Director Jason Winer stops by the bungalow and discusses starting out in improv, his overall deal with 20th Century Fox, actor networking, and more!

Jason's IMDb and Instagram @jasonwiner.

00:00 - Introduction.
01:58 - Jason slates his name.
02:10 - Directing a pregnant Julie Bowen in the Modern Family pilot.
04:32 - Dealing with unexpected situations as a director.
09:25 - The lack of new comedy television.
11:24 - Starting out in improv comedy at iO Chicago.
15:10 - Studying performance at Northwestern.
17:16 - Surviving in LA as an actor partly via selling MTV the show The Blame Game.
20:15 - Transitioning from in front of the camera to behind it.
28:50 - Working with or against perfectionism.
32:25 - How does improv background effect directing.
35:00 - Getting a meeting about Modern Family.
37:40 - Editing improvised scenes.
40:27 - Jason's overall deal with 20th Century Fox.
44:49 - Eric Andre needs to act more.
45:43 - How involved is Jason in casting.
51:00 - Finding new talent on crews like producers, casting, costume, etc.
54:44 - The prep a director does for an episode.
1:00:08 - Who took a chance on Jason.
1:01:26 - Keeping up relationships with directors and actor networking.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/331

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Casting director Jeff Greenberg stops by the bungalow and discusses how he got started in casting, how many people he auditioned for the leads of Modern Family, his opinions on self tapes, and more!

Jeff's IMDb and Instagram @jeffgreenbergcd.

00:00 - Introduction.
01:59 - Jeff slates his name.
04:53 - Did David Hyde Pierce crash the Frasier audition?
10:50 - The greatness of the show Frasier.
12:30 - Does Jeff watch the shows he casts.
15:28 - How Jeff shifted from acting to casting in the 80s.
19:56 - Getting the big break to cast Cheers in season 5.
24:18 - Working alone for Jeff's whole career.
27:02 - Ty Burrel being the hardest person to cast in Modern Family.
32:21 - Do notes from networks upset Jeff.
33:03 - How many people did Jeff read for the leads in Modern Family.
38:55 - The number Jeff auditions for leads verses submissions and salary involvement.
42:24 - Giving feedback to actors that you continually bring in to test.
44:28 - Does Jeff keep track of analytics in general.
49:23 - What does casting value the most in a new actor.
52:30 - Jeff's lists and stacks.
54:24 - Self tapes versus in-person auditions.
1:00:10 - Who took a chance on Jeff.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/330

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Acting teacher Lesly Kahn stops by the bungalow and discusses her approach to acting, how she can be perceived as intimidating, working on a scene with Mike, and more!

Lesly's IMDb and Instagram @leslykahn.

00:00 - Introduction.
01:49 - Lesly slates her name.
04:57 - Access to the breakdowns and asking for things.
07:53 - The business of acting class.
12:49 - Lesly's coaching tree.
14:50 - Starting out as an actor with multiple degrees and not knowing how to act.
17:10 - The key to acting is thinking.
21:00 - Working on a recent scene Mike auditioned for.
34:15 - Does Lesly view herself as a polarizing person.
38:00 - Coaching sessions for both self tape an in-person with Lesly.
49:25 - How actors should approach casting directors.
1:00:05 - Pretty faces that work that can't act.
1:02:42 - Lesly is not a fan of testimonials.
1:05:26 - Who took a chance on Lesly.
1:06:45 - We revisit the scene we worked on earlier.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/329

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Casting director Robert Ulrich stops by the bungalow and discusses the state of self tapes, working for a larger casting office, how he finds new talent, and more!

Robert's IMDb and Instagram @rj.ulrich.

00:00 - Introduction.
02:05 - Robert slates his name.
04:40 - Does casting consciously bring in the same people.
12:28 - Self tapes are here to stay.
18:23 - The benefits of working as a bigger office (Ulrich/Dawson/Kritzer Casting).
22:09 - How the work is divided at the office.
26:30 - How does new talent get in front of their office.
32:08 - There is no right way to approach acting.
38:00 - Robert's long journey from acting to casting.
48:43 - How Ulrich/Dawson/Kritzer organizes their staff.
50:21 - Mentoring and advice for the next generation of casting.
58:10 - Casting getting fired.
1:00:02 - Who took a chance on Robert.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/328

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Actor Stevie Nelson stops by the bungalow and discusses balancing careers with acting pursuits, seeking out opportunities to learn, agents watching self tapes, and more!

