The Dream Podcast

Join Melissa as she has conversations with established people in the acting and voice acting industry. Why is it so hard to get booked? What can we do to improve our acting game?

Salim Gallow | Animator and Anime Studio Owner 08/01/2023

Salim Gallow | Animator and Anime Studio Owner In This Episode We Discuss: Salim's journey and struggles as an animator for anime and his involvement within the Apple TV Company for several noteable films. /episode/index/show/thedreampodcast/id/27907326

Melissa McNerney | Actor and Producer 01/30/2023

Melissa McNerney | Actor and Producer In this episode we discuss: 4:00 Breakdowns Today 7:30 The Importance of Availability 11:20 Melissa's Role as a Producer 15:00 The Different Kinds of Producers 17:20 Melissa's Shift From Acting to Producing 20:00 Melissa's Mindset 21:15 Advice For People Wanting to Get Into Production 35:17 We Play a Game /episode/index/show/thedreampodcast/id/25758129

Peter Garafalo|DP 07/10/2022

Peter Garafalo|DP In This Episode We Discuss: 3:19 Underrepresentation and Overrepresentation in Film 4:56 The Development of More Roles for Diversity 6:15 The Typical DP/Grip/Electric Demographic 7:23 Peter's Own Experience with Demographics Behind The Camera 9:30 What BTS People Can Do To Diversify 18:00 The Role of the DP with the Director 21:11 Peter's Insight For Actors 25:45 We Play A Litttle Game /episode/index/show/thedreampodcast/id/23701082

Naomi Grossman|Actor, Writer, and Producer 06/08/2022

Naomi Grossman|Actor, Writer, and Producer In this episode we discuss: 2:42 A Breakdown of the Casting Process 4:31 The Quick Turnaround Time for an Actor 7:40 Who Holds the Power to Cast 10:00 Why You Should Go to Every Event 14:00 Naomi's Post Auditioning Strategy 14:41 Naomi's Acting Journey 17:16 How She Motivated Herself and Overcame Discouragement 24:06 Creating Your Own Content 25:36 Naomi's Big Break with American Horror Story and Beyond 41:40 After the Audition 43:20 Actors Interacting in the Waiting Room. Versus Now 50:00 Naomi's Advice to Actors 54:50 We Play a Little Game Naomi said the young generation of actors need to temper the desire for immediate results in acting because these things take time, and nothing worth getting comes easy. Are you taking your time? Are you being patient? /episode/index/show/thedreampodcast/id/23360771

Matt Pattersen|Writer 05/23/2022

Matt Pattersen|Writer In this episode we discuss: 3:00 Matt's personal acting experience 6:40 Matt co-producing as well as writing 8:15 The music industry in comparison to the film industry and how they parallel 15:00 Social media's role to an actor 19:15 How streaming platforms work 21:05 Sustainable acting 28:50 How I found Matt 29:40 Never give up because he was only supposed to work at Warner Brother's for a day 31:03 Why it's so hard to get booked 32:00 What actors go through 35:55 His experience being on set with an intolerable actor 39:04 His experience with a sitcom actor that didn't know how he made it big 40:54 We play a little game /episode/index/show/thedreampodcast/id/23202782

Rose Rosen|Casting Director 05/06/2022

Rose Rosen|Casting Director In this episode we discuss: 3:12 Authentic Casting 4:00 Lack of Authentic Jewish Casting 12:38 The Possibility of Casting A Person That Didn't Fit The Original "Look" 14:12 A Numbers Breakdown for The Casting Process 18:08 Why Getting Close to a Casting Director Is Useless 20:15 What Not To Do to a Casting Director 21:18 Rose's Casting Process 30:17 We Play a Little Game Rose gave us a step by step inside look at the casting process- did you know how that worked? /episode/index/show/thedreampodcast/id/23030825

Dominic Medina|Producer 04/15/2022

Dominic Medina|Producer In this episode we discuss: 2:20 The biggest things in film 3:40 The toughest age to be in the industry 4:28 Older actor advantages 6:14 The audition 6:50 Self taping 7:55 Not hitting your mark 8:52 The disadvantage of non in-person auditions 15:00 Making connections 18:50 What the best way is to make connections 22:40 Why Dominic got into producing 35:00 A reminder for all actors 36:52 We play a little game Dominic said sometimes it's more important to hit your mark than be a great actor. Are you hitting your mark? /episode/index/show/thedreampodcast/id/22803014

