The Acting Podcast

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

An artistic community is an essential part of your success. In order to do amazing audition/self-tape work consistently, you'll have to combat the isolation and inhumanity of the Industry with the collaboration, connection, and care that you only find from community. The right artistic community lifts you up, challenges you to be better, keeps you accountable, reinforces your values, reminds you that you are an actor, and that art matters. On the 10 year anniversary of BGB, Risa and Steve explore the power of this artistic community, and how you can leverage artistic community for your own success.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: 33 - Why Acting Teachers SuckPodcast Ep: 1- How to Make it in Hollywood 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

Risa sat down to talk about the Commercial Casting world with not one- but two incredibly talented commercial casting directors. Danielle Eskinazi (to whom Risa gave her first job decades ago!) and Renita Gale (see bios below) are both long standing CDs who are passionate and talented artists and truly care about actors. We are excited to have you listen as they share how they got into the biz, why they have stayed, how the commercial landscape has changed and lots about the audition process these days. AND why we all must walk through the door when the universe opens it for us. Commercials are a major opportunity for actors to book work- and Danielle and Renita LOVE being dream makers.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:Danielle Eskinazihttps://www.daniellecasting.com/Danielle Eskinazi is an award-winning casting director with an eye for talent and a sixth sense when it comes to spotting substance beneath the surface. With over two decades casting films, television, theater, and commercials, Danielle has cast such known talent as David Bowie, Rosanna Arquette, and Woody Harrelson, while also launching the careers of now-successful actors including Hank Azaria and Milla Jovovich. She is highly respected in the business for her creativity, integrity, and ability to draw out audition-nailing performances.After several years of casting films, Danielle dove into the fast paced world of commercials. Today Danielle Eskinazi Casting has cast over 3,000 national and regional spots and is known for finding edgy, interesting, and talented actors to suit her directors' and clients' needs. Danielle has been nominated for the Talent Managers Association prestigious Seymour Heller Award for Best Commercial Casting Director of 2009, and was a runner up twice for Favorite Commercial Casting Director in Back Stage West.She has been sharing her insights by teaching workshops, and speaking on panels including one at the SAG Foundation, which was aired Internationally. Danielle is also affiliated with the AFI Women's Program, helping first-time directors cast their shorts. More about Danielle at https://www.daniellecasting.com.Renita Galehttps://www.renitacasting.comRenita Gale is an undisputed “Who’s Who” in the world of Casting. With a supernatural eye for spotting superstar talent and matching them with projects, Renita has been WOW-ing her clients since 1999. She has cast some of the most beloved and memorable commercials, music videos, feature films and themed entertainment projects. An innovator and visionary in the casting world, Renita began offering her clients virtual casting solutions including actor self-tapes and other remote audition options, long before times demanded it. She’s truly an expert in this arena. Renita loves what she does and feels exhilarated when she gets to collaborate on projects with a focus on inclusion, diversity, inspiration, empowerment and adding value to the world. Renita is a master in the world of personal-growth and development.  Over the last few years, Renita has been studying Human Design and experimenting with it in her own life. She has found this system to be a valuable asset in her repertoire and now includes Human Design in her 1-on-1 sessions. A multi-passionate accomplisher, Renita continues to redefine what is possible as the grateful (and busy) mother of a miraculous 9 year old boy, a casting director, voice-actor, model and content creator. Renita can be found on Instagram @RenitaCasting and via her website https://www.renitacasting.com/What Casting Wants: 3 Top Casting Directors Tell It Like It IsGet the Perfect Imperfect Self-Tape Guide here!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

 Risa and Steve sat down to talk about the Self-Tape crisis- an actual creative and professional crisis that actors, casting directors, agents, managers, and others in our business are experiencing right now.Self-tapes are here to stay. But at this point in their evolution, they have the potential to consume you; to pull the entire focus of time and attention as you navigate the technical elements, the lack of collaboration, and the limitations of the process. We see a crisis in our Industry. The proliferation of this process has made actors forget about art. It’s time to take stock, to rework what the self-tape is, and stir up a Revolution in the process that places art first. And PS: that’s how you book 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:Listen to our other Self-Tape podcasts! Getting Right With Self-Tapes and Self-Tapes Don't Have to HurtGet the Perfect Imperfect Self-Tape Guide here!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