DPD

Casting

The DPD Mission

We believe in manifesting change in how the real world is reflected in today's media by advocating for and elevating underrepresented and misrepresented communities.

How do we do this?:

By breaking industry barriers, developing, and promoting

underserved and marginalized talent in all facets of the industry.

One mechanism with which we do this is via open calls for performers.

DPD casting has spearheaded national open calls & casting searches, both project-specific and general, for Nickelodeon in several US & Canadian cities and virtually,

including the Michael D. Cohen Trans Youth Acting Challenge and 2021 Performers with Disabilities Search.

FOUNDER

Danielle

Pretsfelder Demchick

Danielle has been an active member of the New York casting community since 2004. Nickelodeon was her casting home for over 14 years, where she tapped into her love of developing young talent. From live action and animation, scripted and unscripted, long form and short form, and even podcasts, she has and loves to cast it all!

The co-VP of Advocacy for the Casting Society of America, her work elevating underrepresented communities has been barrier breaking and continues to motivate her to manifest change in how the real world is seen on screen.

A leader in the organization's Equity in Entertainment committee, she serves on the board of both the Casting Society of America and Casting Society Cares, where her focus is on Training & Education. She prides herself on being an ally to artists and aspiring talent of all abilities.

She serves as a faculty advisor for Disability Belongs f.k.a Respectability and she is on the Actor's Fund's Looking Ahead Advisory Board. In addition to her work in casting, she is currently pursuing a master's degree in Disabilities Studies at the City University of New York. She is also a trained childhood bereavement group facilitator and serves as a member of the Caring Committee for the Wechsler Center for Modern Aging.

When she is not working, you can find her on her Peloton, cooking while enjoying one of her many favorite podcasts, or taking her vitamins.

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Favorite "Pre DPD" Credits

ASSOCIATE

Elizabeth Hay

Elizabeth Hay has been an active member of New York’s casting community since 2017, committed to amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities in media. She is authentically part of and deeply connected to the Disabled and Hispanic communities striving to nurture voices that are often overlooked through thoughtful and accurate casting.

As one of the few casting professionals who openly identifies as disabled, Elizabeth brings a unique perspective to her work. She is passionate about shifting perceptions around disability, firmly believing in the talent and capability of people with disabilities. Her efforts to expand the representation of disabled artists extend beyond casting.

Previously, Elizabeth served as an instructor at FILMACADEMY360 and SPECTRUM360/ACADEMY360, programs designed to support students on the autism spectrum. There, she taught film editing and production techniques, empowering her students to pursue meaningful careers in the industry.

Elizabeth’s mission is simple yet powerful: to elevate as many voices as possible—because when people see themselves represented, anything becomes possible.

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