Todd Kramer and Jay Reum sit down with James Babson, a talented LA-based actor and longtime friend of Todd's, to look back on a formative chapter of their careers — cutting their teeth in Prague, Czech Republic, during a unique moment in international film production.
James and Todd reminisce about their time living and working in Central Europe, where trained actors could gain real, on-set experience fast — learning the craft not in theory, but in practice. From navigating language barriers and unfamiliar systems to landing roles and building confidence in a professional working environment, this episode is packed with up-and-coming actor anecdotes straight from the trenches.
It's a conversation about timing, geography, hustle, and the kind of early career experiences that quietly shape actors for life. Honest, funny, and reflective — this one captures what it's like to grow into the work before the industry grows around you.
00:00 – Welcome & introducing James Babson
03:10 – How Prague became part of the journey
08:00 – Leaving home and landing in the Czech Republic
13:20 – Learning the job by doing the job
18:40 – Working professionally before feeling "ready"
24:10 – Life as a foreign actor in Prague
29:30 – Auditions, sets, and early confidence boosts
35:00 – The value of real reps on real productions
40:30 – Actor friendships forged overseas
46:10 – What Prague taught them about the craft
51:40 – Transitioning back toward LA
57:20 – Carrying European experience into Hollywood
01:03:10 – Up-and-coming actor lessons that still apply
01:09:00 – What younger actors can learn from that era
01:14:30 – Looking back without rose-tinting
01:19:50 – Final reflections & wrap-up
Did you get your early experience somewhere unexpected? Have you trained, worked, or hustled outside your home market? Drop a comment and let's talk about where actors really learn the job.
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🌐 Jay's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jayreum
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