Emily began her casting journey by flipping through the Yellow Pages, calling casting directors to see if anyone needed an assistant. Eventually, she found a director who couldn’t pay her but welcomed help with organizing headshots, marking the true beginning of her career. Over the years, she worked with various casting directors and eventually became an assistant under the legendary Mali Finn. This role was pivotal for Emily, immersing her in Hollywood’s high-level productions on films like Titanic, The Matrix, Terminator 2, and more. As a casting associate with Mali, Emily gained experience managing the logistics of casting—coordinating auditions, organizing extras, and collaborating closely with directors. She learned to balance her talent for spotting potential with the technical demands of casting, and, most importantly, Mali taught her the value of kindness and support for actors. These elements have since become foundational to Emily’s approach and have helped establish her as one of the best in the industry.Emily continued building a fulfilling career in film, particularly in independent projects, until one day she met Tom Keegan, a video game director and also a parent at her daughter’s school. Though Tom was capable of handling his own casting, they began working together, and it became clear that Emily’s casting expertise and connections to talented film actors allowed Tom to focus on other aspects of his work. Together, they crafted a partnership that contributed to some of the gaming industry’s most beloved titles. Although video games were a new medium for her, Emily found the casting process to be universal and enjoyed the industry’s unique challenges. She discovered that video games were anything but simplistic; modern games are increasingly relationship-driven, with complex stories, richly layered scenes, and well-written scripts. This new world allowed her to apply her skills in fresh and meaningful ways, further broadening her career.

Casting still remains a big part of Emily's everyday life—not just as a career, but also as a creative outlet. She relates a casting director's role to that of an actor’s—she’s out there looking for the next job, building her contacts, and searching for incredible projects to be a part of. She always keeps an eye out for interesting projects that push the boundaries of storytelling or require a special actor to truly make a character shine. And when she's not actively casting, she takes the time to be a part of "The Independent Spirit Awards" to discover and vote for independent films that break barriers and redefine art. Because at the end of the day, despite being an accredited casting director, Emily is still an artist at heart who understands and wants to support the hard work creatives undergo to create their art. Reasons such as this are why she's known for her ability to identify the right actor for each role, earning her a reputation as a casting director who understands the nuances of both creative expression and production requirements. And if you ever have her as a casting director, remember that she and her team love chocolate.