VersaVision

Today’s guest is acclaimed acting teacher, filmmaker, writer, director, and creative activist Anthony Meindl. As the founder of Anthony Meindl’s Actor Workshop, he has spent more than twenty-five years helping actors around the world discover truthful, authentic performances while building one of the most respected acting communities in the industry.
Anthony’s work extends far beyond the classroom. Through films like Where We Go From Here and his latest feature, Memento Mori, he explores some of the most important conversations of our time - including grief, identity, climate change, healing, and our shared humanity. 
Today we dive into Anthony’s recent projects, what authenticity truly means in this space, and why storytelling has the power to change both individuals and society. 
Anthony, thank you for such a thoughtful and inspiring conversation. Your work reminds us that acting is about so much more than booking roles or delivering performances. It’s about connecting with ourselves, with one another, and with the stories that help us better understand the human experience.
Word of the Week: SANTUARY
Viewing recommendations: OBSESSION, WIDOW'S BAY.
Website:  www.anthonymeindl.com
 
Thank you to Producer: Devyn Arnold and  Tamika Katon-Donegal for the intro.
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ANTHONY MEINDL BIOGRAPY:
Anthony Meindl is an award-winning writer, director, acting teacher, and creative activist whose work explores the intersection of humanity, social justice, climate change, and emotional truth. Through film, theatre, teaching, and public speaking, he creates work centred on awakening empathy and connection in the modern world.
His feature film Where We Go From Here, inspired by the Pulse Nightclub tragedy, premiered at Outfest, received multiple festival awards, and was acquired by HULU. His latest feature, Memento Mori, explores the climate crisis through interconnected stories filmed across five continents.
As founder of Anthony Meindl’s Actor Workshop, he has built an international creative community spanning more than a dozen cities over the last twenty-five years. His students have included some of the most acclaimed and well-known actors, musicians, and activists working across film, television, theatre, and music. He has trained Academy Award winners, Grammy winners, Emmy & Golden Globe nominees and BAFTA nominees. 
Meindl’s work consistently bridges artistic expression with activism, focusing on themes of human rights, environmental responsibility, identity, grief, healing, and collective transformation.
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To everyone listening, I hope this episode encourages you to approach your work with greater authenticity, curiosity, and courage.
VersaVision is streaming on Apple Podcasts and wherever you listen to podcasts. Be sure to subscribe and download the latest episodes so you never miss insight like today’s. Anthony, thank you again, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for you. See you all next week!
 

Today on VersaVision, we're joined by award-winning casting director, producer, and filmmaker David Guglielmo.   A member of the Casting Society, David has more than 150 film and television project credits, helping bring some of the most acclaimed independent films and genre features of recent years to the screen.
His casting credits include festival standouts The Standoff at Sparrow Creek, Run Hide Fight, and Shelby Oaks, and most recently, Evil Dead: Wrath, the newest instalment in the legendary Evil Dead franchise.
Beyond casting, David has built an impressive career as both a producer and filmmaker, producing acclaimed projects including The Last Stop in Yuma County and Killing Faith, while directing feature films such as No Way to Live, Hospitality, and Love Bomb.
In this episode, David offers a rare, behind-the-scenes perspective from every angle of the industry. We explore what casting directors are really looking for, what separates talented performers from consistently working actors, how great casting decisions are made, and the invaluable lessons he's learned from producing, directing, and discovering exceptional talent.
If you're an actor, filmmaker, or creative looking to better understand how careers are built in today's entertainment industry, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.
David, welcome back to VersaVision.
David's Word of the Week:  INTUITION
Producer: Devyn Arnold
Intro:  Tamika Katon Donegal
DAVID’S BIO: David Guglielmo is a proud member of the Casting Society of America, and is best known for casting acclaimed festival hits including The Standoff at Sparrow Creek(TIFF Premiere), Run Hide Fight (Venice Premiere), and Shelby Oaks, which was acquired by Neon for a wide theatrical release following its festival run.
 He just completed casting the new entry to the Evil Dead Franchise, Evil Dead Wrath, for Sam Raimi’s Ghost House Pictures, Sony and New Line.
 Prior, he served as Head of Casting for the legendary horror brand Fangoria during the launch of its first studio. He recently completed his first television series, The Pendragon Cycle.
 As a producer, Guglielmo recently wrapped Frontier Crucible, a western starring Armie Hammer, Thomas Jane, and William H. Macy. He also served as Executive Producer on the successful cop thriller Muzzle and its sequel, Muzzle: City of Wolves, both starring Aaron Eckhart.
 Additional producing credits include the indie standout The Last Stop in Yuma County and the gothic western Killing Faith, starring Guy Pearce and Bill Pullman.
As a director, his feature thrillers No Way to Live, Hospitality, and Love Bomb are all available on VOD.
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Download this episode today and discover what really happens after you press Submit.
If you found value in this conversation, please subscribe to VersaVision wherever you listen to podcasts. Every subscription helps us continue to bring you candid discussions with the entertainment industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, producers, directors, and filmmakers; sharing insights, experiences, and behind-the-scenes knowledge you won't find anywhere else.
Your support allows us to keep these conversations going, giving artists everywhere access to the advice, inspiration, and practical tools they need to build lasting careers in an ever-evolving industry.
 
