What’s New On Spotlight?

Find out the latest updates and changes we’re working on to make your Spotlight experience even better

We’re constantly improving our services for you, our members. As part of our dedication to supporting you as you use Spotlight, we continually work to improve Spotlight.com and how you use it. If you’d like to keep updated with the changes we’re making to Spotlight then check this page regularly as it’s where we post the latest updates.

If you have any suggestions for further improvements please let us know.

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Introducing the Member Assistance Programme

Updated: February 2024

We’re thrilled to launch our new Member Assistance Programme, bringing a range of wellbeing and support benefits to all members aged 18+ who are residents of the UK and Ireland. This service will be provided by Health Assured, and is completely free to use.

Some of the key benefits you’ll be able to enjoy include:

Health and Wellbeing Support

Unlimited access to a 24/7, 365 days a year confidential helpline
Family advice line on topics such as childcare
Coverage for dependants and retirees (up to three months) within HMRC guidelines
Legal information services

Health and Wellbeing Portal

LiveAgent instant chat
Access to a dedicated portal
Mini health assessments
Monthly webinars on a variety of current wellbeing topics

My Healthy Advantage Plus Mobile App

The app will give you access to tools to help you:

Track your mood
Set plans
Get discounts and perks for your achievements

Financial and Debt Information

Financial support via a freephone helpline will provide information and guidance on a range of issues, including:

Debt
Investments
Pensions
Managing money

Legal Information

Legal consultation and information on a range of issues, including personal, financial and legal matters with in-house legal professionals, including:

Landlord and tenant
Civil litigation
Housing and property law
Immigration

How to Use Your New Benefits

To start using all of the above features today, all you need to do is:

Download the Wisdom app from the app or Play store.
Sign up for the app using your email address.
You will need to enter your code. Your code can be found on your homepage if you’re a Performer or Graduate member when you sign into your Spotlight account.
Enter your details.
Choose and personalise your preferences.
You are now signed up and can start using Health Assured’s services.

Take a look at our Health and Wellbeing Member Service Terms for more information and a list of the full services available.

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Spotlight iOS App

Updated: November 2023

Spotlight launched a new iOS App for our Performers, giving members the freedom to apply for roles on the go!

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Introducing the ‘Ethnicity or Heritage’ feature

Updated: October 2023

We are very excited to launch our new ethnicity or heritage feature, which allows performers to more accurately self-identify. Based on feedback from members, this has been a big piece of work under consultation with many industry parties, such as Equity, The PMA and the CDG. We believe this gives the power back to performers in presenting themselves how they wish to be portrayed and drives the opportunity for everyone to be found based on their lived experience, should a role require authentic casting.

How do I update this on my profile as a Performer?

To access the ethnicity or heritage feature:

Log in to your Spotlight account
In the left-hand menu, click ‘Update my profile’
Click the pencil icon next to the ‘Details’ section

Choose from a list of eight options:
- Black/Black African/Caribbean
- East and South East Asian
- Indigenous/Native
- Latin/American
- Middle Eastern/North African
- Mixed
- Pacific Islander
- South Asian
- White
You can also use the ‘Specific’ field to free type an ethnicity or heritage that is more specified from a list of over 800 options
Additionally, there is a free text option that allows you to type in your own option so you can present yourself exactly how you wish

You can choose whether to display your ethnicity or heritage information on your public profile or not. If you choose to not display this publicly, it will only be available to casting directors who specifically search for this term on the platform. This feature has not yet been released to casting directors but will be in the very near future.

My Ethnicity or Heritage is missing from the drop-down list

Whilst this new feature is in beta mode, we will be reviewing the options available on a regular basis. Should you feel an option is missing, you can firstly add this to your profile in the free text box, and secondly, provide us with direct feedback using this form.

Visit our help centre if you have any questions or need any further assistance.

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Introducing Talent Scout

Updated: September 2023

Talent Scout allows self-represented performers to flag if they’re looking for representation. Agents will be able to search for these performers and contact them directly. The feature is aimed at making the process more efficient and streamlined for all. This feature is only available to self-represented talent.

How do I opt in?

Sign in to your Spotlight account
Click ‘Representation’ in the left-hand menu
If you have ‘Self-represented’ listed, you’ll see an option to choose if you are seeking representation, or not
Select the ‘Seeking representation’
This will appear on your profile.

