Londoners ready for their closeup, as film casting agency opens in the city
London has landed a talent agency looking to cast actors in movies and shows, and some in the industry already are saying it will help land more films here.
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London has landed a talent agency looking to cast actors in movies and shows, and some in the industry already are saying it will help land more films here.
CDN Talent Agency, founded by two actors who saw a need to promote home-grown talent, has opened its doors and already has signed about 200 actors after a few weeks in business, said Elle Bernardo, co-founder.
“We are building a roster, we will be ready when films come,” said Bernardo, who founded it with business partner Jerry Ziler.
“We decided now is the time. London is growing, there have been films shot here and that is happening more frequently. There is a lot of talent here, but it has been under the radar.”
Southwestern Ontario actors have had to drive to Toronto for representation while GTA production companies have bused actors here, including background extras, for filming.
Inspiration for the business was born when Bernardo was working as a background extra for the film BlackBerry, filmed here in January, and the production company brought buses filled with extras from Toronto.
“That stuck with me. I know how many people are in London and (filmmakers) don’t know how to connect with them.”
Andrew Dodd, manager at the London Film Office, created by the city to woo film and TV production, believes the casting agency will help grow the business here because it means filmmakers will not have to bring extras into town for filming.
“It is a signal that London is taking film and TV seriously, that there is talent here that can make it happen,” he said. “We want to pull production to the area and we want on-site talent, crew and actors.”
It is not uncommon for filmmakers to house extras for several days during filming.
London also recently landed Set Ready, a business on Bessemer Road that leases film equipment to production companies. And this year, Fanshawe College unveiled a new screen and stage acting program.
Film London was set up in 2021 with $300,000 in annual support from the city, to attract film production.
“The talent is here,” Bernardo said.
Two movies currently are shooting in London, one a comedy by Vortex Productions from Toronto that has shot this week on Dundas Street downtown and in Victoria Park last week.
Chris Giroux, head of production at Vortex, believes CDN can help bring more movie-making to London because it can trim a significant budget cost.
“I think that it is fantastic. It is important to the growth of an industry in a city,” he said.
“Local people can play a waiter or gas station attendant and it grows. There is now a point of contact (for filmmakers) in the city.”
Giroux wraps filming here in about two weeks on a project he can cannot discuss, except to say he expects to bring more than 60 cast and crew to the city.
“It has been great. We had a fantastic time here,” he said.
This year, London has also landed an episode of The Amazing Race TV series and an Apple TV series, as well as BlackBerry, filmed here in January that had about 150 background actors. That movie stars Canadian actor Jay Baruchel as well as Cary Elwes from Princess Bride fame, Saul Rubinek and Michael Ironside.
CDN will represent actors who are in the ACTRA union as well as others who are starting out and not yet represented and may be looking for work as background actors or extras, Bernardo said.
It charges a one-time fee of $30 for non-union actors and 10 per cent of earnings.
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