‘Hannah Montana’ casting director to join FilmFest 4-H

BRANSON, Mo. – Casting director Joni Tackette has formally joined the ranks of presenters for FilmFest 4-H, the Branson-based national film festival for teens.

While Tackette also casts for commercials, industrials and docudramas, the main focus of her work has been television and feature films. Her film experience includes “The Invasion,” “Alice Upside Down,” the HBO miniseries “John Adams” and “Up in the Air” with George Clooney, for which Tackette cast 2,000 extras. However, the project that youth are most likely to recognize may be 2009’s “Hannah Montana: The Movie,” for which she was the extras casting director.

At FilmFest 4-H, Aug. 5-8, Tackette will offer young filmmakers insights on how to select the best performers for various types of roles. She will also speak to the logistics required to do casting calls, both small and massive in scale.

FilmFest 4-H is open to all 4-H youth ages 11-18, as well as groups from other youth-serving organizations. Information and forms are available online at 4h.missouri.edu/filmfest.