Casting Calls in Philadelphia
Philadelphia sits on Pennsylvania's 25% film production tax credit — rising to 30% for productions that shoot at a qualified production facility — which keeps features, limited series and streaming work coming into the city and the surrounding counties.
It is also one of the great American theatre towns: the Walnut Street Theatre has been operating continuously since 1809, and a dense network of professional companies across the city auditions year-round alongside a large corporate, medical and pharmaceutical commercial market.
Below are the live casting calls we currently hold for Philadelphia, the surrounding Pennsylvania counties, Wilmington and South Jersey, updated as new notices come in.
Create a free account for Philadelphia notice alertsLive casting calls in Philadelphia (32)
- ILL
- Roles
- Brea Summers, additional characters also casting.
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Feature Film
- Compensation
- Deferred pay
Posted Aug 20 · No deadline given
- Same Energy Boxing (Spec Ad)
- Roles
- Boxer, Referee, Boxing Trainer
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Commercial
- Compensation
- No Pay — Volunteer / unpaid
Posted Aug 20 · No deadline given
- Scrooge (The Candlelight Theatre, DE)
- Roles
- Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Jacob Marley, three Christmas ghosts, Tiny Tim, Fezziwigs, Belle, Mrs. Cratchit, ensemble.
- Location
- Wilmington
- Project type
- Theater
- Union
- Non-Union
- Compensation
- All roles paid (3-5 shows/week; no housing)
Posted Aug 20 · No deadline given
- InSignificantly Unique
- Roles
- Male and female actors of a range of ages for lead, supporting, day-player, featured, and background roles.
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Feature Film
- Compensation
- Deferred pay
Posted Aug 20 · No deadline given
- Parenting Study (Informational Video)
- Roles
- A range of parents for an interview-style informational video.
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Other
- Compensation
- Paid
Posted Aug 20 · No deadline given
- Untitled Horror Film (Unhinged Films)
- Roles
- Male antagonist/creature character
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Short Film
- Compensation
- Paid
Posted Aug 20 · No deadline given
- Ashes to Diamonds (Background)
- Roles
- Athletic-looking adults 18-50 to appear as background in a Jiu Jitsu scene.
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Feature Film
- Compensation
- No Pay — Volunteer / unpaid
Posted Aug 20 · No deadline given
- The Jeweler - Action-Adventure Feature
- Location
- Philadelphia, PA
- Project type
- Feature Film
- Compensation
- Paid (rate TBD)
Posted Aug 12 · No deadline given
- Same Energy - Boxing Spec Ad
- Location
- Philadelphia, PA
- Project type
- Commercial
- Compensation
- Unpaid
Posted Aug 12 · No deadline given
- Women 18-25 for Non-Speaking Featured Roles in Student Film
- Roles
- Featured Talent
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Student Film
- Union
- Non-Union
- Compensation
- Pay not stated
Posted Jul 28 · No deadline given
- The City: Through Brotherly Eyes Part 2 - Doc Series
- Roles
- Real Philadelphians (Featured, adult 18+)
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Documentary
- Union
- Non-Union
- Compensation
- No Pay — Unpaid (credit)
Posted Jul 26 · No deadline given
- Collect Them All - Fan Feature
- Roles
- Co-Lead (Lead, Black male 20-25)
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Feature Film
- Union
- Non-Union
- Compensation
- Unpaid
Posted Jul 26 · No deadline given
- Points Ad Campaign - Real People
- Roles
- Real Households and Individuals (Featured, all ages)
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Commercial
- Union
- Non-Union
- Compensation
- Paid — $1,000 per household; national digital usage
Posted Jul 26 · No deadline given
- Theater Rivalry - Web Series
- Roles
- Wren (Lead, 20-25), Ellie (Supporting, female 20-25), Jess (Supporting, female 25-30s), Carly (Supporting, female 23-30s), Tyler (Supporting, male 20s-30s), Gary (Supporting, male 30s-40s)
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Web Series
- Union
- Non-Union
- Compensation
- Unpaid
Posted Jul 26 · No deadline given
- The Come Up - Feature
- Roles
