That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse

Latest Episodes:

WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Feedback — with Alyshia Ochse Aug 07, 2019

Show notes

When do you ask for feedback on your audition? What does the feedback mean? What is your intention for getting feedback?

089: Eme Ikwuakor — Dive In and Take The Risk Aug 06, 2019

Show notes

Today's guest's journey is a roller coaster ride full of defining moments, times when everything seemed to be working against him, but ultimately lead him to where he is today. From multiple heart attacks by the time he was 21 years old to getting cut from some of recent year's most recognizable films, Eme Ikwuakor has continued to press on and shares how he took the deep dive into an artistic career.

Eme Ikwuakor is a triplet, born In Wheatridge, Colorado and the son of Nigerian parents (his father is a college professor in Nigeria). Attending the University of Colorado on a track and field scholarship, he was considering a sports marketing major until a college advisor recommended an acting course. Ikwuakor signed up and was quickly cast in the part of Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird. It became a life-changing experience. Always fascinated by history and African-American rights issues, Ikwuakor then became heavily involved in the Interactive Theater Project in Colorado, a professional acting troupe that specialized in theater for social change. This experience became a great influence on his career goals. During this period, he was cast in Ink, the critically-acclaimed, locally produced, independent science fiction feature that won Best Colorado Film at the 2009 Denver Film Critics Society awards and was considered "one of the best films of 2009. (JoBlo)" This positive experience taught Ikwuakor a great deal about how to independently produce projects, market and take chances. Arriving in Los Angeles after college graduation with a B.F.A in Performance Theater, Ikwuakor took a series of jobs to support his acting and producing ambitions. His life-changing project, Chance, was a short dramatic film, which he wrote, produced, co-directed and starred in. Its insight encouraged him to drop his day job of three years and focus entirely on his acting career. Since then, he has never been busier. Ikwuakor's television series credits include Outlaw, Love Bites, Victorious, The Comeback, Silicon Valley, Castle, Hawaii Five-O and We Are Angels. In addition to Ink, he has been featured in the films The New Republic, Murder in the Dark and Not Safe for Work. He continues to work actively for social and political change. Currently, Eme is starring on ABC's, Marvel's Inhumans.

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WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Questions — with Alyshia OChse Jul 31, 2019

Show notes

Do you sometimes struggle with deciding whether you should accept an audition or a job? Here are 5 questions to ask yourself that will help you make the decision! You must answer a resounding YES to at least 3 to take the job/audition, if it's a job/audition you're unsure about.

088: Sarah Baker — A Series of Full Circle Moments Jul 30, 2019

Show notes

Sarah Baker is an actress and comedian born in the Washington, D.C. area. After graduating from James Madison University with a double major in Theater and English, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia where she joined the Whole World Improv Theatre as a performer, and later as a teacher. She also later became a member of the Sunday Company with the acclaimed Groundlings Theatre in Los Angeles.

She is best known for her roles in The Kominsky Method on Netflix, The Campaign with Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis, and on HBO's Big Little Lies. She has been nominated for a Critic's Choice Award for her guest role on Louie, as well as for a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for The Kominsky Method, in which she stars alongside Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin. The hit show won the Golden Globe for Best Comedy Series and, as of January 2019, has been renewed for a second season. She is slated to appear as "Emily" in Ben Falcone's Superintelligence starring Melissa McCarthy, premiering in December 2019.

LINKS:

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1807222/
INSTAGRAM: @barahsakers
TWITTER: @barahsaker
KOMINSKY METHOD: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1807222/videoplayer/vi938195481

WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Your WHY — with Alyshia Ochse Jul 24, 2019

Show notes

Getting to the truth of your WHY. Do you know why you are called to be an artist? Know why you're going into this, know why you're doing it, because the industry doesn't need you.

087: Russell Hornsby — What Are You Going To Do To Stay In The Game? Jul 23, 2019

Show notes

Today we have a fascinating conversation with actor Russell Hornsby—from Grimm, Seven Seconds, and The Hate You Give—as well as FENCES, both on Broadway and in the film, his career is full of valuable lessons he's learned.

After twenty years in the industry, he shares how a long-term career was not a given reality for him, but rather something he's had to fight for every step of the way. His advice is equal parts inspiration and tough love, so whether you're just starting out or are a few years in, he's got some healthy perspective about being honest with yourself, doing the work, and putting everything you have on the line for your art.

Russell Hornsby is an American theater, television, and film actor. He is known for his roles as Edward "Eddie" Sutton on ABC Family's Lincoln Heights, as Luke on the HBO drama In Treatment, as Detective Hank Griffin on the NBC series Grimm, and as Lyons in the movie Fences.

