Boston Casting

Boston Casting is the leading and most established casting company in the New England region, providing both background and principal casting services for film, television, and commercial productions filming in Massachusetts and the surrounding states. The company, led by veteran casting director Angela Peri, has been a cornerstone of the Boston entertainment community for many years, handling the vast majority of local casting for productions that choose the region for its distinctive character, world-class educational institutions, and the Massachusetts film tax credit program that offers a 25 percent production credit. Boston has long been a favored location for film productions seeking authentic New England settings — from gritty crime dramas to prestige literary adaptations — and Boston Casting has been involved in casting virtually every significant production that has shot in the area. The company's comprehensive approach to both background and principal casting makes it the single most important casting resource for actors in the New England region. Its reputation and relationships are so well-established that productions coming to Massachusetts from other markets immediately seek out Boston Casting as their local casting partner.

Boston Casting serves the unique character of the New England production market, which benefits from steady production activity driven by the state's tax credit, the visual appeal of historic Boston neighborhoods and surrounding communities, and the constant demand for authentic Boston-area looks and accents that casting directors seek for region-specific stories. The company functions as both a background casting service and a principal casting office, meaning that registered actors can be considered for the full range of available roles from standard background positions to featured extras, day player roles, and recurring parts on productions that shoot extensively in the area. This dual function is particularly valuable in a regional market where the same casting director often handles all local casting needs for a production. Boston Casting posts detailed casting notices through its website, email communications, and social media, providing the acting community with comprehensive information about available opportunities. The company works with both local productions and visiting Hollywood productions that bring their core cast but need local talent for supporting and background roles.

Actors register with Boston Casting through the company's website by creating a profile with current photos, physical measurements, contact information, and details about their experience, training, and any special skills or attributes. The registration process is straightforward and designed to accommodate actors at all levels of experience, from complete beginners to seasoned professionals with extensive credits. The company posts casting calls with specific requirements for each role, and registered actors can submit themselves for opportunities that match their profile. Boston Casting also proactively searches its database when productions request specific types, ages, ethnicities, or looks, so maintaining a thorough and accurate profile increases your chances of being discovered for opportunities you might not have submitted for directly. Communication happens primarily through email and the company's website, and actors are expected to respond promptly when contacted about potential bookings.

The production and on-set experience through Boston Casting reflects the character of the New England market, where productions frequently shoot on location throughout the greater Boston area, the North Shore, Cape Cod, and surrounding New England states. The region's distinct seasons, historic architecture, and diverse neighborhoods provide an extraordinary range of visual settings, and background actors working in the Boston market may find themselves on sets ranging from Beacon Hill brownstones to fishing villages, college campuses, and suburban communities. Boston Casting handles both SAG-AFTRA and non-union bookings, and the company coordinates with production teams to ensure smooth background management on set. Standard work days follow the typical 8 to 12 hour range, and the Greater Boston area's compact geography means that commute times to set locations are generally manageable compared to more spread-out markets. The New England market has a distinct production season, with activity typically heaviest from spring through fall when weather and daylight conditions are most favorable for exterior filming.

Boston Casting's talent pool draws from the extraordinarily deep well of performing arts talent in the New England region, which is home to some of the most prestigious acting training programs in the country at institutions like Yale School of Drama, Boston University, Emerson College, and the Brown/Trinity MFA program. This means the registered talent base includes a high concentration of well-trained performers alongside community actors and newcomers. Both SAG-AFTRA members and non-union performers are registered, with the company serving talent at all career stages. The Boston market particularly values actors who authentically represent New England — those who can provide genuine local accents, who look like they belong in Boston's neighborhoods, and who bring the character and personality that productions seek when they choose to film in the region. The relatively smaller and more close-knit nature of the New England acting community means that actors who build positive reputations through Boston Casting become well-known within the local industry quickly.

Boston Casting is completely free for actors — there are no registration fees, subscription costs, or hidden charges of any kind. The company earns its revenue from production companies, not from talent. Background actors are paid by the production at standard rates, with SAG-AFTRA members earning approximately $208 minimum per 8-hour day and non-union performers in the Boston market typically earning between $100 and $150 per day as of 2025. For principal roles, compensation varies based on the part, the production budget, and applicable union agreements. The Massachusetts film tax credit program has been stable and is widely supported by state lawmakers, providing a reliable foundation for continued production activity in the region. While the volume of work does not match major hubs, the cost of living in many parts of New England outside downtown Boston is manageable, and production earnings can be a meaningful supplement to other income sources.

If you are based in the Boston or New England area, registering with Boston Casting should be your absolute first step in pursuing any kind of film and television acting work in the region. The company is the gateway to virtually all professional production work in New England, and there is no meaningful way to participate in the local market without being in their system. The dual background and principal casting capability makes this registration significantly more valuable than a background-only company, as your profile can surface for a wide range of opportunities. If you are a performing arts student or graduate from one of the region's many excellent programs, Boston Casting connects your training to professional on-camera work opportunities. If you need higher volume or more consistent work than the New England market provides, consider supplementing with registrations in nearby markets, particularly New York, which is accessible for day trips from the Boston area.

Check Boston Casting's website and social media regularly for new casting calls, as the pace of postings varies with the production calendar and you do not want to miss opportunities during active periods. Include both professional headshots and casual photos in your registration, as the company's principal casting capability means a polished presentation could lead to consideration for speaking roles. If you have an authentic Boston or New England accent, make sure this is noted in your profile, as it is a genuinely sought-after quality that can set you apart from other registrants. Build a versatile wardrobe that reflects the range of settings common in New England productions — academic, professional, nautical, casual New England, and seasonally appropriate outerwear. Take advantage of the rich performing arts training opportunities available in the Boston area to continuously develop your skills, as the combination of training and casting access is a powerful foundation for building an acting career in the region.