Actor - and commercial session director - Jonathan Runyon (Modern Family, Mad Men) joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 352. Jonathan stops by the bungalow and discusses the economics of being a session director, auditon & callback advice, common things he notices actors doing (and not doing), what the true goal is for commercial actors, and more!

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BEATS--

00:00 - Jonathan slates his name.
00:11 - Introduction.
02:29 - Acting and working at 200 South La Brea.
03:11 - Slower commercially right now, but not for non union.
05:18 - Session director perspective on self tapes.
09:08 - Being a waiter dating back to studying at the Stella Adler Conservatory in NYC.
12:00 - The economics and schedule of session directing.
17:20 - How do you make acting work with session directing.
20:08 - Working with different offices.
22:35 - Getting a callback or audition for a session you're suppose to run.
26:36 - Giving personalized feedback / instructions in auditions.
31:47 - Actors that booking bringing themselves to the auditions.
33:59 - Naturally not being "grounded".
35:28 - Choosing the order auditions are submitted to highlight certain ones.
39:48 - Ideal time to audition in the session.
41:34 - Any patterns in auditions?
43:45 - Real time filtering happening in callbacks.
46:24 - How actors should enter a callback.
50:01 - Knowing who the director is at callbacks and a Philip Seymour Hoffman story.
52:56 - Self sabotaging actors.
57:25 - Are callbacks more stressful.
58:43 - Casting directors livestream of the room.
1:00:53 - Are callbacks the new goal for actors.
1:03:50 - There is a board with the list of auditions at 200 South La Brea (!!)
1:04:59 - Who took a chance on Jonathan.
1:06:37 - Surprised by who books things.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/352

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MORE JONATHAN RUNYON --
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Producer Alex McAtee (The Disaster Artist, Sausage Party) joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 351. Alex stops by the bungalow and discusses getting her start as a PA to becoming EVP at Point Grey, the struggles in development, navigating pitches, building trust with collaborators while making sure everyone is on the same page creatively, how The Studio hilariously toes the line between satire and celebration, and more!

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BEATS--

00:00 - Alex slates her name.
00:14 - Introduction.
02:00 - Emailing people you don't know.
05:27 - Was producing always the goal.
06:25 - Moving to LA to be a production assistant.
11:35 - Starting as an assistant at Point Grey Pictures right after they were founded.
17:07 - Differences between producing TV and film.
19:39 - The Studio both celebrating and lampooning the business.
22:23 - Every pitch is different and every meeting needs a purpose.
30:40 - Point Grey first look deals with Universal for film and Lionsgate for TV.
33:46 - "Executive Producer" definition.
36:11 - Other responsibilites; hearing pitches, being on set, etc.
39:40 - PGA credits.
41:37 - Relying on other people as a producer.
44:13 - The difficulty of making sure everyone is on the same page creatively.
46:27 - Self tapes.
50:37 - Harder to green light indie films lately due to talent deals.
53:12 - Optimism about the industry.
55:07 - Who took a chance on Alex.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/351

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MORE ALEX MCATEE --
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Director Tara Miele (Lessons in Chemistry, Arrow, The Rookie) joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 350. Tara stops by the bungalow and discusses her peers historically keeping to themselves, what she loves about filmmaking, her need to be the Tigger on set, how she approaches various levels of actors differently, and more!

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BEATS--

00:00 - Tara slates her name.
00:11 - Introduction.
02:12 - Tara loves podcasts.
04:50 - Directors historically being lone wolfs.
06:47 - Up and coming director groups.
08:25 - Young directors replacing old.
12:35 - The recent strikes, DGA versus others like the WGA.
19:07 - Double majoring in theatre and film at UC Santa Barbara.
21:54 - Getting an internship at Jodie Foster's production company.
26:09 - Work procurement and relationship with agents.
33:47 - Interview / pitch prep.
38:43 - Directors staying curious during filmmaking.
41:27 - Casting and audition tapes.
48:03 - Tone on set.
51:18 - Directing last two episodes of Lessons in Chemistry and staying true to source material / earlier episodes.
54:30 - Approach to various levels of actors.
59:03 - Firing actors.
1:01:15 - Who took a chance on Tara.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/350

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MORE TARA MIELE --
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Director Jocelyn Cooper joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 349. Jocelyn stops by the bungalow and discusses her unconventional path into the film industry, beginning with music video production, shares insights into directing, the importance of social media for creators, maintaining a positive, productive set environment, and more!

