Bonnie J. Wallace is the author of Young Hollywood Actors and The Hollywood Parents Guide, and mother of Emmy Award winning actress Dove Cameron. In each of the 132 episodes over 6 seasons she shares an intimate conversation with a guest from the TV/film/music world. Inspiring, entertaining & educational.
Episodes
Wednesday Nov 11, 2020
Wednesday Nov 11, 2020
My guest on this episode of the Hometown to Hollywood podcast is triple threat Sydney James Harcourt.
Sydney has performed on some of the world’s finest concert stages including Radio City Music Hall, Avery Fischer Hall, and Carnegie Hall. He has appeared on and off Broadway starring in productions like HAMILTON (the original Broadway company and 1st replacement for Aaron Burr), Disney's THE LION KING (where he played Simba), Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT, and was most recently seen as Joe Scott in the critically acclaimed original American cast of Bob Dylan’s GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY at the Public Theater.
You've seen him in films and on TV series – including Blue Bloods, NCIS, Elementary, Younger, The Good Wife, Law and Order, and Disney's Enchanted. He's toured across North America from coast to coast, and played sold out stadiums from Australia, to Indonesia, to Puerto Rico.
This is a genuinely inspiring conversation, especially useful for anyone who is interested in a career on Broadway or doing musical theatre, but it’s deeply relevant to anyone who wants to make a career in the arts.
We discuss training, the value of a university education for actors, audition advice, how to stay focused on your dream when the going gets tough, and so much more.
Listen to the first 10 minutes here for free, or become a Friend of the Podcast for just $5 a month — and get access to the full interview, as well as access to the entire collection of over 100 other inspiring and educational episodes designed to help you succeed in the entertainment industry.
Some of my favorite quotes from our conversation:
- “It’s too easy, especially in this business, to feel like you’re only as good as your last project.”
- “I wouldn’t sing in front of anyone. I was terribly, terribly, terribly shy.”
- “I went to Interlochen Arts Academy… it was a life-changing, Hogwarts experience.”
- “I avoided Phys Ed by taking General Dance.”
- “I gave myself a year… and started going to every open call.”
- “I think that training and education is everything.”
- “I’ve always tried to listen to my instincts, listen to my intuition.”
- “Lucy Liu was a business major. You can study other things and still be doing your art.”
- “You have to have the stomach for that level of uncertainty.”
- “What has surprised me the most is there is always a new opportunity that comes up just when you think you’re ready to give up.”
- “It is not important what your peers are achieving in comparison to what you’re achieving.”
- “The only things you can control are: how prepared you are for the moment; and if you’ve done your best or not.”
- “We learn so much more from our failures than we do from things that just go ‘easy-peasy.’”
- “You want to be a good human and you want to leave people wanting to work with you.”
- “You’ve just got to always try and give your best energy, and work your hardest. Everything else is a distraction.”
- “I have a firm belief that the universe protects me from experiences that I’m not supposed to have.”
- “I book the things I’m supposed to book, and everything else was never meant for me.”
- “If you were born to do this, then never, ever, ever give up on that dream.”
Follow Sydney James Harcourt HERE:
Website: https://www.sydneyharcourt.com
Instagram: @sydneyharcourt
YouTube Channel: Sydney James Harcourt
Interlochen Arts Academy: https://academy.interlochen.org
Feeling inspired after listening to this conversation? Ready to up your game and get serious about an acting career for yourself or your kid? Schedule a consultation with me, and make this the year you move forward on that dream.
Wednesday Oct 28, 2020
Wednesday Oct 28, 2020
Today my guest on the Hometown to Hollywood podcast is casting director Howard Meltzer.
Howard has cast for Broadway, Off-Broadway, CBS, Disney Channel, Fox, NBC, Netflix, Nickelodeon, Peacock, Sony Pictures Television Studios, 20th Century Fox, and Warner Brothers Television.
