What You Need to Know About Being Booked by Central Casting

APRIL 26, 2021

Background Actors in a park with a film crew.

Over the past year there have been some changes to the booking process and working on set. Whether you’ve been booked recently or are looking to return to background work, you may find this information helpful if you’re interested in working as a Background Actor.

COVID-19 testing

When you scroll through the Jobs page or receive a message from a Casting Director, you’ll notice COVID-19 testing is still a requirement before you can be booked and often before or on your work date. If you are carried or hired for multiple days, you may have additional testing dates as part of your booking.

Per the industry-wide Return to Work agreement at the time this article is being written, COVID-19 testing is still required for fully vaccinated individuals. Testing dates and other information will be included in availability inquiries, job posts, and your details. You must be available for the testing and work dates in order to be booked. Minors and the parent/guardian accompanying them to set will also need to be tested.

Testing procedures vary and can be updated per show. It’s imperative that you read your details carefully and follow all instructions given by production.

Working on set

Each project implements health and safety protocols in their own way, so your experience can change set to set. Just like with testing, it’s important to read your booking details carefully to be prepared for your workday. You may also be given additional instructions by production when you arrive; please do your part to ensure the health and safety of everyone on set.

Part of these protocols can limit the contact between crew members and talent, which can mean less interaction with hair, makeup, wardrobe, and other departments. You also may find that interviews and fittings that used to be in person are now virtual. Remember, while these meetings are held via Zoom or other video conferencing services, you should still act professionally and make sure your attire and background are appropriate. You can find more information on using Zoom in our article Tips on Using Zoom for Background Work.

If you’re interested in learning more about getting ready for set, these guides have all the information you need to put great camera ready looks together:

Using our casting platform

You’re likely aware of our new casting platform, but if you haven’t claimed your profile yet, are new to Central Casting, or are just coming back to background work, now is a great opportunity to become familiar with your online profile.

To get started, you’ll first need to claim your profile. Then you can log in to review and update your contact information, appearance, sizes, photos, and much more. Casting Directors use this information when booking their shows, so fully filling out your profile with the correct information will help you show up in searches for roles you fit.

An exciting feature of our casting platform is our new messaging process. When sending avail checks, first avail, details, and other messages, you’ll receive an email to the address on file, and in some cases, a text message. You can also review and respond to all messages via the inbox in your online profile. This new process allows Casting Directors to include more role information and ask additional questions. It also helps Background Actors keep track of communications they receive from Central Casting.

There’s a lot to know about our casting platform. Check out these resources to understand the benefits of claiming your profile: