Shows
The Late Bloomer ActorYou Are Meant To Be An Actor with Brian PataccaText The Late Bloomer Actor a Question or Comment.Brian Patacca returns from last year's final episode and shares his insights on the duality of acting as both an art and a business. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining artistic integrity while navigating the complexities of representation and the industry. Brian discusses his transformative coaching approach, which helps actors overcome limiting beliefs and build meaningful relationships with agents and managers. The conversation also touches on resilience in the face of rejection, the significance of continuous engagement with the industry, and practical advice for aspiring actors looking to t...
2025-03-1546 min
The Actor FactorEpisode #75 The Representation Whisperer Brian PataccaBrad & Diego are in the boot with the man we should call "Hollywood". He's all business yet pure fun while getting over 1,000 Actors (and counting) representation!Brian Patacca is truly one of a kind and a genuine human being that can only make you a better person just by having him around! We can't wait for this half hour!Like our Podcast? Wanna Support with a Donation of any size?venmo - @BradAshtenWe thank you for your patronage...
2024-07-0740 min
Brian Breaks Character#134 Get More Auditions with Casting Workbook CEO Susan FoxJoin Casting Workbook Now 👇👇 https://signup.castingworkbook.com/register/actor?src=brian-patacca You know me as the go-to guy to get more auditions with your casting profiles. 👨🏻✈️💪 So, when Casting Workbook popped into my inbox, my first thought was, "Do we really need another casting site?!?" 🙄 But then, I discovered you can submit FOR FREE! ← Sounds too good to be true, amiright? No other casting site offers that... 🤔 As your self-declared Casting Website Defending Champion, before I introduce you to any other casting site, I had to reach out to their head honcho to get the scoop... Casting Workbook CEO Susan Fo...
2024-06-2651 minBrian Breaks Character#133 Casting Profile Secrets Revealed with Casting Networks' Katie O'Connor & Jason TeresiOn this episode of Brian Breaks Character, I sat down with the powers that be from Casting Networks (again!), Katie O'Connor, Enterprise Sales Manager (West Coast) 🌴 and Jason Teresi, Client Success Manager 💫. They join me to give the inside scoop on all the exciting developments since the Casting Networks overhaul three years ago, and trust me, they do not disappoint. 🙌 👉 Casting Networks is a staple in this industry and they work hard over there to continuously improve the experience for both actors and casting directors. HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: 🌍 Global Expansion: Casting Networks is working to es...
2023-11-2934 minBrian Breaks Character#131 The Official 2023 Actor Survival Guide Vol 4 - PART TWO🏃♀️ 🏃♂️ Run, Don't Walk to Get the Survival Guide that accompanies this very special 2-part episode: https://actorsurvivalguide.com This is Part Two of the Actor Survival Guide. 🎭 Look, we've been living through two strikes! 💥💥 And right now it might not even feel like you're in your acting career because what does an acting career even look like at this point? 🤔 So, I reached out to the crème de la crème of coaches for actors – the über-experts who wholeheartedly devote themselves to your fulfillment & success in this wild career – and asked them: What is a strategy actors can a...
2023-10-1838 minBrian Breaks Character#130 The Official 2023 Actor Survival Guide Vol 4 - PART ONE🏃♀️ 🏃♂️ Run, Don't Walk To Get the Survival Guide that accompanies this very special 2-part episode: https://actorsurvivalguide.com This is Part One of the Actor Survival Guide. Whenever the bizniz feels S L O W 🐢 ... ...my thoughts start to get W E I R D. I'm not gonna give a lot of airtime to my trash thoughts cuz I'm gonna guess you know them intimately (E.g., Should I still be doing this, Does anyone care, Why am I banging my head against the wall, etc.). Wallowing in weirdness won't get us anywhere...
2023-10-1833 minBrian Breaks Character#129 Make Lemonade with BrianWe've got something special for you in this pop-up episode of Brian Breaks Character. You know, I couldn't stay silent with the strikes that are still going on. 👉 On today's episode, we dive into the state of the business and the creatives inside of the strike. And… the truth that cannot be denied regardless of what's going on in the business - You were born to do this. 💪 Plus, I'm thrilled to introduce my new Make Lemonade program – devoted to actors who want a healthy dose of focus, less toxic-positivity, and MORE JOY in their lives & careers. 🍋 Life's...
2023-08-1115 minBrian Breaks Character#128 A Special LGBTQ+ Podcast Series: LGBTQ&A with Jeffrey Masters & Guest Janelle Monáe🏳️🌈 This is the fourth and final episode of our LGBTQ+ Podcast Series. All this month, we've been elevating and uplifting the voices of LGBTQ+ podcasts and content creators. 🎧🎥 Today, we are happy to highlight LGBTQ&A podcast. LGBTQ&A has been featured in The New York Times, MSNBC, and was nominated for Outstanding Podcast at the 2023 GLAAD Media Awards. 🙌 Jeffrey Masters is the host and creator of LGBTQ&A. He's also the former Director of Podcasts at The Advocate and he is currently the Senior Producer of the New Yorker Radio Hour. 😲 Jeffrey's guest on this particular episod...
2023-06-2827 minBrian Breaks Character#127 A Special LGBTQ+ Podcast Series: The Queer Spirit with Nick Venegoni & TanyaMarck Oviedo🏳️🌈 This is the third episode in our series devoted to elevating and uplifting LGBTQIA+ voices for podcasts and content creators. 🎧🎥 Today, you're in for a treat. I cannot wait for you to meet The Queer Spirit podcast. 🙌 You know that we talk about spirituality a lot on Brian Breaks Character, but hosts Nick Venegoni & TanyaMarck Oviedo of The Queer Spirit look at spirituality in all its multiple forms through the lens of being queer. This podcast spotlights LGBTQIA+ artists, healers and activists who enliven, heal and empower our communities to thrive and flourish. Now in their 6th seas...
2023-06-2142 minBrian Breaks Character#126 A Special LGBTQ+ Podcast Series: Town Hall: A Black Queer Podcast with Bob the Drag Queen & Peppermint🏳️🌈 This is the second episode in our Special LGBTQ+ Podcast Series, where we continue to celebrate Pride by honoring and uplifting diverse voices within the LGBTQ+ community. 🙌 Whether you identify as LGBTQ+ or as an ally, these episodes are going to ignite your spirit, change perceptions, and get you excited. 🤗 And hopefully, give you a window into what it means to be Queer in the United States of America, especially as an artist. 🎭🎨 Today's episode is from Town Hall: A Black Queer Podcast with hosts Bob the Drag Queen and Peppermint. (👉You heard from Peppermint on episode #121 of Brian...
2023-06-141h 13Brian Breaks Character#125 A Special LGBTQ+ Podcast Series: Lez Hang Out with Leigh Holmes Foster and Ellie BrigidaHappy Pride! 🏳️🌈 It's Pride month, y'all, and we are really happy to be celebrating. 🎉 First, you should know that Brian Breaks Character actually takes a little sabbatical for the months of June and July 😎 that way we can come back in August with a rip-roaring third season. 🙌 But… We've decided to do something different for this Pride month ➡️ We are sharing with you episodes from LGBTQ+ Podcasts that we are really proud of, delighted to highlight and to elevate the voices of, here in this space. So, for the next four weeks, you're going to hear episodes fro...