He has been nominated for 22 Artios Awards for excellence in casting, winning the honor three times. He has served as the Vice President of the Casting Society of America and is currently a Governor of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
We cover a fantastic range in this conversation, from the differences in casting a pilot or movie vs. casting co-stars and guest stars; how far casting will look for the right actor for a role; how COVID has affected the casting process; whether and when it’s important for n actor to be in LA and how to decide when it might be time to come to LA; how an actor should approach a CD they don’t yet know; the role of parents in the casting process for younger actors, and much, much more.
Listen to the first 10 minutes here for free, or become a Friend of the Podcast for just $5 a month at https://hometowntohollywood.supportingcast.fm/ — and get access to the full interview, as well as access to the entire collection of over 100 other inspiring and educational episodes designed to help you succeed in the entertainment industry.
Some of my favorite quotes from our conversation:
- “Everyone should be thoughtful about what they’re putting on social media.”
- “If you’re auditioning for projects for kids networks, make sure your social media and what you’re posting doesn’t appear too mature.”
- “Disney & Nickelodeon are very, very focused on how the actors and actresses are going to connect with the viewer.”
- “I’ve worked on shows where I don’t get a script until Thursday for something that shoots on Monday.”
- “If someone’s going to fly in, there’s a whole schedule of COVID testing before they get on a plane, and then quarantining before we shoot.”
- “There’s no way any successful casting director could be lazy. We have to look all over.”
- “Understand and trust the words and the text.”
- “Find something honest & organic & grounded, even if it’s the wackiest, broadest comedy.”
- “I expect you to be prepared and open to direction.”
- “Watch not only the series regulars on a show, but also look at what the guest cast is like. There’s usually a formula.”
- “Please watch your tapes back. Please.”
- “I love getting actor postcards.”
- “Most casting directors who work with kids and young adults are friendly.”
- “It’s so incredibly rare that someone truly is an overnight success.”
Follow Howard Meltzer HERE:
Website: https://castingbyhowardmeltzer.com/
Instagram: howiemeltzer310
Twitter: @howiemeltzer
Howard’s years of work as a casting director for stage, film, and TV are reflected in the depth of wisdom he shared in this episode. Imagine what some one-on-one attention from an industry expert could do to help you succeed in as an actor (or, help your kid succeed). Book a consultation with me and save yourself years of spinning your wheels. I look forward to speaking with you!
Wednesday Oct 14, 2020
Wednesday Oct 14, 2020
Today my guest on the Hometown to Hollywood podcast is Los Angeles talent manager Sheila Russo of SR Talent Management. Her clients are currently series regulars & recurring on Apple TV, Netflix, Amazon, and Nickelodeon as well as starring in National Commercials for AllState, Farmers, Cheerios, Apple, Audi, Mercedes and many more.
We discuss what makes a great talent manager, the differences between managers and agents, how to get the attention of a potential manager, advice for parents of young actors, the best times to come out to Los Angeles, and much more. Join us!
Some of my favorite quotes from our conversation:
- “We work hands-on with the casting directors, and so do agents.”
- “I look for clients that are genuine.”
- “Be flexible. Be willing to try something different.”
- “If a casting director asks you to make a change, it’s often just to see if you can do it.”
- “The hours on set are very restricted under six years.”
- “I think the best thing to do for your kid is to put them in plays.”
- “Put your kid in Improv.”
- “If I make a connection with a kid, then it doesn’t matter if they don’t have a resume.”
- “Don’t send me a 13 year old in fake eyelashes and a really short skirt.”
- “Keep your size info updated, and get new photos when necessary.”
- “Don’t have over-the-top expectations.”
- “Do plays. Get into a Shakespeare class. Read.”
Follow Sheila Russo HERE:
Website: http://www.srtalentmgmt.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SRTalentMGMT
Did you learn something useful in this episode? Imagine what you could learn in 60 or 90 minutes of one-on-one with an industry expert! If you’re ready for some hands-on help with your career (or just getting a career launched!) book a consultation session with me, and save yourself thousands of dollars and years of time. I look forward to speaking with you.
Monday Sep 28, 2020
Monday Sep 28, 2020
Hi, thanks for joining us today! This is Bonnie Wallace, author of Young Hollywood Actors and the upcoming Top Hollywood Acting Teachers, and today my guests on the Hometown to Hollywood podcast are award-winning casting directors Amber Horn and Danielle Aufiero, of Aufiero/Horn Casting.
