What is a Casting Agency?
A casting agency works for producers and directors. The clients of a Casting Agency are the production companies who hire the Casting Agency to cast their projects.
Casting Directors and agencies are hired to screen the right "types" based on a breakdown designed by the client. A breakdown from the production company of a project is very specific, and states such things as:
- Age range
- Gender
- “Types” (for example: business, alternative or athletic)
- Skills (e.g. playing an instrument, dance, etc.)
It is the responsibility of the Casting Agency to seek out the best talent that fit the criteria of the breakdown. A Casting Agency schedules talent for auditions, oversees the audition process, and ensures that the director and production company view the talent and types that they need for projects. It is the clients of Casting Directors’ select who gets the job, NOT the Casting Director. There are many layers to the decision making process, although...
Once you are called in to audition, booking the job is up to you!
All talent (from actors, models to extras) in the SFCasting.com database are "potential" employees that may be hired by the clients of Beau Bonneau Casting. Beau Bonneau Casting is not a talent or modeling agency and will receive no percentage from your earnings.
Agents, Auditions and Acting…
Productions typically like to hire professional actors and often request that Casting Agencies only consider talent represented by an agent and/or talent that are members of S.A.G. (Screen Actors Guild) for their casting. When casting children for film and commercials, Beau Bonneau Casting tends to use children with agents. Beau Bonneau Casting cannot give you advice about modeling and talent agencies--finding the right agency is a personal decision.
If you are an actor with talent you will have no problem getting an agent, and obtaining a talent agent may increase opportunities to audition. If you are interested in being considered for principal work, we recommend that you obtain an agent.
If you are NOT represented by an agent, and register with the SF Casting database you may be considered for EXTRA WORK on film and television. Occasionally, non-represented talent will be called for principal work on print, commercials or film auditions.
In order to be considered for extra work and other projects with Beau Bonneau Casting you must be registered with the SF Casting Network. You will only be called if you fit the specific types that we are looking for. Beau Bonneau Casting cannot guarantee work because we are unaware what types our clients will be asking for. Flexible schedules are preferred; often you will be called within one or two days of the audition or project date. Most shoots take place Monday through Friday, and we rarely have opportunities for work on the weekend.
For films, commercials and industrials you may be asked to read, and it may require being recorded on tape. Print go-sees may require photos. Headshots and resumes are generally brought to both auditions and go-sees. Tapes, photos and headshots are sent to the director of the film, and the director decides who they would like for the job.
If you are available for extra work, you must submit yourself to projects that Beau Bonneau Casting post on SFCasting.com. SAG members may also leave their availability for extra work on the hotline by calling 415-346-CAST.
Beau Bonneau Casting is EXTREMELY BUSY and we are continuously working on different projects. Actors and Extras should NOT call Beau Bonneau Casting ONLY to say, “Hi, I’d like to work!” or “I want to audition!” If you are asked or instructed to call during a specific time period, please follow directions and call. All talent, from actors to extras should do their research and follow directions.
Beau Bonneau Casting is a Casting Agency, not an acting school! For more information about the SF Acting Academy please see their website at http://www.sfactingacademy.com.
Some Notes Regarding Extra Work or other Projects
Beau Bonneau Casting will give you very specific instructions regarding when to contact us regarding your potential booking--it is your job is to follow those instructions. Communication and following directions are extremely important skills needed to succeed in this industry. In addition to having the right looks or skills needed for a specific project, it is extremely important for Beau Bonneau Casting to work with talent who are responsible and professional.
Beau Bonneau Casting is NOT your agent. No agency fees will be taken from your earnings if you are cast in any of our projects--Once you are scheduled for a project you are then an employee of the Production Company. The Production Company hired you, NOT Beau Bonneau Casting. As with any job please behave in a professional manner by being on time, following directions and being prepared.
Beau Bonneau Casting cannot reach you unless you keep your e-mail address and contact information current with SFCasting.com. Don’t miss out on a special project that could be perfect for you or someone you know! Keep your contact information current and up-to-date!
Beau Bonneau Casting cannot cast you if your pictures are out-of-date. If you have changed your look (e.g. drastically cut your hair or changed hair color, gained or lost weight, received a facial piercing or tattoo on a visible part of your body) it will be necessary to update your digital photos with SF Casting. Because we are casting you based on your “look,” any changes to your look must be reflected on your profile.
Beau Bonneau Casting will only call you if you are selected, none of your personal contact information will be released. Beau Bonneau Casting posts projects to the SFCasting.com website and submits photos and resumes of various talent to our clients to be considered for projects. If you do not hear from Beau Bonneau Casting, your photos and resumes may still be under consideration by Beau Bonneau or other Casting Directors.
Beau Bonneau Casting will often send out Casting Calls via e-mail to potential candidates via e-mail if the casting is unusual or specialized (violinists, jugglers, athletes, ballroom dancers, etc.). Why would Beau Bonneau Casting send a Casting Call to you if you do not fit that type? Perhaps you possess that skill or fit the type and we are unaware of it. It is also possible that you may have friends or family members that fit the criteria.
Registering with SFCasting.com gives you the privilege of accessing your profile with SFCasting.com. You may utilize the features of the database as a tool for your potential acting career. It is your responsibility to keep your profile updated. Casting Networks reserves the right to remove anyone from the online database at any time.
Once you are Cast…
First of all…Always be prepared with a pen and paper when calling Beau Bonneau Casting. Why call an office to ask a question, and have nothing in hand to write down the answer? If you are calling to say that you are free and available for an audition or for extra work, you will need to write down directions and call times. We may give you “notes” on wardrobe (what to wear and bring to the shoot).
Stating that you are available means having NO conflicts whatsoever.
Always be on time and prepared.
Wardrobe Fittings: If you are scheduled for a wardrobe fitting, please keep in mind that you were chosen out a pool of many other candidates. It is very important to BE ON TIME, as appointments are often booked back-to-back. During a film, wardrobe fittings are usually scheduled during the day, and often the wardrobe and costume department have to prepare wardrobe and costumes for another shoot later in the day.
Shoot Days: It is very important to show up to the crew parking lot or shoot location on time. The set location may be far very way from the crew parking lot and often extras are taken to the set via shuttles that circle from lot and the set.
* Many extras bring a book to read or find something to occupy the “down-time.”
Make it easy to work with you. Do not approach the day players (the “stars”). They are busy working on their craft, preparing for the scene, and learning their lines. Do not bother the director or producers, they are busy making Very Important Decisions about the production.
Be easy to reach via phone. There may be last minute changes, please return our calls in a timely manner.
If you are non-union, do not call or ask about Taft-Hartley’s. They are only given on an emergency basis—Do your research.
Never lie about your SAG status--ever. If you are SAG, you are current and up to date with your union dues and have a SAG Card. If you are non-union you will receive the non-union rate. Lying about your SAG status will get you nowhere, and may cost the production company thousands of dollars in fines.
Overall, use common sense. While we are busy at the Beau Bonneau Casting office, if something drastic happens on your way to a shoot (e.g. car problems, famil emergencies, etc.) we will need to know—call us ASAP. Do not pull a “no show” or “flake” on a shoot. Remember, communication is a high priority.
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