The Acting Podcast from The BGB Studio

In this episode, Risa and Steve talk with Mia Schachter- one of Hollywood’s top intimacy coordinators- about their role in the Industry + how actors can advocate for themselves in any situation with regards to intimacy, sex, nudity, and consent of all kinds. Whether choreographing sex scenes, negotiating nudity riders, or simply having the backs of actors on set, Mia discusses what they actually do (and you’ll find this as fascinating and necessary as we did), along with their background, the challenges around creating safe sets, what they do to help actors feel safe and empowered, and how they see the future of film and television- and acting- in regards to intimacy, boundaries, and facilitating the kind of freedom necessary for artists to dive into creating their deepest, most vulnerable work. This is a vital conversation for all actors and Industry professionals, and we want to hear from you on what speaks to you from this discussion!Subscribe! And if you're loving the Podcast, leave a review and rating!Your words will help connect us all and bring these valuable conversations to even more actors- and other artists- around the world.‍AND… Screenshot, post + tag us @bgbstudio on IG!‍If you’ve missed any episodes, catch up now!Guests & Resources:MIA SCHACHTER:Broadway World: Mia Schachter Keeping It Safe at THE WILD PARTYMia: IMDb + IG + WebsiteMia Schachter was born and raised in Los Angeles and returned in 2018 after working in theater in New York City for nearly ten years. Their background in theater, dance, casting, gender studies, and neuroscience informs their work. Their educational background includes a BA in Philosophy from Columbia with an emphasis on ethics and identity. Working for networks like HBO, Netflix, and Freeform, Mia’s job is to attune to the needs of actors and directors with scenes that include simulated sex, nudity, and sexual content, in order to make sure that everyone is emotionally and mentally safe on set, while helping showrunners and directors achieve their creative vision. They work with actors, directors, writers, producers, legal teams at studios and networks, costume and make up designers, and production crews, negotiating everything from sex simulation choreography to nudity riders, to providing emotional support to actors in intimate situations. Just like a stunt coordinator, they help make scenes look real and stay safe.Back To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and other social spaces where we hang out — with tons more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel.@BGBStudio on IG + Twitter + TikTok + @theBGBStudio on Facebook. ‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Group Career Coaching series!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Steve in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

Casting titan Mary Vernieu, whose company Betty Mae Casting is known for working with prestige directors and indie talent alike, joins Risa and Steve in this episode for an in-depth discussion of the casting process, the importance of preparation, championing and nurturing actors and filmmakers, and always approaching the work of acting, auditioning, and casting with creativity, joy, flexibility, and play. Mary’s journey has been incredible so far; she’s created a meaningful, creative family at Betty Mae, and is deeply grateful for it all. We are thrilled to share this insightful and moving conversation with you. Fun fact: Mary started in Risa’s office in 1990 and says she “learned everything she knows from Risa.” She built her casting empire soon thereafter… Betty Mae is now 25 years old!Subscribe! And if you're loving the Podcast, leave a review and rating!Your words will help connect us all and bring these valuable conversations to even more actors- and other artists- around the world.‍AND… Screenshot, post + tag us @bgbstudio on IG!‍If you’ve missed any episodes, catch up nowGuests & Resources:MARY VERNIEU:Betty Mae Casting: IG, Facebook + Official siteMary’s IMDbMary Vernieu started her casting career working with Risa (a few) decades ago (first on The Doors with Oliver Stone), and since then she’s built a casting empire with her company Betty Mae Casting, in which she honors and supports filmmakers, new and established. Mary has cast over 300 features and several TV shows during her career, including recently Dolemite is My Name, Knives Out, I, Tonya, Black Swan, and the HBO series Euphoria. With an eye for talent in both actors and filmmakers, she has developed and enjoys long-standing working relationships with many acclaimed directors such as Darren Aronofsky, David Ayer, David O. Russell, Robert Rodriguez, and Rian Johnson. In 2013, Mary won an Artios Award for the casting of Silver Linings Playbook and was nominated for two more Artios Awards last year for A Star is Born and Deadpool II. In addition to her casting work, Mary has also recently ventured into producing for such films as Trust Me, Come Simi, and Spare Room.Back To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and other social spaces where we hang out — with tons more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel.@BGBStudio on IG + Twitter + TikTok + @theBGBStudio on Facebook. ‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Group Career Coaching series!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Steve in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

