Stay ConnectedHollywood Casting Director Lisa Zambetti is joined by movie and TV buff Dean Laffan to discuss the shows we all love, which feature killer casting.
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Today we get to interview the incredible actor Kurt Yaeger who has been in more tv shows and films than we can name including a recur in Sons Of Anarchy, all the NCIS franchises, Another Life, Shameless,…and who is also an actor with a disability.
Kurt is a unique performer because sometimes the roles he takes feature his below the knee amputation and sometimes they don't. Regardless he is able to kick ass doing his own stunts motorcycle riding, running, jumping, fighting, shooting, and getting exploded.
Kurt tells us about his journey from being a professional athlete to his accident, his rehabilitation and his determination to act no matter what. You will truly be inspired to hear how he got cast on SoA. Plus he shares his insights on what needs to happen to get more inclusion and representation for more performers with disabilities in the entertainment industry.
Also, Dean and Kurt bro it out on all kinds of levels. See Kurt's showreel here https://youtu.be/9dX3k4Wlki0?si=jJ1RMXVe1yWTmSqu
His website https://www.kurtyaeger.com/
His career in porn ! Don't panic its a tounge-in-cheek book' called 'Porn for Women and TOTALLY safe for work and kids. No nudity. Think men fully clothed doing housework and cooking ;-) https://www.chroniclebooks.com/products/porn-for-women.html/
Lisa sits down with an absolute icon in the casting world. Love The West Wing? E.R.? Shameless? Southland? Well then you have loved the work of the wonderful, inspiring John Frank Levey who put some of the most amazing actors into some of the most iconic tv shows in history. John's new book "Right for the Role" dives deep into his career, sharing his journey navigating Hollywood as well as the origin stories of how the casts of his shows came to be. In their conversation, Lisa asks John about how casting has changed, and they compare notes on some of their favorite performers.
You can get your own copy of John's book here:
https://amzn.to/3JHcwBc
#castingdirectors #casting #actors #Hollywood #characters #thewestwing #ER #Southland #Shameless
#roles #losangeles
Joining Lisa today are two veteran television writer/producers Ted Sullivan (Riverdale, Star Trek Discovery, Supergirl, Revenge, Rizzoli & Isles, Law and Order Criminal Intent) and Elizabeth Benjamin (Dead to Me, The Flight Attendant, Bridgerton, 13 Reasons Why). Lisa asks them about the current Writer's Guild of America strike which is impacting all levels of production.
Ted and Liz talk about their careers and how working conditions have deteriorated for writers who love this work, yet who have been pushed to the breaking point. This is not about getting a guaranteed big payday, it is about the most basic things like making your insurance and feeding your families — all the while Studios and Streaming companies are making record profits. Also at stake is the creative process itself, which draw so many people into the profession in the first place. Join us for this important conversation.
**** Production Note: Unfortunatley Liz' internet connection had a couple of spotty patches, so please bear with us. Also, Lisa flubs the name of her union, she accidentally says Local 99 instead of Local 399 (Go Teamsters!). Lastly, per usual, Lisa is very "salty" with her language. So protect your delicate sensabilities. Thank you!
And now for something completely different, love The Great British Baking Show but deplore The Kardashians? Hate/watch The Bachelor but ride or die with Dr. Pol? Project Runway, Top Chef, Selling Beverly Hills and Indian Matchmaking are shows that gave Lisa an insane amount of joy. Today, Lisa pivots to talking to her esteemed colleagues in the REALITY / UNSCRIPTED casting world. Join Lisa and her guests Reality Star turned Reality Casting Director Rachel Reilly (Big Brother, Traitors), Casting Director Kristen Moss (MasterChef, Big Brother, Reality Television Awards) and Emmy award winning Casting Director Jeffrey Marx (HBO's We're Here, Love on the Spectrum, Real World, Project Runway). We talk about how unscripted casting directors do their jobs, the differing genres within unscripted (competition, lifestyle) how they find people, how they champion people with evocative stories, and what positive change Reality shows bring to the world. And OH yes, we talk all the tea about Vanderpump Rules Ariana, Tom, Raquel of it all! Twitter @kMossLA Insta @rachelereillyvillegas Twitter @rachelEReilly Inst @jeffmarxthespot Twitter @jeffmarxthespot https://instagram.com/reality_tv_castingcalls https://www.instagram.com/kristen_moss_schiazza/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D https://www.instagram.com/realityawardstv/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D
Lisa's love-hate relationship with Oscar reaches another year. This time we focus on the Best Actress race. So yes we cover Michelle, Michelle, Cate, Andrea and Ana, but we range far and wide as Lisa and Dean are joined by Oscars uber-nerd Paul Sullivan who brings his unique encyclopaedic brain to the party. And of course we close out with our own predictions and Lisa hands out the 'Zammie' for Best Actress Enjoy !
