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A long-time casting director-cum-acting coach is hoping to offer a fresh perspective for actors whose confidence may have been shaken after watching a viral interview with an Atlanta casting director who admitted to only devoting four seconds to self-tapes.

Risa Bramon Garcia, whose vast credits include casting The Affair, Masters of Sex, JFK and Fatal Attraction, filmed her own video for social media that acknowledges last week’s “insensitive” discussion between CDs Rhavynn Drummer and Tiffany Roshae. In the now-deleted video, Drummer laughs out loud as she listens to fellow casting director Roshae admitting to giving very little time to audition tapes.

“I’m dead serious,” Roshae, whose credits include the BET limited series Zatima, tells Drummer. “Does it take eight seconds to figure out if it’s a man or a woman? Does it take 10 seconds to figure out if it’s an Amazon driver or a surgeon? No.

Updated: A recent taped conversation between two Atlanta casting directors — one of whom admits to devoting only four seconds to watching self-tapes — has renewed fears among actors who believe their auditions are not being taken seriously.

On a recent filmed installment of the Act Up podcast that was shared on Instagram, Rhavynn Drummer — who touts on her website that she has cast “fifteen television series, eighteen feature films, and seven touring plays” for Tyler Perry Studios — laughs out loud as she listens to fellow casting director Tiffany Roshae admit to giving very little time to audition tapes.

“I’m dead serious,” Roshae, whose credits include the BET limited series Zatima, tells Drummer. “Does it take eight seconds to figure out if it’s a man or a woman? Does it take 10 seconds to figure out if it’s an Amazon driver or a surgeon? No. When someone shows up as they are,...

Tyler Perry, Kelly Rowland, and Trevante Rhodes – Pictures courtesy of Netflix

Netflix and Tyler Perry are partnering up on yet another project with Mea Culpa, a new thriller that Perry will produce alongside singer-actress Kelly Rowland, who is also set to star. Here’s everything you need to know about Mea Culpa coming to Netflix in late February 2023.

The project has been in development for quite some time but was transferred over to Netflix in January 2023, which is when we first learned about the project. Sadly, Netflix did not provide an official comment at the time, but the project was officially unveiled on February 23rd, 2023.

Tyler Perry is on board to direct, produce, and write. This will be Perry’s fifth major project for Netflix following A Fall From Grace, A Madea Homecoming, A Jazzman’s Blues, and Six Triple Eight. Also upcoming is another Madea movie and new comedy called Joe’s College Road Trip.

Atlanta actors, listen up! Stay in the loop about what’s currently filming in your fair city (and projects that may just need an extra or two) with our weekly roundup. There’s not a whole lot that’s sweeter than the Peach City, especially when it’s shining with opportunity. And this week, we’ve heard Winsome Sinclair is casting for two roles in the romantic fairy tale comedy, “Nappily Ever After.” For those of you who loyal to the theater, there are several roles being cast for a “Dirty Dancing” national tour. Auditions are this week in Atlanta, with callbacks are soon after. Tour rehearsals taking place in NYC. Girl about town Rhavynn Drummer is working with Nickelodeon and actively seeking talent this week for multiple projects, many of which we believe are live-action. This is a major win for teens out there ready to win with comedic timing and confidence.

Atlanta actors, listen up! Stay in the loop about what’s currently filming in your fair city (and projects that may just need an extra or two) with our weekly roundup. News on the street is The CW’s “The Originals” is rumored to be back in town. Last we heard, Go Casting of L.A. was handling principals, with Marinella Humes doing background. And lucky for you, you can apply right here! Looks like Jeremy Renner can’t stay away from Atlanta. He’s back shooting “Tag” with Ed Helms (“The Office” and “The Hangover.”) Those of you with agents should ask to be submitted for work to Rich Delia. For background roles, Catrett Locke is doing the casting. Never not casting, Rhavynn Drummer is at it again and looking for a few good people for episodes of “Step Up,” a scripted drama based on the film of the same name.

