Industry Pros

Emily Cook is a casting professional with more than 9 years of experience working across studio features, independent features, 1/2 hour and hour long television, web content, and commercials. She has worked with Simkin/Sitowitz Casting, Kim Coleman, Angela Demo, Rick Pagano, CFB Casting and many more.

Barry has been with Herman & Lipson for over 34 years casting over 8000 commercials both voiceover and on camera for such products as Loreal, ESPN, Advil, Verizon, Toy R Us and many other top accounts. He casts for commercials all around the world and also casts for film, television and theatre. Recently he cast for the play Facespace which was performed at the Midtown International Theatre Festival. Prior to being a casting director, Barry managed a rehearsal studio for Broadway shows and also was a producer for a top fashion commercial director working with every top model in the industry. Barry also keeps busy on the weekends, traveling around the country conducting acting workshops at several universities. In New York, Barry teaches commercial technique classes, improv classes, and also directs comedy showcases for children and adults.

The House that Casting Built is a boutique development/casting house that provides a space for diverse, authentic casting in all forms of media. For ten years now, founders Anthony Lucente and Risa Tanania have been casting real people that pair beautifully with a brand’s intention while also developing concepts alongside industry influencers as well as projects of their own. They’ve demonstrated this skill across all platforms – TV networks, brands seeking hosts/experts/ambassadors, as well as commercial production companies and agency producers creating digital content.  Anthony Lucente began his career in the scripted world working for All My Children, one of his favorite childhood daytime dramas. His love for the story was what caused him to make the shift from production and writing to unscripted casting, where the talent IS the story, and finding them is the fun. Over the years, Anthony has cast close to 200 projects, some of which include the popular series: Bravo's The Real Housewives of Dallas, truTV's Paid Off w/Michael Torpey, AMC's Comic Book Men, various TLC Say Yes to the Dress spinoffs as well as an upcoming Netflix dating documentary series.

John Shea is owner of Frontier Booking International, a top agency for young performers. FBI is known for establishing the careers of some of today's top stars, beginning with its first client, Courtney Cox.  The ever-growing talent division of FBI specializes in performers of all ethnicities, ranging from children to young adults. Their clients have been recognized in various mediums of entertainment (especially film, television and theatre). Clients have been in:  Are We There Yet ?, Amazon's premiere comedy Alpha House, Feed The Beast, the Michael J Fox series,  Orange Is The New Black, Mozart in the Jungle,The Blacklist, Gotham, Blue Bloods, Daredevil, Shades of Blue (and many more) or in the theatrical sensations Waitress, The Book of Mormon, Chicago, The Bodyguard, War Paint, A Bronx Tale and Disney's The Lion King. FBI has managed a vast roster of talent including such names as Sting, Snoop Dogg, Modern English, Jane's Addiction and R.E.M.

Amy Lord is the Vice President and theatrical agent at Eris Talent. A boutique agency specializing in TV, Film, Commercial, Print, Literary, and Comedy/Hosting in LA, NYC and Mexico City. Prior to Eris Talent, Amy worked at LB talent and YPS management. Amy comes from a theatrical background and her career began as an actress in Tony n Tina’s Wedding. She has had two of her own shows produced off Broadway which afforded her the opportunity to be involved in the casting and producing end of the business. Amy represents actors in NY as well as LA.