The Actors Lounge

The Actors Lounge

By Melanie VictorTV & Film
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The Actors Lounge episodes

  • Nate Duncan- Gives Insight On The Process of Film Festivals & Talks About His Short Film, "The Interview

    Nate grew up in the Bay Area and has been involved in the entertainment industry for over 15 years.

    Since  graduating from Santa Clara University with a Degree in Acting he has  been featured in commercials, Print ads, TV shows and Films all over the  world.

    He has also written, directed, and produced a number of short films,  all of which have won multiple different awards, in a variety of  different Film Festivals, some of which have aired on TV too.

    He has won awards in writing, directing, producing and acting.

    He also work as an Emcee and has hosted many different events, from Fashion Shows to Film Festivals.

    He  has a passion for travel and wedding videography and loves every  chance he gets to use his Mavic drone, that is when he's not crashing it...

    35 min
  • Jackie Dallas- Talks About Transitioning From Being A Doctor For 4 Years To Becoming A Full Time Actress

    "Jackie Dallas  is an actress best known for her role as Jen, Mr. Clarke’s girlfriend  in the Netflix hit series Stranger Things! She has since also appeared  on shows such as Criminal Minds, The Resident, The Bold and 

    the Beautiful, NCIS: New Orleans and the international drama series on Amazon, Aarzu-e-Mann 'What the Heart Desires'.

    She  is an advocate for female filmmakers and diversity in Hollywood. She is  an active member of the indie film community as not only an actress,  but recently as a director and producer and has several indie features  coming out soon, starring alongside actors such as Gregg Henry, Tom  Sizemore, Miguel Nunez Jr and Jeri Ryan."

    29 min
  • Jerrell Lee Wesley- Talks Taking A Leap Of Faith And Moving To Los Angeles With $1,200 To Chase His Dreams Of Becoming An Actor

    Jerrell Lee Wesley, actor/writer, grew up in a small rural town in West Florida. His father was a

    fire-fighter while his mother worked in a SONY factory. He has two older brothers and a

    younger sister. Being the youngest boy, he constantly found himself having to work extremely

    hard just to keep up with his older brothers. This competitive drive would, at times, find him in

    the dark hours of the evening honing his athletic skills. Eventually, Jerrell became a 3-sport star

    at Graceville High School. He used his athletic ability to earn a scholarship at the University of

    Kentucky, where he played football and baseball.

    After his college career, Jerrell had several professional baseball tryouts, but injuries from his

    football days spoiled any athletic dreams. So he gave up on his dreams of being a professional

    athlete, and became a football coach at Drake University in Des Moines, IA. During his time at

    Drake, his passion for the arts were reignited when the team took a trip to the California Bay

    area. “When I stepped off that plane and saw those hills and mountains, it sparked a childhood

    desire to move to Los Angeles" and pursue my passion for acting. With $1200 in his pocket,

    Jerrell took a leap of faith and moved to Los Angeles.

    Jerrell has starred in supporting roles alongside Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds in the hit

    RomCom The Proposal. He had a recurring role for three seasons in the ‘STARZ’ hit tv show

    POWER, created by Courtney Kemp, and starring rapper 50 Cent and actor Omari Hardwick.

    He also had roles on shows Blue Bloods, The Goldberg’s, Switched At Birth, Six Feet Under,

    and ‘YOUTUBE PREMIUM’ hit Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on TV. Other movie roles include

    Knight & Day starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz.

    Today, Jerrell currently lives in Atlanta, GA.

    37 min
  • Lucy Walters- Talks Her Infamous Role As Holly On "Power" & Reflects On Her Early Years Living In New York While Chasing Her Dream

    LUCY  WALTERS can currently be seen as Katie Daly opposite Chris O'Dowd and  Ray Romano in the Epix' series "Get Shorty." She is best known for her  role as 'Holly' on Starz’ hit show, “Power,” produced by 50 Cent.  Walters first gained notoriety in Steve McQueen's critically acclaimed film Shame starring Michael Fassbender. She recently filmed Little Faith and Boarding School, which will both be released later this year. Her other film credits include the lead in the exciting indie thriller, Here Alone which won the Audience Award at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival, The Brass Teapot, B-Side, Big Words, Bastards of Young.   Her television credits include recurring roles on “#WarGames,” USA’s  “Falling Water” and Amazon’s “Z: The Beginning of Everything” as well as  guest spots on “Bones,” “The Good Wife,” “Do No Harm,” “Rizzoli &  Isles” and “Blue Bloods.” Currently she is filming a new show by  Sebastian Gutierrez called "Jett" with Carla Gugino and Giancarlo  Esposito. 

    52 min
  • Rodney Perry- Talks Surviving A Stroke & How His Perspective For Life Changed After That Experience

    Perry loves the spotlight at center stage and will  never abandon his life as a stand-up comedian delivering his brazen  reality based comedy. With 20 years of marriage and six children (5  girls and 1 boy) Perry is an expert on all things family and rips the  seams of crowds that attend his shows to hear all about his fatherhood  fodder. Perry finds delight in giving back and sharing what he’s learned  over the years with his

    weekly classes that he hosts in Atlanta where he calls home. Preparing  the next generation of comedians is what he feels is a small  contribution in his legacy that will keep laughs going for generations  to come.

