Tag: The Casting Guild of Australia

The Casting Guild of Australia (CGA) together with Australia’s #1 casting resource Showcast have launched a free professional tool aimed to increase the representation of Deaf and disabled performers in Australia by showcasing the pool of talent to industry professionals. The dedicated platform will be hosted on Showcast’s website and be made available to national casting directors, agents, and producers.

The new portal will host self-taped video footage of individual performers as well as a headshot and CV for industry professionals to use to cast their projects. Performers wanting to submit their details will simply need to log-in to Showcast’s portal.

An initiative of CGA’s Inclusivity Committee led by casting director, Angela Heesom, the tool was designed to widen the pool from which casting directors and directors draw their talent.

Heesom said: “We really wanted to make a difference. Not only to showcase a vibrant and talented pool of Deaf and disabled artists, but to facilitate greater inclusion and equality of representation on our screens. Stories told authentically is what audiences want to see, and our Inclusion Committee is really excited about this launch and already working on the next.”

CGA President, Thea McLeod said: “This is one of a series of CGA projects to support the equity and inclusion for all performers in the film and television industry and we’re delighted to be working with Showcast on this meaningful initiative. Together, we can highlight a breadth of Deaf and disabled performers to create further opportunities in TV, film, and on the stage. We are very excited about the talented performers this initiative will lead us to.”

Showcast Manager Kendall Phillips said: “Showcast is delighted to be partnering with the Casting Guild of Australia to help showcase Deaf and disabled performers using Showcast’s state-of-the-art technology. Showcast is passionate about inclusivity in casting and always keen to collaborate with the industry to uncover exciting new talent.”

Actor, filmmaker, and dancer Daniel Monks said: “As a disabled actor, I find CGA and Showcast’s new database dedicated to increasing the representation of Deaf and disabled performers in Australia incredibly heartening. Inclusion and accessibility within our industry is a necessity, and I heartily encourage any interested Deaf and disabled performers to utilise this important initiative.”

For more information, please visit www.castingguild.com.au.

The Casting Guild of Australia has recently announced the nominees in all categories for its annual CGA Awards. The only casting awards ceremony in the southern hemisphere that celebrates and recognises casting across all mediums including film, television, advertising, and theatre and online content, the winners will be announced at the virtual ceremony via Facebook on Saturday 20 November.

Hosted by Lucy Durack and Eddie Perfect, the Awards seek to acknowledge and support the critical role casting directors play in bringing together great casting opportunities both on a national and international stage.

CGA President David Newman said: “If 2020 was the year of uncertainty, 2021 has proven to be a year of determination and adaptation. Despite what has been thrown at them, casting directors have managed to cast many astounding projects and make sure, despite all the difficulties, that Australian and international stories could continue to be told. We’re looking forward to celebrating these achievements at our awards this year and recognising those who have been nominated.

“We particularly want to thank the actors who have been on a very rocky roller coaster for the last 12 months; many getting roles only to lose them as they were unable to get to the shoot; actors who have spent untold days alone in quarantine – multiple times; and those who got stuck and couldn’t return home. We’re hoping the new normal will be much kinder to you moving forward.”

The full list of 2021 CGA Award nominees include:

Best Casting in A Feature Film

• High Ground – Anousha Zarkesh
• Nitram – Nikki Barrett, Alison Telford, Kate Leonard
• The Dry – Jane Norris
• The Furnace – Nikki Barrett

Best Casting in a TV Drama, TV Miniseries & Telemovie

• Eden – Danny Long
• Fires – Nikki Barrett
• The Newsreader – Nathan Lloyd
• Wakefield – Marianne Jade

Best Casting in a TV Comedy

• Aftertaste – Marianne Jade, Angela Heesom, Lou Heesom
• Fisk – Kirsty McGregor
• Frayed S2 – Kirsty McGregor
• Why Are You Like This – Amy Mete

Best Casting in a Short Film

• The Reality – Danny Long
• The Stranger – Danny Long
• Tough – Daisy Hicks
• You and Me, Before and After – Stevie Ray

Achievement in Casting

• All My Friends Are Racist (Web Series) – Nathan Lloyd
• Celebration Nation (Web Series) – Annabel Clayton
• Mortal Kombat – Angela Heesom, Lou Heesom
• The Bureau of Magical Things – Tom McSweeney, David Newman

Best Casting in a Theatre Production

• Fun Home – Janine Snape, Alex Souvlis
• Grand Horizons – Alex Souvlis
• The Lifespan of a Fact – Janine Snape

Best Casting in a TVC

• eBay – Daniella Friedman
• Flybuys ‘I Give A Flybuys’ – Amy Mete, Nick Hamon
• Google X ‘Helping You Help Them’ – Natalie Jane Harvie
• Lamb ‘Make Lamb, Not Walls’ – Leon Fryer
• Tylenol ‘Mother’s Day’ and ‘Anthem’ – Danny Long
• Worksafe – Mel Mackintosh

Best Casting in a TVC – Community

• Dept Social Services, Disability Gateway – Natalie Jane Harvie
• DSS, Care and Support Sector – Daniella Friedman
• Kellogg’s My Perfect Bowl: Corn Flakes – Lucky Price
• NSW RFS: How Fireproof is Your Plan – Lucky Price
• Tourism & Events Queensland – Michelle Clancy

The 2021 CGA Rising Stars will also be presented on the night with recipients announced soon.

Be sure to tune into the Virtual Awards on November 20 at https://www.facebook.com/groups/cgaawards2021

For further information about CGA visit: www.castingguild.com.au