Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellen Jacoby.
Ellen, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Being 14 and a senior in high school, I had many challenges. My parents sent me to college and I graduated with a BA in education. As I had been singing and dancing since I was a little girl, I didn’t want to teach so I resumed my career singing and dancing. I moved to Florida and began singing for Holiday Inns in Miami as well as different cities. However, one night while singing and dancing, I fell off the stage. I was paralyzed from the waist down. I went home to my parents and Dr. Bob, as my daddy was known, made me better.
I came back to Miami with physical limitations. One evening, I was invited to a night club opening. There I saw a backgammon board and asked what it was. I found it fascinating and I was quite good at it. Funny, my parents said that the only thing I learned in college was how to play card games… all of them. So, backgammon was a natural segue. I became a professional backgammon player and traveled the world. I became an international champion sauntering Europe with celebrities and royalty.
My parents wanted to know when I would get my feet on the ground and get a real job. But, that didn’t stop me. On one of my trips home, between tournaments, I became familiar with the casting world. With my parents’ words ringing in my ears, I opened up a casting office.
I pounded the pavement and made many contacts and the next thing – I was busy working as a casting director. My first job was “Miami Vice” the TV series. I soon received an invite to my next tournament in Monte Carlo… it was a hard choice, but I stuck with casting.
I was very fortunate to have many clients and jobs and more and more kept coming in. I became active in legislation for filming in Florida. The then governor, Jeb Bush, appointed me to the first Florida Film Advisory Board. The Mayor of Miami Beach declared October 23 as Ellen Jacoby Day. Of course, winning the casting award for “The Birdcage” was very special.
I have been fortunate in winning awards and I like the fact that I can help people realize their dreams.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Talent being confused with the difference between Casting directors and talent agents.
For “Entourage” finding topless girls without breast augmentation.
Having to prove myself – still.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Ellen Jacoby Casting Int’l. – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I audition actors for roles in films, tv series, commercials, print, music videos, live events and more.
I cast leading roles, supporting roles as well as extras. I find the chemistry between actors is most important. I also believe that the real thing, authenticity, is very important. I go the extra distance to find the best actor for the role. I go above and beyond to find the right background (extras) that is authentic. I have received much praise for finding the real thing. The real thing is what makes every scene believable.
I also believe in loyalty. There are actors that started their profession in one of my projects and then “made it.”
Many of them still remember and will do projects that they might not otherwise do. Many of these actors will also come in as local hire to Miami which saves production money. I am known for my department always coming in under budget.
I am proud that in my career, so far, I have hired over 300,000 actors, mostly Florida residents. That is a lot of jobs! I don’t just talk about doing things for our industry, I get involved. I go to Tallahassee and meet legislators and have addressed the Senate and the House.
I have received awards of which I am very proud. My parents were also proud! I received a Lifetime Achievement Award from my alma mater, the Key to the City of Miami Beach, Woman of the millennium, as well as others.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I will stay in casting and I would like to go into producing. Of course, I don’t want to relocate, so I will stay active in the Florida Legislature and hope to get filming back in Florida. Unfortunately, Florida has no filming incentives and, although we are the most desired location, without those incentives, we have lost many major productions here. I will try to help get them back.
I am looking forward to producing my own show. I think that is the natural evolution for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ellenjacobycasting.com
- Phone: 305-531-5300
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: Ellen Jacoby
- Facebook: Ellen Jacoby, and Ellen Jacoby Casting
- Twitter: Ellen Jacoby Casting @Ellen Jacoby@ellenjacobycast
- Yelp: Ellen J
- Other: imdbpro Ellen Jacoby Casting and Ellen Jacoby Casting Depatment
Image Credit:
Avery Sommers, my associate Clare Coco, Audrey Landers and her mom, Deeny and my Teddy OMG Bear 5, Daniel Sunjata, Burt Reynolds
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