2023-06-071h 36Brian Breaks Character#123 Act From a Place of Power with Jo KellyThis one goes out to all the actors. Right now you might be feeling a little anxious, a little stressed because of the strike that's going on. So I'm replaying an episode that really dives into craft with one of my absolute favorite teachers, Jo Kelly. And... She is now a 7x guest on Brian Breaks Character, so you know I trust her! Jo joins me to drop some incredible truth bombs about: The mistakes actors are making What gets in your way How to truly embody the freedom and instinct you want when you're acting...
2023-05-3137 minBrian Breaks Character#122 Rise of the Representation Whisperer 🗣 How 'Make Agents Want You' Changed the Game & Conquered the WorldHey Listeners! My name is Emma and I'm taking over Brian's posts for today... 💅🏻 In case we haven't crossed paths yet, I'm the Client Success Manager on Brian's team. 👋🏻 To put it simply, I'm like a supportive cheerleader 📣 and a guidance counselor for all of Brian's clients. 👑 We're all about sharing and celebrating our clients' successes, big or small! (...or to put it more graphically, whenever you CAN use this emoji → 🎉). Guess what? March marked the THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of Make Agents Want You, the free masterclass that put Brian on the map! You've probably heard o...
2023-05-241h 01Brian Breaks Character#116 Write Your Dream Role with Emily GraceSo I'm going to guess you've noticed that we've been talking a lot about writing and content creation here on the podcast lately. So it's the perfect time to bring back this episode with Emily Grace. If you are a writer and an actor and you're trying to propel your career forward with content that you're creating on your own, there are a lot of traps that you can fall into where you waste time, energy and money with making stuff that won't actually propel your career forward. So this replay is a cautionary tale… I...
2023-04-1254 minBrian Breaks Character#112 Sundance Backstage Pass with Blumhouse Fellow & Filmmaker Chelsea GonzalezNow that Deadline has finally announced the big news, I can share Chelsea Gonzalez with you! 🎉 🙈🙊🙉 I've had to keep my mouth shut until Deadline, Variety and The Wrap spread the word➞ Chelsea Gonzalez is an Official Selection as a Blumhouse & K Period Media Screamwriting Fellow (...and as a longtime, client & friend, I am just so freakin' proud of her!). 💗 🙌 And on today's episode of Brian Breaks Character she – quite literally! – walks us through her experience at Sundance Film Festival. 🎥 📽 The Who, What, Where, When, & How to make Sundance work for you! 🤝 What you can do to build...
2023-03-1549 minBrian Breaks Character#111 How To Pitch Your TV Show with Adrienne Rose WhiteCalling all future Shonda Rhimes & Ryan Murphys!!! 👉 Do you have an idea for a TV show? 👉 Or a pilot gathering dust cuz you don't know what to do with it? 👉 Or maybe you're just curious about how TV shows get made! Brian Breaks Character has gotchu, boo. 💗 On this episode of the podcast, my guest Adrienne Rose White give us a masterclass on HOW TO PITCH & SELL TV SHOWS. 📺 Adrienne helps people to *actually* sell TV shows (organically!) by teaching creatives to develop, package, and sell the authentic story that only they can tell. ...
2023-03-0852 minBrian Breaks Character#106 The Official 2023 Actor Survival Guide Volume 3 - Part 1Run, Don't Walk To Get the Survival Guide that accompanies this very special 2-part episode: https://actorsurvivalguide.com Your purpose was given to you by something other than yourself → There's LITERALLY no one else on the planet that can do YOU the way that you can. So, you simply gotta be YOU. I think you can agree: easier said than done sometimes! So for this episode of the podcast, I reached out to the crème de la crème of coaches for actors – Moniqua Plante, DaJuan Johnson, Heidi Dean, Emily Grace...
2023-02-0831 minBrian Breaks Character#99 Revolutionizing Live Theatre with CAGES Co-Creators CJ Baran & Benjamin RomansToday's guests are the epitome of what this podcast is all about: CREATIVE REVOLUTIONARY SUPERSTARS… who are just as hard on themselves as the rest of us! CJ Baran & Benjamin Romans created the show CAGES – an indescribable "genre-busting game changer" (LA Times) that left audiences in awe at its premiere… MYSELF INCLUDED! Masterfully weaving state-of-the-art video and animation with live performance and original songs that pulse with an addictive pop energy, CAGES pulls out all the stops to conjure a rock opera musical for the modern age. These two creative overachievers wrote the story...
2022-12-2153 minBrian Breaks Character#97 Steve Carell's TV Wife Laura Niemi Tells AllChances are you'll recognize today's podcast guest! Laura Niemi plays Steve Carell's wife on FX's The Patient, now streaming on Hulu. #NoBigDeal She's also had roles on Stranger Things, Grey's Anatomy, This Is Us, Veep, and NCIS. If you've EVER considered leaving your reps, but were afraid to do so, her story carries a message I KNOW you'll relate to… Most actors think BIG TIME ROLES will make their career easy breezy. Hold up Covergirl! Yes, credits can help… But I'mma bet even Academy Award-winners Viola Davis & Oliv...
2022-12-0738 minBrian Breaks Character#96 The Call-In Coaching Show with Brian Part TwoThis is part two episode of a very special 2-part episode where I give you a backstage pass to a coaching call. I invited podcast superfans to a LIVE COACHING CALL and we talked about ALLLLLL THE THINGS. We covered so much we had to split the call into 2 episodes… and both binge-worthy episodes dropped today! Since my group coaching calls are devoted to my online course curriculum, this was a rare chance for me to throw down on all things related to the business plus a healthy dose of spirituality… and how to be a good citi...
2022-11-3044 minBrian Breaks Character#95 The Call-In Coaching Show with Brian Part OneToday I'm giving you a backstage pass to a coaching call. I invited podcast superfans to a LIVE COACHING CALL and we talked about ALLLLLL THE THINGS. We covered so much we had to split the call into 2 episodes… and both binge-worthy episodes dropped today! Since my group coaching calls are devoted to my online course curriculum, this was a rare chance for me to throw down on all things related to the business plus a healthy dose of spirituality… and how to be a good citizen of this planet. HERE'S AN OUTLINE TO HELP YOU...
2022-11-3056 minBrian Breaks Character#91 How to Become Offer Only with Guest Host, Actor Shawn K. JainDon't Miss This Exclusive Training: https://becomeofferonly.com/ Shawn K. Jain here, Guest Host for this week's episode of the pod! And I've got Brian in the HOT SEAT. FULL TRANSPARENCY: Brian invited me to Guest Host. I'm hosting this episode of Brian Breaks Character because after TWO YEARS of *new* audition protocols I wanted to sit him down to get his take on ALL THINGS coaching, marketing, and productivity (and toxic-productivity!). Plus this episode gives you a head start on tackling the MOST FRUSTRATING QUESTION: I'm not working o...
2022-11-0941 minBrian Breaks Character#89 Making the Move: NYC to LA with Migs Govea from Ocean's 8This week's guest on Brian Breaks Character, Migs Govea, has a ton of enviable credits: Recurring as Nick Vargas on CBS's FBI: Most Wanted, Opposite Julia Garner (2x!) – Netflix series Inventing Anna and the Sundance hit The Assistant, Opposite Ed Norton in Motherless Brooklyn, Opposite Anne Hathaway & Helena Bonham Carter in Ocean's 8, On Broadway in A Man for All Seasons with 2x Tony Award-Winner Frank Langella and Succession's Emmy Award-Winner Jeremy Strong …and it would be reeeeeeeeally easy to say "Oh, look at him, he's nothing like me, he's got it made!" But then you'd miss o...
