Acting: Conversations on Craft

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.”

point, there’s no longevity there.” 

and kind. Leanna said she “started this project with so much fear.” It was fear of the unknown and fear of failure. But for her, learning was also key. So, as Leanna says, “If your goal is to learn, you can’t fail.” 

spot at The 2020 Lab at the Athena Film Fest. Her short films have screened around North America, some airing on Fox and TBS. Leanna loves action comedies

the most.

actor, director, and 1st AD before moving into intimacy coordinating. She graduated with a BFA in Acting and BA in Theatrical Design and Production from Elon University before moving into film and now works in both Atlanta and

Wilmington.

sexual violence-related scenes. 

Learn more about Leanna Adams

@ATLIntimacyCoordinator

Connect with me: 

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, I realized that I always seem to say the same thing about my guests: how they are passionate about what they do, how they love to help actors, and how they have given me great information to share. But it’s true every single time! And Heidi Dean is no exception. So if you are like me and have a love/hate relationship with social media then you will get a lot out of this conversation. If you are part of the, “I hate Social Media” club, Heidi gets it! She too, was once part of that club. That is, until she started to understand the power it had to connect her to people. And it isn’t about the numbers. As she says, social media enabled her, “to connect with the right people on my own terms.” Over a decade later, it has become her career, her mission, her passion to help as many actors as possible optimize their use of social media for their careers. While she steers away from saying we, as actors, “should” use social media, she does wonder why we wouldn’t. It’s free, it’s creative, and it’s not going away. I gave her a whole host of reasons why some of us don’t want to use it, don’t like it, don’t want to learn and she came back with a whole host of reasons why that is, and how to change our mindset. And it is a change in mindset that, as this conversation shows, could help our careers. So I hope you enjoy my conversation with social media guru, Heidi Dean.  Heidi Dean is known as the industry’s top social media strategist for actors and the creator of Marketing4actors.com. She’s a social media writer for Backstage Magazine and a frequent speaker at film festivals, SAG-AFTRA, AEA, conferences, podcasts and universities across the country. Her clients include Emmy Award-winners, Broadway stars, series regulars, directors, producers, casting directors, voice actors and audiobook narrators. Heidi turns social media rookies into ROCKSTARS! Connect with Heidi Dean:Website: www.Marketing4actors.comJoin her Community: www.TechSavvyActors.comInstagram & TikTok: @Marketing4actorsX/Twitter: @marketing4actorYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@heididean30 Post Ideas: https://marketing4actors.com/30posts/Heidi's new book: https://www.amazon.com/Social-Media-Actors-Essential-Survive/dp/B0CVHMQRCFConnect with me: IG: @tarmeydanielleTikTok: @danielletarmeyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle

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 to hesitate. Both said they didn’t want to limit what might be submitted. What is really exciting for both of them is when filmmakers take a “paint by numbers” storyline and then play with the form. As Angie says, “We like to see our filmmakers take risks and push themselves, but the story has to be the strongest component.” Mary adds that she is always looking for, “films that blow your mind and make you question the artform in general.” And they both recognize how difficult this is to do, and do well. But the take away for me was that it gives us permission to play. That again, we need to create without thinking, “what do they want?” and create with the mindset, “what story do I want to tell?”  Mary Dossinger is the Director for the RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston-Salem, NC and just took part in her 16th Festival in 2023. As Program Director, Mary oversees all aspects of the film program, festival schedule and all filmmaker correspondence. Prior to joining the team at RiverRun, Mary received her Masters in Fine Arts in Contemporary Cinema Cultures from The University of London – King’s College London in 2007.  She also earned her Bachelor of Arts with a major in English and minor in film studies at Emory University in 2000.  She has had a varied career, starting as a Program Assistant at CNN and Turner Broadcasting and then moving on to Capitol Hill where she worked as an Executive Assistant at an international lobbying firm, the American Council of Life Insurers.  She has moved all over the world, thanks to a father who worked for Exxon.  She was born in Guildford, England and lived in Athens, Greece; Houston, TX; Anchorage, AK; Atlanta, GA and Washington, DC.   Angie Reza Tures has worked in independent film since 2003 after graduating from the University of San Francisco with a B.A. in Media Studies and a minor in Music. For twelve years, she worked as a producer, director, and editor in the Bay Area mentoring under Oscar-nominated and Sundance award-winning documentary filmmakers. Since 2011, Angie has lived and worked in El Paso, Texas. She founded the Femme Frontera Filmmaker Showcase in 2016 and serves as Executive Director of Femme Frontera. In 2021, Angie will complete her first feature narrative script. She is a 2022 Rockwood Documentary Leaders Fellow, a fellowship supported by the Ford Foundation. Find out more about the Femme Frontera Showcase:  https://www.femmefrontera.orgIG: @femme_fronteraFind out more about the RiverRun International Film Festival:https://riverrunfilm.com/https://www.facebook.com/riverrunfilm/IG: @riverfunfilm If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group site. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielleqyCpCacyTSkDlG0ltqoc

