Jennifer Venditti is an American casting director, filmmaker, and author known for her film and television casting work. She was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota.[1]
Venditti began her career in the fashion industry, working with various brands and W Magazine. In 1998, she founded her casting agency, JV8INC, based in New York City . Her first feature documentary, Billy The Kid, was released in 2007.[2]
Venditti started casting for fashion brands, including Versace and Yohji Yamamoto.[3] Her significant opportunity came when photographer Carter Smith asked her to cast a shoot for W Magazine, which she described as the beginning of her career in casting.[4]
In 2014, actor and director Ryan Gosling hired Venditti for his debut, Lost River. Gosling praised her ability to find individuals with rich characters, which is essential for his film.
Venditti's casting for American Honey (2016) film involved scouting in locations like Walmart and dollar stores.[5] Her approach aimed to find authentic individuals fitting the roles.
Venditti gained recognition for her casting work on the HBO series Euphoria (2019). The diverse cast includes actors from various backgrounds, discovered through extensive searches on online platforms.[6]
In 2019, she cast the crime thriller Uncut Gems, directed by the Safdie brothers.
Venditti received a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series for her work on Euphoria in 2022.[7] She also won the Best Television Pilot and First Season award at the 36th Artios Awards presented by the Casting Society of America in 2021.[8]
Venditti's directorial debut with the documentary in 2007 entitled Billy The Kid won five awards, including Best Documentary at South by Southwest (SXSW) festival,[9] Best Documentary at Edinburgh International Film Festival,[10] Best Documentary Feature at Los Angeles Film Festival, Most Popular Documentary at Melbourne International Film Festival, and Outstanding Achievement in a Debut Feature Film at Cinema Eye Honors.[11] She was also included on the 25 New Faces of Independent Film list in their 2007 annual survey of new talent.[12]
| Award | Year | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primetime Emmy Awards | 2022 | Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series | Euphoria | Nominated | |
| Artios Awards | 2021 | Best Television Pilot and First Season (Drama) | Euphoria | Won | |
| South by Southwest (SXSW) | 2007 | Best Documentary | Billy The Kid | Won | |
| Edinburgh International Film Festival | 2007 | Best Documentary | Won | ||
| Los Angeles Film Festival | 2007 | Best Documentary Feature | Won | ||
| Melbourne International Film Festival | 2007 | Most Popular Documentary | Won | ||
| Cinema Eye Honors | 2007 | Outstanding Achievement in a Debut Feature Film | Won |
In 2022, Venditti published her first book, Can I Ask You a Question?: The Art and Alchemy of Casting, under A24. The book received the American Institute of Graphic Arts 50 Books 50 Covers award.[13]