17 July 2004
SAG Conservatory at AFI
I spoke at two seminars at the SAG Conservatory at AFI (my first time being invited to do so--way cool) and the following are the actors who managed to make an impression, even in a seminar context.
Brent Strickland (great follow-up letter), Carl Moebus (was a helper at the SAG seminar I did months ago), David Pavao (intensely participating, looks familiar), Summer Still (so nice), Fabienne Maurer (what a great name!), Jackie Benoit (helper today; I met her when I spoke at AIA years ago), Venessa Verdugo (remember her from Take One; great new headshots), Donté Atwan (great vibe), Emil Lin (I adore him; great chat about casting and Drama Garage--of course, I knew him before this event), Lou Lollio (from Hollywood Happy Hour), Bridget Graham Jamai (great vibe), Nicole Abramson (great type; young and sassy), Halli Lorentz (classy; great thank you note), Susan Solari-Williams (restarting after a break; very cute), Tasia Sherel (sweetheart), Art Conto (looks like my dad), Shirley Butler (very sweet; a big fan), Piper Moretti (cutie), Jake Rademacher (asked great questions), Jonathon Storm (came to both seminars; really nice), J'hon Christopher Williams (great spirit)
So, that's a day full of actors listening to me talk about self-management and promotion. It was fun! I hope I get to go back soon!
Brent Strickland (great follow-up letter), Carl Moebus (was a helper at the SAG seminar I did months ago), David Pavao (intensely participating, looks familiar), Summer Still (so nice), Fabienne Maurer (what a great name!), Jackie Benoit (helper today; I met her when I spoke at AIA years ago), Venessa Verdugo (remember her from Take One; great new headshots), Donté Atwan (great vibe), Emil Lin (I adore him; great chat about casting and Drama Garage--of course, I knew him before this event), Lou Lollio (from Hollywood Happy Hour), Bridget Graham Jamai (great vibe), Nicole Abramson (great type; young and sassy), Halli Lorentz (classy; great thank you note), Susan Solari-Williams (restarting after a break; very cute), Tasia Sherel (sweetheart), Art Conto (looks like my dad), Shirley Butler (very sweet; a big fan), Piper Moretti (cutie), Jake Rademacher (asked great questions), Jonathon Storm (came to both seminars; really nice), J'hon Christopher Williams (great spirit)
So, that's a day full of actors listening to me talk about self-management and promotion. It was fun! I hope I get to go back soon!
15 July 2004
"Blithe Spirit" at the Globe Playhouse
Fellow casting director Chemin Bernard and went to see the Cowardice Theatre Company's production of Noel Coward's "Blithe Spirit" at the Globe Playhouse. This production was directed by our colleague Gwen Hillier.
This was my first time at the Globe Playhouse. Wow! What a gorgeous space! And this was one of the most lovely sets, best props, most gorgeous costumes I've seen used in Los Angeles theatre. Wow! Great first impression. Ah, yes... I see A. Jeffrey Schoenberg (Faith Salie's friend) did the costumes (with Shon LeBlanc). I remember his amazing work from shows at The Colony. Excellent!
The actors in this fabulous cast were: Mary Jo Catlett (major Broadway credits, simply brilliant), Nicole Dalton (funny; I've gotten her headshot before), Richard Fox, Nicholas Hosking (also producer; has good timing), Marsha Kramer (she could play Debra Jo Rupp's older sister), Anne McVey (needs a new headshot; she's older and lighter than in the photo and she's very cute. Needs a headshot that sells THAT), and Tracy Powell (really lovely; great costume and makeup; I REALLY like this gal).
I noticed from the cast bios in the program that many actors are recurring characters on General Hospital, the show for which Gwen casts (with Mark Teschner). It's all about relationships, baby!
Oh, thank you so much for having the actors NOT smoke, despite having them pick up cigarettes throughout the play as if planning to smoke. That's very considerate!
I'm still not quite sure why I have in my kit a headshot of Terri Marsteiner, stage manager.
Seriously top-notch production, through and through. Great date with Chemin! This was excellent theatre.
This was my first time at the Globe Playhouse. Wow! What a gorgeous space! And this was one of the most lovely sets, best props, most gorgeous costumes I've seen used in Los Angeles theatre. Wow! Great first impression. Ah, yes... I see A. Jeffrey Schoenberg (Faith Salie's friend) did the costumes (with Shon LeBlanc). I remember his amazing work from shows at The Colony. Excellent!
The actors in this fabulous cast were: Mary Jo Catlett (major Broadway credits, simply brilliant), Nicole Dalton (funny; I've gotten her headshot before), Richard Fox, Nicholas Hosking (also producer; has good timing), Marsha Kramer (she could play Debra Jo Rupp's older sister), Anne McVey (needs a new headshot; she's older and lighter than in the photo and she's very cute. Needs a headshot that sells THAT), and Tracy Powell (really lovely; great costume and makeup; I REALLY like this gal).
