Second Act Actors

On this episode of the Second Act Actors podcast, I interview the inspiring Lisa Riesner, who started out in the acting industry after a career in journalism. She tried out acting at the age of 25 by joining a circus class with some friends and fell in love with it, but she didn’t make the leap into acting full-time until she tragically lost a close friend. This shock made her want to pursue her dreams and since then she’s put all of her efforts into acting, writing and directing.

In our conversation, we touch on the fact that it’s so hard to tell people that you’re an actor but why you should do it anyway. Lisa shares some great pearls of wisdom about having the power to determine your own life and why she’s making her own films rather than waiting for casting directors to find her. She also unpacks the film industry in Europe and what makes it different from working as an actor in Hollywood or Toronto.

I loved talking with Lisa and got so much out of our conversation, as you’ll hear on this episode! If you enjoyed the episode and learnt something from Lisa, please subscribe to the Second Act Actors podcast.

Timestamps

[2:09] Lisa explains her route to full-time acting via journalism

[6:37] It’s hard to say out loud that you’re an actor!

[9:17] “I’m gonna make it happen for myself”

[12:10] How Lisa’s journalism skills have helped her to advance her acting career

[14:02] Lisa’s advice to people who want to change their lives

[17:00] “What ego??!”

[18:40] Every actor needs an ego

[20:16] Having life experience frees you up to be more playful

[24:17] Lisa explains the European film industry

[28:40] Is the end goal always Hollywood?

[31:58] The strength of actors producing their own movies

[33:10] Lisa’s fun on-set memory with a boxing star and another story involving constant crying

[35:46] A new movie in Copenhagen: What Lisa’s excited about this year

[36:37] “You can decide things”: Why it’s so great to make your own films

[38:04] How Lisa organises her schedule and her film sets to keep herself sane and on-track

[40:25] Lisa’s films come first

[41:52] “Don’t think you have to be perfect”: Lisa’s final words of wisdom

Links

Lisa Riesner website

Lisa Riesner on Instagram

Lisa Riesner on Facebook

Lisa Riesner on YouTube

Lisa Riesner on LinkedIn

Lisa Riesner on Twitter

Lisa Riesner on IMDb

Acting Coaches on Instagram

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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On this episode of the Second Act Actors podcast, I interview another actor who’s transitioning from a more ‘traditional’ career into the world of acting. Rudy Salo is a municipal bond lawyer, public speaker, Forbes contributor and former punk musician and today he also books acting gigs, especially seeking out roles where he plays the jerk boss villain.

Rudy tells me about his early years in school when he was determined not to be a lawyer but came around to it in his own way. He explains how he shut off his creative side to ‘go all in’ on the law and how rediscovering his creative passions has made him a happier and more well-rounded person.

Rudy shares advice for people looking to start a career in the arts and preaches the message of financial stability first, creativity and freedom later. It might sound like a bit of a dream crusher, but Rudy outlines why having money and freedom will make you a better actor. We also discuss what you can learn from doing stand-up comedy and how accessing your creativity can help you to solve problems in your ‘first act’ job.

This is a fantastic episode of Second Act Actors that really showcases the diversity of experiences you can find in people who act. If you liked this episode (and if it taught you what municipal bonds are!), then please share it with a friend or on your social media channels.

Timestamps

[0:45] Rudy explains the kinds of projects he works on in his law career and how it led him into acting

[5:47] Rudy weighs up his actor vs. lawyer career options

[7:11] How Rudy went from a punk musician to a municipal bond lawyer

[11:55] “There’s something critical I’ve got to point out”: Rudy on rediscovering his creative side and finding happiness in his artist pursuits

[17:10] The influence that Rudy’s parents had over his life and how his punk rock rebellion took him back to working in law

[20:40] My experiences of introducing creativity into a traditional career

[22:20] Using creativity as a way to connect with clients and colleagues

[24:28] The fallacy of ‘going all in’ on your career and what Rudy’s brought from his lawyer experience into acting

[26:15] Balancing a demanding career, family life and looking for acting jobs

[28:30] In acting, the exact words don’t really matter

[31:47] Classes, background work and doing lawyer contracts from his laptop on set: Rudy’s version of being ‘all in’ on acting

[33:40] The advice that Rudy gives to young lawyers to help them get through the first few “crushing” years in a law firm

[36:00] “It depends”: What Rudy would say to someone looking to transition into acting

[40:04] Pushing back against the ‘starving artist’ mentality

[43:13] How Rudy found out that he’s an excellent villain and then leaned into it

[46:10] What we’re both looking forward to this coming year

[48:20] Why stand-up comedy will make you a better actor

[50:00] Rudy’s final words of wisdom

Links

Rudy Salo on LinkedIn

Rudy Salo on IMDb

Rudy Salo on Forbes

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This special episode of Second Act Actors features two wonderful guests who are the brains behind the 2021 indie film Maysville. I talk to film producer Michele and film writer, director and co-producer Leslie about how they managed to make such a stunning film on a shoestring budget.

