Has anyone auditioned for a project at CAZT studios in West Hollywood and gotten the job?

For those who don't know who they are, they're a Casting Company that holds auditions for independent films and student films. They film your auditions and give you a profile to review them and get critiques by the casting director. To view the auditions, however, you have to pay a $20 monthly fee.

I've heard rumors that a lot of the projects that they cast are bogus and that they make money from auditioners that are curious to view their auditions and hear the critiques.

I've auditioned there a few times.

I signed up, it only cost me 10 bucks a month though. I auditioned for two USC shorts and Reno 911.

Those ones weren't made up. We've talked about there place in my acting class, the auditions my friends have gone on there weren't fake either.

By the way, watching your own auditions is brutal!

It's not brutal if you get used to it by taking an on camera/audition skills class FIRST. Noone should be auditioning without having done that beforehand. It is a skill like any other and needs to be acquired through practice.

I posted a response to Neolithic in another thread.

All I can say is I invite you and anyone else that has any concern regarding CAZT to pop into the office.
My names Conor, I sit at the front desk, I'm sure hundreds of actors on these boards have met and spoken with me while they've been at CAZT.

If anyone has any questions I'll be happy to explain CAZT to you and walk you through the entire process.


I'm having a hard time understanding why someone is posting these things, it may be that that both Now Casting and Actors Access view CAZT as a potential business rival, but I invite any one to come in to chat or shoot me an email at conor@cazt.com

I think people are confusing the frustration of having to pay to see his/her auditions with being scammed: I have a CAZT's profile and never paid a dime because I don't care to see my audition videos. Watching one's CAZT auditions is kind of similar to CD workshops: yes it sucks to pay and you might not get the results you want, but it is your decision to utilize that resource; you don't have to use that option. Plus CAZT seems pretty straightforward with their business, so I don't see how it's considered a scam.

As for folks from Nowcasting and AA, yeah they're going to be biased if they see a threat to their own business: it is opinions about CAZT from reputable casting directors, agents, and managers that will hold some real weight in this matter.

I got a auditon notice to go there 3 month's ago. I did. I walked in and thought;" This is some kinda scam" so I left. I got another notice to go there and Audition for a feature 2 weeks ago. I thought ;"No it was a scam " but since I was in LA and was close to thier office I went. Not only was it legit ,but I got cast in a Independent feature and have already filmed for a week with 2 more weeks to start at the end of this month. I got paid and the check was good and I did subscribe to the service. It let's me see my auditon and includes notes from the casting director about my read and how it related to the part I was auditioning for. It may not be for everyone but it worked for me.

I had an audition at a place (not in West Hollywood) that filmed them and then e-mailed me the opportunity to watch myself. I did not partake, but it did seem a little scammy to me. I think the audition was legit, but it did seem like they had me do more read through then they needed to, and for more characters. I think they were trying to entice me to sign up.

I have not been to CAZT, but I did just see a notice on LA Casting, and I did submit.

I had another reviews of this place, but it appears CAZT was able to get the moderators (or someone/somehow) to remove them. This is a very shady business, that is VERY active in having any negative reviews removed (I have firsthand information that they threaten legal action against anyone who gives negative reviews), as well as being very active in posting positive reviews (from supposed users of their service).

But here's the bottom line, CAZT is a business that has auditions, and then tapes the actors auditioning. You think you are being taped for a casting director (which in some cases you might be). But from CAZT point of view, they are taping you so they can sell you the right to view your own "audition". AFTER the "audition" the actors who "auditioned" are contacted and marketed to.

ACTORS ARE NOT TOLD IN ADVANCE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO A PLACE THAT IS TAPING THEM FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING MONEY OFF OF CHARGING THEM TO SEE THEIR "AUDITION" AND "COMMENTS".

if CAZT would just tell actors IN ADVANCE that they are taping them with the intent to sell the audition tape back to them BEFORE they came out there, then NO ONE would have any problem with the place.

But the fact that they hide that info, and treat it like it were a regular audition (as opposed to what it is, essentially an audition taping service), makes it a shady business.

In general, any business that has to hide what its really doing to lure clients, is in most cases (at least partly) a scam.

