Equity Foundation Podcast

Steven Tylor O'Connor, a two-time Emmy and multiple Artios Award winning Casting Professional at Aufiero/Horn Casting in the US, will talk to Equity member and actor Danielle Cormack about the US casting process, the actor/casting director relationship, his advice for actors and what he has learnt along the way. Steven has won Casting Associate of the Year at the Heller Awards in 2024. Steven also sits on the Board of Directors for Casting Society and serves in Executive Leadership as their Treasurer / VP of Finance.

The role of intimacy director is now a familiar one - so where are we now? Given the impact and significance of the role this is a chance for an update by one of the most successful intimacy directors, Chloe Dallimore AM with Helen Dallimore in the interview chair. Topics discussed include: - How to work effectively with your intimacy director (ID) - What can you ask the ID when you are on set… - How you can go with not knowing how to work with an ID to realising that you can't work without them. - What can/does the ID director bring to the set? - What can actors and crew do to ensure correct protocols on set without an ID

Would you like to better understand how a film set works and how actors collaborate with the Second Assistant Director? The 2nd AD is the main point of contact for all actors on set. During pre-production, they break down the script, organise fittings and rehearsals, and arrange transport and facility requirements for cast members. Once filming begins, they prepare the next day's call sheet, ensure actors are ready when needed, and coordinate transport, make-up, and wardrobe schedules. Working closely with the 1st AD, they help keep everything running smoothly. Join Second Assistant Director Nick Hadland and Equity member Monica Main as he shares insights into his role, how he works with actors, and what you need to know about on-set protocols—so you can feel confident and prepared when you step on set. Credits: Nick has worked on a diverse range of film and television productions in the Assistant Director's department including: Heartbreak High, Last King of the Cross, Mr Inbetween, Interceptor, Total Control, Ruby's Choice and more recently Stan's Sunny Nights and the film SOS: Send Help.

Equity's Live Stream Program continues with esteemed casting director Dave Newman, of McSweeney Newman Casting, talking to actor Sharon Johal about all things auditions, casting, current and past projects, the actor/casting director relationship and answering all your questions. McSweeney Newman Casting cover Australia and New Zealand for international and local projects. Credits Include: Blacklight, Love and Monsters, Dora and the Lost City of Gold, Nautilus, Darby & Joan, The Castaways, No Escape - The Blue, Rock Island Mysteries, The Family Law, Australia Day, The Inbetweeners 2, Mako Mermaids, The Pacific & East West 101

Equity's Livestream Program continues with casting directors Stephanie Pringle and Alison Fowler of Chicken and Chips Casting, in conversation with Queenie van de Zandt, talking all things auditions, casting, current and past projects, the actor/casting director relationship and answering all your questions. Their recent achievements include the success of the Australian thriller Birdeater (SXSW 2024 & SFF People's Choice Winner 2023), 2024 AACTA Nominated for Best Indie Film A Savage Christmas, the 2021 AACTA Award-winning Ellie & Abbie (and Ellie's Dead Aunt), Cannes Series-selected Deadhouse Dark and the anticipated My Eyes starring Adam Garcia & Tsushan Chambers

This an opportunity to hear from leading creator, writer, script editor and producer Michael Lucas (The Newsreader, Five Bedrooms, Wentworth, Rosehaven, Offspring) In Conversation with Danielle Cormack. Michael will discuss the actor/producer/writer relationship, the current screen landscape, what goes on behind the scenes of a screen production before actors are cast, what is involved in the creating, writing and producing a television show, casting, self-taping, rehearsing and much more. There will be plenty of time for audience questions.

Learn how to optimise your relationship with your agent or manager. In this class, Kym Jackson (S.W.A.T., We Bury The Dead) will share how to best support your representation, how to stay top of mind without bugging them, how to reach out to them when you hear about a project that you're right for, how and when to ask for referrals into other agencies, and how to communicate with them in a way that is assertive, respectful, appreciative, and professional.

Anousha Zarkesh (Mystery Road, Series 1 & 2, Rake, Redfern Now, Cleverman) joins NSW Equity President Glenn Hazeldine to talk all things auditions, casting, her current and past projects, the actor/casting director relationship and answer all your questions. Anousha is an AACTA and Casting Guild award winning casting director and currently sits as Vice President of the Casting Guild of Australia.