You’ll definitely want to tune into this episode if you’re working on a creative project right now because Michele and Leslie give great insider tips on how to make an indie film. They share with me how they were able to secure film funding, reduce permit fees and get the local community involved - and boy were they involved! You’ll also hear tips on how to promote an indie film and get it in front of the people who need to see it.

This is an inspiring episode of Second Act Actors that ends with some very moving words of wisdom from Leslie about not letting go of your acting dreams, wherever your life takes you.

If this episode of the Second Act Actors resonated with you, please take a moment to subscribe to the podcast and to share this episode with a friend.

Timestamps

[1:11] Doctor actors of the world, unite!

[3:25] The brains behind Maysville tell me how the film came together

[8:05] Where did the desire to make a film come from?

[11:38] The characters that inspired Maysville

[12:56] Why is now the right time for Maysville to be made?

[16:12] The power of networking in the film industry

[21:20] What it’s like to work with your kids on set

[28:10] The advice that every child actor needs to hear

[30:28] The parent’s perspective on having a child who’s an actor

[34:38] “There’s a lot of different ways to approach it”: How to get your creative project off the ground

[41:04] Michele’s perspective on making a career change and taking the plunge

[43:22] “Are you coming with me or not?”

[45:03] What hard work and community spirit can achieve

[49:34] A fundraising dinner that brought in way more than money

[51:37] How filmmaking can dovetail with local interests

[52:53] What Michele and Leslie are looking forward to for the rest of 2022

[54:50] Inspiring final words of wisdom for aspiring actors and for plus-sized people

Links

Maysville website

Maysville on Instagram

Maysville on Facebook

Maysville on Twitter

Maysville on IMDb

Maysville official trailer on YouTube

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Corby Stephens has had a very varied career with experience working as a pastor, an IT professional, a stand-up comedian, a yoyo performer and a voiceover actor. In this episode of Second Act Actors, he tells me his life story and gives advice to other people looking to break into the voiceover industry.

Corby begins by telling me about his upbringing in a musical family and how he discovered drama class at university, which introduced him to the techniques of improvisation. We talk about what his improv skills brought to the other acts in his career, including his preaching in the church, as he feels like he’s a better pastor when he can go off-script in his sermon and adapt his message to the people in front of him.

We move on to talk about Corby’s second act as a voiceover artist, which he sees as being closely linked to his stand-up work. Corby walks me through his audition process and his mindset around voiceover work. We also discuss what it means to be a ‘selfless’ performer and how performing selfishly can be destructive to yourself and to the production.

If you liked this episode of Second Act Actors, please share it with a friend and subscribe or follow the podcast.

Timestamps

[1:00] Corby tells me his story and how he got into improv

[3:52] How Corby got married and became a pastor

[6:05] Getting into the yoyo

[11:40] How Corby rediscovered the theatre through his children

[13:30] Corby explains why he started doing voiceover work

[16:55] What’s the overlap between stand-up comedy and voiceover work?

[18:20] And is there an overlap between being a pastor and a stand-up comedian?

[20:05] Corby explains what he’s carried from his first act into his second

[21:52] What’s surprised Corby since he started voiceover work

[23:49] My experience of voiceover and Corby’s behind-the-scenes voiceover secrets

[28:03] “My mindset is to serve the script”: How Corby auditions for voiceover roles

[30:10] The advice that Corby would give to people interested in voiceover work

[32:00] How would Corby’s family describe his career?

[33:36] Selfless vs. selfish performances

[35:30] Getting back into stand-up: What Corby’s looking forward to this year

[38:38] How Corby keeps his motivation levels up in stand-up

[42:40] Corby’s final words of wisdom

Links

Corby Stephens website

Corby Stephens on Instagram

Corby Stephens on Facebook

Corby Stephens on YouTube

Corby Stephens 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

Actor-Producer Blueprint Online Course (Starts Aug 17):  Contact Oliver at [email protected]

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On this episode of Second Act Actors, I chat with the lovely Emilia Copeland. Emilia is a British actress, filmmaker and model, coming to the creative field fresh from her biomedical degree.

