Actor Support
We're always rooting for you
How we champion our members
At Fishpond, we know that talent grows when it’s supported, challenged and encouraged. That’s why we’ve built much more than a casting platform. Since 2008, we’ve built a creative community where actors in Ireland can develop their craft, gain confidence, and stay connected to the industry. Everything we do is designed to help you thrive, wherever you are on your acting journey.
Showcases
We run four seasonal Showcases every year. Each one features a guest industry expert as judge, a creative brief, and the chance to share your best work. Previous judges have included director Frank Berry, casting director Karen Scully and US voice coach Nick DiCola.
The most exciting part? Every actor who enters receives individual feedback. Whether you’re shortlisted or not, you’ll hear what you did well and where you can grow—personalised notes from casting and industry professionals, unique to Fishpond.
No one else is doing this. We believe that actors thrive with clear, constructive feedback on their work. Not just a yes or no. Our Showcase helps you grow, builds your confidence, and strengthens your self-taping skill. Top performers are shared directly with over 1,000 registered casting professionals on Fishpond, as well as across our platform, newsletter, and social channels.
It’s not about competition. It’s about getting seen, staying inspired, and levelling up your craft together.
Missions
Every month, we launch a new challenge, focusing on a different part of your journey as an actor. Some missions are creative and encourage you to explore new scripts, styles or characters. Others are practical, like improving your self-tapes, refining your professional profile, or learning how to build stronger industry relationships. And some are about reflection, taking stock, setting goals, and staying motivated.
Missions often include tailored resources we’ve created ourselves, from scripts and prompts to guidance notes and video tips, all designed to keep you learning, experimenting and growing between castings.
Talks
Our regular online conversations bring working professionals directly to you. Throughout the year, we host online sessions with those who know the business from the inside out. We’ve been joined by funding experts, producers, casting directors, dialect coaches and more.
We encourage questions, honesty, and real insights into how the industry works today. It’s your chance to learn from those who’ve walked the path, to hear what really matters in the audition room, and to feel connected to the wider world of film, TV and theatre.
We record every session, so even if you can’t join live, you won’t miss a thing.
Education
Over the years, we’ve hosted a range of workshops on various aspects of the industry. From improvisation, self-taping and script analysis to practical topics like managing your finances as a working actor.
We’ve also been proud to receive support from Screen Ireland, who helped us develop The Basics of the Business for Actors – Who’s Who, an online course designed to give performers a clear understanding of how the industry works and who’s involved at each stage.
With their help, we’ve also created Path to Performance, a full-day programme for young actors that combined workshops, networking sessions and Q&As with established industry professionals. An inspiring day that reflected everything we believe in: collaboration, confidence and community.
Education might not be our core offering, but it’s a core part of our philosophy. Every workshop, talk and course we do run is built to empower actors with real, practical knowledge that can shape your career.
Encouragement
And perhaps most importantly, we care about your career and are always here to support you.
Our team is made up of real people with years of experience in the industry as actors, agents and casting directors. We understand the challenges you face because we have faced them ourselves. Whether you need help perfecting your actor profile, liaising with casting professionals, or simply finding your way around the platform, we are always available to offer advice.
Every actor’s journey is unique, and we want to make sure you have everything you need to move forward with confidence.
At Fishpond, our goal is not just to help you find work, but to help you find your place in the industry and the motivation to keep going through the ups and downs.
