Offstage Acting

Todd Kramer and Jay Reum sit down with John Guerrasio, a veteran actor with nearly 50 years of experience working, training, and teaching the craft.

Born and bred in New York, John followed a job to England and ended up staying for over 30 years, where he more or less cornered the market on playing wiseguys — bringing grit, specificity, and authenticity to stage and screen. These days, he calls Northwest Tennessee home, but at 74 years young, John is still very much in the game: acting, teaching, and passing on hard-earned knowledge to the next generation.

This is a conversation about longevity, discipline, and what it actually takes to stay working over decades — not hype, not shortcuts, just craft, consistency, and character. If you want the real deal from a real working actor… fuggedaboutit. This guy is the real deal.

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 – Welcome & introducing John Guerrasio 04:10 – Nearly 50 years in the business 09:30 – Early training and New York roots 15:20 – Chasing work and landing in England 21:40 – Becoming "the wiseguy guy" 28:10 – Working consistently over decades 34:30 – Craft vs trend 40:50 – Teaching actors what actually matters 47:20 – Discipline, preparation, and humility 53:40 – Aging in the industry (and staying sharp) 59:50 – Moving to Tennessee 01:05:30 – Why the work never really ends 01:11:40 – Advice for actors who want longevity 01:18:10 – What separates pros from hopefuls 01:24:00 – Final thoughts & wrap-up

💬 Join the Conversation

What does a long acting career mean to you — fame, fulfillment, or simply staying in the game? Who are the working actors you admire most? Drop a comment and let's talk longevity, grit, and craft.

🔗 CONNECT & FOLLOW

🎧 Podcast & more: https://offstageacting.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/offstageacting ❌ X: https://x.com/OffstageActing 📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/offstageacting 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@offstageacting 🌐 Todd's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/toddkramer 🌐 Jay's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jayreum

#️⃣ HASHTAGS

#acting #actingpodcast #actor #actors #actorslife #WorkingActor #ActorTraining #Longevity #ActingTeacher #JohnGuerrasio #ToddKramer #JayReum #OffstageActing

Todd Kramer and Jay Reum sit down with Amanda Perryment — a former professional child actor turned agent, whose lived experience on both sides of the industry gives her a rare and invaluable perspective.

Amanda began her journey at stage school, working professionally as a child actor before going on to build an extensive career across theatre, television, and well over 100 commercials as an adult. All of this took place during an era when women in the industry had far fewer protections and rights than they do today — making survival, let alone success, anything but easy.

For nearly 15 years, Amanda has represented actors, bringing with her the empathy, insight, and hard-earned knowledge that only comes from having done the job herself. That experience is precisely what elevates her as an agent — and why she's become a trusted advocate for her clients, including Todd himself.

This episode dives into the realities of growing up in the business, the transition from actor to agent, and what performers should really look for in representation. Honest, nuanced, and deeply actor-first, it's a conversation about trust, resilience, and protecting artists in an industry that doesn't always do that for them.

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 – Welcome & introducing Amanda Perryment 03:30 – Stage school and early professional work 08:20 – Life as a child actor 13:50 – Transitioning into adult roles 19:40 – Theatre, television, and a mountain of commercials 25:30 – Working in an era with fewer protections for women 31:10 – Burnout, boundaries, and survival 36:50 – The shift from actor to agent 42:30 – Why lived experience matters in representation 48:10 – Advocating for actors behind the scenes 53:50 – What actors misunderstand about agents 59:20 – Trust, communication, and long-term careers 01:05:10 – Advice for actors seeking representation 01:11:00 – Lessons Amanda wishes she'd known earlier 01:16:40 – Final thoughts & wrap-up

💬 Join the Conversation

Have you ever felt truly seen by your agent — or completely misunderstood? What do you value most in representation? Drop a comment and let's talk trust, advocacy, and what actors really need from the people representing them.

🔗 CONNECT & FOLLOW

🎧 Podcast & more: https://offstageacting.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/offstageacting ❌ X: https://x.com/OffstageActing 📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/offstageacting 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@offstageacting 🌐 Todd's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/toddkramer 🌐 Jay's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jayreum

#️⃣ HASHTAGS

#acting #actingpodcast #actor #actors #actorslife #ActorsAgent #Representation #WorkingActor #WomenInActing #IndustryInsights #AmandaPerryment #ToddKramer #JayReum #OffstageActing

In this episode, Todd Kramer and Jay Reum dig into the foundations of acting training — where it came from, how it developed, and why it still matters today.

