That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse

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AASIF MANDVI: Anatomy is Destiny Aug 17, 2021

Show notes

Over the course of his 30 year career, Aasif Mandvi has learned that the dreaded phrase, "Jack of all trades, master of none," is nothing more than a myth. As an actor, writer, producer, podcast host and much more, Aasif has no shortage of creative endeavors and has learned to embrace that multiplicity rather than fight it.

Born in Mumbai, India, Aasif moved with his family to the U.K. and grew up in north England. His creativity was evident from a young age, from drawing to writing poetry to even performing a radio play as encouraged by his parents. Joining a children's theater company, Aasif describes how acting served as an escape for him and how the "no pressure" attitude from his parents gave way to a sense of freedom in his acting with no expectations attached.

After moving to America, Aasif studied drama in both high school and college and immediately secured a job with Disney. Upon moving to New York, Aasif felt that the lack of representation in the media left him without a career roadmap to follow from other actors that looked like him. While studying his craft, Aasif began to explore other ways he could get seen within the industry and wrote a one-man-show titled, "Sakina's Restaurant" which was the first story of a south Asian immigrant family to be performed in New York City's theater scene in Times Square.

You've seen him in hit films and television series such as CBS' "Evil," "This Way Up," "Million Dollar Arm," "Blue Bloods," "The Last Airbender," CBS' "Jericho," "The Internship," "The Proposal," and a fan favorite correspondent on "The Daily Show" with John Stewart. Today, Aasif opens up about his character-building process. He shares with listeners how to work with material that you may be struggling to connect with, and reveals how he navigated the decision to stick with telling his own story early on, even when other opportunities began to present themselves.

These are the unforgettable stories that landed Aasif Mandvi right here.

Guest links:

IMDB: Aasif Mandvi
INSTAGRAM: @aasif
TWITTER: @aasif
PODCAST: Lost at the Smithsonian with Aasif Mandvi
AUDIBLE: Sakina's Restaurant
AMAZON: No Land's Man

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Show Links:

WEBINAR: Back to Basics (Aug 27 @ 3pm PST)
COURSE: You Booked, Now What?? (Sep 21)
CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse
COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role
INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse
INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition
WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com
ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes
SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify
STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher

Credits:

WRITER: Erin McCluskey
SOUND DESIGN: Zachary Jameson
WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
ASSISTANT: Elle Powell
SOCIAL OUTREACH: Bebe Katsenes

STEPHANIE SZOSTAK: The Importance of Mental Health As An Artist Aug 10, 2021

Show notes

French-American, Stephanie Szostak (show-stack) acts, writes and speaks.

She is currently starring on ABC's hit series A MILLION LITTLE THINGS, is working on a book called "Oh The TiDDies You'll Grow!" and speaks to various organizations (from corporate to non-profits supporting immigrant women, teens and mental health) encouraging people to "find their truth... with love & humor."

Szostak got a late start on the acting scene (age 30) and had the willingness to disrupt her life, leaving her career in the corporate world behind to seek an authentic life. Over the past decade, she has played alongside Meryl Streep, Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Bridges, Steve Carrell, Paul Rudd, Matt Damon, Kevin Bacon, Ryan Reynolds and more.

Transforming her own false starts, setbacks, rejection and loss, she brings forward relatable and impactful stories to help anyone embrace their uniqueness. As part of that mission, she is passionate about encouraging people to discover their own truth and individuality.

From being told "You should have never happened" as her career grew so did the pressure, causing her performance to be negatively affected by feelings of unworthiness and fear. In response, she began to work on her mental game and looked to the actors she was intimidated by for answers. She was surprised to learn they too suffered from negative inner dialogue. This pushed her to address mindset and discover its interconnection with performance. Fascinated by what she learned, she created her own "playbook" to incorporate new skills to be more confident and playful when the red light turned on.

Knowing she is where she is only thanks to the help of so many, Stephanie thrives to help and connect people to support their pursuit of their darn naked truth!

Most notable projects include The Devil Wears Prada, Ironman 3, Dinner for Schmucks, We Bought a Zoo, ABC's hit series, A Million Little Things and USA Network series, Satisfaction.

Guest links:

IMDB: Stephanie Szostak
INSTAGRAM: @stephshortstak

Show Links:

CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse
COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role
INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse
INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition
WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com
ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes
SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify
STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher

Credits:

WRITER: Erin McCluskey
SOUND DESIGN: Zachary Jameson
WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
ASSISTANT: Elle Powell
SOCIAL OUTREACH: Bebe Katsenes

NEIL SANDILANDS: The 6 Pillars for A.C.T.O.R.S. Aug 03, 2021

Show notes

Born in South Africa, Neil Sandilands's decades-long career spans across the globe. As an actor, writer, director, and musician, Neil has meticulously put in the time to develop, hone, and refine his craft as an actor, as well as an all-around storyteller.

