Toronto, Ontario Jan 27, 2023 (Issuewire.com) - “Casting and stunt casting can make or break a movie,” says Andre Szilvassy, Chair, PAL Canada, the organization which created Behind The Scenes Masterclass Series for youth, especially Indigenous youth, free of charge for all. “The MASTERS giving tonight’s exciting CASTING Masterclass have decades of experience in casting for lead roles, backstage casting, and even stunt casting. There are still a couple of spots open,” he says. All youth (ages 14-30) must sign-up to participate this January 25 at 7:30 PM ET (4:30 PM PT) on Zoom.
Youth may also register for multiple FREE Masterclasses at the same time. Space is limited.
CASTING will provide participants with insider information about what it’s like to be a casting director, a stunt coordinator, and how to cast for extras. Masters will share trade secrets on how to become a professional in either of these specialized crafts, where you can learn these skills, as well as the ups and downs of these professions.
The CASTING MASTERS are:
CASTING DIRECTOR, Stephanie Gorin, CSA, has been casting for more than 30 years and received Ontario’s Premier Award for Excellence in Creative Arts (2017), and won an Artios & Emmy Award (2014) for the mini-series FARGO. She has hundreds of film, television, and theatre credits to her name including these select few: on films SAW II-VII, on television THE TUDORS (Season II & III Canada, in which she received two Emmy nominations), and on the Canadian stage premiere of KINKY BOOTS.
BACKGROUND CASTING DIRECTOR, Roisin McGilly, has worked in the Toronto film industry for more than 25 years. She sits on the EIC Membership Review Committee which was created to define and promote a standard for best practices and ethical behaviour for talent representatives. Her illustrious career includes film, but her specialty over the years has been in casting TV series, including HANDMAID’S TALE and Season 4 of STAR TREK: DISCOVERY AND STRANGE NEW WORLDS.
STUNT COORDINATOR, Alicia Turner, credits her background in athletics and musical theatre as her gateway to stunts. She believes that “making strides in diversity and representation isn’t just one person’s job. It’s a responsibility that filters down to everyone involved in the production of a TV series.” Turner has worked on a variety of Canadian TV shows including FRANKIE DRAKE MYSTERIES and WAREHOUSE 13.
“This terrific CASTING Masterclass is part of our Behind The Scenes series to let young people know about some of the great, but lesser-known jobs in the Canadian arts and entertainment business,” adds Adrian Luces, Executive Director, PAL Canada. “We are especially pleased to be able to share these important trade secrets with youth, at no cost to the students, in this Masterclass.”
Each Masterclass will have 3-4 Masters, sharing trade secrets and engaging with youth during a Q&A, all free of charge for Canadian youth 14-30. The Masterclass Series will host up to 10 Masterclasses through to the end of March 2023, where Masters will speak candidly on some of these topics: Masterclass Bundles for Good Jobs Behind The Scenes.
Next up will be BACKSTAGE AT STRATFORD on Saturday, February 11 at 1 PM ET (10 AM PT), followed by LOCATIONS! LOCATIONS! LOCATIONS! on Saturday, February 25 at 1 PM ET (10 AM PT), always by Zoom. More Masterclasses will be announced as the Masters are confirmed. Updates will be posted here.
Funding for PAL Canada’s Behind The Scenes Masterclass Series is supported by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Project. It is officially supported by ArtsCan Circle, a reconciliation charity that connects creative artists with Indigenous youth in remote Canadian communities. This series is also supported by the Maskwacis Cultural College, Continuing and Open Education.
Founded in 1986, PAL Canada Foundation is the national charitable organization that represents and supports seven individual PAL chapters across the country, including Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto, Stratford, Winnipeg, Calgary, and Vancouver. They all provide services and support for Canada’s elder artists; the chapters in Toronto, Stratford, and Vancouver also provide and sustain quality affordable housing for elders and individuals within their professional and performing arts community.
Info | Suzan Ayscough, President, Ayscough Communications & Masterclass Project Coordinator |bts@palcanada.org | 416-203-3051
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1000 Yonge Street, Suite 300A/302 | Toronto, ON | M4W 2K2 | Telephone: 416-203-3051 | Email: info@palcanada.org
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