Janis grew up doing musical theater from the age of 6 and transitioned into film and television as a teenager. At 16, she won 1st place in every acting and modeling competition of the IMTA Convention which served as a major launching pad for her theatrical career. She went on to guest star on shows like CRIMINAL MINDS and CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND, then landed her first recurring role on Freeform’s FAMOUS IN LOVE opposite Keith Powers. Janis was a 2024 acting fellow in Lena Waithe and Hillman Grad’s Mentorship Lab and is looking forward to bringing a raw and authentic approach to her future roles in advocating for greater inclusivity within Hollywood.
Jason Armani Martinez is a first-generation Dominican-American originally from Lawrence, MA based in New York City. During his junior year at the University of New Hampshire, Jason pivoted from playing football to studying acting while abroad in London. Shortly after graduating, Jason joined a local community theatre and booked his first role in Netflix’s SPENSER CONFIDENTIAL. More recently, Jason appeared in Cord Jefferson’s Academy award-winning film AMERICAN FICTION and co-led two short films that screened at LALIFF 2024. Jason will appear in Patrick Lussier’s upcoming action thriller, AFTERMATH, starring Dylan Sprouse and Mason Gooding, slated to release later this fall.
Josca Moore (they/she) is an actor, dancer, and writer based in New York City. Trained at NYU Tisch School of Drama, Josca’s career began Off-Broadway where they starred in various theater productions including Sarah Kane’s CRAVE, George C. Wolfe’s THE COLORED MUSEUM, and Jackie Sibblies Drury’s WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT…Josca can be seen portraying Joy in the short film PURE (directed by Natalie Jasmine Harris) on MAX. They have made multiple appearances in commercials and print for e-commerce clients including Kohl’s, Target, Reebok, and Hanes. As a dancer, Josca has worked with Debbie Allen during the U.S. tour of her musical “Brothers of the Knight” and danced live with Sting and Paul Simon in Washington, D.C. A 2024 acting fellow in Lena Waithe and Hillman Grad’s Mentorship Lab, Josca continues to nurture their craft and comedic voice and is excited to be continuously involved in coming of age stories centered around queer Black youth and young adults.
Mark Antony Howard (he/him) is a multi-passionate entertainer, excelling on stage, screen, and anywhere in between. With a BFA in Musical Theatre, Mark Antony has extensive credits in plays, musicals, workshops, and table reads. His recent screen work includes JUST ONE (2024), a short film produced by Color Creative, and THE FOOL (2024), where he showcased his acting, singing, and dancing ability as the iconic Sammy Davis Jr. A 2024 acting fellow in Lena Waithe and Hillman Grad’s Mentorship Lab, Mark is forever grateful for his family, friends, and the rest of his incredible support system.
IG: @mah.himself
Nara Yun is a Meisner-trained, bilingual Korean-American actor with a 4th-degree black belt in Taekwondo. She has seamlessly transitioned her martial arts expertise into stunt work for film and television as the Blue Ranger stunt performer in POWER RANGES KIDS FORCE. Nara is also recognized for her co-starring role in FX’s QUARTER LIFE POETRY and her voice-over work in Netflix’s FORECASTING LOVE AND WEATHER. She is passionate about telling stories that spark meaningful discussions about cultural, societal, and generational traumas, while also highlighting pathways to healing. A 2024 acting fellow in Lena Waithe and Hillman Grad’s Mentorship Lab, Nara strives to bring depth and authenticity to every role she undertakes.
Priscilla Walker (she/her) is a proud Afro-Latina actor, model, writer, and producer based in Los Angeles. Priscilla studied theater at the University of Southern California and has also studied under Howard Fine, Lesly Kahn, Margie Harbor and Deb Aquila. She is the former Miss California Latina and Miss Panama who has modeled for various brands and booked several national commercials. She produced her first play, CLOUD TECTONICS, by Jose Rivera and co-wrote the short film, BELFRY, which premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival. Priscilla appeared in TAKE BACK starring Michael Jai White and Sony’s WHITEY HOUSTON: I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY. A 2024 acting fellow in Lena Waithe and Hillman Grad’s Mentorship Lab, Priscilla is passionate about the craft and continues to light up fires wherever she goes.
Shawn Roundtree Jr. is a former pro basketball player turned actor based in Chicago. Since transitioning to acting three years ago, he has made appearances in shows such as CHICAGO PD and EMPEROR OF OCEAN PARK. In 2022, Roundtree Jr. won first place in Christine Horn’s Hollywood Bound Actor’s Monologue Competition. Shawn has booked numerous commercials with notable brands including Foot Locker, DriveTime, and has appeared in several short films.
Simran Jehani (she/her) is a Persian/Indian immigrant actor, writer/director, and yoga instructor based in Los Angeles. Born and raised in Mumbai, Simran received her acting training in theatre at a young age where she starred in national performances including THE SOUND OF MUSIC at the National Center for Performing Arts. She transitioned to the screen with her role in Disney India's KHOOBSURAT starring Sonam Kapoor Ahuja. While attending the University of Southern California, she directed the short film, THE SKIMMER, which premiered at the New Filmmakers Film Festival. Recent credits include Netflix’s anthology series FEELS LIKE ISHQ and the indie film, APPOFENIACS starring Sean Gunn and Jermaine Fowler, directed by Chris Marrs Piliero.
Belonging two worlds, Simran is dirven to create a voice for women at the intersection of culture, identity, sexuality, and class in Hollywood.
