Jesse Griffiths (he/him)
Casting Director - CSA, CDC
After over a decade of working as an actor in film, tv, and theatre, Jesse made a pivot and began his career in casting. He opened Jesse Griffiths Casting (JGC) with the goal of combining his passion for the arts with his knowledge of local talent. His focus is, and will always be, to push for more inclusion and diversity in the casting process. He devotes part of his time to the development of the next generation of artists and has taught at Toronto Metropolitan University, Sheridan College, Actra Toronto, and leads a monthly workshop for Toronto's BIPOC community. He is a mentor at the Canadian Film Centre’s Actors Conservatory, a member of the Casting Society of America (CSA), serves on the Executive of the Casting Director's Society of Canada (CDC), and is on the professional advisory committee for Seneca College, George Brown College, and Toronto Metropolitan University. He is the proud recipient of the ACTRA Toronto Sandi Ross Award. Jesse is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University with a BFA in Theatre Performance.
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.