The Sauce

Darren Darnborough is a British-born Actor working in Hollywood. His TV & Film work includes hit US shows MacGyver, Magnum PI, 2 Broke Girls, Roots & True Blood. His upcoming projects include the films Abruptio alongside Oscar-winner Jordan Peele, and Jamojaya directed by Sundance-winner / Cannes-nominee Justin Chon.

Darren is also the Co-Founder and CEO of WeAudition.com - a revolutionary video-chat community for auditions, rehearsals, self tapes & advice.

We chatted to Darren about:

WeAudition - what is it, why actors should check it out, what we as Casting Directors use it for

The importance of having a strong reader for your self tapes

How to work a room

Reframing ‘networking’ as building relationships and top tips on how to do it without the Ick Factor.

What NOT to do in a networking opportunity

You can download the brand spanking new WeAudition App HERE

Follow WeAudition on INSTA

Follow Darren HERE

Sign up HERE and get 25% off with our code SAUCE25

 

This podcast wouldn’t be possible without the generous time of our guests, our producer Pete Dillon from Fearless Collective and The Roller.

Website: www.chickenandchips.com.au

Self Taping Course: www.chickenandchips.com.au/onlinecourse

Instagram: @chickenandchips_ 

Steph Insta: @itsstephaniepringle

Al Insta: @itsalisonfowler

TikTok: @chickenandchipscasting

In this truly insightful talk with the beautiful Socratis Otto we went deep early and covered so many interesting topics:

 

Mental health, anxiety, trauma and inner child

Highschool bullying

His journey into acting, including NIDA

The importance of saying no

His journey through NIDA

Tattoos and acting

Learning about the audition process - developing film and tv discipline on the job

Becoming an acting coach

How the audition process has changed

Advice for graduating actors

Leaning into what you’re good at and exploring different hats

Feature Film - The Flood and how Socs chooses a character

Authentic Casting

This podcast wouldn’t be possible without the generous time of our guests, our producer Pete Dillon from Fearless Collective and The Roller.

Website: www.chickenandchips.com.au

Self Taping Course: www.chickenandchips.com.au/onlinecourse

Instagram: @chickenandchips_ 

Steph Insta: @itsstephaniepringle

Al Insta: @itsalisonfowler

TikTok: @chickenandchipscasting

 

This podcast is recorded on Gadigal Land, we acknowledge the traditional owners of the land in which we live and work and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.

Sandy McIntyre talks to Stephanie Pringle and Alison Fowler about all things from casting to pronouns to the importance of living your truth.

Sandy McIntyre is a Non-Binary queer identifying person based in the Inner-West of Sydney. They work as a television producer and found that each show they produced, there was minimal LGBTQ+ representation. Because of this, Sandy decided to start their own website ‘Queerful’, where it’d be a space to tell queer stories, share queer experiences and educate not only those within the community, but those who’re cis, heterosexual and may have some questions unanswered.

 Sandy’s core focus is authentic representation within Australian media. Most recently, they finished their contract at a leading network where they worked as their Casting Producer, Celebrity Producer and held multiple Gender Diversity presentations advising how we can create inclusive content for Australian audiences.

 

We discuss:

Reality TV Casting & Representation on Screen

Sandy talks about being Non-Binary and the importance of living authentically

We discuss how fashion plays a role in expressing non-binary identity

Pronouns, including misgendering, respecting people’s pronouns, why it’s important to have your pronouns in email signatures

What makes a good ally

Gender diversity, authentic casting, representation on screen and why it’s important to see queer people reflected in stories accurately

Gender norms with kids

Sandy’s website Queerful - a place to share Queer stories and a place of education and resources for allies

How to be more diverse and more authentic - hiring AND casting

Creating safety for queer people through representation

Website: https://www.queerful.com.au/

Instagram: @queerful_

Instagram: @sandymcintyre_

This podcast wouldn’t be possible without the generous time of our guests, our producer Pete Dillon from Fearless Collective and The Roller.

Website: www.chickenandchips.com.au

Self Taping Course: www.chickenandchips.com.au/onlinecourse

Instagram: @chickenandchips_ 

Steph Insta: @itsstephaniepringle

Al Insta: @itsalisonfowler

TikTok: @chickenandchipscasting

 

This podcast is recorded on Gadigal Land, we acknowledge the traditional owners of the land in which we live and work and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.

Jo Stanley built a 20 year career in radio.  She has launched Broad Radio - a streaming radio station targeted at women,and men, addressing a market that is often forgotten, but is a key demographic. 

In this bonus episode of The Sauce, Jo talks about radio, Helen Mirren's sex life, and the crowdfunding program she has to build an app for Broad Radio. 

Watch the video intro here 

Join the revolution and listen here 

Donate here

 

This podcast wouldn’t be possible without the generous time of our guests, our producer Pete Dillon from Fearless Collective and The Roller.

