Looking for guidance, knowledge and support to take the next step in your film industry career? The Australian Film Television and Radio School’s (AFTRS) Master of Arts Screen: Business (MASB) provides the tools, expertise and industry intelligence to help set you confidently on a new and promising path. We talk to two recent graduates who not only found entrepreneurial success in their chosen direction of casting but learned a lot more about themselves and the screen industry along the way.
Sarah Price is the casting director of a growing screen talent agency in Darwin. On the other side of the world in Mexico, Joshua Algie is taking his Australian-born casting platform to an international market. Both are AFTRS success stories, having graduated from the MASB in different cohorts but with a similarly clear focus for their future. Surrounded by fellow students online and face-to-face from all backgrounds and all walks of life, they speak to the value of the course, which is empowering industry professionals to navigate new and exciting directions in a constantly evolving industry.
Sarah Price fell into casting almost by accident from a 20-year career in marketing, PR and events. She established Castaway NT in Darwin – setting up a database of local actors, with an increasing amount of emerging First Nations actors – as a resource for local and visiting film producers.
The work was often sporadic, however, and when the onset of COVID made it even more difficult to grow a sustainable business model in a small regional market, she came across an online ad for the MASB.
“I reviewed the curriculum, and it felt like the perfect platform to help me solve the riddle,” says Sarah.
Upon enrolling and commencing the course, Sarah found the student/lecturer/campus experience both welcoming and flexible.
“One of the key reasons that the MASB was workable for me was the fact that the subjects were both online and on campus and there was flexibility in selecting the model of learning,” she says. “This was vital, as being a four-and-a-half hour plane flight from the AFTRS campus in Sydney, attending 16 weekend blocks was not financially or logistically viable. But I did still want the all-important connections with my fellow students so when I could I flew to Sydney and attended approximately half the sessions in class. This was wonderful as I developed strong connections with my fellow students who still to this day are a critical part of my professional network.”
Any worries about fitting into the course were quickly alleviated, given the diverse nature of AFTRS’ staff and students. Sarah was also impressed with how the course was conducted and the openness of its teaching methods.
“Being from Darwin and a relative newcomer to the industry I was quite worried about whether or not I would fit in,” she says, “and there were some seriously impressive resumes in the class with me. But almost seamlessly fit we all did, and remarkably well despite our diverse backgrounds. Everyone was welcoming, supportive, inclusive and we helped each other along with those areas we found challenging. Bonds were formed.
“Similarly, the lecturers were engaging, knowledgeable and supportive. Classes were different to any other class I’ve ever attended… I have two other degrees and have done countless seminars/workshops over the years. They were often more like a fascinating intellectual group discussion that often spilled over into after class catch-ups than a conventional lecture/tutorial format. Lecturers were supportive of everyone wherever they were at in their life/academic journey, which was wonderful.”
Looking to solve the riddle of how to build a sustainable niche business in a small regional market, Sarah says she has come away from AFTRS with a clear pathway to finding an answer. She feels she has a better understanding of the industry and how to navigate its changing landscape, that the MASB has connected her with a network of people who provide a professional and social scaffolding that support her endeavours and have given her wisdom to not feel fearful of the uncertainty that can be inherent in creative pursuits.
Sarah recently won a CGA Award and was named as Rising Talent: Casting Director by IF Magazine. She’s understandably proud of those accolades, but the fact that Castaway NT has grown through these last few challenging years seems like the biggest success of all.
“I feel the greatest achievement is for Castaway NT to still be here and not just surviving but thriving,” she says. “There have been times especially when COVID impacted productions and even through the ups and downs of the local industry, when I thought it would not last. But with the support of the MASB community, and of course the amazing NT screen community, it has gone from strength to strength.
“My proudest achievement has been seeing the impact of the work I’ve done for my local community. Discovering emerging talent and supporting them into larger careers in the sector and supporting the work of content makers through finding exciting new talent is something I’m forever proud of.”