Emilia tells me about her school years where she struggled as her teachers didn’t value creativity or see the arts as a viable career path, so Emilia tried to push back but felt forced into studying science. However, at university she found her creative outlet by joining many different societies. Since she graduated, she moved to Toronto and has worked several acting jobs, including a very exciting experience on the set of Doctor Who with Peter Capaldi!

We dive into the overlap between the arts and the sciences, which are way more related than people tend to think. Emilia shares what she took from her science background and tells me about her upcoming projects, which include promoting her short film and writing pilot scripts.

This episode contains an important message about the importance of fostering creativity in children and teaching them the lesson that you can have a good job in the arts. If you enjoyed the episode, please subscribe to the Second Act Actors podcast and leave a rating or review.

Timestamps

[1:11] Emilia’s move to Toronto from the UK and her transition from biomedical sciences to acting

[6:48] The AmDram society, the radio club, and other creative outlets

[9:39] Emilia’s not so great time with the Murder Mystery Society, and other experiences of working with the public

[13:40] Gaining enough credits to get listed on Spotlight

[15:27] What Emilia’s degree has been useful for

[17:45] Working with Peter Capaldi on the set of Doctor Who

[22:54] The problem of going to a high school that doesn’t respect the arts as a career

[25:57] Emilia’s education and her high school project that her teachers didn’t appreciate

[31:13] Exploring her creativity at university

[32:15] The similarity between biomedical sciences and acting and other skills that Emilia learnt that have helped her acting career

[36:56] Pilot scripts, creative writing and bread baking: What Emilia’s looking forward to this year

[39:06] The art/science overlap

[42:48] Emilia’s advice to people who feel like they had their creativity stifled

Links

Emilia Copeland website

Emilia Copeland on Instagram

Emilia Copeland on Facebook

Emilia Copeland on LinkedIn

Emilia Copeland on Twitter

Emilia Copeland on IMDb

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Second Act Actors introduces Barry who’s taken a conscious and strategic approach to his move from the Marine Corps to acting. Barry tells me about his childhood passion for acting and how he lost it when he worked in the Marines Corps and then in business. Rediscovering his love of acting was part of his recovery process and he explains where he is now with his career and what his hopes are for the future.

Barry busts one of the biggest myths about acting, that of the ‘breakthrough role’, and details what he’s doing to build up his on-screen appearances sustainably, including working with an audition coach and a stylist. We dive into some of the roles he’s booked so far and he tells me about what it was like to film with A-list actor Renée Zellweger. Barry also shares his mindset on auditions and what he does to stay motivated in the face of the odds. Listen out for his ‘pace car’ analogy and his advice to new actors!

This episode of Second Act Actors is packed full of practical tips on starting out in the industry and building an acting career without burning out. If you liked it, please subscribe or follow the podcast.

Timestamps

[0:22] “It was my mom’s fault”: How Barry got into acting

[1:30] Barry’s education and his acting sabbatical

[2:40] Rediscovering acting

[6:32] The Marine Corps, grocery stacking, sales and management: Barry’s jobs before acting and how they prepared him to act

[11:15] Barry’s thoughts on the work of the Screen Actors Guild

[13:11] How do you balance out logic and creativity in acting?

[14:55] The most important role of Barry’s life

[16:05] How Barry built up his support team

[18:02] Barry’s preparation for his ‘sunset’ career

[20:22] The coaches that Barry works with and what they’ve done for his career

[24:58] The myth of the breakthrough role and other things that have surprised Barry about the industry

[26:57] Comparing acting to more ‘traditional’ careers

[29:12] How Barry stays motivated

[32:24] What advice would Barry give to new actors?

[37:38] Working with Renée Zellweger

[39:58] Some of Barry’s other on-set stories

[44:33] “Do your research”: The importance of knowing the people who you’re working with

[46:24] What Barry’s looking forward to this year

[50:20] What Barry’s family would say about his career

[51:40] Barry’s daughter’s experience of trying to make it as an actor in L.A.