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 Luck to you Leo Grande,” with Emma Thompson.He believes that advances in science and technology with regards aging will inform filmmaking and stories. When I ask Dale if there is anything that actors, filmmakers, and the industry in general can do to improve accurate and authentic representation of older characters, he points to three main things. The first is, as actors we must embrace our older selves. His second point is that directors, who are typically ‘risk averse’, need to be more willing to cast 50-year-old characters who actually look 50. He also says those teaching in the many film schools around the country have to continue to move towards a more generous view of aging. He says, only then will filmmakers fully realize the dramatic and comedic potential of aging.  Dale M. Pollock received a BA in Anthropology from Brandeis University in 1972 and MS in Communications from San Jose State University. In 1977, he became the head film critic for the Daily Variety until he was hired by the Los Angeles Times to be their chief entertainment correspondent.  He was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in the early 1980s and wrote Skywalking: The Life and Films of George Lucas in 1984, which has sold more than 150,000 copies and remains in print. In 1985, Pollock joined David Geffen’s company as a development executive, where he discovered the scripts for Beetlejuice, The Burbs and Universal Soldier.  He joined A&M Films as vice president in charge of production, and was named president in 1990, producing such films as The Beast, The Mighty Quinn, A Midnight Clear and Mrs. Winterbourne. Pollock ran his own film company Peak Productions for 10 years, producing the box office hit Set It Off.   He co-founded the producing program at the American Film Institute in 1995. In 1999 he became Dean of the School of Filmmaking at the (then) North Carolina School of the Arts, stepping down in 2006 to become Professor of Cinema Studies. He was awarded Emeritus status in 2019 and served as Interim Dean for nine months in 2021. Pollock was awarded an Endowed Professorship in Film in his name at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts School of Filmmaking and is the 2016 recipient of the UNC Board of Governors Award for Teaching Excellence. He also received the 2020 Arts Council of Winston Salem’s Annual Award, its highest honor. Pollock's first work of fiction, Chopped: A Novel will be published in February 2023, and he is at work on a book about how Hollywood has treated aging in the movies. Learn more about Dale Pollockhttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm0689645/https://dalempollock.com If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/and visit the group site. Follow me on: IG: @tarmeydanielle Twitter: @TarmeyDanielle

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 listening to your partner then you’re never going to act.” But he goes on to explain that the listening isn’t the hard part. All of us can do that. He says, “the listening opens up the feelings and the expressing of those feelings is hard.” That, he says, takes courage, takes bravery, and it takes choosing yourself. Anthony Meindl is an award-winning director, writer, actor, acting coach, entrepreneur, author and inspirational speaker.  As an acting teacher, he’s known for revolutionizing a more modern understanding of acting training. He founded Anthony Meindl's Actor Workshop in 1997 and has schools in 10 cities around the world: Los Angeles, New York, London, Vancouver, Toronto, Atlanta, Sydney, Chicago, Copenhagen and Cape Town.   He has been the guest acting teacher for directing at David Lynch’s Master of Filmmaking Program, and has guest lectured at the prestigious Moscow Arts Theatre, The National Theatre School of Ireland, The Actors Centre London, and many more. He has been an inspirational speaker, sharing the stage with such luminaries as Jim Carrey, Jack Kornfield, and Tom Shadyac.    As a filmmaker, Anthony has received a number of awards and acclaim. His latest feature film, Where We Go From Here is available on HULU. The film premiered at Outfest, won the “Best Screenplay” award at Q-Films Long Beach, and the “Jury Award” at NYC’s East Village Queer Film Festival.   He is the author of five books, including best-sellers, At Left Brain Turn Right and Book the F*cking Job and his latest book, Unstuck, was released July 2022.  To follow or connect with Anthony Meindl: IG: @anthonymeindl, @amawstudios in Los Angeles, @amawatl in AtlantaWebsite: https://www.anthonymeindl.comIf you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/and visit the group site. Follow me on: IG: @tarmeydanielle Twitter: @TarmeyDanielle

