Speak L.A. the Podcast

What's your #1 tip for the international actor?

(Pasadena Playhouse, A Noise Within, Sundance Film Festival) Here are some of the things you'll hear about in this episode: 1) How did an interest in performance draw Nicole to casting? 2) How important is it to keep track of connections you make in the industry? 3) What is the casting director's role in creating the world of the show? 4) What is an important tip for a New York actor coming out to L.A.? 5) Why are EPA's important for me to do as an actor?

What's your #1 headshot tip?

(Evil, The Daily Show, The Brink, Halal in the Family, The Proposal) We had so much fun getting to talk with Aasif! Here are some of the things you'll hear about in this episode: 1) How many years did it take Aasif to get his first professional acting job? 2) How did Scott Baio influence Aasif's acting career (WHAA?)? 3) What was it like when Aasif and Connie Britton used to perform for a Murder Mystery company in the 1990s? 4) Why should YOU think about writing a one-man/woman show? 5) How did Aasif's first agent work? (It isn't what you think!)

We loved being able to interview Speak L.A.'s sound engineer and learn how he makes everyone sound so great. Here are a few things we learned: Why would an actor want to get into voice over acting? How can you know if V.O. work is right for you? If you want to work in V.O., do you need to have a home studio? Can YOU build a home voice over studio? Do you have a closet? What are the three steps to building a home studio?

This episode deals specifically with navigating life as an actor in the time of Covid-19. Here are just a few of the many wonderful things we learned: How can we stay creative and productive while still taking care of ourselves? How can we manage stress and anxiety during this time? How important is structure right now? Do THIS and you will feel so much better! Should we reach out to contacts during this time or should we just take a break from things? Is casting happening right now - Should I be trying to get auditions?

What's your #1 audition tip?

Whats your #1 audition tip?

What's your #1 commercial headshot tip?

Here's what you'll learn: 1) Should YOU move to L.A. with your actor child? Here's how to know for sure. 2) How long did it take Dove Cameron before she got her FIRST JOB and WHAT WAS IT? 3) How can you best prepare for your child actor's future? 4) Can you work as a "legal 18" if you are only 16 or 17 years old? (Yes, here's how!) 5) Should you as a parent also be your child's manager? 6) What is THE LAW that protects all child actors? (You need to know about this!) 7) How can you get in touch with Bonnie so YOU can personally consult with her?

What's your #1 audition tip?

(Masters of Sex, Gilmore Girls, Grown Ups 2) In this Podcast you will learn: 1) How can you feel more confident when you audition for things? 2) What HUGE movie star auditioned for Jami before he was a MASSIVE star... and then made a BIG impression on her... and WHY? 3) How can actors avoid scams? 4) What is something experienced actors know that new actors (sometimes) don't? 5) What should you do if you don't have an agent yet? 6) Do THIS every day.

What's your #1 audition tip?

(Alanna Masterson - Actress - Walking Dead Series Regular) EMPOWER yourself as you hear about… 1) What made Alanna take a break from acting 10 years ago? 2) How can you deal with rejection? 3) Why is it not PERSONAL when you don't get the job? 4) How does Alanna Masterson deal with sexual harassment issues? 5) How did Alanna get her part on The Walking Dead?

What is your #1 audition tip?

(Better Call Saul, A League of their Own, Sully, Grey's Anatomy) Here's what we talked about: 1) When did Ann first know she wanted to be an actress? 2) What was Ann's first film (hint: it was a hugely successful movie)? 3) Do THESE two things when you're scared (as an actor). 4) How can you build confidence? 5) Where can you find validation as an actor? 6) How can you deal with negativity and fear as an actor? 7) There is a lot you can't control, but you CAN control THIS...

What is the first thing an actor should do when they move to L.A.?

In this podcast we covered: 1) As an actor, how can you not take all the rejection personally? 2) What is one great way to deal with the unpredictability of an acting career? 3) How has the industry changed for the better over the years? 4) Who do you think Rory should have ended up with? 5) How does being an African American actor play into the roles you get?

(Series Regular on Gilmore Girls) Here's some of the cool stuff we talked about: 1) How did this Gilmore Girls Star become an actor "by accident?" 2) How did Yanic go from a modest single parent up-bringing to the life of a Hollywood professional actor? 3) For child actors, is it important to start your acting training at a young age? 4) What is it about "being yourself" that all great actors understand? 5) How can you not "push" as an actor? 6) How important is training for an actor?

What is your #1 audition tip?

