Hometown To Hollywood w/ Bonnie J Wallace

Today my guest on the Hometown to Hollywood podcast is Haydn Jones. Haydn is head of the Youth Commercial Division at A3 Artists Agency, formerly known as Abrams Artists Agency.

This is the very first Commercial Agent interview on the podcast and I’m so excited to share it with you!

We discuss how actors can get started in the industry, how to get a commercial agent’s attention, why commercials can be the gateway to an acting career, how commercial casting is different than theatrical casting, what actors can do during the COVID shutdown, and much more.

Become a Friend of the Podcast and listen to the full interview, as well as get access to the entire collection of over 100 other inspiring and educational episodes designed to help you succeed in the entertainment industry.

It’s easy! In your browser bar, go to https://hometowntohollywood.supportingcast.fm/

and for just $5 a month—about the price of latte-- become a member.

Your support allows me to continue to do the work that supports you, and the dreams of your child, or even your own dreams. Thank you!

Some of my favorite quotes from our conversation:

• “A commercial agent is always trying to piece together someone else’s vision board.”
• “This industry grows a youth actor to be ready for many, many aspects and challenges of life.”
• “Even when you start kids really young, it’s still a great experience.”
• “Acting is behavioral training, it’s a cognitive training, it’s a self-esteem builder.”
• “A commercial audition is the biggest room of play. You get to be yourself in front of other people.”
• “Auditions are our Olympics.”
• “My age categories, and what I’m looking for, changes daily.”
• “There’s never a bad time for me to look for potential new clients. Commercials are year-round.”
• “Commercial is the stepping-stone into the Theatrical world.”
• “Be open to the commercials, because that can begin everything for an actor’s career.”
• “Being an actor is a job. It takes a certain discipline. It’s not for everyone, and that’s OK.”

On the COVID-19 shutdown:

• “Keep up with your special skills. You should still be practicing every skill in your arsenal.”
• “Staying creative is what’s important. It doesn’t have to be memorizing a Shakespearean monologue every day.”
• “If you want to write and create your own story, now is the time!”
  “Show off your dance moves, recite your poems, and tell your stories.”
• “Get really, really good at self-taping. If this is the new normal, then a lot of the auditions will be remote.”

Follow Haydn Jones HERE:

Instagram: @TRIFIREFLY25

Today my guest on the Hometown to Hollywood podcast is Los Angeles casting director Krisha Bullock, of Bullock and Snow Casting.

Listen to the first 10 minutes here for free, or become a Friend of the Podcast for access to the full interview, as well as access to the entire collection of over 100 other inspiring and educational episodes designed to help you succeed in the entertainment industry.

It’s easy! In your browser bar, go to https://hometowntohollywood.supportingcast.fm/ and for just $5 a month—about the price of latte– become a member.

Your support allows me to continue to do the work that supports you, and the dreams of your child, or even your own dreams. Thank you!

Krisha Bullock is a multi-award winning Casting Director and nominee with over 19 year of casting experience, specializing in youth programming. She has been nominated for dozens of Artios awards by the Casting Society of America, and is a several time winner of the Seymour Heller Award for Television Casting Director of the Year. She is ridiculously proud of her mentorship of thousands of hopeful young people, helping them break into the industry by navigating them toward a professional career.

Krisha is best known for casting All That, Keenan and Kel, Zoey 101, True Jackson VP, iCarly, Victorious, Sam & Cat, DeGrassi: the Next Generation, Game Shakers, and Henry Danger, among other hit shows. She is a member of the Casting Society of America.

We talk about how actors can take control of their auditions, how they can best prepare for success when production opens up again after the pandemic, and so much more. Join us!

Some of my favorite quotes from our conversation:

• “The best actors act from the inside out.”
• “It is such a joy to make that phone call, and virtually make somebody’s dreams come true.”
• “Multicamera came from theater.”
• “We are looking for someone to walk in and show us how the ole should be done.”
• “I am looking for someone to come in and play the scene exactly the way they would play the scene on set.”
• “The time that you’re in the room is the time to teach us who you are, & who you’re going to be as a professional on stage.”
• “We want them to be amazing. We want them to book the role.”
• “Casting isn’t an adversary; we’re actually part of your team.”
• “I wish actors would watch their tapes back.”
• “We are ultimately hiring human beings to be on our set.”
• “We champion you. Not just for this particular role, but for every role.”
• “Parents should be like the Secret Service on set. They’re there to protect, and disappear.”
• “Acting is one of the very few things you can do from birth to death.”

Follow Krisha Bullock here:

Website: https://bullockandsnowcasting.com/

Twitter: @BullockAndSnow

Facebook: @BullockAndSnowCasting

Krisha Bullock shared a career’s worth of insight in her interview, and still we only scratched the surface of her wisdom. Imagine what you could learn in an hour of one-on-one with an acting career expert? If you could use some help getting started in an acting career, or jump-starting one that has stalled, book a consultation with me. A single session can save you months and years of frustration, time and money. I look forward to talking with you!

Today my guest on the Hometown to Hollywood podcast is actress Jessica Marie Garcia.

Jessica is best known for her roles of Jasmine in the Netflix hit On My Block, Willow in Liv and Maddie, and Becky in The Middle, as well as recurring roles on Diary of a Future President, How to Get Away with Murder, American Princess, Starter Pack, Hacking High School, Huge, and more. She is a member of the all-female ensemble cast of BETCH: A Sketch Show on Hulu, and her feature film Avenge The Crows was released on iTunes, where she plays Peaches starring alongside Danny Trejo and Lou Diamond Phillips.

