producers faq's:

why do i need a casting director?

The talent in your project is very often the main focal point of your project. The actors you select are a direct reflection of you as a creative person. If the actors are not good, or send the wrong message, your entire project can end up being a disaster. It is therefore important to make casting a priority on all of your projects.

A casting director is important because they bring a professional standard to your project. A casting director gives you choices and handles all of the complicated details of casting. Unlike a talent agency, a casting director can pull talent from multiple agencies and from other talent sources as well. They can pull talent from within the state and from other markets if need be. What this does is give you many talent choices and it also gives you fresh talent.

A casting director will also find ALL of your talent needs including hard to find actors. A casting director is involved in production meetings and can, in some cases, even go on location with you. A good casting director provides a breakdown of characters, makes all the phone calls, sets up the audition at their facility, schedules the audition, provides talent with "sides" (portion of the script), keeps the audition running smoothly, knows how to get the best performance out of actors, communicates with talent agents, video tapes the auditions, makes copies available in any media format, provides still photos of each of the actors, collects headshots and resumes, writes detailed casting reports, helps to negotiate with agents, provides follow up support, and secures deals.

On a union job, a good casting director will walk the client through the union process making sure that all rules are followed and will fill out the casting paperwork that the union requires. In the end, a good casting director saves you time and very often money as well. You end up with better talent and a better project to put your name on.

what else should I now about a casting director?

A casting director is NOT an agent. A casting director does not take a commission from a performer. A casting director does not make payments to actors. A casting director does not set actor pay scales or fees. The casting director performs a service which is paid for by the production company or ad agency.

is there good talent in arizona?

Yes. We have a great talent pool here. We have union actors and qualified non-union actors. Many of our local actors are also represented in L.A.

is arizona a right to work state?

Yes. This means that a union project does not have to hire only union actors. A qualified non-union actor can work on a union project.

why are some qualified actors not union members in arizona?

Because Arizona is a right-to-work state, some actors choose to not join the union so that they can continue to work on non-union projects as well as union projects.

what if I need native american or hard-to-find actors?

Our office has the largest database of Native American actors. We are pros at giving you access to all types of Native American performers, from celebrity actors to local extras.

does your office do extras casting?

Yes. We have a huge database of willing and ready extras of all types. We also have the largest selection of "real people" extras.

do you only cast in arizona?

No. We are also set up to travel the U.S. and to select locations around the world. We also now have an office in L.A.

how can I get crew referrals?

Our office is a great point of contact for crew referrals. We know our industry and can help you save money with quality referrals. Please call our office to set up a free referral appointment.

what are your rates?

Our office has daily rates based on full work days of 10 hours or less, or half day rates for 5 hours or less. When appropriate, we also quote flat project rates. Rates vary on the complexity, size of the project, and number of actors needed. It is important to note that we do not tack on a bunch of extra charges. There is never a facility charge, dubbing, or camera charge. We are also happy to provide a job estimate so there are never any surprises. Because of our expertise, excellent staff, and efficient services, we are proud to be able to offer your production the very best casting services at the best rates.