Many people outside of the entertainment industry don’t give a lot of thought to the process of selecting actors for roles, especially background casting. However, there is an extensive process for finding and choosing the right actors for every part in a film, TV show, or commercial.

This process can involve many people depending on the size of the production, including a casting director and casting staff.

One common place they turn to for help in finding the actors they need is a casting agency, since casting agencies typically have a large number of actors that can help productions when searching for principal casting and background casting.

Here are three facts to know about casting agencies, especially if you’re interested in running one.

1. You Don’t Need a Degree to Run a Casting Agency, But a Love of the Entertainment Industry Helps

A college education isn’t required to run a casting agency. However, a passion and love for the film and TV industry are essential. If you’ve never worked in the industry, you could consider working at an established casting agency as a way to learn the ins and outs of the industry.

You can apply for casting assistant jobs, which can increase your understanding of how to run a casting agency and help build your network.

Having connections or experience in the industry can also help, especially as you build your business. Having an insider’s perspective makes it easier to understand how best to facilitate the needs of the actors as well as the casting needs of production companies and clients.

By understanding the casting process, you’ll be able to talk with production companies, producers, and directors about their needs more effectively. This helps you build trust with clients, which may lead to your clients recommending your agency to other people in the industry.

As with many industries, the more connections you have, the better. Networking is a critical part of the entertainment industry. If you have experience in the industry, that can help you start to build your network for your casting agency. Other networking strategies include attending industry events and fundraisers.

While a formal education isn’t necessary, it can be helpful to have some grounding in how to run a business. Fortunately, you don’t need to go to college to obtain the information you need. There are many resources online, including online training courses that can help you achieve the business training that you need to run a successful casting agency.

2. Background Casting Can Be Just as Challenging as Principal Casting

Without background actors, the scenes in your favorite TV shows, movies, and even commercials wouldn’t work. You can’t have a chase scene through a crowded street if there’s nobody milling about or a high school dance with only the leading actors.

Yet casting background actors for some scenes can be a little overwhelming at times. Casting staff on films and TV shows often need a large number of actors—not just to fill a busy scene. During a movie or TV show, you’ll need new background actors for different scenes. Otherwise, viewers will start to get distracted by seeing the same background person scene after scene.

Additionally, casting staff may be looking for specific looks, and sometimes they may need a lot of people who fall into that category, which can be a challenge.

This is where casting agencies, particularly those who specialize in providing background casting, can help. Casting agencies typically have large databases of potential actors, with different looks, backgrounds, and specialties. This can make the process of finding a lot of different actors easier for casting staff.

3. Casting Agencies Are a Great Way to Find Actors That Fit More Diverse Roles—Especially for Background Casting Needs

Whether it’s a movie, TV show, or a commercial, casting directors are trying to provide more diversity. This isn’t just for principal actors, either. There’s also a growing need for more diverse background actors.

When searching for a particular look or a person from a specific ethnic background, casting directors often turn to casting agencies who are more likely to have the resources to find individuals who fit their particular needs. This factor is especially important when a production company needs background casting for a number of diverse roles.

Casting Agencies Help Connect Actors With Production Companies and Casting Directors Through Passion and Dedication

Whether you focus on background casting, casting for commercials, or principal casting, casting agencies play a crucial role in helping the casting teams for films, TV shows, and commercials find the talent they need. A quality casting agency can help casting staff find the number and diversity of talent they need.

To become a part of a casting agency or run your own, you’ll need passion, a willingness to work hard, and dedication. While having connections in the industry always help, you can also get your start by working as an assistant at a casting agency to learn the process and see how to run an agency.