How to Become a Background Actor – Submitting
Our How to Become a Background Actor series takes an in-depth look at everything you need to know to become a Background Actor with Central Casting. You can read more in this series in our How to Become A Background Actor article category.
Want to work as a Background Actor with Central Casting? The good news is there are many ways for you to find background acting jobs.
Availability inquiries and other messages
When booking their projects, Casting Directors use our casting platform to send you availability inquires, first avail messages, details, and other communications. These messages will appear in the inbox of your online profile, be sent to the email you have on file, and may also be sent as a text with a link to respond. To ensure you never miss a communication from Central Casting, we recommend adding DoNot-Reply@centralcasting.com to your email safe sender list.
Availability inquiries are the most common messages you may receive. Remember, these are not offers or guarantees of work, the Casting Director is only asking if you are available and interested in working on a certain date(s). We ask that you respond to all messages as soon as possible, even if the answer is no. This lets our Casting Directors know if they need to reach out to other Background Actors for their project.
If you do respond as available, you may receive a follow up first avail message. First avail means that a Casting Director cannot book you right away, often because they are waiting on additional information or requirements from production. If you’re on first avail and receive a booking offer for a different role on the same date, call the Casting Director you are on first avail for to let them know the situation.
Please read all messages carefully before responding to ensure you fit the requirements of the role and have included any additional details requested. Messages regarding mandatory vaccination productions require submission of additional information, you can learn more in our Mandatory Vaccination Guide.
My schedule
An exciting feature in your online profile is your schedule. This tool lets you see every job-related message you’ve been sent by Central Casting and how you’ve responded to it. This allows you to better keep track of your schedule to see what days you’ve responded available, when you’re on first avail, and dates you’re booked to help ensure you don’t double book yourself. You can access your schedule by selecting the “My Schedule” option in the menu of your online profile.
Job posts
Another tool Casting Directors use to book Background Actors is the Jobs page of our website. Their posts will include specific details on the roles they’re casting, like portrayable age range, sizes, and if it’s SAG-AFTRA or non-union. If you don’t see a role you fit, keep checking back as Casting Directors post often throughout the day.
You will usually be asked to submit to these posts via email. Be sure to include all the information requested, like your phone number or additional photos. Casting Directors need this information to look up your online profile and to determine if you’re right for the role; you’d hate to miss out because you didn’t include what they asked for.
Now that you know how to submit, find out How to Prepare for Your First Day on Set and How to Stand Out to Casting Directors.