The boys trace the roots of modern acting methods back to Eastern Europe and Russia, unpacking the ideas of the early methodologists, creators, practitioners, and students who shaped how actors train, rehearse, and perform. From structured systems to lived practice, they explore how these approaches evolved — and how they continue to influence performance across stage and screen.

Not every actor identifies as a "method actor," but most have been exposed to traditional acting methodologies at some point along the way. And for good reason: talent alone isn't enough to sustain a professional career. Craft matters. Training matters. Understanding why you do what you do matters.

This bonusode is a clear, accessible primer on acting methods and Method Acting — cutting through confusion, myth, and buzzwords to focus on what actually serves the work.

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 – Bonusode setup & why methods matter 03:30 – Talent vs training: clearing the confusion 08:20 – Where acting methods began 13:40 – Eastern Europe and Russian foundations 19:10 – The early methodologists and their goals 24:40 – From system to practice 30:10 – What "Method Acting" actually means 35:50 – Common misconceptions about the Method 41:20 – Technique vs psychology 46:50 – How methods shape modern performance 52:30 – When methods help — and when they don't 58:10 – Actors who reject methodology (and why) 01:03:40 – Finding what works for you 01:09:10 – Training as a lifelong process 01:14:30 – Final thoughts & wrap-up

💬 Join the Conversation

Did you train in a specific acting method — or avoid them altogether? How has formal training shaped (or complicated) your work? Drop a comment and let's talk craft, discipline, and finding your own approach.

🔗 CONNECT & FOLLOW

🎧 Podcast & more: https://offstageacting.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/offstageacting ❌ X: https://x.com/OffstageActing 📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/offstageacting 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@offstageacting 🌐 Todd's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/toddkramer 🌐 Jay's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jayreum

#️⃣ HASHTAGS

#acting #actingpodcast #actor #actors #actorslife #ActorTraining #MethodActing #ActingMethods #CraftOfActing #Bonusode #ToddKramer #JayReum #OffstageActing

loha! Todd Kramer and Jay Reum welcome Mark Beltzman, an OG improviser with over 40 years of experience on stage and screen, joining the boys from his sofa in paradise — Hawaii.

Mark's career has been shaped by a deep commitment to improvisation, presence, and what he calls the art of "allowing" — not just in acting, but in life. In this wide-ranging and reflective conversation, he shares stories from decades in the craft, insights earned the hard way, and a philosophy that cuts through technique and lands squarely in truth.

Together, Todd, Jay, and Mark explore improvisation as more than a skillset — as a mindset, a discipline, and a way of meeting the unknown without force or fear. The result is a thoughtful, often funny, and quietly profound discussion about trust, timing, and staying open — both onstage and off.

This episode is part acting conversation, part life lesson, and a reminder that sometimes the deepest work comes from learning when to stop pushing and start listening.

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 – Aloha greetings & introducing Mark Beltzman 03:40 – Forty years in improvisation 08:30 – Early influences and discovering improv 13:50 – What "allowing" really means 19:10 – Improvisation as a life practice 24:40 – Letting go of control onstage 30:10 – Presence, listening, and trust 35:50 – Mistakes, freedom, and play 41:20 – Teaching, learning, and staying curious 46:50 – Acting technique vs lived experience 52:30 – Life lessons earned through improv 58:10 – Why Hawaii became home 01:03:40 – Slowing down without stopping 01:09:10 – Advice for actors forcing outcomes 01:14:30 – Final reflections & wrap-up

💬 Join the Conversation

Have you experienced a moment in acting — or life — where letting go changed everything? How do you practice presence and trust in your work? Drop a comment and let's talk about allowing, listening, and staying open.

🔗 CONNECT & FOLLOW

🎧 Podcast & more: https://offstageacting.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/offstageacting ❌ X: https://x.com/OffstageActing 📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/offstageacting 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@offstageacting 🌐 Todd's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/toddkramer 🌐 Jay's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jayreum

#️⃣ HASHTAGS

#acting #actingpodcast #actor #actors #actorslife #Improv #Improvisation #ActorTraining #Presence #Allowing #MarkBeltzman #ToddKramer #JayReum #OffstageActing

Todd Kramer and Jay Reum sit down with Joseph Balderrama — also known as Pepe — a versatile, Americanized Mexican actor who grew up in Mexico City, Boston, and England, and whose global upbringing shaped both his identity and his approach to the craft.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Pepe talks candidly about navigating early casting hurdles (including a funny and revealing name-change moment), audition anxiety, and the realities of staying afloat as a working actor. From voiceover gigs to on-set utility roles, he shares the practical mindset shifts that helped him let go of outcomes and stay focused on longevity rather than short-term wins.

