Hollywood Brass Talks
22 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 22 ratingsAn uncensored and honest podcast about what really happens in show business. Come here for the no-punches-pulled version of what goes on inside the minds of agents, casting directors, producers and directors. Hosted by two unfiltered long-term talent agents with over 75 years' experience combined in all areas of the business. If you're just starting out or a long time professional who just wants to know what happens behind the curtain, we are here to answer your questions and shed some light on what really happens in the room where it happens. Be sure to follow us on social media!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollywoodbrasstalks/Twitter: https://twitter.com/HWBrassTalksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100024911447383
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Episodes
Greatness 101 (w/ Nawal Bengholam)
October 24, 2022 17:00 - 52 minutes - 35.8 MBCase study: Jacob Jacobs moved to New York City 5 years ago. He arrived with an intense passion for his craft, and a powerful belief that he possesses the spark of greatness he has heard the Hollywood Brass Talks hosts debate about. But 5 years in the city, and a host of disappointments has left him wondering if there is any greatness in him at all. Should he hang on, because possibly his spark is simply misplaced? Or is it true that some people just don’t have it; and should he head back to...
Inside Casting
October 11, 2022 23:00 - 39 minutes - 27.3 MBPaolo Minetti is fresh out of school. He went to a drama school and they did a good job teaching him how to get a job in a play. He is a bit befuddled by the film and television process and he really wants to crack that world. He has taken workshops and tried to find books that could give him an insight into the casting process for these jobs but is coming up short. He really wants to know about the process and the machinations of the casting director. How does he even get into the rooms? Ho...
The Checklist of Success
September 26, 2022 18:00 - 41 minutes - 28.8 MBCase study Read By Claire Hernandez Case Study: Carla Carlson After years of study in conservatory and private classes sharpening her tools, Carla Carlson is ready to start cutting. She has sought advice from industry experts, and is an avid Hollywood Brass Talks listener. So, she knows her next step is getting an agent – and, due to her lack of credits, she needs powerful evidence of greatness, and a cover letter that is eye-catching. But she has heard different accounts of what works. Ca...
Give Up The Dream?
September 12, 2022 17:00 - 39 minutes - 27.2 MBCase Study: Read by Steven Holmstrom Amelia is an actress in Los Angeles. She moved here after high school and is celebrating her 15th year in Hollywood. She has had a few agents over the fifteen years and has booked a few non union commercials for little money, a print job or two. She has done a bunch of plays in small theaters around the city and joined a theater company. She holds down a full time day job as a legal secretary. She takes acting classes at night and has worked with all t...
You Are Not Picture Perfect...
August 29, 2022 18:00 - 48 minutes - 33.6 MBCase Study : Read by Kenzo Jett Phillip P. Phillips is a Los Angeles actor who is represented both Theatrically and Commercially in Los Angeles. His activity level is moderate, he books a decent amount, and has a relatively good relationship with his agents. No complaints. But, of course, Phillip wants to be able to quit his day job as a hotel reception desk worker, and he wants to level up. Recently, his activity level has decreased - and he is concerned. In conversations with his rep...
How To Fight Ageism in Hollywood
August 15, 2022 18:00 - 42 minutes - 29.5 MBCase Study: Read by Sonja Mobley Joan J. Jones is a 42 year-old Los Angeles actress, who took several years off from a relatively productive career to raise her two children, who are now at an age where Joan has more freedom to audition and work. Her credits are mainly in television and commercials, although her passion is Theater. However, nothing on her resume is current, and she senses that Film and TV are the only things lucrative enough to justify the time’ away from her family. She ha...
Side Hustle - Luxury or Necessity?
August 01, 2022 15:00 - 46 minutes - 32 MBCase Study: Peter Frankel - Read by: Joe Canale - Peter has been a professional actor for the last 10 years. He has made most of his money in commercials with a sprinkling of theatrical jobs in between. He has been able to pay his rent and drive a newer model car. He gets to vacation every year and keeps his union health insurance, but in the last few years it has been harder and harder to make ends meet. He wants to buy a house and start to build a family, but the work, while steady ...
Side Hustle - Luxury or Necessity?
August 01, 2022 15:00 - 46 minutes - 32 MBCase Study: Peter Frankel - Read by: Joe Canale - Peter has been a professional actor for the last 10 years. He has made most of his money in commercials with a sprinkling of theatrical jobs in between. He has been able to pay his rent and drive a newer model car. He gets to vacation every year and keeps his union health insurance, but in the last few years it has been harder and harder to make ends meet. He wants to buy a house and start to build a family, but the work, while steady ...
Diversity & Inclusion
July 18, 2022 19:00 - 48 minutes - 33.3 MBCase Study: Omar El Dabe is an American born actor with an Egyptian heritage. He was raised in New Jersey and went to an elite theater program. He is versed in classical theater and has done a few commercials. He has pretty good representation but sees that he gets into casting rooms most often to play terrorists or cab drivers. He keeps hearing about diversity and inclusion, but what does that mean? He doesn’t seem to get in for non-ethnic roles, at least, very rarely. Is his name t...
What Is Your "Magic Phrase"?
July 04, 2022 18:00 - 52 minutes - 36.3 MBCase Study: Lauren L. Lawrence moved to Los Angeles right after graduation from her MidWestern University Drama Program, and began her journey as a hopeful commercial, film, and television actress. From day one, Lauren was represented by a boutique agency. How did she land them? Well, she was approached by them at her senior showcase. They promised her the world, and she signed. After a year of loyalty, Lauren realized she and her agency were not a good match. After leaving the agency,...
What Does Your Brand Mean?
