The Successful Talent: Tips for the Actor & Model

MOVIE & TV QUOTES - THE ANSWERS!

Hope your holidays are being spent well rested and in the presence of friends and family! 

How many quotes were you able to identify?  Did you get any of the most troublesome ones?

The quotes came from movies, tv series, and game shows . . . and the answers to those posted on Monday are below with the corresponding number. 

1.  Anchorman

2.  Talladega Nights:  The Legend of Ricky Bobby

3.  Silence of the Lambs

4.  Ted

5.  Bull Durham

6.  The Green Mile

7.  Ferris Bueller's Day Off

8.  Finding Nemo

9.  Shrek

10.  Braveheart

11.  A League of Their Own

12.  Toy Story

13.  Clueless

14.  The Dark Knight

15.  300

16.  Spiderman

17.  The Blind Side

18.  Juno

19.  Zoolander

20.  Up

21.  Elf

22.  Nacho Libre

23.  The Hunger Games

24.  Twilight

25.  Cool Hand Luke

26.  Crocodile Dundee

27.  The Lion King

28.  Waynes World II  (A lot of people answered Waynes World, and we accepted it as close enough, but those of you who got the "II" in there were given an extra half point.)

29.  Hitch

30.  21

31.  Seinfeld

32.  Spongebob

33.  "Nashville"

34.  "30 Rock"

35.  Guys with Kids

36.  "Emeril LIve"

37.  Hawaii Five-0

38.  The Price is Right!

39.  The Daily Show

40.  "Everybody Loves Raymond"

41.  "The Simpsons"

42.  "Heros"

43.  "The Big Bang Theory"

44.  "The Office"

45.  "Duck Dynasty"

46.  "Grey's Anatomy"

47.  "Glee"

 

MOVIE AND TV QUOTES

One of the games set up at this years holiday party for The Avenue's talent and clients was to identify the movie, tv series, or game show quote.  There were 27 brave souls who participated and turned in their answers to win a mystery prize.  This year, age was no factor.   Eight year olds competed with forty year olds, much to their disadvantage.  (Usually we have a kids division, but somehow that didn't happen in the party chaos this year -- so kudos to the courageous and undaunted kids!)

From left to right, actor Byron Herlong; agent/director Melinda Eisnaugle; and actress Katie Groshong at The Avenue's 2012 holiday party.

For me as an agent, I have to share that I was highly amused by some of the answers and creative ideas.  For one, I was suprised at how many people couldn't come up with the actual title to quote #14.  Answers were close, but rarely correct.  Can you?  I was also suprised how many entries under the age of 12 knew the quote from #15.  (I'm thinking someone had help from a grown-up!)  The unanswerable quotes include:  #4, #6, #17, #20, #22, #30, #34, #35, #39, #40, #44-47.  If you can help, leave your answer below.  No one -- not one person -- was able to answer #35, #39, and #40.  Can you?

Below were the quotes for those we missed that evening.  Can you beat our winners without cheating?

1.  "I love Lamp!"

2.  "Shake & Bake!"

3.  "I ate his liver with some fava beans and nice chianti."

4.  "Somewhere out there are four terrible fathers I wish I could thanks for this great night."

5.  "You know what that makes you?  Lollygaggers!"

6.  "I think this boy's cheese done slid off his cracker."

7.  " LIfe moves pretty fast.  If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

8.  "I shall call him squishy and he shall be mine.  He shall be my squishy.  Come here squishy!"

9.  "We can stay up all night swapping manly stories and in the morning, I'm making waffles."

10.  "They may take our live, but they'll never take our freedom!"

11.  "There's no crying in baseball!"

12.  "To infinity, and beyond!"

13.  "As if!"

14.  "Why so serious?"

15.  "This is Sparta!"

16.  "With great power comes great responsibility."

17.  "You threaten my son, you threaten me."

18.  "I'm already pregnant, so what other shenanigans can I get myself into?"

19.  "I'm pretty sure there's a lot more to life than being really really ridiculously good looking, and I plan on finding out what that is."

20.  "I hid under your porch because I love you."

21.  "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear."

