Michaela Ruiz Email and Phone Number

Michaela Schaaf is a recent first-generation graduate from Hofstra University with degrees in Film and Sociology. Raised in rural Lakeville, Massachusetts, she moved to New York in pursuit of a career, with a focus on using her platform to advocate for diversity and inclusion initiatives, highlighting a need for visibility for international women. In her four years at Hofstra, Michaela served as the go-to person for casting, serving as the lead Casting Director for 10 films, with two sweeping the 2019 Hofstra Student Film Festival, both progressing onto the national festival circuit. She transferred this experience to work professionally as a Casting Assistant for Netflix on the Adam Sandler film Hubie Halloween, and later as a Junior Agent at DDO Artists Agency on major commercial and theatrical companies such as ESPN, Xfinity, CBS, and NBC. Some other credits in working with talent include consulting on casting for the independent production company Forlorn Foundry (~15mil views) and her internship with Vanguard Talent Management. Michaela also has worked as a director under the mentorship of National Emmy-nominated director and professor Christine Noschese, who helped her produce a fictional narrative, as well as a documentary that highlighted the inequalities young women in entertainment face as early as film school. Michaela stayed involved in social justice work as the Director of Projects for The Reclamation Project, a youth-led non-profit focused on raising a generation of anti-prejudiced individuals.Please feel free to contact me by michaelamschaaf@gmail.com if you are an interested employer who would like to discuss my qualifications further.