Booking work starts with a booking mindset. In this episode, Risa and Steve break down the ways in which to shift your approach to booking work and cultivate a consistent practice in order to do amazing work all the time, whether in a high-pressure audition setting, self-tape, on set, in rehearsal, or in your approach to your career. Listen in and learn how to change your norm from nervousness, self-consciousness, even self-defeat, to believing in yourself, being self-aware, proactive, and deeply knowing your power as an actor and your value as an artist. Go ahead and do some journaling on your “why,” on your purpose, when you’re done listening. We want to hear from you!Subscribe! And if you're loving the Podcast, leave a review and rating!Your words will help connect us all and bring these valuable conversations to even more actors- and other artists- around the world.‍AND… Screenshot, post + tag us @bgbstudio on IG!‍If you’ve missed any episodes, catch up now!Guests & Resources:Risa Bramon Garcia - Meet RisaSteve Braun - Meet SteveBack To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and other social spaces where we hang out — with tons more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel.@BGBStudio on IG + Twitter + TikTok + @theBGBStudio on Facebook. ‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Group Career Coaching series!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Steve in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

Risa and Steve sat down with Audrey Moore, a passionate artist, popular podcast host, and actor’s advocate. She has an incredible focus and discipline in how she engages in the business of acting, as well as her craft, and she’s here to share her journey. Listen in to this juicy talk about what it means to be a story ninja, how to normalize the audition experience, the importance of developing a consistent and practical practice, and the origin story behind her hugely renowned podcast AUDREY HELPS ACTORS! Our question to you after listening: What is your devoted and passionate practice?Subscribe! And if you're loving the Podcast, leave a review and rating!Your words will help connect us all and bring these valuable conversations to even more actors- and other artists- around the world.‍AND… Screenshot, post + tag us @bgbstudio on IG!‍If you’ve missed any episodes, catch up now!Guests & Resources:AUDREY MOORE:Audrey Helps Actors PodcastIG: @audreyscoresmoore + the @audreyhelpsactorspodcastAudrey Moore is a working actor with credits that include her series regular role in the Netflix show GODLESS as well as many recurring and guest appearances on BETTER CALL SAUL, LUCIFER, THE OA, CASTLE ROCK, and many, many more. Audrey also hosts a hugely popular podcast, AUDREY HELPS ACTORS in which she talks with other working actors and Industry experts about the struggles and opportunities of being a working professional.Back To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and other social spaces where we hang out — with tons more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel.@BGBStudio on IG + Twitter + TikTok + @theBGBStudio on Facebook. ‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Group Career Coaching series!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Steve in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

Sarah Finn is the award-winning casting director of Oscar winners and blockbusters alike. Best known for her work casting the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, she has also cast a huge range of films and TV shows [full bio below]. In this episode Sarah talks with Risa and Steve about her casting journey- its joys and challenges, about her unique process, and about how to approach the work from a place of creative collaboration, curiosity, and a deep love for acting. Fun fact: Sarah started her epic casting adventure as Risa’s assistant a couple of decades ago.Subscribe! And if you're loving the Podcast, leave a review and rating!Your words will help connect us all and bring these valuable conversations to even more actors- and other artists- around the world.‍AND… Screenshot, post + tag us @bgbstudio on IG!‍If you’ve missed any episodes, catch up now!Guests & Resources:SARAH FINN:IMDb + InstagramSarah Finn is an award-winning Casting Director who has cast over 100 feature films. Known for casting the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, just a few of those films include Captain America, Thor, Guardians of The Galaxy, Ant-Man, Doctor Strange, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Captain Marvel. She has also earned recognition for the groundbreaking cultural sensations and multiple Oscar-winners Black Panther, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and 2006’s Best Picture, Crash. Those three films also all won the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture and earned her the Casting Society of America’s highest honor, the Artios Award for Outstanding Achievement in Casting. To date, 43 of her films have opened at #1 in the Domestic Box- Office. In 2019 alone Sarah cast 4 out of the top 5 grossing films in the world – Avengers: Endgame, The Lion King, Spider-Man: Far from Home and Captain Marvel. For Disney+, she cast the breakout Star Wars hit series The Mandalorian and is currently in charge of casting Marvel’s entire new slate of streaming projects. A graduate of Yale University and member of AMPAS (Executive Committee, Casting Branch), Sarah has served on the Executive Board of Women in Film and is on the Board of Advisors for the highly acclaimed Master Class educational series. She is also a founding participant in the Time’s Up Movement.Back To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and other social spaces where we hang out — with tons more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel.@BGBStudio on IG + Twitter + TikTok + @theBGBStudio on Facebook. ‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Group Career Coaching series!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Steve in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