Danielle Aufiero and Amber Horn immediately made a splash in the entertainment industry when they opened the doors to Aufiero / Horn Casting over ten years ago. Their longstanding relationships with studios, production companies, and filmmakers have allowed them to cast for a variety of projects.
With over 75 feature films, television pilots and series collectively; the pair have earned multiple award nominations and recently won a 2020 Artios Award for their casting work on Disney Channel’s Andi Mack. Other notable projects Aufiero / Horn have cast include On My Block (Netflix), The 100 (The CW), The Baby-Sitters Club (Netflix), Motherland: Fort Salem (Freeform), 13 Reasons Why (S4, Netflix), and Awkward (MTV), among many others. A number of their buzzy films have been a hit on the festival circuit, taking home top honors at Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, and the Toronto Film Festival (TIFF).
Powerhouse companies such as Amazon, Netflix, ABC, Disney+, Disney Channel, Warner Bros., Nickelodeon, MTV, The CW, and Freeform have entrusted the expertise and the outside of the box mentality that Amber and Danielle have to offer when it comes to casting their projects and bringing the characters to life.
Listen to the first 10 minutes here for free, or become a Friend of the Podcast for access to the full interview, as well as access to the entire collection of almost 120 other inspiring and educational episodes designed to help you succeed in the entertainment industry.
It’s easy! In your browser bar, go to https://hometowntohollywood.supportingcast.fm/ and for just $5 a month—about the price of latte– become a member.
Your support allows me to continue to do the work that supports you, and the dreams of your child, or even your own dreams. Thank you!
Some of my favorite quotes from our conversation:
- “The most important thing in comedy is making it feel real.”
- “Be sincere. If you believe your performance, we’ll believe it.”
- “Be truth seekers.”
- “We look under every single rock—worldwide—you never know where you’re going to find the perfect diamond in the rough.”
- “We’re not looking for what you think we’re looking for. We’re looking for what YOU think is the character.”
- “We love to see something that we’ve never thought of before for a character.”
- “Your eyes need to be the brightest thing on the page in a headshot.”
- “When you come in, we’re looking for you to bring your authentic self to that situation.”
- "If you’re constantly working—whether that’s in classes, or improv, or putting together a project with a friend—then the wheels are oiled, and you’re ready.”
- “Consider an audition your ‘coverage.’ Your job is to connect to the person you’re talking to, and make it about them.”
- “If you’re not evoking emotion from the person in your scene, how are you going to evoke emotion from the audience watching?”
You have about 30 seconds before I decide if I want to keep watching you or not.” - “When we get a bad report card, we don’t ask that actor back.”
- “A lot of people are wiling to mentor you. So reach out.”
- “If you’re having fun, then we’re having fun watching you. Even if it’s a sad scene.”
- “If you’re enjoying the work, it’s going to show, and it’s going to be contagious.”
Follow Amber Horn and Danielle Aufiero HERE:
Instagram:
Amber Horn: @amberhorn
Danielle Aufiero: @anamelikedanicalifornia
Wednesday Sep 09, 2020
Wednesday Sep 09, 2020
My guest on this episode of the Hometown to Hollywood podcast is actress and singer Kira Kosarin.
Kira is best known for her role as Phoebe Thunderman in in The Thundermans, as well as roles in Light as a Feather, Good Trouble, All About the Washingtons, Knight Squad, School of Rock, Henry Danger, One Crazy Cruise, and more. Her EP Songbird was released in July of 2020. Look for her in the upcoming movie, Supercool.
We discuss her experience as a young actress and singer arriving in LA at the age of thirteen, growing up in the public eye, juggling both music and acting, audition advice, the importance of training, what she believe is important for success, and much more. Join us!
Listen to the first 10 minutes here for free, or become a Friend of the Podcast for access to the full interview, as well as access to the entire collection of over 100 other inspiring and educational episodes designed to help you succeed in the entertainment industry.
