For the Actors: How to Spot Red Flags in Casting Breakdowns on Facebook

Protect yourself from scams and get paid what you are owed – that’s what we are talking about here.
If you are a PNW actor, then you’re probably 1. Hustling to find your next gig, 2. Working on your craft, 3. Thinking about getting started in the biz, 4. Questioning why you even want to be an actor anyhow, or 5. Any combination of these things all at the same time.
If you are in the biz already, or at least ready to audition, you might be using Facebook Groups to find casting opportunities. Using Facebook to submit to casting breakdowns can be extremely convenient. But, as with anything that is “extremely convenient” (and in this case, free of fees), it also has some drawbacks and challenges. Today, I want to focus on the challenges, which might include getting scammed by fake casting breakdowns or unethical producers.
If you have a few minutes to spare, please read on, as I don’t want you to get scammed out of what you are owed.
QUICK TIP: GET YOUR REPS INVOLVED
When you find a breakdown on Facebook that you want to submit to, and you are represented by a talent agent or manager in the PNW, send that information to your reps and have them look into it, then submit on your behalf. This will add a layer of protection, and might get you a better rate with your reps negotiating for you. Also, if there are any issues with you getting paid, your team can handle that side of the deal for you. Yes, you will owe them commission on the job, but “looping in your reps” is an industry standard practice in most cases.
WHAT A RED FLAG LOOKS LIKE
Sometimes a really crappy casting call (breakdown) is the result of obliviousness. Maybe the person who posted the breakdown is just getting started in the biz, and has left out a few details here and there – Let’s call it an innocent mistake (side note, if you need help crafting a breakdown, I blogged about that here). And mistakes happen.
When you see a breakdown on Facebook and you need more information about the opportunity, just ask. The OP should follow up with you in the comments section of the post and provide you with the answers you are looking for. If they don’t follow up, or if they give pushback, I would consider this a Red Flag, and probably an casting breakdown to avoid.
WHAT SHOULD YOU BE LOOKING FOR?
Breakdowns for Narrative (film/TV) and Commercial projects are similar, but can be a bit different. I am going to focus on the most important elements here, highlighting the overlap, so you can make informed decisions the next time you consider submitting for an acting gig on Facebook.
Here are some elements which should be a part of any breakdown on Facebook. If you see these things, that should give you some confidence. If some of the elements below are missing, ask about them before submitting. And ask about them in the comments of the original post, and not via DM.
- Project Type (film, commercial, episodic show, voice over, etc.)
- Project Title (mostly for narrative projects)
- Project Brand/Client (T-Mobile, Ted’s Bait & Tackle Shop, etc.)
- Union Status (SAG-AFTRA or Non-Union)
- Casting Director Name
- Producer Name
- Submission Deadline
- Shoot Dates
- Shoot Location
- Rate of Pay
- Run/Usage Details (for commercial/industrials)
- Character Breakdown
- Conflicts (sometimes a Ford commercial will not hire an actor who has a currently running Honda spot, etc.).
ANOTHER HUGE RED FLAG
Okay, let’s say you have been offered a job (yay!), and now someone on the production team is contacting you about the payment details, but those payment details look a bit fishy… What then?
Well, first, let me show you something that was brought to my attention recently by a PNW actor, which is certainly a Red Flag/Scam.

This appears to be a Fake Check Scam, and you can read more about the shady practice here. My photography business has been solicited in a similar way, and the timing there coincided with what the actor reported to me – A check was sent to me before the job was completed, and partial compensation was supposed to be sent to other parties. I did not deposit the check, and was ghosted shortly after I asked a few more questions about the job. If you receive a job offer that proposes a deal like the one above, walk away, as it is more than likely a scam.
In the acting business, most payments are sent to the actor within 30 days of the project, and, typically, when an actor is offered a job there will be (at least) a Deal Memo and often a more detailed contract, and IRS paperwork (I-9, W-4, etc.).
TIP: ASK FOR A DEAL MEMO
As a producer, I always send out Deal Memos when I am offering jobs to actors I want to cast in my narrative projects. A Deal Memo outlines many of the job’s details, including dates, rates, and more. A Deal Memo should be signed by both parties – one signature from the production team, and one signature from you, the actor being hired.
More on Deal Memos from a YouTube Channel I recently stumbled across:
FINAL THOUGHTS & SIGNING OFF
Participating in the acting industry is creative, challenging, and thrilling. There are ups and downs, and a lot of inconsistency. In any entertainment market, but especially in the PNW, jobs are scarce, and there is a lot of competition. If you are just entering the industry and you have not seen a lot of professional casting calls, then you might not know what to expect, and what to ask for in order to protect yourself. And, if you are using Facebook to find casting breakdowns (which is not inherently a bad thing), then I encourage you to come back to this blog post whenever needed so you don’t get scammed or unfairly compensated.
If you are unable to get a deal memo from the producer offering you work, make sure you have documented everything (screenshots, too) and that you have an clear idea of the gig and your compensation.
If you need coaching or a consultation (I also offer phone support), head to our shop and place an order. We also offer classes for actors at all stages of their craft. Mighty Tripod Acting Studio is here to support and educate the PNW actor, and we hope to see you in the studio soon.
Thanks for reading, and Break a Leg at your next audition!

David S. Hogan
Actor, Photographer, Producer, Acting Coach