The Acting Podcast from The BGB Studio

Listen to other related The Acting Podcast episodesClayton Farris is an Actor. He’s a comedian, a filmmaker, a content creator, a great guy… and… he most of all is an Actor dedicated to being the Best Actor he can possibly be. Clayton is a long-time member of the BGB Studio, and Risa has had the privilege of working with him here and watching him work hard and grow brilliantly. His fellow BGB actors adore him, as does she. Risa and Clayton talk about his path and his process here on The Acting Podcast.Ok, so more on Clayton’s career… Clayton recently had a breakout role in Weapons, the new Warner Bros. mystery/thriller. The film opened August 8 to a box office debut that surpassed both Fantastic Four and Freaky Friday, following its ultra-rare 100% Rotten Tomatoes score—a distinction only one other horror film has ever achieved. Clayton’s standout performance has been making waves online, sparking strong reactions from viewers.In Weapons, he plays Terry, the husband to Andrew (Benedict Wong)—a pivotal, scene-stealing role that marks a defining moment in his career.Clayton’s previous credits span standout genre projects across horror and comedy, including American Horror Story, Ratch-ed, The Morning Show, and most recently, the hit A24 slasher MaXXXine. He has recurred on Seal Team. Clayton has also built a robust digital presence through his witty, relatable sketch comedy—writing and starring in videos that consistently rack up millions of views. Fans have affectionately dubbed him the “Larry David of TikTok” for his dry delivery, social spiral moments, and knack for turning everyday discomfort into something deeply funny and deeply relatable. We love his videos and he’s shot some of them here at BGB, where nobody is safe from wildly funny and ultimately affectionate spoofing, even Risa! Check a few out here on the website page/show notes! A longtime Los Angeles–based actor and writer, Clayton has spent 17 years in Hollywood honing his signature blend of grounded performances and sharp comedic timing. In real life, he identifies as bisexual and is in a long-term relationship with actress Laura Schein. His perspective as both a left of center content creator and a working actor navigating the shifting entertainment landscape makes him a uniquely thoughtful and funny voice. Clayton is having a moment! And he has recently booked an exciting role on a highly anticipated new Apple TV show, which is no accident. Risa and Clayton talk about this moment and how it came to be. So have a listen, enjoy, and let us know how this sparks your own creative and professional journey!More On RisaMore On SteveSubscribe! 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:Here are some links to Clayton’s funny social vids:That One Acting TeacherThat Hike GuyThat One Rich CoupleCorporate BreakupClayton Farris IMDBClayton Farris InstagramClayton Farris TikTokCredits:Producer:BGB STAFFTech + Design:Mitchell Braxton & Aswathi MenonMusic:SAM DEWEES + ANDY ABELOWBack To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and TikTok to get more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel:@BGBStudio on IG + TikTok‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Coaching Programs!The BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Sydney in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB ClassesIndividual Coaching

