This class will include a Q&A with New Orleans based Casting Director Brent Caballero, followed by a prepared work session.
Participating actors will choose, prepare and perform sides from film or television.
Additional preparation details will be sent via email upon confirmation.
ABOUT BRENT
Brent Caballero grew up in the small farming town of White Castle, Louisiana. He attended Nicholls State University, where he studied accounting until realizing there was little allure in a career centered around numbers. After a brief stint working in a sugar refinery, he packed a U-Haul and headed to Los Angeles with dreams of becoming a filmmaker.
While he dedicated himself to studying the craft of acting, Caballero soon discovered that his true passion lay behind the camera. He broke into the industry as a production assistant, working on independent productions and steadily building his résumé. He often describes those years as his "film school," taking every opportunity to learn from each department on set and gain a comprehensive understanding of filmmaking.
In 2005, Caballero returned to Louisiana and partnered with a friend to launch a casting company. He began by assisting on the Louisiana casting for Blonde Ambition and The Cleaner, both filmed in Shreveport. Soon afterward, he independently cast Middle of Nowhere, starring Susan Sarandon, Willa Holland, Justin Chatwin, and Anton Yelchin.
Today, Caballero serves as the founder and principal casting director of Caballero Casting, with offices in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Over the course of his career, he has cast more than 200 film and television productions, working alongside many of the industry's most respected filmmakers. His credits include Academy Award-winning films such as 12 Years a Slave and The Big Short; Emmy-winning series including True Detective (Season 1); and acclaimed projects such as Pitch Perfect, Pitch Perfect 2, The Maze Runner, Palmer, National Champions, Bill & Ted Face the Music, #FreeRayshawn (CSA Artios Award winner), Nickel Boys, and Ryan Coogler's Sinners.
Throughout his career, Caballero has collaborated with acclaimed directors including William Friedkin, Philip Noyce, Fisher Stevens, Steve McQueen, Rob Reiner, James L. Brooks, David Fincher, Yorgos Lanthimos, Ric Roman Waugh, Dean Parisot, Ryan Coogler, and Seith Mann, among many others.
In 2025, he received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Public Service Content for his casting work on the NFL/72andSunny Super Bowl campaign, I Am Somebody, recognizing the impact of authentic casting in one of the year's most celebrated commercials.
In addition to casting, Caballero has built a successful producing career. He produced his first independent feature, All American Orgy (released on the festival circuit as Cummings Farm), which premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, before screening at the Austin Film Festival, Cinequest, and several other festivals. The film received strong critical reviews and ultimately secured distribution through Phase 4 Films.
He later co-produced Inventing Adam with Richie Adams, followed by the award-winning feature Of Mind and Music. Drawing on decades of experience across production, casting, and development, Caballero brings a filmmaker's perspective to every project, with a strong understanding of assembling creative teams, recognizing talent, and helping shepherd productions from development through completion.
Known for his collaborative approach and ability to discover authentic talent, Caballero has spent more than two decades helping filmmakers bring ambitious stories to life while playing an instrumental role in the continued growth of the film industry throughout the Southern United States.
