Casting Collective

Casting Collective is the largest and most established background and supporting artist casting agency in the United Kingdom, functioning as the British equivalent of Central Casting in the United States. The company provides extras, walk-ons, stand-ins, photo doubles, and featured supporting artists for the vast majority of major film, television, and commercial productions shooting across the UK, from blockbuster Hollywood features at Pinewood and Shepperton Studios to BBC dramas, ITV series, and the growing slate of streaming content produced in Britain. Casting Collective has been the dominant force in UK supporting artist casting for many years, building relationships with virtually every major production company, broadcaster, and studio operating in the British market. The company's scale is unmatched in the UK — it maintains a database of tens of thousands of registered supporting artists and processes thousands of bookings annually. Its position in the UK market mirrors Central Casting's dominance in Los Angeles, making it the essential first registration for anyone interested in background work in Britain.

The UK supporting artist industry operates somewhat differently from the American background acting system, and Casting Collective has been instrumental in professionalizing and organizing the sector in Britain. In the UK, background performers are typically referred to as supporting artists or SAs, and the work is governed by agreements between production companies and the Broadcasting Entertainment Communications Theatre Union, known as Equity, which serves a similar function to SAG-AFTRA in the United States. Casting Collective works within this framework, providing supporting artists to productions at rates that comply with industry agreements and ensure fair treatment and compensation. The company has invested in modern technology including an online portal and mobile-friendly systems that allow registered artists to view available roles, submit for bookings, and manage their schedules efficiently. For the UK acting community, Casting Collective represents the primary gateway to on-set experience, professional income from entertainment work, and the opportunity to participate in some of the most prestigious productions in the world.

Actors register with Casting Collective online by creating a detailed profile on the company's website, uploading current photos that accurately represent their appearance, and providing comprehensive personal information including physical measurements, clothing sizes, contact details, availability patterns, travel capabilities, and any special skills such as driving licenses, languages spoken, musical abilities, or athletic capabilities. The company emphasizes that registration photos must be current, clear, and unedited, showing your natural appearance without heavy makeup, filters, or professional lighting that might misrepresent how you actually look. Once registered, artists can browse available roles on the company's online portal and submit themselves for opportunities that match their profile, while the casting team also searches the database proactively when filling specific production requests. The registration is open to performers of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels, and no previous acting experience is required. The company handles the administrative aspects of bookings including scheduling confirmation, rate negotiation with productions, and ensuring compliance with industry agreements.

Working as a supporting artist through Casting Collective involves the standard protocols of UK film and television production, with booked artists receiving detailed information about their call time, studio or location address, wardrobe requirements, and any special instructions for the production day. UK productions shoot at a range of locations including the major studio complexes at Pinewood, Shepperton, Leavesden, and Elstree, as well as on location throughout London and across the United Kingdom. The working day for supporting artists in the UK typically runs 10 to 12 hours, and Casting Collective ensures that all bookings comply with applicable working time regulations, meal break requirements, and health and safety standards. Both Equity and non-Equity supporting artists are booked through the company, with Equity members receiving higher rates and additional contractual protections. The on-set experience varies by production but generally involves checking in with the supporting artist coordinator, going through wardrobe and makeup as needed, and being directed by assistant directors throughout the shooting day.

Casting Collective's registered database encompasses supporting artists from across the full demographic spectrum of the UK population, including performers of all ages from children to elderly adults, all ethnicities, and all body types. The company serves London-based productions most heavily, but also fills supporting artist needs for productions shooting in Manchester, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast, and other production centers throughout the United Kingdom. Both Equity members and non-Equity performers are represented, with the company encouraging non-Equity artists who work regularly to consider joining the union for the additional protections and higher rates it provides. The most successful supporting artists on Casting Collective's books tend to be those who treat the work professionally, maintain a flexible schedule, respond promptly to booking offers, and build a reputation for reliability and good on-set conduct. Many of the UK's most prolific supporting artists have been registered with Casting Collective for years and have accumulated credits on hundreds of productions.

Registration with Casting Collective is completely free for performers — there are no sign-up fees, subscription charges, or hidden costs. The company earns its revenue through the booking fee charged to production companies for its casting services. Supporting artist rates in the UK are governed by industry agreements and vary based on Equity membership status, the type of production, and the specific role. As of 2025, Equity-agreed supporting artist rates for television typically start at approximately 120 to 150 pounds per day, with non-Equity rates generally lower depending on the production and the agreement in place. Feature film rates may be higher, and special categories like stand-ins, photo doubles, and featured supporting artists command premium rates. Overtime, meal penalties, and travel allowances are governed by the applicable production agreement. Casting Collective handles all rate negotiation and payment coordination with the production company on behalf of its registered artists.

If you are in the United Kingdom and want to do supporting artist or background work, registering with Casting Collective is the essential first step — it is the Central Casting of Britain, and skipping this registration means voluntarily cutting yourself off from the majority of available work. Supplement your registration with other UK supporting artist agencies like Uni-versal Extras to maximize your coverage of available opportunities. The registration is free and requires no commitment, so there is genuinely no reason not to sign up if you have any interest in this type of work. For actors using supporting artist work as an introduction to the professional entertainment industry, Casting Collective provides a legitimate pathway to on-set experience on world-class productions. If you are outside the UK, this registration will not be useful — look for the equivalent service in your own country.

Create a thorough Casting Collective profile with multiple high-quality, current photos that show your face clearly and your full body from different angles, as the casting team relies heavily on photos when making booking decisions. Check the online portal daily for new opportunities and submit promptly for any roles that match your profile. Build a comprehensive wardrobe portfolio suitable for the range of UK productions — smart business attire, casual modern clothing, and period-appropriate pieces if you have access to them, as UK productions frequently shoot historical dramas that need supporting artists with era-appropriate looks. If you are based outside London, factor in travel time and costs when deciding which bookings to accept, and consider whether investing in a London base for busy production periods might improve your booking frequency. Join Equity when you become eligible, as the higher rates and contractual protections significantly improve the supporting artist experience and your long-term earning potential.