Casting Without Borders : What I Learned About the International Acting Industry

What does it actually take to build an international acting career? And what are casting directors and agents looking for when they consider actors for productions across borders? I recently travelled to Barcelona for Casting Without Borders, a panel bringing together international casting directors and talent agent Alain Van Goethem. I went there as an actor hoping to build an international career myself. I came back with insights I wanted to share with you. The panel featured Jenny Duffy, Nathalie Chéron, Alain Van Goethem and Frank Moiselle, moderated by casting director Luci Lenox. They discussed how the European screen industry is evolving, how international casting works, and what actors can do to become more visible to the people making casting decisions. In this episode of The ACT Club, I share the key lessons I took away from that conversation. We talk about why your self-tape doesn't need to look cinematic to get you noticed, why having an agent can be particularly important for international productions, and why English fluency, additional languages, strong headshots and a good showreel can make a difference. We also explore what happens when you've booked a great role but can't access the footage for months, why creating your own material can help you demonstrate your abilities, and how independent projects can give casting directors something tangible to watch. But international opportunities aren't just about your materials. We also discuss how to approach agents and casting directors without coming across as needy, why building genuine human connections matters, and how workshops and actor communities can help you develop those relationships. Finally, there's a reminder that actors can easily overlook while trying to compete in an increasingly global industry: you don't need to invent a persona to become castable. Your individuality is part of what makes you stand out. If you're an actor looking to work internationally, audition for European or English-language productions, or expand your career beyond your home market, these are practical insights worth considering. In this episode: What casting directors actually need from a self-tape Why representation matters for international productions How English, accents and multilingual skills can open doors Why you should create your own showreel material How to approach agents and casting directors Building genuine industry connections Why your individuality is your greatest asset A big thank you to Luci Lenox, The Actors Home, Frank Stein Studio and Serielizados Fest for making this conversation possible. 0:00 What I learned at Casting Without Borders 0:51 Welcome to The ACT Club 1:05 Inside the international casting panel in Barcelona 1:35 Meet the casting directors and agent 2:51 What I took away from the panel 3:23 How international casting is changing 4:02 The truth about self-tapes 5:05 Why having an agent matters for international productions 6:27 What international agents look for in actors 7:49 Why your headshots and showreel matter 8:06 What if you can't access footage from a production? 8:43 Creating your own material to get noticed 9:20 Why the French acting market can be difficult to enter 10:10 How to approach agents and casting directors 11:05 Building genuine connections instead of asking for favours 11:50 Why workshops can help you build relationships 12:32 Investing in your international acting career 13:09 The Actors Home and building an acting community 13:56 What this panel confirmed about building a career 14:24 Is it easier or harder to stand out today? 14:54 The most important advice: be yourself 15:43 Thank you to the panel organizers 16:04 Final thoughts Welcome to The ACT Club, The Artist Can Thrive Club. A podcast and platform for actors who want to build a sustainable career without losing themselves in the process. Through conversations with actors, casting professionals, directors, coaches, psychologists, neuroscientists, and other creative minds, we explore the psychology, neuroscience, creativity, mindset, and realities behind the acting profession. Whether you're navigating auditions, rejection, self-doubt, creativity, career development, or the changing entertainment industry, The ACT Club is here to explore what it really takes for artists to thrive. 🎙️ New episodes every Wednesday. 📸 Follow The ACT Club on Instagram: @theact_club Subscribe to The ACT Club and join the conversation. #TheACTClub #Actors #acting Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ inaudio - Infraction- Nostalgia