Erica Messer is a television writer, showrunner and executive producer whose career includes some of television's most recognizable series. She began writing on shows including Alias, The O.C. and Charmed before joining Criminal Minds, where she became a writer, executive producer and showrunner. She later helped relaunch the series for Paramount+ as Criminal Minds: Evolution, where she continues to serve as executive producer.

Messer is also an executive producer of the award-winning documentary feature The Biggest Little Farm and The Biggest Little Farm: The Return. In this episode of Artistry Series, Erica shares her experience building a long-running career in television, leading a major series, balancing creative ambition with family life, and navigating the realities of working in the entertainment industry.

Stream Criminal Minds: Evolution⁠ on Paramount + ⁠

Artistry Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting artists through mentorship, arts education, mental health resources, financial education, and access to professional resources. Our programs are designed to help creatives build sustainable careers and thrive both personally and professionally.

To celebrate our 200th episode of Whats My Frame; I'm joined by Alexis Booth & Faith Abraham for an inside look at the casting process. Alexis shares her creative journey to Head of Casting at Kapital Entertainment, while Faith reflects on nearly a decade in casting across TV and film. Together, they walk us through the executive casting process at Kapital Entertainment. It’s an encouraging, conversation about building relationships, staying grounded and gaining a deeper understanding of the creatives championing for us with each audition. 

Alexis Booth Full Bio:

Alexis began her career working on hit shows like Scrubs and Desperate Housewives before transitioning into television casting. She worked in Scott Genkinger & Deborah George’s office on Breakout Kings and Gigantic, and then moved to feature films with Roger Mussenden & Jeremy Rich, casting X-Men: First Class and Jack and Jill. Alexis then transitioned to TNT and TBS, where she rose through the executive ranks and oversaw casting for a decade, managing projects such as Snowpiercer, The Alienist, The Last Ship, Major Crimes, The Last O.G., Wrecked, and People of Earth. With the launch of HBO Max, she also managed casting for The Flight Attendant and Made for Love. After working as a casting director on an assortment of television pilots and films for cable and streaming, Alexis began her current position as Head of Casting at Kapital Entertainment. She has worked on shows and films, including The Neighborhood, Watson, DMV, Crutch, One Mile, Civil Justice, and Comedy Pays.

Faith Abraham Full Bio:

Faith Abraham has been working in casting for nearly a decade and is currently based in Los Angeles. This native east coaster came out west to work in the film and entertainment industry. Since then, she has worked on several different television shows and features films. Some of which includes, CBS’s CSI: Vegas and Fire Country, NBC’s Good Girls, Netflix’s Firefly Lane and Blumhouse’s Halloween. More recently she has become apart of the in house casting team at Kapital Entertainment. Over the years, Faith has developed an eye for spotting exceptional talent and has enjoyed years of nurturing relationships between talent and creatives.

Kelly Park's journey is a reminder that creative careers rarely follow a straight line. In this conversation, we talk about career pivots, trusting your instincts, and the unexpected opportunities that come from following what genuinely lights you up. From acting coach to television director, Kelly shares the lessons she's learned about leadership, confidence, and building a creative life on your own terms. Whether you're an actor, filmmaker, or simply navigating your next chapter, there's so much wisdom packed into this episode.

Follow Kelly on Instagram

Alliance of Women Directors Spotlight

This conversation with casting director Meg Morman opens a thoughtful look at the early creative decisions that shape the stories we eventually see on screen. We talk about the instinct behind casting, what it means to truly see potential in an actor, and how trust and collaboration shape every step of the process across film television and narrative podcasting. Meg brings a grounded perspective on what it means to champion a story and the artists within it, with a deep respect for both craft and care. Whether you are an actor trying to understand how decisions are made or a creative curious about how projects come together behind the scenes, this episode offers a generous and insightful look into the heart of casting.

This conversation with voiceover actor Ian Cardoni explores what it means to step into an iconic role and grow into it in real time. We talk about the craft of voiceover performance, the discipline behind sustaining characters across animation and video games, and what it feels like to inherit a role as widely recognized as Rick Sanchez in Rick and Morty. Ian shares the range, training, and adaptability it takes to build a career in voiceover, along with the responsibility that comes with bringing a beloved character forward into new seasons and audiences. At its core, this is a conversation about trust, preparation, and finding your own voice inside a legacy role. Whether you are an actor, voiceover artist, or simply curious about how animated worlds are built, this episode offers a grounded look at the work behind the performance.

Born and raised just outside of Boston, Ian Cardoni currently stars in Adult Swim’s two-time Emmy Award-winning animated comedy series “Rick and Morty” as the titular character Rick Sanchez. Cardoni stepped into the iconic role at the start of season 7 and can be heard as the voice of Rick in seasons 7 & 8 which are available to watch on HBO Max, with season 9 coming to Adult Swim soon. The hit series was recently renewed through season 12.

Cardoni has voiced numerous roles across adult and children’s animation, video games, TV promo, and commercials, including recent roles in the Children’s & Family Emmy-nominated and Annie Award-nominated Nickelodeon series “Rock, Paper, Scissors,” in Fox’s animated series “Krapopolis,” and in the Sony Pictures Classic film “Scarlet” from Academy Award-nominated director Mamoru Hosoda which had its national theatrical release on February 13, 2026, and was an official selection at Venice and Toronto international film festivals in 2025. Cardoni’s voice has also been heard announcing for WWE, SyFy Network, Apple TV, and Disney+.

In the video game space, Cardoni has voiced roles across various critically-acclaimed titles, including “DC: Dark Legion” by Warner Brothers Games, “CookieRun: The Darkest Night” by Devsisters, “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 & 4” by Iron Galaxy, and he reprised his “Rick and Morty” role of Rick Sanchez in the chart-topping game “MultiVersus” from Warner Brothers Games which has received multiple Game Awards nominations. Most recently, Cardoni can be heard as the villain Magrus in third-person action game “Romeo is a Dead Man” by Grasshopper Manufacture and legendary developer Suda51, which released in February 2026. 

Outside of his acting career, Cardoni is a proud and active Emerson College alumni who spends his time on philanthropic ventures and educational endeavors. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife.

@iancardoni

How ‘Rick and Morty’ Cast Its New Voice Stars

*Ian Cardoni (Rick) and Harry Belden (Morty) were cast in Rick and Morty under the SAG-AFTRA 2023 Basic Cable Animation Agreement as the series began production on Season 7

Great directing is often less about control and more about communication, and Rob Spera’s career lives in that space between craft and clarity. From directing across film and television to shaping hundreds of productions on stage and mentoring the next generation of filmmakers, Rob brings a grounded perspective on what it actually takes to tell a story that lands. We talk about the language of directing actors, the difference between instinct and technique, and how teaching becomes its own form of filmmaking. This episode opens up the realities of building a sustainable creative career while staying in service of story, collaboration, and growth. Whether you are an actor, director, or simply trying to understand how stories come together on screen, this conversation offers a clear, practical, and deeply human look at the work.

His recently published book, Film/TV Directors’ Field Manual: Seventy Maxims to Change Your Filmmaking, has become an instant must-read for students and professionals and is available on Amazon. His other works include Actors Write For Actors, Encore, and The Field.

robspera.com

@robsperaofficial

Casting is often invisible when it is working well, but Leeba Zakharov’s approach brings it back into focus as a deeply human and collaborative art form. Shaped by a career that spans development, acquisitions, and decades in film and television casting, Leeba shares how instinct, trust, and cultural perspective inform the way she sees actors and stories. We talk about the responsibility of holding space for vulnerability in the audition process, the impact of mentorship, and what it means to truly honor the actor’s work in the room. This conversation offers a grounded look at casting as both an intuitive craft and a relationship driven practice. Whether you are an actor or a creative working in storytelling, this episode invites you to think differently about how performances are discovered and supported.

Playing a villain does not mean becoming one it means learning how to understand them from the inside out. Tom Wozniczka shares how he approaches complex characters with curiosity and compassion while building a career across international film and television. From his work in Drops of God and Slow Horses to his role in Champagne Problems, Tom reflects on the importance of instinct in performance and the quiet discipline behind strong self tape work. We also talk about what it means to create space for yourself as an actor and trust your own interpretation in a highly competitive industry. At its core this is a conversation about perspective craft and learning how to stay grounded while moving between countries roles and creative worlds.