Today Lisa is in the kitchen banging around making blueberry pancakes in the background while Paul tells her what he thinks about Baz Luhrman's "Elvis" movie and how Austin Butler's performance compares with the real thing. Do we think he will win the Oscar? Listen and find out. The conversation takes some wacky turns along the way. We talk Monty Python, German sex workers, Barbra Streisand, Tom Hanks' accents, Henry the Fifth, Lisa sings Lady Gaga, and so much more! Pass the syrup and enjoy!
Happy 2023 from Killer Casting! Today Lisa has a special drop for the podcast. It is a little gift or offering for you if you can use it, especially if you are an actor. January kicks off a New Year but it also kicks off something else for our industry called "pilot season". This time of year can be extremely exciting but also extremely stressful. If you are an actor, you may be full of hopes and fears. Things may be about to kick into high gear and get super busy with auditions, self tapes, studio and network tests, chemistry reads…while at the same time you may be sinking into a sadness or sense of missing out if you are not as busy as you think you should be.
That is why Lisa wanted to offer this special mediation that she hopes can help. Relaxation and visualization are cornerstones of many actor trainings. They are used in voice training, physical training and all kinds of acting methods to open your emotions and instrument. But today, Lisa wants to use this mediation to help you wherever you are in your journey, wherever you are on your path, wherever you are in your day or evening. Hey, even if you are not in the entertainment industry but want a new relaxation visualization exercise, stick around, we think you will feel really really good afterwards.
So sit in a comfy chair, lay on your couch or bed, you could even settle into the seat of your parked car or your airplane seat … and get ready to breath, let go and let Lisa carry you for awhile
In light of the recent episode we recorded on the extraordinary Universal film "She Said" Lisa and Dean are honored to be joined by none other than Rowena Chiu who's story about being assaulted by Harvey Weinstein is depicted in the movie. We are also joined by the two fantastic actresses Ashley Chiu and Angela Yeoh who both played Rowena (one as her 24 year old self during the time she worked for Miramax, the other as her older self years after she had signed an iron clad NDA to not disclose his crime). All three of these fantastic women talk about what it was like to be part of this important film. Join us. Listen, subscribe and share.
When Lisa went to the special private screening that Universal held for the film "She Said", there was not a dry eye in the house when the lights came up. The audience was moved by the story of how two determined female reporters for The New York Times (played flawlessly by Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan) finally got victims to go on the record about how they had been assaulted and harassed by then mega powerful Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. We were moved by the sensitive and nuanced acting, the stealthy script, restrained direction, and just the enormity of what the story meant, and who it meant the most to — its far reaching repercussions. Join Lisa and Dean as they not only break down the most important aspects of the film….but Lisa has to take to task a certain well known Hollywood journalist for their insensitive comments dismissing the film asking "who is this movie for?". Well we are gonna tell you who it's for, and why we hope it wins all the Oscars! (We also love the rating which reads She Said, Rated R for language, implied sexual violence and patriarchal horrors). No seriously, it actually says that. Patriarchal horrors!
Lisa and Dean sit down with phenomenal actors Marilee Talkington and James Immekus to talk about Access for Actors with Disabilities. Both have had incredible careers in television, film and theatre. But it has not been an easy road. Both Marilee and James are actors with low vision (also referred to as visually impaired) who each have remarkable stories to tell about their journey "to be seen". What do Actors with disabilities go through in order to train, audition and work in an industry they love? What do casting directors, producers, directors and writers need to do to make sure these talented artists are included? We need them, and they need access. Join us for this honest and sometimes painful conversation. Subscribe and share.
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