Welcome to the SKS Acting Podcast, Where Working Actors Talk. This week Colleen Foy chats with one of my favorite people of all time and a former SKS teacher Josh Brener. Josh is one of the most talented actors I have ever had the pleasure of knowing and with over 70 IMDB credits, he is a wealth of knowledge in the entertainment industry. We hear how he prepped for some of the biggest auditions of his career,  the importance of trusting you’re enough as an actor, his thoughts on self tapes vs in person auditions… and how he handles the inevitable disappointments that every actor faces.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO HEAR:

2:31 Josh's origin story. Why he got into acting and why he decided to move to LA.

4:32 How Josh got his first acting agent and his SAG card and booking his first series regular on GLORY DAYS.

7:55 His audition process for THE INTERNSHIP - how he prepped for his chemistry read with Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, while also being in consideration for WE'RE THE MILLERS and prepping to chemistry read with Jason Sudeikis. 

15:43 When and how to use improv and "scripted' ad libs in auditions. 

18:06 The importance of preparation and rehearsing under duress. "Play how you practice and practice how you play" - How the SKS style of teaching got him ready for these high stake situations. 

21:20 The mental game of auditioning and how that differs from "acting".

24:02  Finding the note behind a note when a casting director or director tell you to "be'' the essence of another famous actor. Finding your version of that and bringing yourself to it. "Lead with yourself". 

31:54 Trusting you are enough as an actor and you don't have to "do" so much. "You're thinking you're alive, you're present. And I think that's just the trust thing, right? Like, I don't have to, I don't have to turn it on here. Because this is enough."

38:24 How does Josh handle the inevitable disappointments  that come with being an auditioning actor.

Q&A FROM THE AUDIENCE

44:21 What is your dream role, that may not be something you would typically be cast as. 

46:21 How do things change once you've been a series regular.  Do you get treated differently when you audition. Are things different having one of the top 3 agencies?

50:31 Auditioning in the room vs. self taped auditions. 

58:07 What do you do in between jobs, especially now during the WGA and SAG strikes, to stay inspired and feel creative. 

1:02:42 Did you feel like the further you went into voiceover that you were seen being pulled out of live action more than Did you feel like it actually opened more doors for you?

FOR MORE INFO ON SKS SERVICES VISIT:

https://stankirschstudios.com/services

Josh Brener (Silicon Valley, The Last Of US)

This week we talk with a woman who wears soooo many hats, and does it seamlessly. Dani Scott is an actress and producer currently working with Redacted Media. She lives for falling in love with new characters and complex stories, all with the goal of being a go-to comedic actress and award winning filmmaker. She has produced and starred in two features in the last three years, A Christmas Sunset and the upcoming The Demon Detective. She has worked for several comedy shows, as well as NCIS: LA, and has acted in several indie shorts and feature films. After graduating with her degree in acting from the University of Washington, she worked in casting in Seattle and LA for several years, before transitioning back to acting and starting as a producer in 2020. She has a penchant for sweets, is obsessed with dogs, and plans to travel the world her entire life. 

I LOVE this episode, because it reminds us that we have more control than we think in this crazy industry.  Find out how SHE took control and became a wildly successful self-made producer, how her years in casting have helped her in every facet of her career, and her advice to any of you wanting to start producing for yourself! 

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO HEAR:

1:07 Dani's origin story in the business. How she got to LA, and the incredible advice her mentor, casting director, Jodi Rothfield gave her before moving out. (A must listen for any new actor moving to LA!)

4:55 How she immediately became a casting associate for a major television show, working under head casting director, Lisa Soltau.

7:54 Do casting directors give actors a second chance if they had a bad audition? 

11:05 Casting WANTS to find new talent! They really do!

12:45  There is something charming about people on TV. Audiences want to watch the charm - even if you are playing the villain.  Don't lose YOUR charm when you start acting! 

20:30 The life changing moment Dani knew she wanted to switch gears and focus on acting and producing. 

24:28 Working in casting led her to taking acting classes at Stan Kirsch Studios. She would look at other actor's resume's who she thought were great and see where they studied! 

25:05 How studying acting at SKS was a game changer for her.

33:34 How she self produced her very first film, A Christmas Sunset, (during the pandemic, no less!)

39:09 How she got A Christmas Sunset to Amazon once it was finished. 

40:47 All about her latest produced film, The Demon Detective - and everything she learned to do (or not to do) from her experience producing and acting in A Christmas Sunset.

52:58 For those listening, who are inspired to follow in Dani's footsteps and self create - what is one thing you could do today to help get things moving in the right direction. 

Dani's IMDB
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7880072/

Check out A Christmas Sunset:
https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Sunset-Cassandra-James/dp/B093JSLB67

For more information about our acting classes, audition coaching and audition taping, head over to http://stankirschstudios.com/services

Eps 15: Dani Scott (Producer, Actress)

#Whereworkingactorstalk: An illuminating, entertaining, no bullsh*t look into the entertainment industry. Each episode features a candid chat between the SKS staff and a variety of Film and TV professionals ranging from seasoned actors to casting directors, talent representatives and directors as they share their experiences, provide advice and discuss issues that are pertinent to actors today. Follow us on Instagram @StanKirschStudios and go to www.StanKirschStudios.com

New tracks tagged #Whereworkingactorstalk