Buckle up, actors, cuz this episode is about to step up your audition game ๐ In this episode, I sat down with Mel Brown, the Customer Success Manager for Performers at Spotlight, and trust me, youโre going to want to hear this. If youโve ever stared at your Spotlight profile and thought, "Am I doing this right?" โ Iโve gotchu! ๐โโ๏ธ Here are just a few juicy takeaways: ๐ฏ How to optimize your profile so casting directors actually find you ๐ซ The biggest mistakes actors make on Spotlight (and ho...
Sep 14, 2024โข28 min
๐๏ธGet ready to level up your audition game because in this episode, I chat with Lucky Mackey, Client Success Manager at Talent Systems, and Katie O'Connor, Enterprise Sales Manager for the West Coast at Casting Networks. We dig into all things casting networksโespecially how you can make your profile work for you, not against you. ๐ฅ If you're ready to make your profile shine โจ and get seen, this episode is for you! Hereโs what youโll learn: What kind of headshots casting directors need to see ...
Sep 14, 2024โข26 min
If you're looking to get noticed by casting directors and make your profile really work for you, this episode is full of practical advice to help you stand out. I sat down with Blair Hickeyโconsultant for Breakdown Services & Actors Access, and founder of CastingAboutโto dish out how to get casting directors to notice you. ๐ฅ Weโre talking about why your profile isnโt just โa thing you fill outโโitโs your key ๐ to unlock opportunities. Listen & Learn: Why a fully filled-out profile help...
Sep 14, 2024โข30 min
Join Casting Workbook Now ๐๐ 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. ๐จ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ช So, when Casting Workbook popped into my inbox, my first thought was, โDo we really need another casting site?!?โ ๐ But then, I discovered you can submit FOR FREE! โ Sounds too good to be true, amiright? No other casting site offers that... ๐ค As your self-declared Casting Website Defending Champion, before I ...
Jun 26, 2024โข52 min
On 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) ๐ด and Jason Teresi, Client Success Manager ๐ซ. 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. ๐ ๐ Casting Networks is a staple in this industry and they work hard over there to continuously improve the experience for b...
Nov 29, 2023โข35 min
In this episode, we've got a surprise for all you actors out there! Spotlightโs Customer Success Manager, David Flynn, joins me to reveal why every actor who wants to work in the UK and beyond (no matter where you're from) should be on this global casting platform. Here are three key takeaways: ๐ Global Opportunity - Spotlight's reach is massive with 80,000 active performers registered on the platform plus over 2,000 agencies and pretty much every casting director you can name are active on the...
Nov 17, 2023โข42 min
๐โโ๏ธ ๐โโ๏ธ 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. ๐ญ Look, we've been living through two strikes! ๐ฅ๐ฅ 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? ๐ค So, I reached out to the crรจme de la crรจme of coaches for actors โ the รผber-experts who wholeheartedly devote themselves to yo...
Oct 18, 2023โข39 min
๐โโ๏ธ ๐โโ๏ธ Run, Donโt 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 ๐ข ... ...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 ge...
Oct 18, 2023โข34 min
Weโve 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. ๐ On todayโs episode, we dive into the state of the business and the creatives inside of the strike. Andโฆ the truth that cannot be denied regardless of what's going on in the business - You were born to do this. ๐ช Plus, I'm thrilled to introduce my new Make Lemonade program โ devoted to actors who want a healthy dose of focus, less tox...
Aug 11, 2023โข16 min
๐ณ๏ธโ๐ 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. ๐ง๐ฅ 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. ๐ Jeffrey Masters is the host and creator of LGBTQ&A. He's also the former Director of Podcasts at The Advocate and he is cur...
Jun 28, 2023โข28 min
๐ณ๏ธโ๐ This is the third episode in our series devoted to elevating and uplifting LGBTQIA+ voices for podcasts and content creators. ๐ง๐ฅ Today, you're in for a treat. I cannot wait for you to meet The Queer Spirit podcast. ๐ 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 a...
