SYNOPSIS
This class will include a Q&A, followed by viewing self-tapes and performances incorporating live-feed back on the self-tape from the casting professional.
Participating actors will be assigned sides by the casting professional ahead of class to tape and submit.
The cancellation deadline for this class is Thursday, January 18th at midnight.
CASTING DIRECTOR BIO
Damian Bao is known for his expertise spearheading a distinct hybrid casting strategy combining professionally trained actors and artists with cinematic and dynamic street finds and real people. He often works 6 months to 3 years on the casting of a narrative feature film, leading and directing a team to scout, research, and outreach all over the world to find unique talents. He started his film career as the associate casting director on Oscar-winning director Andrea Arnold’s AMERICAN HONEY (2016 Cannes Jury Prize winner) and Ryan Gosling’s LOST RIVER (2014 Cannes Un Certain Regard nominee). He then went on to start his own casting studio to lead the casting for Sam de Jong’s GOLDIE (2019 Berlinale Crystal Bear nominee) for Vice Films & 20th Century Fox. Damian street scouted Slick Woods before she became Rihanna’s Instagram muse and immediately introduced her to Sam and Vice after reading the GOLDIE script. For Danielle Lessovitz’s PORT AUTHORITY (2019 Cannes Un Certain Regard nominee), Damian street scouted and discovered Leyna Bloom at an underground voguing ball in Philadelphia on his cross country drive talent scouting for the leads. His team auditioned thousands of trans and queer POC from all over the world for the lead and supporting roles. Leyna became the first trans person of color to lead a movie at the Cannes Film Festival. The casting received unprecedented press as Leyna was the most written about casting discovery in the festival’s 72-year history. In the world of documentary, Damian cast for Oscar nominated director Garrett Bradley’s work for Netflix’s TRIAL BY MEDIA (2020).
Damian also served as associate producer under executive producer Martin Scorsese on PORT AUTHORITY. He is an associate producer on the Korean-American-Italian co-production ABROAD (post production) by director Giovanni Fumu. He recently wrapped casting on Peter Vack‘s Sundance double granted sci-fi social satire www.rachelormont.com (post production), of which Damian is also an executive producer.
In an effort to elevate the voices and careers of female, queer, and non-binary directors and writers and create space for a more truly diverse and equitable film industry, Damian still occasionally produces and casts short films when his schedule is open. He cast Erin Lau’s award-winning Asian-led queer romantic comedy ALL I EVER WANTED (2022 HollyShorts Best Comedy winner) for Film Independent’s Project Involve. He recently cast Ragini Bhasin’s HAPPY RAKHI (post production) and Banban Cheng’s HEARSAY (post production). Both scripts are winners of the 2022 Julia S. Gouw Short Film Challenge and are executive produced by Janet Yang, Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE), and Damian Bao.
REQUIREMENTS
You must have completed a Casting Access Application prior to registering for this class.
All members must show a valid SAG-AFTRA card when they check in for the class. No admittance will be granted without your current card or receipt.
NO LATE ARRIVALS are admitted. Only those participants who have received a telephoned or e-mailed confirmation message from staff will be admitted to the session. Waitlisted individuals who have not received such confirmation will not be admitted at the door. Please do not show up if you have not been explicitly confirmed as RSVPed.
Cancellations are required by midnight the night before a class. Cancellation can only be made via the website. You cannot cancel your RSVP via email or phone. Those who have been seated by the start date are expected to comply. You must cancel your reservation before the start date if you cannot comply, or you will face a six month ineligibility period. DO NOT BE LATE. Check-in begins 15 minutes to the class start time. If you arrive after the start time, you will not be admitted and it will be counted as a no-show.
Please note that the 30-day frequency restriction applies to this workshop. Your last frequency-restricted workshop must have taken place no less than 30 (thirty) days prior to this event to be eligible to register
This program is for educational purposes only.
