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 Cont

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.

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.