAFTA Award winner Bart Layton is directing from an adapted screenplay that he wrote based on a true story. 1st AD is Rod Smith. Dimitri Doganis and Mary Jane Skalski are producing. Executive producers are Daniel Battsek, Len Blavatnik, Darren M. Demetre, Aviv Giladi, Ben Giladi, David Kosse, Sam Lavender, Tory Metzger.

"American Animals" North Carolina Casting Call

To be considered, all actors and extras must be legally eligible to work in the entertainment industry in North Carolina. You can find eligibility and work permit information in the North Carolina Actors Resource Guide eBook.

All ages and types of people are needed, any ethnicity. Upscale/Preppy, Character Faces, Working Class, Students (College and High School). Artsy/Edgy, University Professor/Faculty, Landscapers, Dutch, Police Officer/Swat, Families, Frat Boys Jocks/Soccer Team, Senior Citizens, Bartenders/Wait Staff and more. Shooting will take place in the Charlotte, NC and surrounding areas. Those interested should live within a short driving distance. All extras will be paid.

Applications should be sent by email to charlotteextras@gmail.com. The heading should include ethnicity, gender, age, city and state. (Example: Asian Female, 25, Charlotte, NC.) Submissions should also include two current photos (one full-length, one closeup), name, phone number, age, height and weight, clothing sizes, vehicle information (color/make/year/model).

HBO series 'Ballers' casting call in San Francisco

I am assisting industry leading casting director Bill Marinella to register San Francisco area talent for paid extra work on the hit HBO series "Ballers". The show will be shooting in the Bay area at the end of January, 2017 and there are thousands of roles to be filled. To be considered, all actors and extras need to have legal eligibility to work in the entertainment industry in San Francisco, CA. Details below.

"Ballers" is a 1/2 hour show that centers on the lives of former and current football players, and follows former superstar Spencer Strasmore as he gets his life on track in retirement while mentoring other current and former players through the daily grind of the business of football. The series stars two-time Image Awards nominee Dwayne Johnson, two-time Primetime Emmy Award winner Rob Corrdry, Black Reel Awards nominee Omar Benson Miller, Golden Globe Award nominee Troy Garity, Teen Choice Awards nominee Arielle Kebbel, Jazmyn Simon, John David Washington, and Donovan Carter.

"Ballers" is executive produced by Dwayne Johnson, two-time Academy Award nominee Mark Wahlberg, seven-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee Stephen Levinson, four-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee Julian Farino, two-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee Peter Berg, and three-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee Rob Weiss. Evan T. Reilly is head writer and showrunner.

"Ballers" San Francisco Casting Call Details

Shooting in San Francisco area end of January, 2017.

• Expect a 12 hour day. This doesn’t mean you will necessarily be on set 12 hours, but you should have FULL AVAILABILITY for the shoot date(s).

• Prior to shoot day you will receive a confirmation email with role/wardrobe/hair notes/call time. After receiving email with info you should reply ‘confirmed’ and your name back promptly!

• Arriving at the appropriate time is very important; please include plenty of time for traffic, parking, shuttles, etc.

• Must have valid ID to work.

• Submissions should include: Name/CURRENT photos/age/height/weight/contact number/location.

Email your submission to the following:

SanFranMHC@gmail.com

To be cast:

1. Create a FREE profile on our website

www.MarinellaHumeCasting.com

2. Watch our video on how to correctly upload photos

How To Upload Videos

Principal Actor Casting (speaking roles only):

Los Angeles:

Sheila Jaffe Casting
6671 Sunset Blvd.
Building 1509, Suite 104
Los Angeles, CA 90028

NOTE:

Starring and supporting roles are mainly being cast through talent agents. You can find comprehensive listings and submission addresses for talent agents here. However, if you are not signed with an agent and wish to self-submit, I highly recommend that your 8x10 color headshot and resume along with the cover letter be sent in a 9 x 12 Clear Full Face Window Envelope with the photo visible in the window.

Click Here to purchase 9 x 12 Clear Full Face Window Envelopes.

Click Here to purchase the best resume and cover letter paper.

