5 Tips for Responding to Messages from Central Casting

Are you signed up and ready to get on set as a background actor? Finding work can be as easy as responding to a message from Central Casting.

When booking shows, casting directors and production companies will often send an availability inquiry to background actors who fit the look for a specific scene. All casting messages are sent as an email and text message and will appear in the inbox of your online profile.

Here are the top five tips from our casting directors to help you respond to messages and get booked as a background actor.

1. Know the difference between availability inquiries and booking messages

An availability inquiry is a message asking whether you're free and interested in a role — it is not a guarantee of work. These are usually the first message you will receive from a casting director or production company.

If you respond as available and the casting director or production company wants to hire you, you may receive a follow-up message with additional information or an offer of work. While you can respond as available to multiple availability inquiries, keep in mind that it's your responsibility not to become double booked. Double booked means you are hired for work for two separate roles for the same day.

If you find you booked yourself on multiple projects for the same day, call Central Casting as soon as possible to let us know. You cannot cancel or change your availability by responding to the message.

2. Read messages from Central Casting fully and carefully

Availability inquiries contain important information like the role type, date(s), location, role requirements and more. The opportunity to work on set is exciting, but be sure to read all communications from Central Casting completely before responding. You must be fully available during those times and meet all of the requirements to be able to work in that role.

3. Always respond as soon as possible

Casting directors and production companies ask that you respond to availability inquiries and other messages as soon as possible, even if the answer is no. This gives them time to reach out to additional background actors if necessary. We understand that you may be on set or in another situation where you cannot respond right away, we just ask that you respond as soon as you can.

4. Be honest about your availability

Casting directors are often asked if it reflects poorly on background actors who respond unavailable to multiple availability inquiries. Rest assured, past responses have no impact on future messages you may receive. In fact, casting directors and production companies prefer that you respond as unavailable when you are unable to work or uninterested in a role. Not only does this let them know not to wait on your response, but shows them you're engaged and professional.

Please do not respond as available to dates you know you can't work. That said, we know your availability can change. While you cannot change your response by replying to the availability inquiry, you can call Central Casting to let the casting director know.

5. Answer additional questions

Casting directors and production companies can, and often will, include additional questions in availability inquiries, like asking about your vehicle details, if you have specific wardrobe or props, if you can perform a special skill, and other important information related to the booking. These questions will appear after clicking the "respond" button in your message. Please reply to all questions honestly. Remember, if you're booked based off your responses to these questions, you will be expected to show up to set with the vehicle/wardrobe/props or be able to convincingly perform the special skill.

In some cases, like when booking stand-ins and doubles, casting directors may ask you to send in a stand-in resume or a recent photo so they can see what you look like right now. Be sure to follow the submission instructions in the message as casting directors and production companies need them to determine if you fit the requirements for the role.

Want to become a background actor?

Want to get on the sets of movies and TV shows? Join Central Casting! Once you're signed up, you'll have an online profile where casting directors and production companies can find you, send availability inquiries and book you for work on your favorite film and television productions.