ABC Discovers: Digital Talent Competition Now Live in the U.S.

ABC Talent and Casting's fifth annual ABC Discovers: Digital Talent Competition, which takes place Monday, June 26 - Sunday, July 9, is live now in the U.S. The competition aims to discover and champion actors who may not have had the opportunity to be seen yet by a team of professional casting executives. Actors 18 and older are encouraged to visit ABCDiscovers.com to enter the CONTEST for the chance to receive a one-year $25,000 talent deal with ABC. The 2017 winner will be announced Thursday, August 10, when their videos, along with the other top finalists, will be featured on the ABC Discovers website. Based on the success of prior U.S. competitions, ABC is also now launching a U.K. version of the competition at ABCDiscoversUK.com. The winner of the U.K. competition will receive a separate one-year $25,000 talent deal with ABC.

Ayo Davis, senior vice president, Talent and Casting, ABC Entertainment, said, "This competition is about access and opportunity for up-and-coming actors. We are incredibly proud of the talent that has surfaced in the first few years of the competition and can't wait to see who comes forward this year in both the U.S. and now also the U.K."

This year's ABCDiscovers.com competition site features commentary from Davis, as well as respected Casting Director Linda Lowy, who talks about how she found the cast of "Grey's Anatomy." Lowy's video features interviews with show talent, including Chandra Wilson, James Pickens Jr., Jessica Capshaw, Kelly McCreary, Jason George and Debbie Allen. Last year's 2016 competition winner, Beth Triffon, and comedian Akaash Singh ("Difficult People" and "The Leftovers") are also featured on the site.

To enter the ABC Discovers: Digital Talent Competition, actors are asked to create a video performing one of the comedy or drama scenes posted on ABCDiscovers.com. Actors will be judged on quality of performance, potential star power and technical skill set. For full details on eligibility, how to enter and for Official Rules, interested actors can visit ABCDiscovers.com. The deadline for submissions is Sunday, July 9.

The Digital Talent Competition is part of ABC Discovers, a series of initiatives that includes the annual New York and Los Angeles Talent Showcases, Actor Audition Workshop Week, Latino/Hispanic Outreach, Asian/Pacific Islander Outreach and Global Talent Outreach. The 2014 CONTEST winner, Cornelius Smith Jr., is a series regular on the hit drama "Scandal," and 2015 CONTEST winner Sam Adegoke has had numerous recurring roles on series, including "Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders" and "Switched at Birth." He is currently starring in the CW's reboot of "Dynasty." Last year's 2016 Digital Talent Competition winner Beth Triffon has a recurring role in the upcoming ABC series "Ten Days in the Valley."