I noticed from the cast bios in the program that many actors are recurring characters on General Hospital, the show for which Gwen casts (with Mark Teschner). It's all about relationships, baby!
Oh, thank you so much for having the actors NOT smoke, despite having them pick up cigarettes throughout the play as if planning to smoke. That's very considerate!
I'm still not quite sure why I have in my kit a headshot of Terri Marsteiner, stage manager.
Seriously top-notch production, through and through. Great date with Chemin! This was excellent theatre.
14 July 2004
Rossi Snyder Theatre Lab Showcase
I went to the Rossi Snyder Theatre Lab Showcase with Keith Johnson. We hung out with Beth Goldstein (casting director-turned-manager). This took place at the Dorie Theatre at the Complex, 6476 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood.
One of the actors involved, Tim Bates, is a friend of ours, so we'd already heard about this industry showcase from him. Fellow casting director Stephen Snyder, one of the two instructors of the class that leads to this showcase, also invited us.
Great industry turnout: Manager Melanie Sharp, agents Bonnie and Frank Black, casting director and acting coach Richard Delancy, casting associate Scott Lairson, and co-producer Gary Dubin.
This was Stephen's first showcase in four years. The music between scenes was far too loud and some of the casting was off (there were characteristics that didn't match between actor and role--these things should've at least been addressed). Overall, the actors were competent but need more training. Most of the scenes were very "typical" showcase scenes--and ones we've seen far too many times before. Beth and I actually sat together and DID the "Crimes of the Heart" scene in whispers along with the actors. That's not a good sign.
By far, the best scene of the night was the one starring Keeshan Giles and Meghan Jolly doing a sketch from MadTV ("Stop it!" therapy). It was truly brilliant. These were strong actors who made great choices and the material was top-notch (nor was it too long). That's the recipe for success in these industry showcases.
From the industry kit: Andi Scurry, what are you thinking with your headshot? It's a 3/4-shot in which she's wearing a crop-top and she's posed with her arms over head like in a Playboy spread... but less classy. *shudder* Man, that was a bad headshot. Too bad, because Andi is actually pretty talented, despite her in-and-out Southern accent.
My major "What was THAT?!?" moment came from the final scene, starring Kate Roxburgh and Erin Connolly. Kate was dressed as a man, paint on her face to suggest a five-o'clock shadow, wearing fake teeth, and she spoke in a very odd Scottish accent of some sort. I didn't understand why someone would choose a scene in which one actor would have to cross-dress (and poorly) rather than simply showcasing her work as an actor (a female actor). Very odd choice.
Overall, the showcase ran too long. Stephen said after that he was thinking of making it longer and adding an intermission to break it up. I don't recommend that choice at all! The flyer guaranteed the show to be less than 89 minutes, but some actors were really milking their time on stage. Dinner was served at 7pm. The show started late (at 8:15pm). After schmoozing and saying our good-byes, we weren't on the road home 'til after 10:30pm. That's a long night. Oh, man, there was great Peruvian food though. Really nice spread!
Still, not a bad "first showcase back" in four years. I look forward to the next, which I hope will be tighter and a little more balanced, in terms of scene selection and casting.
One of the actors involved, Tim Bates, is a friend of ours, so we'd already heard about this industry showcase from him. Fellow casting director Stephen Snyder, one of the two instructors of the class that leads to this showcase, also invited us.
Great industry turnout: Manager Melanie Sharp, agents Bonnie and Frank Black, casting director and acting coach Richard Delancy, casting associate Scott Lairson, and co-producer Gary Dubin.
This was Stephen's first showcase in four years. The music between scenes was far too loud and some of the casting was off (there were characteristics that didn't match between actor and role--these things should've at least been addressed). Overall, the actors were competent but need more training. Most of the scenes were very "typical" showcase scenes--and ones we've seen far too many times before. Beth and I actually sat together and DID the "Crimes of the Heart" scene in whispers along with the actors. That's not a good sign.
By far, the best scene of the night was the one starring Keeshan Giles and Meghan Jolly doing a sketch from MadTV ("Stop it!" therapy). It was truly brilliant. These were strong actors who made great choices and the material was top-notch (nor was it too long). That's the recipe for success in these industry showcases.
From the industry kit: Andi Scurry, what are you thinking with your headshot? It's a 3/4-shot in which she's wearing a crop-top and she's posed with her arms over head like in a Playboy spread... but less classy. *shudder* Man, that was a bad headshot. Too bad, because Andi is actually pretty talented, despite her in-and-out Southern accent.
My major "What was THAT?!?" moment came from the final scene, starring Kate Roxburgh and Erin Connolly. Kate was dressed as a man, paint on her face to suggest a five-o'clock shadow, wearing fake teeth, and she spoke in a very odd Scottish accent of some sort. I didn't understand why someone would choose a scene in which one actor would have to cross-dress (and poorly) rather than simply showcasing her work as an actor (a female actor). Very odd choice.
