Slate It Till You Make It

Breaking up with your commercial agent can feel overwhelming, but it’s an important step in taking control of your career. In this episode of "Slate It Till You Make It", host Catherine Donnelly reframes the process as a strategic business decision, not a personal one. She walks listeners through key steps, including identifying why you want to make a change, understanding what you’re looking for in a new agent, weighing your options, and how to handle “the breakup” with professionalism. Catherine also shares tips for navigating the aftermath and ensuring the transition sets you up for success. If you’ve been contemplating making a change, this episode will give you the tools and confidence to handle it with clarity and grace.

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Juniper Commercial - starring Catherine & TJ

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In this episode of Slate It Till You Make It, host Catherine Donnelly sits down with CPA and financial expert Jaclynn Cherry to explore how actors can benefit from forming an LLC or S-Corp. They cover the basics of each business structure, discuss when it makes sense to incorporate, and dive into key tax-saving strategies. Jaclynn explains how to manage self-employment taxes, pay yourself from your business account, and make sense of deductions specific to actors. If you’re ready to keep more of your earnings and simplify your finances as a working actor, this episode is packed with valuable insights just for you.

https://www.jcherrycpa.com/

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SEASON 3 IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE COMMERCIAL CLUB, USE SLATE49 PROMO CODE FOR A DISCOUNTED ONE ON ONE COACHING SESSION.  

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In this episode of Slate It Till You Make It, host Catherine Donnelly sits down with CPA and actor Jaclynn Cherry for an essential guide to navigating W4 paperwork and tax strategies tailored for actors and freelancers. Jaclynn, a tax expert with over 15 years of experience in public and private accounting and a creative herself, sheds light on key topics like the benefits of voluntary withholding, debunking common W4 myths, maximizing returns, and managing both W2 and 1099 income. Together, they tackle everything from leveraging deductions to handling multiple job forms and preparing for tax season, offering practical tips to help freelancers better manage their finances and avoid tax pitfalls. This episode is packed with insights to help actors thrive financially in the gig economy.

https://www.jcherrycpa.com/

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SEASON 3 IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE COMMERCIAL CLUB, USE SLATE49 PROMO CODE FOR A DISCOUNTED ONE ON ONE COACHING SESSION.  

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In this episode of "Slate It Till You Make It," host Catherine Donnelly sits down with John Lehr - comedic performer, writer and producer working in television, film and theater.

Lehr co-created, wrote and executive produced and starred in both “10 Items or Less,” on TBS Hulu’s original comedy western “Quickdraw.”  

Lehr is one of the original Geico Cavemen from the wildly successful commercial campaign. He has appeared in dozens of spots, including the first commercial as a caveman boom operator, the caveman in therapy with Talia Shire, the tennis spot with Billy Jean King, Superbowl spots with Phil Simms and many more.

Under their banner Howler Monkey Productions, Lehr and producing partner Nancy Hower have created multiple projects, most involving their unique improvisationally-based “hybrid” style found in “QuickDraw” (Hulu) “10 Items” (TBS) “Jailbait (Crackle) and “Memron” (Slamdance award-winner). With Lehr starring and Howler directing, the team completed comedy pilots “Let It Ride,” (Comedy Central), “Retreat!” (NBC), “Team McPhearson (Fox) and “King of Beers” (EUE/Sokolow). The team’s script/development deals include “The Loop” (HBO), “Troubadour” (MTV), “Life on Mars” (Sony/BBC), and “LARP” (Echo Lake), Tommy Chong’s Pipe Dreams (TBS).

John has appeared in numerous television series, including “Friends” and was a series regular on “Jesse,” both for Warner Brothers/NBC. His feature film roles include “The Sweetest Thing,” and three Noah Baumbach films, “Kicking and Screaming,” “Mr. Jealousy,” and “Highball.”

John’s hosting credits include “News Weasels” for E!; “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!” for ABC; CBS’ special “Clash of the Commercials” with co-host Heidi Klum; and “John Lehr’s Movie Club” for TBS.

A recovering alcoholic and drug addict, Lehr is a seasoned monologist and comedian who speaks openly about his twenty plus years of sobriety. Under the banner “Cold. Sober. Comedy.” Lehr performs and MC’s at fundraisers, non-profits and sober communities about his personal/career struggles, his continuing sober journey and the importance of an authentic sense of humor. Lehr recently debuted his newest monologue “Wait, I Have to Give a Crap About Other People?” at the Annual Sober St. Paddy’s Day Comedy Night for the Atlanta Caron Treatment Center.”

Lehr’s critically acclaimed “Comedic Lectures” solo performances have had sold out runs in LA and New York. He is also a respected improvisational performer having worked at the Organic Theater and Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago, the Montreal Comedy Festival, Chicago Improvisational Festival and multiple venues in Los Angeles and New York. Lehr regularly performs stand-up comedy and MC/Hosts events around the country.

John is married to author Jennifer Lehr with whom he has two children. The Lehrs reside in Los Angeles.

For more information on John, including booking: [email protected]

https://johnlehr.com/

SEASON 3 IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE COMMERCIAL CLUB, USE SLATE49 PROMO CODE FOR A DISCOUNTED ONE ON ONE COACHING SESSION.  

