CARMEN DUNCAN SCHOLARSHIP

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Professional career began age 4 on TV show Richmond Hill. Since then worked professionally as Actor/Performer, Writer and Producer on TV, Film, Theatre, Stage, Music Videos & more. CEO of American Arts Film & Television Academy and curator in arts education, Jessica's entrepreneurial skills and podcast ArtArtistBiz is dedicated to educating/providing opportunities for artists whilst supporting inclusion & diversity.

Starting with internationally acclaimed J.O. International Productions; Jessica produced nation-wide/international dance expos, workshops, shows, events, competitions inc “On Broadway” "Don’t Dis Disabilities Dance Extravaganza” and "Focus On Ability USA”. Produced international prize experiences for festivals and charities; engaged in public speaking, mentoring and hosting events for Breakdown Services, Dance Informa, Focus On Ability Short Film Festival, Special Olympics, Showcase National Dance Championships and more.

Diversity Entertainment, LLC (Diversity Pictures) see's Jessica enter world of writing and directing. Recent film “A Death Perspective” (writer, director, actor) received numerous awards including Best Indie Short & Best Women's Short at Independent Short Awards. Honourable Mention at Global Shorts, Los Angeles (IMDB) and gained selection for Artists Emerging Initiative with Ermantourage. Associate producer on Australian feature “Unsound” (WiseGoat Productions) won Melbourne Queer Festival and rated 3rd Top 10 Australian Films of 2020. Projects released 2021 include Enigma & Mercy. With feature films Alphabetas & Reverie (Semi Finalist in Scriptapollooza & Your Script produced) in development for 2022. 

If John Hughes blended the filmmaking styling of Stephen Spielberg in Denver and Delilah Productions you’d find Jessica. A vulnerable and diverse storyteller in search of adventure & hope. Combining her artistic & philanthropic voice with humour, imagination & heart and creating new worlds about kids who are adults and adults who are kids.

Ever since completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting) at NIDA, Julian has balanced a love for actor training; coaching actors regularly with NIDA (Open) and The Factory (Brisbane); and masterclasses with the students of QUT Fine Arts (Acting), Toni Higginbotham Casting and MEAA. Private clients are current regular and recurring actors across Australia and the U.S with networks including Netflix, ABC (Australia) and CBS.  As an actor, he just finished filming ‘The Battle of Bushy Run’ (2021) and made his directorial debut with ‘Just Deal With It’ (2022).  Stage credits include his Matilda winning performance as Austin in 'True West' (Brisbane Powerhouse), ‘Dead Devils of Cockle Creek’, ‘The Glass Menagerie’ (Laboite), ‘Gallipoli’ and ‘Embers’ (STC), ’25 Down’ (QTC) ‘Savage in Limbo’ (Big Scary Animal), 'Magpie' (Playlab Theatre), ‘Shakespeare’s R&J’ (Riverside National Tour), ‘Harriers’, 'Cock' (Metro), ‘Something to Declare’ (QAC), ‘Wuthering Heights’ (Shake & Stir) to name a few.  Television credits include 'The Hopsters' (WB animation pilot), ‘A Knight’s Heart’ (TBS pilot), 'Adam Ruins Everything' (TruTV), 'Acting Out' (MTV), ‘Spooked’ (HULU), ‘Dance Academy’ (ABC), ‘The Britishes’ (Direct TV), ‘Rescue Special Ops’ (NINE), ‘East West 101’ (SBS), ‘Legend of the Seeker’ (Disney) and MOW ‘Twister Warning’ (ION). He has appeared in films 'Poster Boy', 'Wish Man', ’48 Shades’, ‘The Middle’, ‘Last Call In The Doghouse’ and ‘Captured’; and past Screen QLD/NSW shorts ‘For a Good Cause’, ‘Italian Fair’, ‘The Killing Room’ and ‘A Burning Thing’. He has appeared in New Media content for companies including College Humor, Geek & Sundry and Rise TV; and video games ‘Call of Duty’ and ‘Final Fantasy'. Julian won the Marten Bequest Award for Acting in 2012.
As a writer, Julian has been produced twice by Screen Queensland: ‘Power the Kid’ (w/ QPIX) and ‘And the Winner Is’ – where he was flown with the creative team to Los Angeles for the Screamfest 2018 premiere. ‘Tallest Poppies’, a web series he co-wrote and acted in, was awarded a finalist at the world’s most prestigious comedy festival Just for Laughs Montreal in 2013. The play ‘Legacy’ started life when on salary at University of Queensland before being accepted into the National Workshop via Playwriting Australia. It was performed as at LaBoite HWY in 2019. 

