As actors, we sometimes feel like we’re at the centre of an entire film production but we need to remind ourselves that we’re there to bring a vision to life and that vision is the script. So on this episode of the Second Act Actors podcast, I’m talking to screenwriter Courtney Harrell about where her ideas come from and how she translates them into words.

Courtney lays out her journey and tells me how she got into writing. We dive into her ‘Snuggles and Horror’ genre and where she gets her inspiration from. Courtney gives a lot of practical advice about the discipline of writing, telling me her technique to avoid writers’ block. We also celebrate the journey of finding yourself and finding success in a creative profession, where too often we applaud the people who’ve made it without supporting them along their journey.   

If you’re looking for your place in the film industry and have the germ of an idea that you want to bring to life, this episode of Second Act Actors is for you. Listen all the way through to hear Courtney’s advice for aspiring writers and actors and make sure to rate and review the podcast to help other people to find it. 

Links

The Dark Rainbow website

Are you an emerging screenwriter who is struggling with your story? Contact Courtney at www.thedarkrainbow.com/editing to schedule a free 15 minute call and find out how she can help you complete your screenplay.

Second Act Actors website

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“You don’t get into acting because it’s cool”. Angie Hung is the latest guest on the Second Act Actors podcast and she’s here to get real about what it takes to thrive as an actor. Join us as we talk loving your craft, what representation really looks like and how the Spice Girls inspire us to live our best lives.

Angie tells me about her corporate life and how she rediscovered her love of acting. She walks me through her auditioning process and how she feels about rejection now. We get into a great, in-depth discussion on representation in acting and in the workplace in general and Angie shares her perspective as an Asian LGBTQ+ woman who wants to see a more equal world for everyone. Listen out for her well-reasoned arguments on whether gay and straight actors should play roles that don’t align with their sexual orientation, which might surprise you.

This is a thought-provoking conversation about what it means to succeed as a Second Act Actor and carry your love of acting throughout your life. If you’d like to get more Second Act Actors episodes in your life, subscribe to the podcast to access the full back catalogue and all upcoming episodes. 

Links

Actor Crush blog

Angie Hung on IMDb

Angie Hung on Instagram

Angie Hung on Twitter

Second Act Actors website

Second Act Actors on Instagram

Second Act Actors on Facebook

Second Act Actors on YouTube

Janet McMordie website

Janet McMordie on Instagram

Janet McMordie on LinkedIn

Janet McMordie on Twitter

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Neuroscientist, producer, sporadic hemiplegic migraine warrior, writer aaaaaaaand… actress! On this episode of the Second Act Actors podcast, I’m talking to one of the busiest and most interesting people I’ve met, Abby Tozer. 

Like many of us, Abby started her acting career when she was cast in a school production of Annie. She tells me about her pursuit of her love of acting and performing and how she balanced it around her demanding studies at Berkeley University. We talk about the conversations we have with our families about acting and how we explain our acting careers to our parents, who might be supportive but are still confused about what it means.  

If you’re someone with multiple interests across various fields, my interview with Abby has great tips for you about how to cope with FOMO and acknowledge your success before you move onto the next project. We also tie this discussion into the topic of acting techniques and Abby shares her thoughts on how she stays in character when her brain is constantly pulled in different directions. 

To get more discussions with interesting and successful actors right in your podcast feed, subscribe to the Second Act Actors podcast.

Links

Abby Tozer website

Abby Tozer on IMDb

Abby Tozer on Instagram

Abby Tozer on Twitter

Second Act Actors website

Second Act Actors on Instagram

Second Act Actors on Facebook

Second Act Actors on YouTube

Janet McMordie website

Janet McMordie on Instagram

Janet McMordie on LinkedIn

Janet McMordie on Twitter

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What’s it like to go from acting to casting? How does it feel to be in charge of deciding which actor to choose from an amazing round of auditions? Jesse Griffiths made the transition from acting to casting and is now a casting director at Jesse Griffiths Casting in Toronto. He tells me all about this journey on this fun, interesting episode of the Second Act Actors podcast. 

Jesse begins by explaining how he got into acting and gave up law school to pursue his dream. He then describes how he first started working in casting and why he eventually made the decision to leave acting behind to cast full-time. You’ll hear him describe a typical workday in his life as a casting director and learn what you can do as an actor to make the casting director’s job easier. Listen out for his advice for new actors who want to make an impression in their first auditions!  