It’s easy! In your browser bar, go to https://hometowntohollywood.supportingcast.fm/ and for just $5 a month—about the price of latte– become a member.
Your support allows me to continue to do the work that supports you, and the dreams of your child, or even your own dreams. Thank you!
Some of my favorite quotes from our conversation:
- “We decided to come here for 6 weeks to see what would happen… and I never went home!”
- “Once you’re on set, you’re expected to know what you’re doing.”
- “Gather souls in your life who are kind & empathetic & working toward the same goals as you.”
- “When you feel those feelings of adrenaline and nerves, just make the conscious decision to interpret that as excitement.”
- “I auditioned for 2 ½ years before I booked The Thundermans.”
- “Every audition, your goal is to go in, do something you’re proud of, and try to make a fan in the room.”
- “Each individual audition is its own victory.”
- “If the casting director gives you a redirect, take that as a huge compliment.”
- “Comparison is just a recipe for disaster, self-hatred, & discouragement… it’s just not helpful.”
- “I think true self-care is important for success, and I don’t mean bubble baths & candles… but getting sleep, drinking water, working out, eating well.”
- “Having hobbies outside of the business is really important.”
- “Work really hard, and rest really hard.”
- “Be prepared to have a survival job that you like.”
- “Approach everything in this business the way you’d approach a school project you want to get an ‘A’ on.”
Follow Kira HERE:
Website: https://www.kirakosarin.com/
Twitter: @kirakosarin
Instagram: @kirakosarin
Facebook: @kirakosarin
(All verified)
And stream her new single, Songbird!
Thursday Aug 20, 2020
Thursday Aug 20, 2020
Welcome to the Back to School Edition of Hometown to Hollywood!
Today my guest on this podcast is Cheryl Diamond. Cheryl is a certified Studio Teacher/Welfare Worker in the state of California and teaches young actors on set. She’s also the President of the Union Local 884, which represents studio teachers.
Educating young actors can be a challenge, because their commitments to work and auditions often compete with regular school hours. Certified Studio Teachers in California are in charge of not only educating young actors on set, but also ensuring their safety and wellbeing.
In this episode, Cheryl shares some of the benefits and challenges of learning on set, how studio teachers coordinate with a young actor’s school, the relationship of work permits and grades, some of the laws protecting minor actors, safeguards that are in place to keep kids safe on set, her thoughts on the CHSPE, and much more.
This conversation is a must-listen for parents of young actors as well as any actor under 18. And it’s an important listen for anyone who expects to work with young actors on set—which is almost anyone in the entertainment industry, as child actors work in nearly every TV show and movie!
Listen to the first 10 minutes here for free, or become a Friend of the Podcast for access to the full interview, as well as access to the entire collection of over 100 other inspiring and educational episodes designed to help you succeed in the entertainment industry.
It’s easy! In your browser bar, go to https://hometowntohollywood.supportingcast.fm/ and for just $5 a month—about the price of latte– become a member.
Your support allows me to continue to do the work that supports you, and the dreams of your child, or even your own dreams. Thank you!
Some of my favorite quotes from our conversation:
- “Studio teachers have to be credentialed in both elementary and secondary.”
- “I’ve worked on a number of Disney shows and loved them all, but my heart goes to Jessie.”
- “My students become my kids.”
- “When they come to set and they’re prepared with their lines and their character, & they still have academic work… I’m always amazed at how they do that.”
- “We can focus on academics with one-to-one, personalized attention.”
- “The key is communication.”
- “I try to make learning as much fun as possible.”
- “I can’t think of one young actor I’ve worked with for a period of time who I didn’t adore.”
- “The CHSPE is a double-edged sword.”
- “It’s our job to educate, and also to advocate for their safety, health and welfare.”
- “There are a lot of child labor laws that we have to make sure production is following.”
- “Kids must maintain a C-average in order to get their work permit.”
- “Even if you’re on a nonunion project, you can request a union studio teacher.”
- “I love working with kids. And I love helping them succeed.”
- “Be sure that this is the life your child really wants.”
