Rich Mento is an award-winning casting director and producer, who counts himself fortunate to have successfully worked in theatre, TV, film, and new media, in both New York City and Los Angeles. Select film and TV/digital casting credits include: Remember Me, Warm Bodies, The Wackness, The Step Up Movie Franchise (all 5 films!), Dear John, Chloe, Safe Haven, Youth in Revolt, Cedar Rapids, Take Me Home Tonight, and No Strings Attached. He’s worked for Blumhouse Productions, casting both their first horror/comedy series, “12 Deadly Days” and as Casting Producer on the pilot of their first horror game show, “Hellevator.” He’s cast music videos (including U2’s “Song for Someone” starring Woody Harrelson), short films, new media and interactive/gaming projects for both Electronic Arts and Bad Robot, and consulted for WWE Studios, Bazelevs Productions, FiLM iNDEPENDENT and Universal Pictures, as well as for The Park Avenue Armory in NYC on MASSIVE ATTACK v. ADAM CURTIS. Other films on his resume include, Ashes in the Snow, based on the “New York Times” best selling novel, Between Shades of Gray, and The Mortuary Collection, a horror anthology. Rich lives in Los Angeles with his partner, filmmaker Josh Levy, and is currently serving as Co-President for the Casting Society of America.

Russell Boast was born and raised in South Africa. His extensive career in the movie business began when he was hired to work with producer Lloyd Phillips and director Martin Campbell on “Beyond Borders” starring Angelina Jolie. He moved to Los Angeles in 2004 and swiftly found himself in demand by the Hollywood Theatre, Film and Television industry. He worked as an Associate Casting Director and Casting Director alongside his mentor Rick Pagano “X-Men”, “Aliens”, “Hotel Rwanda” and with Debi Manwiller “24 – The Series” for Pagano/ Manwiller Casting for over 8 years before branching off with Debi Manwiller to form Manwiller/ Boast Casting. Recent television credits; “Chance” for FOX/ HULU, “Insatiable” for CBS/CW, “Wicked City” for ABC/ABC, the “Unt. Mars Project” for CBS/CW, “Franklin and Bash” for TNT/ SONY and “Good Christian Bitches” for ABC/ DISNEY. His Film credits include; “The Tribe”, “Paradise Club”, “Tortured”, “The Guest Room”, “From The Head”, “Home Run Showdown” and “White Irish Drinkers” with creator of “The Ghost Whisperer” John Gray which Russell Cast and Co-Produced. Russell is currently the President of the Casting Society of America, heading up the organization’s Inclusion and Diversity and Training and Education Committees. Russell’s commitment to Inclusion and Diversity within the entertainment industry has lead to numerous round table and teaching events. He is spearheading the development of a number of high profile Inclusion and Diversity initiatives, including; a comprehensive Inclusion and Diversity handbook for the Casting and Entertainment Community; the introduction of a bi-annual Inclusion and Diversity Expo for the Entertainment Industry and the development of an Inclusion and Diversity Training Program targeted towards Casting Directors, Studio and Network Executives, Writers, Directors and Producers. He has been nominated for two NAACP Theatre Awards and won Best Producer at The World Academy of Arts, Literature and Media Awards (London) in 2012.