22.  "I was wondering if you would like to join me in my quarters this night for some toast."

23.  "May the odds be ever in your favor."

24.  "Werewolves have enemies?"

25.  "What we've got here is failure to communicate."

26.  "You call that a knife?  This is a knife!"

27.  "Remember who you are."

28.  "'Let me frank' . . . 'Can I still be Garth?'"

29.  "Basic principles - there are none."

30.  "Winner, winner, chicken dinner!"

31.  "No soup for you!"

32.  "Aw, tartar sauce!"

33.  "You can kiss my decision as it's walking out the door."

34.  "Don't talk to me like that.  You look like a turtle who lost his shell."

35.  "I sometimes eat goldfish from the bottom of the diaper bag."

36.  "Bam!"

37.  "Book'em Dano!"

38.  "Come on down!"

39.  "Here it is . . . the moment of Zen!"

40.  "I wish I were Einstein cause then I'd invent a time machine and go back to when you were nice!"

41.  "Eat my shorts!"

42.  "Save the cheerleader, save the world!"

43.  "Bazinga!"

44.  "I'm an early bird, and I'm a night owl, so I'm wise and I have worms."

45.  "'Hey' can mean anything.  It can mean yes; it can mean maybe; it could mean no; it could mean next week.  The bottom line is you have to understand me to understand 'hey'."

46.  "It's a beautiful day to save lives.  Let's have some fun!"

47.  "Have you ever liked someone so much you just wanna lock yourself in your room, turn on sad music, and cry?"

Our exhaustive list of quotes came from contributors Deanna Porterfield and Byron Herlong.  Thank you both for the effort you put into making a great party all the more fun and adding the air of friendly competition! 

So we have chosen the highest child score and highest adult score as this year's winners.  Our child winner will receive a free space in Steve Flanigan's 10 week Actor's Workshop.  Our adult winner will receive a free 30 minute private skype coaching session with Casting Director Holly Allen.  Check back on Wednesday to find out who our winners are and where these quotes came from. 

In the meantime, see if you can beat our winners by leaving as many answers as you can below in a comment!

26 REASONS WHY YOU DIDN'T GET THE PART

The Avenue's own Susan Miller and David Ditmore shared this article from Backstage Experts writer Amy Jo Berman.  Read below for more on a seasoned professional's insight into what you are lacking.

 

Yes, I’m writing about why you DIDN’T get the part. Yes, even though your audition was amazing and you were totally on your game and you lit up the room with creative acting genius, you still might not get the part. I know, I know…you’re probably thinking, but Amy, you are always so positive. Why are you talking about something negative?

First, it’s not negative to understand why you didn’t get a job because it will free your mind of all that monkey-mind chatter that happens when you find out you didn’t get it. Second, and this is the important part so pay attention, it doesn't matter. By the end of this article, I hope you understand that.

Since this is one of the most frequently asked questions I receive and the one that hangs you up the most and twists you into knots as an actor and a creative being, let’s get into it.

Based on my years and years of experience as a casting director in film and television, these are some of the reasons you didn’t get the part.

 

 

 

1. You’re too tall.

2. You’re too short.

3. You’re too pretty.

4. You’re not pretty enough.

5. You’re too fat.

6. You’re too thin.

7. You’re too blonde.

8. You’re not blonde enough.

9. You’re too old.

10. You’re too young.

11. You’re too serious.

12. You’re too funny.

13. You look too much like the lead.

14. You don’t look enough like the lead.

15. You’re taller than the lead.

16. You’re shorter than the lead.

17. You remind the producer of his sister, and he hates his sister.

18. You are too ethnic.

19. You are not ethnic enough.

20. You were the first one to read that day.

21. You were the last one to read that day.

22. You’re more like the best friend than the lead.

23. You’re more of a lead than the best friend.

24. You’re too character-y.

25. You’re not character-y enough.

26. You look like the director’s wife and he had a fight with his wife right before he left the house this morning.

Okay, this is a small sample of the some of the reasons you didn’t get the part. Have you heard any of these after one of your non-bookings? Can you tell what the one common thread is among this small sampling of reasons?

