In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Mark Duplass Jun 16, 2020

Show notes

Film and TV writer, producer, director, musician, and actor Mark Duplass has made a name for himself in super-low-budget, naturalistic, independent projects, and forged a path for others to do the same. In this podcast’s 100th interview, he outlines many of the obstacles facing aspiring filmmakers and his techniques to overcome them: “I am very encouraging of embracing limits—and if you don’t have that many limits, self-imposing them.” Mark and Jay Duplass’ production company, Duplass Brothers Productions, has brought such critically acclaimed indies to the screen as “The Puffy Chair,” “Baghead,” “Safety Not Guaranteed,” “The One I Love,” “Creep,” and more recently, HBO’s “Room 104” and Netflix’s “Paddleton” and “Horse Girl.” Mark has also starred on “The League,” “Togetherness,” “Goliath,” and now, AppleTV+’s hit drama “The Morning Show” as Chip Black. This episode is brought to you by AppleTV+. --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit our list of resources: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Cynthia Erivo Jun 11, 2020

Show notes

Cynthia Erivo’s acting dream has expanded since her childhood in England: from her breakout turn in the London-to-Broadway revival of “The Color Purple” musical to her meteoric rise in Hollywood, she has lived in “a state of newness probably every day,” she says in this intimate, insightful interview. “If it feels like I’m slightly walking on a tightrope every time, having to rebalance myself, then that’s where the learning comes.” After earning the Tony Award and a Daytime Emmy Award for “The Color Purple,” Cynthia made her film debut in Steve McQueen’s “Widows” and Drew Goddard’s “Bad Times at the El Royale.” This year she earned dual Academy Award nominations, for original song and leading actress, as Harriet Tubman in Kasi Lemmons’ “Harriet,” then starred as Holly Gibney on HBO’s adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Outsider” and as Aretha Franklin in National Geographic’s now-delayed “Genius: Aretha.” To read more, check out her Backstage cover story: https://bit.ly/3cSkJzk This episode is brought to you by UCLA’s Professional Programs at the School of Theater, Film and Television. --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit our list of resources: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Yvonne Strahovski Jun 04, 2020

Show notes

Yvonne Strahovski has been working in film and TV, voiceover, and on Broadway, ever since what she thought was a temporary trip from her home in Australia to the U.S. This interview offers a glimpse at her creative process across multiple mediums, and offers specific tips on both craft and career. In her experience, not booking roles is such an integral part of being a working actor, “I don’t even know if rejection is a good word...it’s just part of the exercise.” After her breakout leading role in the hit show “Chuck,” Yvonne has starred on “Dexter,” “24: Live Another Day,” “The Astronaut Wives Club,” and now ABC’s drama “Stateless.” For three seasons she’s brought Margaret Atwood’s dystopia Gilead to life as Serena Joy on Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” a role that has earned her nominations from the Golden Globes, SAG Awards, and Primetime Emmys. To read Backstage’s statement of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, click here: https://bit.ly/2MnXZMO --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit our list of resources: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Raphael Bob-Waksberg Jun 03, 2020

Show notes

Raphael Bob-Waksberg is a writer, comedian, voice actor, and pioneer of animated series. “I still feel like I don’t know what I’m doing,” he admits in this candid interview covering the voiceover industry, career advice, and more. “I’ve kind of freed myself of the expectation that I ever will.” Raphael teamed up with illustrator and production designer Lisa Hanawalt to create and produce Netflix’s “BoJack Horseman,” the Emmy-nominated, Annie Award-winning tragicomic satire about a Hollywood has-been horse. He is also the co-creator, with Kate Purdy, of the Amazon animated series “Undone,” and producer of Netflix’s “Tuca and Bertie.” To read more, check out Backstage’s recent feature on “BoJack Horseman” here: https://bit.ly/3cqfN4v --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit our list of resources: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Sarah Snook May 28, 2020

Show notes

Working actors everywhere can take Sarah Snook’s advice to heart, particularly when it comes to the many rejections that follow auditions. This in-depth interview reveals the actor’s approach to both her career and character-building process, which involves finding their vulnerability and where it overlaps with her own. “You’re afraid of revealing yourself? You’re meant to as an actor.” Sarah is likely best known as the fabulously ruthless Siobhan “Shiv” Roy on Jesse Armstrong’s Emmy-winning drama “Succession” from HBO. She’s worked in theater, TV, and film in the U.S. and her native Australia, including in “Sisters of War,” “Predestination,” “The Dressmaker,” and “Jessabelle,” winning two Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards. After hearing her advice about self-taped auditions, read Backstage’s guide to self-taping: https://bit.ly/3dmnhqB --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Dan Bucatinsky May 26, 2020