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BEATS--
00:00 - Jocelyn slates her name.
00:12 - Introduction.
02:00 - Sharing directing stories on TikTok.
05:06 - Surname Cooper meaning.
06:03 - Appendix removal.
07:25 - Studying film at Loyola Marymount.
09:52 - Working at a music video production company.
13:51 - Moving to the writing team.
19:32 - Having an analytical mind.
20:28 - Making a thesis film El Almuerzo.
25:15 - Moving from entry level and getting a chance to direct.
33:06 - Curating crews.
35:35 - Director's as lighthouses.
37:03 - Setting the tone on set.
38:58 - Actor pet peeves.
43:25 - Social media.
44:59 - How involved in casting process.
51:19 - Average gigs in a year.
53:18 - Embracing AI.
58:23 - Who took a chance on Jocelyn.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/349

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MORE JOCELYN COOPER --
Check Jocelyn's IMDb.
Follow Jocelyn on Instagram @jocecooper.
Follow Jocelyn on TikTok @jocecooperrr.
Check out her thesis film on her website.

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Casting Director Ryan Bernstein of RMB Casting joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 348. Ryan stops by the bungalow and discusses how it's hard to make a career in this business, callbacks being the goal for the actors, wanting to only do in person auditions at his office, how many submissions he is getting, and more!
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BEATS--
00:00 - Ryan slates his name.
00:10 - Introduction.
02:10 - Former actor and doing Chicago improv.
06:22 - Goals always changing and shift to casting.
10:18 - Never casting oneself in the work.
13:05 - Is a career possible with the corporate and talent dillution of the industry.
15:05 - AI's impact on casting.
17:45 - Vulture article, Casting Directors Can Win Oscars Now, But It's a Lost Art.
19:48 - Commercial side still busy.
24:40 - Mike's audition numbers at RMB Casting.
26:40 - Callbacks are the goal.
36:09 - Typically, how many actors are submitted and auditioned.
39:18 - Actors cancelling.
42:13 - Self tapes versus in-person auditions.
51:07 - Mike's recent audition specific numbers.
54:31 - Casting budget and audition line items in production.
56:52 - Celebs in commercials.
1:00:42 - "I don't wanna see the same thing all day".
1:04:35 - Who took a chance on Ryan.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/348

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MORE RYAN BERNSTEIN --
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Check out the RMB Casting website.

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Actor Jessy Hodges joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 347. Jessy stops by the bungalow and discusses the evolving landscape of auditioning, the importance of making your own stuff, whether or not we should be concerned about artificial intelligence, studying at Tisch in a program that emphasized body awareness, and more!

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BEATS--
00:00 - Jessy slates her name.
00:10 - Introduction.
00:52 - Podcasts and Odenkirk-Provissiero management.
03:01 - Conversations with actor reps.
05:40 - Callbacks.
06:48 - Audition volume and a spokesperson gig.
08:34 - Shifting away from commercials.
11:24 - Making your own short films.
17:21 - Using AI as actors.
23:34 - Audition coaching and self tapes.
29:20 - Standing out in auditions.
33:52 - Attending the Experimental Theatre Wing at Tisch School.
42:53 - How Jessy discovered NYU in high school.
47:25 - Being a series regular on a multi-cam in Indebted.
54:40 - Who took a chance on Jessy.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/347

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MORE JESSY HODGES --
Check Jessy's IMDb.
Follow Jessy on Instagram @jessyhodges.
Watch Jessy's short film Every Part of You.