    Perry delivers the funny any way viewers or listeners  want to receive it, whether it’s his highly popular weekly radio show  Rodney Perry Live, or his sold out live shows, Perry truly is the  hardest working man in comedy and he doesn’t see himself slowing down  any time soon. Comedy is his forte, however, this funny man isn’t afraid  to explore his serious side in roles as is evident his appearances in  the film “Mr. Right” where he gets to flex his acting chops alongside  actor Columbus Short as well as the upcoming drama Broad Street Bullies  where he plays a notorious gangster. Adding producer to his long list of  credentials he’s also producing shows like the independent release, A  Song for Jordan.

    The early years of comedy found Perry his first gig as  a writer/warm up guy for Kim Whitley on her talk show “Oh Drama.” Being  on the scene, he was able to parlay his skills into opportunity and  began opening for the likes of George Lopez, Steve Harvey and Cedric the  Entertainer, to name a few. He would spend the next 10 years nonstop on  television in various capacities. Hosting comedy shows like “Who’s Got  Jokes” helped him fine tune his craft and fueled the fire for the  screen, big and small. Catching the attention of comedy lovers and  industry shot callers alike, Perry got another big break with a starring  role as “Harold” in Tyler Perry’s “Madea’s Big Happy Family” and it’s  only been a meteoric ride on the fast track ever since. Perry has since  found a home at Bounce TV where as the host of his own comedy show “Off  the Chain” he would spend the next several years giving Bounce TV its  leverage in the cable market with his ever increasing ratings. “Off The  Chain” would go on to become a sold out tour and in addition he would  also break records for the young network with his number 1 rated comedy  special “Rodney Perry: 44 and Still Ticking”.

    17 min
  • Angel Parker- Talks Booking Her First Series Regular Role On Marvel's Runaway's After 17 Years

    Sophisticated, hard-working, and an undeniable talent, Angel Parker has  brought to life some of the most dynamic and diverse characters on  screen today. In 2018, Angel can currently be seen starring on Marvel's  hit, action drama series, "Runaways," slated to premiere its second  season on Hulu December 21, 2018. The series follows six diverse  teenagers who can barely stand each other, however, they must unite  against a common foe: their evil parents. Angel shines as Catherine  Wilder, a successful lawyer who is deliberate and calculating in both  her words and actions. When it comes to family, she is fiercely loyal  and a loving mother to her son, Alex (Rhenzy Feliz).

    In addition  to "Runaways," Angel most recently made a guest star appearance on Fox's  new comedy sitcom, "Rel," as 'Loose Boots Monica,' opposite Lil Rel  Howery and Sinbad. Additional recent credits include recurring roles on  NBC's "Trial and Error," opposite John Lithgow, and on FX's hit series  "The Strain," opposite Corey Stoll. Another standout project was  appearing in FX's critically acclaimed, Emmy Award winning series "The  People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story." Angel was a scene stealer  as famed celebrity attorney Shawn Chapman, one of Simpson's 'Dream Team'  lawyers.

    Angel's first acting gig was on Joss Whedon's "Angel."  Since then, she has appeared on some of the most buzzed about series,  including: "ER," "Castle," "Criminal Minds," "The Closer," "The Soul  Man," "Rebel," and "Sean Saves the World." Angel is also well known for  her role as the intrepid and vivacious Tasha Davenport on five seasons  of Disney XD's live-action comedy series "Lab Rats."

    At only 16  years old, Angel was accepted into the American Academy of Dramatic  Arts. There, she immersed herself in performing, and went on to study  Shakespeare at the British American Drama Academy, work with the  Independent Shakespeare Company, Will & Company, and performed with  The Blank Theatre's Young Playwrights Festival for more than 10 years.

    Angel currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children.

    36 min
  • Brandon Victor Dixon- Talks His First Perfessional Acting Job As Simba In "The Lion King" & Navigating That Experience

    Brandon Victor Dixon most recently starred as Collins in “RENT: Live” on FOX and as Judas Iscariot in NBC’s "Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert” (Emmy, Critics Choice and NAACP Image Award nominations). On Broadway, he most recently starred as Aaron Burr in HAMILTON.  Previous Broadway credits include: Eubie Blake in Shuffle Along (Tony Award nomination), Berry Gordy in Motown The Musical (Grammy and Drama League Award nominations), and Harpo in The Color Purple (Tony Award nomination). National tour: Simba in The Lion King. Off-Broadway: F**king A, Rent and The Scottsboro Boys (Lucille Lortel, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle and Laurence Olivier Award nominations). Television: “POWER,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “One Life to Live,” “The Good Wife,” “Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular,” Spike Lee’s “She’s Gotta Have It,” and Amazon Studios’ “Modern Love.” Dixon’s debut single, “#WeAre” is currently available for download on iTunes, with all proceeds benefitting YoungNewYorkers.org. Dixon was raised in Maryland, and is a graduate of Columbia University. He is the co-founder of WalkRunFly Productions. 

