SmartVoucher: The Original Digital Background Voucher Built with Production in Mind

From the earliest days of filmmaking, background actors have been integral to adding authenticity, energy and depth to movies and TV shows. From hundreds of cheering fans in a stadium to attendees at a Regency-era ball, background actors help bring life to what we see on screen.

Off screen, managing background actor payroll can be one of the most logistically demanding responsibilities on any production. Hundreds of performers. Staggered call times. Union and non-union contracts. For decades, assistant directors relied on paper vouchers to track call times, meal breaks and allowances all while managing background schedules and performances throughout the day. By the time payroll vouchers made it to production accountants, they were hard to read, out of order and incomplete.

All of that changed with Entertainment Partners’ SmartVoucher, the industry’s leading digital voucher solution for background actor pay.

The Hidden Complexity Behind Every Background Actor's Paycheck

As daily hires, background actors are paid using a voucher, which is their timecard for the day. Not only do ADs need to track their start, meal and wrap times, but also allowances and adjustments. Common variables can lead to major headaches:

• Was the background actor cast based on a specific skill needed in the scene? That could mean a special ability rate.
• Were they required to bring multiple changes of clothes? That may lead to a wardrobe allowance.
• Did some of them work with smoke on set? Those background actors now need a smoke adjustment.

When you factor in dozens, if not hundreds, of background actors in multiple scenes filmed throughout the day, tracking work data by scribbling notes on paper between setups was not only time-consuming, but prone to costly errors.

SmartVoucher Revolutionizes Background Actor Pay in the United States

As the original background casting company in the United States, Central Casting has provided the entertainment industry with unparalleled casting services and expertise for over 100 years. When production teams in the US needed contact-free solutions to manage background actors on set during the COVID-19 pandemic, EP and Central Casting were at the forefront of innovation.

With input from production teams and Central Casting’s unmatched experience, SmartVoucher was created, an end-to-end digital background voucher solution, providing US production teams with a seamless experience from the hiring of background actors to their receipt of paychecks.

SmartVoucher gives production and accounting teams the ability to:

• Save time and prevent costly errors with automated meal penalty calculations. ADs just need to enter start, meal and dismissal times, and SmartVoucher handles the rest, eliminating the need for manual calculations on set.
• Generate Background Reports with the click of a button. Before SmartVoucher, ADs and production teams spent hours after wrap sorting stacks of paper vouchers for end-of-day reporting. With one click, SmartVoucher generates these reports, replacing error-prone manual processes with instant, accurate results to get you home faster.
• Track background actor status in real time. Both production and accounting teams have a clear overview of background actor counts, talent status and voucher approvals, ensuring everyone on your team is on the same page without the need for external checklists.
• Customize voucher views to match the way your team already works. Preset Check In, Work Day, Approvals and Background Actor Review displays show the most relevant fields for each stage of the workday. Changes made to views are savable across current and future projects for a consistent, personalized workflow every time you're on set.

Assistant directors and production teams who rely on SmartVoucher every day have seen the difference that purpose-built digital background voucher technology makes on set.

“From top to bottom, SmartVoucher is an absolute must-have for any production environment,” said assistant director Wilson Wood. “Its user-friendly interface and seamless functionality make it a game changer when it comes to handling paperwork. With this tool, checking in and wrapping out has never been easier. It not only simplifies the process but also saves significant time, making it an indispensable asset for any team.”

Innovative Background Payroll Technology Combined With 100 Years of Casting Expertise

Built on the EP Casting Portal, Central Casting’s casting technology fully integrates with SmartVoucher, creating a continuous workflow from booking background talent to tracking them throughout the workday. Need to replace a background actor the morning of filming? When the replacement is booked, that background actor’s information will populate in SmartVoucher, ready for your on-set team to check them in.

Central Casting and EP are experts in union regulations and how local labor laws affect hiring background actors. That knowledge extends to SmartVoucher. Anytime union rates or wage laws change that affect background pay, SmartVoucher is updated to ensure your production stays compliant and avoids penalties.

Entertainment Partners Gives Productions a Single Platform for All Payroll Needs

With 50 years of experience, Entertainment Partners sets the industry standard in talent and crew payroll. As the most trusted payroll provider for the global entertainment industry, EP has the expertise, technology and client support that productions depend on. Our client-focused Paymasters provide the personal attention your production needs, while ensuring your talent and crew are paid accurately and on time.

EP’s Production Finance Studio gives productions complete control of their finances from start to wrap — streamlining digital onboarding, simplifying accounting workflows, and eliminating manual processes to increase accuracy. Combined with SmartVoucher's background actor payroll capabilities, EP gives productions a single, trusted vendor for managing crew, talent and background actor payments all under one roof.

Background Casting and Payroll Services Available in All 50 States

SmartVoucher and EP Payroll are included in Central Casting's background casting and payroll services, available depending on your production’s filming location.

• Premium Casting. With Central Casting’s Premium Casting services, our casting directors handle every step of the background casting process using the largest and most diverse background talent database in the industry. Available in California, New York, New Jersey, Georgia and Louisiana.
• Production Driven Casting. Your team maintains creative control with Production Driven Casting by selecting and booking background talent directly through the industry's most advanced casting technology, backed by Central Casting’s dedicated casting directors. Available in all states outside of California, New York, New Jersey, Georgia and Louisiana.
• Payroll with SmartVoucher. If your production has casting covered, but needs background payroll services, EP Payroll with SmartVoucher is available in all 50 states.

Bring the Industry's Original Digital Background Voucher to Your Production

Ready to bring the industry's original and leading digital background voucher to your production?

Contact us today to learn how SmartVoucher can streamline your project’s background casting and payroll workflow.