The Vagabond Actor's Podcast

Hello after a long time away! This episode, Gary, Brian and Andrea delve into listener (and working actor) Fola Evans-Akingbola called in to ask about what happens when all the preparation you do before you work doesn't seem to be working?  Do you fake it? Do you force the truth? We get into it! Let us know your listener questions! @vagabondactors on twitter and instagram

This week we are delighted to talk with Samantha Win. Samantha is an accomplished martial artist and stuntwoman who talks with us about the drive needed to be an olympic competitor, her transition into stunt work and becoming recognized as the wonderful actor she is. Our tips this week: Samantha: Dungeons and Dragons Brian: The Two Handsome Siblings (Netflix) Gary: Maniac (Netflix) Andrea: Philadelphia (1993 film), The Miracle Morning (Book by Hal Elrod)

We're back from a long hiatus with a wonderful interview, talking with director Miguel Alexandre. Miguel directed Brian in Spy City (AMC+) and, when we recorded this in August, was just about to release Black Island on Netflix (which is really great! definitely go check it out). We talk with Miguel about directing actors, his dos and don'ts for castings, keeping a lot of irons in the fire, and much more! Our tips this week: Miguel: Black Island (Netflix), Another Round (Film) Andrea: The Chair (Netflix) Gary: Your Honor (TV Series) Brian: Derry Girls (Netflix)

This episode we answer some listener questions. Prashansa from Bombay asks about how to make connections into a market outside of where you are living. Alex from Prague asks about how to be more free with following your instincts and Jaana from Helsinki asks about how you know when it's time to move on from a long running series. Our tips this week: Andrea: Fences (Film),  The Way of Integrity (Book by Martha Beck) Gary: Summer and Smoke (Play by Tennessee Williams) Brian: What Every Body Is Saying (Book by Joe Navarro)

This episode, we talk with actor and audio book narrator Wayne Mitchell. Wayne studied with Andrea at Playhouse West and talks extensively about the audio book narration business: how he got in, his experiences recording, getting work and dealing with the authors and publishers. It's a great episode for anyone interested in getting into the audio book field! You can check out Wayne's work here: https://www.allthingswaynemitchell.com/ Our top tips this week: Gary: There Will Be Blood (Film) Brian: Love, Death and Robots (Netflix animated series) Wayne: ZeroZeroZero (TV series, Sky) Andrea: Crazy Heart (Film) 

This week we talk about how actors might deal with the traumatic emotional experiences that can come with the circumstances we are asked to portray.  Our tips for this week: Brian: Grand Designs (Netflix) Gary: Elia Kazan: On Directing (book) Andrea: The Tim Ferris Show (Podcast), the episode with Jacqueline Novogratz as well as the episode with George Mumford

This week we get into a philosophical question that has a direct impact on how actors approach their craft and their roles: What is Truth? More specifically, what is truth in acting or what is truthful acting? We also get into the difference between "real" truth and "artistic" truth. Our Top Tips this week: Brian: Schitt's Creek (TV show) Gary: Edvard Munch (Painter) Andrea: Ozark (TV show) & Boundary Boss (Book by Terri Cole)

We're back after a break with director and screenwriter Marcus Markou. Marcus wrote, directed, produced, and self-distributed the smash hit feature film "Papadopoulos & Sons", which went on to become one of the most successful self-distributed films in the UK.  Marcus talks about his process, his approach to filmmaking, casting and a lot more! This week's tips: Andrea: Any film featuring Olympia Dukakis Brian: Here and Now, Ram Dass (podcast) Gary: The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster (books) Marcus: Directing Actors by Judith Weston (book), The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer (book)  

This week Christian Cascone asks about what actors should think about while acting. Inner monologue? Nothing? Something else? We do our best to delve into the topic and end up in a heated agreement. We want to know what our listeners think about while they're acting. Let us know: @vagabondactors on Twitter, Instagram or on our Facebook page! Our recommendations this week: Andrea: Professional Troublemaker (book by Luvvie Ajayi Jones on Audible) Brian: Young Frankenstein (Mel Brooks movie) Gary: The Mule (Clint Eastwoood movie)