Production Companies:

Closest To The Hole Productions / Chor Perros Production, LLC
3030 Pennsylvania Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90404

Imagine Entertainment
9465 Wilshire Blvd.
7th Floor
Beverly Hills, CA 90212

7 Bucks Entertainment
132 S Rodeo Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90212

Film 44
1526 Cloverfield Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90404

Universal Pictures
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608

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The aim of this blog is to help people who are interested in working as a union or non-union extra. I hope the information on this page can help you achieve your goal of working as a background actor in Film and Television. I post this information absolutely free of charge, and try to verify all details as much as possible. I hope my websites continue to help talent obtain employment in the entertainment industry.

Note: All content on third-party advertisers' websites is the sole responsibility of the respective website publisher(s)/owner(s).

What is a Background Actor?

A "Background Actor" or "Extra" is a performer in a film, television show, stage, musical, opera or ballet production, who appears in a nonspeaking, non-singing or non-dancing capacity, usually in the background.

War films and epic films often employ background actors in large numbers. Some films have featured hundreds or even thousands of paid background actors. Likewise, grand opera can involve many background actors appearing in spectacular productions.

On a film or television set, background actors are usually referred to as "Background Performers", "Background Artists" or simply "Background," while the term "Extra" is rarely used.

In a stage production, background actors are commonly referred to as "Supernumeraries". In opera and ballet, they are called either 'Extras' or 'Supers'.

SAG-AFTRA

The Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) is an American labor union representing over 150,000 film and television principal and background performers worldwide. The current organization is the result of the March 30, 2012 merger of the Screen Actor's Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

According to the SAG-AFTRA Mission Statement, the union seeks to: negotiate and enforce collective bargaining agreements that establish equitable levels of compensation, benefits, and working conditions for its performers; collect compensation for exploitation of recorded performances by its members, and provide protection against unauthorized use of those performances; and preserve and expand work opportunities for its members.

The Screen Actors Guild was founded in 1933 in an effort to eliminate exploitation of actors in Hollywood who were being forced into oppressive multi-year contracts with the major movie studios that did not include restrictions on work hours or minimum rest periods, and often had clauses that automatically renewed at the studios' discretion. These contracts were notorious for allowing the studios to dictate the public and private lives of the performers who signed them, and most did not have provisions to allow the performer to end the deal.

SAG-AFTRA is the primary performer's union in the United States. The union is affiliated with the AFL-CIO. SAG-AFTRA claims exclusive jurisdiction over motion picture as well as radio, television, Internet, and other new media. Internationally, SAG-AFTRA is affiliated with the International Federation of Actors.

How To Qualify For SAG-AFTRA Membership

A performer becomes eligible for SAG-AFTRA membership under one of the following two conditions:

1) Proof of Employment.

SAG-AFTRA membership is available to those who work in a position covered by a SAG-AFTRA (or AFTRA or SAG) collective bargaining agreement. Any person qualifying through work as a background actor must have completed three days of work as a background actor under a SAG-AFTRA (or AFTRA or SAG) collective bargaining agreement.

2) Employment Under an Affiliated Performers Union.

Performers may join SAG-AFTRA if the applicant is a paid-up member of an affiliated performers union (ACTRA, AEA, AGMA or AGVA) for a period of one year and has worked and been paid for at least once as a principal performer in that union’s jurisdiction.

All new members pay a one-time-only initiation fee, plus the first semiannual dues at the time of joining. The national initiation fee rate is currently $3000.00 (initiation fees may be lower in some states). Annual Base dues are $198.00. In addition, work dues are calculated at 1.575 percent of covered earnings up to $500,000.

Once you are a member, you must abide by the rules of membership, starting with Global Rule One and the No Contract/No Work Rule. And, whether you are a SAG-AFTRA member or not - NEVER accept work during a Union strike!

Becoming a SAG-AFTRA member is a very important milestone for every working professional talent in the entertainment industry. But you should not be in a rush to join unless you are absolutely certain that you are ready to compete for professional performing jobs. For actors, you should prepare yourself by studying acting and improv, doing live theatre, and perform in non-union on-camera productions in order to build your resume and gain extremely valuable experience.

How do I get three SAG-AFTRA background vouchers?

Excellent question; there truly isn’t a simple answer. The best way is to work as a non-union background actor as often as possible and do a great job, showing up on time and bringing the proper wardrobe.

Occasionally there will be an immediate need for a certain look or ability on the set and if you are in the right place at the right time you will be offered a SAG-AFTRA voucher. Sporadically a casting director will offer you a SAG-AFTRA voucher if they are unable to locate a SAG member who fits the requirements of the production company.

