Advertise on podcast: VersaVision

WHY GREAT ACTORS DON'T ALWAYS BOOK THE JOB: THE ART & PSYCHOLOGY OF AUDITIONING WITH ROB BROWNSTEIN WHAT IF THE SECRET TO A GREAT AUDITION IS STOPPING YOURSELF FROM TRYING TO BOOK THE JOB? Here's something I want every actor to remember: The booking is out of your hands. The preparation is not. As a talent manager, I've watched extraordinarily talented actors deliver wonderful auditions and never hear another word. I've also seen actors become so consumed with getting the job that they forget the very thing that makes them special: their ability to act. So what separates a good audition from a truly memorable one? And how do you walk away feeling successful when the final decision is completely out of your hands? On this episode of VersaVision, I'm joined by actor and acclaimed acting coach Rob Brownstein, whose extensive career includes Argo, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, The Office, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Gilmore Girls, Modern Family, and Grey's Anatomy, among many others. As the founder of An Actor's Space in Los Angeles, Rob has spent years helping actors around the world strengthen their craft, develop confidence, and navigate one of the most psychologically demanding aspects of our industry: the audition. Together, we explore the art and psychology of auditioning, from breaking down a script and discovering the emotional truth of a character to the challenges of self-tapes, callbacks, chemistry reads, and the inevitable rejection that comes with pursuing an acting career. We also examine some uncomfortable questions. Are actors overthinking their auditions? Can too much preparation actually work against you? When does doing another take become self-sabotage? And why do even experienced actors continue to struggle with audition anxiety? What I particularly wanted to explore with Rob is how actors can change their relationship with auditioning itself. Because the audition isn't simply an opportunity to get a job. It's an opportunity to demonstrate your artistry, make creative choices, and build relationships that may lead to opportunities you can't yet imagine. Whether you're just beginning your career or have been working for decades, I believe this conversation offers valuable insight into how we approach our work, our confidence, and our expectations. Join Rob and I for a fascinating conversation about the craft, the business, and the mindset of auditioning. Welcome to VersaVision where we go beyond the performance to explore what it really takes to build a career in Hollywood. A huge thanks to our team: Producer: Devyn Arnold | Intro: Tamika Katon-Donegal Assistant: Ian Butter +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision and join us as we bring you shows with the industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, and filmmakers - sharing the real-world insights, experiences, and advice that can help take your career to the next level. Your support helps us continue creating these conversations.

WHY GREAT ACTORS DON'T ALWAYS BOOK THE JOB: THE ART & PSYCHOLOGY OF AUDITIONING WITH ROB BROWNSTEIN WHAT IF THE SECRET TO A GREAT AUDITION IS STOPPING YOURSELF FROM TRYING TO BOOK THE JOB? Here's something I want every actor to remember: The booking is out of your hands. The preparation is not. As a talent manager, I've watched extraordinarily talented actors deliver wonderful auditions and never hear another word. I've also seen actors become so consumed with getting the job that they forget the very thing that makes them special: their ability to act. So what separates a good audition from a truly memorable one? And how do you walk away feeling successful when the final decision is completely out of your hands? On this episode of VersaVision, I'm joined by actor and acclaimed acting coach Rob Brownstein, whose extensive career includes Argo, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, The Office, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Gilmore Girls, Modern Family, and Grey's Anatomy, among many others. As the founder of An Actor's Space in Los Angeles, Rob has spent years helping actors around the world strengthen their craft, develop confidence, and navigate one of the most psychologically demanding aspects of our industry: the audition. Together, we explore the art and psychology of auditioning, from breaking down a script and discovering the emotional truth of a character to the challenges of self-tapes, callbacks, chemistry reads, and the inevitable rejection that comes with pursuing an acting career. We also examine some uncomfortable questions. Are actors overthinking their auditions? Can too much preparation actually work against you? When does doing another take become self-sabotage? And why do even experienced actors continue to struggle with audition anxiety? What I particularly wanted to explore with Rob is how actors can change their relationship with auditioning itself. Because the audition isn't simply an opportunity to get a job. It's an opportunity to demonstrate your artistry, make creative choices, and build relationships that may lead to opportunities you can't yet imagine. Whether you're just beginning your career or have been working for decades, I believe this conversation offers valuable insight into how we approach our work, our confidence, and our expectations. Join Rob and I for a fascinating conversation about the craft, the business, and the mindset of auditioning. Welcome to VersaVision where we go beyond the performance to explore what it really takes to build a career in Hollywood.

BEYOND THE SCRIPT: MEGAN GOODMAN ON ACTING, NEUROSCIENCE & BREAKING THE RULES Can you pursue a career in Hollywood, study the human brain, and build a successful business career, all without giving up what you love? This week my guest on VersaVision is actress Megan Goodman, living proof that you don't have to choose just one path. From Modern Family and Nickelodeon's The Haunted Hathaways to 9-1-1, Megan began building her acting career at a young age. But while pursuing Hollywood, she also explored an entirely different world, earning a degree in Neuroscience from USC, followed by a master's in Regulatory Science from Johns Hopkins University. What I love most about Megan’s story is that she never accepted the idea that she had to choose. Instead of letting her interests compete, she found ways for them to inform one another. I think you’ll walk away from this conversation with a valuable perspective, whatever your own mix of passions looks like.  Today, she's balancing her creative ambitions with a leadership role in business. I sat down with Megan to explore what happens when creativity meets intellect, how understanding the human brain can influence an actor's craft, and why having a life outside Hollywood might actually make you a better performer. Because sometimes the most interesting thing about an actor isn't just the roles they play, it's the life they create beyond the camera. Join me for this fascinating conversation on VersaVision!

