Actor Emily Pendergast stops by the bungalow and discusses struggling with self doubt, throwing a party for the first thing she booked only to be cut out of it, her audition for SNL, and more!

Emily's IMDb and Instagram @ependergast.

00:00 - Introduction.
02:40 - Emily slates her name.
03:30 - Emily reflects on where she is in her career.
07:50 - Wrestling with self doubt and ADHD.
13:43 - Getting cut out of the first thing Emily booked.
16:59 - Choosing simplicity and non-doing.
20:39 - Getting through momentum stoppages like the strike.
23:45 - How Emily views improv these days.
32:25 - What initially got Emily into performing.
36:39 - Auditioning for SNL.
45:47 - Odd jobs.
49:04 - What advice does Emily have for Mike.
52:00 - Rewatching self tapes.
54:33 - Putting a bow on auditions.
58:35 - Struggling with commercial auditions.
1:02:10 - Who took a chance on Emily.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/319

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Actor-writer Jacob Seidman stops by the bungalow and discusses creating short films, studying with a collaborative acting class, the value add of a writing partner, and more!

Jacob's IMDb and Instagram @jhseidman.

00:00 - Introduction.
02:00 - Jacob slates his name.
02:30 - How Jacob is feeling during the strike.
05:50 - How Jacob deals with momentum getting stopped.
10:35 - Being in an acting class (Studio 24/7) that is collaborative.
15:45 - Writing and producing short films.
20:30 - Submitting to film festivals.
23:45 - Stepping up the production in Fall to Fame and learning to be open to other voices.
32:00 - Advice for first time short filmmakers.
35:55 - Idea generation and writing approach.
39:30 - The value add of a writing partner and deadlines.
40:30 - Finding agents via LinkedIn with a video resume.
45:25 - The role of a literary agent.
47:20 - Time budgeting and stepping away.
55:55 - Who took a chance on Jacob.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/318

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Casting director Michelle Lewitt stops by the bungalow and discusses how she got her first job in casting from writing letters, how she thinks actors need to follow their gut, audition feedback, and more!

Michelle's IMDb.

00:00 - Introduction.
01:42 - Michelle slates her name.
03:55 - Actors playing with slates and accents.
06:40 - Attire and appearance in auditions.
08:30 - Following your gut to your authentic self.
11:15 - Purposefully dressing out of character to stand out.
14:00 - Actors self sabotaging and being in it for the wrong reasons.
18:50 - Growing up in Los Angeles and trying to be a basketball coach.
20:45 - Randomly wanting to be a casting director.
22:45 - Writing letters to casting directors and landing an unpaid job.
27:05 - Finding work after going out on her own.
30:40 - Finding new talent.
33:15 - Does Michelle watch auditions in their entirity.
35:35 - Breaking down the audition numbers.
43:40 - The many gates actors need to get through culminating at the producers.
46:25 - Giving audition feedback and wanting more of it as an actor.
57:55 - Casting directors being therapists.
1:00:58 - Does Michelle charge a certain minimum for projects.
1:02:20 - Who took a chance on Michelle.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/317

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Casting director Jessica Sherman stops by the bungalow and discusses the traditional way casting directors found work, feeling like a therapist for actors, exhaustion from trying to inact change, and more!

Jessica's IMDb and Instagram @jshermy.casting.

00:00 - Introduction.
03:15 - Jessica slates her name.
04:45 - The origins of Jess' Tipsy Casting podcast.
07:45 - Any concerns with sharing too much.
09:25 - Do actors get too friendly with outreach.
15:04 - The parralels of this industry to dating.
16:25 - Educating producers on finding new casting directors.
18:40 - The traditional way casting directors got work.
26:25 - Attempting going thru the Producer's Guild.
29:16 - The trades seemingly not caring about independent casting directors.
30:30 - Feeling pressure to leave the industry.
34:40 - Giving more feedback to actors.
43:05 - How casting can be therapists for actors.
47:50 - What agents do for casting directors.
51:25 - Writing breakdowns and Breaksdowns Express taking copyrights.
54:05 - Should actors have access to the breakdowns.
59:00 - Does Jess worrry about rocking the boat at all.
1:00:40 - Exhaustion coming from trying to inact changes.
1:02:22 - Has Jess ever had to have a day job.
1:04:47 - Who took a chance on Jess.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/316

Jessica's first Box Angeles -- boxangeles.com/258

Listen to Mike on Jessica's Tipsy Casting podcast.

