Dimitrios Seymour - photographer Max Jamali
Dimitrios Seymour – photographer Max Jamali

It takes a special mindset to find positivity and success in the face of a once in a lifetime adverse global event. That’s exactly what Dimitrios Seymour did when Covid-19 altered his world as it did for so many. This Canadian talent manager decided to trade in his roster of more than ninety TV/Film and Commercial clients in for a small handful whom he fiercely believed in. That decision seems prescient as these talented professionals in a variety of arenas continue to accelerate in their careers, gaining notoriety in their home countries as well as across the planet. It’s likely that all of his clients are so deeply committed to their professional relationship with Dimitrios Management Group Inc. because there is a component equal to professional skill; Dimitrios understands creative vision more than most. He confesses, “When I was thirteen-years-old, I realized I wanted to pursue a career as a talent manager. At the time I didn’t know that what I wanted to pursue was specifically called ‘Talent Management,’ but I knew that I wanted to work with people in the fashion & entertainment industries as well as with people in the sports industry, and merge those worlds together. I remember the specific moment when this occurred. It happened when I was introduced to IMG as a 13-year-old by way of the fashion industry, and came to realize that they also worked with athletes, in addition to models and actors. I was enamored by this. From that moment, I knew what I was going to pursue when I was older. From age thirteen on, I had a vision for my life and stuck to it. Now I’m living the dreams that I had for myself as a child.” 

Dimitrios Seyomour -Photo by Max Jamali
Dimitrios Seyomour -Photo by Max Jamali

Youth actress Ana Victoria Dinapo has a highly visible career these days with productions like the Amazon Plus series Dino Dex, Disney’s The Lion King musical, and Netflix’s multiple Primetime Emmy Award–Nominated series The Umbrella Academy, but just a few years earlier the industry was not so smitten with this Canadian talent. In contrast, Dimitrios was effervescent in his belief of Ana Victoria’s abilities. He proclaims, “When I cut most of my clients lose during the pandemic, Ana Victoria was one of the very few that I had complete confidence in and wished to continue representing. I understood that it was simply a matter of time before everyone else saw what I did, an exciting talent who had much to offer. Theoretically, it would’ve been an easy decision to not retain her for management, however, I saw the bigger picture, and I knew that she was destined for greatness in the not-so-distant future. Over the last two years, she has become a full member of ACTRA (the Canadian sister union of SAG-AFTRA) while also becoming one of the most sought-after preteen actors in the country. It’s also a major credit to her parents who have kept her grounded throughout all of her success, and who are both great partners to work with.” While Ana Victoria focuses on the demands of film and stage, Dimitrios navigates the contractual components of each, which operate under two different unions and different union bargaining agreements. 

Dimitrios took the unintuitive approach of signing a new client, model Divine Mugisha, during the middle of the pandemic shutdown. Simply put, he recognizes extraordinary talent when he sees it. This Burundian fashion model has ascended to status as one of Canada’s top models. As he explains it, his role with models is vastly different from that of a talent manager for actors. Dimitrios communicates, “Model managers are required to be ‘model developers.’ We first have to find and scout a brand new face that has never been in the fashion industry before and then fully develop them. This requires a vision for their career and what their image should be in addition to being intent on keeping their image very tight, depending on what type of model they are. We’ve taken Divine to walk for Dior, Missoni, Blumarine, Moschino, and Etro, showcasing her versatility and flair for fashion. Additionally, she has been the face of a Marc Jacobs Resort campaign, further cementing her status in the fashion industry. It’s thrilling to see how her profile has elevated in such a short amount of time. With Divine, as with so many of those whom we represent, we place our models internationally in different markets like New York, London, Paris, Milan, and across Asia to further to develop them and to help them grow an international profile.”

  For those who may not see professional athletes in the same light as actors, musicians, and models, Mr. Seymour would strongly push back against this notion. Officially certified by the NCAA for two years, the FIBA for eight years, and the NBA for nearly a decade, Dimitrios is emphatic that modern-day athletes need an advocate to seek the protection of their name, image, and likeness, in addition to the procurement of brand partnerships. The common thread across all these industries is the establishment of a unique identity and brand that allows each professional to attain their optimal vision. Dimitrios professes, “Easily one of the most universal elements of dealing with artists across all these mediums are they’re all ‘artists’, including the athletes. A lot of them are very young, between the ages of 16 to 25 in most cases. Sometimes these artists can be impatient or can lose confidence very easily. Sometimes they can compare themselves to others on social media and start to doubt their own ability, and we as managers need to understand how to navigate these issues. From a positive standpoint, regardless of the industry, they all have aspirations to reach the height of their potential. They all want the best deal possible and want to feel valued. Working in different industries is especially cool for me because some of these artists want to break into different industries. For example, an athlete might want to become a model or an artist might have their sights on becoming an actor. I’m able to cross pollinate this intention with my twelve-plus years of relationships to uniquely serve clients across the board.”

Writer : Basil Thomson

By Punit