Our Vision
To change the way talent and opportunity connect.
Casting Link exists to create an industry where talent is genuinely seen, heard, supported, and celebrated — regardless of where they are in their journey.
We believe representation should be built on trust, communication, collaboration, and human connection.
By bringing talent, casting professionals, and production teams together, we create opportunities for people to grow, connect, and thrive.
Because great representation isn't just about getting the job.
It's about being part of the journey.
Our Mission
At Casting Link, our mission is to do representation differently.
We connect talent with opportunity through honest communication, genuine relationships, professional advocacy, and a commitment to doing things the right way.
We put people at the heart of casting — creating an environment where Talent feels supported, Casting and Production feel confident, and every partnership is built on trust, respect, and integrity.
We are here to champion talent, open doors, build stronger industry connections, and make the journey from casting to set a better experience for everyone involved.
Because when people are supported, great work happens.
Our Story
Emma Jane Hordyk and Gemma McIver founded Casting Link with a clear purpose: to create a talent agency that blends industry expertise with a genuinely personal and holistic approach.
Having worked extensively within the creative and performance sectors, we recognised a growing need for representation that is not only strategic and results-driven but also human, honest, and responsive.
Our vision is to build a collective where talent feels seen, supported, and actively championed—whether they are starting out or established in their careers. Casting Link is about meaningful relationships, thoughtful representation, and a commitment to helping our talent thrive.
Our industry expertise and strategic partnerships help rising stars break through and thrive.
We don’t just represent talent—we build careers.
Dream it
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Dream it 〰️
Meet the Team
Emma Jane Hordyk Agent/Co-Founder
With more than 35 years working across the global entertainment industry, I have been fortunate enough to experience the industry from almost every angle — from theatre and television commercials to production, post-production, casting, marketing and talent representation.
My career began in London’s West End, where I worked in marketing for some of the theatre world’s most renowned productions. Working behind the scenes taught me early on that success in entertainment isn't just about having great talent — it's about understanding your audience, knowing how to position creative work, and making sure the right people see it.
From the West End, I moved into television commercials, where I represented Oscar-winning directors and worked across a range of high-profile international projects. One of the highlights of that period was collaborating with legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog, an experience that reinforced for me the importance of creative relationships, professionalism and understanding the people behind the work.
Over the course of my career, I have worked across feature film contracts, post-production services, casting and the coordination of extras, as well as spending more than a decade managing talent at various levels of the industry. Each of these experiences has given me a different perspective on what happens behind the scenes and, importantly, what makes a production work successfully.
Marketing has also been a major part of my career, with more than 25 years of experience in the field. That background strongly influences the way I approach talent representation. I believe being talented is only one part of building a successful career. How you present yourself, where you are positioned, what material you have, and who sees you can make an enormous difference.
My approach as an agent is therefore both strategic and personal. I want to understand who you are, where you want to go and what makes you stand out. From there, my job is to help position you in front of the right people, with the right opportunities and the right material.
At Casting Link, I am passionate about creating an agency that does things differently. I believe talent deserves more than simply being submitted for jobs. They deserve communication, honest feedback, guidance, advocacy and someone in their corner who genuinely understands the industry.
Alongside Gemma, I want Casting Link to be a place where talent at every stage of their career feels supported and valued. Whether you are booking your first extra role, building your acting CV, stepping into professional auditions or already working regularly in the industry, I want you to know that you have a team behind you.
After 35 years in this industry, I have learned that relationships matter. Reputation matters. Preparation matters. And knowing when the right opportunity comes along matters.
My goal is to use everything I have learned throughout my career to help our talent navigate the industry with confidence, present themselves professionally and make the most of every opportunity that comes their way.
I believe great representation is about seeing the person behind the profile — understanding their potential, knowing how to position it, and being there to help them make it count.
Contact: 0226 700 884
Gemma McIver
Agent/Co-Founder
Ko Tainui te waka.
Ko Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāpuhi, me Ngāti Hako ngā iwi.
My passion for acting began long before I ever imagined it could become part of my career. As a child, I was always putting on performances for my family. I am still teased to this day about the Christmas play I convinced my cousins to participate in when I was 10 — which involved me giving birth to Baby Jesus in front of my extended family. Yes, there is a video!
At 11, I won the lead role in my first theatre production and continued acting throughout college, taking part in community theatre before eventually attending EIT Performing Arts in Hastings. I lasted a year. At 17, four hours away from home, my sensitive nature wasn't quite ready to navigate the egos and challenges of the industry.
Growing up in a small town, dreaming too big wasn't always encouraged. So, like many people do, I put my dream aside. I became a Mum, pursued a safer career in accounting, and later studied psychology, life coaching and Neuro-Linguistic Programming.
Then I moved to Auckland and found myself working as a Production Accountant, which unexpectedly brought me back into the world of television and film. I enrolled in an onscreen acting course, and something I had pushed aside for years came rushing back — my love of acting.
Since then, I have co-hosted a podcast and worked as a lead, featured extra and extra across film and television. I also joined a talent agency, and that experience completely changed the trajectory of my career. It ignited something new in me: a passion for helping other people experience the magic of being on set — something I genuinely believe everyone should experience at least once.
That journey ultimately led to Casting Link.
Today, alongside Emma, I am passionate about creating a different kind of talent agency — one where people are treated as people, not just profiles. Where communication matters, where talent is supported, and where opportunities are approached with integrity.
My background in accounting, psychology, coaching, NLP, acting and production gives me a unique perspective on the industry. I understand the business side, the creative side, the nerves, the excitement, the rejection, and the incredible feeling of hearing the words: "You've got the job."
My personal mission is to help people push past the self-sabotage and limiting beliefs that can hold them back, so they can step into the spotlight with confidence.
I believe it is never too late to follow your dreams. And I believe that when we lift each other up, we all win.
He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata
Contact: 027 566 5663