2022-10-2653 minBrian Breaks Character#84 Get More Auditions With These CastingAbout & Actors Access Insider Secrets – Part TwoIf you want to know a verifiable way to get more auditions, grab your notebook for Part Two of my interview with Blair Hickey and Brian Wold, the Co-Founders of CastingAbout and Consultants for Breakdown Services. I locked them in a Zoom room and forced them to tell me ALLLLLL THE INSIDER SECRETS of how actors can make themselves unforgettable on Actors Access… and there were just too many juicy takeaways for one episode. In this episode, we dive deeper into how to create and maintain those strong relationships with casting directors – especially now that those...
2022-09-2238 minBrian Breaks Character#83 Get More Auditions With These CastingAbout & Actors Access Insider Secrets – Part OneI'm gonna guess you have an Actors Access/Breakdown Express profile so Casting Directors can find you. And even though the site has *some* free functionality, I'm also gonna guess that you plunk down $68/year (plus any other fees) so you can host your video files and get access to the best auditions out there. YOU AND 1.3 MILLION OTHER ACTORS USE ACTORS ACCESS. I'm sharing that BIG number so you make it a priority to listen to this episode of Brian Breaks Character. Today's guests are Blair Hickey and Brian Wold, the Co-Founders of...
2022-09-2137 minBrian Breaks Character#81 Get More Auditions with Cesar RamosEpisode 81 of Brian Breaks Character is the 3rd episode in our September Series devoted to helping you get more AUDITIONS. So, I invited Cesar Ramos from my team to the pod because he's a working actor (out there doing the thing & facing the same challenges you are)... and because he asks the best questions! Listen for These TAKEAWAYS: Use your casting profile to tell the story of where you're going not just where you've been Unless you are offer only - your reps use your casting profiles Your materials are good enough, it's your casting p...
2022-09-1436 minBrian Breaks Character#80 Your Casting Profiles with Sam ValentineYou signed up for Actors Access and Casting Networks… And maybe you've got a Casting Profile on 3 other sites too! Maybe you even have reps submitting you in addition to submitting yourself… And maybe it still feels like you're not getting enough auditions?! And the first place you MIGHT look is your headshots… or maybe your reel? Did you ever stop to think that it could be your casting profile? WHAAAAAA?!?!?!? EVERY SINGLE episode of Brian Breaks Character for the month of September is devoted to helping you to get more AUDITIONS ← and we're dropping 6 episodes this month so...
2022-09-0852 minBrian Breaks Character#79 Gimme Gimme More AuditionsSchool is back in session and over here at Brian Breaks Character we are celebrating with a month entirely devoted to helping you get more auditions because this is the time of year when you need to be locked in on driving on the (school) bus to getting great auditions. To kick off this month, ask yourself this question - How do I know if my online casting profile is working? Your casting profile is hands down the most important tool to get you auditions and needs constant upkeep whether you have representation or not.
2022-09-0715 minBrian Breaks Character#78 How To Land Reps in London with Ditte Maria le-FevreHave you ever wanted to get reps in London or Europe? Or just another dang city where you DON'T currently live? This week's episode of the Brian Breaks Character podcast is a MUST-LISTEN. Ditte Maria le-Fevre got her fair share of auditions in Denmark, but had a feeling there was more out there for her (sound familiar?). She was already doing all she could to get auditions on her home turf, so she courageously took the 4,100 mile leap and reached out to reps in the UK and she landed a FABULOUS manager. Ditte Maria is...
2022-08-3141 minBrian Breaks Character#77 Hashtag Booked with Co-Creator LaNisa FrederickYou know when you see something on Instagram and you simply HAVE TO forward it to a friend? Or 10 friends? Yup, me too. And that's why I'm giddy to share this interview with the creator of my most-forwarded IG posts LaNisa Frederick. LaNisa Frederick & Danielle Pinnock are the creators of Hashtag Booked – the Instagram sketch series that set the internet ablaze. In 50-seconds or less, they capture a raw slice of the #actorslife with searing specificity and laugh-out-loud improvisation they examine the joys & heartaches of being an actress of color in the entertainment biz. IN THIS EPISODE, Y...
2022-08-2449 minBrian Breaks Character#76 The Official 2022 Actor Survival Guide vol2 - Part 2Run, Don't Walk To Get the Survival Guide that accompanies this very special 2-part episode: https://actorsurvivalguide.com This episode of Brian Breaks Character is part 2 of a special 2-part episode where I joined together this squad of super coaches - Amy McNabb, Jodie Bentley, Nzinga Moore, Shannon Bills, Tony Rossi and Wendy Braun to help create The 2022 Official Actor Survival Guide vol 2– and it was no surprise that our conversation turned toward mindset & self-care. The guide is FULL of actionable steps you can take to get more auditions, network like a human, and clean up...
2022-08-1754 minBrian Breaks Character#75 The Official 2022 Actor Survival Guide vol2 - Part 1Run, Don't Walk To Get the Survival Guide that accompanies this very special 2-part episode: https://www.actorsurvivalguide.com/ Does PUTTING DOWN your to-do list spark anxiety? ← if so, you're not alone. After 2½ years hunkered down staring at Zoom screens, and doing at-alone self-tapes, you might feel like sitting in front of your computer is what it means to live a creative life. SPOILER ALERT: It's not. I reached out to the crème de la crème of coaches for actors – the über-experts who wholeheartedly devote themselves to your fulfillment & success...
2022-08-101h 04
Brian Breaks CharacterConquer Your Summertime FOMOSummer is your time to chill. Or is it?Sunshine can bring a lot of pressure to: party, chill out, cross off your to-do list, focus on your craft, march for a cause, see every single one of your friends for a casual rosé... Or… You might not feel this way at all – but you’d still like to know you’re on track for episodic(and pilot) season. As an actor it can be hard to step back (or lean in) to focus on what's actually important to your career (and your wellbeing) when it’s 80° an...
2022-07-1804 minBrian Breaks Character#74 HOW TO SAY THANK YOU (without being weird)Run, Don't Walk to get the download that accompanies this episode: www.brianbreakscharacter.com/74 I believe the world is a better place when we acknowledge the people who have helped us along the way, but too often gratitude ends up on the cutting room floor because we get lost in a flurry of "how do I say this," "is it too late to send this?" and "does this make me sound needy?" So… you never click send. If you resonate with anything I just said, THANK GOODNESS YOU'RE HERE!Today's episode is our Seas...
2022-05-251h 19Brian Breaks Character#73 Act From a Place of Power with Jo KellyToday's guest is Jo Kelly - She is a 4x guest on Brian Breaks Character, so you know I trust her! Jo joins me to drop some incredible truth bombs about: The mistakes actors are making What gets in your way How to truly embody the freedom and instinct you want when you're acting (sounds like a dream, right?) I encourage you to listen to this mind-blowing chat (no, literally, we talked about neural pathways!). Jo Kelly is a true gift! **Full disclosure, this interview was taken from an IG Live because the conversation that...
