Principal and Background Casting

Smyth Casting is proud to announce its expansion into Northern Ontario, opening the door to both principal and background casting opportunities across the region. With this exciting growth, Smyth Casting will now qualify for the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), making it easier than ever for productions to access Northern talent and resources while benefiting from regional funding incentives.

Ilona Smyth, founder of Smyth Casting, will lead the principal casting expansion in the North. With more than two decades of experience, Ilona is recognized for uncovering fresh talent, building trusted relationships with top agencies, and delivering under pressure—on time and on budget. Her casting credits span over 200 film, television, and commercial productions.

Kelly Lamb, owner of That Creative Loft and a seasoned casting professional based in Sudbury, is leading background casting in the North. She began her career casting over 100 extras for the feature film Country Crush and went on to manage background talent for Hard Rock Medical. More recently, she contributed to The Royal Chen Jones (North Bay) and Rever En Neon (Sudbury). Fully bilingual in English and French, Kelly provides hands-on, in-person support from her Sudbury office.

Joining the team as Casting Associate and Lead Wrangler is Rizzo Jeppesen, a well-known presence in the Northern Ontario film community. Since stepping onto her first set as a background performer in 2017, Rizzo quickly moved up the ACTRA ranks and into crew roles including Background Wrangler, Set PA, 4th AD, and Casting Assistant. Known for her versatility and deep love of film, Rizzo is a trusted presence on set and well-respected by both talent and crew alike.

For inquiries or to get started on your Northern Ontario production, please contact:
ilona@smythcasting.com and kelly@smythcasting.com 

6472042736