Stevie's IMDb and Instagram @iamstevienelson.

00:00 - Introduction.
02:01 - Stevie slates her name.
03:19 - The struggles of being a podcaster.
05:45 - Self tapes taking the fun out of auditions.
14:00 - Balancing careers with creative pursuits.
18:25 - Waiting everyone else out and sticking with it.
21:00 - What acting is in 2024.
26:22 - Continuing education as an actor.
31:37 - Making your own content.
33:00 - Podcast interview or coffee?
37:55 - How much did Stevie book last year.
39:21 - Doing way more in the audition than on set.
42:09 - Reps watching tapes.
48:38 - Stevie's experience with Crashletes.
54:20 - Who took a chance on Stevie.
56:20 - Maru.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/327

Stevie's first Box Angeles -- boxangeles.com/105

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Actor Mary Holland stops by the bungalow and discusses her improv team Wild Horses, getting writing repetition in during the pandemic, trying not to focus on things out of her control, and more!

Mary's IMDb and Instagram @maryhollandaise.

00:00 - Introduction.
01:54 - Mary slates her name.
03:35 - Wild Horses ending their improv run.
07:21 - How does Mary feel about improv currently.
10:47 - Thoughts on UCB selling.
14:57 - Livestreamed comedy shows.
17:35 - Paying improvisers.
19:27 - Navigating work stoppages.
22:28 - Mary's emphasis on writing.
24:37 - Budgeting time.
25:24 - Does Mary get more work through relationships or auditions.
27:27 - Self tapes.
34:45 - Being repped by CAA.
36:30 - How much Mary auditions and not thinking about it.
45:47 - The not knowing everything that reps are up to.
48:31 - Hobbies and getting away.
52:29 - Who took a chance on Mary?
54:00 - Finding trust in yourself.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/326

Mary's first Box Angeles -- boxangeles.com/037

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Actor George Basil stops by the bungalow and discusses how he stays creative during slow times, getting offered the role in Barbie, being scared about what his agents aren't telling him, and more!

George's IMDb.

00:00 - Introduction.
01:20 - George slates his name.
03:33 - Going through droughts in this business and staying creative in life.
12:44 - Missing performing live shows.
15:10 - Going to an audition at 200 South after this podcast.
19:08 - Opinions on in-person versus self tapes.
24:00 - Making $1,500 on Barbie.
26:45 - Getting offered the role from Allison Jones.
32:00 - George's Curb You Enthusiasm experience with Larry David.
35:11 - George's approach to self tapes.
37:35 - Booking Wrecked with a unique ocean audition in Nicaragua.
39:50 - The ritualistic motions of auditions.
42:26 - A learning moment showing up to Santa Clarita Diet unprepared.
46:43 - Approaching things with a spontaneous attitude.
50:19 - Does George audition for smaller roles and not wanting know what agents are not telling him.
51:15 - Being advised not to do Barbie.
53:25 - Was George's teenage daughter excited he was in Barbie?
57:17 - Who took a chance on George?

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/325

George's first Box Angeles -- boxangeles.com/242

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Actor Jessica Amlee stops by the bungalow and discusses growing up in Canada, working on a TV show 8 months a year while in high school, missing casting directors, and more!

Jessica's IMDb and Instagram @jessicakelseyamlee.

00:00 - Introduction.
01:44 - Jess slates her name.
04:47 - Growing up outside Vancouver in Maple Ridge.
05:45 - Starting to act at the age of 4.
12:55 - Experience juggling school and acting.
18:07 - Booking out important dates contractually.
19:52 - Landing Heartland at age 12 and the experience working on that show 8 months a year.
28:14 - Going to high school while being a star on a TV show.
32:50 - Jess' character arc on Heartland matching real life.
35:35 - Moving to Los Angeles.
36:41 - Does Jess have any thoughts on Alyson Stoner's Dear Hollywood podcast.
39:37 - Would Jess let her children be actors.
41:22 - The perceived benefits of starting younger as an actor.
46:20 - Jess' experiences with acting and comedy classes.
50:55 - Mental health throughout acting.
53:32 - Missing casting directors and in-person auditions.
1:00:45 - Who took a chance on Jess.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/324

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