S5E18 - "I want to quiet the shame and raise the inner artist’s self"
Release Date: 08/19/2023
S5E40 - Finale Pt 2 - Reflection
The 98%
It's here! After 40 episodes of Series 5, the season draws to a close. Join the OG's, Alexa and Katie, as they check in on recent goings on, chat about when actual life leaves no room for #actorslife, look back at change of attitudes since the podcast began, discuss the lack of working class creatives in the industry, share a whole lot of love for this community, and more! “We’ve got to look after ourselves first otherwise we have nothing to give.” This episode is dedicated to you, wonderful listeners. Things mentioned in the episode: 'The Good Ally', By Nova Reid Acting With...
info_outline
S5E39 - Finale Part 1 - Finding Joy In Your Journey
The 98%
Every guest on The 98% who has chosen to move on from the performing industry didn't do it because they fell out of love with the art of acting, it was because they didn't want to continue with the industry itself. So for those of us who choose to stay in it, how can we make it an enjoyable place to be? In this episode Alexa shares her thoughts and musings over recent months having a "front row seat to the sh*tshow" and why it is so important to redefine what success means to you in this business. Strap in for some classic 98% brutal honesty. The rose tinted glasses are off, because you...
info_outline
S5E38 - Representation Special Part 2: Agent Roundtable
The 98%
Grab your headphones and settle in for one of the best episodes of The 98% of ALL TIME! There's been a lot of coverage of dodgy agents recently, so let's hear from some wonderful, trustworthy, supportive ones. In this episode Alexa is joined by Mildred Yuan PMA, Liz Pratt PMA and JBR PMA for an incredibly honest, transparent and wisdom filled chat. You'll hear about how to find the right representation for you, what to look out for when looking for representation, the current state of the industry, a real look into the life of agenting, and so. much. more. Whether you are represented by an...
info_outline
S5E37 - Representation Special Part 1: Self Representation
The 98%
There's been a lot of worrying discussion around agents recently, so before this series ends The 98% wanted to finish on an uplifting note - platforming conversations around representation that instill confidence and trust in actors. This is part one of a two-part representation special! Due to recent exposé's unconvering malpractice from agents, many have found themselves now without one. While this can feel very daunting, it's a disservice of our industry to make actors feel like they are doomed without an agent. Self representation can be an empowering journey and give actors some control...
info_outline
S5E36 - The Deceit and Corruption of Fake Self Tapes
The 98%
Just when you thought this business couldn't get any tougher, Deadline exposes another scandal that has rocked the industry and sent shockwaves through the creatvies involved in the audition process. Agents sending fake self tape requests to actors?! If this is something you'd never even contemplated before, you wouldn't be the only one. But sadly these are not just isolated incidents... Including comments from The CDA and Equity's General Secretary, testimonies from actors who have been affected, and more, join me on a deep dive into the recently exposed scandal of agents sending fake...
info_outline
PSA: Jamie Fisher / "Archie Purnell" Statement
The 98%
"Archie Purnell" JAMIE FISHER (also using the name 'Richard'), rogue talent agent, is back with a new name, new studio name ('Wigan TV & Film Acting School'), but the same old tricks. To get ahead of accusations he is spreading rumours and false claims. Knowing all I know, I cannot sit back and let more people be scammed. "Drawing from documented sources and firsthand accounts of those impacted, I am making this public statement, as a vital disclosure for anyone who may come into contact with, now or in the future, Jamie Fisher aka Jamie Thomas Fisher aka AP James aka Archie Purnell." This...
info_outline
S5E35 - "The Best Journalists Are Trustworthy"
The 98%
This episode is 1 hour 4 mins long. If your podcast app is only playing the first 45 mins, there is a technical issue that is currently being looked at! Please check back here for the full episode coming asap! Last year The 98% was contacted by Jake Kanter, a journalist for Deadline, after the podcast featured stories of those who experienced abuse and misconduct at UK drama schools. Thus began a relationship that has resulted in multiple exsposé articles unearthing misconduct in the industry after people who had reports to make had nowhere left to go, apart from The 98%, to share what had...
