Are you straight out of Central Casting? Then you’re one of the thousands of actors across the country who’s been cast by the premier agency as extras and background talent. Employing Hollywood hopefuls nearly as long as the film industry itself, this year marks Central Casting’s 90th anniversary. The occasion was commemorated earlier this month in Burbank, Calif., with a special reception for its registered talents purposed for “appreciating them and all of their contributions and hard work,” Executive Vice President Jennifer Bender told Backstage. Celebrations will continue through 2016 with a spring reception for the agency’s studio clientele of directors, producers, and casting directors. No other agency is as synonymous with casting background actors, and it’s not just due to its near century-spanning legacy. It’s become a reputable source for filmmakers, in part thanks to its hands-on, collaborative approach in finding the pool of...
- 12/30/2015
- backstage.com
How many American theater festivals can claim they’ve launched musicals staged in all 50 states and over 20 countries? The New York Musical Theatre Festival can. This year’s schedule of concerts, readings, and full musical productions, running July 7–27, will mark the festival’s 12th year of ensuring “the future vitality of musical theatre,” as its mission statement says. The winner of a special Drama Desk Award recognizing its commitment to fostering and presenting culturally diverse musicals, Nymf has served as a launching pad for emerging artists that have gone on to win Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize. Jen Bender, co-founder and returning director of programming and artist services, said this year’s crop of entries are more ambitious and more earnest than in previous seasons. “This year’s slate is full of shows really trying to say something,” she told Backstage. “Even if what they’re saying is funny,...
- 6/24/2015
- backstage.com
Sending a signal that the South is an increasingly vital host for Hollywood productions, a top bicoastal casting agency is eyeing a permanent outpost in the region. Central Casting, perhaps the largest extra casting agency in entertainment, is considering opening an office in New Orleans, Atlanta, or North Carolina some time next year, Backstage has learned. These cities have seen an increasing number of TV and feature productions base there as their states offer lucrative tax credits. “Right now we’ve only done some location casting [in New Orleans],” Jennifer Bender, a vice president at Central Casting, told Backstage. “So much production is going on there, as well as in Atlanta and North Carolina. We’re looking at what that means to us.” Bender stressed that no firm decisions had been made, but the numbers encourage a bricks-and-mortar presence in the region. “It doesn’t seem to be slowing down,” she said. “There...
- 11/7/2012
- backstage.com
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