Overview of 899. - Jennifer Venditti
This episode of How Long Gone (hosts Chris Black & Jason Stewart) mixes the show’s usual pop‑culture riffing with a long conversation with casting director Jennifer Venditti. The hosts open with rapid-fire takes on current celebrity news (Melania documentary, red‑carpet looks, Dax Shepard, Kid Cudi tour), then move into a wide-ranging interview with Venditti about her background, casting philosophy and practices, festival life, street casting successes, union vs. society distinctions in casting, and personal anecdotes (notably a dramatic story about rescuing her dog). The tone is informal, anecdotal and geared toward listeners who want an insider look at casting and film festivals plus the hosts’ cultural takes.
Key topics discussed
- Pop-culture opening banter
- Melania documentary box-office flop and online reactions
- Barry Keoghan’s red‑carpet look and the uncanny-valley reaction to actor transformations
- Dax Shepard podcast moment (awkward comments about Sabrina Carpenter)
- Kid Cudi’s tour announcement with M.I.A. as opener
- Jennifer Venditti — career highlights
- Casting credits mentioned: Marty Supreme, Euphoria, Uncut Gems, and involvement with several A24 projects
- Author/photographic/casting book published with A24 (discussed as part of her career)
- Recent/related work includes Charlie XCX’s film The Moment
- Casting craft & process
- Street casting and non‑traditional discovery (examples: Angus Cloud, Hunter Schafer, Luke from Marty Supreme)
- Use of in-depth interviews, improvisation and on-the-spot camera tests to find authenticity
- Value of archiving (Polaroids, casting books) and scouting
- Practical challenges: safety and perceptions when scouting (gender dynamics, environments like clubs/foreign locations)
- Industry structure: Casting Society (CSA) vs unions
- CSA (Casting Society) is peer recognition/industry body; union (Teamsters local 817) handles pension, welfare, pay protections
- Venditti expresses gratitude to those who fought for recognition while acknowledging her own ambivalence/guilt around sudden visibility
- Film festival experience & audience energy
- Festivals (Sundance, Venice) as special viewing contexts where audience engagement amplifies a film’s effect
- Specific films she saw and liked at Sundance (e.g., Bedford Park) and the difference festival audiences make
- Personal life & anecdotes
- Lives part-time upstate — loves nature, plants, hiking, dogs; finds it restorative alongside city life
- Dramatic rescue story: her dog Sarge attacked by two off‑leash pit bulls, severe injury, emergency surgery, owner reportedly fled, vet bill ~“around $5k”
- Views on animals (unconditional presence) and sobriety (doesn’t drink)
- Thoughts on beauty, actors, and the need for personality/skill beyond looks
Notable quotes & insights
- “A conversation or a talk or speech is only as good as the listening container is.” — on how festival/audience energy affects a film’s reception.
- “Animals bring you to presence… they don’t have TikTok yet.” — on what pets teach about presence and unconditional connection.
- On casting: the importance of authenticity and creating conditions where people can be themselves (in‑depth interviews + improv camera tests).
- On industry recognition: gratitude to predecessors who pushed for casting to be noticed, coupled with the surreal feeling of receiving mainstream acclaim.
Main takeaways
- Casting is both craft and people‑watching: great casting directors build skills as observers and archivists, using both formal methods (Polaroids, scouting) and improvised moments to find authentic performers.
- Street/non‑traditional casting remains a powerful route to discovering talent—scouts and casting directors often create opportunities from unexpected encounters.
- Festivals are valuable not just for buzz but because engaged audiences materially change how a film is experienced.
- There’s still industry confusion/ambiguity around titles and credits: “Casting Society” (CSA) is peer recognition, while union membership (Teamsters/local 817) secures pay, pension and benefits.
- Personal safety and logistics matter when scouting: sex/gender dynamics and location can create difficult situations for casting teams.
Practical advice / action items
- For aspiring actors/models:
- Keep updated, well‑organized visual materials (Polaroids, contact info) and be open to nontraditional discovery channels.
- Be ready to do short-camera improvisations and to bring an authentic personal signature to auditions.
- For casting teams/producers:
- Archive scouting work (Polaroid books, digital equivalents) — it pays off later.
- Consider festival strategy: the audience container can increase a film’s perceived quality.
- Clarify credits and compensation: ensure union/peer recognition matters are handled appropriately.
- For film fans:
- Watching films in festival settings can change the experience—if possible, try to see films in engaged/audience contexts.
Guest snapshot: Jennifer Venditti
- Role: New York–based casting director
- Notable credits mentioned in the conversation: Marty Supreme (prominently discussed), Euphoria, Uncut Gems, work with A24 (book), involvement with Charlie XCX’s The Moment
- Personal notes: split city/upstate life, plant caretaker, dog owner (Sarge), non‑drinker, passionate people‑watcher and festival attendee
This episode blends light celebrity chatter with a substantive look into casting work — useful for listeners curious about how performers are found and prepared for camera, how festivals shape reception, and what life looks like for a high‑level casting director today.