What Background Actors Need to Know About Getting Paid
Just as with updating your online profile when your look changes, it's important to verify and keep your information with payroll current so we can pay you accurately and on time.
In most cases, when you're booked by Central Casting, we are responsible for paying you. There are times when Central Casting books a show, but background payroll is handled by another company. You'll know you're being paid by us when the production uses SmartVoucher or your paper voucher says Central Casting and/or Entertainment Partners. The information in this article only pertains to Central Casting paid projects; if you are booked on a production using a different payroll company, you will need to reach out to that company with any questions related to your check.
Sign up or log in to myEP
One of the best ways to keep track and manage your payroll information is with my.EP.com, Entertainment Partners' online pay portal.
After you have logged in to myEP, you will need to link your account to your EP payroll profile. First, choose the "update profile" option under "manage account" and select "connect payroll profile." Then enter your Social Security number and verify your employment by providing net, check, or gross pay information.
Once your payment profile is linked, you can enroll in direct deposit, view your pay history, compare paychecks, update information, and much more.
Update or verify your address
In order to pay you, we need your current mailing address and contact information. Casting and payroll store this information separately, so you must update both departments.
To verify or update your address with payroll, log in to myEP and click the "update profile" option.
To verify or update your address with casting, log in to your online profile, select the "profiles" option, then open the "contact information" section. You can update your mailing address and phone number in our casting platform, but will need to contact technical support at helpme@centralcasting.com, 855.500.2055, or through Tech Support Chat to update your email address.
W-4 updates
To update your W-4 and State Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate, select the relevant form from the links below, fill out and follow the directions on the form, then email to the payroll department at CPInquiries@ep.com. Please note: if claiming exempt, a new W-4 is needed each year.
Stop pay/reissue
Our payroll department processes paychecks as vouchers come in from production and you may receive checks out of work date order. If you receive a check from a later work date first, it doesn't necessarily mean that the check from an earlier date is missing.
If you need to place a stop payment, please fill out and follow the instructions on our stop pay/reissue request form. Stop payments usually take 7-10 days to process; payroll is unable to reissue a paycheck until receiving confirmation from the bank that the stop payment was successful. Please make sure to send your stop/reissue form to CPInquiries@ep.com; sending it to any other email will delay the process.
To learn more about how Background Actors get paid, see the payroll section of your location's Talent page and check out our payroll article category.
