Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacqueline Pitman.
Hi Jacqueline, 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?
My life and career in the Entertainment Industry consist of various risk-taking moments. Originally from Matawan, NJ., I moved here right after high school with $127 in my pocket and everything I owned in one box big enough to hold a 36-inch tv. I was a foster kid from 7 to 18 years old, and moving to California was the scariest thing I had ever done. But, with nothing to lose but my life, I took the risk and never looked back. Broke with no safety net and armed with nothing but hopes, dreams, and determination, I crashed on my sister’s couch for a year. I worked two jobs and sometimes three while putting myself through college. I graduated in five years with a bachelor’s in Radio/Tv/Film from California State University at Long Beach.
I did a myriad of internships in college, each leading me to bigger and better opportunities. My first full-time job in the industry was for the tv show Love Connection, a very successful dating show that had been on the air for 12 seasons. I was a Casting Coordinator and worked there for three years until I jumped ship for a show at Fox that was only guaranteed for six weeks. That was the second biggest and most important risk because that is where I met my mentor, who took me under his wing and taught me everything I know today about television.
Mentored by the late Howard Schultz, Pitman was the VP of Development for over 15 years at Lighthearted Entertainment. I developed and co-executive produced ABC’s Hit Plastic Surgery show, Extreme Makeover, and created and executive produced the MTV hit show NEXT! I take pride in admitting that the inspiration behind the show NEXT! was my personal dating life.
The third most significant risk I had ever taken was leaving Lighthearted in 2006. I left to see what I was capable of on my own. After a series of freelance producing gigs, the economy crashed in 2008, leaving me unemployed for six months for the first time in my life. I needed to take matters into my own hands and do what I knew best; cast. So I launched Pitman Casting Inc., a full-service, reality television casting company in Los Angeles.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Being a foster kid and coming from nothing, with no such thing as legacy the road was anything but smooth, I find myself continually in survival mode, creating something from nothing. From economy crash to the pandemic, I have had to reinvent myself time and time again the good thing is I’m no longer fearful of those moments. They motivate me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Pitman Casting Inc is a full-service reality tv casting company and PartyPit Production is the content development side of the company. Over the past thirteen years, my company has cast over 400 unscripted reality television shows and development projects. Some of these include reality shows such as America’s Most Wanted, Price is Right, Let’s Make a Deal, Wheel of Fortune, Blind Date, and Kids Say The Darndest Things with Tiffany Haddish. Syfy’s Face Off season 1- 13, and Jim Henson’s Creature Shop Challenge, to name a few. We have also assisted in developing numerous properties for Snapchat, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, Bravo, Netflix, Facebook, OWN, TVOne, TLC, HBO MAX HGTV, Discovery, Food Network, GSN, Syfy, WE Network, CMT, CNBC, Lifetime, TNT, MTV, and VH1.
Under Party Pit Productions, I executive produced, created, and cast ten episodes of “To Rome for Love” for Bravo Television network in partnership with Asylum Entertainment. To Rome for Love followed five single African-American women to Italy to find themselves while searching for love.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I LOVED my high school years and have never missed a class reunion! We just had our 40th…High school was my escape from life. When I was in school, I took advantage of every opportunity I could. I was in EVERYTHING! Basketball, softball, marching band I played four instruments, school plays, speech and debate, black student union, chess team and was a pompom girl!
Contact Info:
- Website: PITMANCASTING.COM
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pitmancasting/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pitmancasting/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/pitmancast
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uYPRQC3DoU