This week we answer a question that listener Christian Bitar asked us on our Instagram account (@vagabondactors). He asked whether working on commercials hurts your reputation as a film or TV actor. We expand the question to talk about whether there is any work that actors should or shouldn't take and if there was work we took that we regretted. Our recommendations this week: Andrea: The 100 Foot Journey (film on Netflix), Professional Troublemaker (book by Luvvie Ajayi Jones) Brian: The Ying-Yang Master, Double World (films on Netflix) Gary: Big Little Lies (TV show on HBO/Netflix)

This week we invite actor and filmmaker Ben Steel on to talk about the state of mental health in the creative industry. Ben has spent the last 4 years working on a documentary called The Show Must Go On about how people working in the creative industry (Film/Theatre, Dance. Music) deal with mental health issues. Ben talks about the lessons that he learned about his own struggles with depression, how he worked through it and how he is now helping others with programs and raising awareness. While the episode is not just a serious discussion, if in listening to it you are finding you might need to talk to someone, please reach out to friends or family or a health professional. Look up crisis helplines in your area or use one of the numbers below: London/UK In an emergency: 999 NHS helpline: 111 Use the 'Shout' crisis text line - text SHOUT to 85258 https://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/helplines-and-crisis-contacts America Los Angeles: (800) 854-7771 New York: 1-888-692-9355 https://actorsfund.org/services-and-programs/mental-health Australia Support Act wellbeing helpline 1800 959 500, free 24/7, confidential service for the arts & entertainment industry, with counsellors specifically trained in the industry specific challenges many people face - so they really understand us. Czech Republic 222 580 697 - nonstop telefonická krizová pomoc

This week (well, technically last week) marks the first anniversary of Vagabond Actors. So Brian, Gary and Andrea talk about year we just had, what we learned doing the podcast, what our favorite part of doing it is, what surprised us and what we're looking forward to in the coming months.  

Actors, aside from the leads and stars on a production, typically have very little power in dealing with unscrupulous producers. This week we talk about what to do when you find yourself in a situation on a job that you don't think is fair or when you feel like you're being taken advantage of.  Let us know your thoughts on this? Have you had experiences like this? How did you solve it?

This week we talk with showrunner Sean Crouch about his career writing stories for television, his experiences and thoughts on working with actors, auditions and much more! Be sure to like, subscribe, share and leave us questions!

Actress Emily Jackman wrote in to ask about how the writing or directing style of a piece will affect how we go about working on a role and the choices we make. Acting teachers Gary Condes, Andrea Helene and Brian Caspe tackle the question. Let us know what you think! Be sure to like, subscribe to the podcast and rate us!   

We're re-releasing our discussion on doing self-tapes this week. As the business starts to pick up, actors are getting more and more self tapes to do and it's more important than ever to be prepared. We'll be back with a new episode next week! Let us know about your self-tape rituals. @vagabondactors on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to make sure you don't miss an episode!  

This week we dig into listener Petra Bučková's three really interesting questions about how to deal with a character's backstory (especially when you don't have a lot of time in the scene), how to deal with a character being "bored" and what to do if your character needs to lie about something. It was great getting some real live questions, so if you have questions about the process or craft, definitely get in touch with us @vagabondactors on twitter, instagram and facebook!  

This week we delve into acting and auditioning for small roles. We spend so much time in acting class working on the big characters but, especially at the start, when so many actors get a "real" audition, they only have a few lines or a scene. What to do then? Join in the discussion! Like the podcast, subscribe and comment on Facebook, twitter or instagram!

This week it's our pleasure to welcome actor Stacy Martin to the podcast. She talks about her career, starting as the lead in Lars von Trier's Nymphomaniac, her thoughts on the craft of acting and working in multiple markets and languages!  

This week we follow up on our first episode on agents (How to get one) with a conversation on how to communicate with your representatives. Basically: don't stalk them! Let us know about your communication with your agent! @vagabondactors on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook!