Today we’d like to introduce you to Hayley Blain-Weinstein
Hi Hayley, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in the San Fernando Valley and spent most of my formative years as the ultimate “valley girl,” often hanging out at the Sherman Oaks Galleria, seeing movies, shopping, and playing video games in the arcade. As an LA kid, I had the opportunity to audition for a Christmas, kids-only week of Card Sharks. I remember the audition vividly, with a whole room of kids vying to be contestants on the show. I also remember thinking the woman running the auditions had the best job ever! Astoundingly, I was one of the kids selected for that Kids Card Shark Week. I was thrilled, because it was my favorite game show at the time. To my mother’s disappointment, the night before my taping, I took scissors and cut my own bangs so short that I looked absolutely ridiculous… so they moved me onto the list of back-up contestants. Don’t feel too sad for me; I left with a bunch of consolation prizes, including a 10-speed bike, so all in all it was a great day. But I think it was at that moment I decided I wanted to work in TV production, and hopefully do what the audition lady did when I grew up.
My first job in show business came when I took a semester off from my studies at Pitzer College, and worked as an assistant to my best friend’s sister who was a stylist (she had styled the iconic look of Janet Jackson in her epic Control music video). After working on campaigns for K-Mart, The Washington Post and a music video for Sting, I went back to school to get my communications degree. Then, I headed to Washington DC and eventually landed a job leading training sessions for people working in the hospitality and alcohol industry. I would be in two states a week, spending most of my time living out of a suitcase and trying to spot my rental car in the airport parking lot. It was a fun and wild time, but after about 5 years of traveling, I decided to move back to my hometown to pursue a career in the medium that really held my heart: Television.
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?
I got married in 1999, and then became very ill during our honeymoon. It then took an entire 9 months for me to be properly diagnosed: I had lupus, an autoimmune condition that had me exhausted all the time, achy, and suffering from what is called “brain fog.” I was working on a syndicated game show, with my first job as the lead Casting Director, and I was having a hard time even staying awake at my desk. I was doing everything I could to balance my health and career without telling anyone at work what was going on with me. But I was often coming in 30 minutes late or leaving 30 minutes early, trying to get to and from doctor’s appointments across town, and I was eventually let go from that job. At the time, it was soul-crushing. I was doing everything I could to stay focused, I was doing everything I could to stay focused, but I couldn’t keep up. After being replaced, I had to take some time off to get my health under control. It was the right thing, but my upward climb in the industry stalled, and it was devastating to see many of my peers in the business leapfrog over me into bigger and better positions. It was a rough couple of years.
Once I felt better, I had to start over. I took recruiting positions, assistant positions, pretty much any position in TV production that allowed me to work in the career I loved.
As I look back, I wish I had been more open to my supervisors about my situation. I don’t know if it would made a difference, but maybe. It was a challenging time, but it taught me many lessons. Physical and mental health should always be a priority. Also, always be nice to everyone you come across; you never know when the people who worked for you will be the people hiring you in your next job. Don’t hold grudges. And most importantly…. don’t give up. There is always light at the end of the tunnel.
couldn’t keep up. After being replaced, I had to take some time off to get my health under control. It was the right thing, but my upward climb in the industry stalled, and it was devastating to see many of my peers in the business leapfrog over me into bigger and better positions. It was a rough couple of years.
Once I felt better, I had to start over. I took recruiting positions, assistant positions, pretty much any position in TV production that allowed me to work in the career I loved.
As I look back, I wish I had been more open to my supervisors about my situation. I don’t know if it would made a difference, but maybe. It was a challenging time, but it taught me many lessons. Physical and mental health should always be a priority. Also, always be nice to everyone you come across; you never know when the people who worked for you will be the people hiring you in your next job. Don’t hold grudges. And most importantly…. don’t give up. There is always light at the end of the tunnel.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a freelance casting director, my niche is finding exceptional stories, talent, and characters through “real, everyday people.” I started my career as a receptionist and production assistant and was introduced by a friend to my casting mentor, Amy Wohl Arbuss. Amy was an experienced Casting Producer/Director who was at the forefront of “real people” casting before so-called “Reality TV” became a big thing. I was enamored with the casting process, and even though my first years working in reality TV had very long and grueling hours, it was just so exciting and so much fun!
Amy would bring me along as her assistant from show to show as a freelancer, teaching me how to find dynamic, everyday people and mold them into stars. Believe it or not, there was no internet when I started. We hit the pavement, scouting people at big, public places like bars, trade shows and at the beach. Sometimes we would even find people right off the street or eating at a restaurant on our lunch break. Texting also didn’t exist yet, so we spent most of our time on the phone calling, booking, and confirming people one by one for every show we worked on. Booking “real people” and finding the right cast was a challenge, but very satisfying. I was hooked.
Although Amy has since passed, I do credit her for teaching me the ins and outs of “real people” casting, which I’ve now been doing for 25 years. A lot has changed in that time. Finding, booking, and casting people has become much easier with the internet, even though the “casting asks” from production companies and producers have become much more difficult. People with undiagnosed illnesses, survivalists, dog and owner duos and of course, singles looking for love, are just some of the people I have cast on various shows. I have an exceptional eye for talent, and I STILL get a high when I find that “Needle in a Haystack” person that fits the premise of the show.
I love casting really ANYTHING. However, my favorite thing is finding contestants for game shows. Currently, I am a Contestant Producer on The Price Is Right. Many people don’t think that finding a game show contestant is a legitimate form of casting, but I completely disagree. Each potential contestant is interviewed and selected based on their personal story, relatable personality, and sometimes their skill. At Price Is Right we interview an audience of close to 175 people per show. Nothing makes me happier than seeing an excited, joyful regular person with a unique story win cash and prizes, and sometimes a car.
What sets me apart from others in the reality casting industry is my varied experience. I’ve seen the progression of reality casting and can handle any assignment thrown at me. As a member of The Casting Society of America, I can cast exceptional actors or fascinating real people. My work ethic is both old school and new school. I take all the casting tricks I learned moving up in the industry and combine them with contemporary technology to find the ideal person for every show, and I sincerely love every minute of it! I’ve recently partnered with my husband, Evan Weinstein (who “I’m proud to say is an Emmy-winning showrunner), and opened our own company, Hippodrum Entertainment/Hippodrum Casting — he handles development and production while I handle the casting, and we have high hopes that our little company will grow into something big.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
If you are passionate about working in the world of reality TV, never give up. As with any career in the entertainment industry, a strong work ethic is essential. Don’t expect to get hired right away as a Producer. Start in an entry-level position and learn the ropes, maybe as a PA in a genre that piques your interest. Learn as much as you can from everyone in various roles around you. This business is tough, especially as a freelancer, so the more hats you can wear, the better odds you have of finding future work. Plus, sometimes the things you think you want to do at the beginning of your career change and evolve. Before you know it you may find yourself in a different aspect of production, a department you never would have considered to be in your future. Whatever you end up doing in this crazy industry, always be a team player, and always have the attitude that “no job is beneath me.” Find mentors who will help you succeed, allow you to ask questions, and who won’t be threatened by your ambition. If you do a good job, people will notice and hire you for their next project.
My motto has always been, “If you keep shooting those balls toward the basket, one of them will eventually go in!”
So, do what you love, and it will never seem like a job”
Contact Info:
- Website: hippodrumcasting.com and hippodrum.com
- Instagram: @hippodrumcasting
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hayley.weinstein/
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-
blain-weinstein-csa-37693b23 - Other: https://www.hippodrumentertainment.com
Image Credits
I was given the Crad Sharks photo was I appeared on the show as a gift- have no idea who took it back then
