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Casting , Interview

Get to Know the Casting Director: Jennifer Rudnicke


August 2, 2023

Chicago-based casting director Jennifer Rudnicke has a slew of impressive credits to her name that has a slew of impressive credits to her name that includes series like FX’s The Bear, for which she recently received a 2023 Emmy nomination for her work on the show in the Outstanding Casting For A Comedy Series category.

Should Rudnicke win the Emmy, she’ll add that to her list of accomplishments, which includes an Artios award for her work casting Lovecraft Country.

The Paskal Rudnicke Casting co-owner virtually sat down with Casting Networks to provide a window into the person behind all the credits.

It’s great to virtually meet you, Jennifer, and I’d love to start right at the beginning. ​​When was the moment you knew that casting was the job for you?

Well, I started my career as a stage manager for theater. I was very happy in the role, but it wasn’t financially sustainable, so I needed a day job. I was assisting a talent agent — and not loving the work — when I got to know this casting director named Cherie Mann. She asked me to come work with her and really introduced me to this world of casting for film, TV, and commercials. Growing up near Chicago and going to college downstate, I had always known that the city had theater galore, but I hadn’t previously been aware of all the on-camera work here.

My moment when I knew casting was the career I would stick with came when Cherie had me head up a couple of days at her company when she was unavailable. I had previously assisted her by making sure the actors were prepped for going into the audition room, and I would also observe during sessions. But during that time when I filled in for Cherie, I was the one selecting talent to bring in, making the schedule, deciding how to shoot the sessions, and directing the actors. It was then that I realized how much casting connected with my stage management sensibilities.

How so?

Cherie’s cameraman and I worked together to set up the shot so that the scene would play best, and we even brought in props to help out the actors — it felt very in line with what I’d done as a stage manager. My favorite part of that job had been working with the actors, and casting allowed me to direct them and provide immediate feedback. And as much as I love theater, working in it involves a lot of repetition. I tend to get bored quickly, so the world of on-camera casting ended up being the perfect fit for me since it’s constantly changing. There’s always something new to tackle, which keeps things interesting. Plus, I was excited to find out that casting lets you be home on the weekends. [Laughs] That was a little bonus on top of everything else.

It sounds like it! Now, here comes my favorite question to ask casting. If someone made a film about your life, which actor would you cast to play the role of Jennifer Rudnicke?

It’s definitely not something I normally think about or could easily answer. But my business partner and amazing co-workers have told me that I’m like Lisa Kudrow. My husband, on the other hand, thinks I am more of a Laura Linney. I’m honored by both of the comparisons — I’d take either!

Those are two great actors! And it may be difficult to narrow down, but can you share with us one of your proudest casting moments?

I’m grateful to have had many proud moments over the years so it would be hard to pick just one. I’ll say, though, that the times when I feel most proud aren’t necessarily attached to a specific project. Rather, it’s those instances when you feel like you’ve hit the jackpot. I’m talking about the moments when you read a script and instantly think of the exact actor for the role, the person you feel is meant to play it.

To be clear, it’s a rare occurrence, and giving multiple casting options is always a part of my job. Finding the right actor for the client is a very subjective process. For example, your idea of a 30 to 40-year-old mom with a drug problem can be drastically different than that of the TV network or film studio. So, if I happen to read a script, instantly think of the Chicago actor who would be perfect for the role, and then the client ends up agreeing, it feels very rewarding. Maybe it’s a bit like winning the lottery.

I’d imagine it would be. And before we wrap, I’d love to hear what you enjoy doing when you’re off the clock.

I’m fortunate to have two amazing kids, both of whom have birthdays in May. My daughter will be turning 6 this year, and my son will be 10. So, I suppose it may be cliche, but I try and spend every minute with them that I can when I’m not working.

One good thing that came out of the pandemic was getting to work from home because it means I’m able to see them a lot more in general. My husband and I prioritize spending time as a family, which can be as simple as us all sitting down to watch a movie together. Or, maybe it’s running the kids around to their swim lessons or gymnastics. In the summer, we’ll hang out in the backyard with our little baby pool. [Laughs] It’s not like LA, where it’s outdoor pool weather year-round — the baby pool fits our needs for the two and a half months out of the year when you can use one in Chicago. My husband and I will also enjoy a glass of wine with the neighbors in the backyard on occasion. 

Rudnicke’s last response prompted one final get-to-know-you question before the interview ended. When we asked about her preferred type of wine, the casting director responded “red” without hesitation. Those interested in learning more fun facts about Rudnicke can check out her bio section of the Paskal Rudnicke Casting website. The company can also be found on Instagram as @prcasting.

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This interview has been edited and condensed.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2022 and has been updated to reflect Rudnicke’s 2023 Emmy nomination.

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