Shows
Acting: Conversations on CraftThe Truth of Who You Are: A Conversation with director, Gil JungerWhat a privilege it was to be able to sit down and have thisconversation with director Gil Junger. Gil is best known for his directorial debut film, 10 Things I hate about you with Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, and Joseph Gordon Levitt. He also has directed over 200 episodes of network TV, including the iconic episode of the show Ellen when Ellen Degeneres’ characterreveals that she is gay. Our conversation ran from what he has seen in 90% ofauditions (that didn’t book) to comedy, to what to bring once you are on set. While Gil continues to dire...
2025-08-1146 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftMoney, Momentum, and Making Movies: A Conversation with Leanna Adams and Kristina Arjona about Independent FilmmakingWorking in the entertainment industry is brutal. Success
isn’t linear and you hear no more than yes. As Leanna Adams says in this episode, we as actors “eat rejection for breakfast…sometimes lunch, and dinner
too.” Leanna Adams and Kristinia Arjona sat down and spoke to me about the process of making their independent film: Christmas With Jerks released on Prime in December 2023.
Throughout our conversation they kept going back to the fact that you have to ask people around you for help. As Kristina said, “no one can help you if they don’t know what you need.”
...
2024-09-0553 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 38: Episode 38: From Stumbling Blocks to Stepping Stones: A Conversation with Heidi Dean About the Power of Social MediaBefore I talk about the amazing conversation that Heidi Dean was gracious enough to have with me, I need to add a quick note that this conversation was recorded before Twitter changed its name to X. Now most of you probably know that Heidi Dean is known in the industry as the top social media strategist for actors. She has also recently published a book, Social Media for Actors, 100 essential tips to grow, thrive, and survive online. When I was trying to figure out how to introduce this episode, I realized that I always seem to say the same thing ab...
2024-03-2252 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 37: The Power of Playing With the Form: A Conversation with Film Festival Curators, Angie Reza Tures and Mary DossingerWhen I think of curators of film festivals, I often think of them the same way I used to think of casting directors: as the gatekeepers to our success. But during my conversation with Angie Reza Tures from the Femme Frontera Showcase and Mary Dossinger from the RiverRun International Film Festival it became very apparent that the curators, just like casting directors, are rooting for us and our films. When I asked Angie and Mary what they were (or weren’t) looking for, the question caused them to hesitate. Both said they didn’t want to limit what might be subm...
2023-12-1550 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 36: The Dramatic Potential in Aging: A Conversation with Film Expert, Dale PollockI recently attended a film appreciation class with Dale Pollock, called Senior Moments. And yes, as the name suggests, it was a look into how the film industry, Hollywood in particular, has treated aging. Not surprisingly it has not done a stellar job. When I asked Dale to tell me more about how the industry has changed, he said we’ve come a long way from depicting older characters as simply being the crazy old biddy or the wise decrepit grandfather. Especially when you look at a film like “Good Luck to you Leo Grande,” with Emma Thompson.He believes that ad...
2023-02-1850 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 35: The Art of Choosing Yourself: A Conversation with Acting Coach Anthony MeindlAnthony Meindl is an acting coach and has published several books about acting, such as Book The F*cking Job and his latest, Unstuck. Anthony is also the host of a podcast for actors, “In The Moment”, and there is a reason he calls it that. Throughout our conversation that was a phrase that came up again and again: actors have to be in the moment, they have to live in the moment. And as actors, we know full well that means we have to listen, truly listen. Anthony will tell you, “If you’re not listening to your partner then you...
2023-01-1657 min
Dr. Andy's Poetry and Technology HourJoe Mills, Miranda Phinney, and Felicity ArtemisOn the 11/23/22 edition of Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour:Dr. Andy’s first guest is Joe Mills, whose odd yet delightful Thanksgiving tradition inspires discussion of how constraints foster creativity. Mills then shares a Thanksgiving poem ironically preaching freedom from Thanksgiving. Miranda Phinney, first-year Physics major and student of Dr. Andy’s Bravery Studies class, reads us an original poem. Performance poet Felicity Artemis speaks with Dr. Andy about her mission to inspire visions of a hopeful future, then shares the second Thanksgiving-themed poem of the hour, a fiery exploration of the holiday. Finally, we hear a...
