Offstage Acting

Todd Kramer and Jay Reum talk about all the news that's fit to print — and plenty that isn't.

With Academy Awards season officially underway and the Oscar nominations freshly announced, the boys dig into what awards season actually means for actors: career momentum, industry narratives, and the strange ripple effects that follow prestige recognition.

From there, the conversation moves into murkier waters. Todd and Jay unpack the growing push to regulate self-tapes, the exhaustion many actors feel around endless unpaid auditioning, and the increasingly heated debate surrounding online casting platforms — often referred to as the "tax on hope."

This episode is part industry news roundup, part actor reality check, and part honest vent session. It's about power, access, money, and the systems actors are expected to navigate quietly — even when those systems stop making sense.

Candid, informed, and unapologetically actor-focused, this one speaks directly to anyone trying to survive (and stay sane) in the modern acting business.

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 – Opening banter & setting the tone 03:40 – "All the news that's fit to print" (and what isn't) 07:15 – Oscar nominations land: first reactions 12:30 – What awards season actually means for actors 18:10 – Prestige, perception, and career narratives 24:00 – Who benefits from awards recognition — and who doesn't 29:40 – Shifting the conversation: self-tapes and unpaid labour 35:20 – The push to regulate self-taping 41:10 – Audition burnout and actor fatigue 47:00 – Online casting platforms under the microscope 52:45 – The "tax on hope" debate explained 58:30 – Paying to access opportunity: fair or flawed? 01:04:40 – Power dynamics actors rarely get to challenge 01:10:20 – Where unions, platforms, and actors collide 01:16:30 – What needs to change (and what probably won't) 01:22:10 – Final thoughts & industry reality check 01:27:40 – Wrap-up & closing remarks

🔗 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 #Oscars #AwardsSeason #SelfTapes #Casting #ActorLife #IndustryTalk #ToddKramer #JayReum #OffstageActing

Todd Kramer and Jay Reum sit down with the buoyantly lovely actor and voice artist Ina Marie Smith for a warm, honest conversation about craft, courage, and carving out a life in the industry.

Ina shares her journey from quiet beginnings in Missouri to building a career in big ol' Londontown, balancing life as an actor, a mother, and a boss. Along the way, she reflects on the risks she took, the moves that mattered, and the mindset shifts required to keep going — especially when the path isn't obvious or easy.

The conversation spans voice work, international relocation, self-belief, and the realities of building a sustainable acting career while juggling real life. It's thoughtful, funny, and deeply relatable — especially for actors navigating big transitions or reinventing themselves along the way.

A grounded, inspiring episode about growth, grit, and trusting your voice — in every sense of the word.

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 – Welcome & introducing Ina Marie Smith 03:45 – Growing up in Missouri and early creative instincts 08:30 – Discovering acting and finding her way in 13:40 – The decision to move abroad 18:50 – Landing in London: culture shock and opportunity 24:20 – Building a career from scratch in a new country 30:10 – Voice acting: finding a niche and a livelihood 36:45 – Motherhood, balance, and boundaries 42:30 – Running a business alongside acting 48:10 – Confidence, risk, and trusting your instincts 54:40 – The long game: sustainability over shortcuts 01:00:15 – Lessons learned along the way 01:06:30 – Advice for actors considering big life moves 01:12:50 – Final reflections & wrap-up

💬 Join the Conversation

Have you ever made a leap — creatively or geographically — that changed everything? Are you balancing acting with parenthood, business, or another life path? Drop a comment and join the conversation about courage, craft, and building a career on your own terms.

🎮 SELECTED CREDITS DISCUSSED

• Xenoblade Chronicles 3

• King's Bounty II

• Aether Gazer

• Jungle Beat: The Movie

• Arknights

• Another Eden: The Cat Beyond Time and Space

• Hitman 2

• Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire

• 50 Ways to Kill Your Lover

• Chaos Theory

🌐 Guest site: https://www.inamariesmith.com/

🔗 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 #WorkingActor #WomenInVO #InternationalActors #InaMarieSmith #ToddKramer #JayReum #OffstageActing

Todd Kramer and Jay Reum sit down with actor Nigel Barber to talk about something few performers ever achieve: a fifty-year career in acting — and still enjoying the work.

With credits spanning five decades, Nigel shares stories, lessons, and hard-earned perspective from a life lived inside the craft and profession. From major studio productions to cult projects and everything in between, this is a wide-ranging, generous conversation about longevity, adaptability, and what it really takes to stay working over the long haul.

Together, they explore how the industry has changed, what hasn't, and why curiosity, professionalism, and resilience matter more than trends or shortcuts. It's reflective, funny, grounded — and packed with insight for actors at any stage of their journey.

