Q: What is Casting Workbook?
A: Casting Workbook is an industry recognized communication system designed to allow the transfer of actor portfolio materials (photos, resume, audio and demo reels) between the Talent Agency, Casting Director and Engager and Production Team. Information is transferred immediately across cities or across continents. Actor members receive the additional benefits of saving money in photo duplication and courier fees.
Q: How does Casting Workbook work?
A: Casting Directors and Engagers (Theatres, Artistic Directors and Print Photographers) post breakdowns on our service that are viewed by Talent Agents. Talent Agents can then submit their actor’s materials to Casting Directors and Engagers globally with no courier fees or delivery delays. Submissions are then reviewed, and appropriate actors are considered for auditions, callbacks or booked on jobs.
Casting Directors and Engagers can also track down actors by name or agency, and conduct actor searches based on any word that appears on an actor resume (special skills, previous roles etc.) or statistical information such as height, weight, hair, eyes and age range.
Talent Agents, Casting Directors and Engagers can send actor portfolio materials to anyone with an email address using ePitch. Hard copy photos/resumes and DVDs can also be sent to Vancouver, Toronto and Los Angeles using ePackage.
Q: Is Casting Workbook a subscription membership?
A: Membership with Casting Workbook is based on an annual fee that is paid when you join. The membership continues for as long as you continue to pay your yearly fee. Members are invoiced 30-days before their membership comes due. If you decide you no longer require your membership, please contact us before your renewal date passes.
Casting Workbook does not retain credit card information and will not automatically charge your credit card. Members who do not pay their account by the renewal date and want to continue their membership will be required to pay a small late/reactivation fee at the time of renewal.
Q: Does Casting Workbook have audition facilities?
A: Yes. Casting Workbook’s Vancouver, Toronto and Los Angeles offices have studio facilities where actors can record self-tape auditions for a fee. We provide the cameraman who will read with the actor if required.
Auditions can then be transmitted with photo and resume to anyone with an email address in minutes via ePitch . A physical package containing hard copy DVD, photo and resume can be delivered in hours to Vancouver, Toronto or Los Angeles using ePackage. Actors can also walk away with a DVD.
Please note that audition facilities are only available to members of the Casting Workbook with accounts in good standing. Please call your Local Casting Workbook office to confirm cost and to book a time for your audition.
Q: What is ePitch?
A: ePitch is Casting Workbook’s electronic delivery system which works with the recipient(s) email address. Any materials that are in an actor portfolio (photos, resume, audio and video reels) and auditions shot or captured at our studios can be ePitched to anyone with an email address.
ePitch allows you to track when the recipient views your information and gives you the option to lock out the viewer after a pre-determined period of time.
With ePitch, your demo reel or audition is viewed similar to a movie trailer on the internet. This means there are no big files or lengthy download times and your video can be seen in seconds provided the viewer has a faster internet connection. ePitches can be viewed over and over by recipient(s).
Q: What is ePackage?
A: ePackage is the hard copy version of ePitch. ePackages can only be delivered to Vancouver, Toronto and Los Angeles. Casting Workbook will print your photo(s), resume and burn a DVD remove or VHS tape of your audition or demo reel and have it delivered by local courier. An actor can ePackage any material that is in their portfolio and add a self-taped audition (shot or captured) at a Casting Workbook Studio.
You can choose from Same Day, 3-Hour or Door-To-Door services. Cost varies depending on the materials being sent and the speed of delivery requested.
Q: What is Now Appearing?
A: Now Appearing is a marketing tool developed to promote Actors. Actors and Agents can list upcoming Film, Television, Commerical and Theatrical Appearances in a central database that is accessible to Casting Directors and Engagers.
Actor appearances are randomly advertised on the front page of our website plus appearances can be searched by actor name, city or date. In this way, Casting Directors and Engagers can plan their week and schedule viewing sessions of upcoming TV appearances or Live Theatre productions.
Q: How do I make my payment?
A: New Members can sign-up online by going to www.castingworkbook.com and clicking “JOIN” at the top of the main page. Please indicate if you are a represented or non-represented actor and complete the online form. You can pay immediately by credit card (Mastercard or Visa) or send us your check or money order.
If you are an existing member of Casting Workbook with a due, past due or inactive account, you can also pay online if you know your user id and passcode. If you have forgotten your login information you can use our “password finder” which will email your login information to your email address. If you have never changed your passcode, your agent will also be able to view your login information on line, or you can call us directly.
If you need to reactivate a suspended account, or if you don’t know if you have a Casting Workbook Account, please contact your local Casting Workbook office.
Casting Workbook accepts Cash, Check, Money Orders, Visa and Mastercard at their offices in Vancouver, Toronto and Los Angeles. Our Vancouver and Toronto offices also accept Interac (Debit) payments. You are welcome to visit any office to make your payment in person. You may also mail your check or money order to us. You can also pay using online banking with most major Canadian banks. Please note we do not accept debit cards by phone or at any of our offices.
Q: Casting Workbook security - Who can view my Casting Workbook portfolio?
A: Casting Workbook is a carefully monitored and password protected website. Casting Directors, Engagers (Theatres, Artistic Directors, Print Photographers and Producers) and Talent Agencies must apply for access and show they belong to recognized industry associations or provide industry references. Only registered Casting Directors and Engagers and your agents can view your portfolio information. Information on the Casting Workbook is not viewable by members of the general public.
Q: Is my personal contact information protected?
A: Yes. If you are a represented actor, only your agent’s contact information is available to the Casting Director or Engager. If you are not represented, the Casting Director or Engager can view your telephone and/or email address. Please make sure this information is kept up to date. Actors looking for talent agents can make their telephone and email address available for talent agent searches.
Q: How will I know when I get an audition?
A: Film, Television, Commercial, Live Theatre and Print breakdowns are distributed to Talent Agents who submit actors that are appropriate for the roles described and available for the project dates specified. Casting Workbook has been configured so that established industry lines of communication are observed. Our distribution agreement with Casting is that we only broadcast breakdowns to Talent Agents who have applied for and been given access to our system.
Q: Why can’t I view breakdowns on Casting Workbook?
A: If you are represented by a Talent Agent, the Casting Director or Engager will contact your Talent Agent directly, who will in turn get in touch with you. If you are between agents or self-represented, the Casting Director or Engager will contact you directly using your Casting Workbook contact information (telephone and/or email address).
Actors may have the ability to view Casting Notices which are posted by Casting Directors and Engagers who are not registered with Casting Workbook.
Q: Can I find a Talent Agent using Casting Workbook?
A: Actors who are not represented are placed in the Talent Scout section of the Casting Workbook. This gives Talent Agents the opportunity to search for actors that are seeking representation by city, personal statistics or words that appear on your resume. Only non-represented or self-represented actors are listed in Talent Scout and can be solicited. Interested agents will contact you directly using the contact information (phone number and email address) you have on file.
Q: Can I have more than one agent on Casting Workbook?
A: Yes. Casting Workbook is designed to allow actors to have more than one agent on the system. Each agent will have their own resume and can use any of the materials included in your portfolio (photos, audio clips, video clips). There is no additional charge to add an agent to your account.
It is recommended that actors do not have more than one principal agent in each city. It is important that all agents clearly understand their submission responsibilities and that only one agent will submit to the Casting Director or Engager on your behalf.