Atlanta actors, listen up! Stay in the loop about what’s currently filming in your fair city (and projects that may just need an extra or two) with our weekly roundup. Rhavynn Drummer may just be the busiest casting director in town. Season 5 of “The Haves and The Have Nots” is wrapping up at Tyler Perry Studios, and Drummer is also teaming up with co-EPs Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan-Tatum to cast the pilot for their “Step Up” series. Last month, Pinewood Studios announced that Zach McGowan of Marvel’s “Agents of Shield” will spend the summer with us shooting the WWII historical drama, “Ni’hau.” At this time, it is reported L.A.-based Brad Gilmore is casting principals.Samuel L. Jackson will reportedly star in “The Last Full Measure.” Shooting in his hometown of Atlanta, the film will be another historical piece taking advantage of all this lush forest scenery,...

The 40th annual Atlanta Film Festival was a huge success, highlighting the best and the brightest of Atlanta’s thriving film scene in 10 days of creative conferences, film premieres, and fun. On April 6, actor Carrie Anne Hunt moderated “A Working Actor: What It Takes,” a panel for performers based in the Southeast. On hand were casting professionals Adam Hochfeld (Central Casting Atlanta), Cheryl Louden-Kubin (Atlanta Casting, LLC, “True Memoirs of an International Assassin”), Rhavynn Drummer (Tyler Perry Studios), and Jen Kelley (Big Picture Casting, “Vengeance: A Love Story” starring Nicolas Cage). Here are five points from the panel that all working actors should keep in mind. Make yourself stand out.Drummer said, “We have unique opportunities where locals have had heavy recurring roles or have become series regulars. But those actors were ready, having done so much work before then. It takes years of dedication and training and theater. Every...

Atlanta industry pros are gearing up for the 40th annual Atlanta Film Festival, running April 1–10. This year actors won’t want to miss the April 6 Creative Conference—a day filled with casting panels and actor networking opportunities that includes a mixer featuring Backstage. For Georgia residents and incoming nonresidents alike, here’s the skinny on the panels and events of April 6: Cast Me! Cast Me! Open Casting CALL10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.7 Stages, Main Theater1105 Euclid Ave NEAtlanta-based principal and extras casting directors will be on hand to meet new faces. Actors should come prepared with a two-minute monologue or pitch about themselves to present in front of the panel! Panelists include: Rhavynn Drummer (Casting Director for Tyler Perry Studios), Cheryl Louden-Kubin, Csa (The Atlanta Casting Director), Patrick Ryan (Casting Agent for Aligned Stars Agency), Rebecca Shrager (The People Store), and Adam Hochfeld of Central Casting Atlanta.

Taking place March 3–6 at the Hilton Atlanta Airport, the fourth annual Vo Atlanta Voiceover Conference brought together prominent voice actors, casting agents, directors, and other voiceover talents for a weekend of interactive education, networking, and fun. One panel in particular offered knowledge and advice from some of Atlanta’s most successful voice acting talents, including Susan Bennett (the voice of Siri), Tyler Perry Studios’ Rhavynn Drummer, and Big Picture Casting’s Rita Harrell. For those who weren’t able to attend Vo Atlanta, panel moderator Jeffrey Umberger and panelist Dan Friedman of Sound4VO provide additional insight into how to break into Georgia’s voiceover market. Jeffrey Umberger, voiceover talent agent and owner of Umberger Agency: Study the basics.Voiceover is more than simply speaking well. It’s about telling a story, whether it be in a commercial, narration, animation, or saying “This is CNN.” There is a story under everything,...

Two of the series that Tyler Perry is producing for Oprah Winfrey’s Own cable network are set to start shooting in Atlanta and have Los Angeles-based casting directors attached, as Backstage predicted in October. Perry’s studios are in Georgia’s capital and local casting will be done in-house by Rhavynn Drummer. But to find the top talent for ”Love Thy Neighbor” and “The Haves and Have Nots,” they’ve turned to Southern California casting directors Shaunda Grace Jones and Kim Coleman, respectively. Coleman, who has often worked with Perry, is also casting his next Madea Christmas film, which starts shooting in Atlanta next week. The two TV series are the first original scripted programs offered on Own, which launched in 2011. “The Haves and Have Nots,” a drama, chronicles the lives of a wealthy family and their housekeeper, who lives in poverty. Meanwhile, comedy “Love Thy Neighbor” focuses on...