After finishing his studies at Oxford, Hornsby moved to New York City and was subsequently cast in leading roles in Off Broadway productions of To Kill a Mockingbird (as Atticus Finch), Joe Louis Blues, and Six Degrees of Separation (as Paul). In the late 1990s, he decided to move to Los Angeles in order to transition into television and film. He has appeared in several different television productions including appearing in recurring roles in Haunted as Detective Marcus Bradshaw and Gideon's Crossing as Chief Resident Dr. Aaron Boise. His other television credits include Grey's Anatomy, Law & Order, and In Justice among others. He also played running back Leon Taylor in ESPN's drama series Playmakers. On the big screen, he has appeared in such films as After the Sunset, Big Fat Liar, Get Rich or Die Tryin', Keep the Faith, Baby, Meet the Parents, and Stuck among others. In 2000, Hornsby appeared in the Off-Broadway production of Jitney for which he won a Drama Desk Award and an Obie Award.

He starred in the NBC fantasy drama Grimm from 2011 to 2017. In 2018, he played Isaiah Butler in the Netflix crime drama Seven Seconds. That same year, Hornsby joined the cast of the movie Creed II.

LINKS:

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0395203/
INSTAGRAM: @russoulhornsby
TWITTER: @russellhornsby
SEVEN SECONDS TRAILER
THE HATE YOU GIVE TRAILER

WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Guest Star — with Alyshia Ochse Jul 17, 2019

Show notes

How to be a great "guest" on a TV show!

BONUS: Eric Amadio — Our Fuel Defines Us Jul 16, 2019

Show notes

For today's bonus episode, we're talking with writer/director Eric Amadio—if you've not heard of him, you've likely seen his show SNOWFALL on FX, or at least spotted the billboards around the town. His fascinating story takes all kinds of unexpected turns---from writing haikus as a child to getting published at 10 years old, from electronic music producer to rapper to director, and now show creator---Eric has worn many hats and has accumulated some fascinating perspective along the way.

We take a deep dive into how his process works, how he writes and manages his approach to production, and what he's observed about creativity in our rapidly changing modern culture. He is motivating and inspiring, and whether you're an actor, writer, or director, his insight will lead to some pretty powerful revelations about story structure, character, inspiration, and patience!

Eric Amadio is a writer, director, and producer, known for Snowfall (2017), After Sex (2007) and Stuntmen (2009). Born in Southeast Los Angeles and raised during the height of violence in the crack-fueled 80's and 90's, Eric had his first essay published at the age of 10, went on to write for local music publication Rock City News at 16, then worked as an electronic music producer/DJ from ages 18-23 before beginning his career in film and television. Deeply rooted in Los Angeles, his grandfather opened one of the first Italian/American owned photo studios in Downtown LA in the 1940's, his mother grew up in the middle of the 1950's car-culture in Bell, and Eric's formative years were spent immersed in the various 80's/90's subcultures of hip hop, skateboarding, basketball, and crime, all elements that can be found in his work.

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WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Patience — with Alyshia Ochse Jul 10, 2019

Show notes

How long can you wait for your creativity to show up? How long can you wait to be picked? Patience is the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.

086: Oliver Trevena — Evolving a Career, No One's Got What you Have Jul 09, 2019

Show notes

Brit host and actor, Oliver Trevena, has interviewed hundreds of celebrities and musicians at the likes of The Hollywood Reporter, YoungHollywood, GQ.com, Sirius XM's "Dirty Pop" alongside N-Syncs Lance Bass, as well as Esquire Network's "Joyride" alongside T- Pain & Mischa Barton. As an actor, he's just wrapped "The Rising Hawk," "Embattled,"and "Grand Isle" (with Nicolas Cage and Kelsey Grammer) feature films.

Oliver Trevena began his performing career as a child across the pond in the UK, singing and dancing and acting. His journey lead him to London where he continued to pursue his love of performing but after not one, but TWO near death experiences, his path lead him to Los Angeles to continue his pursuit of music. He's seen much of what the entertainment industry in LA has to offer, and after many ups and down, he reconnecting with his passion for storytelling and hasn't looked back since.

From his countless hosting gigs, to acting, and now producing, He generously shares how he's managed to build a career that not only honors his artistry but also allows him to leverage his perspective as a producer---how he's built so many relationships over the years and how he's continued to evolve in the face of fear and uncertainty. He has since starred in movies, like The Long Road (2008), Ready? OK! (2008) and TV appearances in The Good Guys (2010), Leverage (2008), The Forgotten (2009) and How to Rock (2012). He now lives in LA but spends his time between the US and UK.

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