- JJ (Lead, male 20s-30s), Stacy (Lead, female 35-50), Keisha (Supporting, female 20-40), Brian Cole (Supporting, male 25-40), plus additional roles
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Feature Film
- Union
- Non-Union
- Compensation
- No Pay — Unpaid; meals and accommodations provided
Posted Jul 26 · No deadline given
- Dream of the Holy Fool - Feature
- Roles
- Child (Lead, 8-11)
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Feature Film
- Union
- Non-Union
- Compensation
- Paid (rate TBD)
Posted Jul 26 · No deadline given
- Karate Earl - Short Film
- Roles
- Kai (Lead, Black male 10-13), Ms. Mary (Supporting, Black female 55-75), Mr. Henry (Supporting, Black male 55-75), Lonnie (Supporting, Black male 45-70), Store Clerk (Supporting, male 30-60), Trina (Supporting, Black female 30-45), Sim (Supporting, Black male 11-14)
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Short Film
- Union
- Non-Union
- Compensation
- Paid (rate TBD)
Posted Jul 26 · No deadline given
- What if Heaven Was Black - Stage/Film
- Roles
- Paige Nelson (Lead, Black female, age 8)
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Theater
- Union
- Non-Union
- Compensation
- Paid (rate TBD)
Posted Jul 26 · No deadline given
- Kaleidoscope - Music Video
- Roles
- Featured Talent (Featured, 18-30)
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Music Video
- Union
- Non-Union
- Compensation
- Paid (rate TBD)
Posted Jul 26 · No deadline given
- Romeo - Short Film
- Roles
- Actress (Lead, female 19-21)
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Short Film
- Union
- Non-Union
- Compensation
- Unpaid
Posted Jul 26 · No deadline given
- Sierra's Bones - Documentary
- Roles
- Combat Veteran Interviewee (Featured, adult)
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Documentary
- Union
- Non-Union
- Compensation
- No Pay — Production funds a bucket-list experience for the participant
Posted Jul 26 · No deadline given
- The Stoop - Short Film
- Roles
- Background Cast (Background, adult)
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Short Film
- Union
- Non-Union
- Compensation
- Unpaid
Posted Jul 26 · No deadline given
- Katfished - Thriller Short
- Roles
- Kat (Lead, female Caucasian 28-35)
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Short Film
- Union
- Non-Union
- Compensation
- Deferred
Posted Jul 26 · No deadline given
- With a Gun in His Hand - 1950s Noir Short
- Roles
- Claude Callaghan (Lead antagonist, male 28-45)
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Short Film
- Union
- Non-Union
- Compensation
- No Pay — Unpaid; deferred negotiable; food provided
Posted Jul 26 · No deadline given
- Fiddler on the Roof - The Candlelight Theatre (DE)
- Roles
- Tevye (Lead, male), Golde (Lead, female), Daughters incl. minors (Various), Ensemble (Various)
- Location
- Wilmington
- Project type
- Theater
- Union
- Non-Union
- Compensation
- All roles paid
Posted Jul 26 · No deadline given
- Montanez Media - Upcoming Film Projects
- Roles
- Actors and Actresses (Various, adult)
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Feature Film
- Union
- Non-Union
- Compensation
- Deferred
Posted Jul 26 · No deadline given
- Barber Education Video Series
- Roles
- On-Camera Haircut Model (Featured, male 20-40)
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Commercial
- Union
- Non-Union
- Compensation
- Paid (receive an on-camera haircut)
Posted Jul 26 · No deadline given
- Sisterhood - Short Film
- Roles
- Featured Talent (Featured, female 18-25)
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Short Film
- Union
- Non-Union
- Compensation
- Unpaid
Posted Jul 26 · No deadline given
- Nanny Nena's - Action Comedy Feature
- Roles
- Filipino Actors and Actresses (Various, adult)
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Feature Film
- Union
- Non-Union
- Compensation
- Deferred
Posted Jul 26 · No deadline given
- It Sounds Like You - Independent Feature
- Roles
- Tia (Supporting Lead, female playing 22-28)
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Project type
- Feature Film
- Union
- Non-Union
- Compensation
- Deferred
Posted Jul 26 · No deadline given
- Saltwater (Pilot) - Hand/Arm Photo Double
- Roles
- Hand/Arm Photo Double (Featured, any gender 18+)
- Location
- Wilmington
- Project type
- TV Series
- Union
- Non-Union
- Compensation