    22 min
  • DaVida Chanel- Talent Manager Of Etcetera and Company Talks About What Makes Actors Marketable & Best Ways To Seek Representation
    After assisting her employers manage the careers Halle Berry, Taraji P. Henson, Mariah Carey, Usher, David E. Talbert, and others at some of the most notable talent management companies in the entertainment industry, DaVida Chanel Smith decided to follow her heart. “I’ve been fortunate to always work for people with strong entrepreneurial energy and that was not lost on me because I’ve always wanted to be my own boss,” Smith explains. “In this powerful time of women taking risks in the name of their career, I felt it was time to bet on myself. I took the efforts that I had been pouring into others’ businesses and focused on my vision for talent representation.” Launched in April 2018, Smith’s Etcetera and Company already boasts a robust and diverse roster of working actors, including Annie Ilonzeh, James Lesure, and John Kassir. Her clients have booked a number of high profile jobs, including a series regular on a hit Dick Wolf show on NBC, a recurring role on an established HBO dramedy, a film starring a two-time Oscar winner, and guest stars on FOX, CBS, NBC, ABC, HBO, and Starz! Smith attributes her early success with Etcetera and Company to the personal connection she forms with her clients. “Talent managers and clients must work together as partners,” Smith says. “It’s about connecting with someone on a deeper level, being able to figure out what their goals are, what it is they’re trying to do, and help them reach those goals. I’ve always been a dream chaser. Now I get to connect talented people to their dreams.” Growing up in Louisiana, Smith gained confidence in her abilities as a performer and public speaker through her humble beginnings in church plays and school programs. While attending Southern University (Baton Rouge), she held office in student government and with the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Smith won several pageants and hosted campus shows and events, opportunities that showcased her talents as a performer, storyteller, and talent scout. Smith earned her Juris Doctorate from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law and moved to Los Angeles in 2005 to pursue a career in talent representation and production, landing jobs at some of Hollywood’s renowned firms, including Brillstein Entertainment Partners, Handprint, and VCA. On the production side, she worked on such blockbuster films as The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Parts 1 & 2 and Lee Daniels’ The Butler, as well as the hit television shows Guy’s Grocery Games and Queen Sugar. Smith also wrote, directed, and produced a series of short films, as well as wrote and produced a stage play that toured New Orleans, Atlanta and Chicago. Now, with her own Etcetera and Company thriving, Smith seeks to work with her mix of established and emerging clients to fulfill their creative dreams. “It’s about the client,” Smith explains. “My focus is finding and creating projects that help my clients reach their goals time and time again.”
    55 min
  • Rolando Boyce- Talks His Love For The Craft & Working on Showtimes "The Chi"

    Rolando  is a native of Chicago and has been performing for over 20 years.  Multiple credits in Theater, TV & Film. Some theater productions  include; Lobby Hero, Topdog/Underdog, Dreams of Sarah Breedlove, Fences,  Jitney, Cops & Friends of Cops. Recent TV credits  include Mom (CBS), Scandal (ABC), Chicago PD (NBC) and Recurring in  season 2 of The Chi (Showtime). He was also in “A Dogs way Home” (Sony)  at the beginning of the year. Mr. Boyce has also appeared in numerous  commercials, currently AARP & Centrum.

    24 min
  • Yolonda Ross- Talks The Importance Of Knowing The Business & Being A Student Of Life
    Yolonda Ross (Actress/Writer/Director/Producer) is a two-time Film Independent Spirit Award nominee and Gotham Award winner for her feature film debut as a leading actress in HBO’s Stranger Inside and John Sayles’s Go For Sisters. Ross, a native of Omaha, Nebraska is recognized from her wide range of work including: the Viola Davis and Jennifer Lopez film Lila & Eve, Angela Bassett’s Whitney, and Denzel Washington's Antwone Fisher Story.
    In Television, she's worked on 24, Law and Order, and Pulitzer Prize winner David Mamet's, The Unit, in which Mr. Mamet wrote the part for her himself. The two teamed up again on HBO's Phil Spector. Ross has recurred as “Claudia” on How To Get Away With Murder, portrayed the memorable "Ms. Green", in the Baz Luhrmann/ Netflix series, The Get Down, and played a documentary filmmaker in HBO's Treme which inspired her to step behind the camera for her directorial debut, Breaking Night, which aired on VH1 Classics.
    Yolonda is also a member of New York's famed Labyrinth Theater Company. Her upcoming projects include, Out of Blue, opposite Patricia Clarkson, and Season 2 of the critically- acclaimed Lena Waithe Showtime drama, The Chi, where Yolonda is cast regular, “Jada Washington”. She will be making her feature film directorial debut with her romantic drama, Scenes From Our Marriage, which was chosen for Film Independent’s 2018 Fast Track Lab.
    15 min

About The Actors Lounge

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Welcome to The Actors Lounge Podcast, where actors share their stories including the challenges, successes and lessons learned along the way!