Jennifer Aquino — Audiobook Director
Clients: Penguin Random House, Hachette, Macmillan, Brilliance Publishing, Scholastic, One Night Stand Studios.
As an Audiobook Director, Jennifer’s goal is to make the narrator feel confident, safe, and supported, to get the best performance from the narrator, and to help bring an authentic voice to the author’s story.
Jennifer loves to work with Producers/Publishers and will:
- Be responsible for script prep, pronunciation research, performance guidance, script-marking, flagging potential errors in the text, and raising any other concerns the Producer should know about.
- Send daily updates to the Producer.
- Send an end of recording summary to the Producer on the last day of recording.
Jennifer prefers to direct audiobooks under a SAG-AFTRA contract. Did you know that publishers can offer actors/narrators SAG-AFTRA contracts to direct audiobooks? If you’re a publisher looking to expand your Directing Roster, and are already working with narrators you love to work with, you can offer them a union contract to direct! Join companies such as Penguin Random House, Hachette, Brilliance, Mosaic Audio, and One Night Stand Studios in offering this contract! For more info, feel free to email jennifer@jenniferaquino.com
Directing Actors/Narrators/Authors
Jennifer also directs Actors/Narrators live on a book you’re hired to perform. Do you want to uplevel your narration? Are you narrating a certain genre for the first time? Are you an author who would like support and direction as you narrate your book? Feel free to contact Jennifer to direct you for the first hour or two of your recording.
Inclusion & Diversity in Directing
With her goal to increase underrepresented (BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled) directors in the audiobook industry and due to high interest, Jennifer taught an Audiobook Directing Workshop for Narrators in October 2023, and has continued to mentor these Directors. If you’re looking to expand your Directing Roster, please email jennifer@jenniferaquino.com and/or contact the following Directors:
Please scroll to view websites and emails
| André Santana | andreonthemic.com – already directing for PRH and Macmillan |
| Sanya Simmons | sanyasimmons.com, sanya@sanyasimmons.com – already directing for Hachette, Macmillan, and Lyric Audio |
| Nicky Endres | nickyendres.com/audiobooks/ – already directing for PRH |
| Dominique Franceschi | dominiquefranceschi.com, dom@dominiquefranceschi.com – already directing for Macmillan |
| Shannon Parks | shannonparksnarrationcoach.com – already directing authors & actors |
| Cindy Kay | cindykayvo.com |
| Thom Rivera | thomrivera.com, thomrivera@gmail.com |
| Krystal Hammond | krystalhammond.com, krystalhammond@gmail.com |
| Mirai | miraivo.com |
| Sara Matsui Colby | saramatsuicolby.com/ |
| Christine Rendel | christinerendel.com |
| Caroline Huang McLaughlin | voiceofcaroline.com, caroline@voiceofcaroline.com |
One Night Stand Studios
"A masterful storyteller and thoughtful director, Jennifer is also a guiding light and sterling example for others within the industry. "
- Callum Plews, Producer, Macmillan Publishing"Jennifer is definitely a storyteller at heart. Incredibly professional, well prepared, and is a wonderful team player. I can count on her to work with directors, editors, and even authors in her narration projects, that's why I'm so excited to have her on more as a director. I know that any project that I put Jennifer on is going to sound great and will be smooth sailing in production."
- Jen Patten-Sanchez, Producer, Hachette Audio"Working with Jennifer Aquino was like receiving an immersion master class in audiobook narration. The encouragement, validation, and insightful feedback I received helped me hone in on my narration as I defined my voices, tempo, and tone. Jennifer is an encouraging and brilliant director! I cannot imagine a more perfect match for me and KAUA‘I STORM."
- Tori Eldridge, Author, Kaua'i Storm"Jennifer is a director who can be trusted. Professional and prepared, she honors the producer’s and author’s vision, all the while supporting the narrator and facilitating beautiful performances. I look forward to working with her again and again."
-- Erin Spencer, Producer, One Night Stand Studios and Bespoke AudioWorksJennifer is available to work both in studio (local hire in Los Angeles) and in her home studio.