Actor-Preneur

I was heading to London after a few days in Paris for meetings in the business class car of Eurostar’s Chunnel service. The day long Actorpreneur workshop in London, I expanded the usual presentation with amazing video interviews with prominent Broadway and Los Angeles professionals.

The all day Intensive included a catered lunch and informative video interviews with Roy Steinberg, TV Producer/Director, Angela Terry, Los Angeles Casting director, Joel Kleinman, Los Angeles Talent Agent, Corey Pepper, an established working actor, Donald Norris, Los Angeles professional headshot photographer, Pat McCorkle, Broadway/Film Casting Director, Bobby Daye, an established Broadway star and Rob Decina, Casting director, CBS Guiding Light.

Former UTA talent agents Jonathan Perry and Brian Dow have joined APA Talent Agency.

According to Variety, Perry’s clients include Alyson Hannigan, Ashley Scott, Moira Kelly, Audrina Patridge and the Kardashian family. He also will rep newly signed APA clients Gina Gershon, Vinnie Jones, Tom Arnold, and Yeardley Smith.

Jonathan Perry left UTA in February during a restructuring. Prior to his four-year stint at UTA, he worked at Original Management and spent three years as a talent agent at Endeavor.

Variety states, “Dow will be leading APA’s efforts to establish a presence in commercial endorsements and had worked in UTA’s New Ventures department, handling endorsements, licensing and personal appearances for the agency. He co-represents Patridge and the Kardashian family with Perry.”

Several weeks ago I had the honor of speaking and presenting the “actorpreneur” workshop to the students of distinguished actor Arved Birnbaum at his acting school, Zentrum für Schauspiel und Film in Cologne (Köln), Germany. Zentrum für Schauspiel und Film is one of the most respected and prominent acting programs in Europe.

Pictured to the left is Juilliard graduate and instructor at Zentrum für Schauspiel und Film Carolyn James who was instrumental in organizing the event.

Just as actors market themselves, American casting directors have been creating amazing web sites. Above is NY Casting Director and TVI teacher Judy Bowman.

Also take a look at Los Angeles casting directors Terry Berland’s and Renita Whited new sites.

At some point in an actors career, an attorney will become part of your “team”. While all attorneys are educated in the law, it is wise to have an individual who practices “entertainment law” and understands your industry.

I came across an interesting blog written by Los Angeles entertainment attorney, Gordon Firemark. Take a look at his bio, and postings, fascinating and informative reading.

NY Daily News staff writer Heidi Evans has an interesting article on the modern stage mom, and kids entering showbusiness. With the digital resources available on the internet, Theatre Kids and their “moms” have a huge amount of places to go to seek auditions in every corner of the world.

“What about schmoozing the casting director to win the part? Or offering to buy him a new BMW?

“NOT a good idea,” Mama Roth admonished. “Just sit back and let your child show their talent on their own.”

Take a look at the article here.

Heading to TVI NY for my first NY trip of the year.

This time of year most actors will not dedicate the time for a part if a play. With the writer’s strike in it’s third month, this years “pilot season”, television’s annual ritual in which potential TV shows shoot sample episodes and then woo TV networks and cable channels, many successful film and TV actors who have the abilities for live theater are clamoring for stage parts they’d normally shun at this time of year.

The LA Times interviewed New York Casting Director Bernie Telsey,

“With pilot season postponed, the sidewalks of New York evidently are crammed with actors looking for theater work. He stated that double the usual number of actors have been turning up for auditions.”

The article continues,

“Phyllis Schuringa, casting director for the Geffen Playhouse, notes that some desirable performers won’t commit to plays for fear that the strike may end.”

While working out the other day I read in this months Forbes magazine an interesting article by Anna Isgro on how many people on the Forbes 400 either never graduated from college, or never even enrolled!

How many actors can you name that have become successful without a traditional theatre education?

An article in Diversity Inc “All-White Runways: ‘Are They Racist or Just Dumb?” comments about the lack of women of color walking the runways.

The Wall Street Journal also has an article “Criticism About a Lack of Ethnic Diversity on Runways Puts Attention on Casting Directors”

Are you a model? Do you agree?