Actors of color and in the LGBTQ community are calling for changes in casting practices, storylines, and depictions of their characters on screen. While decisions about who is represented and how come from the top down, three Ducks are helping lead the way in solving one of Hollywood's most pressing issues.
Marc Anthony Samuel, known to soap opera fans worldwide as nurse Felix Dubois on General Hospital, is breaking stereotypes as the first openly gay character on a traditionally conservative daytime series. Miranda Einy, a former casting director at Central Casting, is using her experience at Central Casting to lead a call to action initiative with former colleagues she hopes will lead to less discrimination and a wider variety of roles for actors of color. Aaron Wasserteil, coordinator of programming and development for Fox Television Stations is producing and developing programming for Fox Soul, a new streaming channel that will celebrate Black culture, while addressing issues that impact the community.
Marc, Miranda, and Aaron will discuss their work, the state of diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry, and will participate in a Q&A with audience members.
Meet Our Featured Alumni Panelists!
Marc Anthony Samuel, BA (telecommunication and film)
Marc currently resides in Southern California and works as a television, film, and voiceover actor. Currently, you can catch him on ABC’s daytime soap opera General Hospital as nurse Felix Dubois.
Miranda Einy, BA ’18 (cinema studies and journalism)
Manager, Television Division, International Promotions
Los Angeles native Miranda Einy spent two years working at Central Casting, the nation's leading casting agency for background performers, and was a casting director for such shows as Black-ish and Snowfall. At Central Casting, she and five colleagues wrote a proposal designed to help the agency become more inclusive and accurate in the way actors of color and of the LGBTQ community are portrayed on the screen. Currently, Miranda works for International Promotions, where she oversees product placement and brand integration for more than 150 television shows.
Aaron Wasserteil, BBA ’10 (business administration and entrepreneurship)
Coordinator of Programming and Development, Fox Television Stations
Aaron Wasserteil is the coordinator of programming and development at FOX Television Stations, where he has assisted in the transition to virtual production during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is also heavily involved in FOX's first streaming channel, FOX Soul, which launched in 2020 and celebrates Black culture and the African American community. Most recently, Aaron has developed and produced a show called Fox Soul's Screening Room, debuting in February for Black History Month. The weekly, hour-long program will highlight short films created by Black filmmakers from around the globe.