Emma Fleming is a casting director and acting coach who has worked in the film and television industry for over 10 years as in Casting, Coaching + Costume Design in Melbourne, Sydney, Berlin, London and New York. Now based in Los Angeles, Emma has worked on numerous features most recently including ’Snow Valley’, the directorial debut for Brandon Murphy of ’The Hitman’s Bodyguard’s Wife’ and ’The Immaculate Room’ starring Kate Bosworth + Emile Hirsch. Her work on ‘The Immaculate Room’ resulted in her being inducted into the Costume Designer’s Guild of America under her Costume Design alias ‘ Alabama Blonde’.  Guided by a passion for storytelling and the authentic need to express these stories through the perspective and interpretation of the human condition; via the actor. "I have a deep and genuine love of film and television, escapism, the human psyche and the infinite possibilities which lay within total freedom of imagination.” Emma was nominated for the ‘Achievement in Casting Award’ by the Casting Guild of Australia in 2017 for the show ‘Testament’, she remains a proud member of the Casting Guild of Australia. In 2020 she was appointment Casting Director for Schön Magazine, where she has cast + produced feature covers + editorials for the likes of Maggie Daddario, Karen Gillan, Kelvin Harrison Jnr, Letitia Wright + Victoria Pedretti, to name a few. Emma has trained in several acting techniques and methodology’s; namely the Meisner Technique and Alexander Techniques. She has also studied in the work of Michael Chekov, the Chubbuck Technique at 16th St in Melbourne, and the Mike Leigh Method with Robert Marchand. Recently she was selected for Carol Rosenfeld’s esteemed teachers lab, where she will train in the work of Uta Hagan. Recognising that no two actors are alike  In 2019 Emma was one of 15 teachers selected to train and work alongside Alexandra Billings (USC), Hugh O’Gorman (SCU/MICHA), Gregory Wallace (Yale), David Bridel (USC) and Kenneth Noel Mitchel (NYU) at the University of Southern California with the National Alliance of Acting Teachers. She is now a proud member of the National Alliance of Acting Teachers of America.

Tatu Sinisalo is a Nordic actor, based between LA and Helsinki, mostly known for his leading roles in biographical feature films Born in Heinola (Teit meistä kauniin, 2016) and King of Hearts (Olen suomalainen, 2019), for which he received two audience Jussi Awards in Finland (“Finnish Oscar’s”). At the moment Tatu plays a disturbed young man and the leading antagonist in Welcome To Texas (Aallonmurtaja 3, Warner Bros) and Helsinki Crimes (Harjunpää, ITV) which are both playing in Finnish and French distribution channels. In the American-Finnish series Perfect Commando alongside Pete Gardner, Kian Lawley and Katherine C. Hughes, Tatu plays a closeted character. In addition Tatu has performed in various film, tv, musical and theater productions.

In 2022 Tatu was awarded a full scholarship to American Arts, Film and Television Academy (AAFTA), Los Angeles. 

Tatu has a MA in Theatre Arts, 2019 (NÄTY), Finland, Scandinavia where education is high quality. All together he has studied Film Acting in five different countries under six Universities & Conservatories: NÄTY, TEAK, KASK, LMTA, EAMT and AAFTA. In the master’s thesis he explored ways to construct his own acting technique: Documentary Acting . The idea behind this research is to help an actor approach biopic film roles, that dramatize the life of a non-fictional person, with accountability and integrity. Tatu also has a background in dancing and singing. 

Tatu has an excellent ear for accents and languages. He has studied Swedish, English, Spanish, Russian, German, French, Northern Sami and Finnish. His first lead role (Born in Heinola) was praised for sounding exactly like the real rock star he was playing, implementing deep character building in physique & voice. 