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New Voice features and skills launch

Updated: August 2023

We’ve made it easier than ever for you to share your voice skills on your Spotlight profile, and for casting professionals to find you.

When you sign in to your account, you’ll notice all your existing voice and audio skills now sit under the ‘Voice Over’ skills section. We’ve added a whole host of new skills from ADR to Voice of God. We’ve also updated the set of options for artists who can record at home.

We have also moved voiceover-specific existing skills from the ‘other’ section into this new Voice Over list. See below for the full list of updated skills now available on your Profile editor:

ADR
AI
Animation
Audiobook
Audio guides
Cinema
Commercials
Corporate
Documentary
Dubbing
E-Learning
Estill Voice Training: Level 1 and 2 (course assistant)*
Estill Voice Training: CFP Prep day (course assistant)*
Estill Voice Training: Level 1 and 2*
Gaming
Home studio
In-car
Internet
IpDTL
ISDN line
Jingles
Live events
Navigation
Narration
NewsReader
Podcasts
Professional microphone
Radio
Spoken word & performance poetry
Sound editing equipment
TV
Teacher
Telephony systems
Voice of God
Voice Acting*
Voice Over*
Voice Over + Access to Studio*
Voice Over + Home Studio*
Voice Over + Studio + Source Connect or similar*
Voice Over Professional/Specialist*
Voice Coach (professional)*

*indicates existing features that have been moved into the new skills section

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Self-Represented Performers

Updated: January 2023

We introduced new features to empower our members who do not have representation. Instead of appearing as ‘Care of Spotlight’, these performers are listed as ‘Self-Represented’ and casting professionals registered on Spotlight can complete a short form on the platform to email the performer directly, ensuring that self-represented performers get any queries directly and promptly. You can find more information about changes for self-represented performers here.

Membership group: Casting Directors and Self-Represented Performers

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Monthly Direct Debits

Updated: 2022

We have changed our Direct Debit subscription from a fixed contract to a flexible plan, and the monthly option has now been made available for new joiners as well as current members. Work continues in updating our external communications to reflect the flexible monthly subscription. The monthly option is currently only available for UK bank accounts but our team are working on expanding this to other regions in the very near future.

Membership group: Performers

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18+ Young Performer to Performer Transition

18+ Performers are now automatically transitioned onto the Performer subscription at the point of renewal removing the need to reapply with a brand new profile. Your profile will now be carried over for you.

In addition to this, we introduced a new look and feel for parent/guardian applications for Young Performers.

When: September 2022

Membership group: Performers

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Profile ‘Detail’ Review and Filter Changes

Our team carried out a review of all feedback and requests regarding adding new descriptors and skills to profiles and introduced many new features. Increases and improvements to filters for casting directors and agents followed this.

When: July 2022

Membership group: Performers, Agents and Casting Directors

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Bursary Scheme Introduction

We recognise that one of the biggest barriers to entry into our industry is financial. We introduced our bursary scheme to help with subscriptions for those struggling financially.

When: July 2022

Membership group: Performers

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Discounts for deaf, disabled and neurodivergent performers

After various consultations with performers and groups in the industry, we changed the process of applying for our subscription discount to remove any access barriers for deaf, disabled and neurodivergent performers.

When: May 2022

Membership group: Performers

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Expansion of Performers Criteria and New Performer Application Pages

Aiming to improve the industry’s ongoing issues relating to diversity, equality, and inclusion and to ensure that Spotlight remains the true home of casting in an ever-growing and diversifying market, Spotlight introduced changes to the joining criteria for performers.

In line with this, we introduced our new application pages.

When: May 2022

Membership group: Performers

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New casting media platform

We’ve launched a new video-sharing platform which allows casting directors to upload, manage, store and share their casting footage with greater ease than ever.

When: October 2021

Membership group: Casting Professionals

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Client Link Board access

A new look and feel for agents when allocating client access to Link Board posts (view/nudge/suggest rights).

When: July 2021

Membership group: Agents

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Brand new search on Spotlight

Using Elasticsearch the new Spotlight search enables performers to be found simply and quickly.