Jun 21, 2023โข42 min
๐ณ๏ธโ๐ 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. ๐ Whether you identify as LGBTQ+ or as an ally, these episodes are going to ignite your spirit, change perceptions, and get you excited. ๐ค And hopefully, give you a window into what it means to be Queer in the United States of America, especially as an artist. ๐ญ๐จ Today's episode is from Town Hall: A Black Queer Podc...
Jun 14, 2023โข1 hr 14 min
Happy Pride! ๐ณ๏ธโ๐ It's Pride month, y'all, and we are really happy to be celebrating. ๐ First, you should know that Brian Breaks Character actually takes a little sabbatical for the months of June and July ๐ that way we can come back in August with a rip-roaring third season. ๐ Butโฆ We've decided to do something different for this Pride month โก๏ธ 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 thi...
Jun 07, 2023โข1 hr 36 min
๐ง Grab your earbuds and brace yourself for a dose of inspiration amidst the Writers' Strike and the looming SAG-AFTRA Strike. Today's guest Michael Sucsy takes us beyond the picket lines of The Writers' Strike, providing an inside look as a member of both the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Directors Guild of America (DGA). He opens up about what truly hangs in the balance during these negotiations. But that's not all โ the game-changing influence of AI promises to reshape the landscape,...
Jun 01, 2023โข56 min
This 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...
May 31, 2023โข38 min
Hey Listeners! My name is Emma and I'm taking over Brian's posts for today... ๐
๐ป In case we haven't crossed paths yet, I'm the Client Success Manager on Brian's team. ๐๐ป To put it simply, I'm like a supportive cheerleader ๐ฃ and a guidance counselor for all of Brian's clients. ๐ 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 โ ๐). Guess what? March marked the THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of Make Age...
May 24, 2023โข1 hr 2 min
๐๏ธ Today's podcast episode features the legendary Peppermint, and it's all about taking a stand. Brace yourself for a journey filled with activism and a whole lot of empowerment. โ Out Magazine named todayโs guest as one of the most influential LGBTQ+ people of the year. ๐คฉ You might also know Peppermint from when she gained widespread recognition as the first out trans contestant on RuPaul's Drag Race Season 9. Then, Peppermint made history again as the first trans woman to originate a lead ro...
May 17, 2023โข33 min
Unless you've been living under a rock ๐ชจ, you know that we are in a Writersโ Strike. ๐ชง So, today I'm replaying an episode with Emmy Award winner, Nick Wooten. Nick is a TV writer ๐บ and that's who we need to hear from right now. Heโs worked on big shows like NYPD Blue, Law & Order and Stumptown, just to name a few. In this episode, Nick talks about being branded as a writer for network television and what it means to change the narrative of the creative work you do. He emphasizes the idea ...
May 10, 2023โข47 min
๐ Have you ever been interested in Performance or Motion Capture? ๐ Do you have a Non-Traditional Performance Background and are wondering how to tie it in with your acting career? (Calling all dancers, puppeteers, mimes, etc.!)๐บ๐ป๐ ๐ Are you an International Performer looking to work in the US? Then grab you earbuds cuz today's podcast episode has got your name ALLLL OVER IT! ๐ ๐ฌ๐ง Helen Day is a British actress, dancer, circus performer, puppeteer, and voiceover & performance captur...
May 03, 2023โข53 min
Ready to unleash the creative storytelling activist inside you? ๐จ๐ญ Tired of those pesky voices in your head telling you you're not good enuff? Or the idea's not good enuff? Or it doesn't matter? ๐ฃ๏ธ Shut 'em down with this episode of the pod โ my guest is the incredibly well-recognized & awarded co-creator of The Exonerated, Jessica Blank. Jessica is a creative force to be reckoned with! Her work has been recognized by Lucille Lortel, Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk, Ovation and named 'Be...
Apr 26, 2023โข50 min
Real Actorโs Labโs Sarah Gaboury 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. ๐If 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 canโt wait to tell you all about why my rebellious approach to make agents want you actually works. If you're not an actor, this co...
Apr 19, 2023โข39 min
So 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 wonโt actually propel your career forward. So this replay is a...