Francisca Braithwaite is an award-winning Chilean-born actor, writer, and director. Having moved to Australia with her family at the age of six and faced with the challenges that came with migrating to a new country Francisca found solace in the world of make believe which led her down the path of creative writing and eventually pursuing a career as an actor. Francisca has appeared in several popular television shows including 'Black Comedy', 'Hyde & Seek', 'A Place to Call Home', the US television show 'Reckoning', and most recently, 'Home and Away'. In late 2020 Francisca founded Blue Sparrow Entertainment a female led production company driven to push the boundaries of storytelling with engaging, raw, and diverse stories told by female creatives. Her first short film through Blue Sparrow Entertainment, Seven Stages was completed in early 2021. Francisca wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the film which went on to receive 21 Official Selections around the world and 14 award wins including wins for Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Female Filmmaker, Best Director, and Best Short Film to name a few. 

Highly sought after as a collaborator and key creative by industry professionals around the world , Francisca continues to grow her resume as an actor, director, writer, and producer with an array of projects currently in several stages of development which will be filmed across Australia and the United States. 

Ron Orbach graduated with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from Rider College in 1974. His first professional job at Bucks County Playhouse (TEA AND SYMPATHY); Following with summers at Circle-in-the Square Theater school in NYC (Arthur Storch, Madeleine Sherwood), before American Conservatory Theater’s (ACT) Advanced Training Program, San Francisco, and Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts (PCPA) (Allen Fletcher). Forming original Improv(isation) classes at comedy club for comedians including Paul Reiser, Larry Miller & Bill Maher etc. In 1983  booked first Equity job, HARRY CHAPIN: LIES AND LEGENDS at Apollo Theater Center Chicago, The Village Gate NY & Pasadena Playhouse LA. Receiving The LA Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Ensemble. Broadway debut w/Neil Simon's LAUGHTER ON THE 23rd FLOOR starring Nathan Lane & JK Simmons; as Ira Stone (based on Mel Brooks) & starring role of Max Prince (based on Sid Caesar), in Chicago premiere of national tour, at A Contemporary Theater (ACT) Seattle, where he directed. In 1994, landed TV series regular in, “Platypus Man”, first sit-com on UPN Network. Then Amos Hart (“Mister Cellophane”) in CHICAGO, in first national touring company, receiving city of Chicago’s Jeff Award Best Supporting Actor 1998 & over 20 years in every major American & Canadian city; Seoul, Tokyo & Taipei & 20th anniversary tour & Broadway.  

Appearing on Broadway five times, inc: DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES, NEVER GONNA DANCE & SOUL DOCTOR, &  in Mel Brooks’ THE PRODUCERS.  Off-Broadway, The Roundabout (HOTEL SUITE), at Westbeth Theater Center (MRS. DALLY HAS A LOVER) & THE GOD COMMITTEE, at The Lambs.  Leading roles at distinguished regional theatres, including Chicago’s Goodman Theater (MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS) &  Chicago Shakespeare Theater (A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM; 2012 Jeff nomination), Houston’s Alley Theater, Berkshire Theater Festival, Barrington Stage (MA), The Denver Center (A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM), Sacramento Music Circus (FIDDLER ON THE ROOF ), La Jolla Playhouse & The Old Globe (San Diego), Cleveland Playhouse, McCarter Theater (A COMEDY OF TENORS) & ALL THE DAYS. Recently, BEN BUTLER at Portland Stage (ME), & multiple roles in Paula Vogel’s Tony-nominated, INDECENT, at Seattle Rep. Memorable screen performance: The Driving Instructor in Amy Heckerling’s “Clueless”. Guest starred in episodic roles, from “LA Law”  “Law & Order” “The Golden Girls” “Girls”. Voice of ongoing campaigns for Lego and CIT, &  children’s animated series, “Jungle Junction”,  on The Disney Junior channel. In addition to ongoing work as acting coach, Ron directed, THE GOD COMMITTEE, at Actor’s Co-op (2007), ROOM SERVICE at Open Fist (2013), & honored with LA’s Ovation Award forJim McGrath’s, THE ELLIS JUMP, at Met Theatre (1996). 

