InstaCast

Inspiration

Nepotism is everywhere these days, especially in big projects where new actors rarely get a shot. Often, they don’t even get the chance to be considered or judged. And let's be real. Not everyone can afford an agent to help with the casting process, no matter how much passion or talent they have. That's why we think it's time to create a platform that makes the casting process more fair and efficient for everyone.

What it does

Our platform makes things easier for both actors and studios/casting managers, with some really cool features: Actor Dashboards: Actors can set up a profile, and our system automatically generates a resume for them - no stress. Tinder-style Applications: Actors can "like" roles they’re interested in, making applying super simple. Instant Responses: When a studio or casting manager likes an actor, they’ll get an email right away. For studios and casting managers, the platform helps you: Discover New Talent: Easily find actors using a swipe-based system, where you can "like" them for roles. Bring More Equity: Review applicants based on their profiles, making sure the process is fair and inclusive. Speed Up Communication: Get direct and instant communication between managers and actors - no more waiting around. Let’s make casting better for everyone and help new talent shine!

How we built it

With experience from our last hackathon, Cutie Hack, we realized that better planning would’ve taken our project to the next level. So this time, when we saw the “Most Cinematic” track, the ideas started flowing right away. One of our teammates has a background in filmmaking and used to shoot short films growing up. During a brainstorming session, we started chatting about how actors get cast and it hit us. It’s unrealistic to expect every actor to have an agent who magically finds the perfect roles, knows the right studios, or has the right connections. That system isn’t accessible or fair for a lot of talented people. So we decided to change that. Our goal? To streamline and bring the casting process online, especially for indie actors and smaller studios who usually don’t have the same reach or resources. We’ve been planning this idea out for about a week. That included team meetings to bounce around ideas, finalize this concept, break it down into detailed components, divide up the work, and make a timeline for building everything. Our front-end includes CSS, HTML, JavaScript, Vercel, and React. Our back-end includes Python, Render, and AstraDB.

Challenges we ran into

There were many features we wanted to implement, and each one was its own learning experience as we figured out how to code, create, and bring them to life. Two of our three team members had only recently started learning HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, so building nearly the entire site using React and other development tools was a significant challenge. It put a lot of pressure on us to learn quickly while simultaneously creating something functional and effective. It was also our first time working with AstraDB, and managing the amount of user data we were collecting required careful handling. This ended up being one of the most time-consuming aspects of the project. We divided the site’s pages, navigation, and design among the three of us, and by around 4 a.m., we began merging everything together. At that point, we ran into issues like leftover test variables, inconsistencies in screen dimensions between Windows and Mac, challenges with redirecting between pages that had been developed separately and in different styles, and of course, SLEEP DEPRIVATION! However, we fought through the crucial hours of 2-5 am by just going at VS Code and eventually got our adrenaline back after playing a couple rounds of Heads Up.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

One accomplishment we’re especially proud of is our time management throughout the 24-hour hackathon. A part of this was constant check-ins with each other about our plans, energy levels, progress, regress, etc. Thankfully, we planned our tasks thoughtfully, and at one point, we were 78% finished with 78% of the time passed, right on track to wrap up by noon! UI/UX design wasn’t a strength of ours during Cutie Hack, and it’s still something we’re learning, but we were excited to take on the challenge this time. As we've grown as developers, we wanted to push ourselves by trying something new and diving into the UI/UX track. We also approached the “Most Cinematic” track from a more creative angle, which made the project even more rewarding. Overall, it felt great to step outside our comfort zones and explore new territory at Citrus Hack.

What we learned

We learned how important it is to have the right team of people for such a project because we genuinely could not have gotten anything done if we weren’t able to properly coordinate with each other. We had to divide work smartly and trust each other to build pieces independently before bringing them together. When merging pages, dealing with testing variables, or aligning design styles, we learned how to communicate clearly and give each other help and feedback when needed. Two of us were pretty new to web development, especially working with React, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, but by diving in and learning as we built, we gained real hands-on experience. We also learned how to integrate AstraDB for the first time, which challenged us to manage user data securely and efficiently. As we built the platform, we kept imagining how real actors and studios would use it. This helped us think more critically about user needs, accessibility, and future features like smart matching or profile verification. It reminded us that tech is only as good as its impact on people.

What's next for InstaCast

Right now, communication happens mostly through email, which works, but it's not ideal. We want to introduce a real-time, built-in messaging system so that actors and studios can chat directly on the platform. This will make coordinating auditions, asking questions, and following up way smoother, while keeping everything in one place. Plus, we’d love to add read receipts and typing indicators to make it feel just like any modern chat app. Since many users (especially actors on the go) will be using their phones, we also want to make the platform fully responsive across all screen sizes. Beyond that, we’re aiming to develop a dedicated mobile app so users can get push notifications, apply to roles, or respond to messages without needing to check their email or be at their computer. Making the experience as seamless and accessible as possible is a big goal. To build trust on both sides, we want to offer an optional profile verification system. This could include identity checks, links to professional work (IMDb, SAG-AFTRA, etc.), or endorsements from studios. Verified profiles would help casting managers feel more confident when reviewing applicants, and it gives actors a way to stand out as serious talent. Right now, users manually swipe or browse through roles and profiles, but as the platform grows, we want to make discovery smarter. We want to work on algorithms that consider preferences, casting history, availability, location, and skill tags to help suggest the best matches for both actors and studios. The goal is to make the casting process not just faster, but also more accurate and fair. One thing we feel passionate about is building a supportive space, not just a tool. We’d love to add forums, Q&A boards, and feedback options where actors can help each other, share audition tips, and build connections. Studios could also share advice, FAQs, or behind-the-scenes content. This kind of community could really set our platform apart and make it more than just another casting tool but rather becomes a network.

Built With

• astradb
• brevo
• css
• html
• javascript
• python
• react
• render
• vercel