This is our 60th episode of The Acting Podcast 🙌 which is a big deal for us here at The BGB Studio. So welcome to #60, and How to be Awesome.You ARE awesome.Say that to yourself, maybe even in the mirror; try it! I AM AWESOME. Now let it land. Right in your solar plexus. It’s TRUE. And while this Industry may not see you in your awesomeness- now or yet or since whenever- it’s your job… your responsibility… your privilege… to step into the light. To let your awesomeness be seen. To keep coming back to your art, even though your mind may be screaming for Industry access.We talk about how to be awesome in this episode, which translates as… how to own, express, and share your awesome gift, your awesome art, and keep doing it even when you think nobody is watching. Find out why that is your path to all narratives of success.These are intense times; it has been intense for a while- over 5 years since the start of the pandemic. So how can you find peace, joy, and inspiration in your work right now, even if our Industry colleagues may not be paying attention. How can you lean all the way into your art and light up the previously unseen parts of your talent? Blow it all the way up!We also get that you’re looking for answers. You want relief, hope, yes… validation, and a clear roadmap to booking work.So in this episode, we answer a few of the urgent questions that come up in our coaching sessions in the quest to find the most effective pathway to connection with the Industry. Like…How to have an amazing reel, how to gather (and yes, make!) footage that will make your reel undeniable…How to have headshots that get you auditions…How to get agents and managers to know you and sign you… and if you have reps, how to get them to pay more attention to you and get you opportunities.There is SO much to discuss around these questions and we start to unpeel the onion here in episode 60, part 1 of this big conversation. We also have included our Career MasterClass: How to Get (and Keep!) an Agent (here & in our show notes) which we are offering you FREE. So grab it, watch, listen, and join us for a 1:1 Coaching session and for Class!Also… send us your burning questions! We want to hear from you so we can address them for Part 2 of: How to Be Awesome: Answers to Your Burning Questions. Email us at info@bramongarciabraun.com!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!More On RisaMore On SteveGuests & Resources:Click the link below and get access to our BGB MasterClass on HOW TO GET (AND KEEP!) AN AGENT - FOR FREE!HOW TO GET (AND KEEP!) AN AGENTListen to other related The Acting Podcast episodes:Episode 59: Rebuilding your Career, your Community, & YOU as an ActorEpisode 55: What Are You Waiting For? You Are The Industry.Episode 54: What Does It Take to Make It Now?Episode 49: How to Redefine Your Career For This MomentCredits:Producer:BGB STAFFTech + Design:Mitchell Braxton & Aswathi MenonMusic:SAM DEWEES + ANDY ABELOWBack To All EpisodesMeet us on Instagram and TikTok to get more great advice, inspiration, and Industry intel:@BGBStudio on IG + TikTok‍‍CHECK OUT our Audition, Scene-Study, and Hybrid Classes!SIGN UP for our BGB Coaching Programs!The BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Sydney in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB ClassesIndividual Coaching

At our most recent BGB Actors Summit, Risa and Steve gathered with actors from all over the world- from Rio de Janeiro to Mumbai, from Glasgow to San Antonio, from Buffalo to all over Los Angeles. They offered the fundamental and practical steps necessary to nurture and rebuild your career, your collaboration with other creative professionals, and your art. These are essential practices that take you on the journey to success- from care for yourself and who you are as an artist through to expressing that art in and with the support of a strong creative community. And then, with that foundation and support- through training, practice, and a full creative life in conjunction with other artists- you have the tools to build an amazing reel, impactful headshots, scroll-stopping self-tapes,and relationships with representatives and the entire Industry. AND you get to be a full, happy, vibrant actor with whom everyone wants to work!We recorded the Summit so that we could share it with you here on The Acting Podcast, as Audio & Video. We are grateful that we could all come together in the midst of the LA fires that have devastated our Los Angeles communities, while, at the same time, Los Angelenos have come together for each other in the truest spirit of community. Listen in, watch the video, and share with anyone who needs to hear this. We invite you to join our amazing community of artists!More On RisaMore On SteveSubscribe! 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:Listen to other related The Acting Podcast episodes:Episode 57: Stepping into AbundanceEpisode 54: What Does It Take to Make It Now?Episode 45: The Healing Required to Be an ActorEpisode 41: Fighting Isolation: Why You Need an Artistic CommunityCredits:Producer:BGB STAFFTech + Design:Mitchell Braxton & Aswathi MenonMusic:SAM DEWEES + ANDY ABELOWBack 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 Coaching Programs!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Sydney in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

It’s Horror month. Halloween… and all. 🎃In the spirit of spooky movies, I talk with 2 of our amazing BGB Master Teachers, Sydney Walsh & Corey Parker, on Zoom (so you can watch!) about what it was like to act in the HORROR genre- they each have starred in a few iconic Horror Movies. We talk Horror movie acting, and acting in any Genre, plus what it was like to audition in the 80s and 90s when big filmmakers were in the room, along with Casting Directors (like me!) who collaborated with actors, brought them back in many times (for the same role and other roles), celebrated in their talent, and advocated for them! It was a time of true collaboration, when filmmakers figured out their movies with actors in the audition room. While those days are gone (and we’ve surely romanticized them 💘), we also fully believe and talk about how YOU can bring that same sense of liberation, exploration, discovery, and a collaborative spirit to the work you do on camera- in self-tapes, Zoom auditions, and on set- whether it’s a student film, a short you create, or a big show or movie. YOU get to show up with agency and generosity- with something to offer the storytellers… as a true collaborator. So… Listen in! There are fun stories here, as well as practical advice on how to work freely and boldly in any and all genres, AND how to show up in the same spirit in your self-tapes as we three felt “in the room” in the 80s! (Don’t forget to rate and review us so that we can reach more actors around the world!) Risa 👻-------------------------------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!‍More On RisaMore On Steve-------------------------------Guests & Resources:Check out these links to learn more about Syd and Corey:SYDNEY WALSH + her IMDbCOREY PARKER + his IMDb‍Listen to other related The Acting Podcast episodes:Episode 55: What Are You Waiting For? You Are The Industry.Episode 53: Finding Freedom & Power in Script AnalysisEpisode 43: How To Be A Happy ActorEpisode 29: Cooking Your Self-TapeCredits:Producer: BGB STAFFTech + Design: Mitchell Braxton & Aswathi MenonMusic: SAM DEWEES + ANDY ABELOWBack To All Episodes-------------------------------Meet 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 Coaching Programs!JOIN US for The BGB Actors Summit: A virtual workshop with Risa & SteveThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Sydney in our StudioAre You Ready For Class? Check out all BGB Classes!

