Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is Cast Images Talent Agency?
Where the heck are you guys located?
What are Cast Images’ business hours?
Who would I be working with at Cast Images?
What kind of talented and beautiful people does Cast Images represent?
Where can I see the fabulous Cast Images models and actors in action?
What is the difference between an talent agent, a casting director and a manager?
What will it cost me to sign with Cast Images?
Do I have to have experience to sign with Cast Images?
Do I have to have professional photos to sign with Cast Images?
Where do you recommend for training & photos if I want them?
Can I see a copy of your contract up front?
So, flat out, why should I sign with Cast Images?
Okay, Okay, how do I submit myself to Cast Images?
How do I reach your incredible agency in person?

What exactly is Cast Images Talent Agency?

Cast Images is a full service licensed talent agency servicing North America and beyond. We've been in business since 1991 and represent professional models, actors, and creative talent in the areas of Fashion Print and Runway, Television, Film, Local and National Commercials, Commercial Print, Voice Overs, Trade Shows, and Live Events.

Where the heck are you guys located?

Cast Images main office is located in Midtown Sacramento at 2530 J Street, Ste 330, Sacramento CA 95816. (It’s the corner of 26th & J.)

What are Cast Images’ business hours?

We are open Monday thru Friday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. We also have after-hours emergency cel phones — the current phone numbers can be found on our outgoing voicemail at 916-444-9720.

Who would I be working with at Cast Images?

Agency owner Chandra Bourne opened Cast Images in 1991 after working as a professional model and actress in Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Paris, & Milan. She is dedicated to providing the best opportunities for her talent, top notch service to her clients, and a supportive working environment for her employees. Chandra is the author of a well received guide to starting children in the modeling and acting business: Inside Child Modeling. She lives in Elk Grove with her husband Ron, daughter Chloe and much-loved dogs Kayla & Gracie. Chandra donates 5% of Cast Images' profits annually to FreedomFromHunger.org.

Jessica Berkey expertly handles acting and lifestyle bookings for Cast Images where she daily utilizes her excellent people and organizational skills. Originally from Chicago, Jessica brings an extensive theatre background along with ten years of working on and booking Trade Shows, Live Events and National Tours. After hours you can find her exercising her love of theatre by directing and starring in local productions.

Amber Collins heads our fashion division at Cast Images. She works diligently building our fashion and lifestyle client base and placing models nationally and internationally. Amber comes to us with a tremendous background. After working as an international model for twenty years, she then parlayed her experience as talent into a behind-the-scenes career casting models for fashion shows in Spain, and ultimately heading a San Francisco agency's fashion board for the past four years. Amber has worked with local, national, and international clients that include Calvin Klein, Trussardi, Abercrombie, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Kohl's, and many others.

Admin guru Serena Hernandez keeps our office running smoothly by simultaneously handling staff, client, and talent requests with a smile. Serena has been doing admin for over 9 years now and her passion for the industry goes back to high school drama. She was even honored with a silver medal global recognition from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. Serena joins our team happy to help out our talented actors and models. And she's terrific at helping the Cast Images staff maintain their sanity.

Barbara Paul handles Live Events and Voice Over bookings for Cast Images. She comes to us with over 14 years of event planning experience. As a Sacramento native she enjoys running along the river, spending lazy afternoons in the kitchen, and visiting wine country.

PR whiz Pam Tuohy handles client outreach for Cast Images. With extensive fashion industry experience, Pam brings a new level of energy to the agency. In her parallel life, Pam is an amazing jewelry designer. To see her work, visit: www.pamelatuohyjewelry.com.

Tyler Waaler covers all things media for us here at Cast Images. With six years of experience in Social Media, Event Production, Graphic Design, and Multimedia - Tyler brings a new level of expertise to our talent and clients. When not in the office, Tyler spends his time either traveling, changing his hair color, hanging out in Midtown, discovering new music, or managing his own photography and media. To see his work, visit: www.tylerwaaler.com.

Carmela Yamamoto works at Cast Images handling our accounts payable. She's especially tough at collecting money from overdue clients! Carmela, along with her two adorable and talented daughters, is also an actress and model with the agency.

What kind of talented and beautiful people does Cast Images represent?

• Commercial Print - models work in print jobs that sell a product or a service. These models are all ages and sizes, appealing, friendly and easy to relate to.

• Fashion Print and Runway - Cast Images continually scouts for beautiful people to develop and represent. Our models appear locally in magazines, catalogs, television commercials, fashion shows and print ads. We also have an international division to place models with the top agencies around the world.

• Television, Film & Commercials- Our actors are terrific people of all ages who appear in local and national commercials, major motion picture and television productions, movies of the week, and industrial broadcast projects.

• Voice Overs - Cast Images’ actors are also represented for Voice Over work in radio, television, industrial broadcast and CD Rom projects.

• Promotions and Trade Shows - Cast Images represents Northern California’s most professional group of promotional models for in-store and on-location product & event promotions.

