John McLean Alex Carvajal Casting Workbook
Casting Workbook is a 25-year-old Canadian technology company. Its main objective is to create an ecosystem where casting directors, producers, managers, and actors can connect digitally. Recently, it has entered Colombia to promote the local audiovisual industry.
John McLean, Director of Operations, and Alex Carvajal, Head of Business Development for Latin America, attended the Bogotá Audiovisual Market 2023 (BAM) to inform about the operation of the platform that operates in 58 countries around the world. “We have had several meetings with important production companies, producers, casting directors, and agents. We see a strong relationship with the country. The market here is very dynamic.”
“Approximately two and a half years ago, we decided that we wanted to expand into Spanish-speaking markets, and since then we have grown to reach 21 Spanish-speaking countries worldwide,” they said.
Carvajal explained that there is an opportunity in this market. “In a certain way, Latin America is always behind, technologically speaking, and what we are doing here is leveling the ground for Colombia. Hand in hand with all the offices, productions, casting directors, managers, and actors, we want Colombia and Latin America to be technologically at the same level as the US market.”
He explained that in Casting Workbook, casting directors can post calls for acting roles; managers and talent agencies are notified of these calls so they can review the information and, later, introduce their actors. Then directors will review the applications and make their final selections. “It’s a very streamlined way of communicating between the parties, and it opens job opportunities for the actors,” he commented.
Casting Workbook seeks to create close relationships with emerging talent at local film and theater schools. “We try to help them find an agent. We help them to get into our platform after they graduate. We offer training and education tools to our members, which help them advance their careers. We feel very proud when someone on our platform finds an agent, a big role, and becomes an actor,” McLean said.
“The welcome we’ve had from talent directors and agents has been phenomenal because they see that there is an opportunity not only to find work for their talent here in Colombia but also what our global reach offers them,” he concluded.