An actor's mindset can make or break a career. Your job is to open your heart, remain sensitive and open. And you’re asked to do that job in an Industry that doesn't have the capacity to care for your needs and in which scarcity is the norm. You will lose faith. It’s inevitable. But how gracefully you can find it again is the difference between auditioning with the full power of your talent, and allowing fear and self-consciousness to drain you of your power when you’re trying to book work. Risa and Steve examine what it takes to create and maintain the kind of abundant mindset that leads to success, even when you’re losing faith. Listen in and let us know what resonates with you!“If you hear a voice within you say, 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” – Vincent Van Gogh.More On RisaMore On SteveSubscribe! 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:Listen to other related episodes: EPISODE 22: The Booking MindsetEPISODE 42: That Next Level ShitEPISODE 43: How To Be A Happy ActorEPISODE 45: The Healing Required to Be an ActorCredits:Producer:BGB STAFFTech + Design: MITCHELL BRAXTONMusic: SAM DEWEES + ANDY ABELOWBack 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 + Sydney in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

Risa talked on Zoom with with Anthony Meindl of fellow acting studio, AMAW (which is Anthony Meindl's Acting Workshop) about EVERYTHING… about art, big tech, climate change, self-tapes, casting, how Tik Tok is killing our attention span, and how things are really really hard right now. They talked about both getting started in the NY theatre and the power of community, and, something that resonates for us at BGB a well... being in process always, and being an artist first. It was a great conversation and we want to share it with all of you. So no matter where you are in your journey or how you are feeling about where the Industry is, or isn’t, have a listen and see how this affects you, and if it brings up feelings, pay attention to them. Let us know what resonated for you!More On RisaMore On SteveSubscribe! 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:Check out Anthony’s website HERE learn more about his work with actors!‍Listen to other related episodes: EPISODE 55: What Are You Waiting For? You Are The Industry.EPISODE 54: What Does It Take to Make It Now?EPISODE 52: How to Stand Out from Hundreds of Other ActorsEPISODE 42: That Next Level ShitEPISODE 28: The Practice That Leads to SuccessCredits:Producer:BGB STAFFTech + Design:MITCHELL BRAXTON & ASWATHI MENONMusic:SAM DEWEES + ANDY ABELOWThe BGB Sit-Down is back! Meet Risa + Sydney in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

Risa sat down with some of our amazing BGB teachers (Cate Cohen, Sydney Walsh, Corey Parker, and David DeSantos) for an inspiring conversation about redefining your relationship with the Industry. About how to successfully step into your power in your work, your art, and your career. What leadership looks like so that you're in the driver’s seat, not waiting for the Industry to invite you in. Why we all need a community in which to be creative, to grow, to thrive- we were never meant to do this alone. How to become a creative force and impact your audiences… the Industry. And how the power of an artistic practice will sustain you for a lifelong career.Listen in, or watch these brilliant, generous, kind, talented artists and teachers share their insights and experience. We’re inspired!MORE ON RISAMORE ON STEVESubscribe! 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:‍Click here to learn more about Sydney Walsh!‍Click here to learn more about Corey Parker!Click here to learn more about Cate Cohen!‍Click here to learn more about David DeSantos!‍Check out the books David mentions in the episode:The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart TolleThe Actor and the Target by Declan DonnellanThe Art Spirit by Robert HenriThe Plays of Anton ChekhovListen to other podcasts with our BGB Master Teachers!Ep. 54: What Does It Take to Make It Now?Ep. 53: Finding Freedom & Power in Script AnalysisEp. 43: How To Be A Happy ActorCredits:PRODUCER: BGB STAFFTECH + DESIGN: MITCHELL BRAXTON & ASWATHI MENONMUSIC: SAM DEWEES + ANDY ABELOWBack 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 + Sydney in our StudioAre You Ready For Class?All BGB Classes