Kathryn Scott is a talent agent and the founder of Scout Management, a leading voice and talent agency based in Sydney, Australia. This is a chance for Kathryn to talk candidly with Equity member Jacqui Duncan about the voiceover industry, how the actor/voiceover relationship works, the agent's expectations of the actor, what an agent does on a day to day basis, what you can do to have a productive relationship with your agent, what you can reasonably expect from your agent and the state of the Australian industry.

Kym Jackson (This Is Us, S.W.A.T., N.C.I.S., The Secrets She Keeps) is an actress and founder of the Secret Actor Society and her mission is to share that knowledge with her peers and the next generation of talent. This podcast will help you think about the stories you are passionate about, to create your own acting work, and meet filmmakers on the festival circuit as an equal. Learn fundamentals of script development, writing, and analysis, funding basics, steps for putting a simple shoot together, and learn the basics of development and production so you can take control of your career by creating your own content.

This is an opportunity to hear from Australian actor Christopher Chung about being a cast member of Emmy Award-winning Apple TV series Slow Horses, including Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott-Thomas and Jonathan Pryce. Actor Nicole Nabout will talk to Christopher about his journey from acting training at St Martins Theatre in Melbourne to his role as Roddy Ho in one of the most prestigious and well received television series of the last decade. Please note: This is an edited version of a live event and as such there are some small interruptions.

A rare chance to hear from the artistic directors of two of Australia's most reputable theatre companies - Matthew Lutton (Malthouse Theatre) and Courtney Stewart (La Boite Theatre) as they talk to actor Veronica Neave about navigating an acting career in theatre, their journey from directors to cultural leaders while unpacking the actor/director relationship, casting, the rehearsal process, the current theatrical landscape, and much more.

Acclaimed acting coach Miranda Harcourt will discuss how actors can achieve unselfconsciousness, inner life and responsiveness by balancing their vista, their connection and their internal landscape. Miranda will bring case studies and research about the ways psychology and neuroscience can help us to fully occupy a role and a relationship.

Deanna Cooney is a Perth-based actor and presenter represented by MCA. She teaches Presenting to Camera at WAAPA. In this podcast you'll learn foundational techniques designed to develop a sense of ease and confidence in front of camera while delivering down the lens with a presentation style performance. This sense of ease is increasingly relevant as many directors and casting agents are calling on zoom and live conferencing as a means of 'on-camera' communication. You'll also find this skill set useful for many tv commercials where the talent is required to speak directly to camera presenter-style, and it's a fantastic adjacent skill set that can help you develop another income stream as a TV presenter or program host.

An opportunity to hear from to producer Joanna Werner, (The Newsreader, Clickbait, Secret City) and director Emma Freeman (The Newsreader, Glitch, Stateless) when they join Equity member Nicole Nabout (The Clearing, Return to Paradise) to discuss what goes on behind the scenes of a screen production before actors are cast, what is involved in the producing and directing side of things on a day to day basis, how they work with actors, the best ways to navigate the actor/producer and actor/director relationships, self taping, zoom auditions, rehearsing, protocols on set and much more.

Join award winning Australian actor and voiceover artist Melanie Zanetti, or as she is better known as "Chilli" in the internationally successful, Emmy, BAFTA and five time AACTA award winning animated series, Bluey. Melanie talks to Veronica Neave about her creative journey moving between voiceover, feature film and television in Australia and the US, shares what it is like to work on one of Australia's most successful shows as a voiceover artist and her advice or diversifying your skills so you can work in many different areas locally and internationally.

Syrus Lowe is a leader in corporate role play, having worked in the industry for over twenty years for some of the top companies. He has delivered hundreds of hours of role play in the UK and worldwide. This session will introduce you to the world of corporate role play. You will learn what corporate role play is and how it is used in the business world, how the industry works, how to do corporate role play, and how to give evidence-based feedback. You will be provided with the building blocks and many tips and tricks to enable you to enter this potentially lucrative side hustle.

