The Successful Talent: Tips for the Actor & Model

MORE HOLIDAY VIDEO FUN (Part 2)

At this year's holiday party, The Avenue's talent were given an open forum to record whatever came to mind. With no preparation or forewarning, many brave souls were willing and vulnerable enough to share a piece of holiday spirit with us. In the following blogs, we will share their video choices and YOU will get to decide which video will win (the video with the most comments below, so comment away)! The lucky winner will be announced after all videos have been posted and can pick up their prize from myself at The Avenue. So tell your friends, share on facebook, and tweet away -- will it be you?

Lynn Summers beautifully orates from the heart.

 

 

Isaiah Stratton gives us some sage advice.

 

Penie White brings her warm sunny personality to heat up our winter festivities.

 

 

Vote for your favorite holiday video by leaving a comment below.  One winner will be chosen after all videos have been posted.  More videos yet to come, so check back next week!   Whose video is best so far -- Lynn, Isaiah, or Penie?

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SPUR OF THE MOMENT HOLIDAY VIDEO CONTEST

Time for some frivilous holiday fun!  I'm one of those people who believes in extending any holiday as far beyond the customary boundaries as possible.  Yup, I have been known to leave my christmas tree up well into April!  Why not keep the mood light and festive until we get that great spring weather back?

At this year's holiday party, The Avenue's talent were given an open forum to record whatever came to mind.  With no preparation or forewarning, many brave souls were willing and vulnerable enough to share a piece of holiday spirit with us.  In the following blogs, we will share their video choices and YOU will get to decide which video will win!  The lucky winner will be announced after all videos have been posted and can pick up their prize from myself at The Avenue.  So tell your friends, share on facebook, and tweet away -- will it be you?

Brigid O'Connell grabs a pair of dark sunglasses to share her rendition of a pregnant female Corey Hart.

 

 What in heaven's name is Zach Al-Chokhachi talking about?

  

Roy Cox shares his holiday vocals.

 

More vidoes to follow in coming blogs.  Check back to see yourself and your friends be spontaneous and cast your vote for the best holiday impromptu video by leaving a comment below.  The video with the most comments wins!  Will you vote for Brigid, Zach, or Roy?

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YOUR INNER DEMONS

NYC and Nashville casting director Kim Petrosky shares her perspective on Risa Bramon Garcia's blog post on BackStage.

"Great article by Risa Bramon Garcia. My personal #1 most important thing an actor can do -
Do you your own personal work. YOU are who you bring into every audition, every situation, every relationship in your life. By making the choice to be an actor you are choosing to be in relationship…with other actors…script…director...with all the other creative and technical aspects of the experience. If you have personal issues that may be holding you back (and I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t) become aware and do whatever you need to do to explore them…heal them…find the tools or whatever is the right choice for you. Self-exploration is a life long process and cannot be overlooked. Because trust me…I see this as the biggest obstacle in every actors success," said Kim Petrosky in her Casting Facebook post recently. 

Risa Bramon Garcia's "15 Things Actors Do That Make Me Happy" full article is pasted below.

1. You show up every day. You make no excuses.

2. You love the work wherever and whenever you’re doing it and you don't complain. None of the “I’ve been a series regular for six years, and I’m only working one day/week for $40,000.” Or “I’m so ready to work, but I’m home all day with nothing to do.” You bring your love of acting to the audition room, set, rehearsal, class, and you carry your love of the work into every experience. You relish it.

3. You do everything you can to be prepared. You know your lines. You do your homework. You do it to get out of your own way.

4. You’re generous to each other, and you’re generous to yourselves. You give yourselves a break. You manage your expectations.

5. You don't apologize, and you’re willing to applaud yourself. You turn limiting beliefs into empowering ones.

6. You focus on others, not on what they think of you but on what their needs might truly be. We are all your audience, and you’re there to offer yourself and your work to us in performance, in collaboration, in a shared adventure.

7. You train. You study. You work out. You continue to develop your craft. You get that being in shape is what gives you the edge to compete and the freedom to fly.

