Today we’d like to introduce you to Roni Hummel.
Hi Roni, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My career path started when I was invited to a film set in my hometown. It was a period piece about an Indian Boy and his Horse. I went into the audition and was told I was to blonde, blue-eyed and fair. The production was looking for a more ethnic look. Native American or Hispanic. I made the decision as an 8-year-old to plead my case and beg the director to allow me to stay on set. I offered to dye my hair and even my eye color to be able to stay. Tears falling I was devastated (glad I don’t do that now ) . he took mercy on me and told my mom to bring me to set. We had lunch with cast and crew and I became the smallest and youngest PA on set. Carrying mostly apple boxes and small items to and from set. I was in heaven. I knew then this is what I wanted to do the rest of my life….
I continued to work on films off and on between school and obligations of life. At 15, I worked on a little known movie Corky starring Robert Blake, Chris Connelly and Charlotte Rampling. I had a scene where I had to cross in front of them, that was it but it’s the most awesome cross on camera ever (at least, I thought). It was great fun. I didn’t know who Robert Blake was. Just a year before he made Corky, Robert Blake had a hit movie called ” In Cold Blood ” which I was not allowed to watch that’s why I didn’t know who he was. Someone later told me he was Mickey on Our Gang series.
Cut to a few years and I was on another set This time for 3 weeks. The movie was Semi Tough starring Burt Reynolds, Kris Kristofferson, Jill Clayburgh, Brian Dennehy and Director Michael Ritchie. This is where I also met Cathryn Hartt for the first time. She was the Productions Talent Wrangler. I remember it well, she yelled at me for losing my pay voucher. Life is funny and comes full circle. Cathryn and I became good friends in later years. She became one of the best acting coaches in Dallas and I became a casting director. I refer a lot of my newbie actors to her class.
I eventually signed with an agency. Peggy Taylor Talent in Dallas. I continued working and doing films and commercials when I could between working and family. I also went to college and became a photographer and spent some time as a competition print specialist for many Professional Photographers in DFW. I spent some time as a freelance Photo journalist complete with police scanner in my car to be the first photographer on the scene. Pay was really good for those but it was a lot of work and could be dangerous. I attended Adam Roarke’s acting class in Dallas. As I was exiting the class to work on a new production, a very tall and gangly young man was just signing on to take classes. His name was Lou Diamond Phillips. I kicked myself for leaving the class at that time but I had a production to work on.
I worked in radio for a while as an overnight host for KVTT 91.7. Christian Radio Ministry for 8 years Hosting and answering the phone lines overnight for the most desperate needs of people. I was trained as a Faith Based Counselor to deal with the many crisis situations including suicide callers late nights. Still working when I could in films, mostly for friends Indie films going to Film Festival Circuit. Writing my own scripts at during downtime. I was very sad when this ended. Our Station was sold to KERA. Pink slips were given and I thought wow I need some way to help people and pray for them I have been doing this for so long. Maybe the opportunity will come up in another form.
I eventually worked for a Studio in Dallas for the next 5 years ..learning everything in Original Programming from script to screen ..a lot of casting was involved, breaking down the script and scenes to securing locations and props, cars. You name it I did it. I’m so grateful I learned so much while there. We produced 3 #1 hit shows for a National Network. It was a great learning environment for me to be able to do what I do today. Since that time I have worked for Twentieth Century Fox, NBC Universal. Discovery Channel, A & E Lifetime, and ITV in London, NBC Sports. ABC, The Quest, The Voice also Americas Got talent.
After leaving there to break out on my own I decided to lean more toward casting… I was good at it and I love actors…I love training them and teaching them. And realized this is my outlet to help people again. I have 3000 people and what a better way to use my ministry work than this… I have a lot of people who rely on me and believe in my work and I can help them succeed not only in their careers but in Life. This is my goal… I want to see my actors reach the stars and become stars in both physical and spiritual realms. Be better people with a good life and paying it forward. Reaching for the highest prize.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it has not been an easy road. I had to prove myself so many times in this industry. People have a tendency to look at the outer shell of a person and not the inside. So many times people are under the impression I don’t have experience or knowledge of this industry, for some reason they think of me as just a blonde sparkly personality that wants to have fun and play. Yes, I want to have fun but I’m much deeper than that. I do my homework, not only through study and workshops but years of experience and working with other Casting Directors and Agents all professionals in this industry through the years I have learned a great deal from, Including my son who is an executive producer with a film / commercial company. My older son is a concept artist and worked with George Lucas for 12 years and is now working for a London gaming company.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m actually very passionate about acting. I love being an actor, I love telling a great story. I love the emotions I love the passions, It’s an urgent need to be constantly working in this creative atmosphere. I need it. It’s what drives me, it’s what moves me. I want to make others feel that. Because I have that in me I’m able to give that hope to others.
Casting is my way of that creative outlet… I can train and teach and mentor actors. I can in a way pass down what I have and then they can make it their own.
I’m different in the way I deal with actors and casting. Actors need communication and need to be communicated to about how they are doing, how to move up a level, What to do, where to go, I had an actor from LA tell me that it is refreshing that I take the time to answer their emails and tell them about the audition or how they did or that I’m pulling for them. I make it a priority to try and do this. I think it’s important actors hear this and know what’s going on. So many times Casting never returns an email, never lets the actor know what’s going on. I want to change that. I want to be a Casting director with a heart. I know we get so busy sometimes…but it only takes a minute to reply to someone. Make a Difference!
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Kindness and respect in the film industry matters to me. We are all in this together and should not be competing but lifting up one to another always.
We cannot move forward in these changing times unless we change that.
Contact Info:
- Email: ronihummel@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4274841/
- Facebook: @RoniHummelFilmproduction
- Twitter: RonHum
- Youtube: Roni Hummel – Video Chat on Casting Dos & Donts
Image Credits
Roni Hummel Photography
