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As a producer, casting the right talent can make or break your production. But finding the right talent…can be tough.

Casting agencies, companies, and websites have become increasingly popular resources for casting directors and professionals to find talent for photoshoots, film, TV, and more. Some casting companies offer additional tools to help producers oversee submissions, book talent, and more. 

This article will take a look at some of the best casting websites to help you tackle casting head-on–and get the perfect talent for your next project! 

What Is a Casting Website? 

A casting website is an online platform where casting directors, producers, and filmmakers can post casting calls for roles in their upcoming projects.

Using a casting website provides benefits for both industry professionals and performers. Casting directors can quickly and efficiently reach a wide talent pool. They can filter and find specific types of talent within a centralized database, making the selection process easier and less stressful.

Casting agencies and companies are also invaluable for discovering and finding opportunities for actors, from large-scale productions to independent films or local theater. Creating a professional profile on a casting website can increase an actor’s visibility in the industry, allowing them to showcase their skills, headshots, and reels to casting professionals. 

Paid vs Free Casting Sites 

Both paid and free casting websites allow the actor and producer to see and find projects, films, etc. The main difference is that the user is usually getting what they paid for. 

Paid casting websites typically offer a premium experience, with advanced search options, high-quality talent databases, extensive project listings, and in-depth profiles for actors and casting calls. These sites often provide additional resources like audition coaching, resume-building tools, and industry insights to give subscribers a competitive edge.

Free casting companies can be a great starting point for newcomers or those with budget constraints, allowing actors to access some casting calls and submit for roles without a financial commitment. This can limit opportunities for the actor or offer limited features and tools for them to use on their website.

Casting Company Services

Some of the most common services offered by casting companies and websites: 

• Talent scouting: Helps producers actively search for and identify potential talent for various roles, drawing from a large pool of actors, models, and performers.
• Casting calls or auditions: They organize and facilitate casting calls and auditions, where actors perform in front of casting directors or producers to showcase their suitability for a role
• Contracting and negotiation: Casting companies may help negotiate contracts and terms of employment so that both the talent and the production company mutually agree.
• Representation: Some casting companies may also serve as representatives or agents for actors, helping them to find work, manage their schedules, and provide career guidance.
• Project casting: Casting companies work closely with production teams to understand the specifics of a project and determine the types of actors required. 
• Background talent: Casting companies also provide background actors or extras to fill out scenes and provide a realistic environment.
• Workshops: Some casting companies offer workshops and training sessions for actors to develop their skills and stay competitive.
• Casting strategy: Develop a comprehensive casting strategy that aligns with the creative vision of the production, considering factors like budget, timelines, and project-specific requirements.

The Best Casting Websites & Companies

Here’s the LÜK list of some of the best casting websites and companies for talent and producers: 

1. Actor’s Access

Actor’s Access allows actors to create personal profiles with headshots, resumes, and media clips. Actors can also audition virtually and upload their audition videos for casting directors to review. 

Features & Services:

• Eco Cast: Helps with audition management for remote and in-person auditions, callbacks, and more. 
• The Grid: User can track projects, work with their teams, and create project lists from one place. 
• Talent Link: Help actors and new talent find representation. 
• Casting About: Helps talent stay up to date on who’s casting with all details such as social media, email, addresses, etc. 

2. Backstage

Backstage is a platform that helps actors, performers, and creative professionals find opportunities on TV, film, theater, and more. Users can upload their information, reels, headshots, and more to their profiles and subscribe to the platform for resources and tools like articles and webinars. 

Features & Services:

• User-generated Content: Users can find and discover influencers, content creators, and people to help generate realistic content. 
• Theater and Performing Arts: Casting professionals can find, connect, and manage diverse talent for plays, musicals, epics, and more. 
• Secure Payments: Casting professionals can pay talent directly with their preferred method. 
• Branded Content: Users can create content using the platform’s creative tool marketplace and workflow tools. 

3. Casting Frontier

Casting Frontier streamlines the casting process by providing tools for actors and casting professionals. Casting professionals can post their listings on the platform, search talent by capabilities, record and hold auditions, and more. Actors can create profiles and audition for multiple listings using Casting Frontier. 

Features & Services:

• Auditioning: Talent can audition from anywhere, or casting directors can invite talent to audition remotely. 
• Profiles: Talent can show off their skills and upload their social media, resumes, video clips, and headshots. 
• Agent Finder: Helps agents find new talent to represent or recommend for roles. 
• Book Talent: Casting Directors can book talent from anywhere by requesting virtual audition tapes, sharing lives, and meeting with talent and agents.

4. Casting Networks

Casting Networks is a platform for actors and casting directors. It offers a centralized tool for finding, auditioning, and booking talent for TV, film, music videos, and more. The platform can also help manage talent submissions, organize callbacks, and more. 

Features & Services:

• Talent Profiles: Talent can create their profile with their resume, media highlights, and headshots. 
• Organize Submissions: Casting directors can organize all submissions from representatives and talent to help with casting. project, 
• Notifications: Talent representatives get real-time notifications about new roles and submitting talent in the same place. 

5. iActor

iActor is an online casting service that SAG-AFTRA created for its union members. The platform has a talent database with profiles, headshots, resumes, contact information, and reels. The purpose of this platform is to give its actors more exposure. 

Features & Services:

• Casting Account: Casting professionals can fill out a form if they are casting for a project. 
• Database: A database available to casting professionals to find talent for projects. 
• Online Resumes: Platform members can create online resumes with photos, videos, and audio files. 

6. IMDbPro

IMDbPro was created for actors and entertainment professionals. The platform provides information about the box office, actors, production, and tools such as the IDMbPro Discover and public profiles. Those who are subscribed to IMDbPro also have access to insights and data regarding the box office. 

Features & Services:

• Known For: Users and talent can highlight their credits, demo reels, featured images, and more for their profiles.
• Tracking: Talent can track in-development projects and attachments. 
• Title Database: A database with the lifetime of each TV, film, media, or web series project with details about each production. 
• IMDbPRo Discover: The platform allows Professionals to search and find staff for their upcoming projects. 

7. Mandy Network

Mandy Network is an online network for actors and casting professionals looking for opportunities to audition or cast talent in their projects. The platform comes with multiple resources, such as career advice, detailed profiles, access to exclusive events, workshops, and more.

Features & Services:

• Employer Directory: Users can access the employer directory and reach out to potential employers. 
• Networking: Talent can join forums and notice boards and talk with other industry professionals. 
• Service Providers: The Platform provides a list of photographers and show and voice reel providers to help talent showcase their skills. 
• Alerts: Talent gets notifications about new pad jobs and auditions based on their skills. 

8. Project Casting

Project Casting offers a database for casting calls and auditions for actors, models, singers, dancers, and performers. The platform also works as a hub of information, providing updates on the industry, tips and advice, listing information, and access to industry insights. 

Features & Services:

• Job Board: Database with casting calls and opportunities that can be filtered by company, location, job type, etc. 
• Profile: Newcomers can join the platform and create their profiles to get discovered. 
• Messenger: Network and communicate with professionals and companies using the Project Casting app. 
• Job Alerts: Users get notifications for new casting calls, auditions, and jobs when they become available. 

9. NYCastings

NYCasting is a casting service that connects casting directors and producers with talent. The main mission of NYC Casting is to improve the chances of an actor landing a role. The platform also offers workshops, headshots, resume services, and updated listings. 

Features & Services:

• Role Alerts: Actors get an email or message for roles that match their interests. 
• Account Dashboard: A hub for the actors’ information, photos, reels, media, etc. 
• Training: Actors can attend workshops and use the platform’s resources to improve their skills. 
• Share documents: Casting directors can share scripts, contracts, call sheets, and more with hired talent through the platform. 

10. Playbill

Playbill is a well-known online platform that caters to the theater industry. The website offers information for plays and musicals and lists upcoming shows and times for upcoming productions. Actors use the platform to find audition and performance-related job opportunities. 

Features & Services:

• Advertising: Users can reach their audiences through the Playbill website or magazine. 
• Make-Your-own-Playbill/PLAYBILLder: Users can build their own playbill that can be shared virtually with others. 
• Vault: A database of long-running Broadway shows and musicals with information on dates and times of upcoming performances. 

11. StarNow

StarNow is a platform that helps productions and talent find jobs and auditions. Those looking for work can filter listings and projects by production type and location. Producers and casting directors can look for talent using the platform’s talent database. 

Features & Services:

• Auditions Calendar: Organizes casting calls by data and weekday the audition for a project takes place. 
• Talent Database: Access to profiles of hundreds of actors and performers with their information and location.
• Pay Talent: Can pay talent directly using the platform’s Secure Payment feature. 
• Listing Auditions: Users can create a listing for a role or job in their upcoming productions. 

