Getting noticed by a Hollywood producer is tough -- especially if you live in Ohio.
GotCast answered the problem with an interactive website designed to make it easier for aspiring actors, models and others across the country to connect with producers on the coasts.
Founded in Columbus in 2007, "there was a serious problem with casting directors and producers in Hollywood connecting with your average entertainment person across the country," says Justin Moodley, director of operations.
A shift from scripted television programming to reality shows and those looking for "normal people off the street" strengthened the need for links between aspiring talent and production teams looking for fresh faces.
GotCast today boasts more than 250,000 members and has tracked more than 5,000 castings, Moodley says -- including a member chosen for next season's "Project Runway."
Most features of the site are free, though members can join at a "pro" level for $19 a month, Moodley says. GotCast's revenues come largely from sponsors and website management for entertainment partners (see http://stortellers.vh1.com)
While answering a listing on the site is easy, getting noticed takes thought," Moodley says.
"The profile's really the most important thing," he says. "You have to think about it the same way you would on Monster.com."
GotCast also includes "open" online castings, in which contestants ask others to vote for them, but Moodley says the vast majority of members get hired through manual submissions.
While GotCast management moved to Los Angeles two and a half years ago, half of GotCast's eight employees remain in central Ohio, with plans to add additional support personnel.
Source: Justin Moodley, GotCast
Writer: Gene Monteith