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We share information that might be useful to you. About casting agencies for Support Artistes, also called Extras.
What the press says
Wales Online article
article by Sion Barry, published 27th February 2025
Casting agency to Doctor Who and Peaky Blinders being liquidated
Cardiff-based Mad Dog Casting is expected to formally enter liquidation on March 7
One of the UK’s leading casting agencies for film and TV is being liquidated. Cardiff-headquartered Mad Dog Casting, whose list of credits includes providing supporting actors for films such as Dunkirk, Bridget Jones’ Diary, and the Pirates of the Caribbean, is being advised by professional advisory firm MHA on its voluntary liquidation.
For television the company has sourced extras for flagship shows such as Doctor Who, EastEnders, Casualty, Peaky Blinders, and Silent Witness. MHA said it was too early to assess what Mad Dog Casting owes creditor and what, if anything, they could expect to get back from the liquidation process.
Along with its headquarters in Cardiff Mad Dog Casting also has offices in London, Manchester, and Glasgow. According to latest accounts for a micro-business submitted to Companies House for the 2024 financial year the business had net liabilities of £1.38m. It had six direct employees. Its sole director is Graham Beswick.
Steve Illes, restructuring and recovery partner at MHA, said: "MHA have been engaged to assist in placing the company into liquidation. At this time we are finalising the position and do not have sufficient information to confirm the precise creditor claim and dividend prospects."
With the business insolvent it is expected to formally enter into liquidation on March 7. In a statement union for the performing arts and entertainment Equity said: "We informed members in October that we had concerns about the casting agency Mad Dog Casting Ltd routinely not paying members. We issued and won a claim against Mad Dog on behalf of 39 members owed money, which we were seeking to enforce.
"Despite these efforts Equity has learned that Mad Dog has started the process of appointing liquidators to wind up its business. This is a disappointing development as it means members owed earnings by Mad Dog are unlikely to get their money.
"A statement of Mad Dog’s accounts will be presented at the meeting on March 7 after which there will be more clarity on the likelihood of members recovering their debts. The union will continue to do all we can within an unjust legal framework to hold Mad Dog to account. Legislation that protects cavalier business models in every industry may limit our legal options but will not limit our resolve to do all we can for affected members.”
Mad Dog Casting also worked on advertising campaigns for the likes of O2 and McDonald's as well as the John Lewis Christmas TV ad. The current business was created in 2017 through the merger of Mad Dog and 2020 Casting.
Deadline Article
from 7th June 2024
Mad Dog Casting Agency Ignoring Court Orders To Pay Actors Who Have Worked On Shows Including ‘The Famous Five’
EXCLUSIVE: Mad Dog 2020 Casting, a 25-year-old British agency that has supplied background actors to productions including Call the Midwife and Doctor Who, is ignoring court orders to pay clients for work completed last year.
Mad Dog 2020 continues to trade despite failing to observe multiple county court judgments in favor of supporting artists owed hundreds of pounds from 2023. The company has also been accused of ghosting clients chasing money.
The payment issues have been rumbling on for many months, despite Mad Dog pledging to process all outstanding payments by the end of January 2024. Some clients have received the money they were owed, but others continue to chase. Equity and Bectu, two of the most prominent UK creative industry unions, are supporting affected members.
Mad Dog has not responded to Deadline’s repeated requests for comment. In a statement sent to some clients in March, Mad Dog apologized and said it was determined to resolve delayed payments while continuing to operate as usual. The company has said that the backlog will not impact actors who completed jobs in 2024.
Under UK regulations, it is unlawful for an agency to withhold payment from clients for more than 10 days after receiving funds from a producer, broadcaster, or streamer. The Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate has been alerted to the Mad Dog issue and the government-backed regulator has launched an industry-wide investigation amid concerns over the conduct of certain companies.
Caroline Farquhar is owed around £600 (£767) by Mad Dog for work last summer on BBC drama Casualty and Nicolas Winding Refn’s The Famous Five, also for the BBC. “They haven’t been in contact with me much, ignoring most of my emails, but when they have I have had nothing but empty promises,” she told Deadline.
In an email to a Mad Dog employee in March, Farquhar said: “This may seem like a drop in the ocean to you, but it means an awful lot to me and my family. I don’t do this job as a hobby, I do it because we need the money … I’m sure your job is really difficult at the moment, but there are some people out here struggling to pay the bills and live day to day.”
Another supporting artist, who did not wish to be named, was awarded a court order in his favor in March for a fee of £812.03 for work he had done on shows including Call The Midwife last November. He said the late payment was unfortunate because it came after a work drought during the U.S. strikes last year. “Any communication or anything has been either ignored or just fobbed off really,” he said of Mad Dog.
Julian Price has not received payment of £107.86 for his time on a BBC pilot last year and has a court order for the money. “I have worked for yourselves for a great number of years and I am deeply upset at how this situation has evolved,” he told Mad Dog last month.
In an email from Mad Dog’s accounts department on May 31, the company told Price: “We know this may not offer much comfort for you, but we have pushed and pushed your concerns on your behalf every day, continually. We have to wait until the FC [financial controller] or board have let us know that any payment is in process.”