No matter how bad things get, art brings hope. In this first episode of Season 2, Risa and Steve speak to being an artist in 2020 in the face of a worldwide pandemic, systemic racism, and an election; where the Industry is headed, and whatever uncertainty and distress result from it all. And how keeping hope- and your art- alive is both a soul-serving necessity and a revolutionary declaration that we are still here, we are still feeling, we are still human. All you have to do is show up!Subscribe! And if you're loving the Podcast, leave a review and rating!Your words will help connect us all and bring these valuable conversations to even more actors- and other artists- around the world.‍AND… Screenshot, post + tag us @bgbstudio on IG!‍If you’ve missed any episodes, catch up now!Guests & Resources:Risa Bramon Garcia - Meet RisaSteve Braun - Meet SteveBack To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and other social spaces where we hang out — with tons more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel.@BGBStudio on IG + Twitter + TikTok + @theBGBStudio on Facebook. ‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Group Career Coaching series!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Steve in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

Risa, Billy, and Leah (whose history together runs deep) sat down together (over Zoom) to talk about how actors and CDs are breaking down barriers and connecting in this “new normal” via social media challenges, IG LIVES, and open calls, including the massively popular monologue challenge that Leah ran and took boldly into a daily Instagram LIVE. They spoke about how they’re each making the new virtual space work, what they want from actors during these challenging months (and actually, always), + what the future of casting will bring. It’s a dynamic and honest conversation, giving you a peek into the minds and hearts of these veteran, award-winning, actor-loving Casting Directors.Subscribe! And if you're loving the Podcast, leave a review and rating!Your words will help connect us all and bring these valuable conversations to even more actors- and other artists- around the world.‍AND… Screenshot, post + tag us @bgbstudio on IG!‍If you’ve missed any episodes, catch up now!Guests & Resources:Leah Daniels-ButlerIG: @ldbcastingLeah Daniels-Butler is a casting director and producer responsible for launching the careers of talented actors like Gabourey Sidibe, star of the Academy Award winning film PRECIOUS, and other notables. She served as Casting Director for television’s #1 show EMPIRE on Fox. Leah began her career as a casting assistant in 1991. In 1994, Leah landed a coveted casting position as the assistant to Leslie Litt, Senior VP of Casting at Warner Brothers. Within two years, she earned a promotion to casting executive and began working on award-winning projects like FRIENDS and SUDDENLY SUSAN. Both shows earned Primetime Emmy Awards for acting roles. In 2001, Leah left WBTV to start LDB Casting, the company she owns and operates today. Leah works across genres securing talent for films like 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS and THE PAPERBOY. She is the recipient of the Hamilton Award for Outstanding Casting for her work on THE BUTLER and the Casting Society of America’s “Outstanding Achievement in Casting for a Television Drama” award for her work on EMPIRE. The Casting Society of America recently appointed her to its board of directors, where she serves as the only African-American member of the board.Billy HopkinsIG: @williamphopkinsBilly Hopkins casts film, television, and theatre. His credits include FATAL ATTRACTION, JFK, GOOD WILL HUNTING, PRECIOUS, LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER, and MUDBOUND, among many many others. He cast the pilots for ROSEANNE and SEX AND THE CITY. Billy and Risa were casting partners throughout the 80s and into the 90s, and together cast so many iconic films. Billy was also responsible for the casting of the 1992 Broadway production of A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, the 1990 Broadway production of SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION, and the 1988 Broadway production of SPEED THE PLOW, to name a few. He has also directed numerous stage productions. Billy received the Emmy Award for casting WHEN THEY SEE US.Back To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and other social spaces where we hang out — with tons more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel.@BGBStudio on IG + Twitter + TikTok + @theBGBStudio on Facebook. ‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Group Career Coaching series!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Steve in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

