Why Keeping Your Casting Profiles Updated Matters
As production continues growing throughout Missouri and surrounding markets thanks to the current Missouri film and television tax incentive championed in 2023 by Film In MO, keeping your casting profiles updated has become more important than ever. Casting directors, producers, photographers, ad agencies, and creative teams are regularly searching talent databases for upcoming projects ranging from feature films and television productions to commercials, print campaigns, industrials, voice-over work, and live entertainment opportunities.
At TalentPlus, the three primary casting platforms we recommend maintaining are Actors Access, Casting Networks, and Casting.com. Each platform serves a different purpose within the entertainment industry, and having complete, professional, and current profiles across all three can help improve your visibility for opportunities.
Actors Access
Actors Access is one of the industry’s leading platforms for film, television, streaming, and voice over opportunities. Actors maintain their own casting profiles, headshots, reels, resumes and self-tapes. The platform connects local and regional actors to opportunities far beyond Missouri. Talent see a limited public/self-submit opportunites through Actors Access. Agents see the professional casting side through Breakdown Express. Many of the larger film, tv, streaming and union projects are only visible to agents and casting offices - not the general public or talent accounts.
Your Actors Access profile should always reflect your current look, experience, and abilities.
Recommendations for Actors Access:
- Upload recent headshots that accurately represent your current appearance
- Include both theatrical and commercial headshots when possible
- Add performance clips, demo reels and footage whenever available. Past commercial material not needed unless showing a special skill set: Teleprompter, Improv, Character work.
- Keep resumes updated with recent projects, training, and special skills
- Remove outdated media that no longer reflects your look or experience level
- Fully complete your profile details including sizes, locations, union status, and skills
- Voice Over talent need to upload their VO demo reels and list if they have a home studio and SourceConnect.
Profiles featuring video clips and media tend to receive more attention from casting professionals. On-camera footage can significantly improve your chances of being reviewed for roles, especially for film and television projects.
Casting directors are far more likely to spend time reviewing profiles that appear complete, professional, and active. Check out our article on how to maximize your opportunities with your Actors Access Account.
Casting Networks
Casting Networks is widely used for regional commercial, print, lifestyle, industrial, social media, and promotional opportunities, while also occasionally featuring film and television projects.
Some Midwest casting directors, advertising agencies, photographers, brands, and production companies still utilize Casting Networks when searching for talent for regional campaigns. We recently booked a talent on a Chicago commercial that was cast through Casting Networks.
Recommendations for Casting Networks:
- Keep commercial-friendly photo(s) updated
- Maintain accurate sizing information
- Upload current reels or introduction videos if available
- Keep contact information and availability updated
- At the very minimum, sign up for the free Casting Networks account where you can have your image and resume available.
Casting Networks charges separately for adding certain media and materials, so we encourage talent to review pricing options directly through the platform to determine what best fits their needs and goals. Check out our article about setting up your Casting Networks account.
Casting.com
Casting.com is a newer platform that continues gaining traction within the Midwest market. We are seeing an increase in commercial, film, and regional projects utilizing Casting.com, including local St. Louis opportunities.
As the platform grows, maintaining an active profile can help position talent for emerging opportunities in the region. Area casting directors will utilize your Casting.com profile as your resume and headshot when you attend in person auditions or online casting.
Recommendations for Casting.com:
- Build a complete profile with current headshots, at least one theatrical and one commercial look.
- Your Size Card needs to be in Imperial not metric
- Upload media clips and introduction videos
- Include updated resumes and skills
- Keep profiles active and maintained
We strongly recommend being present on all three platforms whenever possible, as different casting offices and production companies may prefer one platform over another. Review our article on setting up your Casting.com profile here.
Parents With Children in the Industry
If you are both an actor/model and also have children pursuing opportunities, most casting platforms allow family profile management options.
Actors Access
Actors Access allows parents to create separate performer profiles for children under a parent-managed account. Parents can manage submissions, media, and profile materials while maintaining separate performer pages for each child actor.
Casting Networks
Casting Networks offers family management options that allow parents to oversee multiple performer profiles within one account setup. This is especially helpful for families with several children involved in acting or modeling.
Casting.com
Casting.com also allows family profile management features where parents can create and manage profiles for themselves and their children under one family account structure.
Keeping family accounts organized, updated, and current can help simplify submissions and improve visibility for casting opportunities.
Final Thoughts
The entertainment industry continues evolving throughout Missouri and surrounding areas, especially with the continued momentum surrounding regional film incentives and increased Midwest production activity.
Having updated casting profiles does not guarantee bookings, but it does help ensure that casting professionals can properly view your current look, experience, abilities, and materials when opportunities arise.
Fresh headshots, updated resumes, current sizes, strong media clips, and complete profiles all help present you professionally within an increasingly competitive market.
Your materials are often your first impression before you ever step into an audition room or submit a self-tape.