Are you an Atlanta-based actor looking for your next big gig? One of the first steps to getting the job should be getting to know the people casting for it! We encourage all Backstage subscribers to take advantage of our online Call Sheet section to learn how to find everything from agents to managers to theater companies to open mics—and yes, casting directors, too! (For more information on Call Sheet, check out our frequently asked questions page here.)
Below, we used our Call Sheet database to round up five prominent CSA-affiliated casting companies in Atlanta—and the powerhouse CDs who run them—that local actors should know.
Stilwell Casting
Emmy-winning producer Annette Stilwell’s namesake casting company specializes in commercials, film, industrials, voiceovers, music videos, and television for both union and nonunion talents. Along with casting director Brian Beegle, casting producer Sara Eckman, and casting associate Jeremiah Stephenson, Stilwell has built her résumé to include noteworthy clients with an international pull including AT&T, HBO, BMW, Smirnoff, Disney, and more. The casting office, which accepts headshot, résumé, and demo reel submissions by mail, is also known for its in-house payroll services.
Kris Redding Casting
After working in Los Angeles for over 20 years, casting director Kris Redding moved her expertise to the southeast to jumpstart Kris Redding Casting, serving actors across Greater Atlanta in commercials, film, and TV projects, along with modeling content across print, web, and new media. Among her commercial work are projects with McDonald’s, Coke Zero, Charmin, and many more. And that’s not to mention reality and docu-drama series like “The Bachelor” and “The Carbonaro Effect,” nor feature film projects like “Pitch Perfect 3” and Melissa McCarthy’s “The Boss.” Headshot and résumé submissions are accepted by mail and email—no phone calls, no drop-offs.
Shay Bentley Griffin & Associates
Over more than 30 years in the business, three-time Emmy nominated CD Shay Bentley-Griffin has worked with a whopping 300+ projects—everything from “The Joneses” to “Remember the Titans” to “Nashville” to “The Vampire Diaries.” In addition to her casting work in film and TV, Bentley-Griffin, who’s been recipient of CSA’s Crystal Obelisk Award, hosts a number of workshops for both the novice and experienced actor through Chez Studios. Shay Bentley Griffin & Associates accepts submissions by mail only.
3 Simple Steps for Finding Casting Directors Feldstein | Paris Casting
One look at CDs Tara Feldstein or Chase Paris’ respective IMDb pages, and it seems they’ve worked on—and continue working on—just about everything to come through the southeast market (Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana). Blockbusters like “Captain America: Civil War” and “Fast Five” can be found among Feldstein | Paris Casting's work credits, as can series like “Under the Dome,” “Sleepy Hollow,” and the upcoming “Stranger Things” on Netflix. While the casting company does not accept unsolicited submissions, they occasionally post open casting calls on their Facebook page.
Fincannon & Associates
This casting company—made up of industry heavy-hitters Craig Fincannon, wife and colleague Lisa Mae Fincannon, and Mark Fincannon—is the two-time Emmy-winning dream team behind “Homeland,” “The Birth of a Nation,” and hundreds of other feature films and television series. With additional offices in New Orleans, Louisiana, and North Carolina, they’ve also got a handful of Artios Awards from the Casting Society of America between them. They only accept talent submissions through managers or agents, but are still a casting team worth keeping your eyes on.
Looking to get cast? Apply to casting calls on Backstage.