In this special bonus episode of The Acting Podcast, Risa and Steve spoke with an incredible group of Casting Directors (in a Zoom roundtable) who are sharing challenges, open calls, and calls for reels on social media, and doing Instagram Lives, all with the intention of being in collaboration with actors and to keep their own artistry alive during these challenging time. Erica Bream, Jason Kennedy, Ramani Leah, Seth Caskey, Cara Chute Rosenbaum, Andrea Bunker, Becky Silverman, and Ryan Glorioso are all offering generously to artists all over the world in ways to bring actors’ unique voices to our collective work right now. We were so moved by what they had to say about the gorgeous, brave work they’re seeing from thousands of artists around the globe, and we hope this episode will bring inspiration and encouragement to you and artists everywhere!Subscribe! And if you're loving the Podcast, leave a review and rating!Your words will help connect us all and bring these valuable conversations to even more actors- and other artists- around the world.‍AND… Screenshot, post + tag us @bgbstudio on IG!‍If you’ve missed any episodes, catch up now!Guests & Resources:Andrea Bunker (BIG LITTLE LIES, SHARP OBJECTS, A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS) IG: @andreabunkerlaErica Bream (ALTERED CARBON, 11.22.63, STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS) IG: @ericasbreamcastSeth Caskey (GLOW, SIREN, DON’T LOOK DEEPER) IG: @sethcaskeyJason Kennedy (NCIS, NCIS: LOS ANGELES, ELIZABETHTOWN) IG: @kennedycastingRamani Leah (BATES MOTEL, 11.22.63) IG: @topramaniBecky Silverman (CRIMINAL MINDS, AMERICAN HORROR STORY, DAY ONE) IG: @bsvogue99Ryan Glorioso (Location Casting for LOOKING FOR ALASKA, ON BECOMING A GOD IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, 13 REASONS WHY) IG: @rygloCara Chute Rosenbaum (THE MINDY PROJECT, JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL, AMERICAN CRIME STORY: THE PEOPLE VS. OJ SIMPSON) IG: @ccrcastingBack To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and other social spaces where we hang out — with tons more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel.@BGBStudio on IG + Twitter + TikTok + @theBGBStudio on Facebook. ‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Group Career Coaching series!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Steve in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

For today’s special bonus episode of THE ACTING PODCAST, we gathered together our brilliant BGB Master Teachers for an important, frank discussion about coping during the time of the coronavirus, the necessity of creating space for community and artistry to happen, and how the Industry is already starting to shift throughout this as a result — and in many ways, for the better. We are blown away by the generosity, courage, and leadership of these fierce artists, our BGB Teachers, and by the incredible, moving work happening here in our BGB Zoom classes. We couldn’t do any of this without them! We hope this talk offers hope and heart, as it did for us, and as we connect on our shared experience as artists everywhere.Subscribe! And if you're loving the Podcast, leave a review and rating!Your words will help connect us all and bring these valuable conversations to even more actors- and other artists- around the world.‍AND… Screenshot, post + tag us @bgbstudio on IG!‍If you’ve missed any episodes, catch up now!Guests & Resources:Risa Bramon Garcia - Meet RisaSteve Braun - Meet SteveBack To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and other social spaces where we hang out — with tons more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel.@BGBStudio on IG + Twitter + TikTok + @theBGBStudio on Facebook. ‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Group Career Coaching series!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Steve in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

Risa and Steve sat down together via Zoom for a special bonus episode of The Acting Podcast to speak to our community of artists all over the world about life, art, and healing in the time of Corona. Listen in to what they’ve been discovering about our collective need for artistic expression as we all move through this challenging time. In this, they suggest ways in which we can each maintain- and even cultivate- open hearts and artistry in the face of a global pandemic. The message through all of this is clear: We believe in the power of creating in our collective community. We’re here for you. And we’re all in this together.Subscribe! And if you're loving the Podcast, leave a review and rating!Your words will help connect us all and bring these valuable conversations to even more actors- and other artists- around the world.‍AND… Screenshot, post + tag us @bgbstudio on IG!‍If you’ve missed any episodes, catch up now!Guests & Resources:Risa Bramon Garcia - Meet RisaSteve Braun - Meet SteveBack To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and other social spaces where we hang out — with tons more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel.@BGBStudio on IG + Twitter + TikTok + @theBGBStudio on Facebook. ‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Group Career Coaching series!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Steve in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