You've seen him in Netflix's hit new post-apocalyptic series, "Sweet Tooth" as the witty and quirky General Abbot, opposite Tom Hanks in "News of the World," in both The CW's series "The Flash," and "The 100," AMC/Sundance TV's "Hap and Leonard," as well as classic beloved television series such as "House, "The Americans," and many more.

Today, Neil shares his love of all that life has to offer. He confidently declares himself a human first and an actor second, urging listeners to embrace every breath that life has to offer and to identify who and what truly matters most in your world. He believes that the most valuable auditions are those that we don't book and that it's never too late to start again. Finally, you won't want to miss his brilliant breakdown of the life of an actor which he separates into five distinct acts appropriately abbreviated as ACTORS: A for Approach, C for Curation, T for Technique, O for Overcoming, R for Release, and S for Start Again.

These are the unforgettable stories that landed Neil Sandilands right here.

Guest links:

IMDB: Neil Sandilands
INSTAGRAM: @realsandilands
FACEBOOK: /realsandilands
YOUTUBE MUSIC: Listen to Neil's Album!

Show Links:

CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse
COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role
INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse
INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition
WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com
ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes
SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify
STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher

Credits:

WRITER: Erin McCluskey
SOUND DESIGN: Zachary Jameson
WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
ASSISTANT: Elle Powell
SOCIAL OUTREACH: Bebe Katsenes

YOLONDA ROSS: Grace of Intuition Jul 27, 2021

Show notes

Today's guest was initially in the business of fashion til she seized the opportunity to fill in for a coworker as a background actor for a popular show. She made such an impression that she was asked to return week after week until she got her union card and the rest is history for YOLONDA ROSS.

An independent film darling, Yolonda made her feature film debut in the award-winning independent film "Stranger Inside" in 2001. Yolonda went on to win an IFP Gotham Award for Best Breakthrough Performance for the role as well as received her first Film Independent Spirit Award nomination in the category of Best Debut Performance.

From there she's worked steadily from 24 to THE UNITED STATES OF LELAND, THIRD WATCH, LAW & ORDER, TREME, THE GET DOWN, and HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER. But it is her sensitive turn in the recurring role as the tough but loving mother, "Nurse Jada", in Lena Waith's THE CHI on Showtime is where she's been able to deepen her craft. She's done all she can to not be a one trick pony by directing a short film but shares the challenges of producing her own work.

Yolonda has made an impression on any director who has had the privilege to work with her including the dynamic Angela Bassett in WHITNEY and the incomparable Denzel Washington who cast her in ANTWONE FISHER. Yolonda shares her techniques in creating a character by using music, wigs, jewelry and even perfumes. She talks about how she built a career working predominantly with female directors and how she uses her body as a vessel to tell stories for those that are underrepresented.

These are the unforgettable stories that landed YOLONDA ROSS right here.

Guest links:

WEBSITE: YolondaRoss.com
IMDB: Yolonda Ross
INSTAGRAM: @yolondaross_creator
TWITTER: @YolondaRoss
VIMEO: /YolondaRoss

Show Links:

CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse
COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role
INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse
INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition
WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com
ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes
SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify
STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher

Credits:

WRITER: Juan Francisco Villa
SOUND DESIGN: Zachary Jameson
WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
ASSISTANT: Elle Powell
SOCIAL OUTREACH: Bebe Katsenes

KAREN GILLAN: Fear-Less vs Fear-Ful Jul 20, 2021

Show notes

There is a small percentage of actors who get the opportunity to be part of one franchise, but with todays guest, KAREN GILLAN, she's been part of not just one, but TWO multibillion dollar franchises. Her first agent described her as having "sheer perseverance" due to her being relentless in having them represent her: AT THE AGE OF 15!

Two working class parents who were her biggest fans to the point of even playing major roles in booking auditions. That's right, you will hear how her mother's thick Scottish accent made Adam Mckay laugh to the point where he cast Karen due to the sheer comedy of the self tape. Her father's love for old crooners such as Frank Sinatra gave Karen aspirations of being an opera singer. She was so infatuated with the performance arts that gymnastic looked like dance routines! Her iconic "Nebula" role on GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY was initially a one-off with her character dying in the first film but her take on the character inspired James Gunn to rewrite the fate of her character.

She did not waste anytime after finishing drama school by booking the "Amy Pond" role on DOCTOR WHO which soon led to her torrid pace of SELFIE, AVENGERS, JUMANJI and the soon to be released Netflix GUNPOWDER MILKSHAKE. She is easily Box Office Gold but that doesn't deter her from being fearful of losing that momentum. She's reached a place where she would TAKE advice from her younger self instead of giving it. These are the unforgettable stories that landed KAREN GILLAN right here.