There are so many hugely important roles in the world of musical theatre that help bring top productions to life and provide wonderful and rewarding careers for performers. If you are pursuing a career in musical theatre, do you know what it takes to be a swing or cover? What are the rewards and challenges? Hear from some of Australia's most successful musical theatre performers about what's involved and what their work looks like day to day. This livestream will be chaired by Stephen Mahy (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) with panellists Julian Kuo (Hamilton), Shewit Belay (Wicked) and Ashton Lash (Hamilton).

This is a rare chance to hear from leading theatrical producer Michael Cassel, who has brought many of Australia's most successful theatre productions to life including Hamilton, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, as well as the West End premiere of Sydney Theatre Company's The Picture of Dorian Gray starring Sarah Snook. With Erin James interviewing, this is a chance to get a behind the scenes look at how top stage productions are cast, how to have the best chance of successful stage career locally and internationally, what you need to know about the industry and how it works to get ahead, the steps that theatre producers take to get a production up and running and Michael's plans for the future.

Actor and Equity member Clare Chihambakwe chats to Vancouver-based Australian actor and writer Ildiko Susany. Ildiko is currently a staff writer on Netflix's hit Virgin River and has written episodes in seasons 5 & 6. As an actor, Ildiko has appeared in Alaska Daily (ABC) opposite Hilary Swank, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist (NBC), as well as Lost in Space (Netflix) and many more. Ildiko has navigated a successful Australian career into a flourishing North American career as both an actor and a writer. Ildiko will share how she did this, what she has learnt along the way, her experience as an Australian actor working overseas and how she successfully moved into screenwriting, what it takes and what is is like to work as a Netflix staff writer on an international hit show.

A basic intro for the experienced actor who needs to know what you need to do to move into the broad world of voiceover. Abbe Holmes is one of Australia's most recognized mainstream voice actors and will give you the essential steps to to get you started. This includes, understanding the skills unique to voiceover; how the industry works, tips for creating your voiceover reel and who you approach once you have it, setting up a home studio, whether you need an agent to get work and much more.

As the first point of contact with a potential employer, your marketing materials are an extension of yourself and an indication of your level of professionalism. Kym Jackson (This Is Us, S.W.A.T., N.C.I.S., The Secrets She Keeps) will give you a clear knowledge of how to make your entire acting toolkit (headshots, resume, demo reel, website, business cards) match those of any top working actor in the industry.

An opportunity for casting director Daisy Hicks to talk candidly with Equity member Monica Sayers about the actor and casting director relationship, offer advice about the audition process and answer any queries you may have.

This is a chance to hear from esteemed US hair designer Camille Friend as she chats to actor and activist Cessalee Stovall about her work on major Hollywood productions over the last 25 years and her passion for bringing cultural authenticity to her work. Camille was nominated for an Oscar for her rich, complex work on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, her seventh Marvel film. Other credits include The Little Mermaid, Tenet, Us, Captain Marvel, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Captain America: Civil War, The Hunger Games Parts 1 and 2, The Help, Dream Girls and Django Unchained, collectively grossing over $US3.9 billion at the box office. Camille is an expert in working with all textures of hair and uses her vast experience to educate and mentor hairstylists wanting a career in entertainment.

Equity member Helen Dallimore talks to producer Helen Bowden from Lingo Pictures (Upright, The Messenger, The Secret She Keeps) about the actor/producer relationship, the current screen landscape, what goes on behind the scenes of a screen production before actors are cast, what is involved in the producing side of things on a day to day basis, the best ways to navigate the actor/producer relationships, self taping, zoom auditions, rehearsing and much more.

An opportunity for casting director Amanda Mitchell (Heartbreak High, Totally Completely Fine, La Brea, Young Rock) to talk candidly to actor and NSW Equity President Glenn Hazeldine about the actor and casting director relationship.

A chance to delve into the art of putting on a cabaret. Performer and QLD Equity President Asabi Goodman talks to cabaret artist Aurélie Roque about forming a concept, stagecraft, lighting design and budgeting: An A to Z guide on cabaret creation. This is an edited version of a livestream held on September 27, 2023.

So many projects are now filming in Australia. Aussie actors can finally make a decent living and build a career internationally without leaving home. Learn how to get started, put your materials together, assess representation, where to find unexpected work, build relationships with casting, how and where to meet filmmakers directly, and how to create your own content that gets noticed.

