Stephen Salamunovich
Acting Coaching — Presentation Skills Training — Audition Coaching — Executive Presence Coaching
Stephen Salamunovich brings a truly diverse background to his 35-year career as an executive media and live performance coach. He began his professional life in his native Los Angeles as a musician, performing and recording as a vocal soloist with such groups as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the New York City Opera Company, and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. His musical contributions to film, television and recordings include the soundtrack of “The Godfather” national commercials, and the Disney album “It’s a Small World” (which was recently designated for landmark preservation status by the Library of Congress).
As a studio drummer, keyboardist and vocalist he has worked and recorded with numerous musicians including jazz artists Gerald Albright, David Benoit, Taylor Mesple’, Peter White, NBC’s “The Voice” sensation Mycle Wastman, renowned bluesman Doug MacLeod, and can be heard on the last four releases by Michael Tomlinson with whom he worked for some 20 years.
In 1984, Stephen was offered an opportunity to work for the seminal Los Angeles casting firm, Anderson, McCook & White and what began as a part time interest became a full-time passion. After a five-year apprenticeship under Nancy McCook and Catherine White, he moved to Seattle, Washington in an effort to embrace a better quality of life and founded Complete Casting By Stephen Salamunovich.
During his 31-year career as a film and television casting director, Stephen worked with such Oscar winning directors as Milos Forman and Bernardo Bertolucci.
His television credits number well over three thousand projects including numerous features for television, the series “Simon & Simon,” “Ferris Bueller” and “In Living Color,” as well as literally thousands of national commercials, corporate films, and features such as the “The Details” starring Toby McGuire, Elizabeth Banks and Laura Linney.
He is the winner and a three-time nominee of casting’s highest honor, the Artios Award© given by his peers in the Casting Society of America©.
He holds the distinction of being the first and one of only three lead casting directors ever to win the award working outside of New York or Los Angeles.
He is an accomplished acting coach and teacher and a frequent guest speaker and facilitator to numerous professional groups.
He has made many appearances on television and radio as an industry expert.
Salamunovich also served as the expert witness for the LA City Attorney’s office during their three-year landmark, “pay-to-play” casting workshop, scam prosecutions in 2018 and the Geoffrey Rush “Me Too” Australian defamation suit.
He has served on the boards of the IFP and the Centerstage Council of the Seattle Theater Group and is a strong advocate for arts education and outreach programs that support the involvement of youth in the arts.
He officially retired from casting on May 19th, 2016 after 31 years.
As an accomplished presentational media expert, Salamunovich has prepared many public and private figures for appearances on such shows as Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, The Today Show, and The Tonight Show.
He has worked with such companies as The Westin Hotels, The American Cancer Society, Chateau Ste Michelle Wine Estates, Kaiser Permanente, and Campfire USA.
He has helped sports stars like Kareem Abdul Jabbar attain celebrity endorsement deals and has assisted CEO’s, political figures, trial attorneys, chefs, best-selling authors, entrepreneurs and sales teams on communicating from the energetic place that is far more impactful than the mere words used.
His work is based on his vast and unique experience coaching literally hundreds of thousands of actors in high-pressure auditions combined with cutting-edge neurological and sociological research.
His upcoming book PUREformance, is based upon the revolutionary techniques he’s successfully helped his clients to master.
He lives in Seattle with his wife Sheila where he roots for the Seahawks and especially, the Mariners.... except when they occasionally play his hometown Dodgers.
