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STAR Search Industry Entrance Portal

One annual intake. Two performance categories. National industry access.

Through one annual intake, TAEA gives young performers a virtual opportunity to showcase their talent to partner agents who may invite them to take the next step toward a professional acting career.

Register Here
Step-by-Step Registration Guide

Program Sponsor

STAR Search is proudly supported by Vancouver Film School.

Vancouver Film School

Providing pre-event and post-event online workshops that support film-acting growth and industry connections.

Visit VFS

STAR Search Portal Program

Once a year, TAEA hosts a virtual audition portal where students can showcase their talents for partner agents who may elect to call them back or represent them as they begin their professional acting careers.

Two Portal Categories

Applicants may submit in either of the STAR Search portal categories:

  • Acting — for performance submissions intended for film, television and stage representation.
  • Voice Acting — for voice-performance submissions intended for voice and audio representation.

Participating Agents

Participating agents from British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta include:

  • Lloyd Talent
  • Shine
  • Lucas Talent
  • Ignite Artists
  • Jeff Turner Film
  • Jeff Turner Voice
  • Carrier Talent Management
  • VA Management
  • BookIT Talent
  • Alpha Artists
  • InMotion Talent
  • The Casting Solution
  • Connect Creative
  • da Costa Talent Management
  • KH Casting – Voice
  • SG Casting
  • Trisko Talent
  • and more being added throughout the year

Requirements

  1. Eligibility: Students from Grade 6 to 13 only. Gap-year students are also welcome.
  2. Application fee: $15, payable by credit card through the secure registration site.
  3. All students are welcomed and encouraged to participate in the TAEA STAR Search – Find an Agent Portal. If you have questions or need special assistance or other accommodations to be successful, please contact us at info@educationaltheatre.ca.

Open Now — One Annual Intake

Registration Closes February 20

STAR Search is open now. Registration closes on February 20.

All registrants will be invited to a free day of online Zoom Industry Entrance Q&A Sessions on February 27, including a Vancouver Film School training session.

  • Agent audition viewing begins: February 20
  • Callback invitations begin: March 1 and beyond
  • Callbacks, interviews and next steps are scheduled directly with the agents who call you back.

Performance Audition Video Requirements

Auditions must be solo presentations—other students may not perform with you.

  • Begin your audition with only an introduction: your name, school, title of selection(s), and playwright/composer/lyricist. You are allowed a maximum of three minutes, not including the introduction, for your performance.
  • In the performance category, you may present a maximum of three minutes of material: either two contrasting monologue selections, a musical-theatre song, or one song and one monologue. If presenting two selections, film the entire audition as one continuous video with a pause to transition between the pieces.
  • Musical auditions must have accompaniment—a cappella singing will not be accepted. Your accompanist may be live in the room during filming, or you may sing with a recording. It is strongly advised that you arrange for a pianist to provide accompaniment, recorded or live. Do not sing over a cast album.
  • When choosing your performance piece, avoid selections with dialects, accents and classical material unless you have been specifically trained in these areas. Costumes, scenery and hand props are not permitted. Dress neatly—it makes a good impression.

Do’s and Don’ts for Self-Filmed Submissions

There are many tutorials and articles you can search for to help you create a strong video submission. Here are some key do’s and don’ts:

  • Do perform in a well-lit space with a neutral background. Test the lighting and sound.
  • Do check the frame so all your physical choices are captured, but you are not so far away that your facial expressions are lost. Above the knees is usually good, with your face near the top quarter of the frame.
  • Do not use fancy camera panning, zooming or unnecessary editing. Simply trim the video to begin just before your introduction and end after you say “thank you.”
  • You do not need to spend a fortune on equipment. The representatives are looking at you and what you can do. Researching tips for the best lighting and sound quality in your home setup will pay off.
  • Deal with potential distractions such as pets, doorbells, ringing phones and people walking through.
  • Do not perform directly into the lens. Focus beyond it or on an unseen character.
Register Here
Registration Guide