Pilot Season. Whether you’re going out for series regulars non-stop or dreaming of your first co-star, this time of year is fraught. In this episode, Risa, Steve, and a special guest- Casting Director Becky Silverman- break down the idea of Pilot Season (what it means + what’s really going on behind the scenes) and what you can do to have an active Pilot Season of your own- with or without the Industry’s permission.Subscribe! And if you're loving the Podcast, leave a review and rating!Your words will help connect us all and bring these valuable conversations to even more actors- and other artists- around the world.‍AND… Screenshot, post + tag us @bgbstudio on IG!‍If you’ve missed any episodes, catch up now!Guests & Resources:Becky Silverman: IMDbBack To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and other social spaces where we hang out — with tons more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel.@BGBStudio on IG + Twitter + TikTok + @theBGBStudio on Facebook. ‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Group Career Coaching series!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Steve in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

Welcome to 2020. It’s a New Year. A new decade. Now is the time to take stock, to refocus, and to move forward from this moment on with a clarity of vision and purposeful, practical action. What does that look like for you? How do you start? In this special bonus episode, listen in as Risa and Steve guide and encourage you to step into this new beginning from a place of artistic power and creative certainty.Subscribe! And if you're loving the Podcast, leave a review and rating!Your words will help connect us all and bring these valuable conversations to even more actors- and other artists- around the world.‍AND… Screenshot, post + tag us @bgbstudio on IG!‍If you’ve missed any episodes, catch up now!“It’s important for you to take stock. If you are living in the suffering of this thing, you have to release that. This is a great time of year to say, I release that, and I come back to myself and what is important to me, what I care about deeply, and who I am as a creative force.”‍Guests & Resources:Risa Bramon Garcia - Meet RisaSteve Braun - Meet SteveBack To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and other social spaces where we hang out — with tons more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel.@BGBStudio on IG + Twitter + TikTok + @theBGBStudio on Facebook. ‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Group Career Coaching series!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Steve in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

Bernie Telsey started his casting career back in the day alongside Risa, and popped into BGB to sit down with Risa + Steve to talk about it all. As head of the massive- and massively successful- Telsey + Company in New York (and LA), Bernie Telsey is a true titan in the casting industry. In this episode, listen in as he talks to Risa and Steve about his passion for collaboration, what he hopes to see from actors in the audition room, and how his unique approach to casting- stemming from a deep love of the theater and the experience of connecting to a performance on a profound, emotional level- has made him one of the most sought-after (not to mention beloved) casting directors in the world.Subscribe! And if you're loving the Podcast, leave a review and rating!Your words will help connect us all and bring these valuable conversations to even more actors- and other artists- around the world.‍AND… Screenshot, post + tag us @bgbstudio on IG!‍If you’ve missed any episodes, catch up now!Guests & Resources:BERNIE TELSEY:Telsey + Company siteMCC Theater siteSince opening Telsey + Company in 1988, Bernie, along with his amazing staff of casting directors, associates, and assistants have cast such Broadway shows as Rent, Wicked, Hairspray, In the Heights, Kinky Boots, Hamilton, Network, Oklahoma!,To Kill a Mockingbird, as well as countless national tours, Off-Broadway productions, and regional theatre productions around the globe. Bernie and staff have worked on the feature films Margin Call, Mary Poppins Returns, The Greatest Showman, Into the Woods, Rachel Getting Married, and many many more, including the upcoming film adaptation of In the Heights. Television projects include Fosse/Verdon, This Is Us, The Big C, Masters of Sex, Ugly Betty, Rent Live, Jesus Christ Superstar Live, as well as upcoming shows for HBO, Netflix, and AppleTV+. Telsey + Company have won an Emmy Award and an Independent Spirit Award for casting and and have been nominated for loads more. Bernie was the 2016 recipient of the Casting Society of America’s Hoyt Bowers Award for his huge contributions to casting. As an office, Telsey + Company have won 25 CSA Artios Awards. Bernie serves as the New York Vice President of the Casting Society of America and serves on the Board of Governors for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Bernie is also one of the artistic directors of MCC Theater in New York, a thriving off Broadway company, newly housed on the west side, the heart of all the work he does.Back To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and other social spaces where we hang out — with tons more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel.@BGBStudio on IG + Twitter + TikTok + @theBGBStudio on Facebook. ‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Group Career Coaching series!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Steve in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