Website: www.chickenandchips.com.au

Self Taping Course: www.chickenandchips.com.au/onlinecourse

Instagram: @chickenandchips_ 

Steph Insta: @itsstephaniepringle

Al Insta: @itsalisonfowler

TikTok: @chickenandchipscasting

Shabana Azeez is one of Australia’s young rising stars. She chats to Stephanie Pringle & Alison Fowler about her unique journey into acting and building up a body of work.

Shabana Azeez is an actor whose credits include TV guest roles in ABC’s The Letdown and Why Are You Like This?, and SBS’s The Hunting.  She co-won Best Female Actor at Tropfest in 2019 and has been nominated for Best Performance at Stellar Film Festival (2020), the South Australian Screen Awards (2019, 2020), and WIFT V-FEST (2021).  She made her theatre debut in RUMPUS’s production of The Wolves in 2019 and has since worked with South Australian theatre companies including State Theatre Company South Australia and ActNow Theatre.  Current projects include lead roles in Network 9’s Metrosexual and Fax Machine Films’ new independent feature Birdeater. Passionate about telling stories that push the envelope, Shabana has worked with a number of female directors, queer creatives, and culturally diverse teams of storytellers.

What We Discuss:

Her unique audition philosophy

Benefits of being a creative starting out in a smaller city

Building your body of work and creating a supportive community of like minded people

The ‘Feast or Famine’ nature of being a creative

Training at a grassroots level by getting on set as quickly as possible

Rejection

Conscious casting

Resources

Mike Jones: https://www.mikejones.tv/about

Metro Sexual: Nine Now https://www.9now.com.au/metro-sexual

Shabana Azeez Instagram: @shabazeez

Shabana Azeez: https://cpmgt.com.au/talent/shabana-azeez/

This podcast wouldn’t be possible without the generous time of our guests, our producer Pete Dillon from Fearless Collective and The Roller.

Website: www.chickenandchips.com.au

Self Taping Course: www.chickenandchips.com.au/onlinecourse

Instagram: @chickenandchips_ 

Steph Insta: @itsstephaniepringle

Al Insta: @itsalisonfowler

TikTok: @chickenandchipscasting

Now in its 24th year, Anthony Meindl founded Anthony Meindl’s Actor Workshop in order to share his unique approach to the work. With studios in nine cities across four continents, his philosophy has seen AMAW alumni gain international recognition. He’s known for coaching such stars as two time Golden Globe nominee Shailene Woodley (BIG LITTLE LIES), Marvel franchise favorite Pom Klementieff (MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 7), Netflix’s breakout stars Phoebe Dynevor (BRIDGERTON) and Brianne Howey (GINNY & GEORGIA), pop sensation and star of CINDERELLA Camila Cabello, and hundreds of others.

What we discuss:

We contemplate the BIG philosophical questions of Covid

Anthony’s method of teaching at AMAW

Self study vs. scene study

What acting REALLY is

The importance of imperfection

Feedback - when it’s helpful and when it’s not

The “Fuck It” Mentality

The real practical experiential work

“Know it to throw it” & back story

Audition tips

What does “make a Bold Choice” really mean?

Rejection

Resources:

AMWA - Sydney:

https://www.anthonymeindl.com/au/actor-school-sydney/

At Left Brain, Turn Right: https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/at-left-brain-turn-right-by-anthony-meindl-9780615534862

Book The Fucking Job: https://www.readings.com.au/products/24862614/book-the-fucking-job-a-guide-for-actors

 

This podcast wouldn’t be possible without the generous time of our guests, our producer Pete Dillon from Fearless Collective and The Roller.

Website: www.chickenandchips.com.au

Self Taping Course: www.chickenandchips.com.au/onlinecourse

Instagram: @chickenandchips_ 

Steph Insta: @itsstephaniepringle

Al Insta: @itsalisonfowler

TikTok: @chickenandchipscasting

Director, Writer, Actor, Producer, Casting Assistant Madeleine Dyer joins Stephanie Pringle & Alison Fowler to chat about her multidisciplinary approach to directing. 

Mads Dyer has been writing, directing and producing film, TV and web content for the last decade and her award winning short films have screened at numerous festivals. In 2016, Sexy Herpes – a multi-award winning web series she co-wrote and directed, was acquired by Channel 9 and Virgin in-flight, before the TV format was sold to Aetios Productions for CBC. Two seasons of the French-Canadian comedy are greenlit and commence production in 2021. First season of Sans Rendezvous is airing later this month.

Mads has completed two director attachments – one with Rachel Griffiths on Ride Like a Girl and the other with Kriv Stenders on Slim and I. Following her attachment with Rachel Griffiths, Mads has been developing projects with Rachel’s production company, Magdalene Media, including 'Saving Gary Sweet', a TV comedy project that she has co-created and written, along with Sanctuary a teenage TV drama/thriller with Mad Dan productions. Mads’ comedy animation project, 'Crocodile Creek' has been optioned by Princess Pictures and is being currently pitched. Mads has two feature films in late development that she is co-writing and directing, 'Blood Sisters' with Roaring Entertainment and 'Trouble Karma Christmas' with Hoodlum and in talks with Stan. Mads is also attached to many other creative projects within the TV realm, including 'Fishman' and 'BluePrint' with Tony Rogers, 'Ladylord'  and '52 Weeks of Freaks' with Jo De Fina and Christian Hull, among others.

