Fee for casting database churns up 'Five-0' extras

By Mike Gordon

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, May 22, 2011

~~<p>The idea sounded simple enough to Rachel Sutton, the local casting agent for the CBS hit "Hawaii Five-0." She wanted to minimize the time background actors spend waiting at casting calls by creating an online database.</p>
<p>But Sutton ran afoul of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists — the union that represents actors on "Five-0" —&ensp;by charging $10 for the service. When the union told her it was a violation of its contract with CBS, Sutton eliminated the fee and promised to return any money already collected.</p>
~~

The idea sounded simple enough to Rachel Sutton, the local casting agent for the CBS hit "Hawaii Five-0." She wanted to minimize the time background actors spend waiting at casting calls by creating an online database.

But Sutton ran afoul of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists — the union that represents actors on "Five-0" — by charging $10 for the service. When the union told her it was a violation of its contract with CBS, Sutton eliminated the fee and promised to return any money already collected. Login for more...