Australia’s only agency promoting all diversity!
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Breaking Down Cultural and Other Barriers Welcome to interCulture casting & management (iCCAM), Australia's only agency representing exclusively artists from a non Anglo heritage, LGBTIQ artists and those living with disability.
interCulture casting & management
ARTISTS’ INFORMATION BROCHURE
“Small as it is, a sparrow has all the vital organs.” (⿇麻雀虽⼩小,五脏俱全 má què suī xiǎo, wǔ zàng jù quán) Chinese Proverb
Creative Directors, Michael Turkic & William Le have between them over 30 years experience in the entertainment industry. With integrity, respect and consideration for cultural differences, issues of access, equality and opportunity they bring the sum of their experiences to their clients and help artists to open the right doors, knock down roadblocks to success and recognition - and finally, bridge the gap between diversity, authenticity and visibility. We feel that we are on the tipping point of change, and we want you to be a part of it. Make this change inevitable. Share our frustrations, ideals and hopes. Stand tall above the giants’ shoulders.
Sermsah Pepi Bin Saad | dancer, actor, choreographer, model, casting director
“We must build a new world, a far better world -- one in which the eternal dignity of man is respected.” Harry S. Truman
A Great Vision The idea for iCCAM sprang from the realisation that the mainstream media in Australia is not representative of the greater cultural make-up of the nation. With the limited exceptions of cultural specific broadcasting through our publicly funded broadcasters ABC & SBS, neither theatre nor commercial film and TV could provide for an acknowledgement of—or worse—the existence of, a multi-racial nation, and/or artists with disability.
“To promote the interests of—and expand the employment opportunities for all allied skilled artists of non Anglo heritage, LGBTIQ artists and those living with disability.” iCCAM’s mission is to position our clients on a local and international level; to recognise that their individual and several skills are the equal of, or indeed exceed those of their Anglo and abled peers. We strive to see our artists stand shoulder to shoulder with other skilled artists, giving them the best opportunities to do what they do best and in doing so, reflect the true nature of our society. As Shakespeare said: we must “... hold a mirror up to nature...” Grace Lee | actor, model, presenter
In short, we are going to celebrate cultural diversity, turn inauthentic ideas into authentic and make the invisible faces visible...
Matuse | hiphop/rap artist, actor
Larissa Kovalchuk| Bandura musician, opera singer, choir instructor, teacher
Where are you in the world?
You Are Different
Since 1945 seven million people have migrated to Australia. Today, 1 in 4 of Australia’s 22 million people were born overseas or at least have a migrant parent. 4 million speak a language other than English. That's roughly half of the population. In total they speak over 300 languages and identify with more than 270 ancestries. [Source: ABS 2011 Census of Population and Housing]
Rather than making a political statement about a homogenous Australia and the world at large, iCCAM simply sympathises with those who stand out from the rest. Because different is, after all, wonderful.
As of 2009, just under one in five Australians (18.5% or 4.0 million persons) reported having a disability compared to the remaining 60% of the population. A further 21% had a long-term health condition that did not restrict their everyday activities. Of those with a disability, 87% had a specific limitation or restriction; that is, an impairment restricting their ability to perform communication, mobility or self-care activities, or a restriction associated with schooling or employment. [Source: ABS 2009]
Cultural Assumptions. Un-make them
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• 1.2% of Australians identify as gay or lesbian • 1.6% of men in Australia identify as gay, 0.9% identify as bisexual • 0.8% of women identify as lesbian, 1.4% identify as bisexual • 97.9% of Victorians aged 12-24 identify as heterosexual • Same-sex couples represented about 1% of all couples in Australia [Source: ABS 2011]
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“Some men see things the way they are and ask, "Why?" I dream things that never were, and ask "Why not?’” George Bernard Shaw
“The things that make me different are the things that make me.” A.A. Milne
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We manage artists from the following ancestries: - Asia - The Subcontinent - Polynesia - The Middle East - Latin America - Africa - Indigenous Australia - Middle Europe
Emma J. Hawkins| actor, circus performer
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And artists with disability: - Hearing & Vision Impairment - Mobility Impairment - Autism Spectrum Disorders - Learning Disability - Intellectual Disability - Trauma Injury - Chronic Illness
Artists in the making
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There are three types of roles: 1. An ethnically specific role 2. A role regardless of skin colour, disability or sexuality 3. A role with an ‘international’ appeal
! Daryl Morante | model, dancer, actor
Yingjie Chen | dancer, cultural demonstrator, dance instructor
We find that stories told on screen and on stage usually fall into two categories - one to tell a story differently and the other to tell a different story. But in our agency, we alone have 30 working languages across all continually evolving fields and skill-sets.
Lucky Lartey | dancer, choreographer, instructor, actor
The Artist's Toolbox
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iCCAM offers and accepts the five following criteria for the 'artist's toolbox', compromising their total portfolio.
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1. Professional, high-resolution head shots (character, action and variety shots also included) 2. Up-to-date CVs (to be reformatted using preexisting iCCAM template) 3. Electronic submissions of showreel footage or clips (to be reformatted using pre-existing iCCAM brand - but not necessarily mandatory) 4. Ongoing updates and marketing of clients' performances, projects and works (thus building brand profile) 5. And, of course, a long-lasting, transparent and quality relationship with your agent
A Lightning Rod for All Minorities
The agent's role
"Of all of the forces that make for a better world, none is so indispensable, none so powerful as hope.� Charles Sawyer
An agent in NSW is governed and bound by the Entertainment Industry Act.