(Bosch, Grey's Anatomy, Brooklyn Nine-Nine) In this podcast YOU will learn: 1) What is the best advice for actors who are just starting out? 2) How do you prepare for a scene with extreme emotion? 3) How important is it to be memorized? 4) How was DaJuan able to cry so much on Grey's Anatomy? 5) What is the best way to prepare for an audition? 6) What is it like getting to work with Shonda Rhimes?

(Bosch, Grey's Anatomy, Brooklyn Nine-Nine) In this podcast YOU will learn: 1) Should you have a career to "fall back on?" 2) How can you balance the craft with the business? 3) What's the most important thing an actor should know/do when they first come to L.A.? 4) What does it mean "They need more of you in there?" 5) What's the best part of being on a hit tv show for 6 seasons?

What is your #1 audition tip?

(In The Dark, The Librarians, Bella and the Bulldogs, Leverage, Band of Brothers) In this podcast YOU will learn: 1) What makes a great headshot...GREAT? 2) Do casting directors look at actors with no credits? 3) What was the casting process like for Band of Brothers? 4) Do casting directors look at actors who aren't represented?

(In The Dark, The Librarians, Bella and the Bulldogs, Leverage, Band of Brothers) In this podcast YOU will learn: 1) What a casting director is looking for from your audition? 2) Do casting directors look at actors with no credits? 3) What kind of training is a casting director looking for? 4) Do casting directors look at actors who aren't represented?

(NCIS, Blue Bloods, Lethal Weapon, Criminal Minds, Homecoming, Get Out, Atomic Blonde, Skyscraper) In this podcast YOU will learn: 1) What is descriptive narration? 2) How to form a voiceover community in L.A.? 3) How to get into the descriptive narration world of voiceover? 4) How to find peace and serenity as you pursue acting in L.A.?

(Cold Case, Ringer, Roswell) In this episode, you're going to learn: 1) What is the most challenging part about being a casting director? 2) How much is too much for an actor to reach out to casting directors? 3) How can you find a job working for an agent or casting director? 4) How important is it for an actor to have a really good reel? 5) How can you avoid picking the wrong agent?

(Cold Case, Ringer, Roswell) In this podcast, here are some important topics we cover: 1) What does this casting director say is "the best education an actor can get?" 2) What should every actor do every day? 3) What does Crazy Ex Girlfriend and Broad City have in common? 4) Don't ever send an email to a casting director that says THIS ————???! 5) Should you chat with the CD before an audition?

(Supernatural, The Suite Life of Zach & Cody, Christmas with the Kranks) In this podcast, you will learn: 1) What was it like working on The Suite Life of Zach and Cody? 2) How do you memorize lines? 3) What is it like on the set of Supernaturtal? 4) Why should you "never be a dick" on set?

(Supernatural, The Suite Life of Zach & Cody, Christmas with the Kranks, Supernatural Fandom) In this podcast, you will learn: 1) Why Kim Rhodes calls L.A. "A chimera and a meringue"? 2) How can you develop true confidence? 3) What's the worst part about this industry? 4) Is just being YOU enough?

(Downton Abbey, Ghostbusters, Beecham House) Here's some special backstage BONUS footage with Lesley! Hear about: 1) How is working in Europe different than working in the U.S.? 2) How do you keep your focus when you are working with a green screen? 3) How do you best use your theatre training? 4) How did your life change when you got the part in Downton Abbey?

(Downton Abbey, Beecham House, The Catch) In this podcast YOU will learn: 1) Can you be shy AND be an actor? 2) How can you get past the nerves when auditioning? 3) Should you take non-paying jobs? 4) How important is it to have an agent? 5) How old is too old to be an actor in Hollywood?

(The Family the Preys, House of Payne, Meet the Browns, The Haves and The Have Nots, Love Thy Neighbor) In this podcast YOU will learn: 1) What qualities does Rhayvnn look for in an actor when she's casting a movie? 2) How should you approach auditioning? 3) Should you be trying to break into the Atlanta film and TV market? 4) How many of the actors Rhavynn casts are local Atlanta hires and how many are flown in? 5) What about being an African American woman guides the choices Rhavynn makes in her work?

Michelle is the owner and lead manager of MORE ZAP MANAGEMENT (Clients have included: Tony Nominee - Brian Lane Green, Disney TV star - Kelli Berglund, and many other working actors, dancers, singers, choreographers, directors, and writers.) In this podcast YOU will learn: 1) How can you deal with all the NO's in this business? 2) What is the role of a manager? 3) How do you know if a rep is good?

