CHICAGO TALENT DIRECTORY®
Chicago Talent Directory® is a directory and resource guide serving the Illinois talent, film, theatre, and media production community.
Chicago Talent Directory® is being rebuilt to help make talent, resources, organizations, and professional pathways more visible, searchable, and connected.
No.
Chicago Talent Directory® does not book talent, cast projects, act as an agency, negotiate employment, or participate in hiring decisions.
Chicago Talent Directory® is a directory and resource guide. Its role is to help people find information, evaluate options, and connect with appropriate professional resources.
No.
Chicago Talent Directory® is not a talent agency, management company, casting office, employer, booking service, or union-clearance authority.
Chicago Talent Directory® is intended to serve talent, talent buyers, casting professionals, producers, agents, industry organizations, and talent-related professional resources.
Chicago Talent Directory® in its original print editions included actors, models, voiceovers, entertainers, services, and casting professionals. Future planning may include multiple talent and professional categories.
Chicago Talent Directory® has its roots in Chicago, but the relaunch is focused on Illinois’s broader Talent, Film, Theatre & Media Production community.
Regional resource planning may include:
Chicago
Collar Counties
Northern Illinois
Central Illinois
Southern Illinois
For Chicago Talent Directory® , verification is intended to confirm eligibility and profile completeness.
It does not mean Chicago Talent Directory® is verifying professional status, union status, skill level, experience level, employability, or talent quality.
Current planning centers on Illinois residents and talent within approximately 50 miles beyond the Illinois border who actively participate in the Illinois market.
Yes. All talent profiles are intended to remain free. Talent may also be welcomed and encouraged to purchase optional advertising, just as other professionals and businesses do, but advertising will not be required for a verified talent profile and will not affect profile eligibility, placement, search results, or access to CTD profile features.
Chicago Talent Directory® was originally published in print editions beginning in the 1980s and was officially recognized by the Illinois Film Office in 1991.
The current relaunch builds on that history while planning a modern digital platform.
The current Chicago Talent Directory® website is a legacy site. It remains online to preserve its history, trademark continuity, archive material, and relaunch information while the next-generation Chicago Talent Directory® platform is being planned.
Use the Contact page for questions, corrections, resource suggestions, or interest in future participation.
FAQ
© 2026 Chicago Talent Directory®. All rights reserved.
Chicago Talent Directory® is a federally registered trademark of Chicago Talent Enterprises Inc.
Published by Nanci T. Ponné, Founder / Publisher.
General
What is Chicago Talent Directory®?
Does Chicago Talent Directory® book talent?
Is Chicago Talent Directory® a talent agency or management company?
Who is Chicago Talent Directory® for?
Is Chicago Talent Directory® only for actors?
What areas does Chicago Talent Directory® serve?
What does “verified” mean?
Will talent profiles be free?
What happened to the original Chicago Talent Directory®?
Why is the current site not fully mobile-friendly?
How can people contact Chicago Talent Directory® ?
Be CAST!
Be SEEN!
Be HIRED!
GENERAL FAQ
Chicago Talent Directory® is being rebuilt as a directory and resource guide for Illinois talent, film, theatre, and media production communities.
This FAQ answers general questions about CTD’s purpose, history, audience, policies, and current relaunch.
For questions about future phases, planned features, verified talent profiles, and site development, please see the Roadmap FAQ.
OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED BY THE ILLINOIS FILM OFFICE --1991