StarNow

StarNow is a global talent platform that was founded in New Zealand and has grown into an international casting resource with a significant presence in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and other English-speaking markets. The platform launched in the early 2000s with the mission of making casting accessible to performers at all levels, particularly those who are new to the industry and may not yet have the credits or training to qualify for more exclusive platforms. StarNow covers a wide range of performance categories beyond acting, including modeling, music, dance, voice-over, and variety performance, making it one of the most multi-disciplinary casting platforms available. Like Mandy, StarNow was acquired by Backstage (owned by Cast & Crew), bringing it into a portfolio of casting platforms that collectively serve millions of performers worldwide. The platform has maintained its identity as a beginner-friendly, internationally accessible resource, and it continues to be one of the first casting platforms many aspiring actors discover when they begin exploring the industry.

StarNow's positioning in the casting platform landscape is distinct from industry-standard tools like Actors Access, Spotlight, or Casting Networks. While those platforms cater primarily to working professionals and established performers, StarNow explicitly welcomes beginners, hobbyists, and aspiring performers who are just getting started. This accessibility is both the platform's greatest strength and its key limitation — it provides an easy entry point for people who might be intimidated by the eligibility requirements or costs of professional platforms, but the quality and pay level of opportunities tends to be lower than what you would find on more established services. The platform's international reach means actors in markets that are underserved by American or UK platforms — such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Southeast Asia — can find local casting opportunities alongside global listings. StarNow also serves the production side, allowing filmmakers and content creators to post casting calls and find talent, which creates a direct connection between emerging creators and emerging performers.

Getting started on StarNow is intentionally simple and welcoming. You create a free account, build a profile with photos, a bio describing your skills and experience, any performance credits you have, and links to demo reels or showreel clips. The platform does not require professional training, union membership, or existing credits to join — anyone can create a profile and begin browsing opportunities. Free members can apply for a limited number of casting calls per month, which is enough to get a feel for the platform and test whether it generates relevant opportunities. The browsing interface is straightforward, with casting calls organized by category, location, and project type. Submissions are made directly through the platform by clicking an "Apply" button on relevant listings, and your profile materials are shared with the casting contact automatically. StarNow's onboarding process is designed for people who may have never used a casting platform before, with clear guidance on how to present yourself effectively.

The daily experience of using StarNow revolves around browsing new casting calls, applying for opportunities that match your skills and availability, and maintaining your profile. The platform publishes new listings regularly across all of its talent categories, though the volume of acting-specific opportunities varies significantly by market — major cities will have more listings than rural areas. The search and filtering tools are basic but functional, allowing you to narrow results by location, category, and project type. One distinctive aspect of StarNow is its social features — the platform includes community elements like profile views, favorites, and messaging that create a more interactive experience than purely transactional casting platforms. Paid subscribers get unlimited applications, which removes the monthly cap that free members face and allows more aggressive pursuit of opportunities. The platform also sends email notifications for new listings matching your profile, though the algorithm's matching accuracy varies. For beginners, the lower-stakes environment of StarNow can be a useful training ground for learning how to submit for roles, write application messages, and present yourself professionally online.

StarNow's user base is heavily weighted toward beginners, hobbyists, and emerging professionals who are in the early stages of exploring a performance career. The platform has a particularly large and active community in Australia and New Zealand, reflecting its Kiwi origins, with strong representation in the UK and growing usage in the United States. Multi-disciplinary performers — those who act, model, sing, and dance — find StarNow appealing because the platform covers all of these categories in one place. The production side of the platform tends to be populated by student filmmakers, indie creators, content producers, and small commercial operations rather than major studio productions. This creates an ecosystem where emerging talent connects with emerging creators, which can lead to meaningful collaborations and portfolio-building projects even if the pay is limited. More experienced professional actors generally graduate from StarNow to more established platforms as their careers advance, which means the community refreshes regularly with new users.

StarNow operates on a freemium model with one of the most affordable pricing structures in the casting platform space. Free accounts allow you to create a profile, browse casting calls, and apply for a limited number of opportunities per month. Paid subscription tiers are available, with premium membership costing approximately $9 per month, though the exact pricing and tier structure should be confirmed on starnow.com as rates adjust periodically following the Backstage acquisition. Premium membership unlocks unlimited applications, enhanced profile features, priority placement in search results, and access to premium-only listings. The pricing makes StarNow one of the most budget-friendly paid casting platforms available, which aligns with its mission of serving performers who may not yet be earning significant income from their craft. There are no per-application fees for either free or premium members. For actors who are testing the waters of a performance career without committing to the higher costs of Backstage or Casting Networks, StarNow's pricing represents minimal financial risk.

StarNow is an excellent entry point for aspiring actors who are just beginning to explore performing as a potential career or serious hobby. If you have never used a casting platform, never submitted for a role, and are not sure whether acting is something you want to pursue seriously, StarNow is a low-cost, low-risk way to get your feet wet. It is also a strong choice for actors in Australia, New Zealand, and other markets where the dominant U.S. and UK platforms have limited local coverage. However, StarNow should not be your long-term primary casting resource — as you build credits, gain training, and develop your career, you should transition to Actors Access, Backstage, or Spotlight (depending on your market) for access to more professional opportunities. If you are already a working professional with established credits and representation, StarNow is unlikely to add significant value to your casting toolkit. Think of StarNow as the training wheels of casting platforms — invaluable when you are starting, but something you will naturally outgrow.

Use StarNow strategically to build your first credits and gain experience with the submission and audition process rather than expecting it to generate high-paying professional bookings. Focus on applying for projects where you can get quality footage for your demo reel — a well-shot student film or indie short from a StarNow listing can be more career-valuable than the pay from a poorly produced commercial. Take advantage of the platform's low-stakes environment to practice writing compelling application messages, which is a skill that will serve you well when you move to more competitive platforms. If you are in Australia or New Zealand, check StarNow frequently as it has the strongest local coverage of any international casting platform. Set a career milestone for transitioning from StarNow to professional platforms — for example, after you have accumulated five solid credits, consider investing in an Actors Access or Backstage subscription. Keep your StarNow profile professional and polished even though the platform is beginner-friendly, because casting directors and filmmakers will judge you based on how you present yourself regardless of the platform.