17 Jun 2026
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latest work
Talent Direct Agency Summer 2026 Newsletter
From Audition to Booking w/ Wesley Collado
Nelisa Nieto - Featured Talent
Stan Hristakev - Featured Talent
This spring, the Talent Direct Agency team stayed busy connecting with Florida’s vibrant film and creative community through a variety of inspiring events and industry gatherings.
We were honored to Host Film Florida’s "Behind The Lens" series at The New You Studio featuring Andi Armaganian, whose career insights and storytelling expertise inspired attendees and emerging filmmakers alike. Bianka, Sabine, Christina, Destiny & our TDA Volunteers also celebrated Florida’s film community at the Film Florida Legends event, where our own Timothy Mark Davis shined as host for the evening.
Bianka and Sabine represented TDA at several exciting industry events, including the Miami Film Festival, Arts Accelerator’s Live Script Readings, and the inaugural Arts Accelerator 48 Hour Film Project Networking & Casting Event. These experiences offered valuable opportunities for networking, learning, and supporting fellow creatives.
One of the season’s highlights was the premiere of the Knights of the Old Republic episode. We were proud to see so many of our talented actors showcased on screen.
Bianka and Sabine also attended the Palm Beaches Student Showcase of Films, celebrating the launch of the competition’s 31st year. The event highlighted this year’s "Set-Jetting" theme and showcased the continued impact of Florida’s largest student film competition in supporting and inspiring the next generation of filmmakers. Bianka and Christina attended LE BOOK CONNECTIONS, connecting with top creative professionals and exploring the latest trends shaping the industry.
From premieres and festivals to networking events and creative experiences, Spring was filled with opportunities to learn, connect, and celebrate the incredible talent that makes our community thrive.
TDA Travels
TDA talent continued making moves across the country with exciting bookings and projects. Courtney Warner traveled to New York City for a television production, while Geoff Aaron and Erick Szot headed to Atlanta for a vertical short and a feature film. Jacob Jackson traveled to Savannah for a trailer project, Sofia Braga booked a film role in Charlotte, North Carolina and Lauren Cluett was in Pensacola for another fun project.
Meanwhile, TDA talent Dante Ayala, Katie Lyons, James Ippolito, and Jevon White traveled to California for the Knights of the Old Republic production, representing TDA on an exciting project and expanding their reach beyond Florida.
Featured Bookings & On-Screen Highlights
It was an exciting season for TDA talent, with several standout projects. Gley Viera, Jennifer Kravitz, and Chappell Bunch were booked on the glamorous Maybelline x Love Island collaboration, bringing plenty of beauty to one of TV hottest shows.
TDA also played a role in Verizon’s commercial featuring soccer icon David Beckham. A special shoutout goes to Ekandem Essiet who booked principal on this high-profile project. South Florida has seen many soccer stars and collabs this season and we are so grateful for the resulting project influx.
On the television front, MIA premiered, telling the story of Tiger Jonze’s quest to avenge her family and rise as South Florida’s most powerful crime queenpin. We are thrilled to have booked TDA talent Katie Lyons, Wesley Collado, Rodrigo Cartault, Justin Coomer, and Karina Palacio on the series.
A large group of talent (Anthony Akirinmola, Angelica Bourland, Ian Sebastian, Maxwell Worship, Chanel Wimbush, Elena Zavet, Felix Montano, Danielle Maddox, Me'Lisa Modestil, Katja Rauhe, Lorenzo Patane, and Lee Dahlberg) traveled to the Dominican Republic for a Hilton campaign that has since been popping up on all digital platforms. Seeing our group featured in the vibrant resort ads has been super exciting as the campaign continues to roll out online. Follow us on our social handles to catch all of our talent in action.
Talent Summer Homework
Talent: Take the time to update your casting profiles, refresh your headshots if needed, add recent credits, and review your demo reels. Clean up your social media presence, update your résumé, and make sure all of your contact information is current across casting platforms. Actors can also use the downtime to revisit monologues, practice self-tapes, take a class, or learn a new skill that could increase marketability. Think of it as your summer homework: a little preparation now can make a big difference when opportunities start picking up. Future you will be glad you did!