New Site Offers Producer and Studio Resources and Talent Agent Registry

August 21, 2003

Creating a tool for collaboration unlike any other in the Entertainment Industry, the Casting Society of America (CSA) is pleased to announce the debut of www.castingsociety.com. This new site enables members to communicate with each other and allow producers, agents, managers and actors the ability to reach casting directors electronically.

“‘Freely exchanging information and ideas among members’” is part of our mission statement at CSA and that's exactly where the inspiration for the new site came from,” said Patrick Baca, CSA Board Member and creator of the new site. “The vision was to design a casting communication and resources tool for the members to share and use. Members now have access to casting lists and reports helpful and unique to our casting process.”

Website features include "Join CSA" for casting directors who are not members to learn more about the organization, "Producer Resources" for producers and studio personnel who need to find, locate, or research a casting director, and "Register with CSA" where agents and managers can register to receive e-news, notices and updates from CSA.

Another element is the "Actors and Reps" area, where both groups can now invite casting directors to plays and showcases with the use of a “virtual postcard” notice that will get automatically plugged into the CSA's national calendar of events. This feature is hoped to save actors and their representatives time and money by getting the word out electronically about their activities.

"The new CSA website will serve as a tool and a meeting ground for our members and other professionals in the Entertainment Industry,” said Gary Zuckerbrod, President, CSA. “From now on, members will have an easy and expedient way to exchange ideas, information, gather resources and staff suggestions not only from other members but also from agents and managers.”

The Casting Society of America, the premier organization of theatrical casting directors in film, television, and theatre, was founded in Los Angeles in February, 1982 with the intent of establishing a recognized standard of professionalism in the casting field and to provide it's members with a support organization to further their goals and protect their common interests.

The founding members of the organization (which at the time was called the American Society of Casting Directors) were Mike Fenton, Al Onorato and Joe Reich. By 1983, its membership had grown to 39 and CSA began publishing a monthly newsletter to its members reporting on news of interest in the industry. Over twenty years later, its ranks have grown to more than 350 of the top casting directors in the Industry. The creative contributions of Casting Directors are now recognized by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and since 1989, Casting Directors have been awarded Emmy statuettes in various Casting categories.

For further information on the Casting Society of America, call 323 463-1925.

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