The Vagabond Actor's Podcast

How Am I Going To Learn All of These Lines??

Learning lines is often the bane of an actor's existence. It may be the least fun skills we need to have. This week, acting teachers Andrea Helene, Gary Condes and Brian Caspe talk about tricks, techniques and theory for learning getting "off book". 

Let us know how YOU get your lines down! Write to us @vagabondactors on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

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Interview with Casting Director Nancy Bishop (Borat 2, The Liberator)

This week we welcome casting director Nancy Bishop to Vagabond Actors. Nancy has spent years in casting, finding actors for blockbuster films like Mission Impossible, Casino Royal, Hellboy, and Snowpiercer as well as TV shows The Liberator, Whiskey Cavalier, and Knightfall among so many others.

Her most recent success was casting Maria Bakalova in the Borat sequel. 

Take a listen to what she has to say about working in Europe, self tapes and much more!

We love to hear your feedback! Write to us @vagabondactors on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook!

Finding Monologues

This week acting teachers Gary Condes, Andrea Helene and Brian Caspe talk about monologues. We had a great discussion and this week we're giving you half of it (the half about how to actually work on your monologue will come in another episode). For now, we discuss how which kinds of monologues you should be looking at and where to find them. We also give Andrea some feedback on her self tape and break down some things to think about in terms of technical equipment and eyeline.

Let us know what you think: we love hearing your feedback! @vagabondactors on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!

 

A Biog By Any Other Name

When is creating a character's past too much? How much time should you spend on the character's history? We get into these questions this week. We talk about the pitfalls of creating a character's biography, how and when to do research and much more this week.

Let us know how you make your character more solid for yourself. Do you write a biography? Let us know @vagabondactors on Twitter, Instagram or on our Facebook page!

 

I Want An Agent! What Do I Do?

One of the first questions actors who are just starting out ask is: How do I get an agent? Well, we get into it in this week's episode. We talk about how to research, use your network and contact agents as well as what to do in the initial meeting you might have with one. 

We'd love to hear our listeners' stories about how they reached out to their agents or what their plan is to find an agent. Join in the conversation on our facebook page, on instagram or on Twitter! 

Follow us, like, share the episode @vagabondactors!

 

Taking Direction Among Other Things

This week, acting teachers Gary Condes, Andrea Helene and Brian Caspe bring a buffet of smaller topics that revolve around giving and taking direction and, for dessert, we go through an example of what to do if your preparation isn't doing what you had hoped it would do.

Please like, subscribe, comment and let us know what you think!

 

Interview with Ed Speleers (Outlander, Downton Abbey, Beowolf, Eragon)

This week we're privileged to welcome actor Ed Speleers. Ed got his start at 17 as the lead in the fantasy film Eragon and has gone on to work steadily in a whole host of amazing projects. 

He talks about his process, how he deals with both success and disappointment, and tells some stories about working on the set of Downton Abbey and Lars von Trier's film The House That Jack Built among much else!

Be sure to like, subscribe, and leave comments in iTunes, and our Facebook page. You can also find us on Instagram and Twitter!

 

Digging into Text, part 3

In the last episode in the Digging into the Text series, acting teachers Andrea Helene, Gary Condes and Brian Caspe finish our in-depth look at how to break down a text and how to use that analysis to bring a deeper understanding of the beats, relationships and doings in the scene.

Listen to Part 1

Listen to Part 2

Proof scene 4 (pdf) 

We would love to hear your feedback! Let us know what you think by leaving a comment on our Facebook page or by joining the conversation on Twitter or Instagram.

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Digging into Text, part 2

This week we continue our breakdown of scene 4 of David Auburn's wonderful play PROOF. If you haven't listened to the first part, please find it here: https://vagabondactors.podbean.com/e/digging-into-text-part-1/

You can follow along with the pdf here: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/b7us7y/Proof_Scene462krt.pdf

Let us know what you think! Share with your friends!

Digging into Text, part 1

This week we start on script analysis. We take a detailed look at David Auburn's Pulitzer Prize winning play PROOF. It's a great scene and offers a wide array of lessons on how to pull out the meaning, action and objectives characters have. This is part 1 of 3.

Download the scene here: 

https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/b7us7y/Proof_Scene462krt.pdf

We welcome your comments, questions and feedback! Write to us @vagabondactors on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook!