Casting Kids for Nex Playground with Layer Media
At Aura Casting, we love the challenge of bringing together the right talent for every project.
Recently, we had the opportunity to work with the team at Layer Media to cast two kids for a commercial highlighting Nex Playground, a next-generation gaming system designed to get players moving, interacting, and having fun. Layer Media was wonderful to work with, providing us with all the information we needed to guide our search and set us up for success. From the very beginning, we knew this was a project that would rely heavily on the right casting choices, and we were excited to jump in.
Why Casting Kids Is Unique
Casting kids always brings its own layer of excitement and complexity. Children don’t always have years of acting training under their belts, which means you’re not just evaluating skill but also personality, comfort level, and natural presence. For a spot like this one, where the kids needed to look like they were genuinely enjoying a game, we weren’t searching for polished performances. We were looking for kids who could simply be themselves while pretending to play.
That natural spark is something you can’t fake, and it’s exactly what makes casting kids both challenging and rewarding. It’s crucial to do the work before the shoot day so the production team knows exactly what kind of energy and authenticity to expect when the cameras roll.
The Casting Process
We received more than 100 submissions for this project. That’s always an encouraging sign because it means families, agencies, and independent talent alike were excited to participate. Once we had all the auditions in hand, we carefully reviewed them with one key question in mind: does this child look like they’re genuinely having fun?
For a product like Nex Playground, fun isn’t just a nice-to-have quality, it’s the heart of the commercial. The gameplay is interactive, physical, and family-friendly, so it was important for the kids we cast to bring that energy to life without forcing it. We wanted kids who could laugh easily, move naturally, and sell the idea of play without it feeling like a performance.
During the review process, we also kept an eye on how comfortable each child seemed on camera. Sometimes kids can be shy or a little stiff when a camera is pointed at them, which is completely normal. But for this commercial, we needed kids who could quickly forget about the setup and just focus on enjoying the pretend game.
Our Approach
We pride ourselves on casting from a wide range of sources. For this project, we reached out through our network of talent agencies, but we also looked to our broader community of real families and kids who may not necessarily consider themselves “actors.” Often, the most authentic performances come from kids who are just excited to try something new.
That balance is what we bring to every casting search. Some projects call for trained talent with specific skills, while others require real people who can deliver natural and relatable performances. In the case of Nex Playground, we knew the sweet spot was somewhere in between. By combining outreach to agencies and real families, we were able to present the production team with a strong mix of options that aligned with their vision.
Collaboration with Layer Media
Working with Layer Media made the process even smoother. They gave us all the necessary details up front, from what type of kids would fit the story, to the tone and energy they wanted to capture on screen. Having that information early on meant we could tailor our outreach and quickly narrow down the best possible submissions.
Casting is always a collaboration. Our job is to bring producers and directors strong, realistic options that match their goals. By having a clear sense of direction from production, we could spend our time focusing on what we do best: evaluating talent and spotting the kids who would truly shine.
Why It Matters to Get It Right
When working with kids, finding the right talent in advance isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s essential. Production days are busy, fast-moving, and filled with moving parts. By casting kids who were already comfortable on camera and had shown they could convincingly “play” during their audition, the team could walk into shoot day knowing that one major piece of the puzzle was already solved.
The end result? A smoother production, a happier crew, and a final commercial that feels joyful, believable, and full of life. That’s the impact of thoughtful casting.
Looking Ahead
Projects like this remind us why we love what we do. Every commercial is different, and every casting call presents a new challenge. Thanks to our network, our process, and great partnerships, we make it happen.
Want to See More?
If you enjoyed hearing about this project, we’d love for you to check out some of the other commercials we’ve cast. Each one has its own story and its own casting journey, and we’re proud to share them.
