Playhouse West LA Podcast

During Covid 19 we have to find new ways of doing things. This includes making movies. Christian just finished directing a movie, that got into a film festival, and won some awards but he filmed it while he was on the opposite coast. What?

Hugh Leon has been nominated 11 years in a row and won 3 times for "The Commercial Agent of the Year' Seymour Heller awards. How did he become an agent? What does he expect from his actors? What should you expect from your agent? How to submit for representation? What can you do during this Covid 19 quarantine downtime to help your career? This episode certainly has some great information for all of us commercial actors.

In this time of uncertainly, Gar, Holly, and Kathleen gives us actors advice on how to keep our tools sharp so when the curtain goes back up, we are ready! What are they binge watching while in quarantine? Holly also gives us a story on how one of her former students burned a bridge! Does she name names? Either way, its a good lesson to learn.

Today we chat with Playhouse Teacher Christian Liatos and he tells us how he got started in acting and how he almost knocked out Kevin Coster and Henry Cavill on the set of Man of Steel. You will also learn all about the Playhouse West One Act Play workshop! This is incredible. This is why this school is awesome! Create your art here with fellow artist!

Today we talk to actor, director, producer, and Playhouse West Screenwriting Teacher, Mr. Doug Van Bepper. In this episode we chat about acting, the struggle, the payoff, and how to put your movie idea on paper. We all have ideas for movies and TV shows but how do we go about it? If you are looking for answers, then the Playhouse West Screenwriting class is for you. Have fun with this episode. Registration for this class is right here: https://www.playhousewest.com/screenwriting.html

Full disclosure: This episode was recorded in August when the LA fire was going on.  What is it like to be a brand new student at the Playhouse West Acting School? What is the experience like? Let's see what filmmaker and director, Dylan Michael has to say. He also has some great advice on how to go to film school and leave debt-free. More for the description: http://dylanmichaelsearle.com and the book he mentioned: https://amzn.to/389ifKP

In today's episode, we sit down with two Playhouse West teachers, the apprentice and the Jedi Master, Gar Lee and Holly Gagnier.  To all you kids out there wanting to come to Los Angeles or New York to pursue your acting dreams, there is a wealth of knowledge in this episode. In between the advice and cautionary tales, there are some great funny stories here. I also hope I didn't make it awkward with Holly when I told her about watching her on TV when I was a small boy.  #fanboy 

Today we sat down with two Playhouse West students, Eric and Jennifer and got their opinions on the Playhouse West Acting School. What are they learning? Why did they choose the Playhouse West Acting School? Where did they study before and what were their mistakes?

We sit down with veteran actress, writer, producer, director, and Playhouse West Teacher Kathleen Randazzo. Listen to her advice for new actors, her experience when she first moved to Hollywood and what NOT to do when you first arrive. https://www.playhousewest.com/ Host: Http://www.instagram.com.Joinourvidaloca  

We cannot start this new podcast without talking to the legendary Playhouse West owner, co-founder, and mentor, Mr. Robert Carnegie. Here he gives us advice on what you should do at the beginning of your career and he even shares a couple of insider stories on some of the famous alumni students from the school. I am not going to mention any names (James Franco and Ashley Judd). http://www.playhousewest.com https://www.facebook.com/TheOfficialPlayhouseWest/ https://www.instagram.com/playhousewestla/ Host: Michael Lopez Http://www.instagram.com/joinourvidaloca http://www.joinourvidaloca.com Recommended Books: https://amzn.to/2JEqK6M https://amzn.to/2r1P1NP

Welcome to The Playhouse West Podcast. This is just a brief introduction to what this podcast is going to be about. We hope you hit the "subscribe" button. We look forward to talking with you.  https://www.instagram.com/playhousewestla/ https://www.playhousewest.com/ https://www.facebook.com/TheOfficialPlayhouseWest/ Schedule an appointment for a free audit. 

  Showtimes: Saturday, 10/18 @ 7pm Friday, 10/24 @ 7pm Saturday, 10/25 @ 7pm Sunday, 10/26 @ 11am Location: 10634 Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601 In 2000, Jim Jarrett was invited to Manila to give the Keynote Address at The International Theater Festival. The festival's theme that year was 'The Theater's Greatest Influences,' so Jarrett was asked to speak about the four years he spent with Sanford Meisner. Appearing in front of a SRO crowd, he spoke about the lessons learned as a student of Sandy's and about the essence of what has become known as 'The Meisner Technique.' Most of all, Jarrett brought Sandy's character to life by recreating the most memorable teaching exchanges between the master teacher and his students. When he finished, the audience was so inspired by Meisner's passion that hundreds literally poured forward to thank Jarrett personally for introducing them to a man whom an hour before, most had never even heard of. Overwhelmed by the response he'd received, Jarrett walked out of the hall that night with a new idea: he would introduce the world to the genius of Sanford Meisner. And as he made notes on how to accomplish this ambitious goal, Jarrett realized the true gift of having written down everything Sandy had said in those classes – not to tell stories about Sandy, but to actually bring the legendary master to life for new audiences by portraying him onstage. Jarrett spent the next year poring over his 2,000 hours of class notes for material to include in his new and unnamed one-man play. Early on, he decided to omit the 'nuts and bolts – actors only' of The Meisner Technique, opting to instead select material that would benefit and inspire anyone with a dream.

We sit with Wolf Bodison, Film Festival Director and Kim Demarse, Film Festival Coordinator, and talk everything we have to look forward to for this years, PLAYHOUSE WEST FILM FESTIVAL!  There is also an official after party too! Listen and find out all the details! Info for the FILM FESTIVAL: https://www.playhousewest.com/pwff  

Playhouse West student, Eric S. sat down, pen to paper, produced, and directed a short film. How hard was it and should you? What is holding you back?

Annie Creech took the Screenwriting Class here at Playhouse West, taught by Doug, with no experience what so ever. She later took what she learned, wrote a short film, and won a Best Original Screen play Award. Find out how in this episode!  Follow here at https://www.instagram.com/anniecreech/

A lot of new people come in, watch a beginners class, but unsure what is happening. This podcast is for you. Listen to this whole podcast and you'll be more prepared for your audit. Trust me, you'll get it.  See you in class. 

We sit down with actor, teacher, artist, Gabe Grier from Playhouse West. While in a recent class, he gave all of us students some real gems that I know everyone should listen to! 

What did our manager tell us to do to kill it in 2025!  Also, we speak to a PHW student  in the beginning class who had a "HOLY CRAP" moment! The light went off! Good times! 

Ally and Sarah from Monday morning class with Mr. C came on to talk about our challenge to all the other classes at PHW!  WE CHALLENGE YOU! 2- 3 short films until the PHW Film Film Festival! Lets go! Also, we have a Dia De Los Muertos Party coming up on Nov 2, 2024 at the Pineapple Hill Bar in Sherman Oaks. Come dressed up! Details are here. 

We speak with two students from Playhouse West who did what most people wont. They wrote, shot, and produced their own film and submitted it to many film festivals, including the Playhouse West Film Festival. Lets learn from them! https://www.instagram.com/playhousewestla/