Karlie Loland-Ringer|Casting Director 04/01/2022

Karlie Loland-Ringer|Casting Director In this episode we discuss: 3:05 The acting path is a step by step process 3:50 Oftentimes we don't think we need to understand the technology/technicalities of self taping and winning the room 9:43 What to focus on when self- taping 10:08 What not to do with a Casting Director 11:27 Standing out in the casting process 13:24 How casting directors respond when you tell them you're an actor 14:15 The annoyances that casting directors experience 17:08 Is an agent a good idea? 18:30 The difference between a manager and an agent and when you should get one 22:13 How Tampa is becoming a hot spot for filming 23:36 The talent pool in Florida 27:16 Asian accents for asian looking people 32:40 Karlie and I play a game /episode/index/show/thedreampodcast/id/22541498

Mary Rachel Quinn|Actor and Acting Coach 03/18/2022

Mary Rachel Quinn|Actor and Acting Coach In this episode we discuss: 2:14 The issue of state legislators not being proactive with funds for films in FL to increase our exposure 7:50 How Atlanta is coming ahead of everyone else in film and tv 8:38 How she is a working actress AND in Florida 9:30 Actors can work ANYWHERE now 10:02 Auditioning is our job booking is our bonus 11:29 How the acting industry has evolved from then to now 13:40 Networking!!! 15:30 Say yes to extra work 21:20 Mary Rachel's opinion of agents 27:00 Create your own content 30:55 Submit to film schools 31:52 When actors are frustrated because they're not booking- they can... 35:35 Mary Rachel and I play a game Mary Rachel said we need to realize that as actors, auditioning is our job, and booking is our bonus- are YOU doing your job? /episode/index/show/thedreampodcast/id/22497527

Lori Wyman|Casting Director 03/04/2022

Lori Wyman|Casting Director In this episode we discuss: 3:00 Why it’s easy to self tape as an actor today 4:00 Tips for good self tapes 10:00 Self tapes gone wrong 10:45 What Lori does to help actors improve 14:55 How to pick a good self tape background 16:30 What to wear in a self tape 19:13 How agents view actors and the necessity of agents 22:20 Recommendations for new actors and the “catch 22” dilemma 27:06 Why actors should create their own content 31:49 Connections are everything 34:12 Inspirational motivation to actors Lori said that in order to stand out to a casting director, your self tapes need to be professional and well put together, and money needs to be spent on good head shots. How are your self tapes and head shots? /episode/index/show/thedreampodcast/id/22321520

Eugenie Bondurant|Actor, Model and Coach 02/15/2022

Eugenie Bondurant|Actor, Model and Coach In this episode we discuss: 2:35 Not hearing back on our audition 4:50 How to treat your agent 7:30 The value of agents 12:03 How she teaches her students to reach the level they're aspiring to reach 13:13 How to view a lack of motivation in this industry/ not getting booked 14:20 Nurturing your creative side 16:09 What personally motivates her 18:20 Eugenie's inspirational story of being in a rut and coming out of it 25:25 The COVID issue affecting small productions Eugenie shared inspiring stories and motivation for actors stuck in a rut. Have you been in a rut? And how did you come out of it? /episode/index/show/thedreampodcast/id/22140416

Christa Boarini|Writer and Director 01/28/2022

Christa Boarini|Writer and Director In this episode we discuss: 2:10 The lack of representation of POC and different backgrounds 5:25 Hollywood's power to create stars 8:16 People can't get booked because of a systemic problem 9:58 The mindset to have as an upcoming creative 12:05 Her motivation in the industry 13:40 It's important to focus not just on you, but on assisting others on their journey 15:14 The issues behind not being able to get booked 18:47 Do actors have an x-factor? 20:11 Are agencies beneficial? 23:55 You can change a director's mind Christa said actors must create interest and content for themselves. I'm fine, and you? /episode/index/show/thedreampodcast/id/21935936

Keith Alan |Voice Actor and Coach 01/03/2022

Keith Alan |Voice Actor and Coach Keith said some have the x-factor while others don’t. What is your X-factor and how are you building yourself around it? /episode/index/show/thedreampodcast/id/21664355

Trailer 01/03/2022

Trailer As actors we often feel discouraged, like we're not living up to our acting potential. I know I feel like that. We could always be doing more, but why is it so hard to get booked? Join me on the quest for answers as I ask relevant individuals in the industry the tough questions. /episode/index/show/thedreampodcast/id/21658052

The Dream Podcast

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