The Easiest Way to Cast and Book Talent

Booking and casting talent can be time-consuming–and you need all the time you can get as a producer. Casting companies are a great help, but still require time to search through databases and set up auditions and casting calls. That’s why you need the most modernized platform to help you find the best talent in half the time. 

To further build out your production tech stack, look to LÜK for an all-in-one production platform that offers solutions for 1099 payroll, booking and crew management. With LÜK’s entertainment payroll software, you can say good-bye to paperwork and back-and-forth emails just to pay talent. Approve or dispute bundled invoices, access your very own EOR, and rest easy knowing your talent gets paid directly and on time. 

Features & Services:

• Entertainment payroll processing: All talent and contractors are paid by federal and state labor laws. Clients can also access payout confirmations and reports. 
• Worker classification: Handles all worker classifications on behalf of the producers to avoid any tax and legal troubles.
• Personal Booking Specialist: A LÜK Booking Specialist helps set up casting calls, communicate and confirm talent for the projects, and handle any documentation for the producer.
• Payroll management: Producers receive one invoice while payments are sent directly to 1099 contractors.  
• Tax management: Sends out 1099-NEC to independent contractors surpassing the threshold set by the IRS for tax season.  
• Casting and booking: Offers tools that help producers connect with talent, view talent decks, hold casting calls, check talent availability, and more. 
• Invoice bundling: Bundle all 1099 payments for bookings, talent, contractors, and more into one invoice. 
• EOR: LÜK will act as the Employer of Record for your production, keeping it in compliance with labor laws, handling tax tracking, payroll, and more. 

It’s that easy with LÜK. 

Managing entertainment payroll can feel like a Herculean task. Between juggling casting calls, approving creative materials, and keeping a keen eye on the budget, the last thing you need is a complex payroll system slowing you down. That’s why having reliable entertainment payroll services is not just a nice-to-have–it’s a must-have.

Cast & Crew is one of the options you might consider. It’s a well-known name in the industry and has its strengths. But if you’re looking for something more comprehensive, user-friendly, and designed with the modern producer in mind, you might want to explore other alternatives. 

Today, we’ll take a closer look at Cast & Crew and compare it with other top-notch entertainment payroll providers. Our goal is to help you find the perfect fit for your payroll needs, so your production process can be as smooth and stress-free as possible.

What Does Cast & Crew Do?

Cast & Crew provides a range of services and cloud-based products for the global entertainment industry. These include digital production accounting workflows, online purchase order creation, and management of personal documents for crew members. They offer tools to manage the digital onboarding processes for productions and crew members and provide a digital timecard and workflow solution that reduces time spent on manual processes.

Cast & Crew tools help users interpret and visualize production data through reports and give frequent access to payroll, HR, and accounting data as a service. They also offer digital asset management for storing and sharing payroll and production documents.

Cast & Crew Products and Services

Products

• PSL+: Accounting tool for production, offering budget setup, cost tracking, vendor payment, and project cost reporting.
• DPO: Online system for creating and approving purchase orders, designed for the entertainment industry.
• MyCastCrew: Platform for crew members to manage their personal, production, and payroll documents.
• Start+: Tool for digital onboarding processes for productions and crew members.
• Hours+: Digital timecard and workflow solution.
• Reporting+: Tool for interpreting and visualizing production data with reports.
• Data+: Service providing access to payroll, HR, and accounting data.
• Studio+: Digital asset management system for storing and sharing payroll and production documents.

Services

• Payroll: They offer full-service payroll that is personalized to your production.
• Financial Services: They provide an overview of your production’s health.
• Residuals: They ensure accurate payments.
• Workers’ Compensation: They offer insurance and resources.
• Incentives Guide: They provide a comprehensive breakdown of all available film incentives.
• Incentives Map: They allow you to compare shoot location options.

They also offer a range of training courses ranging on topics from hiring crew members to approving timecards.

Simplify Your Entire Casting, Booking, Production Payroll Process

Cast & Crew Review

Cast & Crew Pros

• Comprehensive services: Offers a range of services, including payroll, financial services, residuals, workers’ compensation, and incentives guide.
• Industry-specific expertise: Specializes in the entertainment industry, so they are familiar with the needs and challenges of this sector.
• Digital products: Digital products that can help improve processes, such as timecard entry and approval.