This is a chance for agent Catherine Poulton of Catherine Poulton Management to talk candidly with Equity member Loretta Kung about how the actor/agent relationship works, what an agent does on a day to day basis, what you can do to have a productive relationship with your agent, what you can reasonably expect from your agent, the agents' role in the casting process, how to navigate US and UK opportunities and the state of the Australian industry.

Join award-winning stage and screen actor Danielle Cormack and one of Australia's most experienced Directors of Photography Martin McGrath (ACS) as they explore the actor and DOP relationship. As an actor it is important to understand every role on a production and how your work intersects with all involved. DOP's are an integral part of the storytelling process as they are responsible for creating the look of the film. Their primary duties include developing a film's visual style, determining lighting and composition and planning camera angles. The conversation will also cover Martin's extensive work locally and internationally, how the DOP's process impacts actors' and what we see on screen. This conversation may be particularly useful for actors with a theatre background who are not as familiar with the complexities of screen acting. Audience members will leave with a better understanding of how to work effectively with a DOP on their next job.

A chance to hear from Equity's Screen Lawyer, Miles Hunt, about usage payments and residuals. This discussion will cover the following topics: Usage – upfront buyouts and the curse of in perpetuity; Residuals – backend payments and where they come from; Agreements – how usage and residuals work in film, TV and Streaming; MEAA negotiations and payments for performers; The Difficulty with Streamers; International Perspective – SAG and other jurisdictions; and TVC Rollovers. Miles Hunt is a Senior Industrial Officer working within Equity at MEAA. He deals with industrial issues for members (individually and collectively) and negotiates agreements (for film and TV) on behalf of members.

Award-winning voice actor Dianne Weller will introduce you to the world of voicing for video games during this one-hour livestream. This is a chance to see how it differs from animation and how to approach character development and auditions.

A chance for Equity member Sara Cooper to talk to first assistant director, Noni Roy (Carmen, Total Control 2, Wellmania) about the actor and first assistant director (first AD) relationship. First AD's manage the schedule and coordinate cast and crew to ensure that shoots run smoothly. Their work includes considering the project's budget, the time required, cast and crew availability and location limitations. This conversation will be an opportunity to discuss the things that actors may not have had the opportunity to talk about before. It may be particularly useful for actors with a theatre background who are not as familiar with the complexities of screen acting.

Learn how films and TV series are made and cast and what the role of each person in the process is. Armed with a clear understanding of how the industry works (and why), you will be better able to navigate it, more effectively network and find legitimate film & TV work. Kym Jackson (This Is Us, S.W.A.T., The Secrets She Keeps) is an Aussie actress credited with over sixty film & TV titles. She is the founder of the Secret Actor Society app and website and author of The Hollywood Survival Guide For Actors. Her mission is to share that knowledge with her peers and the next generation of talent.

In this livestreamed in conversation Equity member Monica Sayers interviewed producer Ian Collie (The Twelve, Rake, Jack Irish) and director Daniel Nettheim (Broadchurch, Line of Duty) about what goes on behind the scenes of a screen production before actors are cast, what is involved in the producing and directing side of things on a day to day basis, what are some of the differences between how shows are made in Australia and overseas, how they work with actors, the best ways to navigate the actor/producer and actor/director relationships, self taping, zoom auditions, rehearsing, protocols on set and much more.

How to curate your social media, press and public persona to ensure you grow a following and maintain an image that brands, networks and studios are eager to align with.

Award-winning actor Shuang Hu creates comedy skits online for her 4.2 million followers on TikTok, 3.6 million subscribers on Youtube and 91k followers on Instagram. With so many actors under pressure to create their own work, this is an opportunity to hear from Shuang and interviewer Sophia Emberson-Bain and get some hints and advice about how to develop your creative and online skills.

Learn the techniques to utilise and shoot professional films, self-tapes and content on your smartphones. SF3 is now the world's biggest smartphone film festival and Co-Founder & Director, Angela Blake, will teach you all the tips and techniques to shoot award-winning films on your phone.

In this workshop, photographer Deanna Cooney will shared the advice and direction she shares with all the actors she works with, so you can take it with you into any shoot and know you'll come away with killer images. This is an edited version of an Equity Foundation Livestream event.

