The Modern Actor Podcast

From humble beginnings in Buffalo, NY, Selina Kaye found her love for acting by chance. It was because of an extra credit assignment that Selina was inspired to travel across the country to Los Angeles and pursue acting. 

For Selina, acting is a true love affair. In Episode 2, Kaye tells us about her love for self-tapes. She goes through the ins and outs of the self-tape and what it’s like to succeed without even being seen in person. 

Selina is a true enthusiast of acting. 

You can’t speak to her without being infected by her genuine lust for working and creating full characters for every audition she gets. Her love for the CW network is charming and her down-to-earth perspective on the business makes this interview one of my favorites by far.

Selina opens up about where she is today in her career. You won’t be able to watch or listen to this interview, without coming to the conclusion that Selina’s definition of success isn’t confined to just booking, but rather, relishing in the entire experience itself. 

Her mantra is simple “That’s your time, make sure you leave there knowing you did your best possible work.”

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

• Selina’s start as a radio VJ in Buffalo, NY to an actress in Los Angeles.

• Selina’s positive experience with casting workshops and why she thinks it’s a great way to get reps and start out as an actor.

• Why Selena chooses to do really good scenes over a monologue.

• How to figure out your brand and type.

• The decision to have reps in Atlanta and Los Angeles.

• How to change your mindset about self-tapes and taking back control of your career.

• The tact needed to ask for feedback on your self-tapes from your agents and managers.

• The tools you need to complete a Self-Tape audition from start to finish.

• How to produce top-level quality in your self-tapes.

• How to book a self-tape audition.

• The secrets and tips being an acting coach have taught her about her own performance.

• Her advice to young actors just starting out.

If you dig the show and want to give back, share this with someone who could use it and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen, so more people can find this show and benefit from this conversation.

SHOW LINKS:

THE MODERN ACTOR E-BOOK

JOIN THE MODERN ACTOR FAMILY

FOLLOW EDDIE ON SOCIAL

FOLLOW RONAK ON SOCIAL

GUEST LINKS:

INSTAGRAM (@selinakaye)

IMDB FILM/TV CREDITS

Phillip Garcia is an American actor born and raised in San Jose, California. Since 2012, he has appeared in over 30 National commercials including most recently two Super Bowl spots for McDonald’s and Anheuser-Busch, the latter was executive-producer by David Fincher. Some of his TV credits include Criminal Minds, Scandal, and Animal Kingdom. Recently he’s appeared on single episodes of ABC’s The Rookie, Station 19, Mayans MC, and NCIS LA. He will be guest-starring in episode #415 CBS’s S.W.A.T as the robin-hood style bank robber Jon Hardy. Phillip Garcia is an actor’s actor and lives by the mantra “I’m easy to work with and I’m happy to be here.”

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

• Phillip’s personal journey from aspiring child actor to deciding to wait until after college to officially start his career.

• How an acting showcase can help you obtain your first reps.

• How he approaches auditions from the moment he gets his sides to the moment he walks out of the room.

• The best way to navigate the conversation with your agents about turning down a role.

• An important distinction to do a co-star on The Mayan’s while he was only taking roles Guest-Star roles and higher.

• What it’s like to do a Super-Bowl commercial.

• The best way to approach a commercial audition: Let go and have a good time.

• The importance of loving and trusting yourself as an actor and how to do that.

• How Phillip’s musical inclination keeps him artistically fulfilled.

• Why Phillip decided to make his self-tape set up more elaborate than others, and it’s clearly working.

If you dig the show and want to give back, share this with someone who could use it and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen, so more people can find this show and benefit from this conversation.

SOCIAL LINKS:

THE MODERN ACTOR EBOOK

JOIN THE MODERN ACTOR FAMILY

FOLLOW EDDIE ON SOCIAL

FOLLOW RONAK ON SOCIAL

GUEST LINKS:

PHILIP GARCIA

INSTAGRAM (@phillipagarcia)

TWITTER: (@phillipagarcia)

IMDB FILM/TV CREDITS

I had a chance to speak to a producer on my last film and here’s what he said about my self-tape.

A little backstory:

I booked the lead role in a movie! This is a major accomplishment for me because It’s been a while since that has happened. It’s also pretty huge, considering I booked it off a self-tape! The dreaded self-tape has now become an industry norm since the pandemic, and the “right way” to do one has been up for debate.

Till now.

Read More: Your Complete Guide To Self Tapes (For 2021)

As I sat down for dinner and drinks with Matt (one of the producers) on the film, we got to talking about everyone’s booking story. I was especially curious due to the fact that I had only been hired four days before the shoot.