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In a better world, could you ever see broad strides to positively redefine what it means to live in a tolerant society full of different races, values and diasporas? Our answer lies in the services we offer: -
In the following areas of interest: - Musical theatre - Theatre - Film & TV - Cultural events/festivals - Promotions - Corporate functions - Corporate training videos
Actors Dancers Singers Filmmakers Writers & poets Choreographers Fight directors Martial arts experts Presenters Entrepreneurs Culturally specific dance groups Circus artists Voiceover artists Cultural coordinators/advisors
Carma Vox| live singer, actor, model, host
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In addition, we manage: - Career development - Mentoring - Script analysis/advice - Job to job basis
Florian Tarpinian | indie/acoustic pop singer, musician, actor, model
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It works just like a real estate agent. We sign up a performer, manage the 'sale' of their skills, and charge a commission, the amount of which is set by legislation but for actors, for example, it's 10% of their gross wage.
Natalie Bednar | ballet dancer
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Your agent looks for work opportunities, negotiates contracts, assists you to avoid unscrupulous operators, and generally advises you on your career and the career choices that you make.
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Manuel Caputo | actor
Q: Can two or more agents represent me? A: No. In the performing arts, agencies represent artists exclusively.
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Q: Are there up front costs for joining an agency? A: No. Other than the costs of cobbling together your head shots and body of work, there are no 'entry costs' An agent in NSW should not be charging you a 'fee' to join, which is illegal. Agents make their money from commissions based on your work.
! Jack Ngu| actor, model, filmmaker, multimedia performer, radio host
Q: Do I sign a contract? A: Yes. Agents will ask you to sign a terms & conditions contract, which sets out the principles of the arrangement. This is generally 'open-ended' but can be limited to a timeframe by mutual agreement.
! Ingrid Yin Hu | actor, pianist, singer, dancer
Q: What if I get offered my own work? Do I pay commission? A: This is an arrangement between you and your agent but generally you must remember that an agent is working for you during times of your unemployment in the industry, so if you decide not to pay your agent for self generated work, you may find that the relationship changes over time. Most performers with a healthy agent/artists relationship pay commission on everything.
The dynamic duo
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iCCAM i is the brainchild of Croatian respected actor, director and educator, Michael Turkic and Vietnamese hearingimpaired writer and award-winning indie filmmaker, William Le. They are also life partners, recently engaged.
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MICHAEL TURKIC Graduating with a Bachelor Degree in English, Literature, Film and Television in 1984, Michael began his acting career in Perth in the same year appearing in professional productions of Annie, Irene, Hamlet, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead and many others. Following his move to Sydney he was quickly cast in the Sydney Theatre Company's hit production of the Stephen Sondheim musical, Company. What followed over the next 15 years was: the original casts of Les Miserables, Chess, The Secret Garden, Corrugation Road as well as productions for the Q Theatre, Bell Shakespeare Company, Black Swan Theatre and The Gordon Frost Organisation.
Ryuichi Fujimura | dancer, choreographer, actor, improviser
As an associate director/director his credits include: Grease - The Arena Spectacular (with Dannii Minogue and Craig McLachlan) Happy Days - The Arena Musical (with Tom Bosley and Rebecca Gibney), Tim Rice's Concert Spectacular (with INXS, Kate Ceberano and Anthony Warlow) and The Witches of Eastwick. He has been a guest director at the prestigious West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, NIDA and The Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music where he has taught across the curriculum and directed main-stage productions. On television Michael was a featured actor in the children's TV series, Ship to Shore I & II, The Money or The Gun, TheatreSports, Olive, Relative Merits, and Melba. Babushka Ferenzci | actor, model, dancer, fire poi artist
Michael has been quoted by one of our clients FELINO DOLLOSO as 'a scholar, gentleman and legend!' WILLIAM LE William is a multifaceted writer with more than ten years' experience in film, television, literature and media. He often has been compared to Patrick White in his stream-of- consciousness approach, intricate storytelling and character-developing concepts. Across short films, poems, novellas, graphic novels, fiction and blogs, his writing has been called ‘intriguing’. He won an award as production designer for Hi as well as Best Documentary audience award for the gripping subject on suicide in Wide Empty Spaces. He graduated with a Diploma from Sydney Film School and enjoyed Bachelor of Arts in sociology, philosophy and anthropology at USYD. He worked for Persuasive Networks in Hong Kong and Singapore, specialising in content aggregation, scheduling and forecasting. He assisted with market research, branding, acquisitions, copywriting, promotion, presenting and co-production of two luxury lifestyle and educational Pay TV channels in the Asia-Pacific rim. He also was strategy advisor to the direction of a full-service digital media agency Overall-Media.
“Catch one’s heart, never be apart.” (愿得⼀一⼈人 ⼼心，⽩白⾸首不相离 yuàn dé yī rén xīn, bái shǒu bù Chon xiāng lí) Chinese Proverb
William hopes to be a self-published and self-styled crusader for superhero drama, fantasy, sci-fi and human rights issues. He recently, although rather unwittingly, became a Buddhist with a firm humanist edge and a panglossian taste for justice. He frequently has dreams of impenetrability, elemental control and flight.
Jrisi Jusakos | Bellydance Evolution Chilean dance group interCulture casting & management Level 2/66 Oxford St Darlinghurst, NSW 2010 Australia
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Michael Turkic: +61 401 968 220 michael@iccamoz.com William Le: +61 405 539 752 william@iccamoz.com
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E: iccamoz@gmail.com W: www.iccamoz.com.au