The Casting and Acting blog
Guides, interviews and straight-talking advice for your acting career. Start with what you need today.
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Auditions in North Carolina: How to Find Casting Calls in Wilmington, Charlotte and the Triangle
Wilmington’s studios, Charlotte and the Triangle, the film grant in the news, where calls are posted, extras, theater, agent rules and a realistic 90-day plan.
Auditions in Orlando: Theme Park Auditions, Commercials and Casting Calls in Central Florida
How Disney and Universal post auditions, what Orlando commercial and film casting looks like, theater, background work, Florida agent rules and a 90-day plan.
Baby Acting and Modeling: How to Get Your Baby Into Commercials, Print and TV
A US guide to baby acting and modeling: what casting calls ask for, where to find auditions, agents, infant work permits, safety on set and scams.
How to Become an Actor as a Teenager: A Guide for Ages 13 to 17
How to start acting at 13, 14 or 15: school theater, classes, student films, materials, agents, permits, online safety, scams and a realistic first-year plan.
Background Actor Pay: How Much Extras Make in the US and How They Get Paid
What background actors earn in the US: SAG-AFTRA day rates, non-union pay, overtime, meal penalties, vouchers, payroll companies and scams to avoid.
Auditions in Chicago: Where to Find Casting Calls in Theater, TV and Commercials
Where Chicago casting calls are posted, how Equity and non-Equity theater works, which series shoot there, Illinois agent rules and a 90-day plan.
Auditions in Texas: How to Find Casting Calls in Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio
Where Texas casting calls are posted, how the state film incentive favors local hires, how theater works, what Texas says about agents and a 90-day plan.
Auditions in New Mexico: How to Find Casting Calls in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Beyond
Why productions come to New Mexico, where casting calls are posted, which local casting offices to follow, how background work works and a 90-day plan.
How to Audition for Nickelodeon: Casting, Open Calls and Scams
Who casts Nickelodeon’s live-action shows today, whether it holds open calls, how kids and teens get seen, work permits and the scams that use its name.
How to Become a Voice Actor: Training, Demos, Jobs and Scams
How to become a voice actor: training, a home recording setup, demos, where voice work is cast, SAG-AFTRA, audiobooks, anime dubbing and scams to avoid.
Auditions in Miami: Where to Find Casting Calls in English and Spanish
Who casts in Miami, where calls are posted, why speaking Spanish helps, what Florida law says about agents and fees, and a realistic 90-day plan.
Telemundo and Univision Auditions: How Casting Works and How to Get Seen
What Telemundo and TelevisaUnivision produce and where, how their casting works, the SAG-AFTRA contract, how to prepare and which scams to avoid.
Auditions in Atlanta: How to Find Casting Calls and Start Acting in Georgia
Why Georgia became a production hub, where Atlanta casting calls are posted, how union and non-union work differ and a realistic 90-day plan.
How to Get a Talent Agent: A Step-by-Step Guide for Actors
When you are ready for an agent, how to check an agency is legitimate, what to send, what to ask in the first meeting and the contract and commission rules.
How to Join SAG-AFTRA: Eligibility, Steps and Costs
The routes to SAG-AFTRA eligibility, what Taft-Hartley and SAG-eligible mean, the joining steps, what it costs and how to decide when to join.
Union vs. Non-Union Acting: What It Means and How to Choose
What union and non-union acting mean in film, TV, commercials and theater, the trade-offs at each career stage and how actors move to a union card.
How to Get Your Child Into Acting: A Parent’s Guide for the US
A US parent’s guide to child acting: realistic expectations, safety, where auditions are posted, agents, work permits, trust accounts, school and red flags.
Auditions in New York: How to Find Casting Calls on Stage and Screen
How Broadway, Off-Broadway and Equity auditions work, where New York casting calls are posted, how to find a licensed agent and a 90-day plan.
Actors Access vs. Backstage vs. Casting Networks: Which One Fits You?
How Actors Access, Backstage and Casting Networks differ on who posts, what is free and what a paid plan adds, and which one fits your stage.
Auditions in Los Angeles: Where to Find Casting Calls and How to Get Seen
Where Los Angeles casting calls are posted, how submissions and self-tapes work, what California law says about agents and fees, and a 90-day plan.
Do I Have Acting Talent? 10 Signs and How to Test Yourself
The 10 signs that you have acting talent, how to test yourself with a workshop, a monologue or improv, and how to tell whether you’re acting well.
Do You Need Acting School to Become an Actor? Pros and Cons
Acting school isn’t required, but training is. Pros and cons of studying acting, how long it takes and your options if you don’t have the money.
How to Audition for Amazon Prime Video
Prime Video rarely casts directly: production companies and casting directors build the casts in each country. Prepare your materials and follow them.
How to Audition for HBO Max
HBO Max rarely casts directly: production companies and casting directors pick the cast in each country. Prepare your materials, join agencies, follow them.
How to Audition for Disney Channel and Disney+
Who makes the Disney Channel and Disney+ series in Latin America, where their castings are posted and how to prepare your materials for an audition.
How to Audition for Netflix: Complete Guide Updated 2026
How to audition for Netflix: the materials you need, where casting calls are posted and which production companies film for Netflix in each country.