Key features:

Sort by: relevance / name A-Z / name Z-A / agent A-Z / agent Z-A
Most commonly used filters accessible at the top of the page
Other filters (which include and/or options) in the ‘View all filters’ draw
Instant results with number of performers clearly shown
Easy to add/remove filters to refine the search
New profile cards to allow you to quickly view key performer details and page through all the results at speed
Mobile optimised

When: April 2021

Membership group: Casting Professionals

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Spotlight platform refresh

Gender:
We have incorporated transgender and non-binary options throughout the platform – performers who identify as non-binary or transgender can now choose to publicly publish their gender and any further information from an improved choice of options, whilst, if choosing not to publish publicly, can still be found by casting directors.

Disabilities:
Performers can now choose whether they’d like to publish their disability(ies) on their Spotlight profile. Casting directors can now more easily filter by a specific disability or all disabilities using our new search.

Spotlight is mobile friendly and accessible:
The Spotlight platform is now fully mobile-friendly, helping you to apply for roles on the go with greater ease, whether you’re using a mobile phone, tablet or larger device.

Breakdowns:
Performers now have an improved look and feel when viewing breakdowns. Casting directors now see an improved tool to create and send breakdowns. We’ve also increased the contract types that casting directors can include on breakdowns.

Casting projects:
Casting directors can now set up projects to release multiple breakdowns under one umbrella.

Shortlists:
Casting directors can now merge shortlists, create shortlists from an existing shortlist and copy performers from one shortlist to another. They’re also now able to copy notes from suggestions into shortlists.

Enhanced filtering of submissions:
Casting directors now see improved filtering options when viewing suggestions.

Client lists:
The client list tool for agents has a new look and feel, is mobile friendly, and now uses higher resolution photos from the updated photo management system.

Search suggestions:
Agents have a new look tool that has a more modern feel, is easier to use and works on your mobile phone and tablet.

Client alerts facility:
Agents now have an overview of which clients have nudged them, or submitted themselves for roles.

When: October 2020

Membership group: Performers, Agents and Industry Professionals

Brand new look Spotlight profile/new profile editor

We have launched our brand new Spotlight profiles which have a modern clean look. Our new profile editor (now fully replacing the old CV editor) is an intuitive and integrated way to keep your Spotlight profile updated featuring new tools for image and media management as well as easier ways to add credits, skills and a new section called ‘about me’. Everything is mobile friendly meaning you can update your profile on the move.

When: October 2020

Membership group: Performers, Agents and Industry Professionals

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Publishing/managing Showreels and Voice clips and new media library

Our new tools allow performers and agents to more easily manage media video and voice clips including a new media library (20 mins each of video and voice), the ability to hide clips and more intuitive ways to upload and describe clips. Casting professionals will also see a brand new way of viewing showreels including a picture in picture feature.

When: August 2020

Membership group: Performers, Agents and Industry Professionals

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Improvements to manage my agent

We have made changing your agent on Spotlight easier to do and with a brand new look and feel.

When: August 2020

Membership group: Performers

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Changes to the way Spotlight profiles are updated

We have launched phase 1 of a new way to update your Spotlight profile in readiness for a brand new editing tool and brand new look Spotlight profile.

When: June 2020

Membership group: Performers and Agents

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Improvements to casting director shortlists

We have launched some exciting new features and improvements for shortlists. Casting professionals can now:

Move and/or copy performers from one shortlist to another
Create new shortlists from an existing one
Copy notes about performers from one list to another (or choose not to)
Remove performers from shortlists in bulk rather than one at a time

As some email providers won’t accept large emails we have also introduced a limit of 250 performers that can be shared in an email. Messaging is in place if it is over this amount.

When: May 2020

Membership group: Casting Professionals.

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New search suggestions tool for agents

Another new look tool that has a more modern look and feel, is easier to use and works on your mobile phone and tablet. Try out the new version of search suggestions and give us your feedback.

When: March 2020

Membership group: Agents

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New shortlist tool for casting professionals

We have launched a new look shortlists service that has a more modern look and feel, is easier to use and works on your mobile phone and tablet.

When: February 2020

Membership group: Casting Professionals

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New casting email alerts and setting options

We have updated our casting email notifications. These are now more streamlined, mobile friendly and have a fresh new look. We’ve ensured that the most relevant information is visible and if you want to see more simply click through to read more details.

