A new day in the world of casting -Written by: Molly Ptaszek

The following entry is based on a few articles and websites I have come across in the past few weeks:
http://www.universalmind.com/portfolio/case-study/eco-cast-case-study/
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/09/16/business/doc4c92b49e3af66065375165.txt
http://www.sag.org/files/sag/documents/iActor_Backgrounder.pdf


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Casting for television shows, commercials, film, etc., has gone through an extreme makeover over the past few years. In years past, hopeful actors would take valuable time to visit their local Target, buy a video camera, clunky blank VHS tapes or DVDs likely to get scratched, followed by sending their audition tape in a highly overpriced envelope or box to a casting director, in hope the contents would arrive on time. In the same vein, on the receiving end, casting assistants would receive said packages and sort through the mire of VHS tapes, DVDs and paper resumes in order to present the budding clients to the casting director; not so with digital casting. A new day has come within casting, as more people are accustomed to the amazing benefits of social media to find the right job or right talent.

Universal Mind (UM), a digital solutions agency, recently developed a product currently changing the casting industry; Eco-Casting is a digital platform for Breakdown Services, a leader in casting. Actors are able upload photos, videos and resumes to this site in order to gain instead visibility to casting directors around the world. UM’s website mentions some advantages of how this new platform will revolutionize the industry including it’s earth-friendly approach and convenience for families. Regarding its earth-friendliness, UM and Breakdown Services estimated “…104,000 gallons of gas will be saved annually by enabling actors to audition remotely—to say nothing of the reduction in air travel, time and expenditures spent by casting directors on the road and actors traveling to Hollywood”. In an article in the Oakland Press, Curt Howe, an employee of Charlie’s Talent Agency in Ferndale, MI, agrees about the convenience for especially for families; “It’s especially nice for the Michigan people who cannot travel to an audition in L.A.,” such as child actors who are in school or aspiring actors who cannot afford to attend every audition that pops up”.

The Screen Actors Guild has also paved the way of creating an online platform for talent to submit auditions. Unlike Eco-Casting, only their 120,000 members have access to cutting-edge technology called iActor, an online database of SAG members who can create a professional profile for casting directors to peruse when they are looking for talent. Actors are permitted to submit professional resumes, photos, as well as video and audio clips of their work. Casting directors simply type the requirements they are looking for such as gender, credits, special skills, and physical features. This is a great way for casting directors to get a quick look at client and easily contact them if they are the right fit for the part.