On Thursday, June 23, Chair of Industry Outreach and Professional Development Barbara Weintraub held her annual Talent Meet and Greet. The event serves as a giant casting call exclusive to New York Film Academy acting for film students.
Actors were encouraged to prepare their pitches and research each agency before they arrived. At 7 p.m. students began lining up in the lobby of the Riverside building, head shots and resumes in hand.
Agents from Moving Pictures Artists, Brady, Brannon and Rich, Coast to Coast Talent, Debra Manners Talent Management, Ideal Talent, and Prodigy Talent were ready to receive the students. Agents from the Daniel Hoff Agency said they wouldn’t be surprised to find new talent at NYFA: “We had someone come last year. We knew we would be coming back.”
Weintraub said of the evening, “This is a wonderful opportunity for our acting alumni to find representation and help further their careers after graduating.”
After making her way around the tables, Gina Powerless joked that she had been a little nervous at first but at the end of the night, she was singing a different tune. Powerless felt she was well received and hoped to get a phone call shortly.
The next day, students were getting appointments. Laura “Fernada” Ruiz Niebla said, “I have a meeting Wednesday next week with Jean Marc from Central artists. Thank you for the opportunity and looking forward to seeing you soon.” Lucia O’Brien heard from Moving Pictures Artists the following morning, and Nuria “Nunu” Vega was contacted by Renee at the Daniel Hoff Agency. She has since been signed.
The New York Film Academy would like to thank the agencies and organizations that helped make this event so special and wish a heartfelt good luck to each of our students in their search for representation.