In the last twenty years, there has been a growth in the production of films that are produced outside Los Angeles and New York; states such as Georgia and Illinois are creating a positive environment for an overall industry ecosystem. These states’ tax incentives, existing production facilities, and skilled crew members have attracted network television and movie producers to Chicago and Atlanta. FilmLA and state film office data show that since the mid-2010s, Georgia has been one of the three largest production areas in the U.S., with Illinois consistently reporting hundreds of millions of dollars spent each year producing film and television content.
In this dynamic landscape, actors have come to structure their careers by navigating through multiple regional markets, rather than being tied to a single home base. John David Castilla’s career trajectory has been in line with this regional model. Since he started appearing on screen in 2017, he has maintained a consistent presence in the Midwest while extending his reach into the Southeast. His agency representation reflects this model: TalentXAlexander Agency, which represents clients across Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Iowa, and the Atlanta, Georgia market.
Chicago has been an essential platform for Castilla’s professional development. Illinois provides a 30 percent film tax credit, and this has ensured that there has been a constant flow of network TV and streaming productions in the state. Chicago-based productions like Empire, The Chi, Chicago Med, Shameless, Papergirl, Fargo, Station 11, The Bear, Redline, and others have relied on a large pool of local talent for background and supporting roles. Castilla began as a background actor in 2017 for Empire with Lee Daniels Entertainment, in recurring boardroom scenes in seasons three and four.
Since 2017, Castilla has continued to land background and minor roles in various Chicago-based productions. In The Chi, he has acted in several seasons in different roles. He has also worked in Chicago Med, Shameless, Papergirl, Fargo, Station 11, Redline, and other Illinois-based productions. These roles, although small and often uncredited, as is common in background acting, have put him in touch with a network of casting directors, assistant directors, and production staff who regularly work in the Chicago market.
His work expanded beyond Illinois into neighboring states, including Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio, where commercial and regional projects frequently cast actors through agencies with multi-state coverage. Representation by TalentXAlexander Agency facilitated access to work in these markets, which have hosted a range of film and commercial productions. This regional mobility has allowed Castilla to remain active in multiple production centers without relocating away from Chicago.
Atlanta (Georgia) has also been a critical production area for Castilla since the early 2010’s when Georgia’s film tax incentive was first implemented. The state began to receive large-scale studio productions not only from established studios but also from streaming companies. Many current actors located throughout the Midwest submit self-tapes or agency submissions to audition for Atlanta productions. The fact that Castilla has been included in the Atlanta market through his representation by TalentXAlexander Agency and casting submissions indicates a strategy that is consistent with industry trends of performers maintaining flexibility across regional lines.
Castilla’s use of this multi-market approach coincides with his development from background actor to speaking roles. In 2023, Castilla landed the role of Howie Williams in the feature film “American Warrior,” which stars Danny Trejo & Veronica Falcón & won the “Best Motion Picture Award” at the Santa Fe Film Festival in 2024. Castilla earned SAG/Aftra eligibility because of his performance in “American Warrior.” SAG/Aftra eligibility represents a substantial change in Castilla’s professional status because of the importance of approximately 160,000 members of SAG/Aftra, who represent performers and media professionals in the U.S.
The transition to becoming eligible for SAG work complements the opportunity to continue working locally in the film and television industries via their regional roots. The level of production activity within Chicago continues to support performers juggling both union and non-union work. Castilla’s continued work as a performer with Illinois-based producers shows how regional markets can serve as both training grounds and places for long-term employment. The Chicago film community has developed a reputation for professionalism and reliability in terms of the people they employ and how often they cast through ongoing programming and commercials.
The presence of a single agency covering multiple states highlights the importance of having a professional network. Talent agencies serve as an intermediary between performers and casting directors, facilitating the negotiation of contracts and coordination of auditions between jurisdictions. In working with TalentXAlexander Agency across Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, and Atlanta, Castilla is taking advantage of established submission channels that reach into these states. Consequently, auditions for television, film, and commercial projects will continue to occur across the Midwest and into the Southeast.
In addition to film and television, regional commercial production contributes to visibility and income stability for actors. Campaigns for national brands often shoot in Chicago or other Midwestern cities due to cost efficiencies and experienced crews. Castilla’s broader professional profile, which includes modeling and commercial appearances, operates within this same ecosystem, reinforcing his presence across overlapping sectors of the entertainment industry.
The strategic value of regional engagement becomes evident when examining career sustainability. While major film capitals attract global attention, regional hubs provide steady casting cycles and repeat collaborations. A majority of the actors who have a continuing professional relationship across these hubs tend to work with the same production companies on various shows by returning to these companies for additional work throughout the years. One actor that is a prime example of the attribution mentioned above is Castilla. His frequent work on Chicago-based productions since 2017 provides a reference point for his continuing pattern of being cast for multiple roles in Chicago-based productions.
John David Castilla’s experience in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, and Atlanta, combined with his representation by TalentXAlexander Agency, has assisted him in presenting an image consistent with current conditions within the American film and television production industry. Given the mobile nature and the continued growth of the production industry, the model presented by Castilla illustrates how to maintain a visible presence in both nationally-directed and locally-directed productions in today’s production environment.
