Nov 1, 2026 · Shoot planning guide · 5 min read
Central Casting alternative for producers booking extras
A Central Casting alternative such as ShootModel suits brand teams and producers who need a handful of background actors for a commercial on a fixed date and want the rate, release and usage license settled in one booking. Central Casting is a long-established extras casting agency that supplies background talent to film, TV and large productions. ShootModel lets you filter verified adult extras by date, city and hours and book them directly, with the total shown before you confirm.
How a background casting agency works for a producer
An extras casting agency keeps a large registered pool of background performers, matches them to a breakdown and handles the paperwork and scheduling for the day. You send the number of people, the look, the date and the location. The agency confirms and calls the cast. For a feature, a TV series or a crowd of two hundred, that is exactly the right tool, and union productions often need an agency that administers vouchers and contract rules.
The fit gets worse as the job gets smaller. A commercial that needs six diners and a barista does not need a casting department. You may wait on a quote, pay agency handling on top of talent pay, and have little say over which individuals arrive. Check the agency's current terms before you plan around any figure, because they differ by market and production type.
When a producer needs a Central Casting alternative
Consider booking extras directly when these describe your shoot.
- 01The headcount is small, from a few people to a few dozen
- 02The shoot date is fixed and close
- 03You are a brand, agency or in-house team, not a union signatory production
- 04You want to pick the people yourself from profiles
- 05Your client wants releases and usage terms documented
- 06You may need a model or actor for the same day
Stay with an agency when you need hundreds of people, union administration or special skills casting across a large production. A direct route wins on speed, control and paperwork for small and mid-size commercial work. Neither is right every time.
For the full booking flow, see the guide to hiring extras for commercials. If the video also needs speaking roles, the hire actors page covers that.
Central Casting and other ways to hire extras compared
Extras casting agency
- How you hire
- Send a breakdown, the agency proposes and calls people
- Release and usage included
- Agency and production terms
- Best for
- Large crowds, union productions
Casting call sites
- How you hire
- Post a breakdown and review submissions
- Release and usage included
- Production prepares the documents
- Best for
- Searches with time to review
Friends and employees
- How you hire
- Ask around
- Release and usage included
- Informal, easy to skip releases
- Best for
- Tiny budgets
ShootModel
- How you hire
- Filter verified adults by date, city and hours
- Release and usage included
- Agreement, release and usage license with each booking
- Best for
- Paid extras for a dated shoot
For submission based casting, read the Backstage alternatives guide. If you also want a networking site compared, see the Stage 32 alternative guide.
How to book extras on ShootModel
1. Count who is on camera
List the setups and how many background people each needs. Book people for the setups they work in, not the whole day by default. A tighter list lowers the bill and the time spent in a holding area.
2. Search by date
Enter the city, date and hours, then pick Extras. You see who is free with the listed rate for those hours. For a larger crowd, send one shoot request to many matching extras and collect confirmations in one list.
3. Shortlist for variety
Check profiles for the mix of ages and looks your audience expects, and ask for wardrobe options in solid colors without logos.
4. Pick usage and confirm
Choose the media, territory and duration at checkout. Use instant booking where enabled, or send a request that the extra answers within 24 hours. Your card is charged on acceptance and payment is held until the shoot. Send the call time and address in the booking chat the day before. Keep meal and parking receipts for the day in an expense management software account, so the production budget closes cleanly after wrap.
What a Central Casting alternative costs you
There is no single price. Each extra on ShootModel sets their own hourly, half day and day rates, and you add the usage buyout for your release plan. You see the total before you confirm. ShootModel takes its 15% platform fee from the talent payout, so nothing is added at checkout.
Plan the other costs too: meals on a full day, wardrobe changes, parking, and overtime if the shot list runs long. See model rates for how booking hours are counted.
FAQ
01What is a good alternative to Central Casting?
ShootModel is a good alternative for producers who need background actors for a commercial on a fixed date, with the rate, release and usage license handled in the booking. A traditional extras casting agency remains the better choice for large crowds and union productions.
02How do I hire extras without an agency?
Search your city, shoot date and hours on ShootModel, pick the Extras type and book people who are free at their listed rates. Choose the usage for where the footage will run, send the call time in the booking chat and confirm with the total shown upfront.
03Do extras need to sign a release?
Yes, get a signed release from every recognizable person before filming. A ShootModel booking generates the release with the agreement and usage license, and you choose the media and duration that match your plan.
04Can I hire extras for a commercial in Los Angeles or New York?
Yes, search your city and date to see extras who are free. Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta have the deepest US pools, and you can start from the Los Angeles or New York pages.