 

INTRO: Today’s guest is legendary casting director Deborah Aquila, one of the most respected and influential casting professionals in the entertainment industry. With a career spanning more than four decades, Deborah has helped shape some of the most iconic films and and television series of our time, including The Shawshank Redemption, La La Land, CODA, Primal Fear, Mission: Impossible II, Varsity Blues, Dexter, and many more.
In this episode, Deborah takes us behind the scenes of a remarkable career - from discovering emerging talent and building unforgettable ensembles to the evolution of casting in film and television. Deborah, welcome to VersaVision. We are honored to have you.
Deborah's Word of the Week:  FAITH
Film and television recommendations:  WIDOW'S BAY and HBO's THE PITT
 
Producer: Devyn Arnold
Intro: Tamika Katon-Donegal
Deborah Aquila Biography:
DEB’S BIO: After graduating from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and The Stella Adler Conservatory, Deborah Aquila worked on the first two seasons of MIAMI VICE and several feature films including Michael Mann's MAN HUNTER and THE POPE OF GREENWICH VILLAGE as an associate. Her independent casting director career began with Steven Soderbergh's SEX, LIES AND VIDEOTAPE and Uli Edel's THE LAST EXIT TO BROOKLYN. Before moving to Los Angeles in 1993 to cast Frank Darabont's THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, Deborah had completed over 18 independent films in New York. 
In 1993, she was named Senior Vice-President of Features Casting for Paramount Pictures. During her nine-year tenure at the Studio, Deborah cast such notable films as PRIMAL FEAR, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE II, DOUBLE JEOPARDY, VARSITY BLUES, THE BRADY BUNCH, KISS THE GIRLS, MOTHER, and WHAT WOMEN WANT. In March of 2020, Deborah returned to Paramount as Executive Vice President of PTVS Casting. In February 2023, Deborah was elevated to Executive Vice President, Head of Casting for both CBS Studios and Paramount Television Studios. 
Most recent film credits: CODA,” “CHERRY, THE TOMORROW WAR, LA LA LAND, WONDER, STRONGER, DEEP WATER HORIZON, and WOMAN IN GOLD. Television credits include the critically acclaimed Showtime Series DEXTER, FX’s THE SHIELD, and TNT’s MOB CITY. 
Deborah is a proud member of the CSA and has been nominated 18 times by the Casting Society of America for the Artios Award, winning for the features RED, MY WEEK WITH MARILYN, LA LA LAND, and CODA. In 2003, Deborah was recognized by the Hollywood community with the HOLLYWOOD FILM FESTIVAL CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. In 2020, Deborah was recognized with the CSA’S HOYT BOWERS’ AWARD FOR CAREER ACHIEVEMENT. In 2021, the SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL honored CODA with the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast.  Deborah has been a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 1994.
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Download this episode today and discover what really happens after you press Submit.
If you found value in this conversation, please subscribe to VersaVision wherever you listen to podcasts. Every subscription helps us continue to bring you candid discussions with the entertainment industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, producers, directors, and filmmakers; sharing insights, experiences, and behind-the-scenes knowledge you won't find anywhere else.
Your support allows us to keep these conversations going, giving artists everywhere access to the advice, inspiration, and practical tools they need to build lasting careers in an ever-evolving industry.

