"CastNet is ahead of the IT curve. Whereas many companies are investigating individual IP applications for deployment on corporate VPNs, CastNet is already combining multiple types of multimedia applications that can run alongside standard data traffic on multiservice networks.
"Every working day, Los Angeles' 250 casting agents send "breakdowns" by fax or courier to local talent agents. Breakdowns describe the various roles that must be filled for theater productions, films, television shows, and commercials. In addition to describing the roles, a breakdown typically mentions special skills that may help an actor get the part.
"Directors upload the breakdowns to CastNet servers, which makes them instantly available to the approximately 135 talent agents on the network. Directors can simultaneously fax breakdowns to other agents not on the network through CastNet fax servers. In similar fashion, talent agents can relay "sides"-portions of scripts that actors use in auditions-to their clients by fax.
"The system is a huge timesaver, according to DaMota, an independent director in Glendale, Calif., who estimates that he has cast 60 to 70 actors in the past six months by using CastNet.
"[It used to be that] from the time that I released the breakdown to the time I got pictures and resumes [from actors interested in the part] was anywhere from 24 to 48 hours. It is now instantaneous," he says.
"Remote Offices Around Town
"CastNet treats the offices of casting directors and talent agents as remote offices connecting to central resources over a corporate WAN infrastructure.
"We do everything for them. We build their networks," says John Sloatman, CastNet president and COO. "We put in ISDN lines that dial in to our PRIs [primary rate interface ISDN connections]. Or if Pacific Bell puts a T-1 line in, we go in and install an Ascend Pipeline 75 or 135 [router]."
"Octavio Gallardo, CastNet's systems administrator, adds, "We sometimes have to upgrade their computers; we have to do the cabling and set up the line. Then we go in and train them."
"Once CastNet installs the ISDN line or dedicated connection, remote users have access to an increasingly broad variety of multimedia resources.
"Actors, who pay $149.95 per year to put their resumes and a few photos online, can also store video and audio clips on the network for an extra fee. This gives directors and agents instant access to samples of the prospective talent's work.
"I click on a video button and the QuickTime video downloads, which on an ISDN line takes a minute," says DaMota, who has an ISDN line in his L.A. office."
actors.castnet.net |
