TalentVision Wraps Up Martin Campbell and Gaby Whyte Hart's Landmark Masterclass in Sofia
Published: 21.02.2026
Reading time: 3.9 minutes
Few working directors carry the kind of franchise-defining legacy that Martin Campbell does.
From launching GoldenEye and redefining James Bond with Casino Royale to the swashbuckling adventures of The Mask of Zorro and The Legend of Zorro, Campbell’s work has shaped decades of cinema.
For the first time, he brought that perspective directly to an intensive aimed at actors of all experience levels in Bulgaria's capital, Sofia, at the Grand Hotel Millennium, organised by TalentVision Bulgaria on February 14th,15th, and 17th, 2026.
Giving both local and international actors rare insight into how a director of his caliber approaches performance.
Alongside him was casting director Gaby Whyte Hart CDA (recently the lead casting director on Warner Bros’ Wind of Change, and the upcoming thriller Just Play Dead directed by Campbell), who helped bridge the gap between audition room and film set.
Her expertise, combined with Campbell’s directorial eye, created a program that simulated both worlds, giving actors a practical understanding of how their performances are evaluated from casting to camera.

The event was kicked off by actor, director, and founder Joseph Al-Ahmad, known for Above The Clouds, Man with No Past, and the upcoming war thriller Nightingale (dir. William Kaufman).
Breaking the ice, he joked to the room of 30 actors:
“Some people flew in from across the Atlantic to be here today. So thank you for choosing to spend this year's Valentine’s Day here with us rather than with your significant others. Talk about love for the craft.”
The room laughed and relaxed instantly, nerves melting as everyone prepared to learn from Campbell himself.
Al-Ahmad went on to share a more personal story:
“Twenty years ago, in 2005, my grandmother took me to the movies to see The Legend of Zorro. I was only 8 years old, but I remember sitting there, completely absorbed, immersed, but most importantly ... inspired.
So to have Mr. Campbell here, guiding this event, feels like a full-circle moment for me. I’m humbled and honored to share this experience with fellow actors from all over the world! Thank you for doing this.”
41 actors in total attended both masterclasses, traveling from the United States, the United Kingdom, Iceland, and neighboring countries.
Among them was Marila Lombrozo, known for Jack Ryan and Cobra Kai, who flew in straight from Los Angeles. Chicago-native Corin Clay (Netflix: The Night Agent, The Final Stay) attended as well, along with actors like Oliver Arnold (The Two Gambits, The Caged), My Ly, Fleur Howard, and Raymond Nolan (Tales of the Underworld, Sacred Sites), flying in from the UK, and Tülay Tan from Germany. Daniel Hans Erlendsson from Iceland, known for Heartstone and Beautiful Beings, joined the international group for this unique opportunity as well.
Participants worked on scenes from iconic films such as Casino Royale, Prisoners, The Notebook, Revolutionary Road, and Requiem for a Dream. Hart guided actors through subtle choices that make performances stand out, while Campbell showed how those choices translate onto the camera and set.
TalentVision co-founder Daniel Lydianov, head of operations Violet George, and head of technical department Christian Ivanov were present throughout the sessions, supporting logistics and production. Each day concluded with a Q&A where actors could ask Campbell and Hart about auditioning, set dynamics, and international careers.
This workshop was a first on multiple fronts: the first TalentVision event led simultaneously by two Hollywood professionals, and the first acting-focused workshop ever conducted by Martin Campbell. For the actors, it offered rare insight into professional filmmaking.
For TalentVision, it marked a meaningful step in bringing actors from Bulgaria and abroad closer to major opportunities and high-level industry networking. And this is only the beginning.
Additional coverage and reflections from the workshop will follow soon.
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