CESD Commercial Division
A major bicoastal talent agency with a dedicated commercial division
Overview
CESD (Cunningham Escott Slevin Doherty) is a leading bicoastal talent agency with a dedicated commercial division that represents actors for television commercials, digital campaigns, and branded content.
Their commercial agents submit talent for national and regional campaigns across all product categories. The agency is well-connected with commercial casting directors and advertising agencies.
How It Works
CESD has a strong reputation in both the New York and Los Angeles markets, making them a powerful choice for commercial actors working on either coast. Their roster includes both established and emerging talent.
Representation is obtained through industry referrals, showcases, and direct submissions. Standard agency commission applies to all bookings.
Who Uses It
Pursuing representation at CESD's commercial division can significantly boost your commercial audition volume. Prepare a strong commercial reel and have professional headshots before reaching out.
Pricing & Plans
CESD operates on the standard talent agency commission model, with commissions of 10% on SAG-AFTRA commercial bookings, which is the industry-standard rate for union work. Non-union commercial work and other booking types may carry commissions up to 20% depending on the specific arrangement. There are no upfront fees, registration costs, or mandatory class enrollments associated with CESD representation — the agency earns exclusively through commissions on work they book for you, which is the hallmark of a legitimate talent agency. CESD is a SAG-AFTRA franchised agency, meaning it adheres to the union's guidelines regarding commission structures, contract terms, and talent treatment. The agency handles contract negotiation, payment collection, and billing on behalf of represented talent, deducting their commission before disbursing earnings. For commercial actors, the 10% commission on national commercial bookings is a modest cost given that agency-submitted auditions access campaigns paying tens of thousands of dollars in session fees and residuals that self-submitting actors rarely access.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
CESD's bicoastal presence with strong offices in both New York and Los Angeles provides commercial actors with access to the two largest advertising markets in the country through a single agency relationship, eliminating the need to maintain separate commercial agents on each coast. The agency's commercial division is staffed by dedicated commercial agents who specialize exclusively in this category, bringing deep relationships with commercial casting directors and advertising agencies that general theatrical agents cannot match. Being submitted by CESD for commercial auditions carries immediate credibility with casting directors who know the agency's reputation for representing talented, professional, and reliable commercial actors. The audition volume that comes with CESD commercial representation can be transformative — actors frequently report going from a few self-submitted auditions per month to multiple agency-submitted auditions per week, dramatically increasing their booking opportunities. The agency represents talent across a diverse range of types, ages, and ethnicities, reflecting the commercial industry's need for authentic representation in modern advertising campaigns. CESD's multi-division structure (commercial, theatrical, voiceover, hosting) allows actors to be cross-submitted across categories, maximizing earning potential from a single agency relationship.
What Could Be Better
Competition for CESD commercial representation is fierce, as the agency receives thousands of submissions and can only effectively represent a limited roster, meaning many qualified commercial actors will not receive an offer. The bicoastal structure means that your experience may vary depending on which office handles your representation, and some actors report differences in submission activity and communication quality between the New York and Los Angeles offices. Being signed to CESD's commercial division does not guarantee consistent auditions — the volume of submissions depends on how well your type matches current market demand, and some periods may be significantly busier than others. The agency's large commercial roster means you may be competing with fellow CESD actors for the same breakdowns, as agents must choose which of their clients to submit for each role based on type, availability, and casting requirements. Some actors feel that the impersonal dynamics of large agency commercial departments, where you may interact with different agents for different submissions, lack the personal relationship quality of smaller boutique commercial agencies. The commercial division's focus on bookable, mainstream commercial types means actors with highly distinctive or niche looks may find more opportunities through agencies that specialize in character-driven or unconventional casting.
Our Recommendation
CESD's commercial division is highly recommended for commercial actors with strong, versatile commercial types who want access to the highest volume of national commercial auditions available through bicoastal representation. The agency is best suited for actors who already have solid commercial training, professional headshots, and ideally a commercial reel demonstrating their booking ability, as CESD expects its roster to be audition-ready from day one. Newer commercial actors should build their skills and materials through commercial classes and smaller agency representation before approaching CESD, as the agency's competitive submission environment rewards polished professionals. If you are based exclusively in one market and do not need bicoastal coverage, a strong local boutique commercial agency may provide more focused, personal attention than a large bicoastal operation. Commercial actors who also want theatrical representation should note that CESD's theatrical and commercial divisions operate independently, and being signed in one does not guarantee representation in the other.
Pro Tips
Invest in professional commercial headshots that show genuine warmth, approachability, and versatility before approaching CESD, as your headshot is the first and often only thing a commercial agent evaluates when considering new talent. Prepare a commercial reel featuring your strongest spots — even student films, spec commercials, or class work can demonstrate your commercial viability if the production quality is adequate and your performance is genuine. Seek referrals from commercial casting directors who know your work, as a recommendation from a trusted CD carries enormous weight in the submission evaluation process and can move you to the top of the consideration pile. If you are signed, respond to every audition notification promptly and submit self-tapes quickly, as the commercial audition cycle moves fast and agents notice which clients are reliable and responsive versus which ones miss opportunities due to slow response times. Build a reputation for being easy to work with, punctual, and professional on set, as commercial agents hear feedback from casting directors and production companies, and your on-set reputation directly influences how aggressively your agent promotes you for future opportunities.