The #ProjectScouted Open Casting a huge success

Having a look at the finds of the scouts for this year’s cycle of #ProjectScouted, it’s difficult to imagine that their teams could be bettered. That was until the Open Casting took place on Saturday, 21 February, at the #Hashtag social restaurant and bar on Windermere Road.

#Hashtag was also a sponsored venue by Durban entrepreneur, Brendon Kader, for last year’s Project and everyone was thrilled to be back – and not just to shoot selfies at the “selfie zone” of the restaurant.

Tasked with interviewing and screening the girls in the VIP area of the restaurant, the Open Casting panel did not have an enviable job on the day. Daunting as any casting or audition may be, the panel – consisting of designers Becca Blair of Becca Blair Designs and Ryan Francis of Shoelaced Clothing; Sholene Ramdass, Lee Folkard Photography’s blogger and former Miss Teen Kwa-Zulu Natal; as well as model and Miss South Africa 2014 semi-finalist, Iman Sheik – did their best to put the girls at ease and assure them that the process was not as intimidating as it may have seemed.

Most of the girls, once they found their footing, sailed through the casual, conversational questions asked by the panel and posed with confidence for their portraits shot by Dalton Green, who is also one of our Instagram photographers for the Project. Once again, Durban did not disappoint in delivering talent and beauty.

The aspirants who attended the casting, coming from as far as Richard’s Bay and Hillcrest, varied from high school students to even a high school teacher, with their ages ranging from 16 to 25. This kind of array is definitely going to be one of the reasons why this year’s Project is so successful.

Several familiar faces paid a visit on the day, as well as some new ones, from scouts – previous and present – to photographers and family of the #ProjectScouted team. The Open Casting turned into a reunion of sorts and it was clear that these guys were sorely missing the Project’s shoots and events.

The casting was the last opportunity for girls to get to be a part of the Project and now the scouts’ teams have been finalized. The excitement is tangible as Phase One and the official launch approaches next week Saturday, 28 February, which will take place at #Hashtag once again, coming full circle from Cycle 1 last year.

Images from the day can be found as they are uploaded on the #ProjectScouted Instagram account as well as on the Instagram profiles of photographers, Zaheera Engar and Dalton Green. Also be on the lookout for the footage of the day shot by the Project’s videographer, Robbie Muller, to get the behind the scenes action of what went down at the casting.