2022-11-2400 minDr. Andy's Poetry and Technology HourJoe Mills, Linda Scheller, and Wendy SilkOn the 9/21/22 edition of Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour:Dr. Andy and Dr. Joe Mills discuss staying curious, and the cost of all the “free” bonuses their daughters have enjoyed in college. Mills ushers in the new school year with a hopeful poetic vision of a college-aged Hamlet. Linda Scheller bares her teacher’s heart in moving works from her new book, Wind and Children. Dr. Andy and Scheller consider a poet’s flow of inspiration and vocabulary of symbols. Finally, Wendy Silk shares the hottest upcoming Davis music-enjoying opportunities, and then bursts into song (at Dr. And...
2022-09-221h 01
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 34: Casting Directors as Cheerleaders: A Conversation with Casting Director, Erica S. BreamIf you have ever seen any of Erica S. Bream’s posts on Instagram or Twitter, you know that she is an actor’s casting director. She says herself she uses social media as a way to, “dispel myths and provide some transparency” for actors. She also says that we, as actors, often feel casting directors are the gatekeepers of our careers. Erica goes on to say we would be shocked by how much work casting directors do behind the scenes to get us hired. “We are your collaborators…your biggest cheerleaders…talking about you all the time.” In this episode you will...
2022-08-021h 09
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 33: No Is a Complete Sentence: A conversation with Kristina Arjona about the role of an intimacy coordinatorTowards the end of my conversation with Kristina Arjona, she said, “Nothing has hit me on the spiritual level that intimacy coordinating has.” And I believed her because I had just spent the last hour and 45 minutes talking to her about her role in the industry. It quickly became clear that she is so very passionate about what she does. She is on a mission to empower actors and to increase the sense of safety for all on set. As she says, “let’s make sure that everyone can go home feeling empowered by what they’re doing.” When she says everyone...
2022-06-021h 43
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 33: Episode 32: The Essentials of Headshots: A conversation with actor and headshot photographer, Tara GulledgeWhen I was talking to headshot photographer and actor, Tara Gulledge, the word “essence” came up a lot. The whole point of a headshot is to capture our essence in the shot. Tara and I talked about how that can be difficult because headshot sessions are stressful. She is the one who took my first official headshots, so she knows how I get. We, as actors, know that our headshots are supposed to look like us; however, we also know that the headshot is what gets us the audition with the casting directors. For Tara, she says that if we (as a...
2022-05-0352 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 31: Episode 31 The Beauty of Repetition: A conversation with Ashley Rideaux of BGB Studios, Ellie Clark and Evan Bergman of Arvold Warner Studios in AtlantaPlease note there is some language in this episode. The one good thing that has come out of the pandemic (for me) is that I have been given the opportunity to expand my acting community outside of my physical location. I have taken classes at the BGB Studios in LA and have joined the Arvold Warner Studios membership in Atlanta. This means I get to talk to even more people about craft. Today I asked Ashley Rideaux from BGB and Ellie Clark and Evan Bergman of the Arvold Warner Studios to talk to me about the Meisner Repetition exercise.So man...
2022-04-0158 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 30: The Business, The Scope, and The Joy of Being a Voiceover Artist: A conversation with Heidi Rew and Mike Stoudt of The Atlanta Voiceover Studio.Every time I interview somebody in the industry, I learn something new. My conversation with Heidi Rew and Mike Stoudt was no exception. Heidi and Mike are the co-founders/co-owners of Atlanta Voiceover Studio, which they opened in 2016. Not only do they run the studio, they are themselves full-time voiceover actors, podcast hosts, and on-camera actors. They have a YouTube channel with great videos that cover many aspects of the Voiceover industry and they also have an online training program at Provoiceovertraining.com. During our conversation we talked about several things, from home studio set up to key mistakes voice act...
