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Tom McSweeney and David Newman launch casting business

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Film
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Respected casting directors Tom McSweeney and David Newman have combined forces to launch their own company, McSweeney Newman Casting.

Newman, previously with Christine King Casting, counts many Australian and locally-produced projects among his credits including HBO series The Pacific, which required more than 3000 auditions, and went on to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for a Mini Series, Movie or Special. His other casting credits include Red Dog, A Few Best Men, Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark and upcoming features Mental, 100 Bloody Acres and Forbidden Ground.

McSweeney, who moved from the US to Australia in 1998, has cast over 200 feature films, mini-series and telemovie projects and over 500 hours of episodic television. His credits include upcoming TV series Reef Doctors, as well as Nightmares & Dreamscapes, Salem’s Lot, The Great Raid, Scooby Doo, Aquamarine and Ghost Ship. He has also received four ARTIOS Award nominations from the Casting Society of America and an Emmy nomination for his work on US mini-series The Starter Wife.

“Founded on the mission to foster talent and provide a creative environment where actors can work freely and not be hounded by the pressures of 'having to get the gig', we believe that true talent can come from anywhere, and that is what drives us to unearth the diamonds in the rough – to look beyond the obvious and to see in actors the potential that they themselves may not even see” McSweeney and Newman said in a statement.

“Over the past decade, the talent emerging from Australia has been truly exceptional, as proven by the fact that there are currently so many top rating US or UK film and TV projects with Australian artists in prominent, if not leading roles. From our perspective, it's the sense of freedom, daring and commitment to the craft while maintaining their sense of humour, affability and cheeky larrikin charm which explains why the international market is responding in the way they have."

McSweeney Newman Casting will have offices in Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast.

4 Comments

  1. To unearth the diamonds in the rough would be the highlight of their work. Hope to see them someday soon.

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  3. It’s refreshing to hear Australian casting say “True Talent can come from anywhere”. There is no ‘right’ school, and no ‘right’ path to follow for an actor to automatically gain success. McSweeney Newman Casting’s open-minded attitude sounds similar to that of casting here in Los Angeles. Many actors are tested in an effort to find ‘the right one’. While talent, training and experience is vital, there is no set formula for success. I wish Tom and David every success.

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  4. I highly recommend Tom and wish him great success in his venture with David Newman, forming their new Casting Agency ” McSweeney Newman Casting”.

    After completing a 10 week intensive course with Tom late last year my confidence in understanding the mindset of auditioning created a dominos effect more than doubling my potential in getting work. Since then I have completed 4 short films one which I landed the lead and will be entered in the Academy Awards for short film category, others will be entered into some of the most prestigious film festivals locally and internationally. Scored a small scene with Leonado Di Caprio in “The Great Gatsby”, Rake, Underbelly – Badness etc. Tom’s approach is looking at the obvious and keeping it simple, the most important quote of Tom’s is that we as actors, our job is to be professional auditioners.

    Good Luck all

    William

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