2022-05-1839 minBrian Breaks Character#72 Anti-Racism with Anti-Oppression Strategist, Nadi Fantastic – Part 2We at Team BKP are on a journey to create safe spaces for everyone in our community. Today's show is part 2 in a series where, with the help of anti-oppression business strategist & inclusive leadership coach Nadi Fantastic, we take stock of how we're doing. And at the center of this work is YOU; your feeling of safety in our spaces. The conversation across these 2 episodes is vulnerable, sticky, tough, and incredibly rewarding. As Nadi says, "This is slow work in urgent times." Nope, we don't always hit the mark. Yup, we've got room to...
2022-05-1130 minBrian Breaks Character#71 Anti-Racism with Anti-Oppression Strategist, Nadi Fantastic – Part 1Over here at Team BKP, we've been on an anti-racist and anti-bias journey since July of 2020. Inclusion and belonging are two of our company's core values and we are committed to foster diversity in our programs and create a safe space for all. But doing this means we have had to educate ourselves. Our team is primarily white and cisgender so that means we inherently do not have the lived experiences of actors and creatives that we welcome into our spaces. So, we are on this journey to do better… To become the leaders that we want...
2022-05-0457 minBrian Breaks Character#70 Agent Blair Taylor Tells You How To Take a MeetingHave you ever wanted to get inside the mind of an agent? Well, my pretty, your wish has been granted: Today's guest on the show is the supremely generous, Blair Taylor. Blair is a fabulous talent agent who has been working in the entertainment industry representing actors for over two decades. FULL DISCLOSURE: He's also one of my best-est friends so you know I got him to spill the real tea! In this episode of Brian Breaks Character, Blair describes exactly what it's like on the other side of the agent-meeting table. He shares what questions he g...
2022-04-2731 minBrian Breaks Character#69 Michael McElroy Takes Us to Church: Black Theatre United & Tony Award-Winning Broadway Inspirational VoicesToday's episode is meant to inspire you and remind you that your gifts and talents were given to you for a purpose. And today's guest, Michael McElroy is a prime example of someone who truly uses their gifts and talents for a greater purpose. You've probably heard of Michael as he has been on Broadway for many many years. He is a Tony, Drama Desk and Grammy Award nominee. He has also accepted a Tony Award Honor for Excellence in the Theater on behalf of Broadway Inspirational Voices, which by the way he founded. Broadway Inspirational Voices...
2022-04-2043 minBrian Breaks Character#68 What to Wear On-Camera with Super Stylist, Adrien RabagoIt seems like no matter how many times you take headshots (and I know you've done them more than you can count on one hand!) the same exact 3 questions come up: What 3-5 types do I need to cover? What should I wear? How can I make sure that my headshot pops? …Maybe you've also hemmed & hawed over what to wear for your self-tape auditions? Or maybe you wear the exact same thing every single time cuz it's the ONE thing you know looks good on you? Welllll…. This episode has you covered.
2022-04-1358 minBrian Breaks Character#67 Make Meaningful Content with Spiritual Practitioner Sonia JacksonIf you don't feel 100% connected to your why, today's episode with Spiritual Practitioner Sonia Jackson is a must listen. So… Grab a mug of tea and get cozy as Sonia lights up your spirit with her Visions of Possibilities (also the name of her non-profit edutainment organization that produces projects that challenge audiences to live in unlimited possibility). Sonia is a spiritual practitioner, master storyteller, actress, and a true balm in Gilead! She's the spoonful of sugar that helps the spiritual medicine go doooooowwwwn! If you're feeling out of sorts, out of alignment, or out...
2022-04-0653 minBrian Breaks Character#66 Overcome the Pick Me! Pick Me! Mindset with Brian & Guest Host Lola RufaiWe are doing something a little different on this episode of Brian Breaks Character. Last summer, Lola Rufai of The Helping Actor invited me to her Breakthrough Actor Summit to talk about finding representation and specifically to share more about embodying the CEO when it comes to agent and manager meetings. Now, I don't know what kind of magic this woman weaved, but she got me to have a very different conversation around representation and it was just too juicy not to make into a podcast episode (of course I got her permission first). What I want y...
2022-03-301h 02Brian Breaks Character#65 Let's Re-Define Productivity with Sam Valentine (oh, and BOUNDARIES!!!)Anyone else triggered by the word L A Z Y?WARNING: I am a megafan of Sam Valentine and in this reunion episode we get to the juicy stufffffffff! We're coming up on a year and Sam was my very first-est guest! In today's episode she shines a bright light on the journey of her legendary podcast One Broke Actress. Sam openly describes how she's re-defined productivity in her own life and career (and her double-career as a podcast host & editor!). Lazy WAS a trigger word for Sam – so she took steps to create a ne...
2022-03-231h 00Brian Breaks Character#64 Your Identity and Your Acting Career Are Your Birthright with Yvette GonzalezYvette turned down 8 agents. She took the time to meet with all of them, but she just wasn't feelin' it… And this was going to be her FIRST rep since graduating from USC! How did she go from unrepresented recent grad to empowered decision-making queen? When I first met Yvette she was at a crossroads… To be fair, WE ALLLLL WERE! March 2020 forced a lot of actors to rethink their plan – plus Yvette had decided to seek refuge in her family's home (which can bring its own layer of confusing failure-y feelings to the zennest of us all). A...
2022-03-1631 minBrian Breaks Character#63 Unstoppable Creativity with Amie McNeeThe titles of Amie McNee's FOUR books will tell you all you need to know about why she's today's guest on the podcast: We Need Your Art Collection, For the Burnt Out Artist, For the Perfectionist, For the Procrastinator. (Reads kinda like a blessing for the audience of Brian Breaks Character, amiright?)Amie joined me all the way from Sydney, Australia and just like her 89.5K followers on Instagram I instantly fell in love with her incredibly honest & authentic rallying cries for creative people. Amie is an author, speaker, creative coach and a book doula. She teaches...
2022-03-0943 minBrian Breaks Character#62 Sony Pictures TV Studios' Executive Director of Casting, Amanda RichardsWhen you audition for a pilot, there are TWO different casting offices that need to sign off on you before you are booked. There's the project casting director – these are the names you're familiar with like Michael Nicolo & Anya Colloff or Bonnie Finnegan & Steven Jacobs. And then there's the studio/network casting directors – the folks at CBS or NBC who are responsible for… wait, what are they responsible for exactly? If you're like me, you picture these folks in fancy, gated buildings wearing high heels and eating expensive salads while giving orders during important meetings at grandiose conference tables a la Th...
2022-03-0240 minBrian Breaks Character#61 Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life with author Francesc MirallesTW // Eating Habits are discussed on this episode Today's guest is the co-author of one of my favorite books, Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life. This book is my jam because it's all about purpose. Francesc Miralles and Héctor García wrote the international bestseller Ikigai and Francesc joins me from Spain to explain what Ikigai actually means. It's a Japanese word with many translations. It literally means a life worth being lived, but he shares that it is your purpose in life, it's your reason to live, but also more simply, it is th...
2022-02-2342 minBrian Breaks Character#60 Being Brave with Dallas TraversIf you have ever been challenged to rethink your branding, quit your day job, choose a different path or try something new - Drop everything and listen to this life-changing episode with Dallas Travers NOW. Dallas Travers is the bravest person I know (and not just because she's my coach!). She knows failure. She knows fear. She knows foolish… she once put a photo of herself doing the splits on a flier to attract clients. (spoiler alert: it didn't work) You might know Dallas as 'The OG' bizniz coach for actors; nowadays she's the coaches' coac...