INTRO: Today’s guest is legendary casting director Deborah Aquila, one of the most respected and influential casting professionals in the entertainment industry. With a career spanning more than four decades, Deborah has helped shape some of the most iconic films and and television series of our time, including The Shawshank Redemption, La La Land, CODA, Primal Fear, Mission: Impossible II, Varsity Blues, Dexter, and many more.
In this episode, Deborah takes us behind the scenes of a remarkable career - from discovering emerging talent and building unforgettable ensembles to the evolution of casting in film and television. Deborah, welcome to VersaVision. We are honored to have you.
Deborah's Word of the Week:  FAITH
Film and television recommendations: APPLE'S TV's WIDOW'S BAY and THE PITT on HBO MAX
Deborah Aquila Biography:
DEB’S BIO: After graduating from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and The Stella Adler Conservatory, Deborah Aquila worked on the first two seasons of MIAMI VICE and several feature films including Michael Mann's MAN HUNTER and THE POPE OF GREENWICH VILLAGE as an associate. Her independent casting director career began with Steven Soderbergh's SEX, LIES AND VIDEOTAPE and Uli Edel's THE LAST EXIT TO BROOKLYN. Before moving to Los Angeles in 1993 to cast Frank Darabont's THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, Deborah had completed over 18 independent films in New York. 
In 1993, she was named Senior Vice-President of Features Casting for Paramount Pictures. During her nine-year tenure at the Studio, Deborah cast such notable films as PRIMAL FEAR, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE II, DOUBLE JEOPARDY, VARSITY BLUES, THE BRADY BUNCH, KISS THE GIRLS, MOTHER, and WHAT WOMEN WANT. In March of 2020, Deborah returned to Paramount as Executive Vice President of PTVS Casting. In February 2023, Deborah was elevated to Executive Vice President, Head of Casting for both CBS Studios and Paramount Television Studios. 
Most recent film credits: CODA,” “CHERRY, THE TOMORROW WAR, LA LA LAND, WONDER, STRONGER, DEEP WATER HORIZON, and WOMAN IN GOLD. Television credits include the critically acclaimed Showtime Series DEXTER, FX’s THE SHIELD, and TNT’s MOB CITY. 
Deborah is a proud member of the CSA and has been nominated 18 times by the Casting Society of America for the Artios Award, winning for the features RED, MY WEEK WITH MARILYN, LA LA LAND, and CODA. In 2003, Deborah was recognized by the Hollywood community with the HOLLYWOOD FILM FESTIVAL CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. In 2020, Deborah was recognized with the CSA’S HOYT BOWERS’ AWARD FOR CAREER ACHIEVEMENT. In 2021, the SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL honored CODA with the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast.  Deborah has been a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 1994.
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Download this episode today and discover what really happens after you press Submit.
If you found value in this conversation, please subscribe to VersaVision wherever you listen to podcasts. Every subscription helps us continue to bring you candid discussions with the entertainment industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, producers, directors, and filmmakers; sharing insights, experiences, and behind-the-scenes knowledge you won't find anywhere else.
Your support allows us to keep these conversations going, giving artists everywhere access to the advice, inspiration, and practical tools they need to build lasting careers in an ever-evolving industry.
 

Jake O'Flaherty has one of those careers that spans almost every corner of the business, including actor, coach, professor, producer, writer, theatre founder, and someone who's worked consistently for decades.
In this episode we're exploring the many hats Jake has worn throughout his career and the lessons he learned along the way.  He says that this means you must start treating yourself like a business and create your own opportunities.  It's not show business he says, it's the business of show and turning up is 100%.  He has booked more than 200 national commercials and voiceovers, and appeared on series major television series, Shameless, Lethan Weapn, Criminal Minds, The King of Queens, CSI:NY, 9-1-1 Lone Star, and many more.
Jake was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, raised in Tampa, Florida, received a Bachelor's degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a Master's degree in TV/Film/Screenwriting from Regent University in Virginia. Jake has booked over 200 national commercials and voice-overs, as well as TV and Film.
In 2012, Jake started the Whitefire Theatre Company in Sherman Oaks with Artistic Director Bryan Rasmussen, and produced all the original productions of the "Shorts" series, along with creating the "Dead Pilots Society" and "Hollywood Shorts" & other various productions. Jake has been teaching at the Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory in Santa Monica in various classes since 1998, which led him to coaching actors and eventually celebrity clients like Ken Jeong etc.
Recently, Jake wrote, produced, and starred in the web series "Failure To Parent" with Carolyn Hennesy, which has been optioned and is being shopped as a 1/2-hour comedy. He wrote his first full-length play with playwright Tom Misuraca called "Suicidal Blonde", directed by Candi Milo and starring Kimmy Robertson, which sold out for 6 weeks in LA, and is hopefully coming to NYC soon. In the film "Red Pill", written/directed by actress/author/Tony winner Tonya Pinkins, he is starring alongside Ruben Blades, Kathryn Erbe, Luba Mason, Cathy Curtain, Colby Minifie, and Adesola Osakalumi. In 2024 doing an off-Broadway production of an original play called In A Roundabout Way directed by Kim Sykes. Jake is also a Professor at Pepperdine University & Los Angeles City College.
Jake's Word of the Week:  BELIEVE
Download this episode now and discover what happens after you press "submit." 
If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision wherever you listen to podcasts, and join us as we bring you the industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, and filmmakers—sharing the real-world insights, experiences, and advice that can help take your career to the next level. Your support helps us continue creating these conversations.