Resources:
The Studio Teachers
http://www.thestudioteachers.com/
Studio Teacher Certification Database
https://www.dir.ca.gov/databases/dlselr/studtch.html
The Looking Ahead Program
https://www.lookingaheadprogram.org/
Blue Book
Cheryl Diamond is a wealth of knowledge for parents of young actors. Her 30+ years as a studio teacher as well as her leadership as president of the union that covers studio teachers is an incomparable source of wisdom. I’m so grateful that she took the time to share with us on this podcast.
Talking with an expert can reveal many things that we didn’t know we didn’t know. Cheryl’s interview is a great reminder of this. If you suspect there may be things you still don’t know about building a safe, successful acting career—for yourself or for your child—reach out and schedule a consultation with me over Zoom. Investing in a single conversation can save you years of time, and many thousands of dollars. I look forward to speaking with you.
Wednesday Aug 05, 2020
Wednesday Aug 05, 2020
Today my guest on the Hometown to Hollywood podcast is actor, singer, dancer, and all-around creative talent, Jordan Fisher.
Jordan’s resume is very long for someone who’s still just in his mid-twenties, but he is best known for Moana, Grease Live, RENT Live, Liv and Maddie, To All the Boys: PS I Still Love You, Until Dawn, Teen Beach Movie, Teen Beach 2, and The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Jordan was crowned the Season 25 winner of "Dancing with the Stars" alongside dance partner Lindsay Arnold, and played the role of Evan Hanson in Dear Evan Hanson on Broadway, as well as the roles of John Laurens/Philip Hamilton in the Broadway production of Hamilton. His voiceover credits include Sea Hawk in She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. He plays six instruments: piano, guitar, bass, harmonica, French horn and drums.
Our conversation is wide-ranging and inspiring, covering how Jordan’s journey began and going into audition advice, staying sane through challenging times, and much more.
Listen to the first 10 minutes here for free, or become a Friend of the Podcast for access to the full interview, as well as access to the entire collection of over 100 other inspiring and educational episodes designed to help you succeed in the entertainment industry.
It’s easy! In your browser bar, go to https://hometowntohollywood.supportingcast.fm/ and for just $5 a month—about the price of latte– become a member.
Your support allows me to continue to do the work that supports you, and the dreams of your child, or even your own dreams. Thank you!
Some of my favorite quotes from our conversation:
- “I had no clue that walking into drama club in 5th grade would lead to producing films.”
- “My ultimate goal is dictation of time.”
- “My biggest piece of advice for anybody that’s trying to get into the industry is to recognize why. Figure out your why.”
- “I still train.”
- “Auditioning is a part of the work. The reward is the actual job itself.”
- “The work is being in class, the work is watching film and television, the work is having people to read scenes with.”
- “Documentaries have been one of the most important… I’m going to call it a Rosetta Stone for me.”
- “We are professional observers. You have to watch other actors do their thing.”
- “Auditioning is its own art form.”
- “If you use your platform and it is led with love, and with truth, you’re doing what you’re supposed to do.”
- “There will be naysayers. At the same time there will be people who believe in you.”
- “There’s room and space for you here. There’s more and more opportunity for actors every year.”
FOLLOW JORDAN HERE:
Website: jordanfisherofficial.com
Instagram: @jordanfisher
Twitter: @jordanfisher
FaceBook: @jordanfisherofficial
Thursday Jul 16, 2020
Thursday Jul 16, 2020
My guests on this episode of the Hometown to Hollywood podcast are the founders of coaching business Acting with Actors, actresses Victoria Moroles and Audrey Whitby.
Audrey is known best for her work on The Thundermans, The Standoff, Liv and Maddie, Betch, So Random!, Awesomeness TV, Townies, Guilty Party, and In the Vault.
Victoria is best known for her work on Teen Wolf, Liv and Maddie, Down a Dark Hall, Here and Now, Cloud 9, and Snow Falls.
With a combined 100+ episodes of children's and network television under their belts, chances are they know the casting director or show-runner on most projects, especially if it's under the Nick or Disney umbrella. Multi-cams and sitcoms are Audrey’s specialty, and Victoria has starred in multiple teen-dramas and features. Both have experience teaching, coaching, and working with kids.
