Jesse Griffiths (he/him)
Casting Director - CSA, CDC
After over a decade as a film, TV, and theatre actor, Jesse pivoted to a career in casting, founding Jesse Griffiths Casting (JGC). His focus is championing inclusion and diversity in the casting process.
Dedicated to nurturing the next generation of artists, Jesse has taught at colleges and universities across Canada as well as countless other private institutions. He leads a monthly workshop for Toronto’s BIPOC community and serves as a mentor at the Canadian Film Centre’s Actors Conservatory.
Jesse is a member of the Casting Society of America (CSA) the Casting Directors Society of Canada (CDC) and sits on the professional advisory committees for Seneca College, George Brown College, and Toronto Metropolitan University. He serves on the boards of the CDC, the Toronto Gay Hockey Association (TGHA), and Buddies in Bad Times Theatre—the world’s longest-running queer theatre.
A proud recipient of the ACTRA Toronto Sandi Ross Award, Jesse holds a BFA in Theatre Performance from Toronto Metropolitan University.
Leah Galloway (she/her)
Casting Assistant
Leah Galloway is a graduate of Humber College’s Film & Television Production program. She made her directorial debut in 2020 with the documentary short “Friendly Faces & Safe Spaces” which received an Honorable Mention at the New Renaissance Film Festival in London, England. Her 2021 short film “Finding Your Rhythm” was the recipient of an Award of Distinction from the Canada Shorts Film Festival as well as the Audience Choice Award at the 2021 Milton Film Festival. Currently, Leah is in the stages developing a new web comedy as well as her next short film. As someone who strives for authentic storytelling and inclusive casting, Leah is proud to work with the JGC team.
Shaunie Frontin (she/her)
Casting Assistant
Shaunesse Frontin, more commonly known by Shaunie, is a Toronto based professional who has been working in casting since 2019. Shaunie is an Associate member of the Casting Directors Society of Canada (CDC). A graduate from the University of Toronto’s Cinema Studies program, she is a published scholar with works such as 'Beyoncé’s Lemonade: The Black Feminist Auteur in the Black Feminist Film Text' in academic journals. Shaunie is a creative with an enduring passion for film and television that shows in her everyday work. Since she can remember, she has always had a fascination for watching actors perform and observing their interpretations of works that go from script to screen and the nuances in their performances. As a Black woman and second generation Canadian, Shaunie’s mission is to address the issue of systemic underrepresentation in the industry and casting specifically. She aims to make a significant and lasting impact on diversity and inclusion, both onscreen and off.
Izad Etemadi (he/him)
Casting Assistant
Izad Etemadi is an Iranian-Canadian actor and writer based out of Toronto. He was a resident of the 2021/2022 CBC Actor’s Conservatory at the Canadian Film Centre and the recipient of the 2017 Emerging Queer Artist award from Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. On-screen credits include Orphan Black: Echoes (AMC), Ghosts (CBS), Overlord and the Underwoods (CBC/Nickelodeon), and Revenge of the Black Best Friend (CBC Gem). In 2022, he originated the role of Samuel in the new Canadian musical Grow (from the producers of Come From Away) at The Grand Theatre and returned later that season to play Buddy the Elf in Elf the Musical. As a screenwriter, he is working on projects in development and production with Cameron Pictures, Shaftesbury Kids, and Border2Border Entertainment. His short film Plant Daddy won the 2023 Queer Your Stories short film competition, garnering a screening at the Inside Out Festival. Outside of acting and writing, he has over six years of experience working in casting for film and television.