Knowing how to talk to your family about your career can be a landmine filled with all kinds of emotional pitfalls: shame, insecurity, trying to impress them, a need for validation, and a lack of transparency about where you’re actually at and why you keep doing what you’re doing. In this episode, Risa and Steve break down how you can approach and communicate with your loved ones from a place of compassion, setting healthy boundaries, releasing expectations, and claiming artistic empowerment by taking full ownership- without apology- of what you do and why. Before you go home for the holidays or engage with your family in any way that may feel loaded, have a listen!Subscribe! And if you're loving the Podcast, leave a review and rating!Your words will help connect us all and bring these valuable conversations to even more actors- and other artists- around the world.‍AND… Screenshot, post + tag us @bgbstudio on IG!‍If you’ve missed any episodes, catch up now!Guests & Resources:Risa Bramon Garcia - Meet RisaSteve Braun - Meet SteveBack To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and other social spaces where we hang out — with tons more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel.@BGBStudio on IG + Twitter + TikTok + @theBGBStudio on Facebook. ‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Group Career Coaching series!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Steve in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

Listen in as Risa and Steve explore every angle of rejection – from the feelings triggered when it happens – to the perspective from the creative team (behind the camera) – and, most importantly, what you can do to take care of yourself, stay focused, and even thrive on your artistic journey in the face of rejection. Learn how you can bounce back as you cultivate your passion and your creativity, and continuing to bring yourself fully into any audition room and any meeting, time and time again. Be ready to collaborate, to offer your talent freely and with generosity, and do your best work, no matter the outcome. Say YES to the NO!Subscribe! And if you're loving the Podcast, leave a review and rating!Your words will help connect us all and bring these valuable conversations to even more actors- and other artists- around the world.‍AND… Screenshot, post + tag us @bgbstudio on IG!‍If you’ve missed any episodes, catch up now!“There is so much that is joyful about acting. You get to feel and express deep elements of the human experience that most people out there in the world won’t even go near, because they can’t, or don’t have the courage. You get to feel that multiple times a day. So you can focus on the joy of it and let that lead you. And that’s the work of loving the work.”‍Guests & Resources:Risa Bramon Garcia - Meet RisaSteve Braun - Meet SteveBack To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and other social spaces where we hang out — with tons more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel.@BGBStudio on IG + Twitter + TikTok + @theBGBStudio on Facebook. ‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Group Career Coaching series!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Steve in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

In the wake of the ongoing #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, conversations surrounding consent as an actor in this Industry are more vital than ever. In this panel, Risa talks with powerhouse advocates in our Industry: television director and actor Laura Innes, TV producer Laurie Zaks, actor and advocate Esmé Bianco, actor and journalist Margaret Judson, and actor Nick Ballard. This is an honest and provocative conversation that covers everything from nudity on set and intimacy coordinators to redefining what it means to request and offer consent with agency, while doing deep, creative work in storytelling, in business dealings, and in everyday life.Subscribe! And if you're loving the Podcast, leave a review and rating!Your words will help connect us all and bring these valuable conversations to even more actors- and other artists- around the world.‍AND… Screenshot, post + tag us @bgbstudio on IG!‍If you’ve missed any episodes, catch up now!Guests & Resources:Esmé Bianco: Instagram, Twitter, IMDb, The Huffington Post: What It’s Like To Film ‘Game Of Thrones’ Sex Scenes As A Survivor Of AbuseMargaret Judson: Official Site, NY Times Op-Ed: How Do You Play a Porn Star in the #MeToo Era?Laurie Zaks: Mandeville Films, Twitter, InstagramLaura Innes: IMDbNick Ballard: Instagram, Twitter, IMDbBack To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and other social spaces where we hang out — with tons more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel.@BGBStudio on IG + Twitter + TikTok + @theBGBStudio on Facebook. ‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Group Career Coaching series!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Steve in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