2022-01-2752 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 29: Episode 29 Writers as Vaults of Information: A conversation with writer and producer Vera Herbert.One of the things I love about doing this podcast is the opportunity it gives me to talk to experts in the field. This episode, again, did not disappoint. It was such a pleasure to talk to four-time Emmy nominated writer, Vera Herbert, who is best known for her work on THIS IS US. Vera had advice for both writers who want to break into the field and for actors. She said that it’s always a good idea for writers to get a chance to act, even just one line. She says it gives them an understanding of everything tha...
2021-12-1848 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 28: Spontaneity, Creative Impulses, and Being Invited to the Party: A Conversation with casting director, Erica Arvold.To say that Erica Arvold is passionate about what she does is an understatement. Most actors know her as a casting director but, as she likes to point out, she is so much more than that. She is a producer, a director, and a committed educator. But one of the things that I most appreciate about Erica is how she loves learning about other people. If you’ve auditioned for Erica you know that during Covid she started the 30 second stories where actors got to share 30 seconds about themselves that was not related to acting. And at the end of our con...
2021-07-0159 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 27: Episode 27 The Importance of Empowerment, Expanding Stories, and Being Ready All The Time: A Conversation with Risa Bramon Garcia of The BGB StudioI was so excited to have the opportunity to talk to Risa Bramon Garcia, co-founder and master teacher of The BGB Studio in LA. I wanted to know why it was so important to her to empower the actors in her studio and around the world. "There is a big difference between the actor who takes ownership of their talent and the actor who does not," she says. Risa goes on to explain that when actors do the work for its own sake, then they feel like they belong.
We also talked about the importance for actors to write and...
2021-05-1650 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 26: Episode 26: Don't Be Hotel Lobby Art: A conversation with Burgess Jenkins about allowing yourself to explore the possibilities in the scriptNot letting the script push you around is something that Burgess Jenkins says in class a lot. But, as actors, we are also told to honor the writing. So, what exactly does Burgess mean? Do we not stick to the writing and the stage directions? For him it’s more about opening up the possibilities that are inherently in the script.
He says, too often, beginners typically box themselves in with one single idea based on what the script says. That will make it difficult for actors to be more fluid or flexible and they won’t be able to inte...
2021-03-1831 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 25: Episode 25: The Power of Community: A Conversation with the Atlanta Actors CollectiveWhen I asked the founders of the Atlanta Actors Collective what they hoped the future of their organization would be, Kevon Pryce didn’t hesitate, “I want to take over the world. I want us to be THE Actors Collective.” It is clear throughout our conversation that it isn’t for any kind of self-aggrandizement purposes that he says this. He, along with Sarah Toran and Rashal James, started the AAC to create a community for actors and creatives based in the Atlanta market. Their goal was, and still is, to strengthen the sense of community and to provide the resource...
2021-03-0135 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 24: Episode 24 Don't Wait For Me: A Conversation With Rhavynn DrummerPassionate is one of the first descriptors that comes to mind when talking about casting director, Rhavynn Drummer. She is passionate about her job and about working with actors.
Our conversation covered topics ranging from auditioning, taking risks, to advice she has for actors of color. To actors and creatives of color she says, “Don’t wait for me.”
She wants all actors to trust their gift because she relies on our artistry. She tells us, “Take risks…show me your artistry.”
Rhavynn Drummer is an award-winning producer, director, and casting director who has always had a love for actors and great pe...
2021-02-0941 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 23: It's Not All About You. A conversation with Burgess Jenkins about the importance of investing in your scene partner.In this episode I talk to Burgess Jenkins about the importance of investing in the other person in your scene. Even if you have good ideas that you want to put on "display", you can never leave the other person out because that is when “the ride begins.” Actors have to overcome the fear or anxiety of not knowing what is coming next. Burgess says that you can book and be a good actor “executing” the work, but you will never be great if you don’t take the other person in and react to what they are giving you. He says, “yo...
2020-11-0232 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 22: The Power of PreparationFor Burgess Jenkins, the work of an actor is mostly in the preparation. Your prep is what launches you into any scene and enables you to live the experience. He says once you’ve done the work in your preparation and created your “bridge” to the character fully, then it’s time to play.” All too often Burgess says he sees actors try to control the scene while they are in it. If you do that, then it’s impossible to be artistic and creative “in a big way” and where is the fun in that?
