What 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...
Aug 11, 2025•46 min•Ep. 40
Working 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 Kris...
Sep 05, 2024•53 min
Before 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,...
Mar 22, 2024•52 min
When 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 t...
Dec 15, 2023•51 min
I 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...
Feb 17, 2023•51 min
Anthony 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 li...
Jan 16, 2023•58 min
If 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 cheerleader...
Aug 01, 2022•1 hr 10 min
Towards 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 empower...
Jun 02, 2022•1 hr 43 min
When 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 dire...
May 03, 2022•52 min
Please 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 m...
Apr 01, 2022•59 min
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...
Jan 27, 2022•53 min
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...
Dec 18, 2021•48 min
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 wa...
Jul 01, 2021•1 hr
I 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 act...
May 16, 2021•50 min
Not 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 f...
Mar 18, 2021•31 min
When 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 ...
Mar 01, 2021•36 min
Passionate 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 ...
Feb 09, 2021•41 min
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...
Nov 02, 2020•32 min
For 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 be...
Oct 16, 2020•35 min
In 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 ...
Oct 02, 2020•18 min
These 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 fell...
Sep 15, 2020•16 min
These 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 Haselde...
Sep 01, 2020•25 min
For 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 ga...
Jun 16, 2020•37 min
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 ...
Jun 01, 2020•36 min
“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 yo...
May 01, 2020•34 min
“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...
Apr 15, 2020•34 min
To 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 Depart...
Apr 01, 2020•24 min
To 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...
Mar 15, 2020•28 min
When 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, H...
Mar 01, 2020•39 min
When 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 breako...
Feb 16, 2020•39 min
