UK-based Lilac Howell Films is an award-winning full-service production company specializing in training, corporate, advertisement, social, and other branded content across numerous market sectors for clients like ATS Euromaster, Midland Heart, Dunelm, Miller Homes, and Wacky Warehouse.
The need for speed
Accustomed to working with major brands, Lilac Howell Films frequently requires talent with highly specific skills—often on a tight schedule.
“We generally have to find very specific talent in a short space of time,” explained creative director Steve Cranston. “This could be a foreign language voiceover, a model with a very specific look, or an actor with an understanding of engineering. We don’t make it easy!”
A recent project with a European security company exemplified how the company’s casting needs can be as diverse as they are time-sensitive. With only a two-week turnaround to deliver a final product, they needed to cast multiple voiceover artists fluent in Italian, Spanish, Finnish, and Polish for a multi-language campaign. This demanding project required a super-efficient casting process to find high-quality talent fast.
Casting outcome highlights
Using Backstage, Lilac Howell Films was able to:
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Save money: Avoiding agent fees meant a 20-30% cost savings—a critical win for their budget.
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Find talent fast: Numerous immediate talent responses to their Backstage casting call filled 75% of the required roles within 72 hours.
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Hire quality talent: Backstage’s network provided skilled professionals who adapted quickly to project demands.
The right talent, right on time
Backstage’s extensive global talent pool and user-friendly platform enabled Lilac Howell Films to streamline their international casting process with tools that made vetting talent simple and quick.
“We went to agents as well as putting castings on the Backstage network, and 75% of these positions were able to be cast directly through Backstage within 72 hours,” Cranston shared. “Backstage really surprised us with the amount of international talent available.”
He added that “the Backstage platform not only has a huge pool of talent, but it makes the process of sharing cover letters, self-tapes, and voiceover samples incredibly easy for sign-off from our customers. We’ve found many talented performers who now work regularly with us!”
Standout performances
For this multilingual campaign, Lilac Howell Films sourced and cast three voiceover artists through Backstage. Each delivered skillful, high-quality performances that seamlessly translated the client’s message across language barriers.
Cranston reported that the Backstage talent his firm found understood the demands of the multilingual campaign and responded promptly, delivering high-quality work.
Satisfied clients
Lilac Howell Films reported overwhelmingly positive client feedback to the campaign, pointing to the effectiveness of Backstage’s talent pool and tools in meeting complex casting needs on time and on budget.
Lilac Howell Films’ experience highlights how Backstage empowers production companies to meet unique, time-sensitive casting needs with ease. By combining a vast, global talent network with user-friendly tools, Backstage enabled Lilac Howell to deliver a multilingual campaign that resonated across Europe, all within a demanding deadline.
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