[53:00] Barry’s final words of wisdom

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

***TRIGGER WARNING**** Sexual harassment, eating disorders, bullying, hazing

First act actor Emily Nixon chats with me this week. Emily always wanted to be an actor and was able to make her dreams come true as today she’s working as an actor, writer and director, with experience on screen with TV shows such as Umbrella Academy.

Emily and I take a deep dive into what theatre school was like for her. She experienced harassment, bullying and a lot of hypercritical feedback from the teachers and saw many of her fellow students cut from the programme from one year to the next. We discuss the parallels between theatre school and medical school and whether theatre school is designed to prepare actors for the harsh rejections that are part of the industry.

We then talk about the many benefits of doing background work and Emily tells me how she tries to appreciate every moment on set, regardless of whether she’s on camera or working behind the scenes. At the end of the episode, she shares some really helpful advice that will give any aspiring actor a little bit of hope!

If you found this episode with first act actor Emily insightful and inspiring, please share it with a friend or on your social media accounts to help others to discover the show. 

Timestamps

[0:19] “Acting was the first thing I ever said I wanted to do”

[1:58] A left-brained family with a passion for the arts

[3:44] A supportive family makes all the difference

[5:44] Emily’s path from high school to theatre school

[8:09] Bullying, harassment, pressure, hazing…the dark side of theatre school

[15:19] Why is theatre school so tough? 

[17:18] The parallels between theatre school and medicine

[19:00] Theatre school breaks you down to build up an emotional guard

[21:00] What actors take from theatre school into the business

[22:40] The rich perspective you have naturally as a second act actor

[24:36] Do the rigorous demands of theatre school prepare you for the inevitable rejections in an acting career?

[26:11] Probing the psychology of medical school

[32:44] Gender discrimination in medicine is still real and it affects patients

[34:37] How to be the ‘gritty’ person in acting

[38:47] Emily’s Actors Gym which builds in accountability and community

[39:44] A thoughtful story from the set of Umbrella Academy which reminded Emily to appreciate what she has

[43:55] Emily’s wide range of credits and how they have broadened her vision

[45:30] The actor is only a small part of the production

[46:56] So we were both doing background work in Nightmare Alley??

[48:35] What Emily’s working on this year and the film festivals she’s going to attend

[49:32] Advice from Emily to first act actors and second act actors

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’re struggling to promote your latest creative project, you need to hear this episode of Second Act Actors. Today I interview Vinnie Potestivo, the man behind the golden age of reality TV. Vinnie produced MTV hits like Punk’d, The Osbournes, The Challenge and more, and he’s also launched or accelerated the careers of some huge stars including Mandy Moore, Jessica Simpson, Lauren Conrad and Hilary Duff.

Vinnie lays out his expert tips to share and gain traction around your creative content, which is a masterclass in online promotion. Grab your notebook and get ready to learn how to get noticed, which platforms you need to be active on and where you might find a red carpet moment in your day-to-day life. Vinnie also unpacks the huge potential of podcasting and the new definition of ‘talent’ in the creative industry. 

Share what you learnt from Vinnie on your social media channels and check that you’re subscribed to the Second Act Actors podcast to have more great audio content delivered to your device.

Timestamps

[1:02] Getting out of my head: My favourite thing about acting

[2:26] Vinnie’s life story: From MTV to launching Beyoncé

[4:55] Beyoncé’s hip-hopera audition

[6:08] Moving into unscripted TV with Punk’D

[7:24] Why Vinnie loves working with actors on unscripted TV

[8:38] Being part of the process of character development and selling an actor to a producer

[10:32] The controlled chaos of MTV in the early 2000s and how it transitioned into a more curated look in The Challenge

[13:20] What social media has done to reality TV

[14:20] Yes there’s manipulation in reality TV, but not for the reason you think

[16:20] Vinnie’s childhood and the huge technology transformations we experienced from 1995 - 2007

[19:38] “You have rights that you didn’t have before”: Vinnie explains how the way that we distribute content today gives more power to creators

[23:37] Vinnie’s tips on promoting yourself as a creative product: Vinnie’s tip #1: Apply for awards

[27:25] Vinnie’s tip #2: Claim your credits and get into podcasts

[29:21] Vinnie’s secret on how to boost your podcast on Google

[30:50] Vinnie’s tip #3: Maximise your discovery on IMDb

[31:55] Vinnie’s tip #4: Think about your red carpet moments

[33:22] Vinnie’s tip #4: Amplify your distribution 

[36:31] Actors suck at self-promotion!

