Casting Assistant Pathway Program
Congratulations to the 2025 Casting Assistant Pathway Program cohort on successfully completing this year’s program! As emerging leaders in the casting industry, this cohort has demonstrated exceptional dedication, talent, and perseverance throughout their journeys. Their passion for the craft has paved the way for a bright future, and we eagerly anticipate witnessing your continued growth and achievements as casting assistants.
Meet the participants here:
Charles "Chip" Kass
Charles “Chip” Kass (he/him) is a Chicago-born, LA-based casting professional, producer, and production specialist.
Chip’s early production credits include the Ravinia Music Festival outside of Chicago, Family Feud, The Bachelor, and Baron Davis’ Domino: Battle of the Bones. Additionally, he worked on content for Amazon Prime Video and UPROXX media.
Chip then joined Mortal Media as a personal assistant, working on Apple TV+’s "Hello Tomorrow!" and Hulu’s "White Men Can’t Jump" reboot. More recently, Chip has worked with Showdown Productions on three features, "Break", "In Flight", and "The Cure", and two shorts, "The Power Within" and "The Taking of Courtroom One-Two-Three", a co-production with Macro Productions.
Chip made his producer and casting director debut with "scalped!", a horror-comedy short film about pop music fangirls getting bloody revenge on ticket scalpers. "scalped!" has played at more than ten film festivals since its premiere.
Che Rucker
Che is a Bay Area native, currently based in LA after a 3-year stint of living in the United Kingdom where he graduated from the Northern Film School at Leeds Beckett University. It was there in England, during the audition process of his first student short, that he discovered his passion for casting. With a background both in acting and filmmaking, Che found casting was the perfect fusion of the two. Towards the end of university, he worked as a junior casting assistant to a UK casting director until his return stateside.
Outside of casting, Che is an avid fan of Leeds United Football Club. You'll also often find him performing close-up card magic, playing guitar, and entertaining guests with craft cocktails (his favorite is a New York Sour). Che's career is just beginning and he's excited to see where this journey will take him.
Chrissy Kane
For Chrissy, casting isn’t just about filling roles—it’s about finding actors who make characters feel real and unforgettable. She thrives on collaboration, and is always eager to learn and contribute to projects that leave a lasting impact. Whether helping piece together an ensemble or scouting emerging talent, she finds joy in the details that make a production come together. When she's not working, this new LA resident loves exploring and discovering hidden gems around the city. A true movie lover, Chrissy is on a mission to watch 100 films this year. She’s always seeking inspiration, new experiences, and opportunities to connect with fellow creatives.
Courtney Robinson
As a kid living in Detroit, Michigan there was something "magical" about watching television sitcoms from the 70s, 80s and 90s that were taped in live studios in Hollywood, CA. From there Courtney Robinson wanted to learn more about the entertainment industry and decided to study television production in high school and college ultimately graduating from Howard University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Courtney moved to Los Angeles in 2013 and began working in unscripted television. He's become a NAACP award winning Producer who loves storytelling and working with talent. Courtney wants to bring his passion for storytelling and his appreciation for the art of acting to episodic television/scripted projects as a Casting professional and is excited for the journey.
Fuschia Faulding Steward
As a native New Yorker and Emerson College alum with a degree in Media Arts Production, Fuschia is passionate about being a part of stories that inspire, impact, connect, and challenge. Believing that casting is one of the most crucial aspects of the industry, she is excited to be sharpening her skills as a casting professional through the Casting Assistant Pathway Program! Her diverse experience includes roles such as Production Assistant at the US Open, Executive Producer for The EVVY Awards, and Research and Edit Assistant for the documentary feature Obsessed with Light. When she is not working on a production, Fuschia enjoys playing tennis, watching musicals, and exploring the city.
Hannah Lewis
Hannah is pivoting to her dream career in casting after 14 years in accounting and finance at SpaceX and the LA28 Olympics. She’s a Champaign, IL native and a UCLA graduate. A lifelong fan of theater, ensemble TV dramas, and unscripted TV, she's fascinated by the art of finding the right talent to bring a project to life. In her spare time, she loves to travel and share her adventures on her travel blog. She's thrilled to have completed the Casting Assistant Pathway Program and excited to launch this next chapter of her career.
Joshua Lipscomb
Joshua Lipscomb is a multifaceted creative force hailing from Durham, NC. A devoted father, dancer, producer, writer, actor, and casting director.
Juhi Rayonia
Juhi is originally from Massachusetts and studied Film and TV Production at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. She loves the process of casting for all formats and is passionate about bringing diverse talent and stories to the silver screen. After completing a fellowship with CBS Casting, Juhi is looking forward to furthering her career with the CSC Training Program. Besides loving all aspects of the entertainment industry, Juhi enjoys dancing, reading, baking, and of course, watching films and TV shows. Her current favorites are Dune: Part Two, Challengers, XO Kitty, and Agatha All Along!
Karina Padron
Karina Padron's latest short film, "Saving Prufrock" premiered in 2024 and was most recently showcased at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. She has spent the last 5 years heading film production at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where she was the Director of Photography for Michael Toomey's Macbeth (2020). She has served as Filmmaker and Editor on The Company Showcase for the last four years. Padron also produced an original sitcom and on-location film series through the conservatory, which are set to be released in 2025.
Karina Padron was born to Cuban parents in Miami, FL. She sings regularly at Hotel Edison and her corgi, Luke, is the light of her life.
Sarina Tamacheepjaroen
Sarina Tamacheepjaroen (she/her/hers) is a lifelong creative and aspiring casting professional based in Los Angeles. As a former educator, Sarina is eager to channel her skills from the classroom to break into the entertainment industry. She has contributed to numerous productions over the past decade in various roles, and is thrilled to finally pursue her passions professionally. Sarina is committed to advocating for diversity, sustainability, and empathy in all capacities. She is elated to further her knowledge of the casting process, and grateful for the opportunity to champion the next wave of changemakers. Sarina graduated with High Honors from UCSB, receiving a BA in Communication and minors in feminist studies and theater.