Mads has been casting assistant for Chameleon and Catapult casting for many years, along with lecturing in acting, writing and directing for JMC Melbourne.

We Discuss:

Self doubt

The importance of short form content creation 

Multidisciplinary approach to each facet of her craft

The importance of trusting your gut when collaborating

Mads’ experience being a director’s attachment for Rachel Griffiths & Kriv Stenders

Building your own body of work and knowing the power of no

The evolutions of short form content (with a particular focus on Blood Sisters)

What Mads looks for when she views audition tapes

The importance of being open and fearless in an audition

Website: https://www.maddanproductions.com.au/main-page/

Instagram: @madsdyer

Instagram: @maddanproductions

Resources

NEIS Program: https://business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/New-Business-Assistance-with-NEIS

Gold Dust by DJ Fresh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNuUgbUzM8U

Many Lives, Many Masters by Dr Brian Weiss https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-au/books/dr-brian-weiss/many-lives-many-masters/9780749913786?gclid=CjwKCAjw49qKBhAoEiwAHQVTo-QfRc6SQXsXhv7b-CjGfOdMCvVBt4GiTqzHYBZnfLbP3yBV5O7lbxoCSyYQAvD_BwE#GOR001333743

This podcast is recorded on Gadigal Land, we acknowledge the traditional owners of the land in which we live and work and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.

The Sauce with Chicken and Chips Casting is hosted by two of Australia's leading Casting Directors for Film, TV, Commercials and Content - join Alison Fowler & Stephanie Pringle each week, as they chat with people they love about things they love, hate or feel strong feelings about on topics ranging from creative processes to art & pop culture to acting, film & TV, mental health and their favourite topic representation and diversity and it's all no bullsh*t.

 

This podcast wouldn’t be possible without the generous time of our guests, our producer Pete Dillon from Fearless Collective and The Roller.

Website: www.chickenandchips.com.au

Self Taping Course: www.chickenandchips.com.au/onlinecourse

Instagram: @chickenandchips_ 

Steph Insta: @itsstephaniepringle

Al Insta: @itsalisonfowler

TikTok: @chickenandchipscasting

This podcast is recorded on Gadigal Land, we acknowledge the traditional owners of the land in which we live and work and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.

The Sauce with Chicken and Chips Casting is hosted by two of Australia's leading Casting Directors for Film, TV, Commercials and Content - join Alison Fowler & Stephanie Pringle each week, as they chat with people they love about things they love, hate or feel strong feelings about on topics ranging from creative processes to art & pop culture to acting, film & TV, mental health and their favourite topic representation and diversity and it's all no bullsh*t.

 

Chicken and Chips Casting – Company Bio

 Founded in 2015, Chicken and Chips Casting is a Full Service Casting Company for Film, Television, TVCs & New Media with offices in Sydney, Brisbane & Melbourne led by Principal Casting Directors Alison Fowler & Stephanie Pringle.

 Recent credits include Australian pioneer film The Flood directed by Victoria Wharfe McIntyre, Ellie & Abbie (and Ellie’s Dead Aunt) directed by Monica Zanetti (the first Aussie film to open the Sydney Mardi Gras Film Festival in it's 27 year history), Deadhouse Dark Anthology created by Enzo Tedeschi, Blood Sisters directed by Madeleine Dyer, factual program Stargazing produced by the BBC, Short Documentary Bright Lights directed by Charby Ibrahim, Sit-Com Metro Sexual directed by Henry Boffin for Channel 9 and Chlorine directed by Melissa Anastasi and Deluge directed by Cloudy Rhodes - both of the latter premiered at the 2019 Sydney Film Festival.

 Their work has been shown in the world’s most prestigious Film Festivals and their cast ensembles have received countless nominations and awards.

 Al & Steph are known as Australia’s most dynamic casting duo. In 2018, they were the first Casting Directors to win B&T’s 30 under 30 Award and in 2021 they were crowned ‘Best of the Best’ by B&T yet again in the Casting Director category. 

As proud members of the Casting Guild of Australia they are both a part of the Guild’s Inclusion Committee to continue their work in advocating for representation and diversity in Casting. Both are mentored by Casting Industry legend, Fiona Dann. In 2020, they were nominated for 3 Casting Guild Awards.

This podcast wouldn’t be possible without the generous time of our guests, our producer Pete Dillon from Fearless Collective and The Roller.

 

Website: www.chickenandchips.com.au

Self Taping Course: www.chickenandchips.com.au/onlinecourse

Instagram: @chickenandchips_ 

Steph Insta: @itsstephaniepringle

Al Insta: @itsalisonfowler

TikTok: @chickenandchipscasting