In our recent BGB class, “The Business of Acting,” Risa had the opportunity to sit down with Josiah Akinyele, an agent at Innovative Artists. Listen in as they discuss the agent/client relationship, how to “make it,”along with Josiah’s unique journey from a challenging upbringing in Africa and the U.S.- to working at Banana Republic- to discovering his path and passion as a Hollywood agent. Josiah talks about what he needs from his clients (and potential clients), why the Industry is more competitive than ever right now, and what it takes for actors to be seen and find real success in our business.Subscribe! And if you're loving the Podcast, leave a review and rating!Your words will help connect us all and bring these valuable conversations to even more actors- and other artists- around the world.‍AND… Screenshot, post + tag us @bgbstudio on IG!‍If you’ve missed any episodes, catch up now!Guests & Resources:Josiah AkinyeleBack To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and other social spaces where we hang out — with tons more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel.@BGBStudio on IG + Twitter + TikTok + @theBGBStudio on Facebook. ‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Group Career Coaching series!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Steve in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

In this episode of The Acting Podcast, Risa and Steve tackle the most frequently asked question of all: “How do I get an agent?” They break it all down, covering everything from cultivating industry relationships and the practical, business side of communicating to advocating for yourself in your work and in the Industry so that you’re ready to engage with agents and managers. Listen in as they champion you to reclaim your power, create connection, bring your value to every aspect of you career, and understand what’s ultimately important in finding real success- with or without an agent.Subscribe! And if you're loving the Podcast, leave a review and rating!Your words will help connect us all and bring these valuable conversations to even more actors- and other artists- around the world.‍AND… Screenshot, post + tag us @bgbstudio on IG!‍If you’ve missed any episodes, catch up now!Guests & Resources:Risa Bramon Garcia - Meet RisaSteve Braun - Meet SteveBack To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and other social spaces where we hang out — with tons more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel.@BGBStudio on IG + Twitter + TikTok + @theBGBStudio on Facebook. ‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Group Career Coaching series!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Steve in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

What do you do to prepare for an audition? How can you bring your full, authentic self to the work- while remaining flexible and relaxed in the room? In this episode, Risa and Steve break down audition preparation in the simplest, clearest terms, in order for you to start to transform your audition process… and book more work!Subscribe! And if you're loving the Podcast, leave a review and rating!Your words will help connect us all and bring these valuable conversations to even more actors- and other artists- around the world.‍AND… Screenshot, post + tag us @bgbstudio on IG!‍If you’ve missed any episodes, catch up now!Guests & Resources:Risa Bramon Garcia - Meet RisaSteve Braun - Meet SteveBack To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and other social spaces where we hang out — with tons more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel.@BGBStudio on IG + Twitter + TikTok + @theBGBStudio on Facebook. ‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Group Career Coaching series!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Steve in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

In this episode of The Acting Podcast, Risa Bramon Garcia sits down with a group of brilliant women- Mindy Cohn, Harley Kozak, Dionne Audain, and Cate Cohen- all with extensive and varied careers as actors, writers, filmmakers and BGB Studio members – to talk about what it means to be a woman in this business. They discuss their journeys, their challenges, being seen over 40, glass ceilings, ageism, plastic surgery, and what it means to be attractive, sensual, and powerful as they get older and wiser in Hollywood and beyond.Subscribe! And if you're loving the Podcast, leave a review and rating!Your words will help connect us all and bring these valuable conversations to even more actors- and other artists- around the world.‍AND… Screenshot, post + tag us @bgbstudio on IG!‍If you’ve missed any episodes, catch up now!Guests & Resources:Cate Cohen: BGB Teacher Page, Official Site, Instagram, Twitter, FacebookDionne Audain: IMDb, Instagram, TwitterHarley Kozak: BGB Teacher Page, Official SiteMindy Cohn: InstagramBack To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and other social spaces where we hang out — with tons more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel.@BGBStudio on IG + Twitter + TikTok + @theBGBStudio on Facebook. ‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Group Career Coaching series!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Steve in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