So, if CAZT offers such a great service (as they so vociferously claim), just make sure the participating Casting Directors tell actors, when they are invited to audition there, that they will be taped, and that CAZT is there to sell that "audition" back to them.

Looking at it from the outside, it sure seems that
no CD wants to tell actors that, because they know a good portion of actors won't show up under such conditions.
And CAZT doesn't want to tell actors either, because they are afraid of scaring actors off as well (less actors = less actors buying the right to look at their own audition = less money for CAZT)
Hence the need to hide the true nature of the business model.

I mean, if an INFORMED actor wants to spend his afternoon, and drive over to CAZT to attend such an audition, they can by all means attend it.
or,
If they choose not to, then THEY SHOULD HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE to make that choice as well.

But to withold the information until AFTER the audition is unethical.

which is why it is criticized by most of the major casting services, and is under investigation by Screen Actors Guild Agency Department among others."

I don't see it as a scam. I have been there a couple of times, and I see this office as a smart business move on their part. You DON'T have to pay a dime to audition there, and you CAN book films you audition for. When you audition for anything else anywhere else, you don't get to see your own audition anyway, so what's the problem? If you don't want to pay to see yourself, then don't pay! When you go on a commercial audition somewhere else and they put you on tape... do you complain? NO! WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?? And by the way, they don't hide anything. They give you a pamphlet as you walk in that explains the whole process. I personally choose not to pay to see my audition tapes, but I have booked an independent film there at no cost to me. My 2 cents - don't be scurred.

Kalauna, you pretty much beat me to the punch on exactly what I was going to say: guys please be careful on how you throw the word "scam" around because that could seriously hurt legit businesses. Go to the CAZT's website and you can see for yourself that they are very straightforward and honest about their whole business.

I recently did an audition there for a student film and no one hustled me for anything: I simply did my audition and went on my way. Like Kalauna and I already stated, you don't have to choose the option of paying to see your auditions. The concept of seeing my auditions never enticed me since I'm used to never seeing my audition tapes.

Iceman, from my experience the people running CAZT do not run the auditions: they allow the producers and directors to do so. Maybe the multiple takes you did is because the director in charge was being thorough.

neolithic, it's your responsibility as an actor to do the research before going anywhere. When I had my first audition via CAZT, my first instinct was to google CAZT and check out its website, so when I went to audtion I knew what they were about. They're not hiding anything: make it a habit to do your research beforehand for the sake of your safety if not anything else.

I have been there alot in the last couple months, and I did book an really great SAG project there. I however haven't ever paid to watch my auditions, and probably never will. I have had pleasant experiences there and will continue to go to auditon there just like any other place. Doesn't seem like a scam to me. Seems like if you want to pay to watch and learn from your auditions you should, othewise just treat it like any other casting office.

Greetings, I don't want to infringe on the discussion but just want to address some misinformation.

a) We ask all casting directors to inform the actors in advance their auditions will be at CAZT because we encourage actors to upload their headshots, reels and resumes. These are linked to their audition videos so the casting directors/producers can have access to them while they view the audition online. This aspect of CAZT is all free.
b) CAZT stresses that it's an option for the actor to watch their auditions. If they don't want to then it is just like any other audition.
c) Most importantly, we at CAZT have taken all appropriate measures to inform SAG, CSA and such. We have gone out of our way to make presentations to them and inform them of the tool we are offering actors. Don't hesitate to call SAG, they are informed and we are not, 'under investigation'.
d) I invite anyone with questions, concerns, or opinions to contact me at CAZT, pop in or shoot me an email. We're a business that is trying to offer actors a useful service. If you think we can make our service better we sincerely want to know.

Good luck with the auditions everyone!

I'm not in LA, but if there as service like this in New York, I may consider taking advantage of it. I really appreciate Conor's input on the board and giving his personal e-mail out. Just my $0.02.

regarding the comment by CAZT that they are not "under investigation" by SAG... yes they are. I have a letter from SAG telling me so, as well as some other information. If you doubt me, I urge all SAG members to contact the SAG Agency Dept. and ask them... they will be glad to tell you, I am sure, that CAZT is indeed being investigated by SAG.

Please don't hesitate to contact SAG, or the CSA or the better business bureau.

We have excellent standing with all of those organizations, don't take my word for it though - get in touch with them.