info_outline
S5E34 - “My greatest performance was pretending everything was ok"
The 98%
Mental health has always been a throughline for episodes of The 98% and so the podcast is proud to host Adam Bambrough in this episode, founder and CEO of Wellbeing in the Arts. After leaving the acting profession due to struggles with his own mental wellbeing, Adam planned to write a book revealing the scope of actors and creatives with mental health struggles. He soon realized that there was no stand alone mental health support in the entertainment industry, so no wonder mental health struggles were affecting so many creatives. And so..he made one himself. Wellbeing in the Arts works towards...
info_outline
S5E33 - "'All I can do is act' is absolute bull"
The 98%
After a lifetime dedicated to the "I can do nothing but act" frame of mind, everything changed aged 39 for guest Lee Mengo. Thinking about his future and his prospects, Lee realized that acting wasn’t giving him what he needed in life. Financially, mentally, spiritually, egotistically...but coming to terms with that was a long hard road. When he finally made the decision to step away, start his journey of sobriety, and found a job that he loved teaching young actors…his 20 years of hard work came back around and he ended up booking bucket list acting jobs! As a teacher, Lee practices the...
info_outline
S5E32 - Bodhi Scandal, unveiled by The 98%
The 98%
After a group of actors reported their concerns about their former agent regarding fake self tapes, withheld pay, skimming money, lying about cancer, and more, to no avail...they came to Alexa at The 98% for advice on next steps. With seemingly nowhere else to turn, Alexa passed the information on to Deadline journalist Jake Kanter, encouraging him to help expose these dodgy dealings...For the sake of these actors, the others on the agencies book, and the inudstry as a whole. Thankfully, he did. And thus began #BodhiGate. Hundreds of emails, texts, screenshots, messages, sent and...
info_outlineA few months ago The Cut published an article 3 years in the making. Journalist Sara Jin Li spoke to 26 ex-students of acting studio Lonsdale Smith & Company, ran by "dogmatic leader slash guru" Michèle Lonsdale-Smith; who has been running acting classes in studios acros North America, and now Europe, for 20+ years. Actors described, in detail, cult-like abuse, mistreatment and bullying exhibited under the guise of "doing the work". Since the release of the article, huge comparisons have been made online between what these actors have described, and the workings of dangerous cults..from survivors of cults themselves.
In today's episode one of those ex-students, Brooke, joins us to share her experience and the ways she is using it to retrain as an art therapist with the aim to provide person centered, trauma informed safe spaces for artists. Brooke shares her inspiring story and strength, harrowing experience, important thoughts around how actors are viewed by the profession and themselves, why person-centered training is key, and why actors shouldn't be performing monkey's jumping through hoops for those percived to be 'important' in this industry. An important listen for all.
Content Warning - this episode contains discussion around mistreatment and verbal abuse
Follow Brooke on instagram @ababblingbooke and her traum-informed safe space for artists @rise.artists
If you'd like to find out more about the acting studio, and teacher, discussed in this episode you can read the article in The Cut here: https://www.thecut.com/article/michele-lonsdale-smith-acting-class-students.html
You can also listen to a two-part episode from podcast A Little Bit Culty who chat to three ex-students, including Brooke https://open.spotify.com/episode/1EDnectgYfgtg78i6ISLpc?si=_p4AGFlWQUOJEnDaZ9_P2w
.
Follow us on twitter/instagram at @the98percentpod for relatable #actorslife content, tips and advice for actors, and news about our new series.
.
If you've benefitted from and enjoyed the podcast and want to give a little back, we have a ko-fi where every penny thrown in our hat goes straight into contributing towards the costs of running the podcast and creating helpful content online for actors. Every little helps and is so appreciated! https://ko-fi.com/the98percent
.
Want to connect with other actors around the world, be coached, see castings, read in for self tapes or earn money reading for others? You can do all this and more at https://www.weaudition.com with 25% off your monthly subscription with the discount code 9825!