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In this episode of “Slate It Till You Make It,” host Catherine Donnelly interviews commercial session director, actress and founder of the commercial club Ava Himmel. With a background in dramatic theater and improv skills honed at Second City Toronto, Ava has starred in major campaigns for brands like AT&T, McDonald’s, Dunkin' Donuts, and Toyota. For over 15 years, she’s also worked as a Session Director, guiding actors through the audition process and building relationships with top casting directors and industry pros. Now, through teaching at "Keep It Real Acting" and her own *Commercial Club*, Ava is helping actors sharpen their skills and succeed in the commercial world on a daily basis. 

SEASON 3 IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE COMMERCIAL CLUB, USE SLATE49 PROMO CODE FOR A DISCOUNTED ONE ON ONE COACHING SESSION. 

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In this episode of Slate It Till You Make It, host Catherine Donnelly sits down with John Fulton, a multi-talented comedian, musician, and actor, to discuss his unique journey through the entertainment industry. From his early days as a non-basketball team captain in Topsfield, MA, to DJing a jazz show at the University of Rhode Island, and eventually hosting Must Love Cats on Animal Planet, John’s career has seen plenty of twists and turns. Now, he's thriving in the world of commercials and is a member of the comedy band Camp Friends, who just released their new album Real/Mature. Tune in as John shares hilarious anecdotes about being humbled in Hollywood, reveals the secrets to booking commercial gigs, and talks about embracing the unexpected path to success.

https://www.thejohnfulton.com/ 

SEASON 3 IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE COMMERCIAL CLUB, USE SLATE49 PROMO CODE FOR A DISCOUNTED ONE ON ONE COACHING SESSION. 

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In this episode of "Slate It Till You Make It," host Catherine Donnelly sits down with the talented actress Camille Chen to explore her journey of embracing cultural identity, resilience, and success in the acting world. Camille shares her personal experiences as a Taiwanese-American actress, discussing how her heritage has influenced her career and the importance of authentic representation in Hollywood.

From her unexpected beginnings and landing her first paid acting job in *Miss Congeniality* to achieving rapid success in the competitive LA market, Camille opens up about the pivotal moments that shaped her path. She delves into the challenges and triumphs of working with industry giants, her unique approach to commercial versus theatrical auditions, and the vital role that improvisation plays in her craft.

Listeners will gain valuable insights as Camille discusses staying resilient in the face of rejection, maintaining a balanced personal life amidst the highs and lows of the industry, and the significance of vulnerability and authenticity in performance. Aspiring actors will find inspiration and practical advice on navigating setbacks, embracing their unique backgrounds, and staying motivated in the ever-evolving entertainment landscape.

https://camillechen.com/

SEASON 3 IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE COMMERCIAL CLUB, USE SLATE49 PROMO CODE FOR A DISCOUNTED ONE ON ONE COACHING SESSION. 

A creative at heart, Grace Voorhees chose to leave a career she had been building for close to 10 years, to follow her passion and pursue a career within the entertainment industry. Grace gained her experience at UPMT Agency before becoming a full-time agent at Daniel Hoff Agency.  She has now been with DHA for almost 3 years. Grace's most rewarding moments as an agent come with the collaborative atmosphere and the excitement of being a part of the creative process to help her clients succeed. When Grace is not spending time with her dogs, Theodore and Spud, she can be found attending concerts and music festivals, going to trivia nights with friends, and producing music videos for independent artists.

Marta Parrillo’s background in Radio/Television and Cinema Production set the stage for her career as a Commercial/Print Agent when she joined the Daniel Hoff Agency (LA) in 2017.  In September 2022, she relocated south to co-open the Atlanta branch of DHA as Director of SE Theatrical Division. The passion for creating & comradery amongst fellow agents, talent, casting has allowed Marta to thrive and she brings that support and enthusiasm to the “Hollywood of the South.” An Avid Nicolas Cage fan, her beloved cat is named Castor Troy (from “Face/Off”)!

SEASON 3 IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE COMMERCIAL CLUB, USE SLATE49 PROMO CODE FOR A DISCOUNTED ONE ON ONE COACHING SESSION. 

In this two part episode of Slate It Till You Make It, host, Catherine Donnelly interviews four-time Emmy Award-winning casting director, John Frank Levey. He has cast iconic television shows such as China Beach, ER, The West Wing and Shameless, as well as dozens of other television series, miniseries, TV movies, digital series, video games and feature films. John is also a five-time winner of the Casting Society of America’s Artios Award and the recipient of its prestigious Hoyt Bowers Award, given for excellence in casting and outstanding contributions to the casting profession. Right for the Role is his first book. After decades at Warner Bros, he became Vice President of Casting for John Wells Productions before launching his own casting company. Throughout his career, he has been a proud collaborator with many great writers, actors, producers and directors—he is most gratified for the friendships he’s forged and the talent he has helped foster. Personally, John is most proud of his children, Oliver Leo and Joanna Claire. Ladies and gentlemen, the John Frank Levey.

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