Frequently Asked Questions

If you cancel, we ask that you give us enough notice to replace you.

You can change your status by filling out our online SAG-AFTRA update form.

No, there is no guarantee of work because the needs of productions change every day. Due to the nature of background acting jobs, Central Casting can never offer full-time employment to any of the talent (i.e., you) it employs.

“Checking your availability” means that a Casting Director is preparing the look for a show for a future date and is checking if you are available to work that day. When Central Casting checks your availability, we are not offering or guaranteeing work, we are only asking if you can work without time restrictions on a specific date or date range. “Without time restrictions” means that there are no possible conflicts that would prevent you from working that day. When preparing for and booking their shows, Casting Directors may not know call times until they get additional information from production and those call times often change through the night and early morning. That’s why you need to have all day availability when responding as avail to these messages.

“First avail” means that you have confirmed your availability, but the Casting Director cannot book you right away. You are not booked unless you accept an offer for work and receive details. So when you are on first avail, you are not officially booked and are still able to look for other work. If you are offered another job or put on first avail for another job, please call the initial Casting Director you are on first avail for before accepting the offer; your first avail show may choose to hire you first. Also, if your availability changes while on first avail, please call our office as soon as possible to let us know you are no longer available to work.

After accepting an offer for work, you will receive a details message with your booking information. Casting Directors get this information as it comes in from multiple departments within production, it is likely you will not receive your details until later in the evening the night before you work.

Always check your voicemail. Do not call back until you have checked your voicemail to ensure the Casting Director did not leave specific instructions. If no message was left, wait and see if you receive a call back. If you do not receive a call back, assume you are no longer needed.

Rush calls are for immediate same-day work. This is usually to replace a “no show.” When you respond to a rush call, you may be required to get to the set location within an hour or less after being booked.

You can view the New York Anti-Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Policy here and the Sexual Harassment Complaint Form here.

Casting Directors will contact you directly when you fit the look or requirements for a role. Be sure to completely fill out your online profile and add additional photos in different looks so Casting Directors can consider you for a variety of roles. You can also check our Jobs page for roles you fit and submit according to the instructions in the post.

Emails will always come from DoNot-Reply@centralcasting.com and include a link to reply to the message via our casting platform. SMS text messages will always come from the same 5-digit number and will always include a link to reply via our casting platform. These inquiries will also appear in your online profile.

Our Casting Directors will review their responses then reach out if they intend to book you. If you are not selected, you may not hear from anyone. Remember, you’re booked when you accept an offer for work and receive details.

When booking, Casting Directors may not know the call time (which can often change before the shoot), so they need you to have completely open availability on the date in question. For example, if you cannot work between 3-4pm, you are not available without time restrictions.

Yes, always respond as soon as you can. Some messages will expire after a certain amount of time. When this happens, you will see a notification that submissions are closed. We recommend enabling alerts for Central Casting through your email provider so you can always respond to availability inquiries on time.

Yes, you are responsible for letting Central Casting know when you are available to work. Once you are booked, you are also responsible for not becoming double booked. If you are on first avail, please let that Casting Director know before accepting another offer.

After you respond to a message, you will be sent a notification detailing your response and confirmation we received it.

Casting Directors may only accept responses for a certain period of time and your message may have expired. If the message has expired and we’re no longer accepting submissions for the role for which you were contacted, you will see a page that explains this when you try to respond.

If you don’t hear back with an offer for work and details, you are not booked. However, given the volume of roles they are booking, please be patient as it may take them some time to respond.

You are not booked unless you accept an offer for work and receive details.

Thank you for replying. Your response lets the Casting Director know you are interested and available to work, but does not guarantee you will be booked. Depending on the casting volume, you may not hear back.

No, our texting number is only formatted to send outbound text messages from our casting platform. When you respond to a text message directly, you will get a message indicating that you can only reply “Stop” to end text communication. We do not accept “yes,” “no,” or any other response through text message.

No, our texting number is only formatted to send outbound text messages from our casting platform. Please call our main line at:

While you may receive an email or text message, all communication with Casting Directors happens through our casting platform. Click the link in the email or text message to respond.

No, the messages are only in English.

Yes. T-Mobile has released a feature that allows their customers to “opt-out” of business messages. In order to receive text messages from Central Casting, T-Mobile users will need to contact T-Mobile support at 1.800.866.2453 and ask for this feature to be turned off. Once the opt-out is removed, you will be able to receive messages from Central Casting. Even if you are a T-Mobile customer who has received text messages from Central Casting in the past, please check with T-Mobile to ensure you do not have the opt-out feature enabled.

