ABC CASTING INITIATIVE "MAKE ME A STAR" ANNOUNCES WINNERS

"ABC Make Me a Star," the first national digital talent competition by a major television network, has found its stars. ABC Executive Vice President of Casting Keli Lee announced that the two winners were selected from over 1,400 submissions that were reviewed by the Casting Department.

Bechir Sylvain, from Los Angeles, won the private competition, receiving a one-year $25,000 Talent Holding Deal with ABC.

John Berchtold, from New Jersey, won the public competition, receiving a 6-month $10,000 Talent Option Agreement with ABC.

"Our goal is to identify extraordinary talent and connect characters with the right voices and faces," said Lee. "ABC Make Me a Star gives us the opportunity to discover and access new and untapped talent anywhere in the U.S. and to find opportunities for them on ABC. We have found that in our winners, Bechir Sylvain and John Berchtold."

This national digital talent competition is an initiative conceived by Lee and managed by Peachy Pascual and the ABC Casting Department to find fresh faces and unique voices across the United States through the use of technology and social media. This first competition was held from June 1 through August 30.

ABC Make Me a Star is one of the ABC Casting Department's many initiatives that identify extraordinary talent domestically and internationally across various platforms. These initiatives include the ABC Casting Department's Talent Showcase, which in its 12th year continues to discover, train and mentor diverse actors in LA and in NY, the Latino/Hispanic Domestic and International Outreach, the Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic and International Outreach and the Actor Audition Workshops.

The winning videos are on www.abcmakemeastar.com