This is Jessica’s second time on the podcast—our last interview was almost exactly four years ago today.

Our conversation covers a wide range, and includes how she got started, audition advice, the role of training in her success, challenges she’s had, thoughts on social media, the importance of seeing people who look like you in film and TV, and much, much more. We also laugh a lot!

Listen to the first 10 minutes here for free, or become a Friend of the Podcast for access to the full interview, as well as access to the entire collection of over 100 other inspiring and educational episodes designed to help you succeed in the entertainment industry.

It’s easy! In your browser bar, go to https://hometowntohollywood.supportingcast.fm/ and for just $5 a month—about the price of latte– become a member.

Your support allows me to continue to do the work that supports you, and the dreams of your child, or even your own dreams. Thank you!

Some of my favorite quotes from our conversation:

• “What we do is very, very vulnerable.”
• “Growing up I didn’t realize how much of my own story wasn’t being told.”
• “I feel like I came out of the womb reciting a Shakespearean monologue.”
• “A lot of actors don’t understand that agents and managers work for you.”
• “The 1st year of living in LA was the hardest year of my life. And I would never take that year back.”
• “I’m a damn good waiter.”
• “You have to get 100 ‘NO’s’ before you get a ‘YES.’”
• “Representation matters. When you don’t see yourself represented, you don’t necessarily think you can do this.”
• “I just kind of refused to believe that I couldn’t do what I want to do.”
• “I knew if I waited in line long enough, it would happen for me.”
• “Nothing worth it is ever easy.”
• “Everyone has a process... but Stanislavski worked great for me.”
• “Once I started owning my power & knowing my worth, I feel like the world has opened up many doors for me.”
• “If you really want to do this, I would encourage you to learn every facet of this industry.”

Follow Jessica HERE:

Twitter: @JessMarieGarcia

Instagram: @jess_m_garcia

Jessica’s advice—to learn everything about the industry that you can if you really want to do this—comes from experience. The more you understand about how this industry really works—and just as importantly, does NOT work—the better your odds of success.

If you are ready to build an acting career safely and successfully—for yourself or for your kid—invest in a one-on-one consultation with me. I can save you years of frustration and help you create a detailed action plan.

Steven Vincent, VP Music & Soundtracks at Disney Branded TV

Today my guest on the Hometown to Hollywood podcast is Steven Vincent, Vice President of Music & Soundtracks at Disney Branded Television. He is the man behind the music you love from not only the Disney Plus and The Disney Channel, but also Disney XD, ABC Family, and more, since 2007.

Steven Vincent advises and collaborates with TV series and TV movie producers on script development and creating original music, as well as licensed songs. He works with recording artists, songwriters and composers in conjunction with Disney Publishing, Disney Music Group and Radio Disney as well as external labels, publishers and management.

On the talent side, he has supervised the TV music careers of Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Jonas Bros, Zendaya, Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, Bridgit Mendler, Bella Thorne, Ross Lynch, Laura Marano, Zac Efron & Vanessa Hudgens.

Vincent has a degree in Music Composition from UCLA, and studied film scoring with Walter Scharf, David Raskin & Fred Karlin while winning scholarships from BMI and ASCAP. He has also worked as a film composer, arranger, producer, conductor and musician.

We discuss what he does in his work, what it’s like to work with young talent, how he creates the sound of the Disney shows and movies you love, advice for young talent (both songwriters and actor/singers) and much more. This is a fascinating dive into the world behind the music from so many of your favorite soundtracks— including The Cheetah Girls, Camp Rock, High School Musical, Disney Descendants, and much more. Join us!

Some of my favorite quotes from our conversation:

• “Leave your ego at home. You’re there to serve not just your vision, but the vision of the director, producers, writers, and the studio.”
• “In some ways, my job is figuring out what each new show or musical should sound like.”
• “I meet songwriters all the time... there are always new creative voices coming.”
• “I remember the first thing we did with Bella and Zendaya... Bella was really nervous, and Zendaya would stand on the other side of the glass and cheer her on.”
• “It’s about setting people up for success. That’s a lot of my job. Trying to nurture people and inspire them & provide them with the tools they need to be as successful as possible.”
• “They’re very determined, driven people. They just happen to be kids at the time.”
• “If you want to become a good songwriter, write a lot of songs... try and write one great song a week.”
• “If you want to work in music, be a musician. Don’t just be a singer.”
• “If you want to be a songwriter, you want to express something that somebody else is going to care about.”
• “If you want to be a singer that matters, that’s successful... learn how to use your instrument. The voice is very much an instrument.”
• Find any opportunity to perform in front of people. All of it counts. All of it helps prepare you.”
• “I’m all about creative expression... I think it’s really important in being a complete person.”

Feeling inspired? Take Steve Vincent’s advice to heart and try writing a song this week! Or singing in front of an audience, even if it’s just your family in the living room. Or writing a poem or learning an instrument. As he says, you can learn a lot of this online, even from YouTube. If you are serious about a career as a singer, take voice lessons so you learn how to safely use your instrument. If you want to be a triple threat, learn some basic dance.

And if you need a little help navigating the industry, invest in an online consultation with me. A single session can set you up for success and help you avoid the painful pitfalls that can cost you precious time as well as money.