Demo Reel Information

An actors demo reel (or "demo tape") is a short compilation of clips from professional acting work on films, commercials, and television shows. It is usually no more than a few minutes in length.

A demo reel IS NOT the same as an "Audition Video". An Audition Video IS a homemade video that you make when casting directors are accepting audition video submissions.

It is NOT necessary to send in a demo reel when submitting for extra roles. Only submit a demo reel if the casting directors request it, or through an agent.

Extras Calling Services

There are companies that are termed "Calling Services" or "Booking Services" that charge fee(s) to obtain extra work for you. These Calling Services are not contracted by production companies as Casting Directors are, rather they are independent services that work for the individual extras that sign up for their service. The fee is usually on a monthly basis, however some use a per-job-booked fee structure also.

Most Extras Casting Directors use these calling services often, especially when they are casting large amounts of extras for a specific production. It is much easier and less time consuming to make one call to a Calling Service and tell them what they need than it is to call each and every extra individually.

Once an extra signs up for a Calling Service, they provide them with photos, clothing size forms, and contact information. Then it is simply a matter of letting the Calling Service know your availability. The booking service will submit their clients based on their availability to all of the extras Casting Directors, and the Casting Directors can book as many or as few of these extras and give the booking service the call times, wardrobe requirements, shooting location, etc., to forward along to their clients. It is then the responsibility of the Calling Service to provide the details to their extras and confirm the booking.

Extras who do not use a Calling Service must constantly call recorded casting lines that the extras casting directors set up, and then call a separate number if they fit exactly what is on the recorded line. The competition to get work this way is extremely fierce. It is a generally accepted reality that extras who use respected and legitimate Calling Services are booked far more frequently than those who try to do their own booking.

The fees that Calling Services charge range from around $45 - $75 per month depending on your union status, age, and the number of days that you are booked during the month. There also may be an initial registration fee that can be as low as $20 to over $100 if they require a first month fee and last month fee in addition to the registration fee.

Should I Do Extra Work For Acting Experience?

I personally feel that if a person does not have experience, doing extra work is a fantastic way to get used to being on a film or TV set. It gives you an idea of how things work and allows you to become comfortable on a set without risking "burning bridges" if you get nervous and a little stage fright.

I myself did extra work in the beginning of my career and it helped me tremendously. I had terrible stage fright, but I became very comfortable after doing background work for a while.

So the answer is yes, doing extra work will help you. It doesn't pay a whole lot, but the experience you get is valuable.

Acting is like any other job, the more training and experience a person has, the better chance of getting the job. But at the same time, we all have to start somewhere!

Types of Background Actors

General Background: Person of atmospheric business which includes the normal actions, gestures and facial expressions of the Background Actor’s assignment.

Special Ability: Background Actor specifically called and assigned to perform work requiring special skills such as tennis, golf, choreographed social dancing (including square dancing), swimming, skating, riding animals, driving livestock, non-professional singing (in groups of 16 or less), mouthing to playback in groups of 16 or less, professional or organized athletic sports (including officiating and running), amputees, driving which requires a special skill and a special license (such as truck driving but not cab driving), motorcycle driving, insert work, and practical card dealing.

Stand-In: Background Actor used as a substitute for another actor for purposes of focusing shots, setting lights, etc., but is not actually photographed. Stand-Ins may also be used as general background.

Photographic Double: Background Actor who is actually photographed as a substitute for another actor. A General Background Actor who is required to do photographic doubling shall receive the Special Ability rate.

Day Performer: A Performer who delivers a speech or a line of dialogue. A Background Actor must be upgraded to a Day Performer if directed to speak, except in the case of “omnies”.

Omnies: Any speech sounds used as general background noise rather than for its meaning. Atmospheric words such as indistinguishable background chatter in a party or restaurant scene.

Advice for Child Actors

1. Have fun and enjoy every performance.

2. Learn as much as possible from the professionals you work with.

3. Get your rest, and drink plenty of water!

4. Be respectful and do what you are asked to do to make the child wrangler's job easy.

5. Remember you are there to do a job.

6. Share the experience with your friends and family.

7. Visit as many places as you can.

8. Be thankful for the opportunity.

9. Use your down time to keep up with schoolwork.

10. Laugh, Laugh, Laugh.

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