Acting: Conversations on Craft

When 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 learn the business. He says he learned how to be a casting director by doing it. He put in hours and hours, for free initially, just to get name recognition. He tells actors to love what they do, and he says simply, “put in the work.”

Jesse Malinowski is an actor and CEO of Get Scene Studios and Actors Spark in Atlanta. He is also the author of Turning Rejection into Success: Creating an Actor’s Positive Mindset. He created his GetScene360 workshops specifically to help actors better understand what can set them apart and lead to success in the Atlanta market. His advice for actors is, “be somebody that wants to work.”

Jesse is offering a free online class on February 6th: Book More Acting Jobs. To register, text the word PODCAST to (678) 820-6566.

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, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle

Find out more about George Pierre: on IG @gpierre722 and on FB https://www.facebook.com/Pierre-Casting-1401199100126090/

Find out more about Get Scene Studios and Actors Spark: https://www.getscenestudios.com/atlanta and https://actorsspark.com/

Find out more about Actors Group: https://www.actorsgroup.net/

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 be able to portray.”

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 Restless, Army Wives, and One Tree Hill.

When he is not acting, he is an instructor at the Actors Group studio in Winston-Salem, which is a training ground for film and television actors.

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, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle

Find out more about Actors Group: https://www.actorsgroup.net/

Find out more about Burgess Jenkins: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420792/

Are 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 that, “you are the instrument and you have to figure out the key to unlocking you.” So, of course there is no simple answer, you have to decide what are the details that you need to fulfill the role.

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 Restless, Army Wives, and One Tree Hill.

When he is not acting, he is an instructor at the Actors Group studio in Winston-Salem, which is a training ground for film and television actors.

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, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle

Find out more about Actors Group: https://www.actorsgroup.net/

Find out more about Burgess Jenkins: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420792/

Are 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, lends itself to the fullness of this human being walking around.”

He goes on to explain that both the analytical and the emotional components of a scene are important. “You have to understand your character, but you also have to know how you feel about the situation that they are in. If you leave either of those sides out you end up with a hollow human being.” And nobody wants to be hollow as an actor.

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 Restless, Army Wives, and One Tree Hill.

When he is not acting, he is an instructor at the Actors Group studio in Winston-Salem, which is a training ground for film and television actors.

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, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle

Find out more about Actors Group: https://www.actorsgroup.net/

Find out more about Burgess Jenkins: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420792/

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 Restless, Army Wives, and One Tree Hill.

When he is not acting, he is an instructor at the Actors Group studio in Winston-Salem, which is a training ground for film and television actors.

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, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle

Find out more about Actors Group: https://www.actorsgroup.net/

Find out more about Burgess Jenkins: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420792/

Dialects, 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 at UNCSA's School of Drama. Before coming to the school she taught at the Actors Studio, Rutgers, Syracuse, and Purchase College Conservatory. In her teaching, Robin focuses on freedom of breath, body and self expression. She trains actors to always acknowledge and honor their cultural heritage.

Kate Udall is a visiting professor at UNCSA's school of Drama where she is teaching voice. She has worked in many regional theatre productions around the country and performed in several off Broadway shows. On screen she has appeared in Blue Bloods, Law & Order, and had a recurring role on Daredevil.

Both have studied voice under Kristin Linklater who states, "If you’re holding your breath in any way, part of you is absent."

If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/

Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle

Twitter @TarmeyDanielle

Find out more about Actors Group: https://www.actorsgroup.net/

Connect with Robin Christian McNair:

https://www.uncsa.edu/faculty-staff/robin-christian-mcnair.aspx

on IG at: @profrobinjo

Connect with Kate Udall:

http://www.kateudall.com/

Find out more about Kristin Linklater:

https://www.linklatervoice.com/linklater-voice/who-is-kristin-linklater

Resources for accent and dialect work:

International Dialects of English: https://www.dialectsarchive.com/

Paul Meier: https://www.paulmeier.com/

Gillian Lane-Plescia http://www.dialectresource.com/

Robin 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 College Conservatory. In her teaching, Robin focuses on freedom of breath, body and self expression.

Kate Udall is a visiting professor at UNCSA's school of Drama where she is teaching voice. She has worked in many regional theatre productions around the country and performed in several off Broadway shows. On screen she has appeared in Blue Bloods, Law & Order, and had a recurring role on Daredevil.

Both have studied voice under Kristin Linklater who states, "If you’re holding your breath in any way, part of you is absent."

If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/

Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle

Twitter @TarmeyDanielle

Find out more about Actors Group: https://www.actorsgroup.net/

Connect with Robin Christian McNair:

https://www.uncsa.edu/faculty-staff/robin-christian-mcnair.aspx

on IG at: @profrobinjo

Connect with Kate Udall:

http://www.kateudall.com/

Find out more about Kristin Linklater:

https://www.linklatervoice.com/linklater-voice/who-is-kristin-linklater

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 studio. Jim is also an instructor at the Actors Group studio, which is a training ground for film and television actors.

If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/

Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle

Find out more about Actors Group: https://www.actorsgroup.net/

Find out more about James Patrick Freetly : https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3172770/

http://www.actorsstudio22.com/Home.html

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 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 Restless, Army Wives, and One Tree Hill.

When he is not acting, he is an instructor at the Actors Group studio in Winston-Salem, which is a training ground for film and television actors.

If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/

Find out more about Burgess Jenkins: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420792/

Find out more about Actors Group: https://www.actorsgroup.net/

Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle

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 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 Restless, Army Wives, and One Tree Hill.

When he is not acting, he is an instructor at the Actors Group studio in Winston-Salem, a training ground for film and television actors.