Ratidzo Mambo is an Actor and Creator and Creative producer. She has also worked extensively as International Film and TV Distribution Senior Sales Executive.

Ratidzo was recently named as a 2020 Rising Star by the Casting Guild of Australia. Winner of the 2016 Best Actor Award for the Hollywood Short + Sweet Theatre Festival, she was awarded the 2018 16th Street Actors Studios Larry Moss Scholarship,  a 2017 Heath Ledger Scholarship finalist.

Some of Ratidzo’s credits include; Fiction Podcast: Private Affairs (Winner of  the Australian Best New Podcast 2021, Best Fiction Podcast 2021.)

Theatre: The Heartbreak Choir (Melbourne Theatre Company), Cruel and Tender

(Melbourne Theatre Company); The Prize Fighter (La Boite Theatre Company) which won the 2019 Matilda Award for Best Ensemble, and was nominated for a 2019 Helpmann and 2019 Green Room Award for Best Production; The Trail of Dorian Gray (Bittenby Productions).

Television: The Gloaming (Stan and Disney/ABC), GLEE (FOX); Wicked Science 2

(Jonathan Shiff Productions/Network Ten), Neighbours (Network Ten). Film: Escape From Pretoria (Arclight Films); 10 Terrorists (The Picture Tank) and The Legend Maker (Ian Pringle Films).

She trained at 16th Street Actors Studio, VCA, Berg Studios, Margie Haber, Baron Brown Meisner Studio and For the Actor (Jackie Diamond).

Anne’s just finished Line Producing the remake of Heartbreak High with Netflix and Fremantle Media.  In 2021 she was Line Producer on kids TV series Born to Spy with ABCMe and Aquarius Films.

She’s worked on shows such as Odd Squad Mobile Unit a Canadian multiple Emmy Award-winning Kids TV series with FredBird Entertainment, and Fixing for Sydney and Hunter Valley Episodes of The Amazing Race Australia along with many other clients from around the world.

Anne’s produced everything from famous rock videos, interactive digital campaigns with Novak Djokovic for ANZ, high end TVC’s, live events, documentaries and films.  She is now one of the go-to Fixers in Australia for International Productions shooting in this country.  Her career has seen her working for Network Seven, Nine and SBS, along with major companies in agency, production and post production.  Anne has produced a number of successful films in her 20 + year career including box office hit, Backyard Ashes (2013) and West (2007). Her latest film, The Merger (2018) shot in Wagga Wagga World Premiered at MIFF as the Centerpiece Gala Film and was Finalist at CinefestOZ (2018) and won Best Film at the OzFlix Independent Film Awards (2019).  It is now trending on Netflix’s Top 10.

Nisrine Amine is an AWGIE-nominated, Lebanese-Australian actor, writer and producer from Western Sydney. Featured in Slam, Deadly Women, Here Come The Habibs, Janet King and short films Amir (2018), Candlelight (2017), The Woman on the Top Floor (2012), Broken Time (2013), and The Parisian (2013), web series I Luv u But (2014) TAFEWSI's, Rob’s Campaign (2016). Received Outstanding Actor nom at 2017 Sydney Film School Award for Maya. Stage credits; The Girl/The Woman(NTOP/Riverside Theatre 2018), Alex and Eve: The Complete Story (Factory Theatre, 2013), The Colour Blind Project (Tap Gallery, 2011), and Arabian Nights (New Theatre, 2012) & MORE.  Her short film Apricot funded by Screen NSW with SEED: Regional Funding initiative, premiered at Flickerfest 2018 & viewed on ABC. In 2012, she produced and co-directed The Young Creatives Festival of Shorts, a short-play festival for young people from Western Sydney. She wrote, produced and starred in web series Whatever After (2013). Her short play Must be the Dairy won People’s Choice at Round 2 of Crash Test Drama 2011; and was one of eight writers selected to take part in the Curious Works Behind Closed Doors program, mentored by Australian TV writer Blake Ayshford. Television credits include Home and Away, Amazing Grace, Mr Inbetween, and Frayed. Co-writer on feature Here Out West, opened at 2021 Sydney Film Festival and also the co-founder and creative director of Parramatta Actors Centre.

