Her Process

This week's chat is with comedy writer, Brandy Barber. Now, I don't know that "comedy writer" really says it all. Brandy has written for the hit TVLand sitcom Younger, Amy Poehler's Difficult People, MTV2's Girl Code, and much more. But her path to this place in her career has taken many twists and turns, from higher education, to performing on a Herald team at UCB New York,to directing and developing her own solo show, Bad Bride, which ran for nine months at UCB New York, and toured to iO West, UCB LA, Improv Boston, and even London. She produced and performed in a monthly downtown comedy variety show called The Kissing Booth, which played to sold out crowds during its two year run. She's acted in several award winning web series. She's had original essays published. She's written features for BUST, Glamour, Playgirl, and Time Out New York...I could keep going, but you get the point.

For Brandy, what started out as a desire to become an actor, led to many creative incarnations. And what I learned from Brandy's journey is that sometimes what you think you want isn't really what you need. You don't have to hang on to what isn't working. You don't need to make anyone happy, but yourself. And, the only person who should give you permission to do anything...is you.

For show notes, photos, and fun facts, please pop on over to herprocess.com.

This week on Her Process, I'm chatting with community artist, Lois Keller. Lois's journey as an artist has taken her from working on backdrops for the Cincinnati Opera, to working on murals with kids, to writing and illustrating a book for her daughters, to working on a portrait series that you just have to see to believe!

In this episode, Lois talks about the aforementioned portrait series, The Trader Joe's Feminist Bags. She touches on the importance of learning different artistic techniques so that you have the tools to express yourself, and the importance of creating your own space for making and finishing work. She talks about how her mom's battle with Alzheimer's affects her art, and how the roles of caregiver to her mom and her kids, have influenced and inspired pieces and projects. And, she tells us what it means to be a community artist.

Talking with Lois reminded me of why I started making art in the first place, way back when I was a little girl. I did it because I loved it. Because something inside me needed to do it. Because the doing and the making of art made me happy. It isn't really about the end result, or even where the art ends up. It's all about the good that art can do, and it's about the process. Thank you for the reminder, Lois.

For show notes, photos, and fun facts about Lois, hop on over to herprocess.com

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This week's chat is with actor/producer, Stephanie Thorpe. Stephanie knew that she wanted to act, write, and produce for as long as she can remember. Her love of creating characters and telling stories led her to act and produce on stage and on the screen. By remaining true to herself, and her eight year old Lord of The Rings and Dune reading self, Stephanie has been able to combine her passion for sci-fi and fantasy along with her love of acting and production, to create quite a stir in the new media community, and beyond. She has performed in over a dozen of Shakespeare's plays, has created over 150 episodes of original narrative content for the web, and has been a panelist/guest speaker more than 25 times at various conventions. If you ask me, that's a well rounded individual!

In this episode, Stephanie gives valuable audition tips, speaking as someone who's been on both sides of the auditioning process. She talks about the importance of social media for today's artists. We go back to her biggest influences in childhood and see how they've carried through today to land her as an influencer in both the geek and new media communities, by combining everything she loves.

For show notes, photos, and fun facts, hop on over to http://herprocess.com.

In this episode of Her Process, I'm chatting with writer and director, Sandra Payne. Sandra began her writing career working on Wishbone and Barney and Friends...yes, that Barney. She has written short films, award winning web series, and commercials.

Some fun facts about Sandra: When she lived in Indonesia, her family rescued a hornbill and he used to follow them around camp, honking for them. He was given to the Jakarta zoo when her parents left the country to move back to the United States. She is an Alaskan State Fair champion apple pie baker. When she was eleven, she won a purple ribbon! Sandra has been to six of the seven continents. She's got her eye on Antarctica to round out her collection. She's jumped out of an airplane. Twice. And, she is a tea aficionado. She's attended the World Tea Expo. Twice.

During our chat, we talk about Sandra's journey back to writing after losing confidence in her ability at a pretty pivotal age. We talk a bit about how, and why she entered into the world of directing. She shares what motivated her to finally write that novel. And, let me tell you, after hearing her talk about this, you're going to feel motivated to do that thing that you've been putting off, or waiting for the perfect time to start working on.

So, pour yourself a cup of tea (or coffee). Here is Sandra Payne.

For show notes and photos, please visit herprocess.com.

The last time we chatted (episode five), Heather said something that I just couldn't get off my mind. That something was that she went to college, got a job in the field in which she studied, and was sad. Something was missing. On the advice of a friend, Heather tried her hand at stand-up comedy, and eventually acting and improv. She found the thing that had been missing from her life. So, as an adult, Heather started over.