(True Blood, True Detective, Spider Man 3, Jericho, Insecure) In this podcast YOU will learn: 1) How did Gregg become a recognizable actor overnight? 2) What's the trick to having a successful relationship if your significant other is also an actor? 3) How do you emotionally get through the times when you're not working? 4) How has the entertainment business changed as far as work for African-American actors?

In this podcast YOU will learn: 1) Where should you start with your social media? 2) What should you do if you HATE social media? 3) Why is NOW is the best time to be an actor? 4) Why did Julia Roberts finally join Instagram? 5) What should you be posting about?

(A Little Help With Carol Burnett, Liv and Maddie, Good Girls) In this podcast, we learned: 1) What's a child actor's life like? 2) Is it fun being on a TV show? 3) How does it feel to be the only kid on set? 4) As a parent, how do you balance career and real-life for your kid?

(Will & Grace, Fuller House, Entourage) In this podcast, we learned: 1) Why does Farah Bunch say working on a sitcom is "the life?" 2) What made Rami Malek special before he was a star? 3) How did Johnny Depp influence Rami Malek's career? 4) How can YOU have a celebrity mentor? 5) Why is having "an unusual look" a bonus for actors?

In this podcast YOU will learn: 1) How much money should an actor have when they first move to L.A.? 2) Do you need a car in L.A.? 3) What's the difference between a W-2 and a 1099 and why is this an important distinction for actors to understand? 4) If your parents are "helping you out "do you have to declare that? 5) What is the number one financial mistake that actors make?

(Days of Our Lives, The Bold & The Beautiful, Acting Dead, The Bay) In this podcast, we covered: 1) Day jobs for actors other than waiting tables. 2) How you should approach the beginning steps of your acting career. 3) What's it like working on a soap opera? 4) Why Patrika calls soap acting "the hardest work she's ever done."

In this podcast YOU will learn: 1) Can a "real-looking" person be a print model? 2) What pictures do you need if you want to peruse a career in print? 3) How old is too old to start your career as a model? 4) How should you dress for a print agency meeting? 5) What is a print audition like and how can you nail it? 6) Can YOU be a print model?

(Fuller House, Red Ruby, A Day in the Life of Young Robin Hood) In this podcast YOU will learn: 1) How did this young actor's life change overnight? 2) What is a network test like? 3) Do you have to sell yourself on social media to be a successful actor? 4) How do kid actors go to school? 5) How many hours can child actors work?

(WB/Looney Tunes Porky Pig, Tweety, Luke Skywalker, Marvin The Martian) In this podcast YOU will learn: 1) If you want to do voiceovers, where/how should you begin? 2) What kind of training should a voiceover actor have? 3) How can an aspiring voiceover artist best utilize social media? 4) How did Bob Bergen land the role of Porky Pig?

In this podcast YOU will learn: 1) What does it really mean to "be yourself?" 2) How do you distinguish yourself from the other actors you are going up against? 3) How can you specifically define your brand as an actor? 4) What is the most important thing for an actor to know when they first arrive in LA? 5) What is the one thing that is likely holding you back in your career?

(Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Oz, What About Bob?) In this podcast YOU will learn: 1) What was Kathryn's first screen test like? 2) Why do Hollywood producers hire adults to play child roles? 3) How did Kathryn get her first agent? 4) Is it possible to go from background worker to tv star? 5) Why does Kathryn describe an actor's life like "a zen puzzle?"

In this podcast YOU will learn: 1) Should you come to L.A. for pilot season? 2) Should you give yourself a certain amount of time in which to "make it?" 3) What exactly does a manager do? 4) What is the difference between an agent and a manager? 5) How should you reach out to a manager for representation?

In this episode, you're going to learn: 1) What's the most important AND most challenging thing that every actor needs to learn right NOW? 2) How can you be open to every door that might open for you? 3) Is it sometimes okay to quit? 4) How do you separate the fame and success from the art?

In this episode, you're going to learn: 1) Can you have a family AND a successful acting career? 2) How can you be fearless? 3) What's a common denominator of all working actors? 4) Why does John call acting "a crazy career?"

(IT, Burden, Game Night, The Disaster Artist, Isn't It Romantic, Shazam!) In this episode, you're going to learn: 1) How can you mentally approach the waiting room and not let it freak you out? 2) What's Coco's #1 tip for parents of child actors? 3) What kind of submissions should you send to a casting office? 4) Why does Coco call L.A. a "teenager?"

In this podcast YOU will learn: 1) What are on-line submission sites and what are the best ways to utilize them? 2) How can you not get "run over" by the speed of our current world? 3) What's the hardest part of transitioning from acting school into the world of being a professional actor? 4) Should you be submitting yourself on ALL of the on-line submission sites?