Jo Briant is a Casting Director at Fountainhead Casting and has been a successful actor for 37 years. She has worked extensively in theatre, film and television in New Zealand and Australia appearing in projects such as The End the Beginning, Life Goals, Bondi Slayer, Reckoning, Smokescreen, Kairos, Dave and Theo, The Fighting Season, MotherLode, Psychoanalysis, Wham Bam Thank You Ma’am, Home and Away, The Moodys, All Saints, Water Rats, Murder Call, Big Sky, Shortland Street and numerous commercials and voiceovers. She is also an experienced Director, Acting Coach, Success Coach and Energy Healer. And is a regular teacher at TAFTA and The Hub Studio and runs her own drop in classes. She loves combining acting, casting and coaching, as her wealth of experience and intimate understanding of an actors world both on screen and off enables her to guide other actors in a fun and nurturing way. 

Andy McPhee is an Australian Actor with an extensive career both local and international. Known for Iconic Australian films and series such as Wolf Creek(2005), Animal Kingdom (2010), Pizza (2005), Wilfred (2010), Dr Blake Mysteries (2015), and Gallipoli (2015). Andy has also starred internationally in major release features such as Disney’s – Saving Mr Banks (2013), See Saw’s Slow West (2015) and Criminal Minds (2011). Andy Mcphee is best known internationally for his portayal of Irish biker Keith McGee in FX Sons of Anarchy (2010). Next to be seen recurring as Turk, in critically acclaimed series WentWorth (2018) a contemporary revival of thee Australian Prison drama of the same name. Mcphee was also most recently starring in the Wolf Creek Miniseries (2016) starring Lucy Fry and John Jarratt. McPhee headlined four independent films including Living Space (2018) with director Steven Spiel, and the also the american production of What Goes Around Comes Around(2018) Directed by Tyson Jarvis and Mike Smallwood. 

Kym Jackson is the author of The Hollywood Survival Guide for actors and a busy working actress with 60+ feature film and TV credits, including This Is Us, American Crime Story, NCIS, SWAT, and BET show, Rebel.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1249826

Kym is a voting member of The Television Academy (Emmys), SAG-AFTRA, American MENSA, and a speaker for SAG-AFTRA, MEAA, Women In Film and many other organizations. 

In 2019, she filmed the ABC/Disney pilot 'Triangle' as the series regular character of Viking Queen Neela alongside Mike Vogel, Mallory Jansen, and Edwin Hodge.

She is currently in production on the feature film, A Royal In Paradise. Her most recent TV release, The Secrets She Keeps S2, will soon be available on Channel 10, Prime Video, or Paramount+. 

Johnny is a Trained Professional Actor and Casting Director.  "JAPANESE SAMURAI SWORD", Executive Produced by FILM LONDON & in Association with the BFI, received Official Selection for the BFI London Film Festival 2015. He's appeared in TV Commercials for SONY, VIRGIN and BURGER KING and performed at Shaftesbury Theatre, The Roundhouse, The West Yorkshire Playhouse, The Birmingham Repertory Theatre, The Royal Opera House and Sadlers Wells. Also a Trained Professional Dancer and Choreographer specializing in hip-hop, breaking, popping and locking; having learnt from Legendary New York Breaking Originators "Alien Ness" (Mighty Zulu Kingz) and "Trac2" (Starchild La Rock), "B-Boy Born" (Rivers Crew) and Popping & Locking pioneer "Suga Pop" (Electric Boogaloos). Career highlights include The Peacock Theatre alongside Britain's Got Talent Finalists "Flawless”.Johnny Ong has also been working in the UK casting industry for over 7 years, and has been able to work on some of the highest profile projects filming there over that period, including: The Crown, End of the F***ing World, Casino Royale, Outlander, Ascendant and more.

Now Johnny Works as a Freelance Casting Director, frequently collaborating with Faith Martin at Faith Martin Casting!

