Casting Conversations: The Legendary Jodi Purdy-Quinlan on Memorable Moments in Casting and Beyond
Release Date: 05/16/2023
New York Talent: Kelly Lauturner on a Day in the Life of a Background Actor
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In this episode, Kenya is joined by the multi-talented Kelly Lauturner. As an actor, writer and lifelong pop-culture enthusiast, Kelly's passion for performance started early, even if it meant crawling around as a dog in a backyard play. Kelly talks about her journey into the world of background, sharing how she balances her part-time work in background acting with a full time career in healthcare writing within the insurance industry. She recounts her first role as a rioter in HBO's "Paterno" movie, and how this experience shifted her perspective on the world of movies and film. Kelly and...
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New York Talent: Shameek Cook on How Every Day on Set Is a New Story
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Kenya welcomes Shameek Cook, a versatile New York-based writer, author, and actor. The conversation begins with Shameek detailing his passionate journey into the world of film and screenwriting, a leap driven by his desire to embrace his true self. He shares the pivotal role of a supportive professor who recognized his gift for writing, and how his writing process continues to grow as he also blossoms as an actor. Shameek talks about the ways he has stayed busy during the strike, why we should view background acting as a mini film school, and the impactful story of Black Wall Street that...
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New York Talent: Gotham Sharma on Accidental Success and Knowing Your Role(s) On Set
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Sometimes, what crosses your path may seem accidental, but our guest this week shows us that it just may be a result of staying open to opportunities and utilizing your talents. In this episode, Kenya has the pleasure of welcoming New York-based actor and comedian, Gotham Sharma, who emphasizes the importance of continuous creativity, even during downtime or challenging times such as the writers strike. He shares his journey of transitioning from a corporate communication and writing background into a successful career in stand-up comedy, which ultimately paved the way for his entrance into...
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New York Talent: Drea Pierre on Self Care, Stage Fright and Being the Best Version of Yourself
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This week, Kenya is joined by Drea Pierre, an actor based in New York who keeps herself very busy through performing, songwriting and taking care of her mind, body and soul. Drea talks about her start in the music business and how it evolved into on-screen roles. She shares what it was like to land a principal role, and how the experience has been different from background roles for her. Drea and Kenya talk about ways to get your art out there because there will be an audience that resonates with it and why self care is important to show up as the best version of yourself both personally and...
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New York Talent: Ira Gamerman on Embracing That Team Spirit and Showing up for Your Art
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It’s a spirited episode this week as Kenya welcomes Ira Gamerman, a multi-talented writer, actor and musician. Ira talks about his personal and professional journey, highlighting the transformative growth he's experienced in the acting realm. He also sheds light on the biases faced by background actors and discusses the impact of the strike on mental health and the other various creative outlets and jobs he has to stay afloat as a creative based in NYC. Ira shares insights into his deeper involvement with the independent art community and the unique sense of camaraderie emerging amidst the...
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New York Talent: Amy Fitzgerald - Do Your Research and Enjoy the Ride
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In this episode, Kenya is joined by the versatile Amy Fitzgerald, a long-distance runner, social worker, and full-time actor. Amy's transition into acting was driven by a quest for work-life balance while raising young kids. A casting call tailored for runners started her down the trail and led her into the vibrant acting community of the DMV (Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia) area. In the conversation, Amy talks about how she uses psychology to better understand her characters, her experience as part of the core group in “Wonder Woman” and how life has changed after obtaining her SAG...
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New York Talent: Meaghan Beese - One Small Role Can Change Your Life Forever
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It’s a fun episode this week as Kenya welcomes Meaghan Beese, an actor, writer, and forever theater kid at heart. Ever since her first Broadway show, Meaghan has been hooked on the world of performance and acting, and she’s found a way to make a full time career out of it. In the conversation, Meaghan talks with Kenya about how she got into theater and used her skills to land a role that resulted in her becoming a principal dancer and eligible to join the SAG community. She talks about the many benefits she has experienced since joining SAG, the importance of setting up boundaries and...
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New York Talent: Chris Gravely on How Enthusiasm and Competency Will Get You Through The Door
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Kenya is joined by Chris Gravely, a Harlem-based actor and aspiring voiceover talent with a passion for all things nerdy and gaming. Chris shares his diverse industry experiences, from stand-in work to BBC documentaries, highlighting the art of becoming different characters and narrating their stories. He talks about his journey into acting, from early background roles to reigniting his career in 2021 and recounts his role in a Max series, “Search Party” involving 300 actors enduring a summer heatwave. Chris emphasizes the importance of teamwork and provides valuable resources to enhance...
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New York Talent: Jeanette Kim on How a Self-Sponsored Sabbatical Led Her to Succession
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New York based tech professional and side hustler Jeanette Kim likes to embrace life’s adventures, whether she jumps into acting and lands on Succession in her first background role, or she’s turning vintage vibes into stationery gold. In this episode, she talks with Kenya about the little moments that make background acting all worth it. Acknowledging it’s not all sunshine and rainbows, Jeanette also talks about the harsh realities of background acting, such as non-union vs. union treatment and payment, long hours and harsh weather on set. Jeanette talks about taking the first leap into...
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New York Talent: David Negri on His Love of Storytelling and the Twist of Fate That Changed His Life
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Renowned actor, accomplished event producer, and world traveler David Negri has spent a lifetime immersed in the captivating narratives of others. Now, a new chapter beckons as he eagerly anticipates sharing his own compelling story. In this week’s conversation with Kenya, David opens up about his formative years in the heart of NYC projects, where he was raised as the eldest of three boys by a single mother. Having honed his skills through years of running a thriving production and event company, destiny took a captivating turn when David's brother shared a fateful casting ad, propelling...
info_outlineWhether she’s talking with Ben Affleck about mosquitos, casting thousands of extras for a huge blockbuster, or at a town hall meeting standing up for environmental activism, Jodi Purdy-Quinlan is one busy (and sometimes bossy) Boston lady. This week, she joins host Kenya to reveal how she stumbled into casting and to share her insights about her journey from being an actor to a successful casting director. She talks about the skills required to find the right actors for a project and how she built up to become the onset wrangler of over 11,000 extras on Here Comes the Boom. But Jodi's passion doesn't stop at casting. She talks about her involvement in local town hall meetings and how she stands up for causes that are important to her, like the preservation of land and memorial services for Native Americans. Jodi talks about her latest project, Boston Strangler, and also shares her hands-on approach to working with actors and how she ensures they have fun on set, including taking them to movie premieres. At the end of the episode, Jodi reads a touching message from an actor, noting her drive to make a difference in casting.
Brought to you by Source & Cast
Also Talked About:
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How the industry has changed over the numerous decades that Jodi has been a working professional.
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Some of Jodi’s most memorable moments in casting, including Ben Affleck helping to cast a random woman’s baby and telling her she was the prime actress for a role that called for a bossy Boston lady!
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Jodi’s dedication to historic preservation and reconciling as much as she can, including convincing the town to purchase four acres of land instead of having it developed and providing a memorial service in memory for the Native Americans that were massacred.
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Jodi also has a passion for environmental activism and got her town to buy the swamp and woods that she spent her earlier years cleaning up.
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One of the many perks of being Jodi’s actors - you may just get to go to a movie premiere! She took many of the extras to the Bride Wars premiere.
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Jodi discusses more of her hands-on approach to casting, and what her family really thinks about being put in her movies.
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A few of the A-list actors that Jodi has worked with throughout her career including Robin Williams, Steve Martin, Lily Tomlin, and of course Ben Affleck.
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What has changed about the industry that makes Jodi’s career easier, and what has made it more challenging?
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