The episode also touches on a recent career milestone — Pepe's role as a pit crew engineer in the upcoming F1 film starring Brad Pitt — offering a glimpse into how steady, consistent work quietly builds momentum over time.

Grounded, thoughtful, and refreshingly honest, this is an episode about range, resilience, and finding solutions when the industry doesn't hand you any.

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 – Welcome & introducing Joseph "Pepe" Balderrama 03:40 – Growing up across cultures: Mexico, Boston, England 08:30 – Identity, accents, and early casting confusion 13:50 – The name-change story (and why it mattered) 19:10 – Audition anxiety and learning to let go 24:40 – What "being a working actor" actually looks like 30:20 – Voiceover work, utility roles, and staying flexible 36:00 – Managing expectations vs building longevity 41:40 – The mindset shift that changed everything 47:10 – Career momentum and quiet wins 52:30 – Behind the scenes of the upcoming F1 film 58:10 – What consistency really buys you 01:03:40 – Advice for actors feeling stuck 01:09:10 – Staying in the game long-term 01:14:30 – Final thoughts & wrap-up

💬 Join the Conversation

Have you ever felt boxed in by your name, background, or accent? How do you handle audition anxiety or the pressure to "break through"? Drop a comment and let's talk honesty, resilience, and staying power.

🎬 SELECTED CREDITS DISCUSSED

• Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan

• The Batman

• Ancient Empires

• Tad the Lost Explorer and the Emerald Tablet

• Dolittle

• Stan & Ollie

• Under the Boardwalk

• Helldivers II

• The Makery

• Superfuse

🔗 CONNECT & FOLLOW

🎧 Podcast & more: https://offstageacting.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/offstageacting ❌ X: https://x.com/OffstageActing 📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/offstageacting 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@offstageacting 🌐 Todd's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/toddkramer 🌐 Jay's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jayreum

#️⃣ HASHTAGS

#acting #actingpodcast #actor #actors #actorslife #WorkingActor #VoiceOver #Auditions #ActorMindset #JosephBalderrama #ToddKramer #JayReum #OffstageActing

⚠️ CONTENT ADVISORY

This episode contains discussion of sexual abuse and misconduct perpetrated by a person in a position of power. Listener discretion is advised.

___________________________________________________

Jay Reum sits in with two old pals, Todd Kramer and actor Mark Cirillo, for a raw, unfiltered conversation about their shared university experience as young theatre students in the early 1990s.

This is not a nostalgic trip down memory lane. It's a bold, honest reckoning with the good, the bad, and the deeply uncomfortable truths of an era when power imbalances were rarely questioned, boundaries were poorly defined, and harmful behaviour was often ignored or normalised.

Together, Todd, Mark, and Jay lay themselves bare — revisiting formative years shaped by ambition, confusion, silence, and survival. They speak candidly about misconduct, complicity, and the long shadow those experiences can cast over a life and career, while also reflecting on growth, accountability, and the importance of finally telling the truth.

This is a difficult but necessary episode — one rooted in vulnerability, responsibility, and the belief that speaking openly is part of how the industry (and the people in it) move forward.

Brace yourselves.

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 – Content advisory & setting intentions 04:30 – Reuniting with Mark Cirillo 09:10 – Theatre school in the early '90s 15:40 – Power dynamics and unchecked authority 22:30 – What was normalised back then 29:10 – Silence, fear, and survival 36:00 – The long-term impact of early experiences 43:20 – Complicity, guilt, and hindsight 50:10 – Why it took so long to speak 56:40 – Accountability and responsibility 01:03:30 – How the industry has changed (and hasn't) 01:10:20 – Speaking truth without spectacle 01:17:00 – Healing, perspective, and growth 01:23:30 – Why these conversations matter 01:29:40 – Final reflections & closing

💬 Join the Conversation

How do we reckon with the past without rewriting it? What responsibility do artists have to speak up — even decades later? If you're able, join the conversation with care, respect, and honesty.