Change is the only constant and the changes have come fast and hard. So what is the Industry now? What does it mean to be an Actor right now? What does it take to make it today?  Risa and Steve discuss the current state of Industry, what actors can expect from the Industry and the essential shifts actors need to make right now to position themselves for success. Listen in and let us know how this resonates with you.MORE ON RISAMORE ON STEVESubscribe! 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:Listen to other related episodes: EPISODE 52: How to Stand Out from Hundreds of Other ActorsEPISODE 49: How to Redefine Your Career For This MomentEPISODE 42: That Next Level ShitEPISODE 28: The Practice That Leads to SuccessEPISODE 50: The Strike is Over. Here’s What to Do NowEPISODE 49: How To Redefine Your Career For This MomentJoin us in class today!‍Credits:PRODUCER:BGB STAFFTECH + DESIGN:ASWATHI MENONMUSIC:SAM DEWEES + ANDY ABELOWBack 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

“Script Analysis” is an often misunderstood term that can result in an actor robbing a scene of its art by reducing it to mathematical calculations. Some actors love the idea of script analysis so they can “solve” the scene and control it. Other actors abandon the idea of script analysis altogether because they are afraid of adding any structure to their art. The truth of Script Analysis is more interesting and dynamic. BGB Master Teachers, Cate Cohen, Sydney Walsh, and Corey Parker, sit down with Risa and Steve to talk about the dance between structure and fluidity in your preparation, and how to use Script Analysis to find freedom and power in your work. Guests & Resources:Learn more about our wonderful teachers: Sydney Walsh - BGB Master Teacher, actor, writer, directorCate Cohen - BGB Master Teacher, actor, writerCorey Parker - BGB Master Teacher, actor, coachListen to other related episodes: Episode 6: The Secret To Successful PreparationEpisode 42: That Next Level ShitGifts & Opt-ins:The Perfect Imperfect Self-Tape21 Ways To Make Casting Directors Happy What Casting WantsBack 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

An actor who books work consistently is an actor who has the capacity to remain vulnerable in the face of intense rejection, to stay focused in a world full of distractions, and to stay sharp in one of the most competitive Industries around. The actor who books work consistently has found a way to stand out from hundreds of others. They have expressed themself in a way that makes them a singularity. In a hard industry and a hard world, that kind of singular expression must be supported by a lifestyle that nurtures their art and their career. Listen in as Risa and Steve talk about how to cultivate a lifestyle that offers you all that, and then share your thoughts and questions with us on social @BGBStudio or by emailing us at info@bramongarciabraun.com. 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:Listen to other related episodes: Episode 28: The Practice That Leads To SuccessEpisode 36: The Pursuit Of Happiness - w/ Caroline, Dominic, Ellyn, JohnathanGifts & Opt-ins:The Perfect Imperfect Self-Tape21 Ways To Make Casting Directors Happy What Casting WantsCredits:PRODUCER:BGB STAFFTECH + DESIGN:ASWATHI MENON & MITCHELL BRAXTONMUSIC:SAM DEWEES + ANDY ABELOWBack 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 Studio

2023 was a really intense year. Two strikes, wars, a contracting Industry, inflation, lingering effects of the pandemic, etc. And that intensity revealed some powerful lessons that every actor must hear and understand in order to be a working actor in 2024.  Risa and Steve delve into the lessons of 2023 that point to the new reality for actors and light the path to success in the New Year!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.‍If you’ve missed any episodes, catch up now!Guests & Resources:Ep. 50: The Strike is Over. Here’s What to Do Now.Ep. 47: A.I. is Coming for your Jobs. Here's What to Do.Ep. 46: What to do when The Industry StopsEp. 45: The Healing Required to Be an ActorEp. 43: How To Be A Happy Actor@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

