Not many 17-year-olds would take extra coursework during their HSC year but it helps when your classroom is in Hollywood.
Young actress Mia Foran travelled to LA in June after being named as the inaugural recipient of the AACTA Young Stars: National Youth Casting Call, going on to complete a two-week acting course at the American Arts Film & Television Academy (AAFTA) in West Hollywood.
While there, she also had the opportunity to meet with Hollywood casting directors Sarah Finn (Deadpool & Wolverine, Spider-Man: No Way Home) and Leslie Litt (Friends, Rules of Engagement), and receive guidance from other industry members.
She told IF one of the biggest takeaways from the trip was learning about the business side of her craft.
“Mostly when I had done acting, it’s been actually doing the art but I got more insights into how to market yourself as an actor, identifying your niche in the film industry, and how to create your brand,” she said.
Applications are now open for the second year of the program, which is delivered in collaboration with Casting Networks® and the Casting Guild of Australia (CGA).
Aiming to discover the next generation of local talent, the initiative invites Australian residents aged 13 to 18 to submit a video showcasing their performance skills for the chance to be seen by leading Casting Directors from Australia and internationally.
The finalists will be invited to the Gold Coast, where they will participate in workshops and mentorship from top national and international casting directors, led by Thea McLeod, Anousha Zarkesh, Nikki Barrett, and Nina Gold, before showcasing their talent in front of an esteemed panel of judges, including AACTA Young Stars ambassadors Chloe Hayden and Ngali Shaw.
Each finalist will also receive a complimentary six-month Casting Networks Premium membership, as well as new headshots at the Casting Networks pop-up studio as part of the AACTA Festival at HOTA on the Gold Coast.
As with Foran, the overall winner will receive a $10,000 Flight Centre voucher and $2,500 in travel support to the US, where they’ll meet with a renowned international casting director, network with industry leaders, and participate in an acting course at the AAFTA in LA. They’ll also gain year-long access to The Studio by Casting Networks in Sydney and have the chance to connect with top Australian Casting Directors.
They may encounter Foran, who has received a scholarship for a six-month AAFTA course, which she plans to take either next year or in 2026.
The young actress encouraged people putting themselves forward this year to give it their all.
“The people there want you to succeed and want to find the right person, so if you go in there, give it your best shot, and stay true to yourself, you’ll do great,” she said.
“As an actor, you can’t be defined by every audition you do. You get a lot of failed auditions – that’s just how it is – so I think it’s about understanding who you are and that one competition doesn’t define who you are. If you work hard and give it your best shot, at some point you’ll get that recognition.”
Applications for the AACTA Young Stars: National Youth Casting Call close 5 pm AEDT on Monday, November 18. Find more information here.