Burgess has been in a myriad of proj...
2020-10-1635 min
DTong Radio Indie Music Showcase#MusicMonday on #dtongradio - Powered by RollPal.comThe BEST Indie Music Artists & Singers from around the world: EDM, Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Hip Hop, R & B, Rap, Reggae, Jazz, Country, Folk, & more...Hosted by DTongAdvertising & Sponsorship: http://goo.gl/ioP6HwGuaranteed Song Play & Promotion: http://goo.gl/4aD98wBROUGHT TO YOU BY:The Roll Pal: Packing Cubehttps://bit.ly/3niBXftHow Did They Do It? Real Estate Podcasthttps://apple.co/3juYQdjYour BirthRight Claim it By KiKi Gayleshttps://anchor.fm/birthrightpmatodayUnited Credit...
2020-10-061h 46DTong Radio Indie Music ShowcaseTop Indie Music Artists on #dtongradio - Powered by RollPal.comThe BEST Indie Music Artists & Singers from around the world: EDM, Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Hip Hop, R & B, Rap, Reggae, Jazz, Country, Folk, & more...Hosted by DTongAdvertising & Sponsorship: http://goo.gl/ioP6HwGuaranteed Song Play & Promotion: http://goo.gl/4aD98wBROUGHT TO YOU BY:The Roll Pal: Packing Cubehttps://bit.ly/3niBXftYour BirthRight Claim it By KiKi Gayleshttps://anchor.fm/birthrightpmatodayUnited Credit Education Serviceshttps://bit.ly/34l8Qjchttps://100dollars.ai/ref/numoni50
2020-10-041h 53
DTong Radio Indie Music ShowcaseAll Independent Music Weekend Showcase - Powered by Fiverr.com/DTongSportsThe BEST Indie Music Artists & Singers from around the world: EDM, Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Hip Hop, R & B, Rap, Reggae, Jazz, Country, Folk, & more...Hosted by DTongAdvertising & Sponsorship: http://goo.gl/ioP6HwGuaranteed Song Play & Promotion: http://goo.gl/4aD98wBROUGHT TO YOU BY:Sex, Race, and Robots by Dr. Ayanna Howardhttps://adbl.co/3nbXir6https://snackpaxx.shopRefresh And Grow Podcasthttps://spoti.fi/3ijyrh9Krazy Love & Marriagehttps://spoti.fi/3kY5adYSonny...
2020-10-032h 24
DTong Radio Indie Music Showcase#NewMusicFriday on #dtongradio - Powered by 'Sex, Race, and Robots' on AudibleThe BEST Indie Music Artists & Singers from around the world: EDM, Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Hip Hop, R & B, Rap, Reggae, Jazz, Country, Folk, & more...Hosted by DTongAdvertising & Sponsorship: http://goo.gl/ioP6HwGuaranteed Song Play & Promotion: http://goo.gl/4aD98wBROUGHT TO YOU BY:Sex, Race, and Robots by Dr. Ayanna Howardhttps://adbl.co/3nbXir6LEDMI smart-piano conversion kithttps://bit.ly/36lr9anhttps://www.dman-official.comCare Bento: Culture In A Boxhttps://bit.ly/2...
2020-10-022h 31
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 21: Creativity in the time of COVID, Part IIIIn the final installment of my conversations on how people stayed creative during the time of COVID, I spoke to Dr. Joseph Mills, Charis Jeffers, and Noelle Mills-Tarmey.
Joe Mills stated creativity looks a lot like wandering, but what he’s really doing is collecting material. He says the creative person has to, “be willing to let yourself have leisure to collect the material to be able to work with it.” For him there is a distinct difference between creativity and productivity. It is important to separate the two as the pressure to be productive can stifle the creativity.
For Charis...
2020-10-0217 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 20: Creativity in the time of COVID Part IIThese are interesting times we are living. In March all of our lives were disrupted. As states open up and the film/tv industry tries to find a new normal, I wanted to know what fellow creatives had been doing to stay creative during quarantine. In the next several episodes you will hear from actors, a school receptionist, a poet, and a teen. Each of them giving some insight into how they dealt with quarantine and the loss of their normal routines.