Sarah is excited about one of Castaway NT’s 2025 projects called “Damulgurra Stories,” which she is developing in partnership with a Darwin-based First Nations filmmaker.
“Damulgurra is the Larrakia (Darwin) word for heart,” she explains. It will support filmmakers through the entire production process – from concept to marketing – in building meaningful partnerships with First Nations communities through a structured, respectful approach. This sets a new industry standard by providing resources, protocols and training focused on cultural integrity, collaboration, and empowerment.
“At its heart, it’s about respectful engagement and First Nations leadership. The inspiration for this was developed during my time at AFTRS on the MASB course and was a key part of my capstone thesis.”
A world away from Darwin sits Joshua Algie, the director and co-founder of Altai – a bespoke casting platform that equips creatives with premium tools to manage audition and casting processes.
Prior to entering the MASB and launching Altai, he worked throughout Spain and Sydney for several years as a casting associate with McGregor Casting, working across a range of local and international productions.
“I’ve always been passionate about the future of storytelling on our screens and how we can bring that future forward in the right way,” Joshua says. “It’s a really interesting time to be working in casting; our industry’s not as geographically bound as we once were with the rise of self-taping, co-casting between international casting offices, as well how casting offices are equipped to unearth new, diverse talent.
“I wanted to carve out dedicated time and space to explore the relationship between our industry and the tools that were available, and whether they were moving together in the right direction and pace. The MASB was the perfect framework for me to explore this properly.”
Joshua says he underwent a huge learning curve during his time studying the MASB, with the diverse backgrounds of both students and academic staff uniquely contributing to his wider understanding of the film industry.
“Although my peers were working across all kinds of fields within our industry, we found synergies all throughout the course and are still collaborating to this day,” he explains. “My lecturers were incredibly approachable and shared a wonderful balance of working within the industry, so they deeply understood the nuances, but also the business acumen required to build and sustain a screen business.
“Over the two years I was consistently learning and refining my approach with Altai. I’ve always said Altai will travel at the speed of trust. Cultivating great relationships in our industry is so important; the MASB understands this and provided the frameworks and perspectives for me to finesse this area.”
Since its launch two-and-a-half years ago, Altai has built an excellent reputation as an intuitive platform that bridges the gap between agents and actors. In late 2024 Altai launched throughout Mexico and Latin America and Joshua is pleased to say it’s been met with an incredibly positive response.
“It’s a really exciting time for the screen industry throughout Mexico and Latin America,” he says. “We’ve always wanted to take Altai global, but collaborating in the right way. Working within our industry for over 25 years collectively before leaving to start Altai, Renee (Currie, co-founder) and I have a deep respect for the ecosystem. Altai is an evolution not a revolution, we’ve always wanted to build a global platform that feels hyper local to each industry.”
Pondering his time at AFTRS while chatting to Variety AU/NZ from Mexico, Joshua can’t recommend the MASB course highly enough to prospective students.
“I’d encourage them to go for it,” he says. “I was working full-time whilst studying and still found it really flexible and manageable. Rarely do you find an environment that you can learn about global screen business with international perspectives and contexts whilst supported by a wonderful team of lecturers.”
Now an award-winning Casting Director, Sarah agrees.
“I would say definitely take the leap,” she says. “It is challenging but it will open up new worlds and without doubt – wherever you’re at in your career or whatever your goals – it will drive you forward. Plus you’ll get to meet some extraordinary people, learn a hell of a lot and have life changing experiences. Do it!”
Designed for a new generation of screen leaders, AFTRS’ Master of Arts Screen: Business is Australia’s foremost screen business course. For more than a decade it has accelerated the careers of screen media practitioners, delivering high-quality content to producers, developers, broadcasters, filmmakers, creative arts managers, founders, and many, many screen sector entrepreneurs.
It has driven the expansion and growth of new and existing IP, generated numerous, sustainable start-ups, grown businesses, and enabled the adaptation and monetisation of new technology through highly developed creative screen business models.
Applications for the 2025 Master of Screen: Business mid-year intake are open now. Head to www.aftrs.edu.au for full details.