Ok, so the Industry is back. But it won't be business as usual. It can't be. Too much has changed. And if you want to book work in this new reality, you're going to have to change too. So listen in and let us know what speaks to you! You can meet this moment, but it won't be easy. Risa and Steve discuss where the Industry is at right now and the important first steps that every actor must take now that the strike is over.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:Industry podcast:- Episode 35: Is It Time to Give Up Acting?- Episode 45: The Healing Required to Be An Actor- Episode 46: What to do when The Industry Stops- Episode 49: How to Redefine Your Career For This MomentSummit Opt-in:The BGB Actors Summit Video: How To Redefine Your Career For This Moment w/ Risa & 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

This is a new world for actors. And the Industry that emerges on the other side of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes will be different than anything we've ever seen.The ways in which Actors have thought about their careers for over a century are, in many ways, no longer relevant.So, what's an Actor to do?Risa and Steve shed light on this strange new world, offer insight into what it might look like, and discuss the action that Actors can (and must) take right now if they want to have a career on the other side of all of this.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:Listen to other related episodes: Episode 46: - “What to do when the Industry Stops” with Risa & SteveOpt in:The BGB Actors Summit Video: How To Redefine Your Career For This Moment w/ Risa & 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

John Levey loves his job. He loves actors. He loves storytelling. He loves diving into the worlds each character inhabits. He’s been loving it for 40 years and is one of the masters of this passion profession, having won multiple Emmys and Artios awards, putting actors into groundbreaking roles on some of the most popular television shows of all time- E.R., The West Wing, China Beach, and Shameless, to name just a few. Listen in as Risa & Steve have an honest conversation with the legendary John Frank Levey.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:John Frank Levey’s IMDb‍Listen to other related episodes: What Casting Wants:3 Top Casting Directors Tell It Like It IsEpisode 12: - Bernie Telsey: The King of CastingEpisode 20: - Sarah Finn: Superhero of CastingEpisode 23: - Mary Queen of Casting: A Candid Conversation w/ Mary VernieuEpisode 38: - Richard Hicks, CD: We’re All In This TogetherCheck out John’s book, RIGHT FOR THE ROLE: While there are many books that catalog Hollywood—from the classic to the profane, gritty to salacious—few tell the tale of how entertainment’s biggest names became the biggest names.Right for the Role shares the story straight from an insider who’s been central to that process for decades. Four-time Emmy-award-winning casting director John Frank Levey hasn’t just witnessed some of the world’s greatest acting talents make it in Hollywood; in many cases, he’s had a major hand in it.As the casting director for numerous iconic TV series, including ER, The West Wing and Shameless, Levey saw firsthand that household names like George Clooney, Anthony Edwards and Allison Janney had “it”—and then watched their “it” propel them into the stratosphere.In Right for the Role, Levey manages to tell a story of life among the glitterati while never losing his exuberance for being a part of the process. Through his colorful tales of meeting incredible talent early in their careers—including Josh Gad, Lucy Liu and a just-out-of-Julliard Jessica Chastain—Levey documents his transformation from a novice casting director to one of the greats in the field.Beyond teaching readers how to spot what it takes to make it in Hollywood, how casting has changed since the 1980s (when telephones had cords!) or how to live in a world of glamor and gusto, Levey’s stories also show how to play a central role in a show’s success without losing a sense of wonder.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

Generative A.I. is not the future. It is here. Now. And as the technology gets better and better, and audiences become less able to discern whether or not the actor on their favorite TV show or movie is human or A.I., the Industry will choose A.I. generated actors over human actors. A.I. actors are cheaper, less demanding, don’t have a union, and don’t require inconveniences like air, water, food, physical space, etc. But as Generative A.I. comes for your jobs, it forces all of us to ponder important questions that, left unanswered, could lead to the end of the acting profession altogether. What does it mean to be human?  What is the actual difference between a human actor and an A.I. actor? Risa and Steve explore this new technology and the kind of work human actors will need to do to keep their jobs. Listen in! 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:Episode 46: - “What to do when the Industry Stops” with Risa & SteveEpisode 43: - “How to be a Happy Actor” with Sydney Walsh & Cate Cohen, Risa & SteveEpisode 41: - “Fighting Isolation: Why You Need an Artistic Community” BGB 10 year anniversary episode with Risa & SteveEpisode 36: - “The Pursuit of Happiness” With Caroline Lindy, Dominic Burgess, Ellyn Jameson & Johnathan McClain, & RisaBack 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