Clearly, something worked, but what??

As Matt worked his way around the dinner table telling the actors the behind the scenes story of their booking, he finally got to mine. He said it was a combination of two things. I was the right fit for the role and my self-tape was really good.

But it wasn’t just my performance...

He went into length about how my reader was good...the quality of the footage was great, including sound and lighting. (I go to a self-tape studio, see maps below for my NYC and LA choices) This really made a huge difference when standing out amongst the other actors who went out for my role. This conversation reconfirmed some of my beliefs about taping but also taught me some new valuable lessons.

NYC Self Tapes

Self Taping LA

Here are the 3 lessons I learned from our dinner conversation:

LESSON #1 - You invest in good quality. Oftentimes people aim to reduce costs in their business. But when the potential value of the final product is made greater by a service, it’s a no-brainer. I.e coaching or going to a self-tape studio.

LESSON #2 - Not every reader is made the same. Just because someone can read for you, doesn’t mean they should. A reader does more than just read the other character’s lines. From a technical standpoint, they need to be able to come in on their cues but more importantly, they can elevate your performance if they can bring some energy as well. This is easier said than done.

LESSON #3 - Don’t assume casting can see past a badly produced self-tape. Word around the campfire is that CDs and directors will look past a poorly produced tape but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The fact of the matter is, you’re really taking your chances if you think you can send in a grainy video or a video with horrible sound. (I try to only shoot commercial auditions with my iPhone)

Have you explored going to a self-tape studio?

Do you have any success stories with this method?

Quote that’s got me thinking: "Find your purpose and fling your life out to it. Find a way or make one. Try with all your might. Self-made or never made.” ~ Orison Swett Marden

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“Even though my passion is acting, that’s what I want to do, I have to keep myself open to everything because you never know what way your career is going to take off.”

— NATALIA OCHOA

When driven by a lifelong goal, the most resilient person will find the means to achieve that goal if they truly want it. They will make "Nutella sandwiches", move across the country, and become so proactive that their presence is undeniable. That is what Natalia Ochoa, actress, writer, producer, and director from Miami, FL did to get to where she is today. It doesn't matter if you haven't heard of Natalia before, but if you are familiar with what it takes to produce a web-series and network successfully, then you will undoubtedly respect her journey. 

While most actors are seeking work through auditioning alone, she has devised a balance between auditioning and creating her own projects. Therefore, it will come to you as no surprise that I was in a web-series created by Natalia in 2016.

I am very eager to share this eye-opening interview with you on what it takes to stay driven on a road that is full of twists and turns. 

• The most important factors when it comes to networking

• Who are the right people to work with when thinking about creating a web-series

• Why you're not getting the work you want and what you can do about it

• & so much more!

Connect with Natalia on her website, Instagram and Facebook 

Want to know when our next post drops? Subscribe here. Listen to our interview on iTunes.

“It’s about the number of impressions you make. First you build the quantity and then you can show them [casting] the quality.”

— HERMIE CASTILLO

In Episode 2, we featured Hermie Castillo, actor, Navy Sailor, comedy sketch writer, and postcard embracer. 

Ask yourself, how many times you have wracked your brain about delivering a Co-Star one liner? 

As an actor who received his first Co-Star credit without the help from an agent or manager and seven Co-Stars in seven months, it seems like Hermie Castillo might be able to provide an answer to that. Luckily for us, and our listeners, he was much more interested in sharing his tips on getting on an agent’s radar and his philosophy on acting.

If you haven’t heard of Hermie Castillo, you have probably heard of Scandal, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Superstore, and Mom which are just some of the show he’s been on. Each one has been a stepping stone for Hermie’s career in the right direction. 

The secret behind Castillo’s success is simple, he just reminds himself, “I always have to learn.”

For Hermie, there’s much more than just surviving in this industry. There’s making “impressions” and having those impressions put a smile on the face on the faces of casting directors and the professionals he works with.

• How to work on Co-Star auditions

• The best types of cold emails to send agents

• Why the number of impressions you make on a casting director is essential

• How to send post-cards to casting director and agents

• & much more!

I am very excited for you to hear this interview with actor on the rise Hermie Castillo!

Connect with Hermie on Instagram

Want to know when the next episode drops? Subscribe here. Listen to our interview on iTunes.

