Toronto Film School’s Ethan Dyer Signs With Noble Caplan Abrams Before Graduation

For Ethan Dyer, the transition from student to professional actor was less a leap of faith than a running start.

Just a few days after his final class at Toronto Film School, he signed with one of Canada’s top talent agencies – an important milestone every acting student is working toward, and one he was able to achieve even before donning his cap and gown.

“It gave me the feeling of, if this is what I can accomplish before graduating, what’s going to happen next year? What’s going to happen within five years?” the Class of 2026 Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre grad said of signing with Noble Caplan Abrams in March. “It definitely gave me a lot more motivation – a lot more fuel beneath the fire.”

A Prairie Kid with a Dream

Growing up, Dyer and his family moved around a lot – living in over 20 homes across Alberta and Saskatchewan throughout his childhood. For a kid who never stayed anywhere long, movies were his constant.

“Me and my family have always been really into movies. Family movie nights were always something we loved doing together, so I’ve always been enamoured with the world of filmmaking,” he said

But it was at age 10, when he auditioned for a school production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and landed the lead role, that something clicked: “From that point on, I was like, ‘Yes, this is what I want to do with my life. This is what I’m good at. This is my thing.’”

After a brief break from performing, the pull towards acting came back strong in his final year of high school. He joined the theatre club, competed in a one-act play competition across Alberta, took home multiple awards, and made it to provincials.

By the time graduation was over, his mind was made up. Two weeks later, he enrolled at Toronto Film School.

No Time to Waste

When it came time to choose acting schools, the intensity and brevity of the Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre program at TFS were a big draw for Dyer, as he wasn’t interested in spending four years in a traditional program.

“The fact that TFS taught me everything I need to know within a very short amount of time, with no breaks, and just got me out into the industry as soon as possible was huge,” he said. “I wanted to be a young, new, fresh face…not wasting any of my time.”

While Dyer’s mother was initially confused at his chosen career path, he said all of her misgivings melted away after watching him perform.

“After watching me and seeing how passionate I am about it, she had full confidence – and still does have full confidence – that I can make a career out of this. And that’s one of the most important things you can have going for you – people like that supporting you.”

Lessons That Stuck

Ask Dyer about his most influential instructor during his time at TFS and the answer comes quickly: Jonathan Cherry, who taught his Camera Acting I, Camera Acting II, and Auditioning for the Camera classes.

“He doesn’t give you compliment sandwiches. He doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He’s just honest with you, but it’s always very constructive criticism,” Dyer said. “Some people can’t handle that, but it’s really important to have people who tell you when you’re doing a bad job, so that you know how to improve. Because you never stop learning as an actor.”

The biggest lessons Cherry imparted on Dyer are ones he learned in his Auditioning class: Do your research. Know your character. And do it differently.

“He taught me that you should never, never do a performance the same way each time, otherwise, it’s going to become dull and rehearsed and the audience is going to be able to read that,” he said. “You should also never go into an audition not knowing as much as you can about the character, otherwise you’re going to get asked the question and you’re not going to look like you’re giving it your all.”

The TFS Experience

Beyond the classroom, Dyer also threw himself into his fellow classmates’ short films during his time at TFS. One project that stands out above the rest was How’s the Wine? – a classmate’s greenlit short film that gave him the chance to tackle a more villainous role than he’d ever taken on before.

“I got to play a really evil and mean character,” he recalled. “And being someone who’s generally a pretty nice person, sometimes it’s fun to get into those characters.”

So fun was the experience, in fact, that Dyer spent the weekend following the shoot writing a monologue from that character’s point of view. It became one of the best pieces he’s ever done — and it’s still on his demo reel.

What surprised Dyer most about his time at TFS, he said, was how much the Acting program prepared him for the business side of the industry – from résumé prep and demo reels, to taxes and networking events.

“It’s a bit of a shock when you take those classes, honestly. Before you get into the industry, you really don’t understand how much goes into the business end of it,” he said, noting that by the time he finished the program, the bigger business picture was much more clear to him.

“I already feel very, very professional, and I don’t feel scared to get out there. I know what I’m doing now.”

The Connection That Changed Everything

For Dyer, the path to signing with Noble Caplan Abrams all started with a relationship that was fostered at the very start of his journey at TFS.

His admissions advisor, Ariana Marquis, became one of his biggest cheerleaders after watching his audition tape, following his journey through the program and offering her support along the way.

“She’s been in my corner from the beginning,” Dyer said of Marquis. “She’s always hyping me up, always boosting me.”

So, when Dyer shared his demo reel with Marqiuis during his final month in the program, she immediately agreed to connect him with her own representative at the agency, Michael Marino.

“His talent immediately stood out, but what really set him apart was his vulnerability and the strength of his story. He’s the kind of person who will inspire others in the future,” Marquis said of what impressed her most about Dyer. “His consistency and initiative in following up also showed me he knows how to make an impression.”

As for the demo reel that solidified it all for Dyer, he said his philosophy toward putting it together was a simple one: Keep it authentic.

“I wanted to choose the clips that felt the most true to me as an actor and as a person. I didn’t want to throw just anything on there because I wanted to showcase a wide range,” he said. “When you’re mulling through all your footage, you’ve really got to watch through it and think: ‘Is this something I’d want to do again?’”

Already in the Game

Just over a month since signing, the opportunities are already moving fast for Dyer. The very first audition Noble Caplan Abrams sent his way was a lead role on a TV series – eight episodes, sixty minutes each.

“That’s the first thing I ever got sent,” Dyer said, noting he’s still waiting to hear back. “So, I can imagine there’s gonna be more opportunities like that coming my way.”

After all, those kinds of doors only open with the right person in your corner – and from day one, he’s felt that with Marino.

“Lots of actors are scared of their agents, which is bad. But I could shoot Michael a Snapchat if I wanted, and he would reply,” he said. “It’s really important that you have people that believe in you and can see what you’re capable of.”

The Long Game

When it comes to his dream career, Dyer said he gravitates more toward dramatic roles – in either film or television, which he sees as equally rich territory.

His benchmark? The kind of character journey Aaron Paul undertook as Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad: “Getting to spend that much time going through the arc of a character and really getting super, super personal with them would be something I’d love to try. The performance would just get more authentic with each episode and each season.”

Dyer’s acting inspirations reflect that hunger for transformation: Johnny Depp, for his chameleon-like ability to disappear into a character; Robert Pattinson, for his fearless emotional depth.

“I really admire how emotionally connected (Pattinson) can get with the character. That’s a level I want to be at one day,” he said.

In the meantime, Dyer keeps his creative mind active – writing ideas constantly, even if only a fraction of them ever make it to the page. He’s also continued to foster the friendships he forged with his classmates from TFS, surrounding himself with likewise creative minds.

“They understand my passion, and they understand why I want to do this,” he said. “TFS marked one of the first times I found people who are in the same boat as me, which is a rare feeling sometimes.”

Parting Advice

For students just beginning their acting journey at TFS, Dyer has one clear message when it comes to making the most of your time here: “Be open to learn.”

“Do not be scared by criticism, because that’s the only way you’re really going to improve. A compliment is never going to help you improve,” he said. “You can’t be upset when a director directs – it’s in their title. It’s their job.”

And his advice for those nearing the finish line? “It’s a marathon, not a sprint. You gotta be in it for the long run. Remember why you’re doing this. Remember that you love it – and make sure you’re having fun.”

Follow Dyer’s journey on Instagram at @ethanadyer.