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CBS Launching Nationwide Search To Find New Break-Out Talent

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – CBS is launching a nationwide search to find new break-out talent for its current series and upcoming pilots with call-backs set in Miami next month.

The "CBS Drama Diversity Casting Initiative" is designed to reach untapped talent across the country.

Every year, CBS hosts a comedy showcase in Los Angeles, California, to spotlight diverse, untapped talent. The audience is filled with managers, agents and casting executives from major networks and studios.

"Some of the talent that we've discovered from our sketch comedy showcase include Kate McKinnon, Justin Hires, Geoffrey Arend as well as Randall Park," said Tiffany Smith-Anoa'I with CBS Entertainment.

It's how Justin Hires was discovered which led to a leading role in CBS' Rush Hour. He now co-stars as Wilt Bozer in CBS' reboot of Macgyver.

"If it wasn't for the diversity comedy showcase, I wouldn't have done "Rush Hour" the TV series and right now I wouldn't be doing MacGyver," said Hires.

The "CBS Drama Diversity Casting Initiative" is designed to expand from comedy and reach untapped dramatic talent across the country.

"We want more diversity on CBS and this really builds on other initiatives we have in diversity and this is just another step in diversifying the network both in front of the camera and behind," said President of CBS Entertainment Glenn Geller.

The focus is on increasing opportunities for people who have been traditionally under-represented like people of color, LGBTQ actors and performers with disabilities.

It's tough for people to get out to Los Angeles, California, so they're going to a lot of different places to make it easier for folks.

"We go out to the community. We find great talent, and again to bring them to LA with the hope of creating a pipeline of new talent for our pilot season and long-term to broaden the overall talent pool for CBS casting for pilots," said Geller.

Actors 18 and older can submit a self-taped monologue at cbsdiversity.com now through Friday, October 28th.

CBS Casting executives will hold call backs at various locations nationwide including in:

  • Chicago, IL - November 2nd, 3rd, and 4th
  • Austin, TX - November 3rd and 4th
  • Atlanta, GA - November 7th, 8th, and 9th
  • Miami, FL - November 10th and 11th
  • San Francisco, CA - November 10th and 11th.

As for what call backs involve, Geller said, "This is going to be a screen test on one of the stages at CBS Television Studios at our Radford lot, and we're going to be putting the actors in real scenes and using those for the pilot process."

They're planning to audition 14 to 16 actors with the benefits of exposure, access, and opportunity.

"Every casting office I walk into, I have a little more confidence, a little more belief in myself, that I can do this, that I belong to be out here among all these other great and talented actors," said Hires.

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