Panel of Casting Directors

Want work in the entertainment media industry? Then get yourself to our next NAMixer at Opal Divine’s Austin Grill on February 12^th when we’re featuring our Annual Panel of Casting Directors.

Every year we present panels of talent agents & casting directors; talent agents get us auditions & casting directors get us in front of decision-makers. This month we’re featuring some of the busiest casting directors in town, and this is your chance to get in front of them. Hear their nuggets of wisdom, while being seen & heard yourself.

Here’s who’s on this year’s panel so far:

Donise L. Hardy, CSA, A Casting Place
Donise began her casting career in San Francisco, established her company in Los Angeles for 6 years, then moved to Austin in 1999 where she continues to enjoy working in the Texas market. One of the busiest casting directors in the state, she has cast hundreds of commercials and dozens of films & industrials during her 18 year career. Donise sold her company in July 2007, and now owns A Casting Place. She also teaches classes specializing in commercial audition technique. And with the publishing of her book, Acting Career Basics: On-Camera Audition & Industry Tips, Donise became an author in July 2016.

Michael Druck, Michael Druck Casting
Producer & casting director and former actor, Michael’s credits include The Affair, Get the Gringo, Kevin (Probably) Saves the World, My Stretch of Texas Ground, The Devil’s Candy, and The Son. He provides full service casting for film, television, commercial, and print, specializing in extras and real people right here in the Lone Star State, as well as the east & west coasts.

Brenda Ambrize, Ambrize Production Services
Beginning by acting a couple decades ago, Brenda moved on to directing, producing, and casting in a wide range of markets inside & outside the Lone Star State. Her full service casting & production company is known for such projects as The Bookie, From Mexico with Love, and Finding Home.

Vicky Boone, Vicky Boone Casting
Native Texan, Vicky, has been working professionally in the entertainment industry for nearly 4 decades, including directing films and producing theatre. Casting local, national, and international productions since 2004, specializing in creative in-depth casting searches for undiscovered talents, she founded her casting company in 2007, and has been busy on films directed by Spike Jonze, David Lowery, Terrance Malick, Mike White, Jody Hill, Noel Wells, Jason Reitman, and Richard Linklater, to name a few.

Stay tuned as our slate of speakers changes according to their casting obligations.

Instructions for Headshots & Résumés:
All are encouraged to bring up to 5 sets of headshots & résumés stapled back-to-back for placement at a designated table upon arrival, preferably prior to the beginning of the program, so that our speakers can have your submission package to review when they leave.

This is your last chance to bring a soft plushie toy to our NAMixer for donation to the 5^th Annual Veteran’s Teddy Bear Project! Founder, Tootie, will be collecting them, as well as your headshots & résumés for the casting directors. So get an extra smile and a picture with her and your teddy.

Last Month

Our January NAMixer was all about talent agents, and you!

Our program featured one of our area’s most prolific agents, Jason Wasner of Acclaim Talent. Once introduced he went on to explain the ins & outs of our industry, providing invaluable advice to our enthralled audience. Then he stayed on to answer the many questions that followed, meaningfully and in detail, such that his words could be used for positive results. We’re immensely grateful for Jason’s dedication & expertise, and his willingness to share them with us.

Afterward, audience members stepped up to the mic one-by-one to tell us about their projects, talents, skills, what they can do and what they’re looking for. Our audience wasn’t disappointed, as some very exciting information came to light during our Open Mic Session. So we thank those who braved our stage to let us in on what they’re up to, too!

See photos here, and more mixer photos here

Come on the 12^th and bring a friend to network and enjoy the show. While there enjoy Opal Divine’s Happy Hour which lasts until 7, then $3 “Three for Texas” beers the rest of the evening. And don’t cook or go anywhere else for a meal or snacks because Opal’s offers a tasty and largely locally-sourced menu of goodies.

Pass along our website and check it for details about each month’s speaker(s)!
Find this month’s mixer on Facebook and invite your friends.
Get on our mailing list and keep up with us on social media:
Like our page & join our group on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Mixing & Networking @ 6:00PM, Announcements @ 6:30, Program @ 7:00, Followed by More Mixing & Mingling and Networking