🎬 SELECTED CREDITS DISCUSSED

• Wet Hot American Summer

• How to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse

• Those Who Can't

• Walk of Shame

• Grey's Anatomy

• Bullets

• Will & Grace

• How I Met Your Mother

• Greek

• Masters of Sex

🔗 CONNECT & FOLLOW

🎧 Podcast & more: https://offstageacting.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/offstageacting ❌ X: https://x.com/OffstageActing 📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/offstageacting 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@offstageacting 🌐 Todd's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/toddkramer 🌐 Jay's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jayreum

#️⃣ HASHTAGS

#acting #actingpodcast #actor #actors #actorslife #TheatreTraining #IndustryTruths #SpeakingOut #Accountability #MarkCirillo #ToddKramer #JayReum #OffstageActing

Look ma… we're interviewing an actor from an Academy Award–nominated film!

In this episode, Jay Reum and Todd Kramer sit down with actor and narrator Kate Handford, known for her performance in Poor Things — and for narrating over 100 audiobooks across a wide range of genres.

Kate brings a thoughtful, articulate, and refreshingly honest perspective to the conversation as the trio talk a lot about acting: craft, process, voice work, screen work, and what it really takes to sustain a creative career across multiple lanes. From working on a high-profile, awards-season film to the discipline and imagination required for long-form narration, this episode is packed with insight for actors at every stage.

Smart, generous, and deeply practical, this is one of those episodes where you might actually want a notebook handy.

Take notes, folks.

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 – Welcome & introducing Kate Handford 03:30 – "Look ma, an Oscar movie!" — Poor Things enters the chat 08:20 – Kate's path into acting 13:50 – Working on a major film production 19:40 – Craft on set vs craft in the booth 25:10 – The realities of audiobook narration 31:00 – Building stamina, focus, and consistency 36:40 – Voice acting as a long-term career lane 42:30 – Switching between mediums without losing your centre 48:10 – Process, preparation, and protecting the work 54:00 – What acting training really gives you 01:00:10 – Sustainability, balance, and longevity 01:06:20 – Advice for actors diversifying their careers 01:12:30 – What's next for Kate 01:17:40 – Final thoughts & wrap-up

💬 Join the Conversation

Are you juggling multiple acting lanes — screen, voice, stage, narration? What part of Kate's journey resonated most with you? Drop a comment and let's talk craft, versatility, and building a career that lasts.

🔗 CONNECT & FOLLOW

🎧 Podcast & more: https://offstageacting.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/offstageacting ❌ X: https://x.com/OffstageActing 📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/offstageacting 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@offstageacting 🌐 Todd's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/toddkramer 🌐 Jay's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jayreum

#️⃣ HASHTAGS

#acting #actingpodcast #actor #actors #actorslife #VoiceActing #Audiobooks #FilmActing #WorkingActor #KateHandford #PoorThings #ToddKramer #JayReum #OffstageActing

Todd Kramer and Jay Reum sit down with James Babson, a talented LA-based actor and longtime friend of Todd's, to look back on a formative chapter of their careers — cutting their teeth in Prague, Czech Republic, during a unique moment in international film production.

James and Todd reminisce about their time living and working in Central Europe, where trained actors could gain real, on-set experience fast — learning the craft not in theory, but in practice. From navigating language barriers and unfamiliar systems to landing roles and building confidence in a professional working environment, this episode is packed with up-and-coming actor anecdotes straight from the trenches.

It's a conversation about timing, geography, hustle, and the kind of early career experiences that quietly shape actors for life. Honest, funny, and reflective — this one captures what it's like to grow into the work before the industry grows around you.

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 – Welcome & introducing James Babson 03:10 – How Prague became part of the journey 08:00 – Leaving home and landing in the Czech Republic 13:20 – Learning the job by doing the job 18:40 – Working professionally before feeling "ready" 24:10 – Life as a foreign actor in Prague 29:30 – Auditions, sets, and early confidence boosts 35:00 – The value of real reps on real productions 40:30 – Actor friendships forged overseas 46:10 – What Prague taught them about the craft 51:40 – Transitioning back toward LA 57:20 – Carrying European experience into Hollywood 01:03:10 – Up-and-coming actor lessons that still apply 01:09:00 – What younger actors can learn from that era 01:14:30 – Looking back without rose-tinting 01:19:50 – Final reflections & wrap-up

💬 Join the Conversation

Did you get your early experience somewhere unexpected? Have you trained, worked, or hustled outside your home market? Drop a comment and let's talk about where actors really learn the job.

