Production Hubs: Austin

November 22, 2019 | Cat Elliott

You might be familiar with the city’s catchphrase “keep Austin weird,” but there’s nothing strange about Texas’ capital blossoming into a thriving production hub. The “City of the Violet Crown” has hosted shows like the Friday Night Lights series, as well as features like Boyhood and this year’s Alita: Battle Angel. Keep reading to learn more about the casting teams behind these projects, along with what they’re up to next, and be sure to bookmark our Austin casting calls page. 

The Cast Station 

John Williams and Karmen Leech are two big names to know at the casting company. They’ve both worked on impressive titles like Halloween (2018), Our Brand is Crisis, and Joe. As for new projects, Williams and Leech cast the upcoming action-drama Death in Texas, which did film in the “Lone Star State.” The Cast Station also has a strong presence in the world of commercial casting, and it claims behemoths such as Frito Lay, Coca Cola, Sony and Visa as clients. Actors interested in learning more about the impactful company and its work can check out The Cast Station site. And to connect further, they can follow the company’s Instagram account, on which it periodically posts casting notices. 

 

Beth Sepko Casting

Beth Sepko owns the company, which is connected to Third Coast Extras, a company that focuses on background casting. Actors interested in learning more about Sepko can start with the impressive number of awards she’s won. Sepko received an Emmy for her work on the series Friday Night Lights and Artios awards for Straight Outta Compton and Boyhood. The lauded casting director has a noteworthy list of features under her name that include this year’s Alita: Battle Angel. She also helped cast the AMC series The Son and USA Network’s Queen of the South, both of which filmed in Texas. As for new projects, she cast the upcoming sports drama, One Heart, which also claims the “Lone Star State” as its production home. Actors interested in Beth Sepko Casting and Third Coast Extras can check out the companies’ site, where they can find details on how to register as talent with the companies. Further touchpoints can be found on the companies’ Facebook page.

 

Vicky Boone Casting

The company belongs to Vicky Boone, and her name is one with which actors should be familiar. An extensive number of features can be found amongst her credits, such as Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life. The film shot in Texas, as did one of the features that Boone recently cast: Bull. As for upcoming projects, Boone worked as the location casting director for the pilot of the new Amazon series Panic. The busy casting director also does an impressive amount of commercial casting, and her company site lists clients like Heinz, Wells Fargo, and Whole Foods. For more information on Boone, actors can head on over to the Vicky Boone Casting Facebook page, where they will also find casting notices from the company.

 

Brock / Allen Casting 

Toni Cobb Brock and Sally Allen are the names behind the casting company, and the dynamic duo share a number of feature film credits like There Will Be Blood, Friday Night Lights, and The Ringer. Their TV credits abound, as well, and they both helped with location casting for Breaking Bad. The two recently cast the drama Yellow Rose, which filmed in Austin and stars Lea Salonga. The action feature Sub Rosa is one of their upcoming projects, and it also boasts a Texas filming location. More examples of their work can be found on the Brock / Allen Casting site, which also names clients they’ve worked with for commercials. Walmart, AT&T, Nike, and Smirnoff are amongst a number of corporations listed there. Actors seeking to connect with the casting company can follow its Facebook page and Instagram account

 

Brenda J. Ambrize Casting

Brenda Ambrize is the casting director behind the company, and she has some feature films under her belt. One example is Roadside Attraction’s sports drama From Mexico with Love, which she cast with Kim Coleman. Ambrize is active in the world of commercial casting, and she recently cast a Spanish-speaking spot for H-E-B. According to her company’s Facebook page, other clients that Brenda J. Ambrize Casting has worked with include Cinemark, John Deere, and American Airlines. Various projects that the casting company has worked on can be found on the page, along with casting notices. It also features talent appreciation posts and shoutouts to actors who’ve recently booked projects. 

 

Burton Casting

Brad Burton and Kimberly Williams Burton are behind Burton Casting, and there is a number of shared credits between them. Two examples are Lazer Team and Lazer Team 2, which both shot in Austin. The duo is doing the location casting for the upcoming comedy feature Playing God, a film that will star Alan Tudyk and also claims Texas as its production home. More information on their theatrical work can be found on the Burton Casting site. It also gives a number of impressive clients that the company has worked with for commercial casting – Amazon, Toyota, and Bumble, to name a few. Actors interested in Burton Casting should check out its Facebook page, as well, which frequently posts casting notices.

 

Sarah Dowling Casting

Sarah Dowling is the name behind the company, and she is known for her theatrical casting. Past projects she’s worked on include titles like The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Loving and Mud. Recently, she cast Flay, a horror film about a woman trying to protect her loved ones from an evil, faceless spirit. It may come as no surprise that the project filmed in Austin. Dowling’s also on the casting team for the upcoming feature 12 Mighty Orphans. The film has Texas as a shooting location and boasts a star-studded cast that includes Robert Duvall, Martin Sheen, and Luke Wilson. Actors interested in finding out more about Sarah Dowling Casting can check out the company’s Facebook page.

 

With so many casting directors working in the Austin market, actors would be smart to keep the southern city on their radars, regardless of where they live. The capital of Texas is not only a production hub for film and TV – it’s also known as the “Live Music Capital of the World.” So if you find yourself lucky enough to book a job that films in Austin, try and catch a show or two while you’re there. But don’t let the nightlife lead to you missing your call time or arriving to set dazed and confused. Unless you’re working on a new sequel to Richard Linklater’s 1993 Austin-filmed feature that we don’t know about – then by all means, get into character. 

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