In today’s episode I talk to my friend and fellow actor, June Dare. She has always been in...
2020-09-1516 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 19 Creativity in the Time of COVID, Part IThese are interesting times we are living. In March all of our lives were disrupted. Now as states open up and the film/tv industry tries to find a new normal, I wanted to know what fellow creatives had been doing to stay creative during quarantine. In the next several episodes you will hear from actors, a school receptionist, a poet, and a teen. Each of them giving some insight into how they dealt with quarantine and the loss of their normal routines.
In today’s episode I talk to Alison Haselden, who is an actor, a marketing consultant, and ho...
2020-09-0224 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 18: Race and the Film/Tv Industry: A Conversation with Jeryl PrescottFor this episode I ask Jeryl Prescott to talk to me about the state of race relations in the film/tv industry. We talked about what she has experienced in Hollywood over the last 15-20 years. We talked about the roles Jordan Peele, Ava DuVernay, and Tyler Perry have played in breaking down stereotypes about what black and brown audiences want to watch. When I asked her what she hopes will come of the social unrest, with regards the industry, she says, “Hopefully we will get beyond the numbers game.” However, she does go on to say that the commitment for...
2020-06-1636 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 17: The Bad Guy Has No Limits: A conversation with Burgess Jenkins about the art of playing the "bad guy."Actors often have preconceived notions of what the bad guy “acts” like and Burgess Jenkins says it is always a trap. Our character becomes two dimensional. As an actor who has played several bad guy roles, he says actors should say to themselves: “I’m the bad guy and there are no limits. It is candy land. I can do whatever I want.” The key, of course, is to figure out why the character is doing it. What motivates them? What has led to this? How can you justify what he/she is doing? Burgess says justification is one of the most i...
2020-06-0236 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 16: Quit Trying to Hit Someone Else's Target: A conversation with Burgess Jenkins about the pitfalls of acting for someone else's approval“Quit trying to hit someone else’s target.” This is something that we hear again and again in class. Burgess Jenkins, actor and founder of Actors Group studio, explains how actors must start doing the work for themselves. When we constantly try to please the teacher, or get applause from the audience, or do exactly what we think the casting director wants, then our work becomes forgettable.
He says what you should be seeking when you are acting, “…it’s the experience, it’s the creativity that you should be after.” If that’s what you crave or seek, then “by default the viewi...
2020-05-0234 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 15: Taking Off The Mask: A Conversation with Burgess Jenkins about keeping a part of you in any role you play“You can’t take you out of the equation.” This is something that we hear again and again in class. Burgess Jenkins, actor and founder of Actors Group studio, explains how actors must build bridges between themselves and the characters they portray. How do we do this? By figuring out the emotional space our character lives in. You find what they are feeling and then reinsert yourself. The amount of work you have to do is based on how close your character is to yourself.
He says acting isn’t about putting on masks, it’s about taking them off. If you tak...
2020-04-1534 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 14: Part II Demystifying the agent/actor relationship: A Conversation with Thom Milam and Jennifer Hummel of People Store AgencyTo be able to sit down with my film and TV agents for an entire hour and pick their brains was a gift. I was able to ask all the questions that have been going through my head since I signed with them.
In this second part of the conversation, we talked about why it is important to communicate with your agent and stay in contact with them, how fortunate actors in the SE market are, and how actors need to stay focused on their own individual careers.
Thom Milam is Co-Head of the Film and TV Department at People...
2020-04-0123 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 13: Demystifying the Agent Actor Relationship: A Conversation with Agents Thom Milam and Jennifer Hummel of People StoreTo be able to sit down with my film and TV agents for an entire hour and pick their brains was a gift. I was able to ask all the questions that have been going through my head since I signed with them. In this first part of the conversation, we talked about the steps it takes to get representation, how to keep representation, and the difference between a manager and an agent.
Thom Milam is Co-Head of the Film and TV Department at People Store. He got his degree in Theater in Mississippi and went on to work as...