2022-02-1649 minBrian Breaks Character#59 How To Get Representation In A City Where You Don't Live – Cellina Tells The Tale From ChicagoCellina Munro had been looking for representation for seven years. She trained and spent a lot of money on showcases. With the intent to move to Los Angeles, she reached out to managers in LA before the move and guess what? Cellina got 10 requests for meetings (in which she chose to take 4) and 4 IN THE ROOM OFFERS. Cellina found the bicoastal manager she deserves - one who is not worried at all about her current Chicago residence and is super supportive about her move to LA. And… You won't want to miss the part towards the end where Brian he...
2022-02-1242 minBrian Breaks Character#58 The Truth About Pilot Season with John RosenfeldJohn Rosenfeld Studios is often the answer to: What acting studio should I go to in LA? CD's and agents look for it on résumés. Actors on a series prep for auditions with their coaches. Actors who go there - BOOK. And all that street cred is definitely worth the hype, but it's their mission that sets them apart: To cultivate the constitution of a happy, working actor. John's holistic approach to what it means to be a professional actor is what skyrocketed his studio to success when it opened 12 years ago. On this episode of...
2022-02-0944 minBrian Breaks Character#57 Actor Survival Guide to 2022 with an All-Star Lineup of Coaches Part 2Run over to... https://actorsurvivalguide.com to get your very own FREE Copy of the Actor Survival Guide that accompanies this very special 2-part episode. Do you hate the phrase UNPRECEDENTED TIMES as much as I do? We are two years into this pandemic THE TIMES ARE PRECEDENTED, bro! That said, whether the times are unprecedented or precedented, one thing we can all agree on is: THESE TIMES have forever changed what it means to pursue an acting career. This episode of Brian Breaks Character is part 2 of a special 2-part episode where I brought...
2022-02-0244 minBrian Breaks Character#56 Actor Survival Guide to 2022 with an All-Star Lineup of Coaches Part 1Run, Don't Walk To Get the Survival Guide that accompanies this very special 2-part episode: https://actorsurvivalguide.com I can't predict the weather, but after 2+ years of social distancing, I figure you *might* be a little unfocused and need some protection from the distraction downpour. These unprecedented times have forever changed what it means to pursue an acting career. On the one hand, COVID brought an explosion of self-tape auditions! But it also raised questions regarding what's safe on set, on stage... and in our lives. On this episode of Brian Breaks Character, I brought together this squad of...
2022-01-2649 minBrian Breaks Character#54 Age Ain't Nothin' But a Number - How Sharon Got 17 Meetings for RepresentationSharon was without an agent for many many years, but was booking shows in theatres throughout Los Angeles. As she continued to watch the beautiful work others were doing in the theatre and in Film/TV, she knew she needed to find reps to make this happen even more. She overcame being worried about her age, technology and experience (even though she has a long list of impressive credits) and got 17 meetings for representation. Of those 17 meetings… she got 17 OFFERS! She not only found an agent, but also a manager. CLOSER LOOK & TAKEAWAYS How Sharon took resp...
2022-01-1539 minBrian Breaks Character#53 Diverse Representation Founder, Jaia ThomasToday is my birthday…But I have a gift for you! As an artist, your divine purpose is to change the world through your creativity. And if you're called to be a part of the rise in social activism right now – I've got a story that will inspire you to further raise your hand (and your voice!). Jaia Thomas of Diverse Representation joins me on the podcast today and models how to connect the dots from creativity to activism – and how we are called to do this work (big and small). Jaia walked into Black Panther...
2022-01-1233 minBrian Breaks Character#52 Vision & VisualizationToday's podcast episode is mindset revolution in 23 minutes. And Brian Breaks Character listener, it's so easy, it might piss you off. I gathered together six actors to lead them through an exercise that cuts through limiting beliefs and sticky comparison thoughts to illuminate their deepest desires. Visualization is the act of using your imagination to create a mental picture or mental motion picture of something you want to do, be, have or experience. During the visualization experience, you give yourself permission to live the experience in your mind as if it were actually h...
2022-01-051h 04Brian Breaks Character#51 2021 Best Quotes Wrap Up!Happy Almost New Year! I've done something a little wild for you - For this episode of Brian Breaks Character, I've pulled together my favorite quotes from all of the episodes this year. It's like a ticker tape of inspiration where we talk about getting more auditions, getting representation, creating content, being an activist in your creative pursuits, marketing yourself, making money, and storytelling. Get sooo inspired that you want to go a little deeper? Take a listen to one of our past episodes: Prepare Ye The Way to Get More Auditions with Special Host...
2021-12-2928 minBrian Breaks Character#50 Your Purpose - Holiday EditionI believe we are all put on this planet to fulfill our divine purpose while we are here. In this week's episode, I share the metaphysical meaning of Christmas because you've chosen a creative life OR MORE CORRECTLY, a creative life chose you. No matter how spiritual (or agnostic) you are, you'll gain a better sense of your worthiness from this episode. Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas! Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Brian Breaks Character! If you loved this episode, please subscribe and leave an...
2021-12-2210 minBrian Breaks Character#49 Greatest Hits: Tell Your StoryAs of this morning, we have released 49 episodes of the Brian Breaks Character podcast… So I took a look back at the past six months so I could pull together this special Greatest Hits: Volume 1 that truly speaks to the heart of all creativity: Tell Your Story. YOU'LL HEAR FROM: Playwrights Horizons' Casting Director Alaine Alldaffer illustrates how the lies we tell ourselves about collaboration can get in the way Showrunner & Director Kevin Arbouet teaches us how activism can be a part of every story Actor Angel Harper got 14 offers for representation after she embraced the mo...
2021-12-151h 02Brian Breaks Character#48 The 5 Questions to Own 2021 & Slay 2022Happy Almost-Merry Everything! I'm shimmying down your chimney with tidings of comfort and joy to deliver a GIFT that promises to make your 2022 amazing… Today's episode is not a typical one, this special episode is a training to help you capture all that has happened in 2021 with The 5 Questions to Own 2021 & Slay 2022! These five thought-provoking and soul-satisfying questions help you to name exactly what you accomplished in 2021 so you can lay the groundwork TO PLAY ALL OUT IN 2022. In this episode, I walk you through the exercise so you can customize this to your own lif...
2021-12-0938 minBrian Breaks Character#47 Your Self Worth Equals Your Net Worth with Katy Chen MazzaraI'm gonna guess you inherited some money stories from your own upbringing. On today's show, my guest, Katy Chen Mazzara offers you an approach to face those money ghosts so you can craft a new relationship with money that actually ENCOURAGES YOU to claim your own abundance; acknowledge any debt you might have; and build the life you freakin' deserve. Katy reminds me of Cate Blanchett's character in The Lord of the Rings – she appears out of nowhere calm & all-knowing; nurses your wounds; and puts you back on your feet so you can go out there and sa...