We wholeheartedly support the writers as they fight for what they rightly deserve. And also, a strike means that the Industry is slowing/shutting down. For actors, that can mean fewer auditions and less hope of booking jobs. It can bring up fear and disappointment, especially after three years of pandemic-related uncertainty. In this episode, Risa and Steve offer tools to navigate it all, and reveal some of the incredible opportunities that present themselves when the Industry stops.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:Ep. 36: The Pursuit of Happiness - with Caroline Lindy, Dominic Burgess, Ellyn Jameson & Johnathan McClainEp. 43: How To Be A Happy ActorEp. 27: Not Just An Actor: Making Your Own Box‍Back 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

As an actor, your vulnerability and emotional sensitivity are not only tools of your art. They are your products.  But being a sensitive person in an often cold, emotionally violent industry can be a train wreck waiting to happen.  Risa and Steve explore the kind of consistent healing necessary to stay open enough to bring the fullness of your talent to your auditions, and not compromise your mental health while doing it.Your nervous system is your tool and your product.  It’s also a sacred element of your being, through which you receive and process the world around you.  Your past experiences and dormant emotions can fuel your work, but they can also make you miserable. You need to be sensitive to do great acting work and book acting jobs, but the industry in which you’re operating often offers emotional violence, disinterest and the inability to see to any of your needs.  While the industry needs to be kinder and softer (even in the interest of finance), it won’t happen anytime soon.  So, you are going to have to do the labor of looking at your pain and taking steps towards healing.  Risa and Steve explore the way in which actors can heal and offer their own healing journeys.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:Ep. 41: Fighting Isolation: Why You Need an Artistic CommunityEp. 35: Is It Time To Give Up Acting?Ep. 10: Saying Yes to the No: Managing Rejection‍Back 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

Actors can often see CDs as faceless, soulless gate-keepers with the potential to grant wishes or kill dreams. This perception is not only wrong, but it’s bad for an actor’s business.  Casting directors are human beings who, like you, often struggle to do good work in an emotionally violent industry. In fact, the humanity of casting directors- their ability to be emotionally affected, to be moved- is often the reason an actor gets a callback and gets cast. Actors must believe then and constantly remind themselves that casting directors have the capacity to be emotionally moved by their work.  This discussion with Michelle Allen and the story of how and why she walked away is a great reminder.  Email us at info@bramongarciabraun.com and comment on our IG posts! 

In a business this competitive, navigating the slings and arrows to find happiness is a revolutionary act. Pursuing an acting career is hard. Heck, just being an actor, an artist in a violent world, is hard. You can feel unseen, discouraged and lost. There are challenges at every turn. And yet, amidst all the challenges, there is a way to be an actor, to pursue an acting career, and be a happy, whole human being. It takes focus and discipline but it’s possible. Risa and Steve sit down with BGB Master Teachers, Sydney Walsh and Cate Cohen, to discuss the path to happiness as an actor. Listen in and let us know what resonates with you. Email us at info@bramongarciabraun.com and comment on our IG posts!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 Master Teacher, actor, writerSydney Walsh - BGB Master Teacher, actor, writerListen to other related episodes: Episode 28: The Practice That Leads To SuccessEpisode 36: The Pursuit Of Happiness - w/ Caroline, Dominic, Ellyn, JohnathanOpt in:21 Ways To Make Casting Directors HappyBack 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

Beyond the BS- mastering the latest audition/self-tape “trends,” getting the hottest agent or hiring the best personal trainer- there exist the real, less-talked about elements of success. After many decades in the business and a decade of guiding some of the best and most successful actors on the planet at the BGB Studio, Risa and Steve reveal the bad-ass practices that not everyone has the capacity for, but that are required for success. This is how amateurs become professionals. This is that Next Level shit. Listen in.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:Podcast Ep. 28: The Practice That Leads To SuccessPodcast Ep. 22: The Booking Mindset SIGN UP for our BGB Career Master Class series!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