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 cheerleaders…talking about you all the time.” In this episode you will also hear Erica’s take on auditions, labeling, and slates. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Erica as much as I did.  ERICA S. BREAM is in her twenty-first year as a film, television and theatreCasting Director. Recent credits include ORDINARY JOE (NBC), TELL MEYOUR SECRETS (Amazon), ALTERED CARBON (Netflix), and the upcomingseries ECHOES (Netflix), THE WINCHESTERS (CW) and more. Notably, Breamhas co-cast thirteen seasons of the prestigious Young Playwrights Festival forThe Blank Theatre Company. To follow or connect with Erica S. Bream:  Website: https://ericasbreamcasting.comIMDb: https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm2083259?s=78c12da0-d0c8-93d7-ed61-7efb59992821&site_preference=normalIG: @ericasbreamcastTwitter: @ericasbreamcast Watch the Hangry Dead: The Biggest Instagram Movie Ever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjhU5zmJjqo  If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/and visit the group site. Follow me on:IG: @tarmeydanielle Twitter: @TarmeyDanielleIMDb: https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm1368938?s=eac12db9-28e5-c89e-05ec-124904cd4bfe&site_preference=normal

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 empowered by what they’re doing.” When she says everyone, she means it. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like, or even how big of a star you are. Kristina is there for all of us.  Honestly her passion is contagious, and I know that with her presence (or the presence of any certified intimacy coordinator) on set we can all breathe a sigh of relief. So, I hope that you enjoy my conversation with Kristina as much as I did.  About KristinaKristina Arjona is a certified Intimacy Coordinator through Intimacy Professionals Association. Her latest credits include "George & Tammy" (starring Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon) and "One True Loves" (starring Simu Liu and Phillipa Soo). Kristina spent 10 years working in the Atlanta film industry as an actor, director, and 1st AD before moving into intimacy coordinating. She graduated with a BFA in Acting and BA in Theatrical Design and Production from Elon University before moving into film and now works in both Atlanta and Wilmington. Kristina is deeply passionate about protecting and educating actors about their rights in intimate scenes, as well as educating filmmakers and universities on industry standards regarding intimate scenes. She uses her skills on both sides of the lens to increase effective communication and safety for everyone involved. Proudly queer and Latina, Kristina is particularly passionate about working with material involving queer stories, BIPOC characters, and trauma-informed care in sexual violence-related scenes.  Learn more about Kristina Arjonahttps://www.kristinaarjona.comhttps://www.atlintimacycoordinator.comhttps://pro.imdb.com/name/nm6223011/aboutFollow her on IG @Kristina.Arjona & @ATLIntimacyCoordinator Intimacy Coordinator workshops and traininghttps://www.intimacyprofessionalsassociation.comhttps://www.intimacyprofessionalsassociation.com SAG/AFTRA Resourceshttps://www.sagaftra.org/files/sa_documents/SAG-AFTRA_quickguide_intimscenes_F2.pdfhttps://www.sagaftra.org/files/sa_documents/Sex_Nudity_and_You_FINAL.pdfhttps://www.sagaftra.org/videos/intimacy-coordinators-updatehttps://www.sagaftra.org/files/sa_documents/SA_IntimacyCoord.pdf  If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/446862949543735 and visit the group site. Follow me:IG @tarmeydanielle Twitter @TarmeyDanielle imdb.me/danielletarmey  

