Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will announce the nation’s Australian of the Year later today

HBO’s “The Pacific”, which was cast in Australia by Christine King and Meg Liberman in Los Angeles” stars James Badge Dale, Joe Mazzello and Jon Seda, examines a select group of Marines who make their way through the Pacific Theater, including battles at Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima.

HBO will debut 10-part miniseries “The Pacific” March 14 and air an hourlong episode every Sunday through May 16 in the States.

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Australian Actor, Australian Films, Australian Union Actors

Canada’s Top 10 films revealed

The three Quebec pics that repped Canada at this year’s Cannes Film Festival are among the films selected by the Toronto Intl. … They are Denis Cote’s experimental docudrama “Carcasses,” 20-year-old writer-director Xavier Dolan’s gay-themed dramedy “I Killed My Mother” and seasoned helmer Denis Villeneuve’s “Polytechnique,” based on the true story of a Montreal university shooting spree in December 1989.

…There will be public screenings of the pics and Q&A sessions with the filmmakers between Jan. 14 and Jan. 21 at the Toronto Intl.

…”By screening the top 10 selections at (the) Cinematheque and in cities around the country, we provide a unique opportunity for the public to see the best films of the year.

…The list includes Montreal director Jacob Tierney’s Montreal-shot “The Trotsky,” which toplines Jay Baruchel in a high school comedy; Matthew Bissonnette’s L.A.-set road movie “Passenger Side”; and Alexandre Franchi’s “The Wild Hunt.”

…The Toronto Film Festival’s Top Ten was chosen by a panel of 10 filmmakers, journalists, programmers and industryites, including helmer Jerry Ciccoritti, author Tom McSorley and producer Nicole Robert.

See the complete article in Variety

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Canadian actors, Toronto Film Festival, Variety Newspaper, Canadian Films

Everything you ever wanted to know about casting directors, agents and acting coaches

Do you want to know how a casting director works?

How an agent chooses the artists they represent and how they get work for them?

How to choose a good acting coach?

Then come along to the first AT2 Brisbane networking event!
Free for AT2 members, you’ll hear from:

John Orcsik, actor, writer, producer and coach, director of TAFTA

Tom McSweeney, feature film casting director, producer and acting coach

Martin Lucas, established talent agent

All are welcome – filmmakers, directors, actors, writers, producers, agents and more. Come along and hear from the professionals, ask questions and meet new contacts.

These events are meant to bring the entertainment industry together, where you can learn, network and just have a good time!

The night is free for AT2 members and $10 for non-members.

WHERE: The Marque Hotel, 103 George Street, Brisbane

WHEN: Tuesday 1st December, 6.30 – 8.30pm

HOW MUCH: Free for AT2 members, $10 for non-members

Registration is essential, please click the link below to enter your details. We’ll see you there!

Sydney Theater Company Breaks Record

The drawing power of Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving and Richard Roxburgh in “Uncle Vanya” pushed the Sydney Theater Company to an all-time single-day box office sales record Tuesday, with some 5,000 tickets snapped up.

…STC’s production of “A Streetcar Named Desire,” starring Blanchett and directed by Liv Ullmann, opened Tuesday at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Harvey Theater for a sold-out transfer engagement through Dec.

See today’s story in Variety.

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Sydney Theater Company, Cate Blanchett, Australian Theatre, Sydney Theatre

On 19th, November, in Amsterdam, the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam will screen 13 Australian documentaries.

In the Competition section of the festival, a record of seven Australian films have been to selected to compete;

“Contact”
“The Miscreants of Taliwood”
“The Snowman”
“The Matilda Candidate”

Screening in the Short Documentary Competition section are:
“My Uncle Bluey”
“Salt”

This is the first time that seven Australian films have been selected to screen in Competition since IDFA began in 1988.

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International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, Australian Films

Lee Donehue, founder and publisher of one of Australia’s leading on-line casting informational newsletters “Quiet on Set” has recently formed a new Queensland Talent Agency, representing talent of all ages.

Ms. Donehue has extensive experience and industry contacts since publishing the newsletter, hosting the Quiet on Set events throughout Australia, producing a TV series based on the industry and also has extensive acting experience.

To subscribe to the newsletter.

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quiet on set, australian auditions, queensland auditions, gold coast auditions

Jemma Rivera is an Australian actor and presenter of Asian and Spanish descent and has been working professionally since 1990. Represented by Sophie Jermyn Management

Beginning her career early as a dancer in an independent and professional dance ensemble and later joined several professional stage musical productions, one of which she played the lead ‘LIAT’ in the International Production of South Pacific Musical opposite Phillip Gould and produced by Gordon Frost Productions.

Ms. Rivera has created a unique and rare Yoga studio in the Paddington section of Sydney which opened last Monday with great response from actors, actresses, even casting directors and talent agents. “Jing Life”

Call the Jing Life Studios at 04 10628 884

Australian actor Ray Barrett dies aged 82.

One of Australia’s best-known veteran actors, Ray Barrett, who most recently starred in Baz Luhrman’s “Australia”.

Barrett preferred to keep working rather than retire: in Australia he played the father of Nicole Kidman’s character.

Jane Cameron, his talent agent, said Barrett died in hospital on Tuesday from a brain haemorrhage at his home at the Gold Coast in Queensland.

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australian actors, australian films, Australian Actor, Ray Barrett

There are so many ways actors seek casting directors contact information. Probably the most effective and free site is the Casting Directors of America, CSA web site. While not every working casting director is a member, the majority are.

And this does not mean that the Casting Directors that are not members are illegitimate as many of the world’s most respected casting directors have not joined for one reason or another. But it’s a great resource to use.

So if you are seeking casting directors contact information look here.

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Casting Director, Casting directory listings