Industry Mentorship & Training Program: Craig McMahon & Nick Verso

INDUSTRY MENTORSHIP & TRAINING PROGRAM. A not-for-profit initiative facilitated by Craig McMahon, Founding Artistic Director & International Artist Manager; Nick Verso, Multi Award-Winning Film & Television Writer, Director and Showrunner; and Erica Hart, USA Award-Winning Film, Television & Broadway Casting Director.

In Studio I 163 Victoria Avenue, Albert Park, Melbourne I 6 Week Program

$273 + GST
Commencing April 26, 2026

This not-for-profit, ongoing Industry Mentorship & Training Program offers actors the opportunity to work directly with top-tier industry professionals, sharpening both their craft and their understanding of the business of screen acting.

Participants collaborate closely with Craig McMahon, internationally respected talent manager and mentor; Nick Verso, Multi Award-winning writer, director, and showrunner; and Erica Hart, award-winning New York-based casting director. This unique combination ensures actors gain insight into the creative process, professional standards, and real-world industry expectations.

Craig McMahon brings expertise in industry positioning, audition strategy, career longevity, and what agents seek when evaluating talent. Through personalised on-camera assessments, he helps actors refine their professional approach, build momentum, and develop strategies for sustainable, long-term careers.

Nick Verso offers a rare chance to work directly with a writer-director known for crafting bold, character-driven stories. Actors explore scene work, emotional authenticity, and performance choices under his guidance, gaining insight into what contemporary screen storytelling demands and how directors shape performances from rehearsal to final take.

Erica Hart provides an exclusive casting perspective, offering feedback shaped by her work in international film, television, and Broadway. Actors present their on-camera work and receive direct guidance on what top casting directors look for, giving clarity and insight into professional expectations at the highest level.

Throughout the program, participants engage in on-camera work, receive personalised feedback, and develop career-focused strategies grounded in the realities of the film and television industry.

*Tuition contributes solely to the costs of our trainers, mentors, special industry guests, and studio operations required to sustain the program. FTSI does not generate profit from this initiative; it exists as a genuine give-back to the acting community, providing broader access to world-class training and mentorship.

CRAIG MCMAHON is the Founder and Director of McMahon Management, one of Australia’s leading boutique talent agencies representing world-class actors across Australia and the United States. Renowned for his discerning eye for talent and his strategic, career-driven approach, Craig has shaped the trajectories of many of the country’s most recognisable screen performers.

A family-owned, globally minded company, McMahon Management was founded over two decades ago in Melbourne and has evolved into two complementary divisions: McMahon Management nurtures and develops exceptional emerging talent, offering personalised guidance to help artists realise their full creative potential. McMahon Management International represents bold, established voices, curating a roster of dynamic performers making an impact on the global stage. Every artist is equally valued; they are simply at different stages of their careers and require tailored guidance to reach their next level.

Alongside his wife, Dominique, Craig co-founded Film & Television Studio International in 1999, now one of Australia’s most respected national training institutions for screen actors. Through this work, he continues to mentor and refine emerging talent, guiding actors at every stage of their development.

With over three decades at the forefront of the film and television industry, Craig brings both artistic insight and global industry knowledge. His influence as a manager and creative advisor has accelerated the careers of countless actors, many of whom have become household names.

A highly respected figure in the industry, Craig serves as an ongoing judge for the prestigious TV WEEK Logie Awards, contributing to categories including Most Outstanding Drama Series, Most Popular New Talent, and the Graham Kennedy Hall of Fame Award. His work has been recognised nationally with the Most Outstanding Achievement of the Year Award for over a decade of creative excellence at Network Ten, spanning presenting, producing, and writing.

Today, Craig divides his time between Melbourne, Los Angeles, and New York, providing hands-on guidance to his clients. Under his leadership, McMahon Management continues to set the benchmark for inspired, strategic, and internationally focused talent representation, built on close client relationships and a commitment to confidently charting its own course.

NICK VERSO is an Australian writer, director and showrunner known for his distinctive storytelling across film and television, often exploring themes of youth, identity, mental health and queer culture. 

His breakout short film The Last Time I Saw Richard won the AACTA Award for Best Short Film, establishing Verso as a powerful new voice in Australian cinema. His debut feature Boys in the Trees premiered at the Venice International Film Festival and went on to screen at major festivals including Toronto, Busan and Sitges, winning Best Feature at the Austin Film Festival. 

Nick has since built a prolific career in television as a writer and director. His credits include acclaimed series such as Nowhere Boys, The Unlisted, Itch, In Our Blood, Grace Beside Me and Swift Street. In 2023, he created the ABC horror-comedy series Crazy Fun Park, which won the Logie Award for Most Outstanding Children’s Program and an Australian Directors’ Guild Award for Best Direction. 

In 2025, Nick created, wrote and directed the Stan series Invisible Boys, based on the acclaimed novel of the same name, which premiered at #1 on the platform and received multiple AACTA nominations.

A Churchill Fellow, Verso has also participated in prestigious international programs including the Berlinale Talent Campus and the Binger FilmLab Directors Coaching Programme in Amsterdam. He continues to develop premium film and television projects both in Australia and internationally.

Industry Showcase with Special Guest: Erica Hart, New York Based Film, Television & Broadway Casting Director.

In Week 6, participants present their work directly to ERICA HART, CSA; an award-winning Casting Director, Writer, and Producer based in New York. A graduate of NYU’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied Film and Television, Erica began her career at ABC Primetime Casting, contributing to hit series including How to Get Away with Murder, The Goldbergs, and Station 19. She later served as Associate Casting Director to Meredith Tucker, working on projects such as Godfather of Harlem, The Bold Type, Defending Jacob, and Ray Donovan.

In 2020, Erica founded Hart Casting, quickly establishing herself as one of the industry’s most exciting casting voices across television, film, and theatre. Her television and streaming credits include Black Mirror, the Artios Award-winning A Black Lady Sketch Show, That Damn Michael Che, Bust Down, The Girls on the Bus, The Equalizer, and Survival of the Thickest.

Her theatre work spans Broadway productions including Death of a Salesman, Pass Over, Chicken & Biscuits, and Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, as well as notable Off-Broadway productions such as Saturday Church and How to Defend Yourself. Her film credits include the Artios Award-winning The Surrogate, alongside We Strangers, Lapsis, Fucktoys, and Cupids.

Beyond film and television, Erica has cast campaigns for major global brands including Geico, Maybelline, Gillette, Hasbro, Essie, and Delta, and cast H.E.R.’s music video Fight for You.

A Board Member of the Casting Society, member of Local 817 and the Television Academy, Erica was named a “Woman to Watch on Broadway” by Black Women on Broadway in 2025. She is also a writer-producer, with development deals at WeTV and BET. Recognized by The Hollywood Reporter as a rising industry talent, Erica brings a distinct creative vision shaped by her deep experience across film, television, theatre, and music.