Today's guest is award-winning filmmaker Daniel Eduvijes Carrera, whose work has screened at some of the world's most prestigious festivals, including Cannes, Tribeca, Guadalajara, Morelia, and Palm Springs. His work has been shown at celebrated cultural institutions from the American Library in Paris to the Cineteca Nacional in Mexico City. Most recently, Daniel received the American Pavilion Best Short Film Award at the Cannes Film Festival, adding to a remarkable list of honors that includes the Imagen Award, the DGA Student Film Award for Best Latino Film Director, and Top Prize in Ovation TV's Next Revolutionary Filmmaker.
A Fulbright Scholar in Film, Daniel is also a recipient of the Rockefeller Foundation/Tribeca Film Institute Media Arts Fellowship, the NHFA and NALAC film grants, the Djerassi Artist Residency Award for screenwriting, and is a fellow of both the Produire au Sud Program in France and Film Independent's Project: Involve.
As a first-generation queer Mexican-American, Daniel brings a lived authenticity to stories about identity, culture, family, and belonging. In this episode, he's giving us an inside look into his films and sharing what authenticity really means when telling culturally specific stories, the realities of casting for diverse roles, and what it takes to bring underrepresented voices to global audiences.
Daniel, welcome to VersaVision — we are thrilled to have you!
Download this episode now and discover what happens after you press "submit." 
If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision wherever you listen to podcasts, and join us as we bring you the industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, and filmmakers—sharing the real-world insights, experiences, and advice that can help take your career to the next level. Your support helps us continue creating these conversations.

 
HOW TO GET THE FASTEST "YES" FROM CASTING
WITH CASTING DIRECTOR MICHAEL SANFORD 
This week on VersaVision, award-winning Casting Director Michael Sanford - founder of Sanford Casting and the casting director behind more than 2,000 commercial campaigns and projects including the Oscar-winning film The Artist - joins us for an inside look at what gets actors the fastest “yes” from casting. Michael shares unforgettable audition stories, self tape mistakes actors don’t realize they’re making, and the subtle qualities that make casting want to bring actors back again and again. If you’ve ever wondered what makes casting say yes immediately - or what gets actors passed on just as quickly - this episode is for you!
Word of the Week:  Patience
Download this episode now and discover what happens after you press "submit." 
If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision wherever you listen to podcasts, and join us as we bring you the industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, and filmmakers—sharing the real-world insights, experiences, and advice that can help take your career to the next level. Your support helps us continue creating these conversations.

What Casting Directors See That Actors Don't:
Sunday Boling Kennedy Reveals Truths
This week on Versa Vision, award-winning casting director Sunday Boling Kennedy joins us for an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about what really happens inside the casting room.
As a partner at Morman Boling Casting, Sunday has helped discover extraordinary talent and build unforgettable casts for independent films and acclaimed productions that have captivated audiences around the world.
In this episode, she shares the lessons she's learned from years of identifying exceptional performers, adapting to an industry transformed by self-tapes and virtual auditions, and making the difficult decisions that ultimately determine who books the role.
Together, we explore the opportunities that independent film offers today's actors, the misconceptions performers have about the casting process, and the qualities that consistently make talent stand out. Sunday also provides practical insights that actors can apply immediately to elevate their auditions and approach every opportunity with greater confidence.
Whether you're an actor looking for an edge, a filmmaker interested in the art of casting, or simply fascinated by how unforgettable performances come to life, this candid conversation is filled with industry wisdom you won't hear anywhere else.
Download this episode now and discover what happens after you press "submit." 
If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision and join us as we bring you the industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, and filmmakers—sharing the real-world insights, experiences, and advice that can help take your career to the next level. Your support helps us continue creating these conversations.
 