We cover a lot of ground, including how they each got their start in the industry, audition advice, how they approach coaching actors, advice for young people who want a career as an actor, ways to deal with rejection, and even a little advice for actors dealing with the COVID shutdown.
Listen to the first 10 minutes here for free, or become a Friend of the Podcast for access to the full interview, as well as access to the entire collection of over 100 other inspiring and educational episodes designed to help you succeed in the entertainment industry.
It’s easy! In your browser bar, go to https://hometowntohollywood.supportingcast.fm/ and for just $5 a month—about the price of latte– become a member.
Your support allows me to continue to do the work that supports you, and the dreams of your child, or even your own dreams. Thank you!
Some of my favorite quotes from our conversation:
- “I think where I really thrived and learned the most was through studios and private coaches.”
- "You take what works best for you from each teacher, and make your own way of doing it.”
- “We’ve taken all the techniques we’ve learned over the past decade and created a really safe space to do self-tapes.”
- “I speak kid actor.”
- “With training you learn from watching, with coaching you learn from doing.”
- "Confidence is always going to be the basis of somebody who is successful.”
“Nobody is your direct competition.” - “It’s not my job to get the part. It’s my job to do my best.”
- “You never, ever know where a self-tape is going to end up.”
- “If you look at it as an opportunity to show people how great you are as opposed to an opportunity to get the role, that’s when you start to flourish.”
- “You have to be prepared to let down some guards, not care about what people think of you… that’s been a huge lesson for me.”
- “Keep going, and be patient with yourself, and have fun.”
- “As actors, every singe thing we do is something we can learn from.”
Contact Victoria and Audrey HERE for coaching:
Email: actingwithactors@gmail.com
Call or text: 818-254-9650
Follow Victoria and Audrey HERE:
Instagram: @victoriamoroles
Twitter: @victoriamoroles
FaceBook: @victoriamoroles
Audrey and Victoria’s advice—to take what you learn from different people and then make it your own—applies to your journey in the industry as well. The more you understand about how this industry really works—and just as importantly, does NOT work—the better your odds of success.
If you’re ready to build an acting career safely and successfully—for yourself or for your kid—invest in a one-on-one consultation with me. I can save you years of frustration and help you create a detailed action plan.
Thursday Jul 02, 2020
Thursday Jul 02, 2020
Today my guest on the Hometown to Hollywood podcast is actress Jessica Marie Garcia.
Jessica is best known for her roles of Jasmine in the Netflix hit On My Block, Willow in Liv and Maddie, and Becky in The Middle, as well as recurring roles on Diary of a Future President, How to Get Away with Murder, American Princess, Starter Pack, Hacking High School, Huge, and more. She is a member of the all-female ensemble cast of BETCH: A Sketch Show on Hulu, and her feature film Avenge The Crows was released on iTunes, where she plays Peaches starring alongside Danny Trejo and Lou Diamond Phillips.
This is Jessica’s second time on the podcast—our last interview was almost exactly four years ago today.
Our conversation covers a wide range, and includes how she got started, audition advice, the role of training in her success, challenges she’s had, thoughts on social media, the importance of seeing people who look like you in film and TV, and much, much more. We also laugh a lot!
Listen to the first 10 minutes here for free, or become a Friend of the Podcast for access to the full interview, as well as access to the entire collection of over 100 other inspiring and educational episodes designed to help you succeed in the entertainment industry.
It’s easy! In your browser bar, go to https://hometowntohollywood.supportingcast.fm/ and for just $5 a month—about the price of latte– become a member.
Your support allows me to continue to do the work that supports you, and the dreams of your child, or even your own dreams. Thank you!
Some of my favorite quotes from our conversation:
- “What we do is very, very vulnerable.”
- “Growing up I didn’t realize how much of my own story wasn’t being told.”
- “I feel like I came out of the womb reciting a Shakespearean monologue.”
- “A lot of actors don’t understand that agents and managers work for you.”
- “The 1st year of living in LA was the hardest year of my life. And I would never take that year back.”