8. You live full lives.

9. You’re proactive and deeply creative. You take responsibility for your work, your success, and yourself.

10. You’re willing to fight for it.

11. You understand the power of fear, that it’s a force, not an impediment. You take risks in spite of your terror. You let it fuel you. You do what Yoda says: “Feel the force!”

12. You’re courageous. You embrace the struggle and find a way to love it, knowing that the creative spirit grows from battling through the night, that this is the force with which we create. You're willing to do whatever it takes.

13. You’re about the work first, knowing that career will follow and not the other way around. Dedicated work leads to good work. Good work leads to great work. Great work is thrilling. Great work is noticed. Celebrated. Hired. And money follows bliss. As Steven Pressfield wrote in "The War of Art," "The most important thing about art is to work. Nothing else matters except sitting down every day and trying."

14. You know how damned lucky you are to have chosen this thing, this thing that is generated from the fire within you. You’re blessed to be on this journey.

15. You have faith.  My happiness isn’t really determined by an actor’s decision to take care of him or herself. This is my own checklist for artistic sanity and success. However, when I do see fellow artists show us and embrace these actions, I’m gratified. We conspire together in our pursuit of happiness. 

There’s further to go in the exploration of each of these commitments... For now, let's embrace them. Let’s look at where each of us shows up, where we might have to recalibrate how we approach our creative lives. Our careers and our joy depend on it.

Risa Bramon Garcia has just started up a new Studio in L.A. with partner, Steve Braun, called The Bramon Garcia Braun Studio, dedicated to actors’ whole journey, connecting craft with career. Visit Risa’s website, active and inviting for actors and other artists alike is:Risabg.com.

For the past 30 years Risa has worked consistently as a director, producer, casting director, writer, and teacher, collaborating with some of the most groundbreaking artists in the world.  Having directed two feature films ‐ the cult classic, "200 cigarettes," and most recently, "The Con Artist" in Canada - Risa’s also directed for television, including multiple episodes of "The Twilight Zone" for New Line/UPN, and shows for HBO, Lifetime, and Comedy Central. She’s directed dozens of plays in New York (The Ensemble Studio Theatre, Second Stage, Manhattan Theatre Club) and in Los Angeles. Risa’s casting résumé includes more than 65 feature films, classics such as "Something Wild," "At Close Range," "Angel Heart," "Fatal Attraction," "Wall Street," "Talk Radio," "Jacob’s Ladder," "Born on the Fourth of July," "JFK," "The Doors," "Sneakers," "The Joy Luck Club," "True Romance," "Speed," "How To Make An American Quilt," "Dead Presidents," "Twister," "Benny and Joon," and "Flirting With Disaster;" and numerous television shows, including "Roseanne," "CSI:NY," "The Cape," and most recently "A Gifted Man" for CBS and the pilot "Rewind" for Syfy. She’s about to start casting the Showtime series, "Masters of Sex." Risa served as a producer on Oliver Stone’s films "Heaven and Earth" and "Natural Born Killers," movies she also cast.

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WHAT TO LEAVE BEHIND

Backstage columnist & CD Todd Thaler thinks you should consider leaving certain things behind at an on camera audition.  Below are his suggestions.

In the not too distant past, a casting director narrowed down selects by doing prescreens. The director and producers would then certainly be present for callbacks. Nowadays, a callback, an integral aspect of the process, often does not occur. The opportunity to meet the "deciders" face-to-face has been eliminated. With the advent of technology, pre-taped auditions are how actors are very often cast. This is especially true in television casting. In this scenario, you are sadly deprived of any ability to show any aspects of your off-camera personality that could possibly sway an ambivalent director or producer into choosing you. Last year, with the production of TBS’ "Are We There Yet?" which was based in Stamford, CT., it was impossible for the directors and producers, who were busy shooting current episodes and writing future ones, to be at auditions at my office in Manhattan. My sessions were videotaped, uploaded, and emailed for their review. There were never callbacks. There were no meetings with directors and producers. Only after actors arrived in Connecticut did they get to meet anyone other than me!