None of these are within your control. NONE.

Yes, of course there are many other things that are within your control . . . but these are the ones that drive you crazy. Right?

What you must understand is that your only job in an audition is to do your best work. Everything else is not up to you. The role you are reading for is one piece of an entire jigsaw puzzle. It must fit with the rest of the puzzle or the puzzle won’t work. The casting director, producer, and director are fitting pieces of the puzzle together all day long. Your only job is to be the best “piece” you can be. Whether your edges fit in the slot for that piece is not up to you.

Just go to your audition. Do your best and let it go. If you’re good, they will remember you. And the next time you hear one of those things, remember these words, let a knowing smile creep over your face, and go enjoy your day!

Amy Jo Berman is former Vice President of Casting at HBO and for 14 years has overseen the casting of over 150 films, mini-series, and series. She is the founder of Audition Polish, a membership-based audition coaching program that has helped actors around the globe nail their auditions on the first take. Using her 18+ years of technical audition experience in the casting room, Amy has helped thousands of actors with her tele-classes, private coaching, workshops, and seminars. Amy loves staying in touch with actors on social media. Watch her video acting tips on Youtube, join her Tips On Acting community on Facebook and get her VIP event updates here.

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2012 HOLIDAY PARTY!

This year's holiday party was a blast.  We celebrated a roster of talent who had amazing years, break-through moments, and of course, of MVP money makers!

A special thanks to the generous professionals who donated their services for prizes this year, including:

1. Michael Gomez Photography, who donated a free 2 look headshot shoot and a 3 look full modeling portfolio shoot. (Check out WestLight Studios on Facebook.)
2. Alan Dysert, who gave a free commercial workshop class. (To work with Alan, visit The Actor's School.)
3. Caroline Locorriere, who opened a spot on her wait list for her scene study workshop at the Actor's Studio in Nashville. (to work with Caroline, visit www.nashvilleactingstudio.com)
4. Holly Allen, [Casting Director, Actor, and Coach] who donated a free 30 minute skype coaching for audition prep.
5. Steve Flanigan, who opened a spot in his 12 week acting workshop class.
6. Deanna Porterfield of Balance Massage gave two free 60 minute massages to relax those nervous & tense muscles. (To relax with Deanna, contact Balance Massage on facebook.)
7. Jennifer McCoy BS ACSM, personal trainer at One Body One Life, who agreed to work with two talent for free 30 minute training sessions. (To work with Jennifer, email her at jennifer@body1life.com.)

The Avenue Agency's talent who stood out this year include Alice Raver, Holly Allen, Stephanie Gamonet, Emily Landham, Diana Moseley, Jared Carter, Steve Caviness, Rusty Whitener, David Ditmore.  Each one of these talent stood out as a high money earner, had a break through that brought them to the next level in their career, or booked a major project, so keep an eye out for them on your favorite tv shows and moves yet to be released!

Check back for updates on who the lucky winners of our holiday party prizes will be!

Thank you to each talent, producer, director, freelance staff member and industry professional who graced us with their presence this past weekend.  We look forward to another great year in 2013 with each of you!

The Avenue Agency's David Ditmore and Stephanie Gamonet.

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THE GATE KEEPER

Before you storm the castle with swords ablazing, do know who guards the gate?  He or she is more than you might give them worth!  Who is the gate keeper, you ask?  He or she is the person you go through in order to get in contact with the actual person you are seeking.  This might be a coach, a casting director, an agent, a director, or someone at an ad agency.   That person answering the phone, responding to emails, or setting appointments can be your best friend or worst enemy.  Usually, that choice is up to you!

We encounter gate keepers in our every day life, which is a great forum for practice.  If you trip up and lose your temper, it's better done with a postal worker than with someone that might hold the power to help move your career forward.  Keep in mind that whomever you are first exposed to when seeking someone's attention, they are not just a receptionist or assistant.  Anyone who has ever had an assistant or similar help can tell you how important that person becomes to the employers' daily success.  In sales, one of the first things we are taught is how to communicate with our friend, the gate keeper.

