Box Angeles

Acting teacher John Rosenfeld stops by the bungalow and discusses the mood of actors right now, his problem with audition classes, why he shifted his focus from acting to teaching, and more!

John's IMDb and Instagram @johnrosenfeldstudios.

00:00 - Introduction.
02:19 - John slates his name.
03:02 - Bald brotherhood.
07:18 - Dissappointment and finding the nuance in each student.
11:58 - The mood of students right now.
14:43 - Doing things in your control.
16:58 - John drives and loves sports.
19:58 - Does TV feel like homework.
21:15 - Audition classes.
29:53 - Online classes.
35:23 - John's actor and coach tree.
39:23 - Coaching famous people.
45:02 - Why John pivoted to teaching.
52:19 - Would John act today.
57:14 - How many students does John decline.
1:00:03 - Advice for co-star auditions.
1:02:36 - Who took a chance on John.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/335

John's first Box Angeles -- boxangeles.com/246

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Casting Director Robert Ulrich & producer Christine Russell stop by the bungalow and discuss their new musical The Civility of Albert Cashier, why it's so relevant today, and more!

Robert's IMDb and Instagram @rj.ulrich.
Christine's IMDB and Instagram @christinerussell2033.

Get your tickets to The Civility of Albert Cashier at the Colony Theatre in Burbank Aug 31 - Sept 22.

00:00 - Introduction.
02:24 - Christine slates her name.
02:50 - Representing composers as an agent.
05:08 - Why The Civility of Albert Cashier now.
09:37 - Do people know the Albert Cashier story.
10:30 - The long journey to get it on stage.
12:09 - Why such a limited engagement and Broadway aspirations.
14:17 - Syncing up with Robert.
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15:52 - Robert slates his name.
17:10 - How Robert got involved with The Civility of Albert Cashier.
20:45 - The excitement for this musical.
21:18 - More producing in the future.
22:17 - Why The Civility of Albert Cashier now.
24:23 - Inviting celebrities to the show.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/334

Robert's first Box Angeles -- boxangeles.com/328

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Yoga instructor Stephanie Kato stops by the bungalow and discusses how yoga translates to the real world, how she sequences her classes, the decision to walk away from acting, and more!

Steph's IMDb and Instagram @stephkato_.

00:00 - Introduction.
02:14 - Steph slates her name.
03:38 - Yoga for actors and mindfulness.
06:54 - Yoga translating to the real world.
08:30 - Studying in Bali.
13:27 - Using storytelling to guide class and "peak pose".
16:15 - Using both Sanskrit and English.
17:10 - Economics of Yoga.
18:34 - How Steph choregraphs her sequences with writing, drawing and playing.
25:52 - Rituals and time manangement.
28:33 - Memorizing sequences.
31:00 - Hecklers in class.
34:03 - How much does Steph practice yoga.
37:03 - Describing yoga.
38:15 - What is the point of Shavasana.
43:37 - Stephisms and being proud of students.
46:19 - Pet peeves for class.
49:34 - Steph acting as a young child in LA while living in Tuscon.
53:02 - Moving to LA as an adult but struggling with day jobs and limiting beliefs.
58:18 - Being content with the decision to walk away.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/333

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Actor Sara Tomko stops by the bungalow and discusses the long journey of Resident Alien, the importance of working day jobs, finding success later in life, and more!

Sara's IMDb and Instagram @saratomko19.

00:00 - Introduction.
02:25 - Sara slates her name.
03:20 - The ups and downs of Resident Alien.
06:32 - Never being comfortable even after "getting the one".
13:55 - Residuals versus smaller audience from a cable network.
15:34 - Day jobs.
20:24 - Finding success later in life.
25:15 - Sara's audition growth and trajectory.
29:35 - How much is Sara auditioning now.
36:12 - Self tapes.
40:32 - How to handle and stay creative in the down times.
49:40 - Time mamanagement.
57:02 - Who took a chance on Sara.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/332

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Director Jason Winer stops by the bungalow and discusses starting out in improv, his overall deal with 20th Century Fox, actor networking, and more!

Jason's IMDb and Instagram @jasonwiner.

00:00 - Introduction.
01:58 - Jason slates his name.
02:10 - Directing a pregnant Julie Bowen in the Modern Family pilot.
04:32 - Dealing with unexpected situations as a director.
09:25 - The lack of new comedy television.
11:24 - Starting out in improv comedy at iO Chicago.
15:10 - Studying performance at Northwestern.
17:16 - Surviving in LA as an actor partly via selling MTV the show The Blame Game.
20:15 - Transitioning from in front of the camera to behind it.
28:50 - Working with or against perfectionism.
32:25 - How does improv background effect directing.
35:00 - Getting a meeting about Modern Family.
37:40 - Editing improvised scenes.
40:27 - Jason's overall deal with 20th Century Fox.
44:49 - Eric Andre needs to act more.
45:43 - How involved is Jason in casting.
51:00 - Finding new talent on crews like producers, casting, costume, etc.
54:44 - The prep a director does for an episode.
1:00:08 - Who took a chance on Jason.
1:01:26 - Keeping up relationships with directors and actor networking.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/331

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Casting director Jeff Greenberg stops by the bungalow and discusses how he got started in casting, how many people he auditioned for the leads of Modern Family, his opinions on self tapes, and more!