2021-12-0149 minBrian Breaks Character#46 Thank You, Actors – What You Teach Us AllActors are some of the most courageous, vulnerable, and growth-oriented people in the world - that's why I choose to work with actors. {I should probably write a book and make it required reading for, well, everyone, and title it: Actors Know Everything: A How-To Guide to Life & Success on Planet Earth.} It's important to us on the podcast to center the voices of our greatest teachers – so I invited three wildly different actors to the show to THANK THEM for all that they've taught me. Matt Pasini is a trans, non-binary actor an...
2021-11-2458 minBrian Breaks Character#45 No, Thank You! Say Yes to the RIGHT RepresentationYou know that dream of being fought over by multiple reps? It feels like a far cry from your average agent send-out. But hold tight my friends, because it is not! Listen in as actors Sawyer Greenberg and Sara Erikson share not only how they landed 15-18 meetings each, but how they made the hard choice of which rep to sign with...without burning any future Hollywood bridges! CLOSER LOOK & TAKEAWAYS Saying no thank you in such a way that it leaves doors open to future relationships with reps, even if they aren't going...
2021-11-2042 minBrian Breaks Character#44 Write Your Dream Role with Emily GraceI'm just gonna come out and say it, – DO NOT WRITE YOUR OWN CONTENT… Well, not until you listen to this episode! Because even though you've got the best of intentions, chances are you'll make a rookie mistake: You won't write the right character to showcase you & your talents. I hear you thinking: "Ummmmm, excuse me, Brian! I know a thing or two about scripts, I'm an actor, I look at them all day." That right there is the very reason you'll make this mistake. Today's guest Emily Grace walks us through creating conten...
2021-11-1752 minBrian Breaks Character#43 Become Offer Only & How to Tell When You Need to Be CoachedSummer here, Remember me? I'm Brian's Actor Happiness Manager for this community and I'm Baa-ack! I can't stay away from Brian Breaks Character because I just looooove to chat with Brian about this business and share it with all of you. I am the Host of today's episode and Brian is the Guest and we are talking all things coaching, marketing and productivity. Have you ever asked yourself the question, "What do I do?" Our first pilot season in 2 years is around the corner and we know this question is being asked now more than ev...
2021-11-1039 minBrian Breaks Character#42 Need Reps? Referrals are Dangerous & Here's WhyRemixing some of the best of the best from our Bonus episodes and this one is all about the big bad R-- Referrals! Sharon, Shawn and Misha share their personal stories of what form of referrals to agents and managers they took in the past, how they dealt with them in the present, and why they will never turn to them again. CLOSER LOOK & TAKEAWAYS Why you get that icky feeling when you use a referral Other people's great reps may not be a great fit for you Learn to navigate the offers from o...
2021-11-0635 minBrian Breaks Character#41 How to Get An Agent with Guest Host Jo KellyA couple of months ago the incredible acting coach, To Be Or Not To Act's Jo Kelly asked me to come on her IG Live to tell her students how to find managers and agents and the conversation that unfolded was sooooo juicy I simply had to make it into an episode of the podcast. If you're an actor who needs representation this episode is a no-brainer: LISTEN. NOW. After helping 542 actors sign with the right reps, I can't wait to tell you all about why my rebellious, new approach to make agents want you a...
2021-11-0354 minBrian Breaks Character#40 Why Your Story Matters with The Moth's Kate TellersI am gleeful and proud to introduce you to one of my very best friends and today's guest on the podcast, Kate Tellers. The Wall Street Journal calls her "a storytelling guru." Kate is on the leadership team at The Moth – one of the preeminent storytelling organizations in this country – she travels the globe to teach the art of storytelling. Isn't that so cool?!? Her past clients include some of the brightest non-profits in changemaking: International Women's Forum, Kellogg Foundation, Ashoka, and Melinda Gates, as well as companies like Spotify, Google, and the U.S...
2021-10-2755 minBrian Breaks Character#39 Mia proves that agents aren't worried about your credits half as much as you areMia is a classically trained theatre actor who is now going to Juilliard. But before that, she was working tirelessly to break into the world of film and TV. Her lack of materials to submit to reps, made her feel as if she was never truly "in the game". Then, while going through the process of reaching out to reps and learning to own where she was at this stage in her career, Mia was thrown yet another curveball and was accepted into Juilliard for grad school. Navigating her conversations with reps around this topic...
2021-10-2344 minBrian Breaks Character#38 No-Sweat Social Media Strategies with the Queen Heidi DeanHave you ever worried about what to post on social media? Well, Heidi Dean of Marketing4Actors clears this up for us on today's episode. And whether you're a butcher, a baker, a candlestick maker, her advice will empower you to actually make an impact (and worthwhile connections!) on social media. {I have to admit, I was a bit intimidated by the awesomeness of this guest. But, guess what…. She gave me an A+ on my IG captions. Hey now! This means a lot coming from this Social Media Queen!}
2021-10-2055 minBrian Breaks Character#37 Showrunner Paul Witten's Road to the Emmys was Paved with NOsIn this episode of Brian Breaks Character, Showrunner, Creator, and Actor, Paul Witten gives us a MASTERCLASS in putting yourself out there! I brought him on the show so you can see how relentless creativity (and not taking NO for answer) reallllllly pays off! Paul is the creator and showrunner of Dropping the Soap starring Jane Lynch. And Jane WON the Emmy Award for her role on his show. But it wasn't all rainbows, lollipops, and big-name comedians… Paul heard NO a lot, but instead of letting the NOs bring him down, he transformed them into finding th...
2021-10-1352 minBrian Breaks Character#36 How Angel started her 3rd act with 14 offers for representationAngel hit LA running back in the day. She landed reps fast and worked until... she realized she had no idea how to keep things going and she ultimately got burned out. After taking a 12-year hiatus from the biz to work as an elementary school teacher, Angel realized she still had an actor itch to scratch… except she had no idea how to get back into things, how to submit to reps, or how to translate her years of experience and wisdom into meetings and finding her team. Now after 15 me...
2021-10-0940 minBrian Breaks Character#35 Why the YES Vote Matters – An IATSE Member Tells Her StoryIATSE voted 99% YES to authorize a strike. And because union negotiations can be reduced to just that... "negotiations," it was important to us on the show to put the focus on exactly what we are actually talking about here: Human beings' well-being on set and in life. So, on this episode of Brian Breaks Character, my guest is IATSE crew member Heather Fink. She works as a Boom Operator and Sound Utility and she joined me not as a formal representative of IATSE, but as a human being in the industry. In this intimate conversation...
2021-10-0640 minBrian Breaks Character#34 Get More Auditions with your Casting Profiles – The MegamixSeptember has been a very busy month in Brian Breaks Character land! We devoted the entire month to helping actors to get more auditions. And we were lucky enough to have some heavy hitters on the show, so we wanna make sure you didn't miss any of the best tips and takeaways! Take a listen to this very special 24 minute megamix from all of our Get More Auditions episodes this month. You'll hear the voices of: Casting Networks' Katie O'Connor and Scott Madej, CastingAbout and Actors Access' Blair Hickey and Brian Wold, and...
2021-09-2923 minBrian Breaks Character#33 Casting Networks' Survival Guide with Katie O'Connor & Scott MadejAny chance you are super freaked out by the Casting Networks' recent update? It was a doozy. And whether or not you think the update is good or bad, it doesn't matter, change can be HARD. So I'm here to help... On this episode of Brian Breaks Character, I sat down with the powers that be from Casting Networks, Katie O'Connor Enterprise Sale Manager for the West Coast and Scott Madej the Manager of Global Talent Support to ask tough questions about the overhaul on their website. In this interview, you'll hear how this big c...
