Getting into acting 21/02/2019 13:30 - 14:30 60 minutes session 45 minutes of panel, 15 minutes q&a

Host:Abigail Longstaffe - for The Mandy Network Guest Speakers: Heather Basten - casting director ​@HeatherBCasting ​ Jeremy Zimmermann - casting director Sean Gascoine - talent agent from United Agents Venue: NFT 2

Guest Speakers Bios:

SEAN GASCOINE, United Agents

Sean Gascone is working for one of the biggest talent agencies in the world, United Artists. He started his career as a child in film and stage. Sean Gascoine represents numerous successful talents, from screenwriters and playwrights to directors and of film and television. Sean was at Lou Coulson for 15 years over which time he built up an enviable ​ client list of writing, acting and directing talent who come with him to United Agents in 2008 including Outlaw King director David Mackenzie,writer/actor Jack Whitehall writer/actor ​ ​ Sanjeev Bhaskar and many more.

Jeremy Zimmermann - casting director

Emmy-nominated Jeremy Zimmermann is one of the UK’s leading casting directors and has worked on productions with such notable directors as Ron Howard, , Bille August, Giuseppe Tornatore, Isabel Coixet, Peter Yates, Liliana Cavani, , , Debs Paterson, Bruce Beresford, Neil Marshall, Sue Brooks and Sir . He has worked on features including Moon, In Love And ​ War, Swing Kids, Willow, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, Blade II, Africa United, Hidalgo, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Keeping Mum and Hellboy.

A mentor for undiscovered talent, Jeremy has given many actors their early or significant breaks including , Rachel Weisz, Matthias Schweighõfer, Rebecca Ferguson, Akiya Henry, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Chipo Chung and Aaron Taylor- Johnson.

Heather Basten

Began in the industry at the BFI. Since moving into casting swiftly after this, she has cast for notable directors such as Rob Savage, Joan Fuentelsaz and Charlotte Regan. Heather had also 2 films in competition at BFI London Film Festival 2018. Past clients include Fox TV, Delaval Films for Sky Arts and DMC Films. It was at the BFI she met casting director, Jeremy Zimmermann, and went to be casting assistant on NBC’s ‘A.D’. She moved on as casting assistant to Dixie Chassay, and then resided with Des Hamilton where she assisted on BAFTA-winning TV Feature ‘Ellen’, as well as part of the NYC streetcasting team for 'WHITE BOY RICK'. Past associate works include ’s ‘TEOTFW’ and BFI’s ‘PIN CUSHION’ with Kharmel Cochrane Casting.