How to Become a Background Actor: Casting Calls and What to Expect on Set
What a background actor does, where to sign up in the U.S., Spain, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia, what to expect on set, how pay works and scams to avoid.
How to Become an Actor or Actress: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners (2026)
What it takes to become an actor, what to study and the steps to start from scratch: training, experience, materials, auditions and how to avoid scams.
How to Get Acting Experience as a Beginner
Build experience with student films, independent theater, workshops that end in a showcase and open castings, and add every project to your acting resume.
How to Get Auditions in Argentina
Casting agencies, casting directors, acting schools and unions to get auditions in Argentina, with contacts reviewed in October 2026.
How to Get Auditions in Bolivia
Casting agencies and groups, TV channels, theater schools and festivals to get auditions in Bolivia, with contacts reviewed in October 2026.
How to Get Auditions in Chile
Casting agencies, platforms, acting schools and unions to get auditions in Chile, with contacts reviewed in October 2026.
How to Get Auditions in Colombia
Casting agencies, TV channels, acting schools and unions to get auditions in Colombia, with contacts reviewed in October 2026.
How to Get Auditions in Costa Rica
Casting agencies, acting schools, festivals and institutions to get auditions in Costa Rica, with contacts reviewed in October 2026.
How to Get Auditions in Cuba
Representation agencies, casting directors, acting schools, awards and festivals to get auditions in Cuba, reviewed in October 2026.
How to Get Auditions in Ecuador
Casting agencies, TV channels, acting schools and unions to get auditions in Ecuador, with contacts reviewed in October 2026.
How to Get Auditions in El Salvador
Casting companies, acting schools, theaters and festivals to get auditions in El Salvador, with contacts reviewed in October 2026.
How to Get Auditions in Guatemala
Talent agencies, production companies, open auditions and schools to get auditions in Guatemala, with contacts reviewed in October 2026.
How to Get Auditions in Honduras
Production companies, theater companies, schools and festivals to get auditions in Honduras, with contacts reviewed in October 2026.
How to Get Auditions in Mexico
Casting and representation agencies, acting schools, ANDA (the actors’ union) and rules for minors in Mexico, with contacts reviewed in October 2026.
How to Get Auditions in Nicaragua
Production companies, theater schools, the Cinemateca Nacional and festivals to get auditions in Nicaragua, reviewed in October 2026.
How to Get Auditions in Panama
Casting agencies, acting schools and websites to get auditions in Panama, with contacts reviewed in October 2026 and tips for applying.
How to Get Auditions in Paraguay
Casting offices, acting schools, unions and the INAP film institute to get auditions in Paraguay, with contacts reviewed in October 2026.
How to Get Auditions in Peru
Casting agencies, production companies, acting schools and institutions to get auditions in Peru, with contacts reviewed in October 2026.
How to Get Auditions in Puerto Rico
Agencies, talent databases, SAG-AFTRA, acting schools and the Film Commission to get auditions in Puerto Rico, reviewed in October 2026.
How to Get Auditions in Spain
Casting directors, background agencies, platforms, drama schools and work permits to get auditions in Spain, reviewed in October 2026.
How to Get Auditions in the Dominican Republic
Casting agencies, acting schools and guilds to get auditions in the Dominican Republic, with contacts reviewed in October 2026.
How to Get Auditions in the United States
Main markets, casting platforms, agents and managers, SAG-AFTRA, work visas for non-citizens and scam warnings to start getting auditions in the US.
How to Get Auditions in Uruguay
Casting agencies, casting directors, acting schools and unions to get auditions in Uruguay, with contacts reviewed in October 2026.
How to Get Auditions in Venezuela
Casting directors, TV channels, acting schools and institutions to get auditions in Venezuela, with contacts reviewed in October 2026.
How to Get Cast in TV Shows and Telenovelas
How to get cast in telenovelas and TV series: ready materials, agency databases, network schools like the CEA and how to avoid scams that use a network’s name.
How to Get Commercial Auditions
To land commercial auditions, get into casting databases and understand the contract: day rate, usage rights and exclusivity, with SAG-AFTRA and local examples.
How to Improvise in an Audition: 6 Improv Tips for Actors
Learn to improvise in an audition with 6 improv tips, exercises you can practice at home, and what casting directors look for.
How to Make an Acting Reel at Home with No Experience or Budget
Build your acting reel even with no footage: which scenes to choose, how to record them at home, how long it should be, and where to upload it.
How to Make an Acting Resume: Format, Sections, and Examples
Build your acting resume on one page: what goes in each section, examples, how to make one with no experience, and how to format and send it.
How to Prepare Your Audition Materials: What to Send and How
Get your headshots, one-page acting resume, short reel, and intro video ready. Name every file with your name and send your videos as links.
How to Record a Self-Tape for an Audition: Step-by-Step Guide
Read the instructions, set your phone at eye level with light in front and a plain background, look just beside the lens, and send your best take by link.
How to Spot a Fake Casting Call
A fake casting call charges you to audition, pushes headshots or classes, asks for intimate photos or rushes you to sign. Check who is casting before you go.
