What is Actors-Inc? And what can we do for you?

Way, way back many centuries ago, not long after the bible began…….. Actors-Inc was founded. Well OK, it was 2003. We wouldn’t have been much good back in the days of Cain and Abel, as we had to wait for the internet (and electricity I guess) for our idea really to work.

Back in 2003, a group of performers got together, and were bemoaning the expense of all the different services we had to pay for just to make sure we were keeping up with everything that was going on in the industry. Some services our agents insisted we joined, despite the fact we never really saw much value to the money we paid out, and others just seemed to be taking money for old rope –glorified email rings, jobs news that wasn’t really much cop etc. Plus the fact, we could see that the internet was really starting to take off, and we quite liked the idea of having our own website address that we could put on a business card, or tell somebody at a party, without having to remember some complex 10-digit number. We worked out that even if we subscribed to the bare minimum of these services, and got our own very basic website, we’d be expecting to pay around £50 per month for all of this. And as most of us were on first name terms with our bank managers (oh all right, the team leader at the call centre) regards our overdraft facility, £600 per year to run our careers wasn’t really a viable option.

And then somebody had a genius idea!

“Why don’t we” he said “set up a new website for performers, agents and casting directors, that includes all these things, plus maybe other bits and bobs that we think of as we go along, that really gives value for money to the artist, gives them their own mini website with facilities for video and audio showreels, gives them audition and casting information, maybe an advice section, possibly discounts from some major theatrical firms, give it some lovely flash graphics so it looks pretty, make it the most advanced casting workflow tool in the world for agents and casting directors to use, and most importantly, because it’s all internet based, and because we can get the artists and agents to do their own updates, we can make it significantly cheaper than anything vaguely like it on the market – although we’ll be offering so many services that really there’ll be nothing to compare it to.”

After he’d finally drawn breath (he was known for getting a tad carried away sometimes), he was initially met with a stunned silence. This was quickly followed by murmurings of “you’re on your own mate”, “you’re ‘avin’ a laugh”, “good luck pal – you’ll need it” and other phrases of congratulations and encouragement. Undeterred, our hero determined to do something about this, and so, in September 2003, launched the first incarnation of Actors-Inc to an unsuspecting – and admittedly largely oblivious – nation.

Good as it was, and honourable as its intentions were, the site was limited due to constrained funds, and although we offered a great service to performers, we weren’t able to extend that to agents and casting directors as much as we initially intended. But then, in 2006, a white knight came charging over the horizon, in the form of AT2 – an Australian-based casting tool, who shared our values and philosophies, and were the major casting workflow system ‘down under’. They knew that they had one of the cleverest systems in the world when it came to casting all sorts of productions within the entertainment industry, having invested millions of Aussie dollars to make sure this was the case. They were looking to spread the gospel (we’re back to a biblical theme) on a global scale, and as fate would have it, came knocking on the door of Actors-Inc.

We immediately saw the potential of merging our two companies, integrating the fantastic casting system that AT2 had developed, with the content-driven website that we had succeeded in developing at Actors-Inc. And so a new holy alliance was born, dedicated to bringing the most complete solution to ALL of our clients – casting directors, agents and actors. When this news filtered out to the industry, there was dancing in the streets, and impromptu parties, as the shackles of the old dictatorships were finally overthrown. If you missed it you were probably abroad at the time………

AT2 is now a truly global system, with offices in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa already, and expecting to be launching soon in China, the United States, and more countries to come after that. And the network is truly global in every way. A casting brief sent from any computer in the world can land in an agent’s inbox and relevant information can then be sent to an artists personal message centre within minutes. With scripts, audition notes and details available immediately to an artist, more time can be spent preparing for that audition - which is always good!

Actors-Inc and AT2 now offer the following suite of services to artists:

• Personal website – listing skills, resume, video showreel, audio and photos.

• Personalised web address – easy to remember and publicise.

• Flash profiles – to give your web-space the most professional look.

• Photo gallery – included in standard package so you can showcase different looks to potential employers.

• Audio reel – included in standard package, so potential employers can hear you.

• Video Showreel – to give the best possible platform for your talents to potential employers.

• Weekly newsletter – detailing news and information from the industry every Friday afternoon.

• Auditions and castings – delivered direct to your inbox so you know what’s casting.

• Audition alerts by text message (SMS) and email – making sure you’re always up to date.

• Discounts from leading arts related companies – helping you save money.

• Theatre ticket discounts – reported from all leading companies, helping you save even more money.

• Artists Advice – helping you with the practicalities of the business.

• Agency listing section - detailing virtually every agent and personal manager in the UK, invaluable if you’re looking for representation.

• Extensive links section – helping you find the information you need.

• Casual Jobs section – for those periods that happen to us all, helping to keep the bank manager at bay.

• Fringe & Profit-Share venue listings – to keep you in touch with what’s happening at grass-roots.

• Workshops and Courses listings – so you can improve your craft.

• Automatic inclusion on probably the most advanced casting workflow database in the world.

All of these services are provided at a fantastic price (standard package from just £60/year), that you can pay by direct debit either yearly, quarterly or monthly. Oh, and in case you’re still unsure, you get a ONE MONTH FREE TRIAL just so you can check it out with no commitment or contracts. How good are we?

Register now to start taking advantage of the ONLY GLOBAL CASTING SYSTEM.

Actors-Inc and AT2 – changing the face of UK casting.