ACTRA Toronto to Host Casting Call for Diverse Performers With the Casting Directors Society of Canada and eOne

TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Aug. 14, 2012) - ACTRA Toronto’s newest initiative is to shine a spotlight on its ethnically diverse performers to talent representatives from the Casting Directors Society of Canada, eOne and other Canadian producers. This call for non-specific roles is designed to showcase ACTRA Toronto’s deep reservoir of diverse professional performers and to expand the talent pools for film, television and new media.

“It is important that our performer’s union helps to create work opportunities that reflect the full diversity of our membership,” said ACTRA Toronto President Heather Allin. “We are delighted that casting director Jenny Lewis and Mackenzie Lush from eOne have partnered with us to make this happen.”

“As I’ve said before, inclusivity is good business,” said ACTRA’s Diversity Chair and Advocate, Jani Lauzon. “It widens the audience base and opens up revenue streams.”

ACTRA Toronto has successfully partnered in a number of diversity initiatives, including successful NBC Universal open casting calls in August 2010 and November 2011 and with on-going outreach at a variety of diverse film festivals such as ReelWorld, Reel Asian and imagineNATIVE.

ACTRA Toronto is the largest organization within ACTRA, representing over 15,000 of Canada’s 22,000 professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. As an advocate for Canadian culture since 1943, ACTRA is a member-driven organization that continues to secure rights and respect for the work of professional performers.

2012-08-14 11:24:49

Source: http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=1690612&sourceType=3