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ALLEN HOOPER was born in L.A. (Lower Alabama),
but soon moved (with his parents and brother) to Atlanta. While still in
elementary school, he had his first acting job with a commercial for the
soon to be World Champion Atlanta Braves. In high school, Allen moved to
radio with a job as a disk jockey for WKRP, AM-1500 in Dallas, Georgia.
(The call letters were later sold to a station in Cincinnati.) He continued
working in radio through college, eventually holding the titles of Music,
Promotions, and News Director all at the same time for WCHK radio in Atlanta.
Upon graduation from the Georgia Institute of Technology,
Allen entered the actual work force as a computer programmer. While holding
a day job, he proceeded to build an impressive theatre resume, appearing
as lead roles in Samuel's Beckett's WAITING FOR GODOT, Eric Bogasian's
TALK RADIO, and Larry Shue's THE FOREIGNER; while also appearing in numerous
productions with the world famous Atlanta Shakespeare Company. Like everyone
else in Atlanta, Allen worked on the television series SAVANNAH and IN
THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT. He also starred in independent films, most notably
HOW THE DAY BEGINS and NO PILLS IN HAPPYLAND, both for director Aditya
Chandora.
Wanting to merge his day job with his passion for the entertainment
industry, Allen moved to Los Angeles with hopes of being a working actor.
To further that goal, he started interning at casting offices with shows
such as C.S.I., DARK ANGEL and FELICITY. That lead to Allen becoming a
casting assistant on UPN's ABBY and FOX's A MINUTE WITH STAN HOOPER. He
also worked as a casting associate for Jason Kennedy on PRETTY DEAD GIRL
(2004 Sundance official selection) and EATING (2005 Sundance official
selection).
Allen switched to the role of associate producer for the
short film POOP before taking the reins for himself as producer of GOTTA
MAKE THEM ANGELS. He was also co-writer of the script with Gregory Cover.
Their first feature collaboration, VEINS, had a respectable showing in
the most recent Project Greenlight contest and will hopefully begin production
in the near future.
Allen currently works as a casting associate for Jeff Greenberg
Casting on ABC's MODERN FAMILY. Other projects with this company include
ELI STONE, UGLY BETTY, OUT OF PRACTICE, STACKED, JAKE IN PROGRESS, and
ACCORDING TO JIM. In addition, Allen has been the casting director (with
Jason Kennedy) on five short films: GRACE, THE SAMURAI OF STRONGSVILLE,
OHIO; THE HEART OF DAVID, DEVIL'S GROVE and WEAK SPECIES.
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