- “I’m a damn good waiter.”
- “You have to get 100 ‘NO’s’ before you get a ‘YES.’”
- “Representation matters. When you don’t see yourself represented, you don’t necessarily think you can do this.”
- “I just kind of refused to believe that I couldn’t do what I want to do.”
- “I knew if I waited in line long enough, it would happen for me.”
- “Nothing worth it is ever easy.”
- “Everyone has a process… but Stanislavski worked great for me.”
- “Once I started owning my power & knowing my worth, I feel like the world has opened up many doors for me.”
- “If you really want to do this, I would encourage you to learn every facet of this industry.”
Follow Jessica HERE:
Twitter: @JessMarieGarcia
Instagram: @jess_m_garcia
Jessica’s advice—to learn everything about the industry that you can if you really want to do this—comes from experience. The more you understand about how this industry really works—and just as importantly, does NOT work—the better your odds of success.
If you are ready to build an acting career safely and successfully—for yourself or for your kid—invest in a one-on-one consultation with me. I can save you years of frustration and help you create a detailed action plan.
Thursday Jun 18, 2020
Thursday Jun 18, 2020
Today my guest on this special edition of the Hometown to Hollywood podcast is Anthony Meindl. Anthony is a master acting coach, and founder of Anthony Meindl’s Actor Workshop, which has locations in Los Angeles, New York, Vancouver, London, Atlanta, Toronto, Santa Fe, Chicago, Cape Town, Copenhagen, and Sydney. His philosophy is radically different from the status quo—he does not use scene objective, sense memory, or any of the standard 20th Century approaches that most acting schools take as their foundation—instead, he emphasizes “living truthfully in imaginary circumstances.”
In this special edition of the podcast, we focus on the connections between art & social justice, and between actors & culture. We also discuss acting and the industry and one of the very best audition tips I’ve ever heard shows up about 45 minutes into our conversation. It’s an unusual episode for an unusual time: typically these episodes are designed to be as evergreen and timeless as possible, but I felt that a deeper dive into the impact that actors can have on the world was warranted.
I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. I found it inspiring and stimulating.
Listen to the first 10 minutes here for free, or become a Friend of the Podcast for access to the full interview, as well as access to the entire collection of over 100 other inspiring and educational episodes designed to help you succeed in the entertainment industry.
It’s easy! In your browser bar, go to https://hometowntohollywood.supportingcast.fm/ and for just $5 a month—about the price of latte– become a member.
Your support allows me to continue to do the work that supports you, and the dreams of your child, or even your own dreams. Thank you!
This is Anthony’s second time on the podcast—our first conversation was in the summer of 2016, four years ago.
We explore some very juicy subjects, including the connection between art and politics, artists and social justice, what acting training can do for people, how art can change the world, and much more.
Some of my favorite quotes from our conversation:
- “To be a storyteller is to reflect back to society what it means to be a human being, having a human experience.”
- “When you realize that nobody knows, you realize that you have just as much of a chance as knowing as anybody else.”
- “All art is political.”
- “The reason people don’t want to engage in a discourse is because it’s uncomfortable.”
- “We equate, as human beings, that feeling something new or unknown or uncomfortable means we’re in trouble. It evokes the fight or flight response.”
- “Everything you want is in the uncertainty.”
- “When we speak from the heart-- even though we will make mistakes—we are leading from the right place.”
- “Instead of waiting for somebody to choose you, choose yourself.”
- “My responsibility isn’t to change the world; it’s just to change who I am.”
- “You want to know the secret of how you get work? Have fun. If you have fun, then we, watching you, will have fun.”
- “We underestimate the power of connection, & the power of our own voice.”
Follow Anthony Meindl HERE:
Website: http://www.anthonymeindl.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnthonyMeindl
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anthonymeindl/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnthonyMeindlsActorWorkshop/
Did you find this episode informative and inspiring? Imagine what you could learn in an hour of one-on-one with an acting career expert? If you could use some help getting started in an acting career, or jump-starting one that has stalled, book a consultation with me. Working with me can save you months and years of frustration, time and money. I look forward to talking with you!