The Vagabond Actor's Podcast

Listener Question: What If It Doesn’t Work?

Hello after a long time away!

This episode, Gary, Brian and Andrea delve into listener (and working actor) Fola Evans-Akingbola called in to ask about what happens when all the preparation you do before you work doesn't seem to be working? 

Do you fake it? Do you force the truth?

We get into it!

Let us know your listener questions!

@vagabondactors on twitter and instagram

Interview with Actor and Stuntwoman Samantha Win (Army of the Dead, Wonder Woman, 300: Rise of An Empire)

This week we are delighted to talk with Samantha Win. Samantha is an accomplished martial artist and stuntwoman who talks with us about the drive needed to be an olympic competitor, her transition into stunt work and becoming recognized as the wonderful actor she is.

Our tips this week:

Samantha: Dungeons and Dragons
Brian: The Two Handsome Siblings (Netflix)
Gary: Maniac (Netflix)
Andrea: Philadelphia (1993 film), The Miracle Morning (Book by Hal Elrod)

Interview With Director Miguel Alexandre: Spy City, Black Island

We're back from a long hiatus with a wonderful interview, talking with director Miguel Alexandre. Miguel directed Brian in Spy City (AMC+) and, when we recorded this in August, was just about to release Black Island on Netflix (which is really great! definitely go check it out). We talk with Miguel about directing actors, his dos and don'ts for castings, keeping a lot of irons in the fire, and much more!

Our tips this week:

Miguel: Black Island (Netflix), Another Round (Film)
Andrea: The Chair (Netflix)
Gary: Your Honor (TV Series)
Brian: Derry Girls (Netflix)

Listener Questions: International Castings, Following Your Instincts and When Is It Time To Move On?

This episode we answer some listener questions. Prashansa from Bombay asks about how to make connections into a market outside of where you are living. Alex from Prague asks about how to be more free with following your instincts and Jaana from Helsinki asks about how you know when it's time to move on from a long running series.

Our tips this week:

Andrea: Fences (Film),  The Way of Integrity (Book by Martha Beck)
Gary: Summer and Smoke (Play by Tennessee Williams)
Brian: What Every Body Is Saying (Book by Joe Navarro)

Interview with Actor and Narrator Wayne Mitchell

This episode, we talk with actor and audio book narrator Wayne Mitchell. Wayne studied with Andrea at Playhouse West and talks extensively about the audio book narration business: how he got in, his experiences recording, getting work and dealing with the authors and publishers. It's a great episode for anyone interested in getting into the audio book field!

You can check out Wayne's work here: https://www.allthingswaynemitchell.com/

Our top tips this week:

Gary: There Will Be Blood (Film)
Brian: Love, Death and Robots (Netflix animated series)
Wayne: ZeroZeroZero (TV series, Sky)
Andrea: Crazy Heart (Film) 

Can Acting Be Harmful To Your Health?

This week we talk about how actors might deal with the traumatic emotional experiences that can come with the circumstances we are asked to portray. 

Our tips for this week:

Brian: Grand Designs (Netflix)

Gary: Elia Kazan: On Directing (book)

Andrea: The Tim Ferris Show (Podcast), the episode with Jacqueline Novogratz as well as the episode with George Mumford

What Is Truth In Acting? What Makes Acting Truthful?

This week we get into a philosophical question that has a direct impact on how actors approach their craft and their roles: What is Truth? More specifically, what is truth in acting or what is truthful acting? We also get into the difference between "real" truth and "artistic" truth.

Our Top Tips this week:

Brian: Schitt's Creek (TV show)

Gary: Edvard Munch (Painter)

Andrea: Ozark (TV show) & Boundary Boss (Book by Terri Cole)

Interview with Filmmaker Marcus Markou (Papadopoulos & Sons, Two Strangers Who Meet Five Times)

We're back after a break with director and screenwriter Marcus Markou. Marcus wrote, directed, produced, and self-distributed the smash hit feature film "Papadopoulos & Sons", which went on to become one of the most successful self-distributed films in the UK. 

Marcus talks about his process, his approach to filmmaking, casting and a lot more!

This week's tips:

Andrea: Any film featuring Olympia Dukakis

Brian: Here and Now, Ram Dass (podcast)

Gary: The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster (books)

Marcus: Directing Actors by Judith Weston (book), The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer (book)

 

Listener Question: What Should Actors Think About While Acting?

This week Christian Cascone asks about what actors should think about while acting. Inner monologue? Nothing? Something else? We do our best to delve into the topic and end up in a heated agreement. We want to know what our listeners think about while they're acting. Let us know: @vagabondactors on Twitter, Instagram or on our Facebook page!

Our recommendations this week:

Andrea: Professional Troublemaker (book by Luvvie Ajayi Jones on Audible)

Brian: Young Frankenstein (Mel Brooks movie)

Gary: The Mule (Clint Eastwoood movie)

Listener Question: Do Commercials Hurt Your Film Career?

This week we answer a question that listener Christian Bitar asked us on our Instagram account (@vagabondactors). He asked whether working on commercials hurts your reputation as a film or TV actor. We expand the question to talk about whether there is any work that actors should or shouldn't take and if there was work we took that we regretted.

Our recommendations this week:

Andrea: The 100 Foot Journey (film on Netflix), Professional Troublemaker (book by Luvvie Ajayi Jones)

Brian: The Ying-Yang Master, Double World (films on Netflix)

Gary: Big Little Lies (TV show on HBO/Netflix)