In its statement to clients in March, Mad Dog said: “We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused. This communication aims to provide you with a further update on the delayed payment and the proactive measures we are implementing.
“We want to assure you that we are consistently upholding our commitment to pay artists who worked in 2024 aligned to our standard practice. This will continue to not be affected by the current backlog.
“Whilst we recognise the understandable frustration and always encourage SAs to work with and support each other, we want to reassure you that Mad Dog 2020 is following professional advice and have been advised there is no need to go into administration. We are confronting the challenges head-on and are determined in our commitment to resolving all delayed payments while continuing our operations as usual.
“We extend our gratitude to Equity and FAA [Film Artistes’ Association], Bectu for their collaboration in addressing these challenges. We encourage you to consider joining one of these unions, as they provide valuable support and assistance to their members in various matters. We deeply value your understanding and collaboration during this time. Rest assured, our primary focus remains on resolving outstanding payments and sustaining open lines of communication with all of our highly regarded artists.”
Mad Dog has taken a reputational hit because of the late payments crisis. Deadline is aware of a number of top producers who are prepared to quietly sever ties with the agency. They were reluctant to put their concerns on the record in case it created more issues for those yet to receive payment.
By Jake Kanter
June 7, 2024
Deadline Article
from 7th June 2024
Mad Dog Casting Agency Ignoring Court Orders To Pay Actors Who Have Worked On Shows Including ‘The Famous Five’
EXCLUSIVE: Mad Dog 2020 Casting, a 25-year-old British agency that has supplied background actors to productions including Call the Midwife and Doctor Who, is ignoring court orders to pay clients for work completed last year.
Mad Dog 2020 continues to trade despite failing to observe multiple county court judgments in favor of supporting artists owed hundreds of pounds from 2023. The company has also been accused of ghosting clients chasing money.
The payment issues have been rumbling on for many months, despite Mad Dog pledging to process all outstanding payments by the end of January 2024. Some clients have received the money they were owed, but others continue to chase. Equity and Bectu, two of the most prominent UK creative industry unions, are supporting affected members.
Mad Dog has not responded to Deadline’s repeated requests for comment. In a statement sent to some clients in March, Mad Dog apologized and said it was determined to resolve delayed payments while continuing to operate as usual. The company has said that the backlog will not impact actors who completed jobs in 2024.
Under UK regulations, it is unlawful for an agency to withhold payment from clients for more than 10 days after receiving funds from a producer, broadcaster, or streamer. The Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate has been alerted to the Mad Dog issue and the government-backed regulator has launched an industry-wide investigation amid concerns over the conduct of certain companies.
Caroline Farquhar is owed around £600 (£767) by Mad Dog for work last summer on BBC drama Casualty and Nicolas Winding Refn’s The Famous Five, also for the BBC. “They haven’t been in contact with me much, ignoring most of my emails, but when they have I have had nothing but empty promises,” she told Deadline.
In an email to a Mad Dog employee in March, Farquhar said: “This may seem like a drop in the ocean to you, but it means an awful lot to me and my family. I don’t do this job as a hobby, I do it because we need the money … I’m sure your job is really difficult at the moment, but there are some people out here struggling to pay the bills and live day to day.”
Another supporting artist, who did not wish to be named, was awarded a court order in his favor in March for a fee of £812.03 for work he had done on shows including Call The Midwife last November. He said the late payment was unfortunate because it came after a work drought during the U.S. strikes last year. “Any communication or anything has been either ignored or just fobbed off really,” he said of Mad Dog.
Julian Price has not received payment of £107.86 for his time on a BBC pilot last year and has a court order for the money. “I have worked for yourselves for a great number of years and I am deeply upset at how this situation has evolved,” he told Mad Dog last month.
In an email from Mad Dog’s accounts department on May 31, the company told Price: “We know this may not offer much comfort for you, but we have pushed and pushed your concerns on your behalf every day, continually. We have to wait until the FC [financial controller] or board have let us know that any payment is in process.”
In its statement to clients in March, Mad Dog said: “We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused. This communication aims to provide you with a further update on the delayed payment and the proactive measures we are implementing.
“We want to assure you that we are consistently upholding our commitment to pay artists who worked in 2024 aligned to our standard practice. This will continue to not be affected by the current backlog.
“Whilst we recognise the understandable frustration and always encourage SAs to work with and support each other, we want to reassure you that Mad Dog 2020 is following professional advice and have been advised there is no need to go into administration. We are confronting the challenges head-on and are determined in our commitment to resolving all delayed payments while continuing our operations as usual.
“We extend our gratitude to Equity and FAA [Film Artistes’ Association], Bectu for their collaboration in addressing these challenges. We encourage you to consider joining one of these unions, as they provide valuable support and assistance to their members in various matters. We deeply value your understanding and collaboration during this time. Rest assured, our primary focus remains on resolving outstanding payments and sustaining open lines of communication with all of our highly regarded artists.”
Mad Dog has taken a reputational hit because of the late payments crisis. Deadline is aware of a number of top producers who are prepared to quietly sever ties with the agency. They were reluctant to put their concerns on the record in case it created more issues for those yet to receive payment.
By Jake Kanter
June 7, 2024