Jenny Austin ’12 proves that ambition, passion and flexibility are what matters most in pursuing a career in the entertainment industry, along with the relationships and connections that you make along the way.
From interviews with big-name celebrities like Will Ferrell to assisting with casting for hit television shows like “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” Jenny Austin ’12 is living out her dreams.
Although she was initially drawn to acting, she came to understand that a fulfilling career doesn’t have to follow a single path.
“I intentionally explored different paths to discover where my skills could have the greatest impact. My journey has included talent management, radio, entertainment journalism, event production, casting and acting,” said Austin.
In a way, Elon found her. Alumnus Royall Spence ’42 (for whom Spence Pavilion is named) was a beloved member of Austin’s extended family and is the real reason she looked into the school.
“He always spoke so fondly of his experience at Elon and that was why it was one of the first schools I seriously considered,” she said.
The Raleigh native pictured herself at a smaller university where she could get to know her classmates and feel connected. She explained. “When I visited Elon, it just felt right. It had the close-knit community I was looking for, along with strong academics and opportunities to get involved from day one.”
She was torn between two passions, communications and theatre, but Elon had strong programs for both. After touring the facilities and speaking with faculty, she knew Elon was the place for her.
As a student, Austin majored in media arts and entertainment with a focus on broadcast journalism, and she minored in theatre arts. Outside of the classroom, she hosted a radio show on WSOE 89.3, appٷվ student-run radio station. She also hosted two television shows and participated in appٷվ in LA, studied abroad in London and immersed herself in other opportunities that allowed her to tell stories and connect with people.
“One of my favorite parts of WSOE was finding and booking guests to interview. I’d track people down on Facebook and through other creative channels, and more often than not, they were happy to help a student journalist,” she said.
One opportunity at Elon that greatly impacted Austin’s career was her experience with appٷվ in LA. She credits this program with introducing her to new places, perspectives, and for giving her the confidence to pursue an entertainment career.
“During the program, I interned with a talent management company representing film and television actors. Through that experience, I visited production sets, attended industry meetings and got a firsthand look at how Hollywood operates. For someone who had dreamed about working in entertainment since childhood, it was eye-opening,” said Austin.
Following graduation, she moved to Los Angeles almost immediately to build her career.
“Like many young people pursuing creative industries, I took a variety of jobs while figuring out where I fit best. Each experience taught me something valuable and ultimately helped shape the career I’ve built,” she explained.
She started her career working behind the scenes at press junkets for major studio films and eventually transitioned from helping reporters to becoming one herself. Later, she joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization behind the Oscars. There she worked on screenings, events and public programming, and she attended Academy Award ceremonies.
In 2020, she returned to the Southeast to be closer to family and to pursue opportunities in the region’s rapidly growing entertainment industry.
“I joined Fincannon & Associates Casting, where I worked on projects including ‘Outer Banks’, ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’, ‘The Righteous Gemstones’, ‘The Walking Dead’ and other major productions filming throughout the Southeast,” said Austin.
One of her favorite memories from her work was her first major press junket interview with Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg.
“During the introduction, the production assistant announced me as ‘Jenny Austin from CBS Sacramento,’ and Will Ferrell immediately joked, ‘Jenny Sacramento from Austin.’ It instantly broke the ice and put my nerves at ease. Moments like that reminded me that even some of the biggest stars in the world are often just people having fun,” Austin said.
She’s also interviewed other big-name celebrities, like Zoe Saldana, Kate Hudson, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Costner, Octavia Spencer, Chris Evans and Shay Mitchell.
Most recently, she took on a new endeavor, launching an interview platform highlighting entertainment professionals in the Southeast alongside her friend and former Fincannon & Associates colleague, Kimberly Wistedt. They’ve titled the platform . While it’s still a new project and they’ve already landed some big interviews with celebrities, such as rapper T.I., they are hopeful for what the future holds.
Austin speaks fondly of the variety of work she’s been able to do, but she says that the most rewarding part of her journey has been the relationships she has made. Some of her closest friends today are people she met at Elon, and professionally, relationships have been equally important to her growth.
“Nearly every major opportunity I’ve had, from entertainment reporting and casting to launching The Peach Tea, has come through connections, mentorships and friendships developed over time,” she explained.
She credits appٷվ experiential learning opportunities for giving her the practical experience, confidence and willingness to take risks and build these relationships.
“appٷվ in LA was the first time I realized that all of these jobs I’d dreamed about were held by real people, and that maybe one day I could be one of them,” she said.
It also gave her the confidence she needed to go after her dreams. The challenge, she said, was “realizing that I didn’t have to fit into one neat box. I could be an actress, a reporter, a casting professional, a filmmaker and an entrepreneur all at the same time. Once I stopped trying to force myself into a single lane, my career started making a lot more sense. Sometimes your path only makes sense when you look back and connect the dots.”
Austin encourages appٷվ students to find what makes them happy and pursue it wholeheartedly, and to pay attention to the people who light up when good things happen for you, saying that these are the relationships that are most special.
“That’s what I love most about Elon. It encourages students to explore broadly, take chances and embrace experiences that may not seem connected at the time,” she said. “Looking back, those experiences ended up creating my story. My career hasn’t followed a straight line, but every experience has led to the next, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