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Casting Director Jenn Presser stops by the bungalow and discusses moving to London this year, educating producers on finding new casting professionals, the pools of talent in different markets, and more!

Jenn's IMDb and Instagram @breakawaycasting.

00:00 - Introduction.
02:29 - Jenn slates her name.
04:15 - Actors using slates and manicures.
07:05 - Taking a one way trip to London after considering leaving the business post pandemic.
15:25 - Deciding to move to London on a whim and all the legwork going into immigratiting.
19:20 - Did Jenn have any nervousness leaving behind years of work in LA.
23:15 - Casting directors being on "hold" for projects and payments.
29:17 - What an agent does for a casting director.
30:38 - Casting directors don't have a minimum fee.
33:25 - Legacy casting directors hoarding projects.
36:30 - Finding producers to network with.
38:50 - Jenn's thoughts on assistants doing the casting.
43:45 - How Jenn finds new talent.
46:30 - How Jenn approaches general meetings.
50:00 - Advice for co-star auditions.
54:05 - How much casting actually takes place in London.
57:30 - How big are the pools of talent in LA vs London vs Atlanta vs NYC.
1:02:55 - How many casting directors are in LA.
1:05:05 - Who took a chance on Jenn.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/315

Listen to Mike on Jenn's Tipsy Casting podcast.

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Actor Leah Knauer stops by the bungalow and discusses always doing new things, always saying yes, her advice for new actors, and more!

Leah's IMDb and Instagram @leahknauer.

00:00 - Introduction.
01:33 - Leah slates her name.
02:15 - Leah always pivoting and doing new things.
08:50 - Manifesting things, like tweeting at Kevin Smith.
12:30 - Struggle with productivity and relaxing and comparison.
16:30 - Time management and to-do lists.
20:45 - Acting at the age of 6 in Philadelphia amd going to a few colleges.
24:45 - How Leah got her reps.
30:00 - What's helped Leah handle the dark moments in LA.
35:25 - Navigating auditions.
37:00 - Staying level headed and not riding the highs / lows.
41:10 - Always saying yes to things.
43:10 - Pushing thru when momentum gets stifled.
46:05 - What Leah does to step away.
48:30 - When Leah hosted a live streaming dating show.
49:50 - Having mostly entertainment focused odd jobs.
51:45 - Leah's love of self submitting.
52:45 - The advantage of starting earlier.
57:35 - Leah's advice for new actors.
1:02:35 - Who took a chance on Leah.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/314

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Manager Desiree Middlebrook stops by the bungalow and discusses watching her clients auditions, her thoughts on self tapes, how much communication she likes to have with clients, and more!

Desiree's IMDb and Instagram @desireewiththewine.

00:00 - Introduction.
01:30 - Desiree slates her name.
03:05 - Watching and critiquing client auditions.
09:43 - Thoughts on coached auditions.
14:04 - Thoughts on self tapes.
17:30 - How Desiree started in casting before becoming a manager.
24:23 - What Desiree looks for in new clients.
29:00 - Do you want the same types on your roster.
33:00 - Differences between agents and managers.
37:00 - Should actors be submitted to co-stars once they are past that level.
39:20 - What makes you want to drop a client.
43:10 - How aware of the numbers is Desiree.
52:35 - How much communication with clients is ideal.
58:20 - Does Desiree ever visit actors on set.
59:10 - What actors don't know.
1:00:10 - Who took a chance on Desiree.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/313

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Writer Stephany Folsom stops by the bungalow and discusses her experience at film school, how she approaches rewrites, her script for Toy Story 4 grossing over a billion dollars, and more!

Stephany's IMDb and Instagram @stephfolsom.