2020-03-1528 min
Journey Daily with a Compelling PoemWe've Had This Conversation BeforeLife is a series of conversations covering the important and mundane. A faculty member at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Joseph Mills holds holds the Susan Burress Wall Distinguished Professorship in the Humanities and was honored with a 2017 UNC Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching. He has degrees in literature from the University of Chicago (B.A.), the University of New Mexico (M.A.), and the University of California-Davis (Ph.D). His work includes poetry, fiction, drama, and criticism. He has published six volumes of poetry with Press 53: Exit, pursued by a bear...
2020-03-0605 minJourney Daily with a Compelling PoemHow You KnowKnowing if what you feel is love or not is complicated. A faculty member at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Joseph Mills holds the Susan Burress Wall Distinguished Professorship in the Humanities and was honored with a 2017 UNC Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching. He has degrees in literature from the University of Chicago (BA), the University of New Mexico (MA), and the University of California-Davis (PhD). His work includes poetry, fiction, drama, and criticism. He has published six volumes of poetry with Press 53: Exit, pursued by a bear; This Miraculous Tur...
2020-03-0206 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 12: What Commercial Agents Want You to Know: A Conversation with Lina Ramirez-Mills and Laura Crawford of People Store AgencyWhen I was seeking an agent and auditioned with People Store, I walked in somewhat blind. If they said yes, what was my role in the process? Was I supposed to simply sit back and wait for auditions? If not, then what else was I supposed to do? How many auditions was I to expect? What if I didn’t get any? If I didn’t book anything would they drop me?
Assuming that many new actors feel this way, I thought the best people to ask would be my agents. Today’s conversation is with Lina Ramirez-Mills, Head of the Co...
2020-03-0139 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 11: From Amnesia to Black Panther: A Conversation with Cranston JohnsonWhen a friend signed him up to be a featured extra on the movie the 5th Quarter, with Andie MacDowell and Aidan Quinn, Cranston Johnson was mad. He had no desire to be in the movies and had no idea what he was doing. That experience, however, changed his life.
In 2011 he started studying at Actors Group with Burgess Jenkins and since then he has been on Atlanta, Wu Assassins, The Fix, P Valley, and Filthy Rich. He is appearing in the upcoming films, The 24th, Son, and Women is Losers. His breakout role came in 2016 when he was cast...
2020-02-1639 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 10: Auditions for a Casting Director: A Conversation with George Pierre and Jesse MalinowskiWhen I took a workshop with George Pierre at Get Scene Studios, it became immediately clear that feedback was going to be direct and possibly brutal. Neither he, nor Jesse Malinowski shy away from telling actors what is wrong with their audition tapes and why they might not make it to a call back.
George Pierre is one of Atlanta’s top casting directors and has worked on films like Ride Along 1&2 and Creed as well as countless TV shows including Teen Wolf, Ambitions, Tales, and Star. He credits his success to the hours of hard work he put in to...
2020-02-0138 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 9: Empathy: Who Needs It? A conversation with Burgess Jenkins on the importance of being empathetic in our acting.When we talk about actor training we don’t immediately think about how much empathy we have (or should have) for other people.
Actor and acting coach, Burgess Jenkins, says that empathy is one of the more important components of being a better actor. He says the more empathetic an actor is, the more nuances there are in the performance and, he states, “nuances are the difference between good and great.”
He also states, “The more empathy you have (for your character), the more you can discover things about them that you can then relate to, and like, and appreciate, and then...
2020-01-1514 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 8: The Details that Matter and the Details that Don’t: A conversation with Burgess Jenkins about knowing what’s important in our preparations Part IIAre all the details in our backstories important? Are they all helpful in creating a fully fleshed out character? Do they all make us more connected, more present, more alive?
Burgess Jenkins, actor and founder of Actors Group, says no. He has talked in class about the difference between specificity and minutia. In the second part of our conversation he says it’s important to ask yourself, “How have you changed the specifics that are on the page so that the page isn’t bullying you? So that you’ve got the specifics that work for you.”
He goes on to explain...