If your availability has changed after responding to a message, please call our office at:

We apologize for the inconvenience. Most likely your phone number was previously owned by someone signed up with us or provided to us in error.

As an employee of Central Casting you provided your mobile number to us so that we can contact you about jobs for which you would be a potential match. However, if you no longer want us to reach out to you via text message, please reply “STOP” to the text message you received.

Adding Central Casting as a VIP sender ensures you don’t miss out on job inquiries and other communications. If you have an iPhone, follow these steps. If you have another device, please check your email app settings.

1. Open an email from Central Casting
2. Tap on Central Casting in the “from” field at the top of the page
3. Select “add to VIP” below Central Casting’s contact information

It is critical that you write down your work information. If you lose your information or if you have any questions regarding your work information call:

• Los Angeles: 818.562.2700
• New York: 646.205.8244 ext. 4
• Georgia: 404.920.8011
• Louisiana: 504.684.2550

Your details will contain information on how to get call time changes. Be sure to check for any changes before arriving to set.

You must bring two of these three documents with you to set:

1. A Valid Louisiana Driver’s License or State ID Card
2. A current Louisiana Voter Registration Card
3. A copy of last year’s Federal and/or Louisiana personal income tax return

Our Studio and Parking Guide has information on studio locations and parking options.

Come to set camera ready. Bring your ID and any additional wardrobe or props requested by production. Learn more in our article What Background Actors Need to Bring to Set.

Roles change from set to set, but often a Background Actor’s main contact is the 2^nd Assistant Director (2^nd AD) and Production Assistants (PAs).

When you are not required on set, you will be taken to a holding area. You can bring items to the holding area to keep busy while you are not working.

You will be on set with them, behind the scenes. Please stay within your designated area and do not interfere with production. Be prepared to accompany your minor when they go to wardrobe, set, and to school (if applicable).

Do not bring guests or other children who are not working to the set with you.

If you are injured on set, you must report it to the Assistant Director and/or medic immediately.

Our Definition of Terms explains many phrases and terms commonly used on set.

You will receive an email or can log in to your online profile to complete required tasks at your call time.

Yes, as some of the forms are project/work date specific.

No. Central Casting has already obtained and validated your start paperwork. If not, you will be asked to complete on paper on set.

Yes, you will receive a unique SmartVoucher to review and e-sign for each Job type you perform (i.e. Pre-employment Covid Test, Fitting, Interview, etc.).

Please visit myEP for more information on updating any payroll information.

No, production will input this information as the day progresses.

No, the on-set production representative will fill out your SmartVoucher throughout the workday then send for you to review at wrap. Be sure to raise any queries with production in person before leaving set.

Production should be sending you your SmartVoucher to review immediately at wrap. You should review and e-sign your voucher while still at the production location, so any disputes can be raised and resolved in person.

We suggest you review your SmartVoucher while still on set, so you have the opportunity to raise any questions in person with the production staff that completed your voucher.

Log in to your Central Casting online profile and select the “Job Review” option in the blue toolbar on top.

Upon request, Central Casting can provide you the signed copy of a form.

Once the e-sign checkbox is selected, it cannot be undone.

After production sends your SmartVoucher for review, you have 24 hours to approve or raise queries. After 24 hours, your SmartVoucher is deemed approved and sent for processing.

No. For your security, you will always be required to use your unique login to view your SmartVoucher. You can print a copy at any time by selecting the “Export” button.

Log in to your Central Casting online profile and select the “Job Review” option in the blue toolbar on top.

No. Your online profile will only contain voucher history from productions where SmartVoucher was used. Paper copies are not uploaded.

Once you have received a SmartVoucher for review on a job, any changes made will create an updated version. You can view all versions from the dropdown menu within a job review.

We suggest you review and raise these concerns while on set for the quickest remedy. If you are unable to review until you get home, select “raise a query” from the review page and you may type your question for production there.

No, your payment will continue to be processed through payroll and your check will be sent as per normal schedule.

You can contact technical support Monday-Friday 6am-6pm PT at 855.500.2055, helpme@centralcasting.com, or tech support chat.

Payroll is processed as vouchers come in from production, which means you may receive checks out of work date order. You can learn more about your pay history by logging in to myEP.

No. At this time, we do not have the resources for checks to be picked up. Paychecks are handled in a security area with 24-hour surveillance and delivered by our bonded driver to the post office directly. Paymasters do not have access to your paychecks.

The checks are sent first class mail. While you will receive most checks within 2-3 business days after they are mailed, there are times when it could take longer through the federal mail system, particularly during holiday periods.

Checks are not mailed out in order of work date. Before we can cut a check, the production reviews and completes the voucher, and production companies vary on how often they process and send in the vouchers.