Creating your own work empowers you to take control of your own career. Natalie Britton and Kate Hamilton both started their careers as actors and are now well-versed in the fundamental shift that happens when you start making opportunities for yourself. They have combined experience producing over 17 award-winning short films in a 2 year time period, most recently under the umbrella of their production company “Queen’s Gambit Films.” Listen in as Risa and Steve sit down and talk with these two powerhouse producer-actors, discussing everything from making the move from acting to producing, balancing creativity and parenthood, advice for first-time filmmakers, and the importance of giving yourself permission to take the next step into your own artistic and career success. This is a must-hear conversation!Subscribe! And if you're loving the Podcast, leave a review and rating!Your words will help connect us all and bring these valuable conversations to even more actors- and other artists- around the world.‍AND… Screenshot, post + tag us @bgbstudio on IG!‍If you’ve missed any episodes, catch up now!Guests & Resources:Kate HamiltonNatalie BrittonRisa Bramon Garcia - Meet RisaSteve Braun - Meet SteveBack To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and other social spaces where we hang out — with tons more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel.@BGBStudio on IG + Twitter + TikTok + @theBGBStudio on Facebook. ‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Group Career Coaching series!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Steve in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

The landscape is changing. Self-tapes are the new audition room. But how can you show up fully and do your best work when it’s just you, a camera, and an empty room? Listen as Risa and Steve debunk every myth about self-taping (the blue background, finding a reader, recreating the casting room, etc) and answer your burning questions about how to approach your self-tapes with power, with presence, with freedom, and as an opportunity to truly be in command of your artistry and your career. It’s time to get right with self-tapes!Subscribe! And if you're loving the Podcast, leave a review and rating!Your words will help connect us all and bring these valuable conversations to even more actors- and other artists- around the world.‍AND… Screenshot, post + tag us @bgbstudio on IG!‍If you’ve missed any episodes, catch up now!“You have to show up in your self-tape unapologetically, ferociously, lovingly- and do the kind of bold, confident work you would do if you already had the part. While you’re making your self-tape, the part IS yours.”‍Guests & Resources:Risa Bramon Garcia - Meet RisaSteve Braun - Meet SteveBack To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and other social spaces where we hang out — with tons more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel.@BGBStudio on IG + Twitter + TikTok + @theBGBStudio on Facebook. ‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Group Career Coaching series!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Steve in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

Creating your own path as an artist in this Industry – on your own terms – is a vital part of any actor’s journey. In this episode, Risa and Steve talk about their own personal journeys and career challenges, including the story of how they came together, creating The BGB Studio, and how their artistic struggles – both individually and as a team – have defined a path of unique and surprising fulfillment. Their stories serve as a vital reminder that growth and transformation are not only necessary components to any artistic pathway, they are the very things that expand each of us.Subscribe! And if you're loving the Podcast, leave a review and rating!Your words will help connect us all and bring these valuable conversations to even more actors- and other artists- around the world.‍AND… Screenshot, post + tag us @bgbstudio on IG!‍If you’ve missed any episodes, catch up now!“Having a “competitive edge” means always showing up with commitment, generosity, and courage. And that, brick by brick, builds the foundation of a career over time.”Guests & Resources:Risa Bramon Garcia - Meet RisaSteve Braun - Meet SteveBack To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and other social spaces where we hang out — with tons more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel.@BGBStudio on IG + Twitter + TikTok + @theBGBStudio on Facebook. ‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Group Career Coaching series!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Steve in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

How to make it in Hollywood is about so much more than figuring out the mythic 1-2-3 steps to becoming a star. It lies in a holistic approach to being a whole and happy actor- on your own terms. In this episode, Risa Bramon Garcia and Steve Braun explore the deeper meaning of success and discuss how to approach your career from a place of artistry, collaboration, creativity, and discipline. Listen in and find out how you can expand your artistic journey and book more work because of it!Subscribe! And if you're loving the Podcast, leave a review and rating!Your words will help connect us all and bring these valuable conversations to even more actors- and other artists- around the world.‍AND… Screenshot, post + tag us @bgbstudio on IG!‍If you’ve missed any episodes, catch up now!Guests & Resources:Risa Bramon Garcia - Meet RisaSteve Braun - Meet SteveBack To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and other social spaces where we hang out — with tons more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel.@BGBStudio on IG + Twitter + TikTok + @theBGBStudio on Facebook. ‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Group Career Coaching series!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Steve in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

Check out a sneak preview of The Acting Podcast (with Risa and Steve) from The BGB Studio. First episode drops Monday, September 9th, 2019. Subscribe now to get new episodes as they become available!For more episodes and info, visit us online at bramongarciabraun.com/the-acting-podcast. And follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter at BGBStudio, where you’ll find lots more we’re dying to share.