Guest links:

IMDB: Karen Gillan
INSTAGRAM: @karengillan
TWITTER: @karengillan

Show Links:

THE NEW TRIPLE THREAT: Script Analysis Class
CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse
COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role
INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse
INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition
WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com
ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes
SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify
STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher

Credits:

WRITER: Juan Francisco Villa
SOUND DESIGN: Zachary Jameson
WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
ASSISTANT: Elle Powell
SOCIAL OUTREACH: Bebe Katsenes

CASSIDY FREEMAN: A Sweet Kind of "Fuck It" Jul 13, 2021

Show notes

Today's guest grew up the daughter of two prominent Chicago attorneys and the youngest of three siblings immersed in the arts. Everyone welcome: Cassidy Freeman. Her poise, work ethic and determination to constantly challenge herself quickly paid off. She embraced her old soul and let go of her aspirations of being an ingénue which immediately led to her first big break. Not knowing what a "stand in" or a "#2 on a call sheet" might deter other folks, but not Cassidy. She used that experience on her first big show as her TV Acting grad school.

You've definitely seen her in the star turning role as "Tess Luthor" on SMALLVILLE and she continued to THE PLAYBOY CLUB, VAMPIRE DIARIES, LONGMIRE and THE RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES. But before blazing the small screen with these credits, she had to learn some hard lessons along the way that led her to have fun when acting...especially for auditions.

We go from 7 year old Cassidy gracing the stage of The Chicago Lyric Opera to performing at The Atlantic Theater in New York City at 22 years old, with some sound advice from a close Broadway novice that completely shifted her dreams to Broadway by way of TV. She shares her appalling experience of auditioning for a prominent Casting Director who gave her advice that she still thinks about to this day. You will hear why acting is the one art form you can't do in a vacuum since we have to listen in order to be present which is why she still takes classes at Playhouse West to this day. This is why she continues to redefine success to this day by loving life by living it.

Guest links:

IMDB: Cassidy Freeman
INSTAGRAM: @hatface
TWITTER: @cassidyfreeman

Show Links:

THE NEW TRIPLE THREAT: Script Analysis Class
CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse
COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role
INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse
INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition
WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com
ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes
SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify
STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher

Credits:

WRITER: Juan Francisco Villa
SOUND DESIGN: Zachary Jameson
WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
ASSISTANT: Elle Powell
SOCIAL OUTREACH: Bebe Katsenes

WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Enjoyment Jul 07, 2021

Show notes

"Being an actor feels like such a privilege, but it's not a privilege if you're not enjoying what you're doing." - Jasika Nicole

As the auditions start to pour in again, how are you enjoying your process? Let's focus on progress instead of perfection.

Show Links:

THE NEW TRIPLE THREAT: Script Analysis Class
CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse
COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role
INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse
INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition
WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com
ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes
SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify
STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher

Credits:

WRITER: Erin McCluskey
SOUND DESIGN: Zachary Jameson
WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
ASSISTANT: Elle Powell
SOCIAL OUTREACH: Bebe Katsenes

DAVID DASTMALCHIAN: No Agent, No problem Jul 06, 2021

Show notes

Today, I sit down with actor, producer, writer, and filmmaker, David Dastmalchian. For over a decade, David has built a dynamic career driven by ambition and vision. In an industry that often tells us there is only one way to success, David has proved time and time again that there are any number of roads an artist can take to get to where they want to be, and with he himself often taking the road less traveled.

Starting out in the theater world of Chicago, David quickly began racking up commercial credits which brought him to New York. Having been told throughout the early years of his career that his type would not be marketable in Los Angeles, David stresses just how important it is to have representation that believes in the vision you have for yourself. So important in fact, that David has been flying solo without an agent for the last 4 years and has still found tremendous success in his career. Including his incredible story of auditioning for Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight," and the advice that Christopher offered him about acting that has stuck with him all these years later.

After his time in Chicago and New York, David relocated to Los Angeles in 2010. Even with the success of "The Dark Knight" under his belt, David reveals that he still struggled to gain career momentum. David stresses to listeners the importance of doing anything and everything you can to practice your craft as you never know where it may lead. David began writing, making short films, creating his own features, taking every class and workshop available, as well as auditioning for filmmakers fresh out of film school - a move that ended up serving him well a couple years later in his career.

You've seen him not only in "The Dark Knight," but also in Warner Brother's "Prisoners," Disney-Marvel's "Ant-man," opposite Sandra Bullock in the hit Netflix feature film, "Birdbox," "Blade Runner 2049," "Reprisal," "The Belko Experiment," and soon to appear in James Gunn's "The Suicide Squad," and the upcoming sci-fi feature, "Dune" both premiering later this year. Starting every single day looking at his dreams and goals board mounted on his wall, David candidly and openly discusses the importance of caring for your mental health, making your own opportunities, and the value of knowing that whether or not you reach your life goals, that you're going to make amazing things happen along the way.