To inquire about a missing check, please contact payroll at 855.500.2055. Be sure to have the name of the project you worked on, the date you worked, and your voucher information. You can also check your pay history on myEP.

To request a stop payment, fill out and follow the instructions on our Stop Pay/Reissue Form. A stop payment can be placed no sooner than one calendar week after the check has been mailed.

Yes, there are many people we payroll with the same or similar names. You will need to put your Social Security number on each voucher so we can correctly identify who we should pay. Your voucher will either be delayed or not processed if we are unable to identify who worked.

For payroll inquiries, please call 855.500.2055 and select option 2, then sub-option 4 when prompted. Representatives are available Monday-Friday, 6am-6pm PT. Peak call times are between 3-5pm PT, we recommend calling outside of this window for assistance.

Payroll and casting are handled separately. Our Casting Directors do not have access to your pay information. Please contact payroll for paycheck related questions and be prepared with the name of the project you worked on, the date you worked, and your voucher information.

To create an account, please go to my.EP.com and log in using the same email address and password you use to log in to your Central Casting online profile.

Once you have logged in to your account, you will need to link myEP to your EP payroll profile. To do this, select the “update profile” option under “manage account” and click the “connect payroll profile” button. You will then be prompted to enter your Social Security number and verify your employment by providing net pay, check, or gross pay information.

Now that your payment profile is linked, you will be able to change your address, view your pay history, and compare paychecks. Be sure to review your contact information to make sure everything is current.

To change your address with payroll, please log in to myEP. You can access myEP by using the same email address and password you use to log in to your Central Casting online profile.

You can email or mail a stop payment request by filling out a Stop Pay/Reissue Form. A stop payment can be placed no sooner than one calendar week after the check has been mailed.

Five business days for current year checks, longer if the check was cut in a prior year. We are unable to reissue a check that has been stop paid until after we have received confirmation from the bank that the stop payment was successful.

You can access your pay history by signing up or logging in to your myEP account. If you need records to join SAG-AFTRA, please call 818.955.6313.

To update your W-4 and State Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate, select the relevant form from the links below, fill out and follow the directions on the form, then email to the payroll department at CPInquiries@ep.com. Please note: if claiming exempt, a new W-4 is needed each year.

To access your W-2, visit EP’s W-2 page.

To submit an inquiry or correction to your tax form, please fill out and sign our inquires and corrections form.

For employment verification, call 818.955.6313. This is an Entertainment Partners line; they will be able to provide employment verification.

All after hours chats are sent to the technical support team. Our staff will review your query and will get back to you.

No, technical support is available to help with issues related to your online profile, required training (Los Angeles and New York only), and other non-casting related questions. To cancel a booking, change or first avail status, and update your availability, you must call your Central Casting office.

No, reservations for Talent Onboarding can only be made on your location’s reservation calendar, which you can find by visiting your location’s Sign Up page. You can contact technical support if you experience issues with the online application portion of the onboarding process.

Our technical support staff uses the email you provide to look up your profile. If chatting on behalf of your minor, please use the email address associated with their online profile.

On the sign-in screen, click the Forgot Password? link. Next, click Send Request. A password reset email with a link will be sent to the email associated with your Central Casting profile. Click the link and follow the prompts to create a new password. Password strength requirements will be displayed onscreen.

Note: Your reset link expires after one hour. Repeat the above steps if you do not reset your password within that time limit.

1. The email was possibly routed to your spam or other specialty folders. Check there first.
2. Confirm that you are entering your email address correctly. Even minor typos can prevent the system from recognizing it.
3. Double-check that you have already set up a Central Casting profile. The system must recognize your email address to send the password reset email.

Central Casting’s Password Expiration Policy dictates that passwords expire within 90 days. You will be prompted to change your password when you first sign in after your password expires. Central Casting is dedicated to the security and protection of the data it maintains, including individual payroll and studio data. To keep Central Casting’s commitment to aligning with industry best practices, Central Casting requires customary password changes to decrease the risks introduced by lost, old, or stolen passwords.

1. From the sign-in screen, enter your current username and password.
2. You are brought to the Change Password screen instead of signing in.
3. Enter your current password in the Current Password field.
4. Enter a new password in the New Password field. Password requirements display. The password also cannot match your last 18 passwords.
5. Re-enter your new password in the Confirm Password field.
6. Click Change Password to complete and sign in.
7. You are all set. You will not need to change your password anywhere else. Your EP Account lets you use the same username and password for all products, including your Central Casting profile and myEP.

Go back to the first sign-in screen (where you enter your email) and click the Forgot Password? link. Follow the prompts to change your password.