INDUSTRY TALK: Why the little projects matter.
Everyone wants to find their BIG BREAK - but there is no harm in starting small!
Every so often, I like to zoom out a bit - take a look at the bigger picture of this wild industry we’ve all decided to be a part of.
I’ve found there is one thing that unites us all: everyone wants to find their Big Break. The Blockbuster film. The series regular. The national commercial. And trust me … as someone who’s cast everything from glossy branded spots to gritty indie shorts, I get the allure. Working on a big project feels exciting. Impressive. Official.
There’s a certain buzz when a network logo is at the top of the call sheet.
But today, I want to talk about the other side of the coin: the small projects. The short films, the tiny commercials, the quirky digital projects, the real-people casting calls, the indie web series that may or may not ever see the light of day. You know the ones.
And I want to say something loud and clear: they matter.
Not every single one will be creatively fulfilling or financially life-changing or even well-organized. But the very act of doing them - of showing up, trying something new, collaborating with a few passionate strangers - is often what propels us forward.
We’re all in different places in our careers. Some of us need the credit. Some need the footage. Some need the pay check (no matter how small). Some of us just need to feel like an artist again. And honestly? All of those reasons are valid.
I only share projects I would’ve taken myself.
As someone who started out doing background work, oddball hosting gigs, digital content, and the kind of brand gigs that required a very enthusiastic smile and about nothing else, I get it.
I’ve hustled. I’ve said yes to projects that promise me footage and never deliver. I’ve shown up to audition spaces that turned out to be people’s living rooms. I’ve worked my a$$ off for productions that have gone bankrupt before paying me.
Now, as a casting director, I make a point to only promote or cast projects I would’ve taken at one point in my journey. If you’d like to see more projects that are casting worldwide you can join my IG broadcast channel below (mobile only).
Casting becomes exponentially harder when the project is not a good opportunity, and I don’t believe in wasting anyone’s time - yours or mine.
Big budgets don’t always mean big value.
Let’s be real: the money varies wildly out there …
A major branded commercial might have a five-figure day rate for talent.
A scripted TV role? Union minimums, but huge exposure and the prestige of a network credit.
A reality game show? Fun, chaotic, and maybe your face in front of millions — even if you walk away with zero prize money.
A social media spot? Could be a quick gig that gets 10 million views or disappears in a week.
The range is real. The value is not just financial. The impact is often unpredictable.
A few little stories that remind me why this all matters:
🎤 In the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was casting some small digital series for a children’s edutainment platform. It had a lot of promise - great concepts, great talent, and everyone poured their hearts into it. But it never took off.
A few years later, I ran into one of the performers in the wild and they recognized me as the casting director who helped them stay a full time performer during a really difficulty time in the industry.
I don’t remember exactly how it went, but something like
“I was at the point of needing money to support my family, but I hadn’t needed a “real job” in a long time … the kids project kept my mortgage paid and my family afloat until more opportunities arose."
That gig meant everything to them in the moment — even if their entire audience was under 6 years old.
🎤 Another story I love is from a performer who booked a massive touring hosting gig for a MAJOR brand. Want to know how they sealed the deal?
Footage from a game show they were on — where they lost.
The event producers loved their energy and didn’t care about the outcome. Adding that clip to their reel did more for their hosting career than they could have ever imagined!
Author’s Note: I don’t know if I heard the story above through the actor or through the grapevine. I’ve messaged the performer to fact check & we can dive deeper in a future article. For now, you’ll have to take my word for it and we’ll both have to hope I didn’t make it up.
🎤 A few days ago, I had a lovely conversation on this topic with Victoria Chiappetta, a disabled performer I’ve cast in a few small shoots. She told me:
"Some of the biggest projects I have done were ‘real people’ [casting calls] that didn’t pay well / at all, but ended up being huge stepping stones in my career and got me so much visibility (especially for the disabled community ♿️), that lead me to higher paying opportunities … I always think about how if I let my ego get in the way and didn’t take those small opportunities, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
There is power in visibility. In the work. In doing the thing, even if it’s not the big thing.
Catch Victoria in Shawn Desman’s music video for “Love Me With The Lights On”! ⬇️
Even celebrities start somewhere!
⭐️ Long before he was cast as a Marvel Superhero, Simu Liu was a stock image model!
⭐️ Household names, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, started their acting careers as extras - playing baseball fans at Fenway Park together in Field of Dreams.
If you’ve outgrown certain roles — pass them down.
At some point, we all shift. We no longer need the same footage, the same exposure, the same daily-rate scrambles we once lived for. We get to a place where we can pick and choose the projects that fulfill us.
That’s a gift. But that’s also your chance to give back.
Forward the casting calls. Nominate a friend who hasn’t booked in a while. Help someone get their first day on set — just like someone probably helped you.
That’s the cycle. That’s the good stuff.
So yes! Take the big swings. Aim for the series regular. Hold out for the commercial that pays your rent for six months.
But don’t forget the little ones that helped you along the way. Because sometimes, those tiny gigs are exactly what someone needs to stay in the game; to pay the bills; to get seen; to get their shot.
Thanks for reading, and thanks for being part of this weird, wonderful, ever-evolving industry with me. Can’t wait to cast YOU in something next!
Well said, Linds! 🙌🏼 I loved the storytelling in your post—we need more of that! ❤️ Can’t wait for your next story.