- Paid (rate TBD)
Posted Jul 26 · No deadline given
- R.J. Decker - Season 2 (Background)
- Roles
- Club/Bar Patron (Background, 18-30), Active Senior (Background, 55+), Retiree Golfer (Background, 55+), Deputy (Background, 25-45), Reporter & News Crew (Background, 30+), Attorney (Background, 35+), Detective (Background, 35+)
- Location
- Wilmington
- Project type
- TV Series
- Union
- Non-Union
- Compensation
- Paid — $96/8 hrs
Posted Jul 26 · No deadline given
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How casting works in Philadelphia
One market, four states' worth of geography
Philadelphia casting routinely covers the city plus Delaware County, Montgomery, Bucks and Chester counties, Wilmington in Delaware and the South Jersey suburbs — offices treat the whole region as a single hiring pool. A notice listed as 'Philadelphia' can shoot forty minutes outside the city, so read the location line carefully before you submit. The upside of that spread is volume: you are eligible for far more work than a city-limits search would suggest.
Pennsylvania is not a right-to-work state
This is the single most important structural difference between Philadelphia and markets like Atlanta, Houston or Miami. Pennsylvania permits union security agreements, so once you are SAG-AFTRA eligible the rules around non-union work are meaningfully tighter here than they are in a right-to-work state. Philadelphia has its own SAG-AFTRA local. Many actors deliberately build credits on non-union independent and student work before joining, because the decision is harder to reverse in this market.
Theatre is a working credential here, not a hobby
The professional theatre community in Philadelphia is large, long-established and closely watched by the local screen casting offices, which means stage credits carry real weight in a way they do not in most regional markets. Companies audition openly and hold general auditions, and a season of solid work is a legitimate route into film and television reads. If you are new to the city, the theatre pipeline is usually the faster door.
Corporate, medical and pharmaceutical work pays the bills
Greater Philadelphia's economy — major health systems, universities, a heavy pharmaceutical presence across the Pennsylvania and New Jersey corridor, and a large corporate base — funds a steady stream of industrials, training films, medical narration and regional commercials. This work is unglamorous, it is cast almost entirely from self-tape submissions on short turnaround, and it books the same faces repeatedly once a client trusts them. It is the most reliable income in the market.
Philadelphia casting FAQ
Do I need an agent to audition in Philadelphia?
Not for theatre — professional companies in the city hold open and general auditions, and that is how many local actors build their first credits. For regional commercials, industrials and the studio and streaming productions that come through on the state tax credit, an agent is the usual route, and Philadelphia agencies are reasonably accessible to actors with real local stage work behind them.
Are there paid casting calls in Philadelphia?
Yes. Union film and television shooting in the region pays SAG-AFTRA scale, Equity houses pay contracted rates, and the corporate and industrial market often pays the strongest non-union day rates available locally. Every notice on this page shows its compensation where the production disclosed it, and says so plainly when the production did not.
How do I find casting calls near me in Philadelphia?
Watch this page — it collects the live notices we hold across Philadelphia, the surrounding Pennsylvania counties, Wilmington and South Jersey — and create a free account so new postings reach you while they are still open rather than after they have closed.
Is it worth being based in Philadelphia instead of New York?
Many actors work both. Philadelphia is close enough to New York to audition there while paying considerably less to live, and the local theatre, commercial and industrial markets can sustain a career on their own. The trade-off is that Philadelphia has fewer principal film and television roles than New York, so most working actors here build income across several categories rather than one.
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