“Allow yourself to have all the emotions in the world”

— SELINA KAYE

From humble beginnings in Buffalo, NY, Selina Kaye found her love for acting by chance. It was because of an extra credit assignment that Selina was inspired to travel across the country to Los Angeles and pursue acting. 

For Selina, acting is a true love affair. In Episode 3, Kaye tells us about her love for self-tapes. She goes through the ins and outs of the self-tape and what it’s like to succeed without even being seen in person. 

Selina is a true enthusiast of acting. 

You can’t speak to her without be infected by her genuine lust towards working and creating full characters for every audition she gets. Her love for the CW network is charming and her down to earth perspective on the business makes this interview one of my favorites by far.

Selina opens up about where she is today in her career and admits that at the time this episode was recorded she hadn’t booked a job. But I believe Selina is unfazed by the natural ups and downs of this industry. You won’t be able to watch or listen to this interview, without coming to the conclusion that Selina’s definition of success isn’t confined to just booking, but rather, relishing in the entire experience itself. 

Her mantra is simple “That’s your time, make sure you leave there knowing you did your best possible work.”

• The tools you need to complete a Self-Tape audition from start to finish

• How to produce top level quality in your self-tapes

• How to book a self-tape audition

• What to do to make your bi-costal team happy

• & much more!

I am very excited for you to hear this interview with modern actor Selina Kaye!

Connect with Selina on Instagram.

Want to know when our next post drops? Subscribe here. Listen to our interview on iTunes.

“New day, fresh start, I’m gonna bring my ideas to life.”

— ALEX ALCHEH ON MOVING TO LOS ANGELES

In Episode 4, Actor, Director, Writer and Friend Alex Alcheh shares with us his journey from New York to Los Angeles and the story behind the creation of the first west-coast Syracuse University Alumni Showcase.

One common trait among successful actors is a sense of vision—spotting a need and responding without hesitation to address it, even when that means taking a risk.

 Alex Alcheh is a prime example. As an actor who spent a thousand dollars on an agent showcase, he had long struggled with feeling like he was actually showcasing his “real” self, and what he saw was a lack of authenticity in the market. But what he realized through talking to other artist friends was that the problem was much bigger than his own, so he started working on the idea of creating a showcase for actors BY actors. 

“So I wanted to showcase the real parts of people…the real me,” Alex tells The Modern Actor.

Despite feeling in over his head a couple of times along the way, Alex stuck with his vision and enlisted the help of his co-producer MaryAnn Pianka. Together they produced 11 scenes—six filmed and five live. Alex’s showcase successfully partnered agents and managers with this burgeoning group of thespians. 

Now approaching seven years in the business, he has used the showcase experience as a springboard to confidence, as he pursues more directorial endeavors as well as continues to hone his acting craft on tv and film sets in LA. 

Alex’s self-starter, collaborative and visionary qualities, have added up to a versatile body of work, all in the face of serious business and personal hurdles. 

Interviewing Alex Alcheh is a huge triumph for me, as he embodies the essence of a modern actor today.

• Why Alex Alcheh is one of the reasons why I created The Modern Actor.

• How his absurdly high falsetto helped him find his passion for acting.

• What his experience in New York taught him about facing his fears? And the silver lining in his apartment burning down. Don' worry no one was hurt.

• We discuss the differences between an actor in New York and LA, and how he decided to create, direct and act in the first west-coast Syracuse University Alumni Showcase within his first year in Los Angeles.

• Why Alex never wanted to go to film school, but just wanted to do it.

• And what directing has taught him about his own acting.

Connect with Alex on Instagram.

Want to know when our next post drops? Subscribe here. Listen to our interview on iTunes.

“I use all my life experiences in my craft.”

— LAURA MITCHELL

Laura Mitchell is someone who appreciates the value of her experiences. She is an actress, coach, and teacher at Rogues West Acting Studio in Vancouver, Canada. Laura’s core beliefs are apparent in her acting and her teaching.

Mitchell connects to her career and students through her real-world experiences. From acting at a young age to then stopping for years at her mothers behest, due to the dishonest behaviors her mom witnessed at the expense of innocent children. Laura recounts a story about casting agents rewarding their favorite actors with lollipops and dismissing the unchosen talent empty-handed. Although, she’s able to laugh it off now, Laura stressed how damaging this was to her love for acting.

Luckily, after years away from the stage, Mitchell decided to pursue acting once again. It was during her time at Concordia College, in Montreal, studying English literature that she was sparked with the desire to act. Following her childhood hobby, she left Montreal half way through her schooling and picked up acting full-time back in Vancouver.

