What is the Difference Between a Casting Director & Talent Agent?
Talent Agents are not paid by the production and instead earn a commission (usually 15%)
of the Performers gross earnings on the work their clients have done. The Talent Agents
send their clients to auditions, negotiate contracts on their behalf, etc. They rarely
represent Background Performers.

Casting Agents (Casting Directors) are paid by the production to find the best actors for roles.
They may or may not also cast the Background Performers on a film, and may charge Background
Performers (who are not members) a registration fee. Casting people do not take a percentage
of the performers gross earnings.

Please remember that it is normally the prerogative of your agent to
contact casting directors directly.