Actorcast

In the season 2 finale of Actorcast, I share my thoughts on how we, as actors, can overcome self-doubt. Self-doubt is a huge plague within the entertainment industry. It can be easy to negate our talents and all of our hard work when we aren't booking gigs or even getting auditions. But, so long as we are improving every day in our craft, then nothing will stop us from being the best actor we can be. It's all in the process.

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In episode 049 of Actorcast, we are joined by actor and comedian, Otter Lee. I love how much joy and humor Otter brings to this interview and I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation! We discuss Otter's career trajectory from studying multiple disciplines in school, to improv, then stand-up. We chat about the first Asian Comedy Festival that Otter helped produce, and Otter gives his insights into what actors can be doing to elevate their careers.

To learn more about Otter, please visit @otterleemoy and check out "Tooning Out the News"  on Paramount + and "Fairview" on Comedy Central.

Otter Lee (He/They) is a queer actor, writer, comedian, and VO artist that can currently be heard on Fairview, a new animated sitcom on Comedy Central. He also performed on Seasons 1 and 2 of Stephen Colbert Presents: Tooning Out the News, an Emmy-nominated political satire cartoon. Otter has performed stand-up, sketch, and improv at such venues as The PIT, The Squirrel Theatre at Caveat, The Knitting Factor, The Magnet, Flushing Town Hall, Buzzfeed, and UCB. Their projects and performances have been written in The New York Times, Time Out New York, AsianCrush,  Mediaite, and World Journal.

For episode 048 of Actorcast we are joined by Alicia Beekman, who is a youth talent agent at DDO Artists Agency. Alicia has an extensive background in the industry and I enjoyed speaking with her in-depth about the actor-agent relationship. We discuss the processes involved in being an agent to an actor, from signing talent, to pitching and negotiating deals. We also chat about what actors can do to best prepare themselves for representation.

You can learn more about Alicia and DDO Artists Agency by visiting https://ddoagency.com. Learn more about Alicia @aliciabeekman and @ddokids.

Alicia Beekman is an agent at DDO Artists Agency in Los Angeles. She started her career as an agent after a background in PR about a decade ago, focusing on Voiceover and Youth across the board representation. In 2019 she was brought onto the kids team at DDO in LA to head up their voiceover department and also represent youth and young adults theatrically in film and television. Alicia is extremely passionate about helping young actors find their way in this crazy business. Outside of work, you can most likely find Alicia travelling internationally, having been to 60 countries and always planning more.

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In this episode, we talk about the importance of being grateful for the work you get. As the world has slowly opened back up, being appreciative to all members of a production will go a long way. You will enjoy the process more and lay seeds for future projects. When you are grateful, through preparation, a good attitude, and showing respect, the production process becomes so much more enriching and enhances your work at the same time.

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I was thrilled to have Erica Hart on the Actorcast. She is an amazing casting director who has worked on a variety of different types of projects and I appreciated her succinct, actionable advice she provides throughout this episode. Erica and I discuss how she got into the world of casting, what the casting process looks like on her end of the table, as well as what she looks for in an audition. Erica also shares why she is a casting director and why this is work that is inspiring to her.
You can learn more about Erica and follow her work on Instagram @elove67.
Erica A. Hart, CSA (Casting Professional / Producer), graduated from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied film and television. She has been casting for over 10 years on many high-profile projects. She started off in network and studio casting moving her way up to Casting Coordinator in the New York Office of ABC Primetime Casting. In 2014, Erica appeared in The Hollywood Reporter as a featured rising artist. She has cast projects that have screened at the Tribeca Film Festival, SXSW, Outfest, Cinequest, and the Cannes Film Festival and are streaming on Netflix and Amazon. She has cast commercials for high-end brands such as Maybelline, Gillette, Hasbro, and Delta, to name a few. She has also collaborated with The National Black Theatre and has cast a handful of their productions.
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Jumpin Boogie Woogie by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Todd Lien and Jeffrey Liu are incredible artists who have worked together in telling relatable stories about immigrant families and their parents. I was so excited to have them on Actorcast to talk about their short film, "Always Come In Second," as well as the work they are doing with Todd's company, iStage Entertainment. We discuss the importance of AAPI representation in the entertainment industry, why actors should create their own work, and the advice that both Todd and Jeffrey have for young performers.
You can learn about all of the great work Todd and Jeffrey are up to by visiting https://www.istageentertainment.com and @istageentertainment.
Todd Lien is a SAG-AFTRA Taiwanese born actor & singer based in Los Angeles. Todd Lien is the CEO and Artistic Director of iStage Entertainment.Services, a platform and incubator for Asian-American youth pursuing an interest in entertainment. From screenwriters, filmmakers, actors and singers, iStage Entertainment is developing the next great AAPI artists and creatives, providing career guidance and confidence to navigate a changing industry. Todd is also known for the Viral coming out short film “Straight A” which received 4 million views.
Jeffrey Liu is a well-rounded 13-year-old bilingual young performer that has trained in hip hop dancing, ballroom dancing, pop singing, acting, drums, and piano for years. He has a few short film credits including "The Speech" and the current one where he co-produced and acted as the lead actor "Always Come In Second."
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Jumpin Boogie Woogie by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Penny Templeton returns to Actorcast, this time to talk about how actors can develop their artistry online. I really enjoyed my conversation with Penny and it was a nice continuation from her previous episode in season 1. We talk about how actors can improve upon their craft by learning online. We discuss how actors can develop in their craft in the online medium and we also discuss how actors can best prepare their careers in a post-pandemic world.

Learn more about Penny, her book Acting Lions, and her work at https://pennytempletonstudio.com. You can check out the studio's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PennyTempletonStudio. To learn more about The Drama Bookshop, please visit https://www.dramabookshop.com.

