As the creator of a website dedicated to casting more diversely, I’m often asked two questions: “Do you have any evidence that actors of color are as good as white actors?” and “Do you have any evidence that it pays to cast actors of color?” I was asked both questions in a recent interview, in fact.

The answer to the first question is easy. Actors of color are just as good as white actors: they’re better.

How do I know? Because I’ve seen them perform. The opportunity to see a wide range of professional performances is one of the perks of my job. I’ve seen hundreds of productions—everything from Broadway to community theater—and I can tell you without hesitation that there are far more talented actors of color than there are roles for them. It’s not even close.

As for the second question, well, that one’s harder to answer definitively. Despite my extensive experience in the theater, I am not an economist or sociologist—just an actor who has been watching this business closely for more than two decades now. But recently I came across some research that seems to confirm what many of us in the industry suspect: that casting more diversely pays off on multiple levels.

I am a white actor. That’s not important, or at least it shouldn’t be, but I’m one of the many white actors who have taken up space in film and television for decades. The industry is finally beginning to see some change in this department, though it’s been slow and the progress is minimal. Casting directors are starting to hire more actors of color, and we’re seeing some long-overdue representation onscreen. But it’s still not enough.

There are plenty of reasons why casting directors should seek out actors of color more often than they do now. Many of these reasons have been discussed before, and I don’t want to belabor them here. Instead, I’d like to talk about why it benefits me as a white actor when I work with actors of color.

I’ve had the pleasure of acting alongside such talented people of color in various projects over the past few years. Many times, their presence has pushed me to take risks and go places I wouldn’t have otherwise gone with my performance. The level of talent working today is at an all-time high; it’s never been easier for an actor to find a great scene partner who can push them creatively in every way.

Some may argue that this would be true regardless of

When it comes to acting, it is so important that we provide opportunity and support to all actors. Casting actors of color in lead roles is a step in the right direction but it is not enough. We have a long way to go before reaching true equality and inclusion.

I am a white actor who has been cast in stereotypical roles such as the “jock” or the “prep.” I have also played characters that are more diverse, but those opportunities were rare. As an actor, I want to be able to play any role I desire, regardless of my ethnicity. That is why I feel that we need to cast more diversely.

If you are casting a character who is of a race other than Caucasian, please do not automatically exclude Caucasian actors from being considered for the role. Avoiding this will give many talented performers more opportunities to be seen and considered for roles they would otherwise not be able to play due to their skin color.

If you are looking for white actors specifically, then that’s what you should say in your casting call. Don’t assume everyone will know what you mean by “Caucasian” or “white.” Your casting call should clearly state that only white actors should submit; otherwise, people might think they are being discriminated against if

Although the problem of a lack of diversity in film is more prevalent in casting than any other area, it is not entirely due to casting directors, and I’d like to offer some suggestions regarding the problem.

Casting agents and directors have been quoted as saying, “I can’t find actors of color.” However, there are many actors of color in New York, Los Angeles and other cities across the country who are working as actors. There are also ethnic actors who originate from other countries and are working in their homelands with great success.

Actors of color are being cast in films and on television by casting directors who want to put together an ensemble that is representative of our country’s diverse population. The problem lies with producers and writers who create parts for white actors when they should be creating roles that are ethnically neutral or open to all ethnicities.

The solution is simple: If a part calls for an “every man” or someone nondescript, it can be played by anyone — an Asian person, Middle Easterner, Latino or African-American. If it’s a character part that happens to be African-American or Latino, then it should be played by one of those performers

One of the most striking statistics about Hollywood is how homogenous the industry is. According to a recent report by the University of Southern California, in 2013, of the top 100 grossing films that year, only 17% of them cast an actor of color in a lead or co-lead role. This isn’t new information; it’s just one of many findings similar to this one in recent years. But what if studios could actually make more money by casting actors of color?

A new study out of the University of Southern California and led by Dr. Stacy Smith says that not only is diversity good for audiences, it may have the potential to make Hollywood even more profitable than it already is. The study found that movies with diverse casts made more money at the box office than movies without diversity. By looking at the top 100 grossing films from 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013, they found that movies with leads who were women or people of color made an average global box office return of $2.68 for every $1 invested. Comparatively, movies with white male leads only made $2.45 for every dollar invested.

Furthermore, the study finds that when you factor in diversity into your casting equation, you bring in bigger audiences: “With every female or

When we think about casting our projects, we often don’t realize that we are forcing ourselves to be limited to casting a certain type of person.

In the wake of