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 directors. For Tara, she says that if we (as actors) are thinking real thoughts and feeling real emotions, we must trust that our face will do what it needs to do.  Throughout our conversation, she gave tips on how best to prepare for the session, what to bring, and how she works to make the client feel safe and comfortable with her. She goes on to say something that we have all heard before, “The best thing you have to offer is you.” She says, “There’s magic in seeing someone be authentically them.”  Tara Gulledge is a portrait and headshot photographer based in Atlanta, GA.  Capturing someone’s essence is her superpower. With 10 years of experience in photography and 12 years acting, Tara knows what casting directors are looking for and how to take stand out shots that actors can be proud of.  Her background as an actor allows her to coach actors during sessions, taking them through scenarios and exercises to get that real, honest emotion that will take their headshots from good to great.   To learn more about Tara, or to book a photo session, go to:https://www.theactorheadshot.com/www.taragulledgephotography.comImdb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4832596/ IG: @theactorheadshot If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/446862949543735 and visit the group site. Follow me:IG @tarmeydanielle Twitter @TarmeyDanielle imdb.me/danielletarmey

 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 me about the Meisner Repetition exercise.So many classes include repetition as part of the class, even if they don’t include any of the other Meisner activities, that I wanted to know why.  The basic premise of the Repetition exercise is that you are focusing on the behavior of your scene partner and not focused on the words you are saying.  The words are essentially unimportant.  “It’s an exercise in subtext. What we’re saying isn’t what matters. Ashley, Ellie, and Evan all talk about the importance of speaking your truth and putting your attention on the other person.  As Evan says, “When you put your attention on the other person, they become more important than your discomfort.” Ashley points out that the exercise is a way to prevent you from planning a map for yourself in the scene. She says, “If you can’t bring truth and yourself to what it is you’re offering in a scene then nobody cares…You’ve got to show up and be a real actualized human engaging with another person.” For her the repetition exercise helps you achieve that.  For Ellie, “it is setting you up to actually get to the art of doing and crafting and specificity.” I hope you enjoy my conversation with these wonderful teaching artists as much as I did. After graduating from SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts with a BFA in Acting, Ashley did what some would call the impossible, and supported herself for years performing on regional theatre stages across the country. A few of her favorite roles include the titular role in ANTIGONE, Paulina from THE WINTER’S TALE, Ruth Younger in A RAISIN IN THE SUN, and Malcolm (among several other characters) in a six-person, all-female cast of MACBETH. Since moving to Los Angeles, she has appeared in numerous national commercials, indie projects, Annapurna Interactive‘s live action video game, TELLING LIES, THE AFFAIR, and most recently 9-1-1 and AMERICAN CRIME STORY: IMPEACHMENT. Currently she is wearing the hat of producer, writer, and content creator, and had her first digital series optioned a few years ago. Ashley is a champion of diversity, truth, and finding strength through vulnerability. When she’s not acting, writing, or producing, you can find her teaching yoga, meditation, pranayama, philosophy classes, teacher trainings, workshops, and retreats all over the world. Find out more about Ashley RideauxThe BGB Studios: https://www.bramongarciabraun.com/bgb-teachers/ashley-rideauxIG: @ashleyrideauxhttps://www.yoga-with-ashley.com/blank-mpvle Ellie Clark is an Atlanta-based actress and teaching artist. Her most recent credits include The Wonder Yearson ABC, First Wives Club on BET, and a recurring role on Tyler Perry’s Sistas. She has performed throughout the United States and across the pond in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Her most notable credits include Antony & Cleopatra (Cleopatra), Pride & Prejudice (Elizabeth Bennet), A Streetcar Named Desire (Stella), Marie Antoinette (Marie), Dancing at Lughnasa (Agnes), and A Chorus Line (Sheila). Ellie has taught acting and physical actor training for 20+ years. She is the co-Artistic Director of Arvold Warner Studio in Atlanta, a training ground for artists pursuing film and TV. She is co-founder of Voices Amplified, an arts activism initiative that cranks up the volume on under-represented and mis-represented voices. She also acts as the Chair of Drama for the Kentucky Governor’s School for (continued)