Chicago Talent Directory

FILMSCAPE HOSTS “ASK A TALENT AGENT”

Talent Agent Joey Joelle of SCE Agency will answer all of your questions when looking for and having agency representation.

Sunday, June 28, 2026, 9 am; CineCity Studios Chicago

Filmscape (June 27 & 28) is a FREE event. Check out the full schedule and register here.

REGISTER NOW! — Filmscape Chicago

⭐️ THE ILLINOIS FILM OFFICE LETTER HAD A BACKSTORY ⭐️

In 1989, Chicago Talent Directory® went to Hollywood.

At the publisher’s own expense, copies of the Chicago Talent Directory® were sent directly to Location Expo ’89 for distribution by the directors of the Illinois and Chicago film offices, where producers, location professionals, and talent buyers were being introduced to what Illinois could offer.

The response was clear: many of them did not know Chicago had this kind of talent pool — or this kind of talent infrastructure.

That mattered.

At that stage, Illinois film production was building momentum. Chicago and Illinois had important films under their belt, but the national production conversation still needed to see more than locations, logistics, and government backing.

Chicago Talent Directory® carried another part of the Illinois production story into the room:

the talent.

Actors. Models. Voiceovers. Entertainers. Production-connected professionals.

Chicago Talent Directory® presented a tangible, organized view of Chicago’s working talent base — and made clear that Illinois production could be backed by a real, ready, professional talent community.

Two years later, the Illinois Film Office officially recognized Chicago Talent Directory®.

That letter did not happen in isolation.

It followed the work.

Chicago Talent Directory®
The Showplace of Chicago Talent
To cast, be seen, be hired.

⭐️ 35 YEARS AGO TODAY, THE ILLINOIS FILM OFFICE OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED THE CHICAGO TALENT DIRECTORY® ⭐️

That recognition mattered because Chicago Talent Directory® was doing something specific and necessary: making Chicago’s talent pool visible, organized, and accessible to the people who made production decisions.

By 1991, Illinois had already proven it could attract significant film work. But production is not only locations, permits, and government backing. Production also depends on talent — actors, models, voiceovers, specialty performers, and the professional network around them.

Chicago Talent Directory® demonstrated that Chicago was not just a place to shoot.

It was a place with talent ready to work.

Authorized by Susan B. Kellett, Director, Illinois Film Office
June 21, 1991
The Showplace of Chicago Talent

⭐️ THE CHICAGO TALENT DIRECTORY® WEBSITE HAS BEEN UPDATED ⭐️
New and expanded resources are now available for talent, casting professionals, and productions working in Illinois, including:

• Producing in Illinois
• Talent Resources Hub
• Casting Resources
• Talent Agencies
• Industry Organizations
• Audition Resources

The Chicago Talent Directory® relaunch is underway as we work toward rebuilding a searchable resource connecting talent and production across Illinois.

Please note: This updated legacy website was originally designed for desktop viewing and is not yet fully mobile-friendly. If viewing on a mobile device, your browser may offer a "Desktop Site" or "Desktop Version" option, often found in your browser menu or near the bottom of the page.

⭐️To Cast. Be Seen. Be Hired.⭐️
www.chicagotalentdirectory.net

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From the publisher of the Chicago Talent Directory®:
I was very sorry to learn of Matt DeCaro’s passing.
Matt was one of my original clients in the Chicago Talent Directory®—and he returned in every print edition over the years. This is his profile from those early years.
He was a really good client. I’ll miss him.
It’s been over 30 years, but I recognized his name immediately.
Sometimes I’m still struck by how accomplished my clients became.
I had been looking forward to welcoming him into the digital CTD community.
Rest well, Matt.
One last standing ovation for a remarkable career.
I’ll be sharing tributes to Matt from the Chicago theater community in the comments.