This is a chance to work on your US accent with Paige Walker. Paige Walker specialises in the American dialect for the performer. This is an edited version on an Equity Foundation Livestream event.

What skills do you need for voiceover in commercial, non-commercial, animation/character work and audiobook narration? This session with Abbe Holmes will give you information to assist you taking the next step. Abbe is one of Australia's most recognised mainstream voice actors. This is an edited version on an Equity Foundation Livestream event.

How do creative professionals use the media and social media to market themselves? What PR management strategies do you need to promote yourself and ultimately get more work? And what about when you DO get work…how do you manage PR and the media then? And what are the pitfalls to avoid? For the early to mid career actor. Catherine Lavelle, CLPR, is one of Australia's leading film and television public relations consultant. This is an edited version on an Equity Foundation Livestream event.

In this livestream Shortland Street Casting Director Matt Dwyer discusses the casting process and his advice for actors with Equity member Jessi Williams.

To survive as a performer in the long-term you will need to know how to utilise your creative talents in many ways to earn a living and sustain your career. WA-based slashies Monica Main and Libby Klysz will discuss the practical ways you can be a successful slashie; a multidisciplinary artist working successfully in many areas of the creative industries.

Join casting director Danny Long and actor Helen Kim as they discuss the essentials of self testing and answer any questions you may have. This workshop will be suitable to those new to self testing who are looking for advice on how to set up their equipment, lighting, sound, editing and uploading and the major dos and don'ts. The Equity Foundation's explainer video can be found here: www.equityfoundation.org.au/self-testing/

You are an actor looking to pitch your project to a producer, but where do you start? Who do you talk to and are producers interested in hearing from you? Actor Fayssal Bazzi will talk to Jungle Entertainment's Partner/Chief Operating Officer/Executive Producer, Chloe Rickard and Head of Drama's Shay Spencer about how the pitching process works at Jungle Entertainment.

Alexandra is the CEO of Alexandra Lopez Studios - a creative company specialising in voice strategy work for brands and coaching beginners in the voice industry. "An Introduction to the Voice Over Industry" is her signature course. It is designed to give you a solid foundation to begin your career as a voice artist. This session will be suitable for anyone who is new to the industry and looking for actionable steps to get them on their way.

The Australian screen industry has made huge progress in recent years in becoming a more inclusive and culturally secure place for historically underrepresented communities. Despite this progress some of the industry's most structural barriers remain intact, preventing us from achieving equal representation on screens. What is the current state of diversity in today's industry, and where do we go next? Why are diverse stories so important for our society, culture and economy? Please join moderator Pearl Tan and guest speakers Lena Nahlous, Michelle Law and Kate Hood for our first 2021 Screen Diversity Showcase panel discussion about how diverse stories are changing the game for the screen industry.

This is the third Screen Diversity Showcase panel discussion on health and wellbeing, moderated by actor and activist, Saroni Roy. We discuss the biggest mental health challenges facing creatives in the Australian screen industry, and how these challenges have evolved since the pandemic. Ben Steel, Bayley Turner, Pip Edwards and Chris Cheers share practical resources and techniques to assist performers and other artists in securing their wellbeing in such a demanding workplace, and how the field of intimacy is playing such a crucial role in this process.

So many actors create their own online work and in this increasingly difficult Covid world there is even more need for information and resources to assist with this. Screen Australia's Investment Manager for Online Production, Lee Naimo, will discuss all this and more with actor Jane Watt. Topics for discussion include: What are the different streams of funding for entry level creatives and with a special focus on Lee's speciality of online funding. Is it about the idea? Is it about the application? Is it about the team attached? Is it all 3? The pros and cons of making content for online? Why make online content? How to maximize your use of online platform for storytelling

The advent of the intimacy co-ordinator has changed the dynamics of intimacy on set and stage. So what should we expect with intimate scenes and what are the practical realities; what can you ask and how do you navigate a space if there isn't an intimacy co-ordinator? Intimacy co-ordinator Chloe Dallimore (trained by and under Mentorship to Ita O'Brien) will discuss this and more with actor Michelle Lim Davidson.