Later in the episode, Jesse and I discuss diversity in casting. Jesse shares details about his monthly online workshop that opens up opportunities for BIPOC actors to connect with and learn from people in the industry. 

If Jesse’s beautiful final words of wisdom resonated with you, please help out the Second Act Actors podcast by subscribing and recommending it to an acting friend. 

Links

Jesse Griffiths Casting website

Second Act Actors website

Second Act Actors on Instagram

Second Act Actors on Facebook

Second Act Actors on YouTube

Janet McMordie website

Janet McMordie on Instagram

Janet McMordie on LinkedIn

Janet McMordie on Twitter

Episode sponsor:  

Shaw Insurance/Financial Services Inc

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Katie Prentiss’ personal saying is “Never say no for someone else”, and that’s what she had in mind when she sent off her first ever self-tape audition. She ended up booking a part in a film and has been hooked on acting ever since. In this episode of the Second Act Actors podcast, we cover her transition into acting, how it’s working around her job as a photographer and the importance of having great ‘soft skills’, whatever your job.

Katie and I compare and contrast photography and filmmaking and discuss whether you need to have innate talent to be able to construct a beautiful shot. She also tells me about her experience of coming out from behind the camera and how she’s learnt to portray emotions in a visible, public way. 

Listen out for our insightful discussion about dealing with the pressure of coming to acting later in life and how we’ve both come to terms with it. Katie has some inspiring advice at the end of the episode about overcoming your fears and taking a risk to follow your dreams which you’ll definitely want to hear!

To get more of the Second Act Actors podcast in your life, you can subscribe to the podcast or YouTube channel so that you never miss an episode. 

Links

Second Act Actors website

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Second Act Actors on YouTube

Janet McMordie website

Janet McMordie on Instagram

Janet McMordie on LinkedIn

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Kurt was drawn to acting by the sense of unity that it gave him. Since he caught the acting bug, he’s been in plays, on hit TV shows and in films and he’s taught acting too. In this episode of the Second Act Actors podcast, we talk about imposter syndrome, life experience, learning acting and Kurt’s exciting Artist 2 Artist project. 

Kurt uses his acting coach perspective to list some of the most important skills that you need to know in order to be successful as an actor. He gives a great reason why your self-tapes should never be 100% perfect and why you shouldn’t give yourself unlimited takes to try to nail your performance. 

We talk about the need to have feedback about the work you make and Kurt tells me the story behind his platform, Artist 2 Artist, and how it’s helping new actors to break into the industry. He also gives advice on other ways to up your skills as an actor and to make connections with the right people. 

This episode of the Second Act Actors podcast will give you a different perspective on the craft of acting and you’re bound to learn a lot. If you enjoyed it, then please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating or review. 

Links

Artist 2 Artist website

Second Act Actors website

Second Act Actors on Instagram

Second Act Actors on Facebook

Second Act Actors on YouTube

Janet McMordie website

Janet McMordie on Instagram

Janet McMordie on LinkedIn

Janet McMordie on Twitter

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“I love every day of my life”: Isn’t that the dream for many of us? Or all of us? On this episode of the Second Act Actors podcast, I talk with actress and supply teacher Alicia about teaching, acting, career advice and building a life that works for you. 

Alicia tells me about her childhood which was full of creative passions, and how that translated into graduating as a teacher. We discuss one of the most common dilemmas for aspiring actors and performers: Should you go for the risky career that you love, or the stable income that’s perhaps not always been your dream? Alicia tells me how she balanced it all out and what she thinks of her career now. 

Later in the episode, Alicia and I talk about the problems of body image and self-esteem for actors and how age helps us to be more resilient about rejection and criticism. Alicia tells me her exciting plans for the future and gives her final words of wisdom for actors trying to break into the industry.

If you’re a fan of the Second Act Actors podcast, you can help the community grow by leaving a rating or review of the podcast. I’d also appreciate it if you could share it with a creative friend.

Links

Second Act Actors website

Second Act Actors on Instagram

Second Act Actors on Facebook

Second Act Actors on YouTube

Janet McMordie website

Janet McMordie on Instagram

Janet McMordie on LinkedIn

Janet McMordie on Twitter

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“I’ve always been an actor” is not the usual response I get from my guests on the Second Act Actors podcast, but it’s what Ray Buffer told me in this in-depth and interesting interview. We talk about being on set, what the Covid-19 pandemic changed for us and whether you should put more of your energy into making money or pursuing your creative passions. 

