The Casting Masterclass

AN EXCLUSIVE CHICAGO/ LOS ANGELES OPPORTUNITY WITH ONE OF AMERICA’S MOST INFLUENTIAL CASTING DIRECTORS, MARISA ROSS, CSA.

4 Contact Hours // 1 Session Only

Wednesday 30th of April, 2025 // 6:30pm – 10:30pm AEST

An Exclusive Opportunity to Work with one of America’s top Casting Directors Marisa Ross. Marisa is contracted to lead casting searches for some of the biggest names in the industry, including NBC, CBS Studios, 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, HBO MAX, and Sony. This is a unique opportunity for actors to learn from someone with firsthand experience working with these major studios and networks.

Television work includes: The LA/Chicago/NY casting for Chicago Med, (NBC) LA/NY Casting for Chicago Fire, Chicago Casting for POWER Book for Force, Chicago casting for The Chi (Showtime), Chicago casting for a Hulu comedy pilot Deli Boys. Other castings include: Big Leap (FOX), Power Book IV Force (STARZ), Paper Girls (AMAZON), Lightyears (AMAZON), 4400 (CW), Christmas Again (Disney + tv movie), Empire (FOX), Ordinary Joe (NBC), APB (FOX), The Nanny (2021 pilot for FREEFORM) and Single Drunk Female. Past feature films include Hala, Captive State, Christmas Again, Canal Street, 100 Days to Live and The Thing About Harry. For several past seasons her company, Karge & Ross Casting, have been contracted to do all the pilot searches in Chicago for both NBC and CBS Studios and led several casting searches in Chicago for ABC, 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, HBO MAX and Sony. Marisa is best known for her work casting How I Met Your Mother. Marisa has been the Casting Director on numerous LA- based Television Series including How I Met Your Mother, GREEK, The Goodwin Games, Tracey Ullman’s State of Union, Romantically Challenged, The Winner, We Got Next, Hollywood Residential, American Body Shop, The Showbiz Show with David Spade and Campus Ladies. Marisa is the co-founder of the SCOUT Chicago Festival which is an annual comedy festival highlighting Chicago’s new talent. Marisa is an active member of both the Casting Society of America and the Television Academy which she has served for several years on the Casting Director peer group committee. Marisa Ross has been nominated three times and is a recipient of the Television Casting Director of the Year award, given by the Talent manager Association. Marisa was named by Chicago Magazine as one of the top 20 emerging power players of Chicago.

• What do you get when working with Marisa Ross and how do you apply to be a participant in this incredible One Day Masterclass?
• Get the ins and outs of EXACTLY what is happening in Chicago at the moment.
• Learn to Stand Out in Screen-Test Sessions: In Marisa Ross’ live screen-test session from Chicago, actors get hands-on experience and personalized insight on how to stand out in high-stakes auditions for prime-time television. Through live practice, Ross will guide actors on how to refine their performances and capture the attention of casting directors with authenticity and emotional depth.  Marisa provides real-time feedback, helping actors understand exactly what it takes to captivate an audience and casting professionals, ensuring they know how to present themselves in a screen-test and demonstrate what makes them unique.
• Master the Art of Chemistry Reads: Marisa Ross walks actors through the critical process of chemistry reads. By working with other actors in real-time, participants will understand how to build a believable connection on screen, ensuring they can deliver compelling and natural performances that resonate with casting directors and showrunners.  She will guide actors on how to strengthen their on-screen dynamic, offering tips on how to improve their chemistry with scene partners and make sure their performances are impactful and connected.
• Prime-Time Television Expectations Revealed: Actors will gain insider knowledge of what casting directors look for in prime-time television auditions. Marisa will teach actors the subtle nuances that make or break an audition, helping them prepare for the highly competitive nature of casting for top television shows. These live sessions are designed to simulate the pressure and dynamics of a real audition, helping actors develop the poise and assurance they need to shine in a professional casting environment.
• Make an industry connection with one of Chicago’s most powerful and influential Casting Directors, and get your work scene.
• If your placement is confirmed as a participant, we will require links to your headshot & resume for Marisa to cast you in an appropriate role. You will then receive your script which you need to have prepared off-book prior to the commencement of your masterclass and simulated screen-test.
• Students who are accepted to participate in this Masterclass will be required to sign an NDF (non-disclosure form).
• Strictly for actors 16 years+
• Live from Marissa Ross’ Casting Suite in Chicago.
• To enrol as a participant, please apply via our enrolment tab on the top of this page.