An industry professional shared this story with me recently:  My assistant was out on leave temporarily, so I was answering her emails.  One of them was from [names will be spared, so we'll call him/her Tracy].  The email was very hateful and demanding about why they hadn't been able to set an appointment with me.  The emailer accused my assistant of being incompetent. 

Of course, this simple action put Tracy immediately in bad graces with his/her hopeful new relationship.  If and when they ever meet, every action afterward will be tainted with the reminder that Tracy lacked tact and professionalism.  If they never get to meet, it will only be Tracy's own fault.  Sadly, Tracy probably won't ever know why.

We all tend to be on our best behavior with those people with whom we want to maintain a positive relationship and show our best face.  Sadly, we don't always share that same respect with their staff and helpers.  Change your perspective to approaching those who can help your career -- right along with their entire staff and circle of acquaintances -- with the utmost respect.  A friendly gate keeper on your side can ease the transition to getting what you really want in the end!

HOW IMPORTANT IS SLEEP?

“You are what you eat” is as true when you turn in at night as it is the rest of the day. The foods you choose may improve sleep quality and help prevent insomnia.

Research shows that sleep affects diet and weight. In particular, lack of sleep may wreak havoc with your eating habits, amp up your appetite, alter your metabolism, and increase your odds of becoming obese. Emerging evidence suggests that the reverse may also be true: Diet affects sleep. In particular, smart food choices may help you get a longer, sounder slumber.

What the Research Shows

In a 2012 article in Nutrition Research, scientists from the University of Helsinki concluded that a sleep-promoting diet should be balanced, varied, and rich in:

• Fresh fruits
• Vegetables
• Whole grains
• Lean proteins

This type of diet provides plenty of B vitamins and the amino acid tryptophan—two things the body needs to produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate sleep. To make the best use of tryptophan, the body also needs ample carbohydrates.

What It Means for You

So what does that mean for everyday food choices and eating habits? Recently, I chatted about this with Amy Jamieson-Petonic, MEd, RD, a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Below are her tips on how to choose foods that boost serotonin levels and get your brain and body ready for a restful night’s sleep.

Q: Are all carbs created equal when it comes to sleep?

Amy Jamieson-Petonic: No, different types of carbs affect sleep differently. Choose complex carbohydrates—the type found in 100 percent whole grain breads and pastas, oatmeal, brown rice, and dried beans and peas. On the other, avoid simple carbohydrates—the type found in pastries and other sugary foods, white breads and pastas, and white rice. When you eat these foods, you get big spikes and dips in blood sugar, and that doesn’t promote healthy sleep.

Q: What are some good choices for a bedtime snack?

Jamieson-Petonic: I recommend pairing a little protein with a complex carbohydrate; for example, natural peanut butter on a few 100 percent whole grain crackers, low-fat cottage cheese with a few 100 percent whole grain pita chips, or a little turkey or chicken on a mini whole wheat roll. Remember: This is meant to be a snack, not a meal, so keep it small.

Q: Why does the size of a late-night snack matter?

Jamieson-Petonic: You don’t want to add too many calories, of course. In addition, you don’t want your body busy digesting a big meal while you’re trying to sleep. It’s best to finish your last full-sized meal of the day at least three hours before going to bed.

Q: Does warm milk, herbal tea, or an alcoholic nightcap help?

Jamieson-Petonic: Just like Mom said, the combination of protein and carbohydrates in milk may soothe you to sleep. There’s also some evidence that chamomile tea may combat insomnia. But drinking alcohol close to bedtime can backfire. Although alcohol may help you nod off initially, it may also wake you up in the middle of the night and keep you from feeling rested and refreshed in the morning.

Psychology Today's Linda Wasmer Andrews writes "Minding the Body: The guide to health and happiness."  You can read the full article here.

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WEARING YOUR GAME FACE

Did you know actors and models are hired on the most subjective criteria?  No one can ever guess what will determine a decision-maker's mind, but there are some things you can do to swing luck in your direction!  So the question is . . . do you have your game face on?

