Tapping into Local Acting Talent in Budapest, Hungary
Hungary is well-known as being one of the busiest filming hubs in Europe. But how has this impacted actors residing in the country? Are they benefiting from an upsurge in roles available now that Hungary is fast becoming the Hollywood of the East?
Increasing numbers of international production companies are coming to the country to film commercials, films or TV series and 2024 is gearing up to be a bumper year. This is especially welcome news in the aftermath of the writers and SAG-AFTRA strikes which put a stop to many productions last year.
Considering the uptake in international productions filming in Hungary, it seems logical that local creative talent should also be able to take advantage of the opportunities that offers.
Actors: an untapped resource
Beyond locations, crew and set construction, Hungary supplies a diverse pool of extras to fill roles requiring little or no dialogue for film and audiovisual projects .
But there’s also a large community of experienced actors on hand locally. These are creatives who could easily step into meatier roles requiring professional acting experience. But international producers who come here to film have not yet fully utilized local acting talent, despite the fact that many have proficiency in multiple languages.
The ORIGO Talent Network
There are several agencies operating in Hungary currently that keep databases on available actors and extras. Representation or “agents” for talent is not common practice in the country, meaning actors need to ensure they are registered with all the major casting agencies.
So, in a move to better showcase the acting talent on tap in Hungary, Origo Studios (one of the major studios offering soundstages and production facilities in Budapest) have rolled out a centralized platform which allows international producers find and connect with local actors at the click of a button.
Origo Studios launched the Talent Network last week at an event attended by numerous well-known actors in the region. This free service aims to connect Hungary’s acting talent (Hungarian and international) directly with production companies.
The unique tool will make it easier to find actors located in Hungary who speak the required language at a proficient level. Other search filters can also be applied according to criteria such as gender, age and other skills.
As quoted by the Budapest Reporter, Márta Fekszi (CEO of ORIGO Studios) highlighted the mission behind the initiative, stating, "We want to see more Hungarian actors and actresses perform in the biggest Hollywood productions." The goal is to not only attract international projects to Hungary but to also ensure that local actors have the chance to play a significant role in them.
A boost for the environment, the bottomline, and creatives
Utilizing local talent has several benefits, not least for reasons of sustainability–flying less cast members internationally has the advantage of decreasing the productions’ overall carbon footprint.
It also makes sense financially. International productions enjoy a 30% tax rebate (among other perks) when they make use of Hungarian talent.
The step will undoubtedly also boost the overall recruitment of actors who live locally. Hungarian actors such as Dorka Gryllus, Júlia Ubrankovics, and Máté Haumann have already made significant contributions to the global film and TV industry–Haumann played roles in Oppenheimer, The Witcher and Colette.
One professionally trained actor we spoke to, a Canadian-Hungarian resident in Hungary since 2015, thinks Origo’s initiative could have a positive impact.
Christine Grace Szarko, who has worked extensively in Hungary as an actor (Death of a Unicorn, Shadow & Bone) and as a dialect and dialogue coach (Halo and Band of Spies), speaks in glowing terms about the professionalism of local cast and crew she has encountered on set.
But Szarko would also like to see more opportunities for local casting in the international film productions that come to the coutry.
With initiatives such as Origo’s, hopefully talent in Hungary will have more opportunities made available to them to shine on a global scale.
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Flatpack Films has years of experience servicing international brands, agencies, and production companies. Filming in Hungary is easy when relying on their knowledge of the market and ability to solve complex needs. They bring the best that Hungary has to offer in terms of unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top-of-the-line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more.
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