2021-09-2249 minBrian Breaks Character#32 Your Casting Profiles in the Age of Social Distancing with Special Host Summer MastainYou signed up for Actors Access and Casting Networks… And maybe you've got a Casting Profile on 3 other sites too! Maybe you even have reps submitting you in addition to submitting yourself… And maybe it still feels like you're not getting enough auditions. And the first place you MIGHT look is your headshots… or maybe your reel? Did you ever stop to think that it could be your casting profile? WHAAAAAA?!?!?!? On this episode of Brian Breaks Character, Summer Mastain is back as my Guest Host and she's got me in the ho...
2021-09-1522 minBrian Breaks Character#31 Get More Auditions With These CastingAbout & Actors Access Insider Secrets – Part TwoIf you want to know a verifiable way to get more auditions, grab your notebook for Part Two of my interview with Blair Hickey and Brian Wold, the Co-Founders of CastingAbout and Consultants for Breakdown Services. I locked them in a Zoom room and forced them to tell me ALLLLLL THE INSIDER SECRETS of how actors can make themselves unforgettable on Actors Access… and there were just too many juicy takeaways for one episode. In this episode, we dive deeper into how to create and maintain those strong relationships with casting directors – especially now that...
2021-09-1143 minBrian Breaks Character#30 Get More Auditions with these CastingAbout & Actors Access Insider Secrets - Part OneI'm gonna guess you have an Actors Access/Breakdown Express profile so Casting Directors can find you. And even though the site has *some* free functionality, I'm also gonna guess that you plunk down $68/year (plus any other fees) so you can host your video files and get access to the best auditions out there. YOU AND 1.3 MILLION OTHER ACTORS USE ACTORS ACCESS. I'm sharing that BIG number so you make it a priority to listen to this episode of Brian Breaks Character. Today's guests are Blair Hickey and Brian Wold, the Co-Founders o...
2021-09-0837 minBrian Breaks Character#29 Prepare Ye The Way to Get More Auditions with Special Host Summer MastainSummer here, I'm Brian's Actor Happiness Manager for this community and we are *really* breaking character over here... I am the Host of today's episode of Brian Breaks Character and Brian is the Guest. On this episode, I grill Brian with the most frequently asked questions about casting profiles: How many headshots do you actually need to have on your online profiles; how do you know which ones to keep and which ones to DELETE; why should I care about any of this? HERE ARE THREE QUICK TAKEAWAYS Why...
2021-09-0131 minBrian Breaks Character#28 Re-Define Success with Casting Director Alaine AlldafferThe incredibly generous and wholehearted Casting Director Alaine Alldaffer is my guest on today's episode of the Brian Breaks Character podcast. She's been casting theatre and television for over 25 years (peep her impressive bio below). And as a long-time champion for creatives everywhere, Alaine's actionable advice will appeal to you whether you're... ...a butcher ...a baker ...an actor ...a writer ...a director ...or all of the above (...you multi-hyphenate, you!) HERE'S A PEEK AT SOME OF T...
2021-08-2545 minBrian Breaks Character#27 Stephanie drops the target list and finds the perfect bicoastal agentAfter five incredible meetings, Stephanie signed with a bicoastal agent and has been collaborating with them ever since! But things didn't start that way! Teacher, do-er, and champion of the arts Stephanie Weeks knew she was a powerful creative. But translating that to agent emails never fit. She was often left feeling unseen and fearful. By trusting her intuition and worthiness she was able to find her footing, pinpoint exactly what she offers (and whom she wanted to offer it to), and most importantly, how to do it her way.
2021-08-2150 minBrian Breaks Character#26 'Book the Room' from Your Living Room with Christine HornHave you ever done FOUR (or more) takes of a self-tape audition? If you answered YES, you're hurting yourself and today's guest on the podcast will rescue you from drowning in the perfectionist sea of trying to nail your "perfect audition." With 20+ years in the game and 65+ TV/Film credits, Christine Horn cracked the code on how to book more TV and now helps hundreds of actors to do the same. And this Booking Magnet talks the same way we do on the Brian Breaks Character Podcast... ...
2021-08-1844 minBrian Breaks Character#25 Dump Your Toxic Relationship with Money with Miata EdogaDo you ever second-guess yourself when you wanna buy something like… ...a $7 latte with fancy lavender syrup? ...a decadent lotion that makes you feel like the Queen of Sheba? ...a dress from Anthropologie that's almost ⅓ of your rent? Maybe you're totally paralyzed because you have no idea what your finances look like and your relationship with money is WHAT RELATIONSHIP WITH MONEY?!?!? That's why I can't wait for you to meet my guest Abundance Bound's Miata Edoga She's the inspiring financial godd...
2021-08-1154 minBrian Breaks Character#24 Alena-the-Hustler took Olympic gold when she quit showcases and landed the reps of her wildest dreams!6 meetings and 6 offers for representation! The stereotype of a 'lazy actor' would be thrown out the door if you met Alena Acker. This hustle-queen worked nonstop getting herself her own appointments and leveling up her own work for years. The hard-to-swallow pill was that she struggled to find an agent who would support her work to get her to the next level. After all the showcases and pay-to-play moments, she decided it was time to try a new route. After 6 meetings and 6 offers (if this was the Olympics we'd be seeing gold here) Alena landed...
2021-08-0734 minBrian Breaks Character#23 The Call-In Coaching Show featuring YOU (Part 2)Nothing gets my engines going like a group coaching call with incredibly creative people. So today's guest on Brian Breaks Character is YOU! Well… sort of. I invited my community to a live Q&A Coaching call so that I could help you move the needle on the stuff that holds you back. And in this episode you have a front-row seat as we dig deep into questions about working in multiple markets or making a big bi-coastal move, maintaining your network and staying in touch with casting, and is...
2021-08-0453 minBrian Breaks Character#22 How Misha went from one audition a year to three a week!Misha's acting was consistently killer. So good, in fact, she had friends giving her constant referrals! And yet… she was hardly auditioning. Misha said no to referrals, gave up her target list, and quit worrying about her credits… and BAM! After taking ownership of her career and putting her choices in her own hands, Misha went from having one theatrical audition a year to self-taping for major network shows 2-3 times a week. And she does not hold back on sharing her secret sauce in this episode! CLOSER LOOK & TAKE...
2021-07-3137 minBrian Breaks CharacterThe Call-In Coaching Show featuring YOU, Part 2Nothing gets my engines going like a group coaching call with incredibly creative people. So today’s guest on Brian Breaks Character is YOU! Well… sort of. I invited my community to a live Q&A Coaching call so that I could help you move the needle on the stuff that holds you back. And in this episode you have a front-row seat as we dig deep into questions about working in multiple markets or making a big bi-coastal move, maintaining your network and staying in touch with casti...
2021-07-2853 minBrian Breaks Character#21 Use Your Words (to Get into the Right Inboxes) with Copywriting Queen Marisa CorcoranIf you know me, you know I'm obsessed with all things messaging and copywriting. Before you say "Brian, I signed up to be an actor/filmmaker.creative, not a writer," I want you to face a truth - YOU HAVE TO WRITE TO GET NOTICED IN THIS WORLD! The ability to write (or in other words, communicate, or in other words say "HEY I EXIST!") is an essential AND LEARNED part of being a creative that – when done well – will help you attract the right opportunities. This is why I'm geeking out over today's podcast guest Marisa Corc...