How to Take Headshots at Home: Audition Photos on a Budget
Take your own headshots with your phone: which photos to include, how to get good light and a plain background, what to wear, and when to hire a photographer.
Instagram for Actors: 6 Tips to Boost Your Profile
Switch to a creator account, write a clear bio, show scenes and headshots, organize your Highlights, follow casting accounts, and edit with good apps.
Latin America Casting Directory: Agencies, Instagram and Websites by Country
Casting agencies, Instagram accounts and websites that post castings in Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Peru, the rest of Latin America, Spain and the U.S.
Monologues for Auditions: How to Choose Them and 6 Originals to Practice
Choose a 1 to 2 minute monologue for a character close to your age and type, with a clear objective and a change. Skip the famous ones and name the play.
What Is a Booking in Acting? One-Off Gigs vs Recurring Roles
What booking means in acting, how one-off gigs differ from recurring roles and why small speaking parts are worth taking when you’re starting out.
What Is a Callback? Meaning and 6 Tips to Prepare
A callback is the second round of auditions: you’re invited back because you made the shortlist. What it means and six tips to prepare for it well.
What Is a Casting Agency? What It Does and How to Work With One
What a casting agency does at each stage, how it differs from a talent agency and how to get on its radar so it calls you in for auditions.
What Is a Casting Director? What They Do and How to Get Noticed
A casting director is hired by a production to find, audition and recommend actors. Here’s how the process works, how to stand out and how to become one.
What Is a Deal Memo in Acting? What to Check Before You Sign
What a deal memo is in acting, what it usually includes, how it differs from the full contract and what to check calmly before you sign it.
What Is a Day Rate in Acting? Meaning and What It Depends On
What an actor’s day rate is, what the amount depends on, how union scale works and how pay changes across commercials, TV, film and theater.
What Is a Headshot? What Photos Actors Need and How to Take Them at Home
What a headshot is, what other photos actors need, what agencies mean by digitals or polaroids and how you can take your own at home with a phone.
What Is a Monologue in Acting? How to Choose and Prepare One
A monologue is a dramatic speech for a single actor. When auditions ask for one, how to choose yours and how to prepare it step by step.
What Is a Production Company? What It Does and Why It Matters to Actors
A production company is the business that makes a film, series, commercial or play. What it does, how it hires actors and why it matters to your career.
What Is a Self-Tape? Pros, Cons and How to Make It Look Good
A self-tape is the audition you record yourself and send to casting. Why it’s used more and more, its pros and cons, and how to make yours look good.
What Is a Slate in Acting? What to Say and How to Record It
A slate is the quick intro at the start of an audition; an intro video runs about a minute. What to say, how to record them and how they differ from a reel.
Casting Websites for Actors: Which Ones Work and How to Use Them
Which casting websites are worth it? Backstage, Actors Access and Casting Networks in the US, plus the best options in Latin America and Spain.
What Is a Talent Agent? What They Do and How They Differ From a Manager
What a talent agent does, how agents differ from managers and bookers, how they get paid and how to build a good working relationship with yours.
What Is a TV Pilot? The Test Episode of a Series
A TV pilot is the test episode of a series. What it’s for, how pilot season works and what booking a role in a pilot means for you as an actor.
What Is an Acting Reel? What It’s For, What to Include and How Long It Should Be
An acting reel is a short video, 1 to 3 minutes long, with your best scenes. What it’s for, what to include, how long it should be and how to share it.
What Is an Acting Resume? Its 6 Sections and Why It Fits on One Page
An acting resume is the one-page document you submit as an actor. What goes in its 6 sections, why it fits on a single page and how to send it.
What Is an Open Casting Call? Open vs. Closed Auditions and How to Get In
An open casting call is posted publicly so anyone can submit; closed auditions are invite-only, through agents and contacts. The differences and how to get in.
What Is Backstage in Acting? Meaning and When to Share It
What backstage means, what happens behind the scenes, what you can learn there and when to share it on social media or keep it confidential.
What Is Independent Theater? Co-Op vs Commercial Theater Explained
What independent, co-op and commercial theater are, how each model works and pays, and how they compare with Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional theater.
What Is Physique du Rôle in Acting? Meaning and Examples
Physique du rôle is the match between your look and the characters you can play. What it means, how US casting talks about type and some examples.
12 Audition Tips to Get an Edge
Read the casting notice closely, understand the text, dress simply, arrive early, apply the direction you get and write everything down afterward.
Auditions for Kids and Teens: How to Become an Actor as a Minor
How kids and teens can start acting: the role of parents, permits, materials and where to find auditions without falling for scams.
What Is the Best Age to Become an Actor or Actress? A Guide by Age and Goals
The best age to become an actor is the one you have today. What to do depending on your age and your goal, from childhood to your 50s and beyond.
Bilingual Actors: How a Second Language and Accents Open Doors
A second language and a few accents can open more roles. Learn how to list them on your acting resume, train them, and use them in auditions.
What Is the Difference Between Casting and an Audition? Comparison Table
Casting is the whole process of choosing actors; an audition is the tryout where you perform. The differences in a table and how to prepare for each.