Cast & Crew Cons

• Lack of Consolidated Invoicing: Users cannot pay one consolidated invoice, which can lead to complications when dealing with multiple agencies or freelancers. This can make the payment process more complex and increase administrative overhead.
• Focused on Crew Members: While called Cast & Crew, much of the platform and messaging focuses on crew member support, rather than support for talent and casting agencies.
• Indirect Talent Payments: It does not automatically pay talent directly as 1099 contractors within all state- and federal-level regulations. This can complicate the payment process and potentially lead to non-compliance with labor laws.
• Limited Wage Compliance: The company does not take on the liability to pay talent as contractors in accordance with California labor laws, as well as all other states in the US. 

Cast & Crew Entertainment Payroll Alternatives

While Cast & Crew offers many features, it may not be the perfect fit for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a more affordable option, a different set of features, or want to see what else is out there, it’s worth considering these alternatives.

1. LÜK Network

LÜK was specifically designed for the creative industry, offering a streamlined approach to accounting for brands and talent, without the need for complex payroll services. When booking any talent through LÜK Pay, users just pay a single consolidated invoice, regardless of the number of different agencies or freelancers involved. 

LÜK also offers casting and booking tools that make it easier than ever for today’s producers to manage talent. Just pick the talent you’d like to see for a virtual or in-person casting, select the date and time, and your personal booking assistant confirms the talent on your behalf.

Features & Services

• Payment Tools for Producers: With LÜK Pay, producers can pay a single consolidated invoice to freelancers and vendors, regardless of how many different agencies or freelancers they’ve hired. This feature simplifies the payment process and significantly reduces administrative burden.
• Direct to Talent Payments: LÜK Pay automatically pays talent as 1099 contractors, adhering to all state and federal regulations. This feature modernizes the traditional system of paper checks and expensive payroll processors.
• Invoice Bundling: The 1099 payroll allows producers to combine talent bookings, freelancers, incidentals, and more, into one invoice — further simplifying the payment process.
• Wage Compliance by State: LÜK takes on the responsibility of paying talent as contractors in accordance with labor laws, including California and all other states in the US. This feature ensures labor compliance and can replace traditional W9 payment processors.
• Easy Payments for Any Type of Production: No matter how many different agencies you book from, you only need to pay one invoice. LÜK Pay handles the rest, ensuring a smooth payment process for any type of production.

2. Entertainment Partners Payroll

Entertainment Partners (EP) provides digital production tools and solutions for the entertainment industry. Their SmartStart and SmartTime solutions help streamline the onboarding and timekeeping processes.

Features & Services

• Production Finance & Management Studio: This is a digital solution for managing production finances. It allows users to hire, manage, and pay. 
• Enterprise Hub: This is a platform that provides a single view of all your productions. It’s fully digital and built to handle multiple productions.
• Insight Solutions: This service offers payroll insights to help users make data-driven decisions for their productions.
• EP Now: A news and insights platform where users can get news, insights, and ideas from EP’s experts.
• The Production Community: This is a community platform that provides product information, industry training, and resume support.
• EP Residency: This is a service that aids the process of handling Canadian residency documents. Users can upload their records once and share them in just a few clicks.
• Digital W-2s and 1099s: EP provides digital versions of W-2s and 1099s. 

3. ABS Entertainment Payroll Services

ABS Payroll provides payroll and accounting services for the entertainment industry, with a focus on independent projects and low-budget producers. They also provide services for both union and non-union productions.

Features & Services

• Cast & Crew Payroll: This is a set of employer-of-record cast and crew payroll services that includes ATL and BTL paycheck processing, processing for all major unions, worker’s compensation, insurance coverage, claim management, and more. 
• Residuals Processing: Residuals processing for all Reuse Markets – ATL / BTL payments, P&H contributions, and payroll taxes.
• Production Accounting & Software: This is software for production accountants that includes cost reporting, vendor management, and cash-flow tracking.

Our Final Thoughts on Cast & Crew Entertainment Payroll

Cast & Crew is a reliable service in the entertainment industry, offering specialized payroll services, financial tools, workers’ compensation resources, and a comprehensive guide to film incentives. 

But here at LÜK Network, we believe in driving innovation and efficiency to new heights. LÜK Pay offers a set of payroll tools built specifically for productions. You can finally onboard, approve, and your pay contractors the easy way. 

We invite you to explore LÜK Network, try our services, and see how we can transform your production workflow.