Adding Props and Special Skills to Your Online Profile

Your central casting online profile is one of the best tools you can use to get booked as a background actor. Here's what you need to know about adding props and special skills to help casting directors and production companies find you when casting these roles.

Before we jump in, it's important to note that if you're booked based on the props or skills in your profile, you will be expected to show up to set with that prop or convincingly portray that skill on camera. Please be honest when filling out your profile and when responding to messages from casting directors and production companies.

Adding props you own

Just like with wardrobe or vehicles, casting directors often need to book background actors with certain props. From everyday objects like luggage, to role-specific props like a stenotype machine, to period items like a 1990s camera, you never know when a prop can help you get booked.

You can add props by logging in to your online profile, selecting the "Casting Information" tab, and scrolling to the props section. From the dropdown, you can add as many props as you own, have access to and are willing to work with. After selecting some "other" options, a field will appear to type in additional information about your prop.

Don't see a prop you have listed? When booking roles requiring props, casting directors and production companies can post to the Open Roles page seeking submissions for specific props. If you have the prop and fit the description for the role, submit according to the instructions.

Be sure to delete any props you no longer own or no longer want to work with on set and add new props as you get them.

Updating your profile with special skills

To make movements believable on camera, productions may opt to look for background actors who have experience with the role, like someone who looks convincing playing a sport or portraying a certain profession.

Casting directors and production companies also search for special skills when casting doubles. Doubles take the place of principal actors on screen and are needed for a variety of reasons, from freeing up actors when their faces don't need to be shown or to perform specialized tasks the actor can't convincingly portray. Hand doubles are especially common and are often used for insert shots, like a close up of a character playing an instrument.

You can add special skills by going to the "Casting Information" section of your online profile, scrolling to the Skills dropdown, then choosing the skills you can portray. There will be some skill options with proficiency levels listed, please be honest about your abilities to perform that skill.