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Actor Matt Jones stops by the bungalow and discusses his unwillingness to pay for self tapes, the state of television, never being happier personally, and more!

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BEATS --
00:00 - Matt slates his name.
00:22 - Introduction.
01:20 - Sneaking things into slates.
04:38 - Not wanting to pay for self tapes.
06:33 - Matt is a fan of the podcast clips.
11:25 - Matt's voice work and AI.
14:15 - Apple shows and the state of TV.
17:12 - Still having to audition.
21:58 - Gersh Agency and not needing validation.
24:38 - Coaching baseball.
27:01 - Walking away from the business.
28:55 - Never being happier personally.
30:35 - TV money not being what it was.
33:33 - Bob Hearts Abishola talent cost-reduction move.
38:45 - Should new actors be optimistic.
47:16 - Did Gersh try to sell Matt.
48:40 - Commercials.
51:03 - The math for cost of living in LA.
56:22 - Matt's soapbox.
59:24 - Who took a chance on Matt.
1:01:08 - Matt Jones XLVIII.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/346

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MORE MATT JONES --
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Matt's first Box Angeles -- boxangeles.com/092.

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Actor Adam Shapiro stops by the bungalow and discusses how he stands out in this industry by bending the rules, what he learned working as a casting assistant, his passion project turned side hustle Shappy Pretzel, and more!
 

Adam's IMDb and Instagram @shappyshaps.

00:00 - Introduction.
01:35 - Adam slates his name.
02:05 - How Jason Winer changed Adam's career.
09:25 - An Adam Shapiro type.
13:04 - Modulating voice.
16:21 - Adam's slate trick.
17:24 - Working as a casting assistant.
22:29 - Breaking rules.
26:13 - Carnegie Melon*, small resumes and demo reel commentary.
35:55 - Getting offered The Bear.
38:45 - Side hustles, passion projects and Schappy Pretzel.
50:06 - Shifting into a business and dividing time.
57:53 - A Kate Winslet SAG awards story and buying Leo's house.
1:03:22 - How the Oscars started buying pretzels
1:07:15 - Who took a chance on Adam.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/345

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Casting director Lindsay Bronson stops by the bungalow and discusses best practices when auditioning with kids, commonalities between people who book frequently, how new people can get seen, and more!

Lindsay's IMDb and Instagram @lindsaybronson.

00:00 - Introduction.
01:43 - Lindsay slates her name.
03:40 - Focusing on kid, beauty and real-people casting.
04:55 - Best practices auditioning with kids.
17:45 - Adult actors have a lot going on.
18:33 - Mike crying after an audition.
20:34 - Discussing Mike's recent self tapes for AHC Casting.
24:37 - General actor feedback.
26:44 - Slates and multiple takes.
31:25 - Group auditions.
33:23 - People that book frequently.
39:54 - How do new people get in front of casting.
44:31 - Pivoting from acting to casting.
48:55 - How they find casting help.
50:24 - What makes the best session directors.
53:21 - Monitoring casting sessions.
55:35 - What's going on in actor's lives.
57:44 - Last minute self tapes.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/344

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Actor Craig Cackowski stops by the bungalow and discusses improv post covid, the joy he gets from teaching, what roles he is currently going out for, and more!

Craig's IMDb and Instagram @ccackowski.

00:00 - Introduction.
01:30 - Craig slates his name.
02:22 - Improv hangouts.
08:46 - How Craig is handling post improv theatre closures.
17:47 - Day jobs.
20:36 - Joy teaching improv.
23:00 - Mike's half bits.
24:54 - Would Craig walk away from teaching.
26:53 - 70 episodes of Drunk History.
31:17 - Negotiating rates.
36:30 - Reflecting on Craig's career thus far.
39:56 - Craig's type.
43:06 - How does Craig step away.
47:43 - Audition numbers.
49:43 - Taking acting classes.
55:07 - Who took a chance on Craig.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/343

Craig's first Box Angeles -- boxangeles.com/013

Support Box Angeles (and access the audio archives) on Patreon.

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