From a childhood where the family theatre was her playground the transition to a career surrounded by actors seemed rather inevitable.  Tracy began professional life as a freelance casting agent during the 90’s. This provided opportunities to travel which resulted in eighteen months spent living in the UK and immersing in European culture. Upon returning to Australia Tracy dedicated the following years to refining her craft and developing foundational relationships that would pave her way to actor management. 

In an industry often defined by the sharp instruments of success, Tracy leads with love and her following have applauded her many achievements in the years since she first embraced emerging and established actors into her well curated portfolio. 

Fine humans and laughter are a constant interface among the treasures of Tracy’s life - her literature collection, the enjoyment of good wine, appreciation and creation of abstract art, and the discovery of historically significant locations that surround her cherished Sydney home. 

The Film and Television industry is a family business for Tony, with both his father Calvin and grandfather Jack being accredited cinematographers. From a young age Tony knew he wanted to work in the family
business. Starting in the camera department at Panavision Australia then moving up through the camera department to become a director of photography. In his career as a DOP Tony has had many career highlights including winning best cinematography at
the worlds largest short film festival "Tropfest". Tony has also won multiple Australian Cinematographers Society awards for his work in commercial and drama. After 5 years of shooting Australians highest rated drama "Home and Away" Tony turned his mind to directing. After a successful attachment on Home and Away
Tony went on to direct 35 episodes of "Home and Away" and more recently moved to another Australian classic drama "Neighbours" with his most recent episode becoming the highest rating episode in several years both in Australia and the UK.
Tony is currently developing a series created by well known Actors "Brenton Thwaites" and "Tai Hara".

Donna Morong is a respected casting director based in L.A. with over 25 years in the business. She spent 15 years at The Walt Disney Company ultimately becoming Senior Vice President of Motion Picture. In 2008, she won an Artios Award for casting Ben Affleck’s “GONE BABY GONE” for Miramax which garnered an Academy Award Nomination for Amy Ryan.

​ Ms. Morong began her career in casting in New York City working on some of the most prestigious, original Broadway productions including “HURLY BURLY”, “BILOXI BLUES” and “BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS”. Prior to casting Ms. Morong trained with Bill Esper in the Meisner Technique and got her Masters at Mason Gross School of the Arts.

After a career as a top executive at the Walt Disney Company film division, Ms Morong formed an acting studio where she applies her casting experience and acting training to help actors work professionally . As part of her mission to support artists in their artistic and professional development, Morong has produced plays that have included This is our Youth, Reasons to Be Pretty and Orphans.. 

She works with filmmakers from all walks of life to help them tell their stories with casts that come from across the globe.

Jes Macallan is an actor and director, and proud member of both SAG and the DGA. Her acting career is extensive, including upwards of 130 episodes as a lead in different series and films. Before her series regular role in the Arrowverse dramedy superhero show, DC's Legends of Tomorrow (Netflix), which ran for seven seasons, Macallan starred in ABC's hit drama series, Mistresses (Hulu), with Alyssa Milano, which ran for four seasons. She also starred in the pilot Crash and Burn, executive produced by Tony Hawk as well as the digital film series, Relationship Status, executive Produced by Milo Ventimiglia and StyleHaul, which screened at the Tribeca Film Festival with critical accolades. In 2016, with a non-existent budget, she wrote, produced, and directed her short film Self, E as a directorial sample piece. The film was accepted and well received including into Dances with Films Festival, which held a screening of the short at the famous TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood. The film, as well a cohesive application, secured Macallan’s admittance to the highly competitive Warner Bros. Television Directors Workshop. She is a proud graduate of the class of 2019. As an episodic director, she went on to direct (and simultaneously act in) two highly ambitious, VFX/SPFX heavy, episodes of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. Following a recent series wrap on DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Macallan went on to direct an episode of All Rise for OWN/Warner Bros Television Studios which will air in the fall of 2022.

