Question 1

What is a casting call?

Accepted Answer

A casting call is an open invitation from a film, TV, commercial, or other production to find the right people for their project. Productions post castings when they need actors for speaking roles, extras and background artists to fill out scenes, or supporting performers of all kinds. Whether it's a big-budget TV series or a student short film, a casting call is simply their way of saying “we're looking for people — could that be you?”

Question 2

What's the difference between actors, supporting artists, extras and background artists?

Accepted Answer

Principal Actors are the lead and supporting characters in a production — the ones with scripted speaking roles, named parts, and scenes built around their performance.

Day Players are actors hired for specific scenes or days of filming rather than the full production. They have speaking roles but are not part of the main cast.

Supporting Artists (SAs) is the preferred industry term for what most people know as extras. They appear on screen in a non-speaking capacity, populating the world of the production.

Background Artists is largely interchangeable with Supporting Artists and is widely used across film and TV production.

Featured Extras are supporting or background performers given more prominent placement in a scene. All of these types of opportunity appear on Actors and Extras, and many people begin in background roles before progressing to more prominent parts.

Question 3

Do I need acting experience to apply?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. While some castings are specifically for trained actors, many opportunities — particularly for extras and background artists — are open to people with little or no formal experience. Productions regularly need everyday people of all ages, looks, and backgrounds. Each listing explains what the production is looking for so you can decide whether a role suits you.

Question 4

Do I need professional headshots or a showreel to apply?

Accepted Answer

Not to get started. When you register, you can build a profile with clear current photos and any experience you have. Your photos do not need to be professionally taken at first, and plenty of successful extras and background artists do not have a showreel. If you are pursuing acting professionally, strong professional headshots are still a worthwhile investment because they help casting professionals assess you quickly.

Question 5

Will I get paid?

Accepted Answer

Most castings on our platform are for paid roles, and rates will be detailed in the full listing. Some opportunities — particularly student films, community projects and festival submissions — may be voluntary or expenses-only, and this should be made clear in the listing. Never pay to apply for a role or to attend an audition; treat any such request as a serious red flag.

Question 6

Is it safe to apply for castings online?

Accepted Answer

We take member safety seriously and use a verification badge system to show the level of checking applied to a listing. Even so, always use common sense: a legitimate casting will never ask you to pay to apply or attend, be cautious about sharing financial information, and trust your instincts if something feels wrong. You can contact us about any listing that raises a concern.

Question 7

What do the casting verification badges mean?

Accepted Answer

Our badges give you a quick sense of how much scrutiny a listing has had before you click through.

A Verified badge is our highest level of check — we've screened the casting against our full criteria and made direct contact with the person or organisation running it.

A Screened badge means we've put the casting through a range of checks and everything provided appears legitimate, but we haven't spoken to the caster directly.

A Sourced badge means we found this casting and we're passing it on. Verification is limited, because only limited information was available about the casting and the people behind it. Please do your own research before responding.

All published listings display a badge reflecting the review level completed.

Important safety note: even a Verified badge is not an absolute guarantee. Badges indicate our level of review, not an endorsement. Always apply common sense, do your own checks, and never pay to apply for or attend a casting.

Question 8

How can I get automated emails for casting notifications?

Accepted Answer

Casting alerts are available free. Create a profile and choose your location and preferences so suitable opportunities can be sent to you. Keep those details current to make the alerts as relevant as possible.

Question 9

What membership level do I need to apply for castings?

Accepted Answer

Casting applications are free for all Talent Members, with no restrictions. It is free to create and publish your profile, apply for suitable casting roles, and be contacted by Industry Members searching for talent. Simply join, complete your profile, and follow the application instructions shown on each casting.

Question 10

How often are new castings posted?

Accepted Answer

Castings are updated three times a week. The number of new opportunities varies with production activity, so it is worth checking back regularly and keeping your casting alerts switched on.

Question 11

How do I find casting calls near me?

Accepted Answer

Enter your town, city, or postcode in the search box above and we will sort the current listings by distance so the opportunities closest to you appear first.

Question 12

Why do some castings work differently to others?

Accepted Answer

Some castings are hosted directly on Actors and Extras. For these, you can register your interest through the listing and the casting organiser can review your profile. Other opportunities are linked castings that already exist elsewhere online; for these, you will be directed to the external website or platform where the casting is hosted to submit your application.

Question 13

How do I apply for a role in a casting?

Accepted Answer

Open the casting and follow the instructions for the role. For castings hosted on Actors and Extras, select Register Interest and your profile will be sent to the casting organiser. For linked castings, use the supplied link to apply on the external casting website.

Question 14

What happens when I register interest in a role?

Accepted Answer

Your profile and details are delivered to the casting poster. In some cases you may automatically receive further details or application instructions. In others, the casting host will review your profile and contact you if they feel you are suitable. Casting organisers generally contact only the people they are considering, so do not be discouraged if you do not hear back.

Question 15

How will I be notified if I am successful?

Accepted Answer

The casting organiser will contact the people they would like to take further, using the contact or messaging method provided by the casting. Keep your profile details current and check your dashboard and email regularly.

Question 16

Are there casting agencies near me on Actors and Extras?

Accepted Answer

Actors and Extras isn’t a talent agency. It’s a casting directory featuring opportunities posted by casting agencies, production companies, casting directors and other industry members, alongside castings sourced by our team from publicly available notices. Browse current listings to see who’s casting near you right now.

Production Type:	Short Film
Genre Tag:	Short Film
Production Date:	Oct 20, 2026
Casting close date:	Oct 19, 2026
Location:	Rantoul, IL, USA

Short Film Casting Call in Rantoul, IL

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