Ana will be portraying the role of Josephine Baker in the new off-Broadway Musical: Harmony: a true story of the Comedian Harmonists, six talented young men, who came together in 1920s Germany and took the world by storm with their signature blend of sophisticated close harmonies and uproarious stage antics. It’s directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner and Emmy-nominated Director Warren Carlyle at the Folksbeine National Yiddish Theatre. Music and lyrics by Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman. Opens April 14-May 8th with a possible extension until May 15th.

Purchase tickets at: https://nytf.org/harmony/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIn9iK2v7S9gIVja6GCh3lmgKLEAAYASAAEgKoQ_D_BwE

 Follow on Instagram at: @thecastofharmony 

Penny Templeton’s over 30 years of artistry is the culmination of four generations of theatre actresses. Although Penny was warned by her family not to go on the Stage, she embraced her legacy and began performing and studying under such masters as Paul Sorvino and Wynn Handman. Highlights of her career include starring in Joyce Carol Oates’ I Stand Before You Naked at the American Place Theatre, and as Paul Sorvino’s wife in All The King’s Men. She started teaching in the early 1990’s, and opened the Penny Templeton Studio in Manhattan in 1994. Ms. Templeton was selected by Columbia University’s School of the Arts to teach ‘Acting for the Camera’ to third year MFA students. Her book on the craft, business and art of acting, ACTING LIONS has been referred to as “The Actor’s Bible” and has received rave reviews in the industry. Her unique teaching methods and techniques have garnered awareness and recognition from the press as well as industry peers. Most recently the Wall Street Journal highlighted her On-Camera Teaching techniques in its article on the importance of Green Screen in today’s films. She has appeared on ABC News, as well as broadcast media outlets in the US, Great Britain, Canada & Australia as an expert commentator on the craft of Acting. Her articles on acting have been published in national magazines, and she was called upon to be a finalist Judge for the New York Film Festival, Emmys and Cable Ace Awards.Her directorial credits include the Off Broadway show, The Rise of Dorothy Hale, as well as the one man shows: F Train, Idiot’s Guide to Life and I Stand Before You Naked. She is featured in Ronald Rand’s acclaimed Acting Teachers of America, and Glenn Alterman’s book, Promoting Your Acting Career. Ms. Templeton works and Skypes regularly with actors in Theatre, Film and Television in New York City, Los Angeles, throughout the United States, and all over the world. She has recently produced her Facebook Live Stream series on the craft of acting, airing Wednesdays at 5pm EST on the Penny Templeton Studio Facebook page. Penny teaches her Master Class, Advanced on Camera and coaches actor on set, for theater, auditions. and coaches and records self-tape auditions.
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Jumpin Boogie Woogie by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Hank Schob is an incredible acting coach with so much insight. I was thrilled to have him back on Actorcast for our second season. In this episode, we specifically talk about the benefits that come with learning acting online instead of in a studio and why Hank believes this is the way of the future. We discuss the advantages that come with working in the Zoom medium and why it is so crucial for actors to learn in this format.
Please visit https://pennytempletonstudio.com to learn more. And check out Hank's last episode at https://www.actorcast.fm/14-hank-schob-acting-coach-at-penny-templeton-studio-qa/
As well as being Co-Owner, Hank Schob teaches Camera Technique, Green Screen and Private Coaching for Actors at Penny Templeton Studio. A graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Hank immediately began working on stage. His 50 years of theatre experience Off Broadway include the hit show Your Own Thing, Regional Theatre, and National Tours with stars such as Richard Gere in Awake and Sing, Jose Ferrer in Cyrano, and John Raitt in Shenandoah. He was nominated for a Carbonal Award in the Leading Actor category for his portrayal of Billy Flynn in Chicago. Mr. Schob has also been featured in the films Cadillac Man, Heading for Broadway and Fame. His TV credits include roles on All My Children, Ryan’s Hope, Kojak, and Law & Order. He has also appeared on Good Morning America as an expert commentator on Acting and has been casting director for the feature film The Paragon Cortex as well as for Off-Broadway and Summer Stock. He contributed chapters on Camera Technique to the book Acting Lions.
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Jumpin Boogie Woogie by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Kimberly Jago is a powerhouse within the entertainment industry, helping actors achieve their goals. I very much enjoyed my conversation with Kimberly because I could see her passion for actors shine through. I could tell how dedicate she is to helping actors like yourself thrive in this industry. We talked about the role of a talent manager, why actors must prepare like professional athletes, and some of the best ways that actors can improve their careers.
Be sure to follow Kimberly on social media @Kimberly_jago on Instagram, Twitter, and Clubhouse.
Kimberly Jago is a talent manager with G&G Talent and has represented actors in episodics, film and theater for over 15 years in NY and LA. Additionally, she is a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences within the Professional Representative peer group. For many years she was a board member of the Talent Managers Association where she co-produced the organization's past annual Heller Awards, as well as having the distinguished honor of being elected the first vice president, in the organization's 50+ year history.

Jumpin Boogie Woogie by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Eric Neal is at the forefront of the evolving theatre industry and I was so excited to have him on our show for the first episode of our second season of Actorcast. He was an incredible guest with a deep passion for helping the theatre industry during a difficult time. We had a great conversation chatting about:
- What is an NFT
- How emerging technologies can help the theatre industry
- How Third Act is paving the way for new, financial opportunities in theatre
You won't want to miss this conversation! Be sure to check out https://thirdact.digital and @_thirdact to stay up-to-date on all of the exciting happenings.
Eric Neal is a Tony-nominated producer and founder of Third Act: theatre's first NFT marketplace. Third Act formed in response to the disruption of the theatre and help the industry come back stronger than ever. Third Act helps fans own their favorite theatre moments through digital collectibles while helping shows recoup.
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