Guest links:

IMDB: David Dastmalchian
INSTAGRAM: @dastmalchian
TWITTER: @Dastmalchian
AMAZON: Count Crowley: Reluctant Midnight Monster Hunter

Show Links:

THE NEW TRIPLE THREAT: Script Analysis Class
CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse
COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role
INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse
INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition
WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com
ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes
SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify
STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher

Credits:

WRITER: Erin McCluskey
SOUND DESIGN: Zachary Jameson
WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
ASSISTANT: Elle Powell
SOCIAL OUTREACH: Bebe Katsenes

JASIKA NICOLE: How To Recover When You're On The Precipice Of Quitting Jun 29, 2021

Show notes

Today's guest possesses creative gifts that expand across all forms and all mediums. Fully fueled by heart and passion, Jasika Nicole is an actor, clothing designer, artist, pottery maker, LGBTQ advocate, writer, and the list doesn't stop there. Committed to pursuing an education in the performing arts, Jasika studied theater throughout her college years before relocating to New York City to follow her dreams of stage acting in New York City. Like many actors, Jasika initially struggled to balance the need for a day job without allowing it to interfere with audition opportunities. Making the decision to focus solely on what she came to New York to do, Jasika left her day job and booked a 3 line role in a Fringe Festival production that led her to get noticed by a producer in the audience - proving that no role is ever too small.

After gaining representation, Jasika began to shift her focus to film and television, with the goal of winning the audition room on personality rather than trying to figure out what casting wants. Landing herself on many sets, Jasika describes her time observing those around her as a "crash course in acting." Even throughout her thriving career, Jasika admits to having moments where she felt herself on the verge of quitting and questioning whether or not she wanted to continue to be an actor. With self compassion, she describes how her other creative passions have been her saving grace, allowing her to find her way back into the love of acting and reminding her that her self worth is not determined by the number of credits on her resume.

You've seen her as Dr. Carly Lever in "The Good Doctor," Agent Astrid Farnsworth in "Fringe," among other hit projects such as "Scandal", "Station 19", "Underground", "She's Out of My League", "Take the Lead" and the newly released, "Punky Brewster" reboot now streaming on Peacock. Jasika shows no signs of slowing down and shares the many lessons today that she has learned along the way, including how there are no right or wrongs when it comes to process, tips and tricks on how to bridge performance gaps week to week as a series regular, and the importance of asking yourself whether or not this is a role you truly want to play and if it aligns with the kinds of stories you want to tell.

Guest links:

Show Links:

CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse
COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role
INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse
INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition
WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com
ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes
SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify
STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher

Credits:

WRITER: Lizzy Dalla Betta
SOUND DESIGN: Zachary Jameson
WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
ASSISTANT: Elle Powell
SOCIAL OUTREACH: Bebe Katsenes

BRANDON JAY MCLAREN: You Gotta Find Your Thing Jun 22, 2021

Show notes

Today I'm sitting down with actor-musician, Brandon Jay McLaren. Starting out as an athlete and a marine biology major, Brandon has gone on to craft a full and dynamic career as an actor over the course of nearly 20 years. Beginning as early as age 12, Brandon began booking commercials with the encouragement and support of his mother. Though he continued to study acting throughout high school and college, upon graduation, Brandon began feeling the pressure to go out and get a "real job." Despite this fear, Brandon couldn't ignore that gnawing feeling inside him to continue to pursue the craft and reached out to a casting director who had seen him perform 4 years earlier and decided to go all in. Since then, Brandon has gained an extensive list of credits that only continues to grow. You've seen him in AMC's "The Killing", Lifetime's "UnREAL", Bravo's "Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce", NBC's "Chicago Fire", Jordan Peele's "The Twilight Zone" reboot, and most recently, on the top ranked Netflix hit series, "Firefly Lane" and the TV movie release of "Marry Me This Christmas." But Brandon's artistic endeavors don't stop there. He is also a musician who regularly collaborates with his brother, Brent McLaren, whose songs have even gone on to be featured in some of Brandon's television and film credits. Today, Brandon offers practical advice for actors on everything from Zoom callbacks, to screen testing, to auditioning, and the importance of choosing an agent that is as excited about you as you are about them.

Guest links:

Show Links:

WHAT'S MY FRAME: Learn the basic frames used in filmmaking and how to incorporate them to create dynamic and engaging self-tape auditions. Click here to get $30 off the course
INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse
INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition
WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com
ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes
SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify
STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher

Credits:

WRITER: Erin McCluskey
SOUND DESIGN: Zachary Jameson
WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
ASSISTANT: Elle Powell
SOCIAL OUTREACH: Bebe Katsenes

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