If you've ever wondered what a real acting career looks like over time, this episode is essential listening.

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 – Welcome & introducing Nigel Barber 03:30 – Fifty years in acting: how it all began 08:20 – Early training, influences, and first breaks 14:10 – Building a career before the modern industry 20:45 – Longevity, consistency, and staying employable 27:30 – Adapting as the industry changes 34:40 – Big productions vs smaller projects 41:10 – Lessons learned the hard way 47:50 – Professionalism, reputation, and trust 54:30 – What younger actors misunderstand about careers 01:01:20 – Craft vs career: finding balance 01:08:10 – Looking back without nostalgia 01:14:40 – Why acting still matters 01:21:00 – Advice for actors thinking long-term 01:27:30 – Final reflections & wrap-up

🎬 SELECTED CREDITS DISCUSSED

• The Crown

• 007 – Spectre

• Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation

• Hatfields & McCoys

• You, Me and the Apocalypse

• Baywatch

• Partisan

• Roboshark

• Firequake

• 50 Ways to Kill Your Lover

• Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix

🔗 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 #CareerLongevity #FilmAndTV #NigelBarber #ToddKramer #JayReum #OffstageActing

In this early Bonusode of Offstage Acting, host Todd Kramer and his sidekick Jay Reum go full behind-the-scenes — literally. Jay's moving flats in London, setting up a new home studio, and Todd's... questioning his last name pronunciation. 📦🎤 They dive into how actors can build solid home recording setups without breaking the bank — with tips on acoustic treatment, mic upgrades, interface options, and finding peace in the chaos. There's laughter, a bit of tech talk, and a whole lot of real actor energy. This is what happens when two performers hit record with no script, no guest, and no clear ending — but a lot of heart.

🎭 What You'll Hear

Home studio setup tips for voiceover work The reality of moving as a working actor Budget gear upgrades vs. pro equipment Todd vs. Jay: Who actually knows Jay's surname?

💬 Join the Conversation

Setting up your own VO booth? Need tech tips or just a place to vent about room tone? Drop your setup questions, gear recs, or actor gripes in the comments below!

🔗 Connect & Follow Offstage Acting

Website: https://www.offstageacting.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offstageacting

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offstageacting

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/offstageacting

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/offstageacting

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/OffstageActing

Todd Kramer

Website: https://www.toddkramer.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/toddkramer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetoddkramer

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/thetoddkramer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheToddKramer

IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0469687

Jay Reum

Website: https://www.jayreum.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abrandnewjay

Twitter: https://twitter.com/abrandnewjay

IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6935268

📌 Hashtags #acting #actingpodcast #actor #actors #act #actorslife #ToddKramer #JayReum #OffstageActing #VoiceOverStudio #HomeStudioSetup #VOgear #SoundBoothLife #PodcastForActors #RecordingStudioTips

Every podcast has a beginning — and this one starts with technical hiccups, uncertainty, and a healthy dose of churlish giggling.

In their pilot episode, Todd Kramer and Jay Reum hit record for the first time and immediately discover that starting a podcast is… an adventure. Mics misbehave, plans wobble, and expectations get adjusted on the fly — but before long, the boys pull out of the nosedive and settle into what will become the heart of The Offstage Acting Podcast.

What follows is nearly a full hour of honest, playful, actor-to-actor conversation about acting, the business, the mindset, and why this craft continues to pull people in — whether you're a working professional, an aspiring performer, or someone simply curious about what it really means to "get acting."

This episode sets the tone: imperfect, unpretentious, curious, and grounded in real experience. No gurus. No gatekeeping. Just two working actors opening the door and inviting you in.

Welcome to Offstage Acting.

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 – The pilot begins… and immediately goes sideways 03:10 – Technical chaos, nerves, and uncontrollable giggling 07:20 – "Are we really doing this?" — committing mid-mess 11:45 – Finding the rhythm and settling into conversation 16:30 – Why Offstage Acting exists in the first place 22:10 – Acting podcasts we wish already existed 27:40 – The gap between training and the real world 33:15 – Early career myths actors still believe 38:50 – What nobody warned us about the business 45:10 – Embarrassing lessons learned the hard way 51:30 – Why "getting acting" means more than booking jobs 58:20 – Confidence, fear, and showing up anyway 01:05:40 – Why comparison kills actors faster than rejection 01:13:10 – Creative ambition vs paying the bills 01:20:30 – Staying sane, curious, and in the game 01:28:00 – What this podcast won't pretend to be 01:33:50 – Setting intentions for future episodes 01:38:10 – Closing thoughts & first-flight reflections

🔗 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 #PodcastPilot #WorkingActors #ActorMindset #ToddKramer #JayReum #OffstageActing