🔗 CONNECT & FOLLOW

🎧 Podcast & more: https://offstageacting.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/offstageacting ❌ X: https://x.com/OffstageActing 📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/offstageacting 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@offstageacting 🌐 Todd's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/toddkramer 🌐 Jay's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jayreum

#️⃣ HASHTAGS

#acting #actingpodcast #actor #actors #actorslife #WorkingActor #UpAndComingActor #Prague #LosAngeles #ActorJourney #JamesBabson #ToddKramer #JayReum #OffstageActing

Self-tapes, useful anecdotes, and hard-earned pro tips abound in this episode of Offstage Acting as Todd Kramer and Jay Reum continue the conversation started in Part 01.

In this Part 02 bonusode, the boys go deeper into the realities of auditioning in the modern industry — expanding on self-tapes, preparation, mindset, and the small but crucial details that can make (or break) an audition.

Drawing directly from their own experience as working actors, Todd and Jay share practical advice, cautionary tales, and real-world observations that don't usually make it into workshops or casting blogs. It's candid, actor-to-actor conversation — the kind you only get once you've been around the block a few times.

If Part 01 opened the door, this episode walks you further inside. Definitely not one to miss.

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 – Picking up where Part 01 left off 03:40 – Why self-tapes demand a different mindset 08:50 – Common mistakes actors keep repeating 14:30 – Anecdotes from the audition trenches 20:10 – Preparation vs over-preparation 25:45 – Technical choices that matter (and ones that don't) 31:20 – Performance first: what casting actually responds to 36:50 – Notes, silence, and reading between the lines 42:30 – Confidence, doubt, and staying sane 48:15 – Pro tips you only learn by doing 54:40 – Letting go once the tape is sent 01:00:20 – What actors should stop worrying about 01:06:10 – Consistency, volume, and long-term thinking 01:12:30 – Why this conversation still isn't over 01:18:00 – Wrapping up Part 02

💬 Join the Conversation

What's the best audition advice you've learned the hard way? Have self-tapes sharpened your craft — or just added pressure? Drop a comment and let's compare notes, mistakes, and survival strategies.

🔗 CONNECT & FOLLOW

🎧 Podcast & more: https://offstageacting.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/offstageacting ❌ X: https://x.com/OffstageActing 📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/offstageacting 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@offstageacting 🌐 Todd's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/toddkramer 🌐 Jay's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jayreum

#️⃣ HASHTAGS

#acting #actingpodcast #actor #actors #actorslife #SelfTapes #Auditions #Casting #ActorTips #WorkingActor #Bonusode #ToddKramer #JayReum #OffstageActing

Todd Kramer and Jay Reum dig deep into the practice, procedure, problems, and progress of modern casting — with a special focus on self-taping, auditions, and the realities actors face behind the scenes.

This two-part bonusode goes on… and on… and on (for good reason). In Part 01, the boys break down how casting actually works today, how self-tapes became the industry standard, and why so many actors feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or confused by the process.

Drawing on their own experience as working actors, Todd and Jay talk candidly about what helps, what hurts, what wastes time, and what actors should really be paying attention to when it comes to auditioning. No casting mythology. No motivational fluff. Just honest insight from the trenches.

If you're looking for real-world perspective on auditions, self-tapes, and navigating casting without losing your mind — you've come to the right place.

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 – Bonusode setup & why this became a two-parter 04:10 – How casting has changed over the years 09:30 – The rise of the self-tape 15:20 – Convenience vs cost: who self-tapes really serve 21:45 – Actor responsibility in the modern casting ecosystem 28:10 – Time, energy, and unpaid labour 34:40 – Why actors feel constantly "on" 41:00 – Audition volume vs actual opportunity 47:30 – The psychology of self-taping 54:10 – Preparation, pressure, and perfectionism 01:00:40 – What actors overthink (and what they shouldn't) 01:07:20 – Casting notes, silence, and the lack of feedback 01:13:50 – Rejection, resilience, and staying grounded 01:20:30 – Why this conversation isn't finished 01:25:10 – Setting up Part 02

💬 Join the Conversation

How do you really feel about self-taping? Has it helped your career, hurt it, or simply worn you down? Are auditions clearer now — or more confusing than ever? Drop a comment and let's talk honestly about casting, auditions, and what actors are being asked to give.

🔗 CONNECT & FOLLOW

🎧 Podcast & more: https://offstageacting.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/offstageacting ❌ X: https://x.com/OffstageActing 📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/offstageacting 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@offstageacting 🌐 Todd's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/toddkramer 🌐 Jay's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jayreum

#️⃣ HASHTAGS

#acting #actingpodcast #actor #actors #actorslife #SelfTapes #Auditions #Casting #WorkingActor #ActorMindset #Bonusode #ToddKramer #JayReum #OffstageActing