00:00 - Introduction.
01:03 - Stephany slates her name.
02:00 - The writer's strike.
04:50 - Wanting to write from an early age including some dark stories.
07:30 - Loving watching movies at the cineplex.
09:07 - Moving to LA to attend film school at Loyola Marymount.
15:50 - Learning to recognize what is only an idea and not a full story.
20:30 - Advice for writer's block.
21:27 - Writing rituals.
25:13 - Does Stephany like being called a "writer".
26:37 - Doing coverage work as a PA, before switching to other odd jobs.
29:00 - Time budgeting and management.
32:25 - Things Stephany does to recharge.
34:15 - Joining a writer's group to help get momentum.
35:35 - Meeting a development exec at a party who got Stephany her manager.
36:52 - Getting a script on the black list.
40:15 - Surviving only off writing since her first paid gig.
41:35 - Advice for new writers.
43:23 - How to approach rewrites.
48:47 - Amount of work Stephany has generated versus her reps.
50:18 - Toy Story 4 grossed $1 billion.
52:42 - Writing a character for Keanu Reeves.
56:03 - Not realizing she was inerviewing for Toy Story 4.
59:40 - Has someone taken a chance on Stephany.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/312

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Comedian Carl Tart stops by the bungalow and discusses getting a manager from the CBS Diversity showcase, how improv is important for his mental health, being an introverted extrovert, and more!

Carl's IMDb and Instagram @dammitcarl.

00:00 - Introduction.
01:29 - Carl slates his name.
02:20 - What does Carl say he does. Actor? Writer? Comedian?
05:00 - Wanting to be a comedian despite being shy kid.
06:25 - Consuming as much comedy content as he could.
07:05 - Thinking athletics was the career choice rather than comedy.
10:40 - Moving to LA so Carl's mom could act.
12:20 - The first time Carl did improv in a casting workshop.
15:10 - Attending a year of college to play basketball before moving back to LA to pursue comedy.
17:50 - Doing open mics and then improv.
21:45 - Landing the CBS Diversity showcase and getting a manager from that.
26:00 - Landing a writing gig with MadTV.
28:20 - Having a day job as recent as 2016.
29:15 - A tough year at Boom Chicago in Amsterdam.
31:20 - Does Carl get typed for auditions given his stature.
35:30 - What's been the toughest period without work for Carl.
38:45 - How improv and podcasting is so good for Carl's mental health.
42:40 - Being an introverted, extrovert.
45:40 - Does Carl manage his time at all.
50:50 - Carl hates self tapes.
57:05 - Never booking a commercial.
1:01:15 - How much is a usual amount of auditions for Carl.
1:04:50 - The writer's strike.
1:05:20 - Who took a chance on Carl.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/311

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Writer Stephanie Allynne stops by the bungalow and discusses how she wrote a lot during the pandemic, her opinion on live streaming improv shows, not lettings the ups and downs effect how she feels about the industry, and more!

Stephanie's IMDb and Instagram @stephanieallynne.

00:00 - Introduction.
01:25 - Stephanie slates her name.
04:10 - Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld.
06:35 - How Stephanie handled her creativity during the pandemic.
12:24 - Focusing on the story, with grounded characters when writing.
14:07 - Thoughts on the UCB Theatre being sold.
17:25 - Wild Horses doing shows at other theaters around town.
19:50 - How Stephanie doesn't like live streaming shows.
23:35 - Being approached to do a Largo show.
24:25 - The doomed Wild Horses TV show.
26:07 - How Stephanie views herself as a writer / director first before an actor.
29:30 - Time budgeting and writing process.
37:50 - Succession spoilers.
39:58 - How much Stephanie auditions and her advice for them.
48:35 - How often does Stephanie cast someone different than what she wrote.
53:35 - Hobbies and ways to recharge.
55:50 - Not letting the highs and lows sway the view of show business.
59:05 - Stephanie's views on the WGA strike.
59:40 - Has anyone taken a chance on Stephanie.
1:05:42 - Sam Christensen's class.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/310

Stephanie's first Box Angeles -- boxangeles.com/033

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