Apr 12, 2023โข54 min
๐ญ Are you an actor? ๐ Do also write scripts? ๐ป OR create content? If you answered yes to any or ALL of these questions then todayโs episode of the podcast is for you. My guest Carly Tatiana Pandลพa is a talented actor and writer, who brought both of these things to the forefront when reaching out for representation. Carly is a graduate of my program #agentgoals and I had to have her on the show โ and not just cuz she got 22 offers for representation ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ! โBut because she is a person who's d...
Apr 05, 2023โข56 min
TW // We do discuss topics that could be challenging to some listeners on this episode, including sexual assault. Please make a conscious decision when you decide to listen. I'mma bet you learn a lot from today's guest on the podcast... Ann Thomas is the founder of Transgender Talent ๐ providing talent management services to transgender & non-binary actors. ๐ฌ And let me tell you... Ann is A LOT of fun and isn't afraid to tell it like it is! She talks through the unique challenges trans &am...
Mar 29, 2023โข49 min
Ever thought about TV Hosting? ๐บ Whether you dream of being the next Oprah, Tom Bergeron or Kelly Ripa, or just want to add TV Hosting to your repertoire of skills, on today's show, Hosting Casting Director Extraordinaire, Sean De Simone gives us a masterclass! ๐จ๐พโ๐๐ฉ๐ปโ๐๐ง๐ฝโ๐ ๐ Sean comes with an incredible pedigree โ he's cast for the crรจme de la crรจme of networks: A&E, BET, Bravo, OWN, Nat Geo, HGTV, QVC (...just to name a few of the crรจmes). ๐
๐ป And today's episode is as close a...
Mar 22, 2023โข53 min
Now that Deadline has finally announced the big news, I can share Chelsea Gonzalez with you! ๐ ๐๐๐ Iโve had to keep my mouth shut until Deadline, Variety and The Wrap spread the wordโ 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!). ๐ ๐ And on today's episode of Brian Breaks Character she โ quite literally! โ walks us through her experience at Sundance Film Fe...
Mar 15, 2023โข49 min
Calling all future Shonda Rhimes & Ryan Murphys!!! ๐ Do you have an idea for a TV show? ๐ Or a pilot gathering dust cuz you donโt know what to do with it? ๐ Or maybe you're just curious about how TV shows get made! Brian Breaks Character has gotchu, boo. ๐ On this episode of the podcast, my guest Adrienne Rose White give us a masterclass on HOW TO PITCH & SELL TV SHOWS. ๐บ Adrienne helps people to *actually* sell TV shows (organically!) by teaching creatives to develop, package, and ...
Mar 08, 2023โข52 min
Todayโs guest, Pete Luna has been an actor in New York ๐ฝ for over 20 years and he never had a manager or an agent! He tried to get one in the past ๐คฏ while struggling to nab auditions on his own. ๐ This is when a lot of actors would have throw in the 20-year-old towel! But Pete is a smart โ and hysterical! โ guy: he switched up his approach to embrace his almosts as well as his wins and by using #agentgoals he signed with agents who represent him in FOUR different cities! #QuadCoastal I just k...
Mar 01, 2023โข29 min
Have you ever had to sign an NDA or keep an acting gig hush-hush until it aired? Then you'll love this conversation with today's guest Rachelle Hay! Rachelle signed with new reps in Vancouver โ after she scored 15 meetings & 12 offers โ then she booked a drool-worthy can't-talk-about-it role on television! ๐ฅ๐ฅ In this episode she tells us how she burned through limiting beliefs to attract the right reps... and then, how they teamed up to navigate a *legal* way to get loud with her most rece...
Mar 01, 2023โข50 min
Something big happened over at Actorsโ Equity Association this week. ๐ฎ They dropped their Diversity & Inclusion Report on Hiring Bias for 2021. ๐ In this episode, we get an inside look at this hot-off-the-presses report with Danee Conley, Equity's new Diversity & Inclusion Strategist. Actors' Equity continues to be a leader in this space and work towards creating a more inclusive industry. โ๐ปโ๐ผโ๐ฝโ๐พโ๐ฟ๐ณ๏ธโ๐โฟ๏ธ And Danee encourages all performers and stage managers โ whether members ...
Feb 22, 2023โข52 min