[37:41] Grab on to new tools to improve and share your content

[39:07] Collaborate and create, in a way that uses your gifts

[44:45] “Podcasts are TV pilots”: Vinnie on the potential of podcasts

[46:37] The meaning of talent is different now

[47:37] Creatives have the burden of explaining what it’s like to work with creatives

[49:40] Every career should have a second act

[51:03] Create your project, then get in touch with Vinnie

[52:25] It feels like it’s a secret, but it shouldn’t be

[53:30] What it looks like to be a liberated, successful creative

Links

VPE Talent

Vinnie Potestivo on Instagram

Vinnie Potestivo on IMDb

Vinnie Potestivo on LinkedIn

Vinnie Potestivo on Twitter

Quuu promotional tool

The Creator Accelerator Hub

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, I’m talking to the wonderful ‘first act’ actor Stephanie Wilson Anderson. Stephanie grew up in a creative, artistic family and was always singing and dancing, so she decided to go to theatre school and has been working as a professional actor, choreographer and voiceover artist ever since.

Stephanie tells me about her time at theatre school and what her training involved. She then lists the skills that she’s learnt since leaving theatre school, like being able to relax into auditions and to cope better with rejection. We also discuss techniques that actors learn in theatre school about how to portray emotions authentically and Steph gives advice on how to let go of your logical mind and get lost in the character, particularly during high-stakes live theatre. She tells me about a bizarre on-stage moment when she had to maintain her ‘show must go on’ attitude, which is sure to stick in your mind!

This episode of Second Act Actors is a beautiful meeting of first and second act actors, showing the best of both worlds and with plenty of insights into the technical side of acting. If you enjoyed it, please rate and review the podcast and don’t forget to subscribe.

Timestamps

[0:13] How Stephanie started acting

[2:35] Were Stephanie’s parents always supportive of her career choices?

[5:09] “It’s crazy”: Stephanie on her experience at theatre school

[7:48] What has Stephanie learnt since she left theatre school?

[11:05] Stephanie’s new-found confidence

[13:12] Booking a musical, choreography and booking voice work: Stephanie’s life since theatre school

[18:25] The ‘choreography brain’: How Stephanie learnt to choreograph

[24:28] So, working with me… How was it for you??

[29:08] Building up trust with your fellow actors

[34:13] How actors-in-training learn to emote

[38:33] A haunting on-stage moment that Stephanie witnessed and other live theatre moments

[43:53] “Trust the work”: Stephanie’s advice on letting your logical brain go

[49:30] What Stephanie’s looking forward to this year

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this fun episode of Second Act Actors, I interview my friend, colleague and second act actor Natasha Paquin. She’s a qualified x-ray technician who grew up with a love of acting but decided to keep theatre as a passion project instead of a career.

Natasha and I compare notes on what it’s like to have a foot in both medicine and acting and Natasha explains how she finds the heightened emotions of acting to be a release from the constraints of working in medicine. Natasha goes on to talk about her experience of working in musical theatre productions and the preparation that she puts into developing her characters before her show.

Listen out for Natasha’s hilarious on-stage story of a wardrobe mishap in a musical number and don’t forget to subscribe to the Second Act Actors podcast to hear more interviews with actors who are breaking the mould.

Timestamps

[0:30] How Natasha’s mum got her into acting as a teenager

[3:07] Making the decision to not pursue theatre as a career and how that enabled Natasha to keep the love of acting

[4:27] What it’s like to study and become an x-ray technician

[7:22] How Natasha rediscovered acting in Barrie

[8:36] What Natasha’s medical background brings to her acting

[9:40] The interplay between the emotional constraints of medicine and the therapeutic release of acting

[12:41] What Natasha loves about community theatre

[14:20] “When they come into the show, they’re basically signing a contract”: Natasha on the support of the audience in community theatre

[15:37] What are the differences between theatre and musical theatre?

[16:51] The character prep that Natasha does before a show

[17:50] An unexpected pants drop in a musical number

[19:24] Advice from Natasha on how to dip your toe into community theatre and transitioning from acting as a hobby to acting as a profession

[22:29] Do Natasha’s parents think that acting is part of her career?

[23:00] What Natasha’s looking forward to in 2022

[24:01] Natasha’s final words of wisdom

Links

Natasha on Instagram

Natasha on Facebook

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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