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Quick answer: A casting agency, usually called a casting office or casting company in the US, is the team a production hires to find the actors for a film, series, commercial or play. It works for the production: it takes the request, releases the breakdowns, searches its files and open calls, runs the auditions and presents the best candidates for each role. A talent agency is the opposite: it works for actors.
When a production company needs to cast a commercial, a series, a movie or a play, it often hands the search to a casting director and their team. The casting office brings the people, the actor files and the space to hold sessions, and delivers a short list for each character.
The key to understanding it is knowing who it works for: its client is the production, never the actor. In the US industry, you’ll usually hear people talk about the casting director or the casting office rather than a casting agency. We explain the role in detail in what is a casting director.
What does a casting agency do?
Its work starts when the production, the brand or the director describes the characters they need, and it ends when it presents the finalists. In between, it goes through these stages:
- Takes the request: the client shares the profile for each character (age range, look and skills).
- Releases the breakdown: it sends the role descriptions to agents and managers and posts many of them on casting sites. Our list of casting websites for actors shows where to find them.
- Searches: reviews submissions and its own files and, when it needs new faces, holds open casting calls.
- Schedules auditions: coordinates the times and the space, in person or by self-tape.
- Narrows it down: watches the material it receives and filters the actors who fit best before showing them to the client.
- Runs the second round: brings the finalists back for a callback.
- Presents the candidates: shows the production its picks for each character, with all their material, for the final decision.
The casting team proposes and defends its choices, but the director and the producers have the last word.
Types of casting agencies in the US
- Film, TV and theater casting offices: led by a casting director and hired project by project to cast the speaking roles.
- Commercial casting offices: cast ads for brands and their ad agencies.
- Background casting agencies: cast extras. One of the best-known is Central Casting, which has been in the business for 100 years and now offers casting services in all 50 states. If that’s your way in, read how to become a background actor.
How is it different from a talent agency?
Many actors who are just starting out mix them up. To tell them apart, ask who each one works for:
- Casting agency or casting office: works for the production. It finds the actors a project needs, and the production pays for that work.
- Talent agency: works for you. It represents you in the industry, submits you for roles and negotiates your deals, usually for a percentage of what you earn.
The two cross paths all the time. When a casting office releases a breakdown, agents submit the clients who fit, and the casting director decides whom to call in. In California, talent agencies must be licensed by the state Labor Commissioner, and the law bars them from charging actors registration fees. We explain how representation works in what is a talent agent.
How to work with a casting agency
As an actor, you can reach a casting office in three ways:
- Their open calls: you submit your materials when they post a search.
- Casting sites: a complete profile on platforms like Actors Access, Backstage or Casting Networks lets you submit yourself to the roles that fit you.
- Your agent or manager: if you have representation, they can submit you to roles that are only released to agents and managers.
Start with the offices that cast in your city and in the kind of work you want. If you’re in the US, our guide on how to get auditions in the United States is a good place to begin, and if you also work in Spanish-language markets, the Latin America casting directory lists agencies, Instagram accounts and casting sites by country.
Before you reach out, get your materials ready: how to prepare your audition materials covers what to include and how to send it.
Important: a casting office is paid by the production, so you should never have to pay to audition or to be considered for a role. The Casting Society warns actors to be wary of anyone who promises auditions in exchange for money, and California law bans “advance-fee talent representation services,” businesses that charge actors a fee to get them auditions or work. Asking you to pay to be seen is one of the classic signs of a fake casting call.
Tip: Research the casting offices active in your city and in the kind of work you want, follow them on social media to catch their calls, and keep a complete, up-to-date profile (headshot, resume and reel) on the casting sites they use.
Frequently asked questions
What is a casting agency?
It’s the company that organizes and runs the search for actors for film, TV, commercial and theater projects. The production hires it: it takes the request, finds candidates through breakdowns, its own files and open calls, runs the auditions and callbacks, and presents its picks so the production can decide. In the US, it’s usually called a casting office.
What’s the difference between a casting agency and a talent agency?
A casting agency works for the production and finds the actors a project needs. A talent agency works for actors: it submits them for roles, looks for opportunities and negotiates their deals, usually for a commission. Their jobs are different, even though they deal with each other every day.
How do I sign up with a casting agency?
Find the offices that cast in your area, check whether they accept submissions and how, and keep your acting resume, headshots and reel up to date on the casting sites they use. You can also apply to their open calls. Background casting agencies have their own sign-up process, so follow the steps on their official website.
Do casting agencies charge actors?
Casting offices are paid by the production that hires them, and the Casting Society states that casting professionals don’t receive fees from the actors they present. If someone asks you for money to audition, to join their files or to guarantee you a role, treat it as a red flag.
Is a casting agency the same as a casting director?
Almost. The casting director is the person who leads the search, and the casting office or casting agency is their team and company. Either way, they work for the production, not for you.
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