Q & A with Karlie Loland-Ringer, CSA – Summer Camp in Theaters May 31st
Exclusive Summer Camp images released by Karlie Loland-Ringer, CSA.
By Delores Kuhlwein and Karlie Loland-Ringer, CSA
There’s nothing better than escaping the summer heat to a cool respite in the movie theater, and bonus points if the movie is memorable, funny, and heartwarming. Summer Camp ticks all those boxes, a movie to tickle your funny bone and remind you what life is all about, starring Hollywood greats such Diane Keaton, Kathy Bates, Alfre Woodard, Eugene Levy, Beverly D’Angelo, Nicole Richie, Josh Peck, Betsy Sodaro, and Dennis Haysbert.
What you may not know: the casting director, Karlie Loland-Ringer, CSA, is in our midst at many celebrated horse shows, conducting business while accompanying her wife, trainer Amanda Ringer, to venues across the U.S.
The jetsetter sat down with The Equine Chronicle just in time for the debut of Summer Camp in movie theaters on Friday, May 31st! See our Q & A with Karlie where she reveals the deep equine roots of the movie, as well as how she manages the worlds of Hollywood and the horse industry seamlessly.
Q: Summer Camp, which debuts May 31, must involve horses, right? Now our ears are really perked up, as summer camp is where many of today’s riders fell in love with horses as children. You mentioned the project has deep equine roots and there are moments in the film as well. Can you expand upon that?
A: Absolutely, you can’t leave out the horses during summer camp. The writer and director of Summer Camp, Castille Landon, is an amateur World Champion in the American Saddlebred world. Castille and producer, Dori Rath, ride with Monnington Farm in Shelby County, Kentucky. Oddly enough, the first film I worked on was a project of theirs 10 years ago about an enchanted Friesian stallion. At that time, I had no idea how far my career would expand or that my life would become so intertwined within the equine community. In the Summer Camp film, one of our locations takes place at Shoal Creek Farm in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Our horseback riding scenes offer great humor to the audience!
A multitude of reasons to see the summer comedy includes a star-studded cast.
Q: Why else would you say this movie will be a hit with moviegoers, besides the star-studded cast of Diane Keaton, Kathy Bates, Eugene Levy, Josh Peck, Dennis Haysbert, and Alfre Woodard?
A: Within all the laughs, there’s certainly a female forward story that unfolds. This film is a great reminder of who truly matters in life and encourages the idea that we all need to simply let loose sometimes. No one is getting any younger!
Q: How do you handle all the star power in your job, and especially in this case – do you get starstruck – or is it simply part of your life?
A. There’s nothing wrong with having a favorite celebrity and neat stories to go along with it. There are most definitely individuals I have a lot of respect for because of the way they execute their craft. I personally don’t get starstruck, and I’d like to believe that’s part of what makes me good at my job (laughs). I will say it’s really neat working with actors I grew up watching and never knowing who I’ll click with on a personal level as time goes on. For the most part, all the elites want to be treated “normal” and I aim to do that. In my world, when people find out my wife, Amanda Ringer, is a horse trainer, they find it way more exciting than anything any of us do.
Karlie is a familiar face at many of today’s biggest AQHA shows, conducting business while her wife, Amanda, shows.
Q. We see this film is the first project for you as a member of the Casting Society of America, a huge accomplishment. Did this open the door to a project of this magnitude, and if so, how/why?
A. Yes, thank you! Being accepted as a CSA member is a huge accomplishment that took many projects, years, and hours to achieve. It’s certainly added credibility and notoriety to my name as a casting director. I would imagine this honor feels similar to winning the AQHA World Show for a horseman/woman. With that, I’m also now held to a higher standard and look to represent CSA in the best light throughout the projects I choose to take on. The sky is the limit from here.
Q. We read that you grew up in the industry, and in addition to working as a scout and a talent agent, you were naturally drawn to casting. What has been the most fulfilling aspect of it, and what are the challenges?
A. My industry is what I know best – It’s been my life for over 15 years. As casting director, I’m passionate about having a hand in bringing a story to life through actors. It’s really all about having an eye for the bigger picture and understanding what the directors I work with want to see but also sometimes convincing them they want something different. I’m also a producer, which gives me a leg up in many scenarios, because I understand what everyone needs to collectively accomplish a win. What I do isn’t all that different from buying and selling horses. Producing teams want the most for their dollar, while agents and managers are there to advocate for their actors and fight for what they feel they deserve. Aside from the artistry of casting, I bring balance to the mix until we’re able to close on an actor.
Amanda and Karlie
Q. How do you juggle/balance the demands of your career with Amanda’s challenging career? The two industries seem rather opposite, but to see you both together, it’s like the two worlds are seamless.
A. We do have a unique dynamic, and we feel what makes us work is that we’re equally invested in our own things. Because of that, we understand one another better and have respect for each other’s work ethic. I’m fortunate to be in a position where I can work from almost anywhere and fly in and out as needed. I’ve done the big city life and wouldn’t trade what Amanda and I have built together living in Ocala, Florida. It’s rare that I miss a horse show – I’ve closed some of my biggest deals pacing up and down an arena watching Amanda show while I’m on a call. We are blessed to do life with each other in that way.
Amanda Ringer with Boyd Crowder for Whitney Barrs at A Sudden Impulse 2024, photo credit Shane Rux Photography.
Q. What else would you like our readers to know?
A. Funny enough, I don’t pay much attention to my films beyond their initial premieres, but I feel like going to see Summer Camp in theaters will be worth the human experience. I’m eager to see others enjoy and laugh at this one! We’ll be at The Premier horse show in Lexington, Kentucky, during the film’s theater release, so I’ve invited Michelle Bauer to join me for a watch. Michelle and I have connected over film these last few years, and you can actually catch her in Hallmark’s A Taste of Love making a little cameo. It’s always neat when I get to include friends. I’ve also had the privilege of casting Deanna Willis as a model for the esteemed celebrity make-up artist, Jaclyn Hill. Deanna was even asked to showcase her own make-up artistry, being booked directly by Jaclyn’s team for a shoot. Exciting crossover between our worlds!
Watch the trailer of Summer Camp by clicking the link, where you can also catch some horse action!
