Daniella Monet is officially returning to her fan-favorite role as Trina Vega in Netflix’s spinoff “Hollywood Arts.” The new series expands on the legacy of “Victorious,” which originally aired from 2010 to 2013 as a hit Nickelodeon sitcom. This time around, Trina isn’t chasing her own big break. Instead, the struggling actress returns to her old high school as an unqualified substitute teacher, mentoring five talented young performers who possess the raw talent she always fought to prove she had.
Monet is also pulling double duty as an executive producer, alongside original “Victorious” writer-producer Jake Farrow and co-creator Samantha Martin. They selected the new generation of stars from a massive pool of over 5,700 actors, prioritizing undeniable talent above all else.
“Hollywood Arts” debuts on Netflix Oct. 15 with a two-part pilot combined into one 50-minute episode. Here’s what actors should know about the new series and other casting opportunities.
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Trina never lacked confidence. Finding success was another matter. Years after leaving Hollywood Arts, she’s still struggling to make it as an actor when an unexpected opportunity brings her back to school. With longtime acting teacher Erwin Sikowitz recently retired, Trina becomes his unqualified substitute.
Her first instinct isn’t exactly selfless. She hopes connections to some students might boost her stalled career. Instead, Trina discovers she may have found something she’s genuinely good at: helping young performers develop their talent.
The classroom gives Trina plenty to work with. Qwest (Peyton Jackson) hides musical gifts behind a fake basketball scholarship. Tech-minded Emmy (Alyssa Miles) has ambitions beyond producing others’ performances. Her brother Oscar (Martin Kamm) tries to establish himself as Emmy draws attention at school. Rounding out the group are Jen Z (Erika Swayze), whose sharp edges come with a privileged but lonely home life, and Pepper (Emmy Liu-Wang), Emmy’s eccentric and loyal friend.
The series brings back parts of the original “Victorious” world. The ducks-playing-poker painting still hangs outside Sikowitz’s classroom. Tori’s famous locker has its own storyline. The Slap is now the Dap, where students share their performances and other content. The premiere will also introduce a new theme song during Hollywood Arts’ Big Showcase, the same setting where Tori performed “Make It Shine” in the original pilot.
The cast includes:
- Daniella Monet as Trina Vega
- Alyssa Miles as Emmy
- Emmy Liu-Wang as Pepper
- Peyton Jackson as Qwest
- Erika Swayze as Jen Z
- Martin Kamm as Oscar
- Yvette Nicole Brown as Principal Helen
- Eric Lange as Erwin Sikowitz
- Matt Bennett as Robbie Shapiro
Krisha Bullock and Jamie Snow of Bullock and Snow Casting cast the series. Their credits include a variety of Nickelodeon projects, including “iCarly,” “Zoey 101,” “Henry Danger: The Movie,” “Danger Force,” and “Victorious.”
In an interview with Direct Submit, the CDs shared their best advice. Bullock told the outlet, “Casting is essentially the same across every medium. Ultimately, we are looking for someone who brings their uniqueness to the role, brings the role to life, and makes the audience feel moved in some way by watching their performance.”
As for Snow, she too was a young actor and knows what it is like to audition. “I did not really appreciate the casting director’s desire for me to do well,” she said. “I wish I could go back and tell my young self, ‘The casting director is rooting for you. When you shine, we shine.’ ”
At this time, “Hollywood Arts” isn’t casting. However, if you’re looking to get cast in a similar project, check out these weekly casting roundups for the latest opportunities:
Curious about casting with Netflix? These resources can help:
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