Episode #03
In this week’s episode, Jennifer talks to Erica Hart about all things casting. Erica shares insider tips around the dos, dont’s, & myths of self-tapes, auditions, and social media. They talk about the importance of listening and doing your research, celebrating your firsts & small victories, as well as the importance of collaboration, genuine human connection, and shooting your shot.
About Our Guest
ERICA A. HART, CSA (Casting Director/ Producer) was born and raised in Washington, DC (the actual 202...not 301 or 703.) She graduated from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied film and television. She has been casting for over a decade and has loved every minute of it. She started off in network and studio casting moving her way up to Casting Coordinator in the New York Office of ABC Primetime Casting. Erica has appeared in The Hollywood Reporter as a featured rising artist and has cast films that have screened at the Tribeca Film Festival, SXSW, Outfest, Cinequest, and the Cannes Film Festival. THE SURROGATE (a film she cast as well as associate produced) was in INDIEWIRE's Best Movies Eligible for a 2021 Oscar, was a VARIETY CRITICS PICK, and earned Erica her first Artios nomination and win in 2021. She has cast commercials for high-end brands such as Maybelline, Gillette, Hasbro, and Delta, to name a few, and cast H.E.R's music video for FIGHT FOR YOU which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Currently she is the Casting Director for Season 2 of THAT DAMN MICHAEL CHE (HBO MAX) and JODIE produced by Tracee Ellis Ross and Grace Edwards. She cast the pilot BLACK DON'T CRACK (ABC) and season 1 of BUST DOWN (PEACOCK) coming out soon. In 2021 she made her Broadway debut casting two Broadway plays: CHICKEN AND BISCUITS and PASS OVER. She has cast theatrical productions for THE NATIONAL BLACK THEATRE and THE DRAMA LEAGUE. Erica has been the Casting Associate for shows like RAY DONOVAN (SHOWTIME), THE BOLD TYPE (FREEFORM), DEFENDING JACOB (APPLE+), and GODFATHER OF HARLEM (EPIX). She is on the Board of Governors for The Casting Society of America (CSA) and a member of the Television Academy. She also teaches TV auditioning techniques at colleges and universities around the country including Harvard University and NYU's Grad Acting Program. Outside of casting, she has received grants and awards from the Puffin Foundation, New York Television Festival and The Digital Bolex, and has developed series for BET and WeTV.
