RON LEACH Producer, Director, Casting Director

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Ron Leach began his career nearly thirty years ago as a talent agent with Canada’s largest talent agency, The Characters, representing a stellar roster of young and established stars. During his tenure at the Characters, Ron also produced many plays through his producing partnership Manor Productions; was on the steering committee of the first Trade Forum of Toronto’s Festival Of Film Festivals, and was lead arbitrator in the resolution of a dispute over the Canadian International Animation Festival and it’s custodian the Canadian Film Institute. Leach was then elected Chairman of the Board of the Canadian International Animation Festival and served 2 terms, producing international Film Festivals in both Toronto and Hamilton. He was the founder and past president of The Talent Representatives Association Of Canada serving 3 terms. He recently retired as the President of the Board of Directors of Toronto’s award-winning ACME Theatre Company, where, during his ten-year term, they produced over twenty main stage plays, and planned all fund-raising activities and outreach programs including those with affiliate theatrical production companies in Chicago and London, England.

Retiring from talent management in 1990, Ron worked as a casting director, casting the independent feature films DARKNESS FALLING; CALL ME IRRESPONSIBLE; THE FOURTH ANGEL; THE HIGHWAYMAN; GRIZZLY FALLS; TOO MUCH SEX; BLACK HEART; PALE SAINTS; MEN WITH GUNS; TC 2000; Roger Spottiswood’s Emmy and Gemini award-winning docu-drama HIROSHIMA; the controversial drama GANG IN BLUE, produced and directed by Hollywood legends Melvin and Mario Van Peebles; the shocking true-life story DELICATE CUTTING; and the first Chinese/Canadian television series co-production DASHAN & HIS FRIENDS. Most recently, Ron co-ordinated the talent for the internationally acclaimed television talk, variety show “TABLE FOR TWO,” and in 2001 assumed the role of Producer as well as casting director on the show. He was co-casting director of the Canadian Film Center productions NIGHT OF THE LIVING; HOCKEY CARDS and STRANDS. He also worked on the television series TOP COPS; DOGHOUSE; SWEATING BULLETS; FOREVER NIGHT; FAST TRACK; PSI FACTOR; EARTH FINAL CONFLICT; THE RAVEN; CRUEL INTENTIONS; TWICE IN A LIFETIME, where he also provided on-set acting coaching for the star; SOUL FOOD; DOC; and numerous films and films-for-television including the movies-for-television THE JAMES MINK STORY; AT THE MIDNIGHT HOUR; EVIDENCE OF BLOOD; CAGNEY & LACEY III & IV; MURDER IN A SMALL TOWN; MURDER SHE PURRED; DEAD AHEAD; THE LADY IN QUESTION; THE UNCONCERNED; and the feature films: Mary Harron’s AMERICAN PSYCHO; Rose Troché’s THE SAFETY OF OBJECTS; and Sir Richard Attenborough’s LOVE & WAR.

In 2002, Ron incorporated Spectacle Entertainment Productions, Inc. in partnership with long time associate Jack Santry (Los Angeles Based President of Spectacle Entertainment & Post). Since it’s inception, Spectacle Entertainment has successfully produced the two part documentary film series on the acclaimed photographer Tom Bianchi; entered into co-productions agreements with Toronto based Win Win Productions on three television series: “The Spirits of Scotland,” “SHIP TO SHORE,” and the children’s television series “Scratch TV.” As well, Spectacle has in development thirteen other television and feature film properties, including “BLESSED BE THE CHILD;” “SQUEEKY CLEAN;” “:SPRING BREAKDOWN;” “EQUINOX;” “A STALKERS KISS;” and the children’s animated feature film project “CREATURELAND” (the latter three endeavors penned by Leach).

Leach is the Producer of the acclaimed feature-length documentary film “SHURTLEFF “ on the famed author, teacher, and casting director Michael Shurtleff, for the CBC, BRAVO and PBS; “AUDITION,” a four part instructional series on the teachings of Michael Shurtleff for TV Ontario; “ECO-TV” a half-hour children’s program commissioned by Earthday Canada, wrote, produced and directed The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles talking book series for which he received a gold record in Canada.

In 1997, Ron began teaching a renowned master class in on-camera acting entitled “AUDITION DYNAMICS,” which has become the foremost course of education in both camera and audition technique in Canada. He was recently requested to teach his course of acting skills for the camera at the prestigious STRATFORD SHAKESPEAREAN FESTIVAL in Stratford Ontario, and continues to offer private tutoring and ongoing classes in Toronto’s production community. Most recently, Leach was a judge at the International EMMY AWARDS and at Toronto’s ON THE FLY FILM FESTIVAL.