In this episode, Heather gives great advice for beginners of all ages. She tells some encouraging stories about things that happened along her path that let her know she was going in the right direction. I think it's important to note that things didn't fall into her lap, she was constantly studying and working so that when opportunity arose, she was prepared. Heather also talks about the truths of the process to becoming a working actor; she lays out what performers need to know about coming from a small market to a larger market. And we hear what it's like, as an adult, to take improv classes with eighteen year old kids who are just starting out in the industry.

I'm so grateful to Heather for coming back on the show and sharing her experience with us. There are so many people out there who don't make their passions their life's work. Most of us, probably. I hope Heather's story reaches at least one person who needs that bit of encouragement to get out there and shake things up.

For photos and show notes, please pop over to herprocess.com.

In this episode of Her Process, I'm chatting with actor, improviser, and comedian, Heather Horton. Heather started her stage career at the tender age of three, as a dancer. She continued to shine on stage as a comedian. That parlayed into a career as an actor and improviser.  Heather didn't always know she wanted to be an actor. In fact, there was quite a gap between her time on stage as a dancer and her time on stage as a comedian...and all the rest. More on that in a future episode, which as they say, is coming soon.

During this interview, Heather talks about how she came to the field of acting. We discuss the ever evolving improv schools here in Los Angeles. We talk about her love for stand-up comedy. And, Heather shares a story about why a recent national commercial she shot was pulled after just eleven days of being on air, and what that experience was like for her.

Heather is so funny and so down to earth. And, she is probably the most improv/sketch-knowledgeable person I've ever met. Talking with her really makes me want to dive back into improv class just so I can be as witty as she is. Give this episode a listen, and you'll hear what I mean.

This week's chat is with voice actor, Kay Bess. Kay has been in the voice over business since the 1990's, and when you listen to this episode you'll hear not just a beautiful voice, you'll also hear the grace, wisdom, and heart behind that voice which has kept Kay working in a profession she loves for over two decades.

In this episode of Her Process, Kay and I discuss what's behind the voices that book the work, different genres of voice acting, and how she feels about the fact that many areas of voice acting are still male dominated. We talk about the "up-speak" and "vocal fry" trends, about a very personal post she wrote on her blog, and how, in putting the truth out there, we are able to help one another not to feel so alone.

For show notes and photos, pop on over to www.herprocess.com.

In this episode, I have the good fortune to be able to chat with Chelsea Green. She currently lives in Cairo, Egypt, so it was a thrill to be able to snag a bit of her time during her visit home to Southern California.

In addition to performing as a soloist and a chamber musician, Chelsea teaches music history, introductory ethnomusicology, music theory, and guitar performance at the American University in Cairo. She also directs the AUC Guitar Ensemble.

During this interview we talk about the concept of 'play' vs 'practice', as we dive into Chelsea's paper, entitled Permission to Play:  Obstacles and Open Spaces in Music. She talks a bit about how she came to classical guitar, how she knows that the classical guitar is her instrument, and we get a glimpse into what guitar performance is like from the point of view of the musician. 

If you've ever experienced stagnation and procrastination in the practice of your craft, this episode will open up a way of thinking that will get you over that hump.

For show notes and photos, please visit www.herprocess.com.

Hosted by Jo Bozarth. 

In this episode of Her Process, I'm chatting with actor and producer, Tanya Ihnen. Tanya has a range of experience from performing on stage to working in the web space, where she's carved out quite a nice niche for herself.

In recent years it seems that if you want to work in the entertainment industry, you have to make your own work. If that's the case, then Tanya is ahead of the game.  She's been producing and acting in web series since, well...before most people really even knew what web series were!

In this interview, we talk about her acting career, her training, what it's like to work in the same business as the love of your life...and by same business, I mean what it's like to run a production company with this person, and have him as your director on set. And we talk about Tanya's love for the web space.

If you ever feel unmotivated and need a kick in the pants, this episode, with this do-it-all lady, is the one to listen to!

In Episode 1 of Her Process, I chat with award winning writer director, Tina Cesa Ward.  Tina, along with Susan Miller, won the first ever Writers Guild of America Award for Original New Media for her hit indie drama series "Anyone But Me". Tina gives us a little insight into how she's always writing, even when she's not writing. We talk about the different hats she wears on her web series productions, how she creates characters, and we discuss labels people find themselves saddled with in the entertainment industry. She also answers the question, "To improvise, or not to improvise?"