Overall, the showcase ran too long. Stephen said after that he was thinking of making it longer and adding an intermission to break it up. I don't recommend that choice at all! The flyer guaranteed the show to be less than 89 minutes, but some actors were really milking their time on stage. Dinner was served at 7pm. The show started late (at 8:15pm). After schmoozing and saying our good-byes, we weren't on the road home 'til after 10:30pm. That's a long night. Oh, man, there was great Peruvian food though. Really nice spread!
Still, not a bad "first showcase back" in four years. I look forward to the next, which I hope will be tighter and a little more balanced, in terms of scene selection and casting.
13 July 2004
Naked Angels' Tuesdays @9
Oh, I'm certainly going to be a regular at this event. Naked Angels started this wonderful project in New York and this was their second week of trying it out in Los Angeles. Tuesdays @9 is really wonderful. Actors show up between 8pm and 8:30pm at St. Nick's Pub on 3rd and check in. Writers whose works have been approved for the night hand out copies of the work to the actors and at 9pm, the fun begins. Every genre, every type of project (at every stage of development) is showcased here, always in a cold read state (no advance copies... ever). Even songs that singer-songwriters have in-progress are previewed. Feedback is always a big part of the schmoozefest after the readings. Really wonderful program!
On this night, I went with Keith Johnson, who was immediately tapped to read a role in The Decoy by Tony Lepore. He got to read with favorite people Subhash Mandal and Blake Robbins.
Execs from Fox were in attendance, and they really loved the work by Matt Borick (Dirtbags, absolutely brilliant comedic work). A wonderful character actor named Larry was there (wish I'd gotten his last name) and the musical act (Sara--again, I didn't get the last name) was comedically divine. Eager to see and hear her work again.
The night is run by Kimberly Mercado and Jennifer DiMartino (both very talented and warm).
To submit material, show up to one of the events with two copies of ten pages max of a script (five pages double-spaced if a novel, short story, or one-person show). If you're a musician (especially with musical theatre emphasis) show up with a CD demo for Shark, who runs that part of the program.
We will most definitely be back for more of this wonderful event. Well done!
On this night, I went with Keith Johnson, who was immediately tapped to read a role in The Decoy by Tony Lepore. He got to read with favorite people Subhash Mandal and Blake Robbins.
Execs from Fox were in attendance, and they really loved the work by Matt Borick (Dirtbags, absolutely brilliant comedic work). A wonderful character actor named Larry was there (wish I'd gotten his last name) and the musical act (Sara--again, I didn't get the last name) was comedically divine. Eager to see and hear her work again.
The night is run by Kimberly Mercado and Jennifer DiMartino (both very talented and warm).
To submit material, show up to one of the events with two copies of ten pages max of a script (five pages double-spaced if a novel, short story, or one-person show). If you're a musician (especially with musical theatre emphasis) show up with a CD demo for Shark, who runs that part of the program.
We will most definitely be back for more of this wonderful event. Well done!
06 July 2004
Hollywood Happy Hour
Our last Hollywood Happy Hour at Alessi Ristorante, as Hollywood Happy Hour starts takin' it on the road from here!
Last-minute pinch-hitter entertainment reporter Louise Pennell joined us to discuss her Australian broadcasting work (covering everything from politics to muscle beach). We also dished with commercial agent Stella Archer of Conan Carroll & Associates. What a straight-shooter! And of course, Kris Burtt dazzled all with her Couch Potato Corner. Spoilers-a-go-go!
The gang moved from Alessi to Micelli's and Amagi... maybe we were HHH on the road even before we'd planned to be!
We saw more actors than ever! Plus a documentary filmmaker, three incognito casting directors, the ever-popular gang of creatives who love to collaborate, and a few aspiring hosts! Of course, we couldn't LIVE without Uncle Bob and Aunt Diana, who took care of audio duties! HUGE thanks to Keith Johnson, who ran that door like nobody's business! The not-to-miss moment of the night was delivered by Molly Hawkey, who happily sang with her mouth closed. REALLY! What a blast!
Last-minute pinch-hitter entertainment reporter Louise Pennell joined us to discuss her Australian broadcasting work (covering everything from politics to muscle beach). We also dished with commercial agent Stella Archer of Conan Carroll & Associates. What a straight-shooter! And of course, Kris Burtt dazzled all with her Couch Potato Corner. Spoilers-a-go-go!
The gang moved from Alessi to Micelli's and Amagi... maybe we were HHH on the road even before we'd planned to be!
We saw more actors than ever! Plus a documentary filmmaker, three incognito casting directors, the ever-popular gang of creatives who love to collaborate, and a few aspiring hosts! Of course, we couldn't LIVE without Uncle Bob and Aunt Diana, who took care of audio duties! HUGE thanks to Keith Johnson, who ran that door like nobody's business! The not-to-miss moment of the night was delivered by Molly Hawkey, who happily sang with her mouth closed. REALLY! What a blast!
