The SAG Foundation, in association with the Players Directory, brings you a comprehensive and enlightening discussion on the ins and outs of pilot season with some of the industry's best agents, casting directors, and managers.

 

Moderator: PATRICK BACA, C.S.A.

 

Patrick Baca brings a unique perspective to his current career as a

Casting Director, having previously been an actor, talent agent and

talent manager – all in that order. His credits include feature films,

movies of the week, network pilots and series. View samples of his work

by clicking on the Video Clips link from his IMDB Resume on

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0045192/

Patrick cast the Warner Brothers thrillers *Believers* (Johnny Messner),

*Sublime* (Tom Cavanagh), *Rest Stop* (Joey Lawrence) and *Rest Stop 2:

Don’t Look Back*.

In 1987, Patrick starred in the Academy Award nominated feature film,

*Stand and Deliver* with Edward James Olmos, Andy Garcia and Lou Diamond

Phillips.

Patrick is a current CSA Artios Award® Nominee for Outstanding Casting

in the Short Film category.

 

MARC CHANCER,

SAG FRANCHISED TALENT AGENT

ORIGIN TALENT, LOS ANGELES

 

Marc Chancer was born in Brooklyn, NY and has always had a love for show business and actors.  In 1983 he began his career in agency representation when he joined the prestigious J. Michael Bloom and Assoc. as an assistant working with actors such as Alec Baldwin, Marcia Gay Harden and Anthony LaPaglia.  After a year, he became the Equity Theatre agent for Bloom.  In 1987, Mr. Chancer left Bloom and joined forces with Judy Schoen to open Judy Schoen and Associates where he remained for the next 12 years, starting the careers of many actors including Lara Flynn Boyle, Kyle Chandler, Wayne Brady and Ving Rhames.  In 1999, Marc branched out on his own and opened ORIGIN Talent with his partner Annie Schwartz.  In the past 10 years the company has flourished and has added a youth division and adult commercial department to it’s already successful adult theatrical department.

 

 

Paul Trusik

TTM/Trusik Talent Management, Inc.

 

Paul Trusik owns and operates Trusik Talent Management, Inc., a personal management company based in Los Angeles that guides and cultivates the careers of professional Actors and select Writers.

Paul currently serves as President of the TMA/Talent Managers Association, a national trade group of Personal Managers. His clients have appeared on CSI: NY, True Blood, Criminal Minds, Heroes, Entourage, Two and A Half Men, House, The Mentalist and Mad Men, to name a few.

Feature film credits include Dreamwork’s The Soloist, Paramount’s GI Joe, Disney’s Beverly Hills Chihuahua and ‘Pineapple Express’.

On October 20, 2009, Paul will receive the TMA / Talent Manager of the Year Award at the Heller Awards ceremony held at the Universal Sheraton.

Paul is pleased to participate as a panelist representing talent managers for this SAG Foundation / Players Directory sponsored event.

 

MARA SANTINO,

PERSONAL MANAGER, LUBER ROKLIN ENTERTAINMENT

 

Mara Santino has cultivated the careers of many young actors **during

her tenure as a theatrical agent at Kazarian, Spencer & Associates. Mara

booked a then unknown Brandon Routh in the title role of “Superman

Returns," developed the careers of three of the lead actors in

"Twilight, and the film career of "Gossip Girls" Chace Crowford, to name

a few.

Mara transitioned into personal management at the end of 2007 joining

Luber Roklin Entertainment, a company that produces feature films (‘Evan

Almighty’ starring Steve Carell, “Bride Wars” starring Kate Hudson &

Anne Hathaway) and manages the careers of writers, directors and actors.

Luber Roklin also has a music division and distribution deal with Warner

Music Group.

 

Current company clients include Emmy winner Jaime Pressly (My Name is

Earl), Ben Barnes (Narnia, Prince Caspian), Paul Walker, Kay

Panabaker/Walter Perez/Kherington Payne (FAME) **Steven Moyer (True

Blood), David Henrie (Wizards of Waverly Place), Sarah Roemer

(Disturbia), Rhys Coiro (Entourage), Jenna Dewan (Step Up), Briana

Evigan (Step Up 2), Shane West (ER), Eric Balfour (24), Kelly Blatz

(Aaron Stone), Hutch Dano (Zeke & Luther), Max Brown (The Tudors),

Roselyn Sanchez (Without a Trace.) ** **LRE has over 30 series regulars

on television programs including Heroes, Vampire Diaries, Glee,

 

 

 

SUSAN SCHWARZ,

TALENT AGENT, SDB PARTNERS

 

Susan Schwarz has been a talent agent for thirty five years. She is a

partner in SDB and has owned the agency with Ro Diamond and Louis

Bershad for sixteen years. Susie and Ro have worked together and shared

an office for thirty three years. Susie was born in New Orleans,

Louisiana and and graduated from Tulane Drama School. She has performed

with Second City and worked as an associate producer on several

independent films. She is married to entertainment attorney, Stuart

Berton and has one daughter, Kate.

 

Her clients include: Chris Pine, James Cromwell, John de Lancie, Merle

Dandridge, Jenny O’Hara, Alexa Vega, Kaley Cuoco, Jessalyn Gilsig, and

Alana de la Garza. Susie’s passion (other than her family and friends)

is the theatre and she has clients working in theatres across the

country and on Broadway.

 

Keli Lee

Executive Vice President, Casting, ABC and ABC Studio

 

Keli Lee was promoted to executive vice president, Casting, ABC and ABC

Studio in June 2005. She had previously been senior vice president,

Casting, ABC Entertainment Television Group, beginning August 2003.

Ms. Lee oversees all casting for the division, encompassing both ABC

Television Network and ABC Studio series produced for other broadcast

entities. Series under her oversight include “Desperate Housewives,”

“Lost,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scrubs,” “Ugly Betty,” “Modern Family,”

“Flash Forward,” and “Cougar Town.”

Ms. Lee is also involved in the company’s diversity efforts. In

partnership with the ABC Talent Development Programs, she produces the

Casting Project Actors Showcase series, which provide actors from around

the country the opportunity to be seen by casting directors, agents,

managers and other creative industry professionals.

Howard Meltzer BIO

Current series: Hannah Montana (Disney Channel)(series), I’m In The Band (Disney XD).

Recent projects: The Best Player (Nickelodeon - TV Movie), Spectacular!

(Nickelodeon - TV Movie), and and consultant for the film Diary of a Wimpy Kid (20th Century Fox).

Broadway Theater: The Graduate, Fortune's Fool, Gore Vidal's The Best Man, Elaine May's Taller Than A Dwarf, Honour, Epic Proportions, Annie GetYour Gun, Fosse, Chicago, Annie, Grease

 

Like all Foundation events, these seminars are presented free of charge, thanks to a generous grant from the Screen Actors Guild Producers Industry Advancement and Cooperative Fund (IACF). The Business seminars are in no way supported by funds received from SAG membership dues or initiation fees.