New frequency options are also available. Simply sign in to your account and go to ‘My Tools and Settings’ and then to ‘Email Alerts’ to choose what suits you best.

When: January 2020

Membership group: Performers and Agents

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Removal of ‘no pay’ and ‘expenses only’ roles

Maintaining the professional reputation of all of our members is incredibly important to us. As our industry continues to evolve, we no longer believe genuine opportunities are being offered to our professional members under the umbrella of ‘no pay’ or ‘expenses only’ opportunities. We have therefore removed both types of roles from Spotlight.

For performers and agents this means:

The filter settings page will no longer list ‘no pay’ and ‘expenses only’ as options
The unfiltered ‘all projects’ view will continue to show all historic projects including those with the ‘no pay’ and ‘expenses only’ categories.
If the user never had those options selected, then there is no change
If the user did have the options selected, the historic projects will continue to be shown in their filtered list

For casting users this means:

No new breakdowns can be created under ‘no pay’ or ‘expenses only’
If a casting director has already started a draft using ‘no pay’ or ‘expenses only’, they will be able to send it. No new breakdowns can be sent using the removed options
Amendments cannot use the removed options at all

When: November 2019

Membership group: Performers and Industry Professionals

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New client list tool for agents

We have updated our client list tool for agents which now has a new look and feel, is mobile friendly, includes playing age as a filter, and uses the higher resolution photos from the updated photo tool.

When: October 2019 (Updated with playing age filter April 2021)

Membership group: Agents

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New photo tool for members

Acting on feedback from members, we have updated our photo tool so that members (in addition to everything they’ve previously been able to do) can now:

Edit images i.e. crop, contrast, rotate, brighten
Hide, unhide and delete images in bulk
Use the tool with greater ease on all devices, helping you make amends while on the move
Access much more photo guidance if required

When: August 2019

Membership group: Performers

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New website status page

We released a new status page which allows members to choose to receive updates as issues are investigated and resolved.

When: August 2019

Membership group: Performers and Industry Professionals

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Location improvements

Acting on feedback from members, we have updated perfomer profiles, allowing members to add up to three locations where they have a base and are able to work from, allowing them to be found more easily by casting professionals.

When: January 2019

Membership group: Performers and Industry Professionals

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New performance calendar

We have upgraded the performance calendar which is used by drama schools to let the industry know about their showcases, and by industry professional to apply for tickets.

When: December 2018

Membership group: Performers and Industry Professionals

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Young performer agents can now send bespoke application links to parents

Acting on feedback from agents and parents, we have created a system to allow young performer agents to send out secure application links to enable parents to join their children directly and remove some of the burden from agents.

When: October 2018

Membership group: Young Performers and Agents

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Members can now update their agent information

Acting on feedback from our members, we have empowered them to update their listed agents at any time.

When: October 2018

Membership group: Performers

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New sign in system for agents

To ensure our users are fully protected when they sign into their accounts, we have upgraded our sign in system.

When: August 2018

Membership group: Agents

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Email preferences

You can now specify which emails you’d like to receive and see how often we send them.

When: July 2018

Membership group: Performers

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British sign language training levels added to performer profiles

We have now included a new range of BSL sign language training levels for profiles, allowing performers to better show their level of skill, and making it easier for casting professionals to find the right performer for roles requiring BSL sign language.

When: July 2018

Membership group: Performers and Casting Professionals

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Optional additional benefits launched for members

In response to member feedback a new package was launched offering a range of new benefits via our partner IPSE, including life insurance, pension, tax and legal help at a heavily discounted rate.

When: July 2018

Membership group: Performers

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Migrated Spotlight Specialists to Contacts directory

All our behind the camera specialists are now in one place at www.spotlight.com/contacts

When: May 2018

Membership group: Spotlight Specialists (e.g. Stage Managers, Choreographers)

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Launch of monthly direct debit payment option

Spotlight members are now able to opt for monthly payments when they renew their membership.

When: June 2017

Membership group: Performers

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Contacts online

A new online version of the famous handbook available publicly from our home page. Mobile optimised and containing nearly 5000 basic and enhanced listings it provides everything you need to know for a career in entertainment. https://www.spotlight.com/contacts

When: August 2016

Membership group: Performers, Agents and Casting Professionals