 

Here's a career tip from a Casting Director which some smart actors use with proven results, but which every actor can employ to their benefit:

To start, assume you're being sent out for an audition.  Your role reads:  happy, approachable, perky.    Can you walk into a room with a big smile.  Do you look perfect; like a winner?  Do you have a good "aura"; are you able to send out positive vibes? Do you turn heads?

That's your "role" as an actor.  You assume this role when you walk out the door that morning.  No thunderclouds over your head (with a permanent bolt of lightening).  You stay in character throughout the day, wherever you go, whatever you do, whomever you meet.  (Do you know how to walk down the street?  REALLY walk down the street?  Stars do - they practiced doing "it."  And everybody gravitates toward them - wanting to be in their aura.)

Keep in mind that you run into "the industry" on street corners, in subways, in the supermarket, in the most unexpected places.  Don't let them catch you out of character, looking disheveled or like you're having a bad day.  It can be a potential deal breaker, sooner or later.  We're always on stage.  Not to mention the emotional weight of being in a funk and then trying to get out of it for the few minutes you are in the casting room!  Energy is more often felt than we realize in subjective and emotional industries especially.  It isn't something you can force or pretend -- it's either there or it's not.

You step out of character only when you return home, if you choose.  Then (and only then) you may assume your evil twin, descend into that terminal depression, morph into a slug, whatever.  But at that point, it's OK.

Tomorrow, repeat steps above if you need to practice this character more.  In this case, it might even make you a more likeable person, build your network, and you could even find new friends! 

Thank you.  And the world will thank you, too.   Not to mention how many more jobs you'll magically get!

MUSIC VIDEO OR MOVIE?

Toby Keith's newest single, "Hope on the Rocks", is shot more like a movie than a music video.  Check out The Avenue's powerhouse talent including Susan Miller, Katie Groshong, Emily Landham, and Brian McPherson in the video and outtakes.

Want to know more about what our talent are up to?  Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

 

 

 

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A TALENT'S LIFE MANTRA

This post is courtesy of NYC CD Scott Powers, who says . . .

This week's tip is an exercise in simplicity that packs a big wallop:
 
Just before you interface with someone who can hire you or represent you or call you in for an audition: stop, take a beat, and tell/remind yourself: "My job is to make their job easier." Then: "Is what I'm just about going to be doing or saying, making their job easier?  Or not?"
 
Sounds deceptively simple.  It isn't.  Try it a few times until you get the hang of it.  This is one of the great principles of success in dealing with anyone in a position to select you.  It has universal application out in any marketplace.
 
Once this practice becomes embedded in your thinking process as second nature, you will start almost immediately to see the results. You will be in awe of how fast your career (in fact, any career, not just acting) will move ahead beyond all expectation.

Van Morrison even agrees!

 

'Hobbit' Affair Still Rankles NZ Unions

Blogger and writer Jonathan Handel brings to light the political challenges of making an expected box office hit in New Zealand.

 

As fans of The Hobbit scanned the red carpet at the film’s premiere in Wellington last night, some New Zealand activists are still bitter about the outcome of a failed unionization attempt in 2010, even as NZ Actors Equity is finally making progress in negotiations with the country’s producers association.

Meanwhile, the government continues to resist publicly disclosing a key legal report, despite having apparently provided copies to Warner Bros. and producer/director Peter Jackson’s Wingnut Films. That stance may change, as government officials are meeting on the matter December 5, according to a local press report.

“I’m bloody angry,” said NZAE vice president Phil Darkins at a conference last week at Victoria University. Referring to New Zealand’s uniquely non-unionized film industry, he said caustically “New Zealand is the only English speaking nation on the planet where professional performers ply their trade at the mercy of their lords and masters. And they are supposed to do this feeling nothing but enormous gratitude for the fact that there is even work available.”

In an email to The Hollywood Reporter, a NZAE organizer struck a different note. “We're having productive discussions with SPADA,” said Anna Majavu, referring to the country’s Screen Production and Development Association, “and look forward to reaching a mutually-agreeable conclusion.”

His new book, The New Zealand Hobbit Crisis, is out on Amazon in paper (http://amzn.to/SiHUX2) and Kindle (http://amzn.to/UG7q7F). Check it out.