Geralyn Flood has worked on projects for ALL of the major networks in the industry: ABC, NBC, CBS, The CW, The WB, ABC Family, Disney, Nickelodeon, etc. Previous TV credits as Jeff Greenberg's Assistant include "Frasier", "According to Jim", "I’m With Her" and the fabulous "Baby Bob". During her 4 years at Zane/Pillsbury casting, some highlights include Casting Director on the Disney pilot, "Good Luck Charlie" and as the Associate on the USA Network pilot, "White Collar" and "Gary Unmarried", as well as countless other unseen pilots. In addition to her TV credits, Geralyn has worked on indie and studio films including three Mark Waters features (with Marci Liroff)- as an Assistant on "Just Like Heaven", an Associate on "The Spiderwick Chronicles" and a Casting Director on "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" starring Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner. She is partnered with Marc Hirschfeld and they have worked on such projects as: "Kevin Can Wait", "Stan Against Evil". She and Marc did the straight to series show for MTV, "The Shannara Chronicles", as well as the MTV pilot and series, "Sweet/Vicious". They are also currently doing Season 3 of "Man with a Plan". She did all four seasons of the Nickelodeon show "Big Time Rush" and the series, "100 Things To Do Before High School!". Recently Geralyn just finished casting "That 90's Show" for NETFLIX.

Lori has been teaching the craft of acting since 1993 after gaining permission from her NYC alma mater, The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre where she had the privilege of studying with Sanford Meisner who was among an incredible faculty.  Triolo’s focus as a teacher is the Meisner Technique and Fitzmaurice Voicework®. Active in the theatre and film community in New York, Los Angeles, and Vancouver for over twenty years, Lori was Artistic Director at Vancouver's Beaumont Stage for five years.  As co-founder of The Evolving Arts Collective, she's host to The Cold Reading Series in Vancouver’s independent film and theatre scene since 1993. She helped build the Belmont Italian American Playhouse in New York.  She received B.C.'s Best Actress Leo Award and Leading Actress Jessie Award nominations for her work on the big screen and stage. Her selected stage credits include Ramifications of a Particular Crash, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, Twelfth Night, Italian American Reconciliation, The Sweetest Swing in Baseball(Jessie Nomination),Where’s My Money?, Miss Julie, In the Eyes of God, and Stop Kiss. In the film and television arena, she has seen  recurring roles on shows including Blackstone, Fringe, Continuum, Smallville, Supernatural, The 4400, Alice, I think, Cold Squad, Battlestar Gallactica, and Davinci’s Inquest.   In 2014 Lori was honoured through the Vancouver chapter of Women in Film & Television with the Leadership in Education Award which recognises excellence in the teaching of screen based media and creating opportunities for and providing mentorship to women.  She's directed numerous plays, most recently producer and casting director for the Canadian independent feature film Lost Solace directed by Chris Scheuerman - a project which is now heading into the festival circuit. 

Caitlin Well is an established Los Angeles based Casting Director with over thirteen years of experience in the entertainment industry.  Caitlin first moved to LA after graduating from Syracuse University’s prestigious S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications with a degree in film and television.  She started her career in casting as an assistant to Ronna Kress before making the transition to Casting Associate in the Warner Bros. Feature Casting department lead by Lora Kennedy and Kristy Carlson. 

In her four years at WB, Caitlin worked on DC blockbuster’s like “Man of Steel” and “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”, as well as Oscar winning films like “Argo”.  She then followed her heart and moved to Melbourne, Australia, for a year where she continued to work in casting alongside Thea McLeod, known for the long running Australian staple “Neighbours”.  Upon her return to LA, Caitlin joined John Papsidera’s Automatic Sweat team where they cast a wide range of film and TV projects from “Venom” to Taylor Sheridan’s “Yellowstone”. 

In 2019, Caitlin started her own company, Presser/Well Casting, with fellow Casting Director Jennifer Presser.  They worked closely with Greg Silverman’s Stampede Ventures where they had the opportunity to cast indies with strong female writer-directors like Kelly Oxford on her directorial debut “Pink Skies Ahead” (SXSW official selection 2020).  Together they also cast the Tribeca X winning digital series “Girls Room” written by Lena Waithe, and Krystin Ver Linden’s upcoming dramatic thriller “Alice” starring Keke Palmer and Common, which made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2022.

Most recently Caitlin cast the Canadian indie “North of Normal”, based on the best-selling memoir of the same name, which premiered at TIFF, as well as the Mo Willem’s children’s animated musical “Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Special” for HBO Max.  Caitlin also partnered with Dominika Posseren on Creator+ debut features “Diamond in the Rough” and “Jane” before taking on a new Executive role at Netflix as a Manager of Original Film Casting for the streamer.  

Peter has taught for 20 years across 3 continents, multiple disciplines and at institutions such as NIDA, the VCA (Melbourne Uni), The National Theatre Drama School, 16th Street Actors Studio and the exclusive Trinity College at Melbourne University amongst many more. Peter has a BA in Literature & Film (UNSW), a Graduate Diploma in Education (UNE), a Masters in Directing (VCA/Melbourne University), a Cert IV in Training & Assessment (VU) and recently completed a Film Studies Certificate at UCLA  after receiving the Mike Walsh Fellowship for Directing from NIDA and the Hayden Group in 2019. Peter studied with Chicago-based Improv (Theatre Sports), the Mike Leigh Method with Rob Marchand, Different Every Night with Mike Alfreds and Strasberg's relaxation and analysis (16th Street). He's assisted masterclasses with Larry Moss, Ellen Burstyn, Ivana Chubbuck, Iain Rickson and Susan Batson. Peter has directed upwards of 35 productions across theatre, film and web series (no TV yet!). After collaborating with renowned acting coach Larry Moss on ‘Holding the Man’ in 2014, Peter has worked in Los Angeles with the Australian Theatre Company on a number of occasions. His staging of Brendan Cowell’s ‘Ruben Guthrie’ for the company in 2016 won the L.A. Scene Award for Best Comedy, Best Director and Best Ensemble (among others). Having worked in some capacity in the Arts for nearly three decades, Peter has contributed to upwards of 30+ productions as director, dramaturge, actor and/or writer since 2010. He also received first-class Honours for his Masters from the VCA and was made a member of the independent theatre company Bitten By Productions in 2020. (And a partridge in a pear tree). With mentors including Larry Moss, Noni Hazlehurst, Ellen Burstyn, Peter Evans, Mike Alfreds, Rob Marchand, Rena Owen, Kim Farrant, Cameron Daddo, Matt Scholten, Tony Ayres and many many more.

As a child, Peter lived in Europe, Asia and South America before settling in Southampton, New York. After graduating with a business degree from Boston College's Carroll School of Management, Peter moved to Los Angeles. Over the course of his career, Peter has worked with some of the most acclaimed artists in film, television and theatre and has developed a reputation for identifying and cultivating exciting young talent and understanding the increasing global presence in the industry. Peter joined Echo Lake in October of 2015.

Born in Chicago and raised between Chicago and Boston.  Attended Deerfield Academy (’01), Tufts University (’05) and Suffolk University Law School (’08).  Passed the Massachusetts Bar Exam in 2008.  Went to law school knowing he wanted to rep talent.  Moved to Los Angeles in late 2010 worked at ICM and CAA from 2011-2015.  He transitioned to management in 2015 by moving to Industry Entertainment and has been there ever since.  Actors/Icons worked with include, Christopher Walken, Jamie Foxx, Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson, RZA, Laura Linney, Holly Hunter, Bobby Cannavale, James Spader, to name a few. 

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Tarik Kanafani was born in Washington D.C. and grew up spending many years in the Middle East and North Africa where he gained life experiences and perspectives that he values today in his approach to the job. With a love for TV, Film and Acting, he immediately pursued a career as a representative shortly after high school. Starting off at a young age working for and learning from Hollywood veterans Bonnie Liedtke and Thor Bradwell, who helped to launch the careers of many movie stars in their young age, he then moved on to the William Morris Agency (and eventually through the transition to WME) where he spent 5 years working with the top players and actors in the industry. To gain the experience of the actor’s perspective, Tarik took a one year hiatus from WME to work on the production of a large movie franchise where he studied the ins and outs of a film set/production. Tarik has been at Silver Lining Entertainment since its inception in 2014.