As with any success story, Mitchell’s career didn’t take off in a flash. She regretfully admits to wasting some of the early years on partying and not taking her career as seriously as she does now. After one too many missed opportunities, Laura had enough and vowed not to let another one slip by on account of anything else, other than her performance.

Laura is now a seasoned actor whose trials and tribulations have shaped her into a dynamic actress with emotional depth and range.

In Episode 5, Laura skypes in from Canada to discuss Finding Balance in the Industry and shares her story as well as her thoughts on a multitude of topics that young actors face on a daily basis. From practical tools, to what it’s like for Canadian actors to book jobs in America, to her thoughts on how the #MeToo Movement is changing the showbiz culture. Laura’s interview is a must-listen.

• The audition mindset that both Laura and I share

• What Laura does to stay balanced in her career

• The good and bad aspects of being an actor in Vancouver

• Listen to Laura's personal story about encountering sexual harassment in the industry

• & much more!

I am thrilled that Laura reached out to talk on The Modern Actor. I think you are all going to enjoy this one!

Connect with Laura on Instagram. 

Want to know when our next post drops? Subscribe here. Listen to our interview on iTunes.

“I don’t like to go by knowledge, I like to go by imagination.”

— OREL DE LA MOTA ON GOING AGAINST THE GRAIN

An accomplished dancer, entrepreneur, influencer, and actor, Orel De La Mota shares how he's crafted a bountiful career in Hollywood. 

A skilled and talented actor who's been acting since he was a child in the Dominican Republic, was surrounded by older brothers and sisters in the entertainment industry. 

"I like to excel above what I've already seen,"De La Mota says. "I don't like to go by knowledge, I like to go by imagination."

He describes himself as a 'Man-Child' and during our talk you come to understand what he means by that. 

Inspired by the brilliant minds of Steve Jobs and the Wright Brothers, he knew he needed to go farther than his family had gone. 

Orel has an unwavering confidence in himself and his brand. His degree in Economics has given him a unique advantage of knowing where he fits and how to market his talents, so casting can take notice—which they have time and time again. 

"Where is the supply low and the demand high in the same place?" That was the question he asked himself during his final semester at Ohio State University, where he graduated from. He knew Los Angeles offered him his best odds of achieving success. 

• Branding and economic lessons to help you decide what market is best for you

• The best advice Orel has ever received about auditioning

• How to set yourself apart from the crowd

• His "Perfect Daily Routine"

• Everything you need to know about social media for actors like:

  • What type of content should I share?

  • Do I have to be on every social media platform?

  • How to hashtag to get more views to your post

• & so much more!

Connect with Orel on Instagram.

Want to know when our next post drops? Subscribe here. Listen to our interview on iTunes.

Thirty-eight years ago Ajay Jhaveri left his life as a math and physics major in India and came to Los Angeles with the dream of reinventing himself. Now he wants to help actors do the same with his company Argentum Photo Lab. 

"The only requirement you need to shoot with us is to have passion for what you're doing," says Jhaveri. That's what he relied on early in his career as a young photographer, as property managers refused to rent him a space to start his headshot printing business. 

“I had no money, no bank account, no credit, as far as the business world was concerned I didn’t exist.”

Ajay got tired of being rejected over and over and spoke candidly to an property owner, "Look I don't have [the above], but I got a lot of determination, I have a skill, your space has been empty for a while, its gonna be hard to rent it, will you take a chance on me? What's the worst that can happen, I don't pay you rent—you throw my ass out of here," recalls Jhaveri. The man didn't take a security deposit, didn't charge him first and last, and handed him the keys. The rest is history. 

This is all part of Ajay Jhaveri's sacred mission to build a life he loves and equip others to do the same. Whether it's through headshots or his social media consulting service, actors are encouraged to discover their unique skills. 

As founder of Argentum Photo Lab, Jhaveri has redefined his company's unique set of skills. He has since built the number of promotional services for actors in order for them to find the freedom and flow necessary to succeed.

"We don't take your headshot, we make your headshot together, Jahveri proudly states. 

• How to tell the difference between a photographer and a headshot photographer in order to save you money and get a product you are happy with

• The 5 tools every actor needs to have to be successful

• What two things you need to start a business

• Ajay shares the story of how he started Argentum Photo Lab thirty years ago

• What's even more important than a headshot for an actor to have in this day and age

• & so much more!

Schedule your next headshot session or social media consulting with Ajay and his team at Argentum Studios. Connect with Ajay on Instagram.