Show notes

Writer, producer, actor, and advocate Dan Bucatinsky has created his own opportunities in pursuit of becoming a self-described Hollywood “hyphenate.” Since his post-college days (auditioning through Backstage!) he has taken a multifaceted approach to the biz, allowing dreams to evolve and pivoting whenever necessary. His philosophy, both in the entertainment industry and as a father, husband, and human being, boils down to an essential question: “What are the variables that I can control and what are the variables I can’t control?” One of Dan’s first big breaks came from writing and starring in the gay romantic comedy film “All Over the Guy.” His résumé also includes everything from executive producing “The Comeback” and “Web Therapy” with Lisa Kudrow, to writing the memoir “Does This Baby Make Me Look Straight?” to winning an Emmy Award for his performance on Shonda Rhimes’ “Scandal,” and he now stars on ABC’s comedy-drama “The Baker and the Beauty.” --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Laura Linney May 21, 2020

Show notes

Three-time Oscar nominee, four-time Tony nominee, and four-time Emmy Award winner Laura Linney is known for her technical prowess and innate humanity in film, theater, and television—three mediums she approaches distinctly when building characters. Growing up the daughter of a playwright and realizing early just how much there is to learn about acting, Laura studied theater history before joining the Juilliard School and focusing on her mission to “make some tiny contribution to something that had been going on for centuries before me.” Star of “Tales of the City,” “You Can Count On Me,” “Wild Iris,” “Kinsey,” “Frasier,” “John Adams,” “The Savages,” “The Big C,” and 12 Broadway shows including this year’s solo show “My Name Is Lucy Barton,” Laura has for three seasons played the deceptively dangerous Wendy Byrde on Netflix’s crime drama “Ozark” opposite Jason Bateman. Read her Backstage cover story here: https://bit.ly/36jsAUS We also check in with Benjamin Lindsay, Backstage’s managing editor, for an update on virtual content offerings in The Slate: https://bit.ly/3cRTXaS --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Janet Mock May 14, 2020

Show notes

From activism to autobiography to screenwriting, producing, and directing FX’s “Pose,” there’s not much Janet Mock can’t do. “Head first, experience first,” she says, is how she journeys through both Hollywood and life. When Ryan Murphy offered the chance to lend her voice to a trailblazer of a series featuring transgender and queer characters, Janet gave herself a crash course in becoming a writer-director-producer—and can now pass on that knowledge to other aspiring multihyphenates. Janet worked as a journalist and correspondent in digital media before her bestselling memoirs “Redefining Realness” and “Surpassing Certainty” led her to television and film. She became the first trans woman of color to write and direct a TV episode, on “Pose,” and now also executive produces the Netflix mini-series “Hollywood.” Check out Backstage coverage of “Pose” here: bit.ly/3dII7Qt For coverage of COVID-19 including advice and resources, click here: bit.ly/2WxUFVj --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Mishel Prada May 07, 2020

Show notes

Mishel Prada went from being turned down by agents (the Dominican-American actor was told they already had an “ethnically ambiguous person on their roster”) to the leading role of Emma Hernandez on “Vida,” the Starz drama from writer-producer Tanya Saracho. In this advice-filled interview, Mishel reveals the approach to both the entertainment industry and life—even, or especially, amid a global pandemic—that can earn actors their big break. TV audiences may also know Mishel from the Emmy-nominated “Fear the Walking Dead: Passage,” or currently on the CW’s hit “Riverdale.” To read more, check out her Backstage cover story: https://bit.ly/2WwYXLq Our feature on “Vida” and “Stranger Things” casting director Carmen Cuba can be found here: https://bit.ly/2yqP6Ph --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting/ Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Nathan Lane Apr 30, 2020

Show notes

Nathan Lane, renowned for his impeccable comedic timing and stage presence, is proving to be one of those legends who can make any material come to life. “It’s like going into battle,” he says of his approach to the craft, which he’s been honing in theater, commercials, TV, and film for over 40 years. In this interview, Nathan reflects on the influences and advice that has guided him, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic’s current impact on the entertainment industry. Audiences likely know Nathan from “The Birdcage,” as the voice of Timon in “The Lion King,” guest star of “Modern Family,” or “The Producers” movie. His performance in “The Producers” musical, as well as “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” and the recent “Angels in America” revival, have earned him three Tony Awards out of six nominations and over 20 Broadway credits, in addition to six Primetime Emmy nods, two Golden Globe nods, and a SAG Award. He now stars as a tough-talking detective in Showtime’s new series from John Logan, “Penny Dreadful: City of Angels.” -- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

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