What Are Casting Websites?

Casting Websites are platforms utilized by casting directors to find actors. The most popular ones in the US are:

• Actors Access,
• Backstage, and
• Casting Networks.

Although creating an actor profile on the platform is free, using them to self-submit to auditions can be costly. So, before you spend your dollars on a platform you are not sure about, let’s dive into the differences between them and others, and which ones to sign up for.

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Actors Access

Actors Access is the industry standard for casting. That means every big-budget project will get an “Actors Access Release” for self-submission if casting can’t find the talent they are looking for.

Many casting directors will reach out to agents and managers before releasing casting notices or breakdowns. But when they are looking for something very specific, such as a special skill or a language, they may open their casting to self-submissions.

Important tips about casting breakdowns on Actors Access:

• Not all breakdowns will be visible to actors and available for self-submission.
• Most high-profile roles will only be released to agents, even on Actors Access.
• So, if you don’t have an agent yet, keep looking.
• Still, you may come across a good opportunity for a paid role on Actors Access.

Among all casting websites, Actors Access is the platform that does the best job of keeping scammers away. And it allows you to upload 2 headshots and your resume for free. You only pay per submission, or you can opt for a yearly subscription, which gives you unlimited submissions. Actors Access is a must for any working actor building their credits. 

[Read also: The Most Common Misconceptions About Casting]

Backstage

One big difference between the casting websites Actors Access and Backstage is that Backstage has a lot of content for actors. Like a digital magazine, they have educational videos, articles, and even interviews with industry pros. They also have a free monologue search that can be handy for last-minute auditions.

Backstage has a fair number of casting calls for local productions like theater and independent movies. Unfortunately for unrepresented and inexperienced actors, it is not the platform casting directors use for big-budget projects. So, you will not find a role there likely to be your big industry break. A subscription to Backstage is expensive and, unfortunately, actors cannot self-submit for projects on the platform unless they sign up.

Good things about Backstage:

• Free industry educational content;
• Monologue database;
• plenty of low-budget productions that consider inexperienced actors. 

Backstage also falls short when it comes to curbing scammers from their platforms. You will come across a handful of “classes” or “agent showcases” that are not legitimate. Unfortunately, inexperienced actors frequently fall for such scams. We hope Backstage starts filtering those ads soon. In the meantime, be careful when someone on the platform tries to sell you a class or event.

Backstage is recommended for inexperienced actors looking to get their first acting credits. If you don’t have any connections like an agent or a local theater group, it is hard to find auditions. In that case, signing up for Backstage may be a good option. You will not need the platform anymore once you build a few solid credits and sign with an agent.

Bad things about Backstage:

• Too costly;
• many suspicious (scammy) ads;
• not good after you have some experience. 

[Read also: Can Background Acting Ruin My Career?]

Casting Networks

Casting Networks is known for its ultra-expensive price and low-quality self-submission opportunities. But once you have a good commercial agent, things change. Commercial casting offices and agents utilize Casting Networks a lot. So, even if you don’t like the platform, you can benefit from creating a profile on it.

As far as self-submissions, Casting Networks offers little to no IMDb credit-worth auditions. Mostly, what you find on the platform are:

• side gigs like party recreation and bartending;
• “real people casting,” which you can find for free all over the internet;
• competition and low-budget reality show casting;
• event staffing jobs;
• ultra-low budget and local students’ movie projects.

When you do have a commercial agent, they will likely request you to be on different casting websites, including Casting Networks.

The (costly) platform’s full subscription allows you to upload:

• unlimited photos,
• equally unlimited videos, an
• unlimited voice reels.

The downside is that if you downgrade from the full subscription, all of your “unlimited” media uploaded gets removed immediately.

If you want to avoid the high price and still utilize Casting Networks, you can pay per item (headshot, video, voice clip) you upload. If you pay individually per upload, your material stays linked to your free account and never gets removed. 

[Read also: 6 Reasons to Never Pay to Be in a Talent Showcase]

IMDbPro

Not a casting website per se, IMDbPro is an online resume for working actors. Paying for the pro-version allows you to upload a professional headshot and any other career-related pictures. Even when you don’t have many credits, having a profile on IMDb validates you in the industry as a professional actor. 

In addition, IMDbPro is the only platform that focuses on TV, movies, and web series, allowing listed credits of industry pros to be searchable. It is also a great platform to find information about agents, casting directors, and projects still in pre-production.

As much as IMDbPro is a must for a professional working actor, its “jobs” page is far from great. If you are looking to get cast through an IMDbPro casting notice, you are up for some disappointment. Still, consider the paid subscription as soon as you start an agent search or when you start getting TV and movie auditions.IMDb is an actor’s business card and you must be on it.

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Casting Websites Outside of the US 

The casting websites we have discussed so far are mainly for US actors. In Europe, Spotlight seems to be the go-to platform, but you can only sign up with a European agent. 

When it comes to  Canada, Casting Workbook is building its reputation as a solid platform although it is still in the early stages and not very user-friendly.

In reality, not every country relies on websites for casting. Outside of the US, the old-school ways of casting persist, with agents sending actors to casting offices after mailing them a physical headshot stapled to a resume. 

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Other Casting Websites

Other casting platforms exist, but they are either small or, unfortunately, full of scams. For those reasons, we do not particularly recommend them, unless you personally know someone who tried them successfully. The best course of action for a beginner actor is to stick to the biggest platforms we listed, even if one at a time, depending on the stage of your career. 

Moreover, once you have an agent, they will discuss with you the platforms they use. Any legitimate theatrical agent will have their own Actors Access profile to which they link their actor clients, so they can submit you for roles. And commercial agents typically use Casting Networks. 

Make sure to budget your money for the casting websites you decide to use.  Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be in all casting platforms at all times. Sometimes it is best to sign up for one platform at a time unless your agent says otherwise. That depends on what kind of projects you are ready for.

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Conclusion

Casting Websites are really helpful to casting directors and actors. They also make the job of agents and managers easier. However, the cost of being on all of the platforms is high.

• Actors should prioritize which platforms work best for them at the current stage of their careers in order to maximize the possibilities of finding work.
• Managing too many platforms is not only overwhelming but unnecessary.
• As you build up your acting credits, you will transition out of many platforms and rely only on what your agent prefers as well as your IMDb page.

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