Risa Bramon-Garcia  -  Director/Casting Director/Producer

Risa's love of actors has taken numerous forms. As a Casting Director, Risa has cast over 65 feature films including; DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN, FATAL ATTRACTION, THE DOORS, BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, WALL STREET, BENNY AND JOON, NATURAL BORN KILLERS, THE JOY LUCK CLUB, SPEED, FLIRTING WITH DISASTER, TRUE ROMANCE, and JFK. She has also cast several Television series including ROSEANNE and CSI:NY. As a Director, Risa recently completed the indie film, THE LOVE CHILD, starring Donald Sutherland and Rebecca Romijn. She also directed the feature film, 200 CIGARETTES, for Paramount Pictures, MTV and Lakeshore. She has directed and produced numerous plays in the NY and LA theatre, as well as television episodes for HBO, Lifetime, New Line, and The Comedy Channel. In addition, Risa was a Producer on Oliver Stone's HEAVEN AND EARTH and NATURAL BORN KILLERS.
As an Acting Coach, Risa believes in empowering the actor in preparation for auditions, rehearsals, shooting and performance. She brings her wealth of talent, experience and passion to all of her students in her Master Class and private coaching sessions.



Michael Packenham and Carolyn Kessler

Michael and Carolyn have launched the careers of many young actors. Their clients have had starring roles in numerous major Film, Television, and Broadway projects (partial list on side column). In addition, their clients have graced the covers of ROLLING STONE, INTERVIEW, US, COSMOPOLITAN, VANITY FAIR, ELLE, PEOPLE, and TATTLER. Their clients have appeared on THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO, THE DAVID LETTERMAN SHOW, CNN, THE TODAY SHOW, THE VIEW, GOOD MORNING AMERICA, AND LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIAN, ELLEN and THE BIG BREAKFAST.

INDUSTRY RECOGNITION

Michael and Carolyn have been honored to attend the ACADEMY AWARDS, THE GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS, THE EMMY AWARDS, THE MTV MOVIE AWARDS, THE ALMA AWARDS, THE WOMEN IN FILM GALA and THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS with their clients.

PROMOTION AND PUBLICITY

Michael and Carolyn have traveled the world on film publicity campaigns with PARAMOUNT PICTURES, WARNER BROTHERS, and COLUMBIA PICTURES. The team has appeared in numerous magazine publications such as VANITY FAIR, PREMIERE, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, US, PEOPLE, VARIETY, and THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Carolyn was featured in E! ENTERTAINMENTS MOST POWERFUL WOMEN IN HOLLYWOOD televised special.

PRODUCING EXPERIENCE

Carolyn partnered with COLUMBIA PICTURES as a Producer of feature films and a Talent Manager. She produced feature films such as Excess Baggage (starring Alicia Silverstone, Christopher Walken, Benicio Del Toro and Harry Connick Jr.), and a television pilot Queen Bee (starring Alicia Silverstone and directed by Danny DeVito) for IMAGINE ENTERTAINMENT and the FOX NETWORK.

BUSINESS EXPERTISE

Michael and Carolyn co-founded Premiere Artist's Agency. Michael has been a senior talent agent at the Gersh Agency and Innovative Artists. Michael came to the entertainment industry with a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the UCLA ANDERSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT where his focus of study was the psychology of motivation.

CLIENT CAREER PLANNING

With an emphasis on understanding the business side of acting, Michael and Carolyn have empowered their clients with insight into the inner-workings of the entertainment industry and the importance of having a career plan.