Ed Harris, on "Inside The Actors Studio," was asked what the difference was between acting in the theater and acting in film and television. His answer was, “Acting is acting is acting. It’s the ‘adjustment’ you need to make when acting for the camera.” What is that adjustment? It is hard to avoid the old cliché, “less is more,” but it is completely true in this instance. Theater acting must be "big" so that it works all the way to the back row. Film and television acting can be much "smaller" and much more natural. The camera captures everything, thereby making it a more subtle, private, and intimate experience. I am convinced this skill-set can be taught, learned, practiced, and perfected.

This is why a greater awareness of "what you leave behind" is so crucially important. If you have little or no on-camera experience, you probably have no idea if what you do in the room works on tape. These days, there are a multitude of classes and workshops for acting-for-camera. (I have been known to do a few myself!) But, like auditioning, it is something you only get better at by doing as much and as often as possible. Since auditions can be few and far between, you must practice on your own. The easiest way to accomplish this is to park yourself in front of your laptop camera, your phone camera, or a video camera! Find someone to read off camera. It doesn’t even need to be an actor! Watch it back. Is it natural? Is it truthful? Is it real? Is it simple? Or is it theatrical? Broad? Too "big?" Is it “schmacting?”

Todd Thaler is a casting director, acting teacher, and private on-camera audition coach. In addition to casting, he is currently teaching at NYU/Tisch, Brooklyn College, and the Atlantic Theater Acting School. His credits include: Luc Besson’s "The Professional," Todd Field’s "Little Children," Sidney Lumet’s "Running on Empty," Ed Harris' directorial debut "Pollock," Barbra Streisand’s "The Mirror Has Two Faces," John McNaughton’s "Mad Dog and Glory," Gavin O'Connor's "Tumbleweeds," John Turturro’s "Mac, Illuminata, Romance & Cigarettes" and "Fading Gigolo," James Mangold’s "Heavy" and "Cop Land," and Wayne Wang’s "Because of Winn-Dixie" and "Maid in Manhattan." For television, TBS’ "Are We There Yet?," ABC’s "Wonderland," and NBC’s "Ed," for which he was nominated for the Emmy Award.

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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!

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!

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!

 

WHAT THE CD DOESN'T TELL YOU (Part 2)

After having had time to recenter yourself from Caroline Liem's early advice, here she continue to challenge you to move past the moments in the casting room and build a more interesting (and hence, valuable) YOU.

6. Be like the reed. Ever have a day when you get to your appointment and find out there were notes never received, new sides, and awkward camera set up, and an extended wait time? How can we do our best under such circumstances? Be flexible, and keep it positive. Look, stuff happens every day that’s out of our control, but how it’s handled is what will be remembered.

7. My reader was a zombie. A tough room = A chilly reception. The audition process is already awkward without these additional bumps in the road. Still, it’s your job to create your environment and show us what you’ve carefully prepared. An Academy Award-winning actor once told me she made a game out of it. The goal was to get the reader to look up. It’s still about connection and taking it off of yourself.

8. Yes, your degree counts. It shows steadfast determination. But class is how you keep sharp, develop additional skills, and stay current. Be open to taking selective classes or seminars continually. Training never ends.

9. Tell a friend. Refer people for jobs you can’t work. It always comes back in a positive way.

10. No car = no work. If you’re [going to make it to the audition], for Pete’s sake, have a working car!

Caroline Liem is a casting director, audition coach and teacher based in Los Angeles. Her highly acclaimed film/TV audition and text analysis classes have been taught throughout the U.S. both privately and at universities. She has cast indie films, studio features and television pilot/series for Disney Studios, Warner Brothers, Sony, Paramount, Twentieth Century Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, WB, and Fox. You can see her latest casting on Nickelodeon's Parental Discretion with Stefanie Wilder-Taylor. You can find more information on Caroline and classes at www.CarolineLiem.com and like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter @CarolineLiem.