Where can I see the fabulous Cast Images models and actors in action?

You can see some of our models and actors on our web pages but the best place to look for them is where they flourish...in ads, on runways and on television. Cast Images models appear in print ads for local and national clients including The State of California, MCI, Amtrak, Bank of America & The United Way. Our actors are featured in many national commercials including “Got Milk, Dove & Target; in feature films including “Phenomenon,” “Black August,” and “Mad City” and in television productions including “Meet My Folks,” & “Nash Bridges.” Our fashion models walk the runway for many clients including Nordstrom, Macy’s, Gottschalks & Dillards. Please see our Client List & Tearsheets pages for more examples.

What is the difference between an talent agent, a casting director and a manager?

Talent Agent: An Agent's job is to help get their talent work by exposing them to as many opportunities as possible. That's the only way we get paid--when you work, we earn a commission from you of 10-20%. Our fiduciary responsibility is to you. That means that when we negotiate for rates, usage, etc we try to get the best possible deal for you. (Which makes sense since our earnings are tied directly to yours.) Talent Agents should be licensed by the State of CA (we are) and are required to go through background checks and to put up a bond so that if they go out of business there will be money set aside to pay the talent. Agents are the only ones legally able to negotiate contracts and collect money for talent.

As an Agency, our loyalty is to current talent—while we want a variety of people for clients to choose from, we try not to have too many people on file that are alike. This is one reason why it is hard to secure an agent. We also can only sign people who we are fairly sure will make money. It isn’t always the most beautiful model, or the most experienced actor, that gets signed. It is the person who fills a niche in the business and will book work in this market. If you receive a rejection letter, please don't take it personally! Often it is a matter of timing or your experience level - so stick with it. Resubmit your photos after you have developed your resume a little more and be sure to submit to agents in other markets as well. Please see our Talent Resources Page for a list of reputable places where you can gain experience and get training. Licensed Agents are not allowed to charge for training or photos or to charge you any fees up front.

Casting Director: A Casting Director works for the clients (the folks who hire talent.) They typically get paid a day rate or on a per-job-basis by the client. Thus their goal is often to get talent for the least possible amount of money so that they will get chosen to cast the job. This isn’t always the case but unfortunately it does happen. In Sacramento there is sometimes confusion about the Casting Directors role vs the Agents’ role. In larger markets like San Francisco or LA, this isn’t ever a problem. The Casting Director should go through licensed Agents to book their jobs—although they sometimes they go directly to “real people” or non-represented talent if they cannot find someone through an agent. Or sometimes, if they aren’t scrupulous, they will purposely try to book non-represented talent to get them cheaper. If you are signed with an agent, you should always let them know when you get a call directly from a Casting Director.

Casting Directors usually offer workshops and sell photographs to talent as a way to augment their income. Some of these are excellent and a good way to learn what Clients want in a particular market.

Manager: In a smaller market like Sacramento, a manager’s sole purpose is to help get you an agent. They can and do take a commission on top of an agent. Typically a manager will take 10-15% when you work. Managers are also not legally able to collect any money for you or to book any jobs for you—they must work through an agent. In Northern California, a manager is not necessary. You can certainly promote yourself. In Los Angeles it is a different story and many successful actors have managers. Models normally don’t unless they get to supermodel status.

What will it cost me to sign with Cast Images?

Cast Images charges talent a commission of 10-20% on whatever jobs they book in the area. We only make money when you do. We do not charge any up front fees.

Do I have to have experience to sign with Cast Images?

We do sometimes take on brand new people. Especially models. Actors usually need to have a resume with at the very least some on-camera and theatre training.

Do I have to have professional photos to sign with Cast Images?

You do not need professional photos to be seen by us but you will in order for us to represent you. We can recommend good people to do these things for you, and in fact suggest you wait until you hear from us to spend any money if you haven’t already. (We do not earn any money off of this.) If we think we can work with you we will give you a referral list when we meet with you.

Where do you recommend for training & photos if I want them?

We have a list of great places to get training and professional photos. Take a look at our Talent Resources page to see our recommendations.

Can I see a copy of your contract up front?

You bet. It is a standard CA state contract and you are welcome to read it. You can see it here.

So, flat out, why should I sign with Cast Images?

If you are a model or actor looking for representation, we are the best agency around. We have been a licensed talent agency since 1991--the longest of anyone in this market. We work with all of the major clients in Sacramento as well as many in San Francisco and the rest of Northern California. We’ll treat you fairly, be nice to you, and pay you on time. We’ll also expose you to excellent clients and jobs and help you to develop your skills and materials so that you can book the work that is available to you. We expect you to be professional, skilled and nice to us too!

Okay, Okay, how do I submit myself to Cast Images?

Please see our Getting Started page for complete instructions.

How do I reach your incredible agency in person?

To reach us in person, you can e-mail us, phone us, or send us a letter.