Stagecoach Foundation
Casting Conference
@ Nambé Pueblo
Stagecoach Foundation in collaboration with Presley Talent and Nambé Pueblo are ecstatic to announce a 2-Day conference bringing California & New Mexico Casting Directors, Agents, Managers, and more together at Nambé Pueblo’s Wellness Center for New Mexico Actors to learn the Ins and Outs about the business of Acting in the film & television industry!
Casting Directors & Agents from California and New Mexico will come together to share their knowledge, insight, and experience in the film & TV industry as pertains to the field of being a working actor. Each of the Casting Directors and Agents will have the opportunity to meet, interact in sessions, and directly engage each participant to demystify the process and empower New Mexican Actors to pursue their dreams with tools, knowledge, experience, network, and community.
Actors will learn from industry professionals what it takes to make it in the film and television industry through hands-on sessions, panel discussions, and networking. Participants will have their digital headshot taken, learn how to set-up their Actors Access online accounts, how to make digital auditions, the business of Acting in New Mexico and becoming a SAG-AFTRA union member and representing & advocating for yourself and minors, acting sessions in monologues and improv, and finally, a Background Actors Casting Call the first day and Casting Directors & Agents Speed Dating the second day for participants to have the opportunity to have a one-on-one with each Casting Director and Agent.
Featuring Guests:
Tina Presley-Borek
Talent Agent
Tina has nearly two decades of experience and relationships in the entertainment industry and is the Agent / Owner of Presley Talent.
The agency represents an elite list of clients including Actors, Producers, and Directors for Film, Television and Special Appearances.
She resides in New Mexico where she shares her adventures with her husband, 4 children, three grandchildren and a rescued pit-bull Olivia.
Rene Haynes, CSA
Casting Director
Los Angeles based Casting Director, Rene Haynes, is recognized, internationally, as one of the foremost experts in Native American/First Nations/Indigenous casting. She has been instrumental in the discovery of many Indigenous actors who have gone on to become stars over the past 20+ years.
She is a three-time Emmy Nominee and has received the Casting Society’s Artios Award for excellence in castings for both Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (HBO) and Godless (Netflix).
Rene is devoted to mentoring and discovering new talent, particularly from Indigenous communities, and helping to bring professional opportunities to them. She is attached to several very exciting upcoming projects!
Jennifer Schwalenberg, CSA
Casting Director
JENNIFER SCHWALENBERG began her career in casting in Los Angeles in 1995, working for prominent commercial casting director, Beth Holmes. She spent five years honing the craft of traditional commercial casting while also scouting the streets for directors who favored “real people.” During her tenure at BHC, Jennifer worked on hundreds of national commercials, including numerous Super Bowl campaigns.
She went back to her love of casting and joined the Midthunder Casting team in 2013, where she worked on dozens of feature films, television productions, local and national commercials.
She opened “Casting by Jen” in the Spring of 2019. Jennifer is a Member of the Casting Society of America (CSA).
Deidre Michelle
Talent Agent
DEIDRE MICHELLE, founder and head of DMe Talent Agency, leverages an unparalleled understanding of the entertainment industry.
Her reputation and experience is now being used to offer proper training, opportunities and representation to the best of New Mexico as the industry grows in this territory.
She is currently building a talent roster that varies from actors, dancers, models, specialty acts and more. She has also earned the title of Producer and Director of Santa Fe Fashion Week.
Curtis Bechdholt
Acting Coach & Manager
CURTIS BECHDHOLT started his career in the entertainment industry as an actor. Early on, he was in Vancouver, Canada, working in TV and film like Outer Limits, Millennium and Rhino Brothers.
After moving to Los Angeles, Curtis pursued other interest, before returning to the entertainment industry as an acting coach. Watching actors achieve success by booking work or nailing auditions counts as his most fulfilling moments. Curtis moved to Albuquerque and while he has continued to coach, he also joined ADS Management as a full-time manager.
Marie A.K. McMaster, CSA
Casting Director
MARIE A.K. MCMASTER has been a part of the New Mexico film industry for nearly 20 years.
Marie's insider knowledge of the community combine with her decades of experience on countless studio features and independent productions to position her as a premiere casting director in New Mexico.
Marie is a passionate advocate for the New Mexico film community, and for teaming with productions from all over the globe to bring them the best actors New Mexico and the Southwest have to offer.
Stacey Rice, CSA
Casting Director
STACEY RICE (Tuscarora) is passionate about Native culture and storytelling. She has worked in the Casting department for over 10 years and was recently accepted into the Casting Society of America.
Her casting experience and personal background has led her to specialize in Native American/Indigenous casting and working with Native writers, directors and storytellers. She was selected by the Casting Society of America for a prestigious mentorship program based on her passion for authentic representation of Native people and communities in the media especially as it relates to Television & Film.
Alongside Angelique Midthunder she recently helped cast the first TV series with an all Native writers room, Showrunner and Director for the FX Network called RESERVATION DOGS. The series is currently airing on FX.
Shayne Hartigan
Casting Director
SHAYNE HARTIGAN is a Casting Director, Producer, and co-owner of Alessi Hartigan Casting.
Alessi Hartigan Casting is a rapidly growing boutique casting agency specializing in background casting for some of the largest movie and television productions around the United States!
We are proud to be fully based in New Mexico and to showcase the amazing talent that lives in this beautiful state.
Thank you to all our sponsors and partners for making this event possible!
