Meet Candido Cornejo | Casting Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Candido Cornejo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Candido, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Authenticity and education. I grew in casting working with various casting icons like Ronnie Yeskel (“Pulp Fiction”, “Reservoir Dogs”), Fern Champion (“The Mask”, “Mortal Kombat”), and Pam Dixon (“The Craft”, “The Mask Of Zorro”) so I was able to establish a respectable name for myself as far the quality of my work. I have access to movie and television stars and can prepare my creatives on how to reach them. But the more I did it, the more I realized what serious lack of authentic representation existed on our screens. People behind the camera needed a proper education and introduction to the communities they were telling stories about. It was at ABC Entertainment under the wing of Felicia Joseph and Patricia Yuen Kern that I learned the importance of diversity and how to go about seeking talent out of the norm. I began engaging with communities; the Latine community, the queer community, the native and indigenous communities, and I began to listen to what they needed, and I provided them the tools and exposure on how to gain access to us in Hollywood. I push for not only diverse representation, but authentic as well. Why does the hero HAVE to be male? Why did we only see white as the protagonists? This all began to change and was only possible with honest and authentic conversations with creatives and executives. It didn’t stop there, it still continues. Why does the trans girl need to always be the butt of the joke or a call girl? Why is the Latina lady always the cleaning lady? And it goes deeper; why are our Afro Latinos and Indigenous Latinos always left behind even by our own community? I have to spell out the reasons why it’s all important. And when I’m actively casting, I’m ensuring I have real people of these communities representing themselves so they can tell their own stories based on lived experience. A lot of the reasons why these folks weren’t cast in the first place was because of the lack of training, the lack of experience, but we have to ask ourselves what are the reasons behind this? The lack of opportunities. It’s not just about casting talent for me anymore, it’s about providing resources to communities that haven’t been given these opportunities before and continuing education for all.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Was it easy? Yes and no. I was very fortunate and privileged to have started with some amazing casting directors that come from big blockbuster films but getting there wasn’t easy. I graduated film school during the writer’s strike in 2008. There was no work. I worked at a Macy’s trying not to move back home as everyone in my class was. I toughed it out. By mere chance my directing/acting teacher came in the store I was working at and was on her way to have dinner with Ronnie Yeskel. Long story short, she got me my first job. I had to really prove myself after that because I really wanted it. These are really big ladies in the industry, and when they saw how much I really wanted it, they were like “alright, let me see what you can do.” I was being tested with all the big Hollywood names as a casting assistant AND and casting director. I knew any small mistake would get me out, but I fought. It was truthfully my ‘Devil Wears Prada’ moment. I was working with a very powerful woman, and I remember many moments where I thought I wasn’t good enough. When in truth, she was striving to make me who I am today. She wanted perfection. I did have a choice; keep at it and do an AMAZING job or get out. And so I stayed and told myself I would work twice as hard. Because of that experience I was able to go anywhere and do an amazing job. People began to know me and that respect was earned. Several years later, I had all this experience under big offices, and it was time for me to branch off on my own. Starting my own office wasn’t hard because people didn’t know who I was; people knew my name; but it was preparing to compete with all the bigger offices when the shrinking of this business was at its genesis. It’s about the importance of my voice and our communities’ voices, and how I amplify those voices and the stories of the creatives that approach me. That’s what’s very exciting to me. I see how important and impactful this is to people that don’t get to see themselves on the big screen, and have their stories be told. When things get tough in meetings with creatives or executives, I remember and remind those around me of the people we are creating about and for. My work for community has been recognized even beyond the industry and currently work on producing and bringing people together for local and national community events as well such as the Jeffrey Gibson Exhibition for The Broad Museum and Indigenous Pride LA’s march for the LA and Weho 2025 Pride Parade.

In 2024 I was nominated for the PBS Local Hero Award, and this year I won an Artios Award for best outstanding casting for ‘The Roof’ which now airs on Disney+.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The Edison in DTLA is one of my favorite places to visit and have a drink. A perfect excuse to throw on a classy outfit, have a glass of champagne and forget about the outside world. It was where I made my first business deal as an independent casting director, one of my first dates in LA, and where I plan to shoot a film for my director’s debut.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are many people I would like to shout out to. I wouldn’t be where I’m at today without them. Ronnie Yeskel and Heidi Davis for getting me started. All my mentors who taught me everything I know; Fern Champion, Scott Genkinger, Deborah George, Tamara-Lee Notcutt, Felicia Joseph, Patricia Yuen Kern.

To the Casting Society who asked me to be on their board of directors. Special shout out to Steven Tylor O’Connor, Wendy Kurtzman, Destiny Lilly, Tiffany Little Canfield, Danielle Pretsfelder Demchick, Felicia Fasano.

To April Webster for encouraging me to become a leader in a room I was very nervous in.

To Diana Luna at NALIP for always recognizing the importance of casting and working hard for the Latine community.

To Carla Hool for being an amazing ally and friend.

And to my dearest friend Pam Dixon for believing in me from the very beginning.

Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2917646/

Instagram: @kissedbyloki