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HESTER SCHELL, MFA
Producer, Writer, Director, Teacher, Actor, Puppeteer...
and now...

Full Service Casting Director

Full Service Includes some of the following, depending on your needs, budget, union affiation, etc.-

  • Announcing audition to the community.
  • Contacting agents when applicable.
  • Collecting, Sorting headshots.
  • Meeting with agents when applicable.
  • Arrange support staff where necessary.
  • Setting up and running your audition sessions.

photo by Owen Carey

Full Service Options, cont.

  • Mini DV Taping the session for your review.
  • Copy scripts for audition.
  • Act as "reader" for the session.
  • Arranging call-backs.
  • Notifying talent/agent of selection.
  • Referrals to other services.
  • Recommendations for crew/staffing.



- Casting Credits -


INDUSTRIALS & COMMERCIALS

2007 - Re:Mind Productions: Genentech
Union (AFTRA) Principal Casting. Training films.

2007 - June Bug Films, Alameda County Fair
Non-UnionPrincipal Casting: Commercial

2007 - Mud Pie Productions: Mud Pie Productions
Union (SAG) Principal Casting. HD Short Film

2006 - Re:Mind Productions: Genentech
Union (AFTRA) Principal Casting. Training films.

2005 - Re:Mind Productions: Genentech
Union (AFTRA) Principal Casting. Sexual Harrassment training film

2004 - Re:Mind Productions: Genentech
Union (AFTRA) - Principal Casting. Employee relations.

2004 - June Bug Films: Symantec Corporation (2 projects)
Union (AFTRA) - Principal Casting.

2004 - Flying Moose Productions: Broadcast, corporate.
Non-Union. Background.

2004 - A Band Apart  (Division of Quentin Taratino)
Union. Commerical for General Motors.
Principal Casting.

CABLE TELEVISION

2004 -Creation Films - Episode for the History Channel
Non-union, Principal Casting and background.

- FEATURES -

2004 - PLANTING MELVIN, June Bug Films
SAG Experimental Feature. Principal Casting.
Official Entry: Cinequest Film Festival, 2005.
Official Entry: Hearts and Minds Film Festival, 2005.

2002 - THE REWRITE OF YOUR LIFE, Wolf Productions
Tailer for Feature. SAG Limited Exhibition
Principal Casting.

2002 - LET'S TAKE A WALK, Mud Pie Productions
TV Series Pilot, Non-union. Principal Casting.

1999 - A DIVINE MADNESS, Cherry Tree Productions
Low Budget Indie Feature, Non-union.
Principal Casting and background.

1999 - YOUR GUARDIAN, June Bug Films
SAG Experimental, Low Budget Indie.
Background.
Official Entry: Cinequest Film Festival, 2001
.

  • I am confident I can help you find the best actors for your project, whatever the budget.
  • My rates are on a sliding scale, based on your project's budget, distribution, union status. Call me for a quote: (650) 726-5424, pacific time.
  • I have spent 30 years in the entertainment industry, performing in regional theatre, teaching, running a San Francisco theatre company, and most recently as the newest performing member of Liebe Wetzel's Lunatique Fantastique, an abstract found object table top puppet company.
  • Currently I coach actors in private practice and I teach at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California,as adjunct professor of theatre.
  • I've worked in features, commercials, industrials, voice over and stage. I've directed numerous stage productions, produced, assistant directed and line produced assorted features both in and out of festival circuits.
  • My first documentary, BLANKETS FOR AFGHANISTAN, which I produced and directed, was distributed on the DISH Satellite Network for broadcast through FREE SPEECH TV in 2003.
  • I've taught directing,acting and camera acting for over 20 years both inside and outside the academic arena, including several years as a department co-chair.
  • I've managed budgets large and small. Work within Union and non-union guidelines.


MORE DETAILS -

A SAG and AFTRA member, Hester has nearly 30 years experience working in theatre, film, television, voice over, commercial and industrial markets, from acting to writing to producing. She's worked on high budget A list Hollywood features and low budget non-union independents.

Before joining the faculty at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California, Hester was full tenured professor of theatre and director of the theatre department at de Anza College in Cupertino, California, teaching Acting, Camera Acting, Intro. to Theatre, Actors' Ensemble and producing the college productions, including a year running the Foothill Conservatory at Foothill College, in the same district. She produced and directed the live comedy broadcast, A LAUGHING MATTER for De Anza Television.

Favorite milestones of her academic career include participating in the International Children's Theatre Festival in Moscow, Russia in 1990, and teaching theatre at the University of London during fall semester 2000.

Hester is CEO and publisher of the Internet service magazine, Bay Area Casting News.

Recent film production credits include Kari Nevil's Your Guardian, starring Irene Bedard; assistant director on Robert Pickett's A Divine Madness, based on Chekov's A Cherry Orchard, currently in post production.

In 2003, Hester finished her first documentary, BLANKETS FOR AFGHANISTAN for the American Friends Service Committee, and secured distribution through FREE SPEECH TV on the DISH Satellite Network. She directed, produced, co-wrote and edited this 20 minute documentary.

Professional stage directing credits include: Harold Pinter's BETRAYAL for Coelacanth Theatricals' debut production; OEDIPUS REX for the Annual Utah Greek Theatre Festival; Noel Coward's BLITHE SPIRIT; Jane Chamber's MY BLUE HEAVEN,for the Portland Women's Theatre Collective.

Miss Schell won acting awards for the Oregon premieres of Sam Shepard's BURIED CHILD, J.F. Noonan's A COUPLE WHITE CHICKS SITTIN' AROUND TALKING, and Alan Ayckbourn's RELATIVELY SPEAKING.

She can be seen on TV every holiday season in IT NEARLY WASN'T CHRISTMAS starring Charles Durning as Santa.

Hester completed the Master of Fine Arts degree in directing from the University of Utah; Bachelor of Arts in Theatre at Portland (OR) State University; Associate of Arts at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, and a certificate of training from the Trinity Square Repertory Conservatory in Providence, Rhode Island.

Hester is currently producing a children's television show LET'S TAKE A WALK... and working on screenplays, teaching and coaching actors in private practice.


WEB SITES FOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

www.letstakeawalk.com

LET'S TAKE A WALK...
Children's TV
Series in Development