How do you end up with a script signed by John Travolta and Nicolas Cage? You cast the background actors for the blockbuster movie Face/Off. That’s the kind of work Vanessa Portillo does, and she has some amazing stories. 

Actors will learn a ton from how Vanessa breaks down how she works and how actors can keep leveling up. She also reminds us all how small the casting community is and that casting directors hear everything, so be on your best behavior!

Some of the things she touches on: 

• What it’s like to work with producers like David E. Kelley
• How she gets her info about what directors look for
• What it takes to become a background actor
• The hidden value of acting classes and table reads
• Stand-ins vs. photo doubles
• The school of set
• What it was like doing casting for the show Beef

Vanessa came to the studio with an incredible scrapbook with photos that captured her family’s history working on movies dating all the way back to the 1940s. You’ll see all that when this show premieres on YouTube soon. 

Her grandfather, Rafael Portillo, was a Mexican filmmaker (director and editor) based in Mexico and in the US who worked with legends like Bob Hope, Clark Gable and Ernest Borgnine. And her grandmother was a production manager on a number of movies. Her father, Ralph E. Portillo, was a filmmaker who directed and produced numerous feature films and television projects. It's safe to say the apple did not fall far from the tree.

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Vanessa Portillo | IG | Website

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How does a person go from wanting to attend law school to becoming a DGA Award winner? Well, 1st Assistant Director Nicole Burke realized she prefers giving directions over taking them, and inevitably she was thrust into a business she did not intend to be in.

But there are so many ways to navigate Hollywood and ultimately find what makes you both happy and successful.

Early on, a well-known and respected actor suggested Nicole read for a role on a TV series. Although she accepted the small recurring role, she was bored and had no desire to be an actress. So she transitioned to becoming a reluctant crew member.

However, it didn’t take long for her to realize being an Assistant Director was right up her alley. Getting into the “boys club” may not have been easy, but she did it her way and has worked on several major projects along the way, including 24, 9-1-1, American Horror Story, Dead to Me and Sportsnight.

Check out the episode and get answers to these fascinating questions:

• Who was one of her favorite A-list actors to work with? 
• What is the best project she’s ever worked on? 
• What TV scene took 7 months to prep? 
• What popular set did she visit that was instrumental in helping her AD a 5-camera TV series? 
• What show was she referring to when she said “the only way we are ever leaving this show is if we get fired?” 

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Nicole Burke | IG

THANKS FOR ROLLIN’ WITH OLAN!

Welcome to Rollin' With Olan, a unique look into the past, present and future of Hollywood. You'll find longtime casting director and filmmaker Jeff Olan in deep conversations with all kinds of successful people in entertainment to cover areas of the industry that aren't typically explored in detail. The goal of this show is to help everyone with a stake in entertainment navigate Hollywood in the best possible way.  Thanks for rollin' with Olan!