We had the good fortune of connecting with Diakeim Lyles and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Diakeim, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The Pandemic! When the pandemic started in March of 2019, it quickly changed the entertainment industry, especially the casting side of the industry and I had to make an adjustment fast or I wouldn’t survive. Luckily for me, I had already been casting VO and On-camera commercials for 21+years and had established a trust and professionalism with others in the industry. So, It was just came down to Me getting over the fear of getting started. Getting over that fear has been the most important decision I made that has help with my success in this very competitive and difficult industry

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
A native New Yorker, I began my career in the Entertainment industry attending LaGuardia HS of the Performing Arts. I continued studying acting with a focus on filmmaking, and spent a year abroad at Middlesex University in London via SUNY Binghamton’s BFA program. I completed a stage manager/PA apprenticeship at the Powerhouse Theater at Vassar College, working with prominent actors like Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell. I have been a commercial casting dir. for the last 21+ years. I got my start at Liz Lewis casting partners where I worked for 8 years casting numerous on-camera commercials and voice-overs. I now work independently and with various casting companies in the New York area including: Liz Lewis Casting, Brooke Thomas Casting, House Casting, Allison Twardziak Casting, to name a few. I am also a private virtual acting coach and teach commercial audition classes at New York film academy. Actors respond to my outgoing personality making them feel relaxed during auditions so that clients always see their best performance. I love casting, and try to pass on helpful information no one ever gave me when I was starting out. This can be a very hard industry to get into and getting helpful information and guidance can be difficult to find. I pride myself on cutting through all the bullshit and giving performers up to date , real world support so they truly have an understanding of the industry and what to REALLY expect when pursuing a career as an actor for film/tv. I’ve learned many lessons along the way but the best ones were to not let fear stop me and know my worth.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Places- The Little red Light house
Riverbank state park
Governor’s Island
The Hight Line
Central park
The Real IMAX movie theater

Eats-
Joe’s Pizza
Dado’s Pizza
Charles pan-fried Chicken
Oso Harlem Mexican restaurant
Time out Market NYC

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to Dedicate my shoutout out to…

Liz Lewis casting LLC.
Actors Connection NYC
NEW YORK FILM ACADEMY
The Wright Way Coaching

Gina Scarpa
Freya Krasnow at Bowling / Miscia Casting
Allison Twardziak Casting
Brooke thomas Casting
Entertainment Community Fund
Colleen Miller-Moran: Executive Producer at MoJo Supermarket

Website: https://www.dlylescast.com

Instagram: diakeim lyles

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/diakeim-l-71573573

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