Creative Handbook

Creative Handbook is an online production directory that catalogs thousands of services, vendors, and resources used in film, television, and commercial production. It serves as a yellow pages for the entertainment industry, covering everything from equipment rental to post-production services.

The directory is searchable by category and location, making it easy to find specific production resources like rehearsal spaces, prop houses, and sound stages. For actors, it is a useful tool for locating headshot photographers, coaches, and other professional services.

Creative Handbook has been a trusted industry resource for decades, and many production coordinators rely on it when sourcing vendors for new projects. Its listings are curated and verified, providing a level of reliability that general search engines do not.

Browsing the directory is completely free for users. Vendors pay to be listed, which keeps the platform accessible to anyone in the industry seeking production resources.

Bookmark Creative Handbook as a go-to reference for finding industry-specific services in your area. It is particularly useful when you need to locate specialized vendors like wardrobe stylists, dialect coaches, or self-tape studios. The directory is updated daily with industry-related news, events, and vendor listings, ensuring that the information remains current as the production landscape evolves. Creative Handbook also publishes an annual report analyzing how the film industry impacts regional economies, providing useful context for actors who want to understand production trends in their market.

Creative Handbook is completely free to browse and search for all users, with no registration required to access the full directory of production vendors and service providers across Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, Louisiana, and other major production markets. Revenue is generated through vendor listings, meaning production companies, rental houses, studios, and service providers pay to be included and featured in the directory, which keeps the platform free for actors and other industry professionals seeking resources. There are no premium tiers, subscription fees, or paywalled content, making it one of the rare industry resources that provides comprehensive value without any financial barrier. For vendors seeking to be listed, advertising packages vary based on placement prominence and category inclusion, though these costs are borne entirely by the businesses, not the users. Compared to other production directories like LA 411 or the Industry Source Book, Creative Handbook offers comparable breadth of listings at no cost to the searcher, while competitors may charge for access to their most detailed information. The free model makes Creative Handbook an equalizer, giving emerging actors and small independent producers the same access to vetted industry vendors that large production companies enjoy.

Creative Handbook is a recommended bookmark for every working actor and producer in the entertainment industry, serving as a reliable starting point when you need to locate specialized production vendors, services, or facilities in major markets. It is particularly valuable for actors who also produce their own content and need access to the same vendor network that professional production companies use, leveling the playing field between independent projects and studio-backed productions. If you work primarily in Los Angeles, the directory's depth of LA-based listings makes it an indispensable resource, while actors in New York, Atlanta, and Louisiana will also find substantial coverage of their local markets. For actors in smaller or emerging production markets, Creative Handbook should be supplemented with local film commission directories and regional production guides that will have more complete coverage of vendors in those areas. The directory is best used as a starting point for vendor discovery rather than a definitive guide, as you should always cross-reference listings with independent reviews, ask colleagues for referrals, and request samples or portfolios before hiring any service provider. If you are looking specifically for headshot photographers or acting coaches, the specialized directories and referral networks within actor communities may provide more nuanced recommendations than a general production directory.

Start by bookmarking the Creative Handbook homepage and familiarizing yourself with its category structure, as knowing how the directory is organized will help you find specific vendors quickly when you need them under time pressure. When searching for a service provider, browse multiple related categories rather than relying on a single keyword search, as vendors may be listed under different category names than you expect, and browsing reveals options you would not have thought to search for. Cross-reference any vendor you find on Creative Handbook with their own website, social media presence, and independent reviews on platforms like Google and Yelp before making contact, as the directory listing alone does not provide enough information to evaluate quality. Use the stage chart feature when scouting locations for self-produced content, as it provides detailed specifications for sound stages across markets that would otherwise require individual inquiries to each facility. Check the directory's news section periodically for industry event announcements, as many listed vendors offer discounts or showcase their services at industry trade shows and networking events. Share the directory with fellow actors and production collaborators, as building a shared vendor reference among your creative network saves everyone time and improves the quality of recommendations through collective experience.