2019-12-1520 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 7: Details that Matter and Details that Don't: A Conversation with Burgess Jenkins about knowing what is important in our prepsAre all the details in our backstories important? Are they all helpful in creating a fully fleshed out character? Do they all make us more connected, more present, more alive?
Burgess Jenkins, actor and founder of Actors Group, says no. He has talked in class about the difference between specificity and minutia. I sat down with him and asked him to explain what he meant by that. He says, “You can’t overwork a scene but you can wrongly work a scene. When you are breathing life into a whole new human being…anything that you create, in the right way, l...
2019-12-0118 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 6: Retakes and Readers: Burgess Jenkins answers questions about the art of auditioning.With over 1000 auditions behind him, Burgess Jenkins, actor and founder of Actors Group, answers four very specific questions about the auditioning process ranging from how many takes you should send to the importance of the reader.
Burgess has been in a myriad of projects ranging from arthouse independents to blockbuster films. He is best known for his role as Ray Budds, in Remember the Titans, opposite Denzel Washington. He was Hilary Swank’s husband in The Reaping and most recently worked with Shirley McClean and Mira Sorvino. He’s had several recurring roles on such shows as the Young and the...
2019-11-1522 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 5: Dialects, Accents, and the Politics of SpeechDialects, Accents, and the Politics of Speech: A conversation with Robin Christian McNair and Kate Udall (Part II)
Robin and Kate are both passionate about the need for actors to work on their voices. In this episode our conversation centered around accents and dialects. They talk about how stereotypes and cultural norms/expectations affect how we talk and how that impacts us as actors. Advice from Robin includes, “I’m more interested in you speaking the truth than having a pretty voice. Leave out the judgement.” While Kate adds, “Shame is the great destroyer of talent.”
Robin Christian-McNair teaches voice full time...
2019-11-0123 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 4: Voice Matters: A Conversation with Robin Christian McNair and Kate UdallRobin and Kate are both passionate about the need for actors to work on their voices. They teach their students that it is an integral part of being free as an actor. Robin states, “Free breath allows for free thought.”
Kate believes working on her voice has made her a better actor because, “…it makes me more present, makes me more able to receive and be affected by my partner, and makes me more malleable.”
Robin Christian-McNair teaches voice full time at UNCSA's School of Drama. Before coming to the school she taught at the Actors Studio, Rutgers, Syracuse, and Purchase C...
2019-10-1519 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 3: Fight for your audition: A conversation with James Patrick Freetly.Enjoy my conversation with James (Jim) Patrick Freetly, an actor and instructor at Actors Group studio. Jim talks about his most memorable audition and explains how important it is to “fight for your audition” and to take ownership of the room in the audition space.
Jim is best known for his role as Todd in Trouble With the Curve opposite Amy Adams and Clint Eastwood. He has been on such shows as Shots Fired, Being Mary Jane, and Drop Dead Diva. When he is not acting, he is a computer engineer and he runs Studio 22, his own taping and headshot stud...
2019-10-0119 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 2: Quit trying so hard to be interesting: A conversation with Burgess Jenkins (Part II)Enjoy part II of my conversation with Burgess Jenkins on honesty in your acting. Burgess Jenkins, actor and founder of Actors Group, explains why it is better to be flat and boring as long as you are being honest. He talks about how actors come to class, to auditions, to set with "performance oriented ideas" as a way to be more interesting. What is inherently more interesting is you and your honesty.
Burgess has been in a myriad of projects ranging from arthouse independents to blockbuster films. He is best known for his role as Ray Budds, in Remember the...
2019-09-1515 min
Acting: Conversations on CraftEpisode 1: Quit trying so hard to be interesting: A Conversation with Burgess JenkinsBurgess Jenkins, actor and founder of Actors Group, explains why it is better to be flat and boring as long as you are being honest. He talks about how actors come to class, to auditions, to set with "performance oriented ideas" as a way to be more interesting. What is inherently more interesting is you and your honesty.
Burgess has been in a myriad of projects ranging from arthouse independents to blockbuster films. He is best known for his role as Ray Budds, in Remember the Titans, opposite Denzel Washington. He was Hilary Swank’s husband in The Reaping and mo...
2019-09-0117 min