Jeff's IMDb and Instagram @jeffgreenbergcd.

00:00 - Introduction.
01:59 - Jeff slates his name.
04:53 - Did David Hyde Pierce crash the Frasier audition?
10:50 - The greatness of the show Frasier.
12:30 - Does Jeff watch the shows he casts.
15:28 - How Jeff shifted from acting to casting in the 80s.
19:56 - Getting the big break to cast Cheers in season 5.
24:18 - Working alone for Jeff's whole career.
27:02 - Ty Burrel being the hardest person to cast in Modern Family.
32:21 - Do notes from networks upset Jeff.
33:03 - How many people did Jeff read for the leads in Modern Family.
38:55 - The number Jeff auditions for leads verses submissions and salary involvement.
42:24 - Giving feedback to actors that you continually bring in to test.
44:28 - Does Jeff keep track of analytics in general.
49:23 - What does casting value the most in a new actor.
52:30 - Jeff's lists and stacks.
54:24 - Self tapes versus in-person auditions.
1:00:10 - Who took a chance on Jeff.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/330

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Acting teacher Lesly Kahn stops by the bungalow and discusses her approach to acting, how she can be perceived as intimidating, working on a scene with Mike, and more!

Lesly's IMDb and Instagram @leslykahn.

00:00 - Introduction.
01:49 - Lesly slates her name.
04:57 - Access to the breakdowns and asking for things.
07:53 - The business of acting class.
12:49 - Lesly's coaching tree.
14:50 - Starting out as an actor with multiple degrees and not knowing how to act.
17:10 - The key to acting is thinking.
21:00 - Working on a recent scene Mike auditioned for.
34:15 - Does Lesly view herself as a polarizing person.
38:00 - Coaching sessions for both self tape an in-person with Lesly.
49:25 - How actors should approach casting directors.
1:00:05 - Pretty faces that work that can't act.
1:02:42 - Lesly is not a fan of testimonials.
1:05:26 - Who took a chance on Lesly.
1:06:45 - We revisit the scene we worked on earlier.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/329

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Casting director Robert Ulrich stops by the bungalow and discusses the state of self tapes, working for a larger casting office, how he finds new talent, and more!

Robert's IMDb and Instagram @rj.ulrich.

00:00 - Introduction.
02:05 - Robert slates his name.
04:40 - Does casting consciously bring in the same people.
12:28 - Self tapes are here to stay.
18:23 - The benefits of working as a bigger office (Ulrich/Dawson/Kritzer Casting).
22:09 - How the work is divided at the office.
26:30 - How does new talent get in front of their office.
32:08 - There is no right way to approach acting.
38:00 - Robert's long journey from acting to casting.
48:43 - How Ulrich/Dawson/Kritzer organizes their staff.
50:21 - Mentoring and advice for the next generation of casting.
58:10 - Casting getting fired.
1:00:02 - Who took a chance on Robert.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/328

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

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Actor Stevie Nelson stops by the bungalow and discusses balancing careers with acting pursuits, seeking out opportunities to learn, agents watching self tapes, and more!

Stevie's IMDb and Instagram @iamstevienelson.

00:00 - Introduction.
02:01 - Stevie slates her name.
03:19 - The struggles of being a podcaster.
05:45 - Self tapes taking the fun out of auditions.
14:00 - Balancing careers with creative pursuits.
18:25 - Waiting everyone else out and sticking with it.
21:00 - What acting is in 2024.
26:22 - Continuing education as an actor.
31:37 - Making your own content.
33:00 - Podcast interview or coffee?
37:55 - How much did Stevie book last year.
39:21 - Doing way more in the audition than on set.
42:09 - Reps watching tapes.
48:38 - Stevie's experience with Crashletes.
54:20 - Who took a chance on Stevie.
56:20 - Maru.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/327

Stevie's first Box Angeles -- boxangeles.com/102

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

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Actor Mary Holland stops by the bungalow and discusses her improv team Wild Horses, getting writing repetition in during the pandemic, trying not to focus on things out of her control, and more!

Mary's IMDb and Instagram @maryhollandaise.

00:00 - Introduction.
01:54 - Mary slates her name.
03:35 - Wild Horses ending their improv run.
07:21 - How does Mary feel about improv currently.
10:47 - Thoughts on UCB selling.
14:57 - Livestreamed comedy shows.
17:35 - Paying improvisers.
19:27 - Navigating work stoppages.
22:28 - Mary's emphasis on writing.
24:37 - Budgeting time.
25:24 - Does Mary get more work through relationships or auditions.
27:27 - Self tapes.
34:45 - Being repped by CAA.
36:30 - How much Mary auditions and not thinking about it.
45:47 - The not knowing everything that reps are up to.
48:31 - Hobbies and getting away.
52:29 - Who took a chance on Mary?
54:00 - Finding trust in yourself.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/326

Mary's first Box Angeles -- boxangeles.com/037

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

Follow Box Angeles on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.