CSA to Hold Town Hall + Open Call for Black Actors

Casting Society of America will be recognizing Black History Month this year with two events geared at speaking to and hearing from Black performers. Actors will have the opportunity to attend a town hall and a weekend-long open call. The events are part of CSA’s Black Actors Initiative which is “designed to affect concrete change in how actors in historically underrepresented communities are afforded access to job opportunities.”

The town hall will be held Feb. 1 and the open call will be held for three days, from Feb. 19–21.

The town hall will feature an in-depth discussion about how to create real change for Black actors in the industry. Actors, as well as casting professionals, talent agents, and talent managers who identify as Black are encouraged to attend. CD Tracy “Twinkie” Byrd and actor Carla Renata will moderate a panel that will feature talent managers, actors, CDs, talent managers, and a director-producer.

“We are creating an open, safe space to have dialogues about how to affect changes in our hiring practices and workplace practices. This initiative is about how we, as BIPOC artists, can effectively and positively move forward to a better, enlightened, hopeful future,” says Zora DeHorter, CSA’s VP of Communication.

The open call later in the month is open for both union and non-union Black performers to meet and read with CSA members. 

“This moment demands we examine not only the principles of diversity, belonging, equity, inclusion, but also the processes and framework that have supported the present systems that uphold anti-Blackness. While we all desire real change, we can only get there together,” says Caroline Liem, CSA’s VP of Advocacy.

These events are the latest offering from CSA Equity in Entertainment. To register for the town hall, click here. To sign up for a slot for the open call, click here. For questions or information about CSA Equity in Entertainment, you can email equity@castingsociety.com.