Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Scarpelli.
Hi Courtney, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
As a kid, I wanted to be an actress. I even wrote an essay about how Jim Carrey was my hero and how I wanted to be just like him. Eventually, I realized I didn’t actually want to be in front of the camera, but I was fascinated by what was happening behind it.
In high school, I helped my friends run a small online entertainment magazine. We even got to interview emerging talent, which felt like a dream for a group of teens. One of my favorite memories was when I was 15 and we got to interview Jesse McCartney, which was a huge deal because he was such a teen heartthrob and we were all huge fans. Even though it was just a teen-run project, it showed me how much I enjoyed being part of creating and sharing entertainment.
After high school, I went to Western Connecticut State University, becoming the first in my immediate family to attend college. A counselor suggested I try an internship at The Jerry Springer Show, and I jumped at the chance since the show is iconic. At the time I was working at Best Buy, so it felt like a huge leap. What started as an internship quickly turned into a full-time job. The experience was intense, with six-day weeks that could easily hit 80 hours or more, but it taught me how to work hard and thrive under pressure. Eventually, when it got too much, I decided to leave and somehow found my way into unscripted TV casting.
When I first started in casting, it just felt natural. I loved the challenge and the process of finding the perfect person for each project I worked on. There is something so thrilling about seeing someone, noticing their potential, helping guide them through the process, and then watching it all come together on the screen. That excitement is what made me fall in love with casting. It was the first time everything clicked for me, and it is where I discovered the passion that continues to drive the work I do today. I still get giddy knowing something as simple as finding someone on Instagram and sending a DM can completely change their life.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s definitely not always easy. Unscripted TV casting is a tough profession and most of my career has been freelance, which means I’m always looking for the next gig. Over the last couple of years the industry has been especially unpredictable with projects getting pushed or even canceled. Unfortunately, a lot of us have had bigger gaps between gigs than what we’re used to, which makes it a constant challenge to feel secure in this line of work.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I do unscripted casting, which includes talent shows, docu-series, game shows, dating shows, competition shows, cooking shows, and more. My work involves finding potential cast members, reaching out to them, and then vetting and interviewing candidates. I also collect the materials needed to send to networks for pitches. A big part of what I do is making sure the people I connect with feel comfortable and confident, while guiding them to present themselves in the best way to the networks.
I pride myself on being able to spot the perfect fit for a project, and when I do, I really connect with them throughout the entire process. Helping someone shine and seeing them succeed on screen is incredibly rewarding. What sets me apart is that even after all these years, I really do still care. With the ups and downs of this industry, it can be hard to stay positive sometimes, but I still get such an amazing feeling when I know I’ve changed someone’s life, whether it’s helping them get on a show they’ve always dreamed of being part of or connecting them to a game show where they win a life-changing amount of money.
How do you think about luck?
I feel like I usually say I have pretty bad luck. I was very fortunate, however, to be offered an internship that ended up turning into a full-fledged career. After that, I think it’s been mostly about hard work and pushing through difficult times to get to where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneyscarps
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8120132/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