Ray tells me about how he got into acting and what he thinks about being a character actor. He shares his pet peeve about “real actors” and why casting directors now expect actors to be more authentic, even if they’re already professionals. We also have a great discussion about the merits of live theatre versus acting for film and TV, with Ray sharing the advantages and disadvantages of each. Listen out for Ray’s wonderful tip on acting for student films!

This is a worthwhile episode to listen to if you’re looking for advice on how to start (or get back into) an acting career, with words of wisdom from the perspective of a professional. If you’d like to hear more interviews with talented actors then subscribe to the Second Act Actors podcast.

Links

Second Act Actors website

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Second Act Actors on YouTube

Janet McMordie website

Janet McMordie on Instagram

Janet McMordie on LinkedIn

Janet McMordie on Twitter

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What made Kato take the leap from working in insurance sales to becoming a full-time actor? On this episode of Second Act Actors, I interview Kato and find out what her life is like now that she’s giving acting her all.

Kato walks me through her transition from insurance into acting and how her life changed once she started making space for her natural creativity. Kato tells me about getting an agent and how she prepared herself to make a big life change into acting, but we also dive into what she wasn’t ready for and what surprised her along the way. She explains how her feelings about acting are different now that she acts for a living, and the new pressures that she must face.

In this episode, you’ll hear both of us share our words of wisdom for people looking to change up their careers or start acting, and our theories about what ‘success’ looks like in the acting world.

This is a great episode to listen to if you need encouragement to follow your dreams and gain control over your life. If you enjoyed it, please subscribe, or follow the Second Act Actors podcast wherever you get your podcasts from.

Timestamps

[1:30] How Kato got into acting from her job in insurance

[3:07] “It wasn’t like I was so prepared”: How Kato managed the shift from insurance into acting

[5:57] Transitioning from improv to acting and how acting classes improved Kato’s life

[8:57] Did Kato always want to be an actor?

[10:34] Why Kato chose a ‘practical’ career

[12:06] The turning point that pushed Kato into acting full-time

[13:53] The pressures of being an actor are different, but they’re still there

[15:30] What Kato’s brought from her sales job to acting

[18:27] Getting over the “What the hell am I doing??!” feeling and learning to self-promote

[20:45] Getting comfortable with yourself to handle rejection

[22:53] How Kato’s feelings about rejection have changed since she started acting full-time

[24:55] Is acting a creative outlet or a way to make money?

[28:07] Kato’s great experience as a background actor

[31:48] Background acting is amazing!!

[33:08] Kato’s advice for people who want to switch into an acting career

[34:27] Are Kato’s family supportive of her now?

[36:27] What Kato’s looking forward to this year

[37:30] This time, it’s my turn to give the final words of wisdom!

[39:23] “We’re in charge of our own destinies here”

Links

Second Act Actors website

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Second Act Actors on YouTube

Janet McMordie website

Janet McMordie on Instagram

Janet McMordie on LinkedIn

Janet McMordie on Twitter

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This episode of Second Act Actors features a truly Hollywood-style entry into acting: Ryan was working at the grocery store when he was scouted by a producer who gave him his email address and told him to get in touch. Next thing you know, he’s on set and working as an actor! 

In the episode, Ryan and I dive into the details about what acting has been like for him as a deaf person.  Ryan gives me his opinions on diversity in casting and the opportunities available for deaf people in the industry. He reflects on his career so far, which includes stints as a professional athlete before he became an actor, and shares his ambitions for the future and his mission to raise the profile of the deaf and hard of hearing community. At the end of the episode, he gives advice to aspiring actors  who want to make it in the industry. 

Jump over to the Second Act Actors YouTube channel to watch the video version of this episode and see Ryan communicating with me through his interpreter! And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast to hear more stories of ambitious, talented actors who are making their way through acting and life.

Links

Second Act Actors website

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Second Act Actors on Facebook

Second Act Actors on YouTube

Janet McMordie website

Janet McMordie on Instagram

Janet McMordie on LinkedIn

Janet McMordie on Twitter

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