Mandy Network
A global casting and crew networking platform with deep roots in the UK industry
Overview
Mandy Network is a well-established casting and crew networking platform that originated in the UK and has expanded to serve the global entertainment industry. It connects actors, filmmakers, and crew members through job listings, profiles, and direct messaging.
Actors can create profiles with headshots, showreels, and credits, then browse and apply to casting calls and crew positions. The platform hosts listings for film, television, theatre, commercials, and voice-over work.
How It Works
Mandy is particularly strong in the UK and European markets, where it is one of the most widely used platforms for independent and mid-budget productions. Its global reach has grown considerably, making it relevant for actors in many countries.
Basic accounts are free and allow limited applications. Premium memberships unlock unlimited applications, enhanced profile features, and priority placement in search results.
Who Uses It
A must-have for actors working in the UK market and a valuable supplement for those seeking international opportunities. Keep your profile current and check listings regularly, as new postings appear daily. Mandy also offers a jobs-by-email feature that sends you curated casting notices matching your profile criteria, ensuring you never miss a relevant opportunity even if you do not log in daily. The platform has expanded its educational resources in recent years, providing articles and guides on topics from self-taping to contract negotiation that are particularly useful for actors navigating the UK industry.
Pricing & Plans
Mandy Network offers a free basic account that allows you to create a profile and apply to a limited number of casting calls per week. The Premium membership costs approximately 15.99 pounds per month or 99.99 pounds per year, which works out to roughly 8.33 pounds per month on the annual plan and saves you about 48 percent over monthly billing. Premium unlocks unlimited applications, priority placement in casting director searches, enhanced profile features including showreel hosting and multiple headshot uploads, and the ability to view which casting directors have viewed your profile. The Mandy Voices add-on for voice actors costs an additional fee and provides specialized voice-over casting features. There are no hidden costs on either tier, and you can downgrade from Premium to free at any time without losing your profile data. Compared to Spotlight, which is the UK's primary casting platform and costs approximately 180 pounds per year, Mandy is more affordable and more accessible to actors who are not yet Spotlight members. For American actors looking to explore UK opportunities, Mandy provides a lower-cost entry point than establishing a full Spotlight profile.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
Mandy's greatest strength is its deep penetration of the UK independent film and theatre scene, where it is often the first platform that emerging directors and producers turn to when casting their projects. The platform's diversity of listings spans film, television, theatre, commercials, voice-over, and presenting, providing a breadth of opportunities that more specialized platforms cannot match. The free tier is genuinely functional, allowing new actors to create a full profile and apply to real casting calls without any upfront financial commitment. The job alert system is well designed and sends relevant, targeted notifications based on your profile criteria rather than generic blasts of every available listing. The platform's international expansion means it now hosts opportunities in North America, Australia, and Asia alongside its core UK and European markets. Mandy's reputation among UK indie filmmakers is strong, and many casting directors for smaller productions use it as their primary posting platform.
What Could Be Better
The free tier's application limits can be frustratingly restrictive, effectively forcing serious users toward the Premium subscription to maintain a consistent application volume. The quality of casting listings varies considerably, with legitimate professional productions mixed alongside student films, unpaid projects, and questionable opportunities that require careful vetting before applying. The platform lacks the gatekeeping that Spotlight provides through its membership requirements, which means the talent pool is much broader and includes hobbyists alongside professionals, potentially diluting the perceived quality of the platform in the eyes of some casting directors. Search functionality could be more refined, as filtering through large numbers of listings to find genuinely relevant opportunities can be time-consuming. Customer support response times for account issues and billing questions have received mixed reviews from users, with some reporting delays of several days for non-urgent inquiries. The platform's profile layout, while functional, looks dated compared to newer competitors and does not showcase materials as attractively as platforms like Actors Access or Spotlight.
Our Recommendation
Mandy Network is essential for any actor working in the UK who does not yet have Spotlight membership, as it provides the broadest access to UK casting opportunities outside of the Spotlight ecosystem. Actors with Spotlight membership should still consider Mandy as a supplement, particularly for independent film and commercial opportunities that may not be posted on Spotlight. American and international actors interested in exploring UK market opportunities will find Mandy to be an accessible and affordable entry point for understanding what is available. If you are based exclusively in the United States with no interest in international work, platforms like Actors Access and Casting Networks will be more relevant to your daily workflow. Beginning actors on a tight budget should start with the free tier and upgrade to Premium only after confirming that the platform generates relevant opportunities in their area and type. For voice actors specifically, Mandy Voices combined with platforms like Voices.com provides comprehensive coverage of the voice-over casting landscape.
Pro Tips
Upload at least three different headshot looks, including a theatrical shot, a commercial shot, and a casual or lifestyle shot, to maximize the range of roles you appear suitable for in casting searches. Set up specific and detailed job alerts rather than broad categories, as overly general alerts will flood your inbox with irrelevant listings and make it easy to miss the opportunities that genuinely match your profile. Respond to casting calls within the first 24 hours of posting whenever possible, because casting directors on Mandy often review submissions in batches and early applicants receive more attention. Include a personalized note with every application that references the specific project and explains why you are a strong fit, rather than using a generic cover message that could apply to any role. Check the casting director's or producer's profile and previous projects before applying, as this due diligence helps you avoid unprofessional situations and also provides talking points for your application. Keep a record of every application you submit through the platform so you can follow up appropriately and track your response rate over time to refine your submission strategy.