Casting Networks

[SighNoMore27]

Hi guys,

Was doing a bit of browsing and came across this website: http://www.castingnetworks.co.uk/

Seems quite interesting and it's free to join... Does anyone have any more info or a more informed opinion than mine?- I'm a bit hesitant to sign up as I don't know a lot about it and never seen it before!

Thanks

[pg]

Hmm.

If you read the terms of use carefully you will see that they reserve the right to make a charge in the future (though they say they will give reasonable notice). I cannot believe that this will continue to be free to be honest.

I would also suggest that Spotlight has things sewn up over here. Casting Call Pro is trying very hard to make inroads and in many ways provides a very actor-friendly site with lots of useful resources. It is better than Spotlight in terms of its website and resources I think. The one thing CCP doesn't currently have (which is the unfortunate and vital missing link!) is as much paid work going through it as Spotlight. It also is not - in my opinion/experience - looked at or used very much by mainstream Casting Directors (though I think it's used a lot by student film makers and profit share organisations etc).

I would also say that CCP does not appear to vet applicants very carefully (or at all?). There are quite a lot of CCP members who quite obviously don't have the experience/training that CCP claim you must have in order to become a member. Loads of members have amateur credits and short courses on their CVs rather than professional credits and accredited training.
Of course this MAY also be true of Spotlight because I can't view the CVs in the same way that I can on CCP. I suspect Spotlight is more choosy though. CDs will (for obvious reasons) prefer to use a directory where someone has already done some filtering of applicants.

If Casting Call Pro, with several years' effort, has so far failed to truly compete with Spotlight, I really can't see that Casting Networks will have much success.

I'm also not sure whether anyone and everyone can register with them and have a profile on-line. If anyone and everyone CAN register, then it is just like the myriad other sites out there (like Starnow and many others that keep cropping up) and it won't be used much by Casting Directors because they don't want anyone and everyone to be able to apply for jobs etc!

On balance I'd say don't bother, but if you want to put your details on there, make sure you keep on eye on any unexpected requests for money! I don't suppose they are providing a web presence for actors out of altruism!

[francescasmum]

Had nothing to do whilst dd was having a guitaer lesson so looked at the lik to Casting Network web site, there is a section to contact them, so I did, with lots of questions.

To cut a long story short, they are American based by the looks of it and all the castings they offer are in America, one of the questions they answered about age said

"you will need to make sure to enter a work permit expiration date for your daughter, as it's a required field for all children under 18. It's important for casting professionals to know that she is legally able to work, should they want to book her."

We do not have work permits in this country and licences stop at 16 (at the moment).

It is exceptionally difficult for British children (or adults to that matter) to get permits to work in America and I would imagine that all their castings are that side of the pond too.

Basically, what I am saying is I'd forget Casting Website if I were you. , free or not!

[SighNoMore27]

Had nothing to do whilst dd was having a guitaer lesson so looked at the lik to Casting Network web site, there is a section to contact them, so I did, with lots of questions.

Francescasmum, that really made me giggle for some reason I did notice that they were an American company and thought it a bit odd to be honest...

Thanks guys, gotta say I agree on balance, all seemed a bit good to be true; it was just quite attention grabbing, the idea of it helping you get an agent etc, but think it's probably best to try getting one the old fashioned way right? Good to know my reluctance is supported!

[charlarry]

Hi, I think the American website is castingnetworks.com castingnetworks.co.uk is for UK auditions. Not sure though. My ds went for an audition today and they asked all ateendees to create a profile on castingbnetworks.co.uk there in the casting office. My ds did and when we got home I looked it up. As it is free why not!

[pg]

That's interesting charlarry. Can I ask you what the audition was for and how you found out about it?

My scam radar is twitching a bit about being asked to fill out a profile on a casting site after an audition

[a-mac]

If charlarry's d's audition was with Mark Summers (commercials casting director) then I'm not surprised. Indeed I would expect it as Mark is actively promoting the site. They are genuine, not a scam or sub standard, and they do occasionaly list jobs - just not many yet. When I was recently at an audition workshop led by Mark Summers and also actor Jay Smith (actor), Mark was singing Casting Networks' praises (in terms of the USA) and was urging us all to join the new UK site. He puts his castings on Casting Networks and also on Spotlight.

Casting Networks is one of the biggest online casting websites in the USA and have only recently opened up in the UK - like this summer. They are free of charge both sides of the pond but don't have many castings here yet as they are still trying to break into the UK industry.

Go for it, but just don't expect many castings on there for a while. HOWEVER, my view, on signing up, was that if it is so big in the USA, if casting directors are looking for any British artists, then they might just look on the UK version of CN. So I wanna be there for them to find!

Hope this helps.

[pg]

If Casting Networks does not have a minimum "standard" (e.g. training or professional experience) then I cannot imagine it will be used as much as Spotlight by Casting Directors. If anyone, regardless of experience, can sign up to it, I can't see that it has any more value to CDs than the myriad other casting databases out there (and there are dozens and dozens of them). However, if it is free - and remains so - then there is no harm in being on it, as you say.

I think they'll have a very hard job breaking the Spotlight monopoly/stranglehold though I do think it would be good for Spotlight to have some competition.

[Panda]

I think my DS went to the same casting as charlerry's ds. It wasnt Mark Summers but a very long established and well respected London casting agency. You just tapped on the Ipad the role you were up for then I presume it quickly listed all the actors seen against that role with their details and profiles all ready. Interesting! As PG says, think they will find it very hard to crack Spotlight and the skills listed were very American based but perhaps if it is going to be used over here they will streamline it more when they see it is going to work. A Watch This Space I guess....

[wissymo]

My ds also attended a casting recently and was asked to create a profile with casting networks to check in!
it was a very good job arranged by his agent with a very good casting company!!
i do wonder if it will become more popular in time and give spotlight a run for their money!! hope so!

[wildgingerthing]

Abacus, who represent me, told me to sign up as it would make signing in for auditions easier. So I guess it's legit, and since it's free no harm done