Biography:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1553275/ 
Sunday Boling Kennedy is an award-winning casting director and partner at Morman Boling Casting. She began her career in the casting office at 20th Century Fox and launched her own company in 2004 with Meg Morman. She has cast over 100 films, including A Simple Machine (winner of 2025 Heartland International Film Festival and 2025 Lighthouse International Film Festival ,Omaha (premiered Sundance 2025, releasied April 2026), Green and Gold, Day of Reckoning, Waitress, Hello, My Name is Doris, Aporia, The Ballad of Lefty Brown, The Hyperions, and Unlovable.  TV and streaming credits include: The Promised Land, The Baxters, Sneakerheads, Ish Hashuv Meod, The Dead Girls Detective Agency, In the Vaultand Relationship Status. She has also cast numerous award-winning narrative podcasts - a few select credits include Blackout, Ad Lucem, Havoc Town, The Hookup, Last Known Position and Ronstadt. She has been nominated for 13 Artios Awards for excellence in casting and won twice. She served on the board of the Casting Society for four years as Vice-President of Governance. She is currently the Co-president for Casting Society Cares.
A huge thank you to our team: Producer:  Devyn ArnoldIntro: Tamika Katon-Donega
 

What Casting Directors See That Actors Don't:
Sunday Boling Kennedy Reveals Tips and Truths
This week on Versa Vision, award-winning casting director Sunday Boling Kennedy joins us for an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about what really happens inside the casting room.
As a partner at Morman Boling Casting, Sunday has helped discover extraordinary talent and build unforgettable casts for independent films and acclaimed productions that have captivated audiences around the world.
In this episode, she shares the lessons she's learned from years of identifying exceptional performers, adapting to an industry transformed by self-tapes and virtual auditions, and making the difficult decisions that ultimately determine who books the role.
Together, we explore the opportunities that independent film offers today's actors, the misconceptions performers have about the casting process, and the qualities that consistently make talent stand out. Sunday also provides practical insights that actors can apply immediately to elevate their auditions and approach every opportunity with greater confidence.
Whether you're an actor looking for an edge, a filmmaker interested in the art of casting, or simply fascinated by how unforgettable performances come to life, this candid conversation is filled with industry wisdom you won't hear anywhere else.
Download this episode now and discover what happens after you press "submit." 
If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision and join us as we bring you the industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, and filmmakers—sharing the real-world insights, experiences, and advice that can help take your career to the next level. Your support helps us continue creating these conversations.
 
Biography:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1553275/ 
Sunday Boling Kennedy is an award-winning casting director and partner at Morman Boling Casting. She began her career in the casting office at 20th Century Fox and launched her own company in 2004 with Meg Morman. She has cast over 100 films, including A Simple Machine (winner of 2025 Heartland International Film Festival and 2025 Lighthouse International Film Festival ,Omaha (premiered Sundance 2025, releasied April 2026), Green and Gold, Day of Reckoning, Waitress, Hello, My Name is Doris, Aporia, The Ballad of Lefty Brown, The Hyperions, and Unlovable.  TV and streaming credits include: The Promised Land, The Baxters, Sneakerheads, Ish Hashuv Meod, The Dead Girls Detective Agency, In the Vaultand Relationship Status. She has also cast numerous award-winning narrative podcasts - a few select credits include Blackout, Ad Lucem, Havoc Town, The Hookup, Last Known Position and Ronstadt. She has been nominated for 13 Artios Awards for excellence in casting and won twice. She served on the board of the Casting Society for four years as Vice-President of Governance. She is currently the Co-president for Casting Society Cares.
Thank you to our team: 
Producer:  Devyn Arnold
Intro: Tamika Katon-Donegal
 
 

ACTOR, DIRECTOR, WRITER AND PRODUCER NICKI MICHEAUX 
GUIDES US INTO "LET'S DO THIS"
On the latest episode, we're joined by actor, director, writer, producer and industry powerhouse Nicki Micheaux whose credits include Lincoln Heights, which earned her two NAACP Image Awards nominations, NYPD Blue, The Shield, Shameless, Their Eyes Were Watching God alongside Halle Berry, and the upcoming project The Drop.
She has built a remarkable career spanning more than three decades in the entertainment industry. In this episode, she shares the lessons she's learned from a lifetime in front of the camera, why she stopped waiting for opportunities and started creating them herself, and what it took to make the leap into directing with her award-winning feature film Summer of Violence.  Learn why she ultimately stopped waiting for opportunities and started creating them herself.
If you've ever wondered how to build a lasting career, reinvent yourself, and take ownership of your creative journey, this is an episode you won't want to miss.
Nicki's Word of the Week:  Mindset
Download this episode now and discover what happens after you press "submit." 
If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision and join us as we bring you the industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, and filmmakers—sharing the real-world insights, experiences, and advice that can help take your career to the next level. Your support helps us continue creating these conversations.