June 20, 2022 22:00 - 39 minutes - 26.9 MBCase Study: Catherine Lynn is a conservatory-trained actress who relocated to Los Angeles from North Carolina. From the moment she arrived in L.A. Catherine began hearing she had to establish a “brand”, something that was never mentioned in drama school. Catherine struggles with the concept. Does this mean she must choose comedy over action, both of which she loves? Is she stuck with the bob hairstyle she chose for ease of care? Even her name: Catherine Lynn- (she dropped her actu...
Find Your Palette And Be Great In Every Market
January 03, 2022 19:00 - 49 minutes - 34.1 MBJerome Jeremy graduated drama school in Chicago, made a decent living for a number of years doing a combination of live theater, tv commercials, and occasional episodic and film acting work. Always eager for the advice of other professionals, Jerome was strongly advised to make the move to Los Angeles, where (he was advised) the opportunities would be exponentially greater. He didn’t find that to be true. Jerome is an avid Clubhouse user, His number one question is: “How do I know if my ...
Where is My Land of Opportunity?
December 20, 2021 16:00 - 47 minutes - 32.5 MBSylvia is an actress from North Carolina. She went to college and moved on to get her MFA from a prestigious college acting program. After school she moved to New York City and landed a bi-costal agency. She got busy and did a number of plays. She made the transition to commercials, film and television and was able to make her living as an actor. A great job took her to Los Angeles, and she decided to stay. Her momentum came to a bit of a stop in the new city. While her agents in New Yo...
Do You Jump Across The Pond?
December 06, 2021 19:00 - 46 minutes - 32 MBCase Study: Gleason is an actor in the UK. He graduated drama school in London and did a few plays around the country. He has an agent in the UK but goes out mostly on commercials and small films. He longs to be in the United States and getting shots at the movies and television shows shooting in the states. He has made a few trips over here and taken acting classes and taking a few meetings. He doesn’t have a green card and he is mostly getting the “Call us when you can work” excuse f...
Inclusion In Hollywood
November 22, 2021 16:00 - 55 minutes - 37.9 MBCase Study, Russell T. Russell Russell is a very talented actor, born and raised in the Los Angeles area. To hear Russell tell it, his challenge is that he is a good looking white male, and he has heard repeatedly that “white is out”. Not to mention the fact that his naturally blond hair puts him in a category he has been told by his agents cannot be sold. On auditions, Russell sees fewer and fewer of the ‘usual suspects’ he once competed against. Instead he sees a new crop of “ethnically...
Is Your Acting Career Just A Hobby?
November 15, 2021 19:00 - 48 minutes - 33.4 MBHere is another Case Study. Sinqua has had his theatrical agent for a few years. He signed with them right out of school and they have the power to get him in the door. He gets out regularly and has even managed to book a few things but he can’t really seem to get into a groove and put together a nice string of jobs. He also feels a bit trapped in the one and done episodic world. He feels he auditions well and gets some call backs, but not enough to feel like he is in the game and makin...
Is Your Acting Career Just A Hobby?
November 15, 2021 19:00 - 48 minutes - 33.4 MBHere is another Case Study. Sinqua has had his theatrical agent for a few years. He signed with them right out of school and they have the power to get him in the door. He gets out regularly and has even managed to book a few things but he can’t really seem to get into a groove and put together a nice string of jobs. He also feels a bit trapped in the one and done episodic world. He feels he auditions well and gets some call backs, but not enough to feel like he is in the game and makin...
What Do You Want And How Are You Going To Get Yourself There?
November 01, 2021 18:00 - 53 minutes - 36.7 MBDionne is a 30 year old actress in Los Angeles. She moved here after graduating from a small liberal arts college in the Midwest. She got with a small theatrical agency and started to book a few co-stars a year. She did theater around LA for no money but really felt a part of the acting community. An agent saw her in a show and wooed her away from her agency. The agent was a bit more aggressive, and Dionne managed to add a few more co-stars to the resume. She booked her first guest sta...
Do You Need A Manager?
October 18, 2021 18:00 - 53 minutes - 36.9 MBToday we have Keio - Keio has been in Los Angeles for two years, having moved from the Austin market after a dozen jobs in Texas. He recurred on a series. Did a couple small roles in bigger movies shot in Austin and did a fair share of local commercials. His Austin agent sent him to an agency they were affiliated with in Los Angeles and Keio has kept working the last two years in LA. He has a few commercials under his belt. One that has allowed him to not need a survival job. He has do...
How To Leverage Your Skills - Evidence of Your Greatness
October 04, 2021 18:00 - 50 minutes - 34.9 MBAnna is a 32 year old actress from New Jersey. She moved to New York City right after high school and got her first agent, a commercial agent, from a showcase she did at her acting school. The agent got her out right away and she actually booked her first audition. A national network commercial for McDonalds. This got her a SAG card. (It was just SAG at that time) She went on to book two more commercials in her first year. A regional bank spot and another network commercial for Pepsi. ...
How to Get an Agent...There is No Magic Wand
September 07, 2021 13:00 - 51 minutes - 35.5 MBMichael is an extremely talented 28 year old actor, relocated to Los Angeles from his hometown of Akron Ohio. Michael is well trained and educated. He attended a reputable drama school and even got a real NY/Hollywood showcase after graduation. He knows that if he wants to build a career in film and television, LA is the place to be. He is shocked at the tremendous difference in the cost of housing and living expenses in Los Angeles, but is committed to his craft and his dream of becoming ...
Time To Leave Your Agent?
August 28, 2021 00:00 - 49 minutes - 34.3 MBCynthia is an actress from NY who has moved to LA. She got an agent and has had a steady stream of activity from her agency. She has gotten new headshots and has met with her agent and they have chosen a new picture. After a bit of time the activity has started to slow down. She feels she has given good auditions and there were a handful of casting directors that have been calling her in. Now the auditions have slowed to a trickle and she is befuddled and doesn’t know what to do. Shoul...