Nov. 19, 2020

The Cherokee Nation Film Office is proud to sponsor the Native American Audition Workshop and Actors Panel to provide valuable insight into breaking into the industry and sustaining one’s career in acting.

On Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. (PST), the LA Skins Fest will host a free Actors Panel and Audition Workshop in partnership with CNFO and NBCUniversal. Casting executives from NBC and veteran Native American actor Amber Midthunder will provide insight into breaking into the acting industry, maintaining an acting career and building on success within the industry.

Following the panel, mock auditions will be held for Native American actors to offer additional information on “nailing that audition.” This portion will provide feedback from a panel of experts to create better auditions and more opportunities for Native American actors.

The goal of this event is to offer new opportunities for the Native American community. The workshop will provide new information vital to auditioning in the ever-changing media landscape, give our community fresh opportunities to generate new partnerships and gain access to networking collaborations.

Get Involved:

NOW CLOSED – Register NOW using this link.

About the Panel:

Crystle Lightning, panelist

Lightning, an Indigenous actress from the Enoch Cree Nation in Alberta, Canada began her show business journey at a young age. The Lightning family moved from Canada to Los Angeles where she landed her first lead role in the feature: “3 Ninjas” at nine-years-old. After high school, Lightning went on to study at the Beverly Hills Playhouse under Milton Katselas and Richard Lawson. Her film and television appearances include: “American Pie: Band Camp”, “Days of Our Lives”, “Southland”, “Yellowstone” and “Outlander.” Currently, Lightning is the female lead (Maggie Moody) in the Canadian CBC series, “Trickster” which airs in the US on the CW network in January 2021.

 

Sara Isaacson, panelist

Isaacson is a casting director who was born and raised in Chicago and is now based in Los Angeles. Isaacson’s first job was as an assistant on “Gilmore Girls,” followed by “ER” as an associate with casting director John Levey. She gained valuable insight and experience while serving as an agent at Greene & Associates Talent Agency and as manager of casting and talent at Lifetime Television. Her casting director credits include “Fringe” (FOX), “Bates Motel” (A&E), “State of Affairs” (NBC), “The Mentalist” (CBS), “Scream” (MTV), “Famous in Love” (Freeform), “Law and Order True Crime: The Menendez Brothers “(NBC), “Manifest” (NBC), “The Baker and the Beauty” (ABC) and “Connecting” (NBC). Issacson is proud to be a member of the Casting Society of America, where she served on the board of directors for two years.

 

Jandiz Estrada Cardosa, moderator

Cardoso is the senior director of all front of the camera efforts under NBCUniversal’s Talent, Content & Inclusion division for film, TV and streaming. She focuses on scouting and designing pipelines for emerging actors, comedians, hosts and casting directors. In her freelance career, she has worked on pilots and series with networks, including AMC, ABC, CBS, Starz, Spike TV and MTV, and films with studios, including Disney, WB, Paramount, Universal, New Line and Screen Gems. In 2010, she joined NBC’s New York casting office, which auditions all NBC pilots, and served as associate on the last season of the Emmy Award-winning series “30 Rock.” Cardosa was voted Backstage Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Award for Audition Coach of the Year. She is a proud member of CSA and a voting member of the Television Academy of Arts & Sciences. Last year, she was the recipient of the Golden Eagle Award for Diversity Impact in Television.