Filmmakers not situated in major filmmaking areas are at a disadvantage in certain ways. Camera and lighting rental places will not be as plentiful, skilled crew members will be hard to come by, and screen actors fill not be waiting tables at every restaurant. There are realities of regional filmmaking and one of them is that most things cannot be done like they would be in New York or Los Angeles. Even though you may not have a ready pool of waiting actors for your project it does not mean you cannot make one.

Community College, Universities

Most medium-sized cities are located near at least one college or university. Not only do these institutions put on stage productions, many have more talent squirreled away in acting class that you can enroll in and discover. Theatre professors in these places can be great help in finding those overlooked faces you need in your film, and they might even be great actors themselves.

High Schools

Unless you are in high school the best way to find talent there is by watching their public stage performances and speaking with teachers. For an area with few outlets for actors instructors should be eager to help you. Do not limit yourself to only drama students, as dancers, athletes, and cheerleaders may have the personality and look that would work for you.

Local Theatre

Places as diverse as churches and elementary schools are home to amateur stage plays all throughout the year. It may be a Christmas pageant or Shakespeare in the park. There are likely many performances to attend where you might find people who catch your fancy. Many cities have storefront volunteer theatres, some have roving theatre companies, and many have improv troupes.

Local Media People

In your area there are people that often put on a show and you do not even realize it. Television personalities perform daily for the camera, many journalists do frequent cable TV roundtables, and there is likely a cadre of speakers. Anybody who uses their voice and body to convey information might make a good actor. From the local weatherman to your area's president of Toastmasters, looking in places others do not will pay off.

Instead of making trips to local major cities to ply actors to come to your town, find those already in town. They might not be perfect, but you can probably find some who are coachable. Speaking parts in your film should be limited anyways, so with some ingenuity you can fit the people with the right skills in the right parts and put together a film that nobody else could make but you, made right in your own backyard.