Casting Tom Wozniczka as Patrice in 'Slow Horses' | SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations

@tomwozniczka9

Aujourd’hui dans What’s My Frame, je reçois ⁠Tom Wozniczka⁠. Tom tient actuellement un rôle dans la série Drops of God sur Apple TV+. Auparavant, il a interprété « Patrice » dans la quatrième saison de Slow Horses, aux côtés de Gary Oldman.

Aujourd’hui, Tom et moi échangeons sur la complexité d’incarner un méchant tout en gardant de la compassion pour son personnage, sur l’importance de faire confiance à son instinct lors des self-tapes, de se créer un espace à soi, et de collaborer avec les réalisateurs.

Pendant les fêtes de fin d’année, Tom est apparu aux côtés de Minka Kelly dans le film Netflix Champagne Problems. Il a débuté sa carrière en France en jouant dans Les Damnés, puis a poursuivi avec The Damned, mis en scène par Ivo van Hove à la Comédie-Française, ainsi que No Limit, réalisé par Robin Goupil.

Casting often begins long before anyone knows a project will become something special, and Anya Colloff has spent her career at the center of that discovery process. From early work alongside some of the most influential casting directors in the industry to co founding her own casting office, Anya shares what it means to recognize potential, trust instinct, and help shape the tone of a story through the actors who bring it to life. We talk about the balance between comedy and drama, the responsibility of making thoughtful choices in the room, and why casting is ultimately about connection more than selection. At its core, this conversation is about seeing people clearly and supporting them into roles where they can do their best work. Whether you are an actor or a storyteller, this episode offers a grounded look at the care and intuition behind great casting.

Beyond casting, Anya is a passionate mentor and a deep believer in supporting the next generation of creatives. She currently mentors through weareempower.org bringing the same care, curiosity, and compassion to her life that she brings to her work.

@colloffnicolocasting

Great directing is about communication and the ability to build an environment where actors and creatives can do their most honest work. Anne Renton’s approach to directing is rooted in trust, clarity, and deep collaboration, and this conversation opens up how those values show up in real time on set. We talk about the role of mentorship in shaping a creative life, how directors develop their voice through experience, and what it actually takes to guide a room full of people toward the same story without losing the humanity of the process. Anne also reflects on how each chapter of her journey informs the way she leads today, especially when working closely with actors. At its core, this episode is about leadership, communication, and the responsibility of creating space where great work can happen.

annerenton.com

@anne_renton

Full Bio:

Anne Renton is a film and television director and is a member of the Directors Guild of America (DGA), the Australian Directors’ Guild (ADG) and The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA).

In 2023 Anne won the DGA award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs for an episode of the Apple TV+ show BEST FOOT FORWARD. Anne is one of the founders of the LGBTQ+ committee at the DGA which became an official part of the Guild in 2022. She was recently elected to serve on the DGA inaugural LGBTQ+ Representative Committee. 

In Television, Anne has directed episodes of THE ROOKIE, THE GOOD DOCTOR, THE RESIDENT, BONES, MACGYVER, THE BOLD TYPE, THE FOSTERS and JUST ADD MAGIC. She is currently attached to direct the feature film CHEF’S CHOICE.

Anne directed the award-winning short film LOVE IS LOVE featuring Emmy winner Jane Lynch. Anne’s feature film, THE PERFECT FAMILY, starring Kathleen Turner, Emily Deschanel and Jason Ritter, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film screened at over 50 festivals worldwide prior to its US theatrical release.

Anne graduated from Sydney University with a B.S. in Physiotherapy. Her passion for the healing arts led her to travel internationally and study many forms of complementary medicine, healing, psychology and spirituality. While living in New York City, Anne studied acting and her inspiration for directing developed through a love of script analysis and storytelling.

Anne’s background infuses her directing- she brings intuition, kindness and collaboration to her work as well as a strong ability to communicate clearly with all departments. Anne is excited to continue to direct dynamic and nuanced character driven material, especially work that highlights underrepresented communities with a focus on women and queer stories.