2021-07-2853 minBrian Breaks Character#20 Seasoned & Seen-It-All Tara Landed the Manager she was looking forActress, singer, and songwriter Tara spent 12 years looking for a manager, but she didn't spend that time sitting around. She was voraciously pursuing her career dreams and goals, all while sending email upon email in search of the illusive rep. Then she decided to try a different approach: she looked at how she'd been showing up and after facing the facts, she was able to show up authentically in her reach outs to reps (and with some help from Brian was able to not sound delusional). With this new more honest and vulnerable approach combined with the...
2021-07-2436 minBrian Breaks Character#19 How to Be a Disability Ally in the Entertainment Biz with Christine BrunoDisabled people are the United States' largest minority group, encompassing a quarter of the country's population. And yet only 5% of characters in television, film, and theatre are disabled, and only 2% of those roles are actually played by disabled actors. Christine Bruno is a multi-hyphenate whose many titles include actress, activist, teaching artist, disability inclusion consultant, and warrior. She joins the podcast today to shed light on how the disabled community navigates the entertainment industry. As non-disabled actors and creatives, we lack a certain level of awareness and firsthand experience when it comes to representation and the problematic...
2021-07-211h 16Brian Breaks Character#16 Coaching Sara on Making the "Right" Manager DecisionSpiritual Sara was guided to her artistic career by following her heart...but that doesn't mean it's always been easy. With 16 years in the industry and great credits, she still found herself sending countless emails to potential reps, and something energetically just wasn't working. After she got clarity on who she was and what she was offering (instead of just asking for) she took 15 rep meetings that left her beyond excited. Today she shares the work she did to get there AND gets super vulnerable about picking between several great matches (hint- this was a TOUGH choice). Brian helps co...
2021-07-101h 01Brian Breaks Character#15 Headshots that Win: Prep, Pet Peeves & Perfection with David MullerNamed one of Backstage's "8 Killer Headshot Photographers in NY and LA," David Muller is one of the best headshot photographers out there. Managers and agents send their clients to him whenever they want standout headshots.As an actor who *might* not be a stranger to pinching pennies, the thought of headshots can bring on a wave of panic. If you dread the process, commitment, and investment of taking headshots, this episode is for you. In today's episode, David and I share a wildly different take on how to get the perfect headshots. As an ex-actor himself, David sh...
2021-07-0737 minBrian Breaks Character#14 From Calling it Quits to 12 Offers – INSPIRING STORY ALERTFunny lady and voiceover actress Sawyer Greenberg was ready to hang up the proverbial actor-towel. She had done it all and was seeing diddly squat for her efforts. Maybe she should become a dentist? But through some deep ownership of her story and a new healthy relationship with accountability, she got 12 offers for representation. Oh and she not only got to choose her amazing new rep – surprise, surprise! – she also found herself wholly devoted and excited by being an actress again. CLOSER LOOK & TAKEAWAYS How she took true ownership over herself and her career Why taking breaks...
2021-07-0337 minBrian Breaks Character#13 From Craigslist to The White House to a TV career with Kevin ArbouetIn today's episode, Kevin shares his one-of-a-kind story about how he scrounged his way through a seemingly sketchy Craiglist job that ended up with his work being mentioned in Jay Leno's monologue, becoming a parody on SNL, and ultimately ended with Barack Obama's historical win in the 2008 presidential election. As a rebellious child of immigrants, Kevin created an extraordinary career as a writer, producer, director, and as of late – a showrunner. His rejection of a traditional route was the single best decision he made, which proves that success doesn't necessarily look the way we (or others) have planned for it...
2021-06-3040 minBrian Breaks Character#12 Mom and actor Eumi let go of limiting beliefs and picked up 6 offers for representationEumi built her confidence in what she already had to land 6 offers and choose an amazing new manager. Eumi is a busy mom who came into acting late in life, but that doesn't mean she was any less focused on finding her match. Turns out, when you really work to know yourself and what you offer, the hardest part becomes picking a match out of several amazing offers, something Eumi never dreamed of. For a little extra oomph on this episode, Brian shares some insider coaching on what to do after you find a...
2021-06-2634 minBrian Breaks Character#11 How to Create Content for Change with Jen PontonIf you were to ask me to point you in the direction of someone who knows how to put their finger on the pulse and create the thing that the world truly needs (while simultaneously making them cackle!), I'd point at today's guest. Today, the glorious and out-of-this-world joyous, Jen Ponton, joins us on the show. Jen is an accomplished actor, writer, producer, and prolific content maker. Prior to hitting record, I asked Jen what she wanted to share with you all, to which Jen responded, "I really want to talk about creative people making content." And...
2021-06-2347 minBrian Breaks Character#10 Sharon Got 35 Meetings for Representation with Zero ReferralsSharon had already done her time and spent her money on programs designed to help actors succeed and make their dreams come true. And Sharon is a whip-smart actress – well-trained, talented and knows her way around the business. She was even a coach at one point! And Sharon does NOT HOLD BACK in this episode. Representation rejection felt so much more personal than 'regular' rejection in the business. She was tired of hearing over and over again, "You're just too hard to sell." Through her journey, she found a fr...
2021-06-1948 minBrian Breaks Character#5 The Call-In Coaching Show featuring YOUNothing gets my engines going like a group coaching call with incredible creative people. So today's guest on Brian Breaks Character is YOU! Well… sort of. I invited my community to a live Q&A Coaching call so that I could help you move the needle on the stuff that holds you back. And in this episode you have a front row seat as we dig deep into questions about working in multiple markets or making a big bi-coastal move, maintaining your network and staying in touch with casting, and is it...
2021-06-0947 minBrian Breaks Character#2 Ignite a Revolution In Filmmaking with Naomi McDougall JonesI have a creative crush on Naomi McDougall Jones. She's just the kind of creative that Brian Breaks Character celebrates; she's an award-winning filmmaker, actress, author, speaker, and diversity in film activist. What we see in movies matters: it affects our hobbies, our career choices, our emotions and even our identities. Right now, we don't see enough women on screen or behind the camera – but waiting for Hollywood to grow a conscience isn't going to fix the problem, says Naomi McDougall Jones. Naomi stops by to tell us all about her time as an indie filmmaker, her journey as an...
2021-06-091h 07Brian Breaks Character#1 Find Consistency In Your Hustle with Sam ValentineWelcome to the very first episode of Brian Breaks Character! To start this show off with a bang, I've invited the curiously honest and benevolent Sam Valentine on the show for a *completely confidential* coaching call. So naturally, I want all of my listeners to tune in for some key takeaways from our raw and open conversation about creative impact and making a buck while you do it! To set the stage, Sam is an LA-based actress, and host of the One Broke Actress podcast, a show that shares insightful tips that can only come from actors and actresses i...
2021-06-0957 minBrian Breaks CharacterWelcome to Brian Breaks CharacterThe show where we slay the suffering artist myth so you can attract the right attention, get out of your own way, and become so aligned with your spiritual purpose that abundance in all its glorious forms finds you. Brian Breaks Character is your new favorite listen if you're done suffering for your art and second-guessing every step of your yellow brick road.
2021-05-2700 min