FROM I LOVE LUCY TO SHŌGUN: FIVE DECADES INSIDE HOLLYWOOD WITH LEGENDARY DIRECTOR JERRY LONDON   Some directors build careers. A rare few become part of Hollywood history itself.  Jerry London is one of them and in this conversation, he takes us on a journey through the most dramatic growth in U.S. television history.   With 360 television episodes, 40 Movies of the Week and 11 miniseries to his credit and work with 25 Emmy-winning performances and productions, Jerry was in the heart of it all.   He started as an assistant editor on I Love Lucy and went on to direct some of television’s most iconic shows, including Hogan’s Heroes, The Brady Bunch, The Waltons, The Partridge Family, The Rockford Files, Kojak, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Six Million Dollar Man, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and many more.   Then came Shōgun: the groundbreaking miniseries that became a television phenomenon and garnered over 125 million views. But what fascinated me wasn’t the list of credits. It was hearing Jerry talk about how he got there. Jerry takes us inside the making of Shōgun, including one unforgettable night involving ten cameras, boats, explosions, Richard Chamberlain and one incredibly expensive failure.  We talk about working with Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, Christopher Plummer, Faye Dunaway, Rock Hudson, Richard Burton, Bette Davis and Jane Seymour, and what Jerry learned from some of Hollywood’s greatest talents. After more than five decades in the business, Jerry's philosophy comes down to something simple:  know what you want, stay calm and remember, we're making art- and great art at that? This is Hollywood history from the man who lived it. Jerry London's book FROM I LOVE LUCY TO SHOGUN AND BEYOND: TALES FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAMERA AVAILABLE ON AMAZON HERE: Jerry London's Book Now Available on Amazon:  https://bit.ly/3VER60m  A huge thanks to our team: Producer: Devyn Arnold | Intro: Tamika Katon-Donegal Assistant: Ian Butter +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision and join us as we bring you shows with the industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, and filmmakers - sharing the real-world insights, experiences, and advice that can help take your career to the next level. Your support helps us continue creating these conversations.

FROM I LOVE LUCY TO SHŌGUN: FIVE DECADES INSIDE HOLLYWOOD WITH LEGENDARY DIRECTOR JERRY LONDON   Some directors build careers. A rare few become part of Hollywood history itself.  Jerry London is one of them and in this conversation, he takes us on a journey through the most dramatic growth in U.S. television history.   With 360 television episodes, 40 Movies of the Week and 11 miniseries to his credit and work with 25 Emmy-winning performances and productions, Jerry was in the heart of it all.   He started as an assistant editor on I Love Lucy and went on to direct some of television’s most iconic shows, including Hogan’s Heroes, The Brady Bunch, The Waltons, The Partridge Family, The Rockford Files, Kojak, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Six Million Dollar Man, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and many more.   Then came Shōgun: the groundbreaking miniseries that became a television phenomenon and garnered over 125 million views. But what fascinated me wasn’t the list of credits. It was hearing Jerry talk about how he got there. Jerry takes us inside the making of Shōgun, including one unforgettable night involving ten cameras, boats, explosions, Richard Chamberlain and one incredibly expensive failure.  We talk about working with Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, Christopher Plummer, Faye Dunaway, Rock Hudson, Richard Burton, Bette Davis and Jane Seymour, and what Jerry learned from some of Hollywood’s greatest talents. After more than five decades in the business, Jerry's philosophy comes down to something simple:  know what you want, stay calm and remember, we're making art- and great art at that? This is Hollywood history from the man who lived it. A huge thanks to our team: Producer: Devyn Arnold | Intro: Tamika Katon-Donegal Assistant: Ian Butter +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision and join us as we bring you shows with the industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, and filmmakers - sharing the real-world insights, experiences, and advice that can help take your career to the next level. Your support helps us continue creating these conversations.

What Can you Say No To? Could Setting a Boundary Cost You The Role? Jocelyn takes us inside a part of the industry every actor needs to understand but few are ever taught how to navigate. ___________________________________________________ There’s a whole side of acting that we rarely talk about until an actor finds themselves on set and in the middle of it and will need to make a decision about next steps. That’s exactly why I wanted to sit down with Jocelyn Padilla: actor, director, and certified intimacy coordinator and intimacy director. What makes Jocelyn’s perspective so fascinating is that she understands intimate scenes from every side of the set. She knows what it feels like to be the performer, the director, and now the person helping both sides create something truthful while making sure boundaries, consent, and communication are a huge part of the process. Jocelyn took me inside the process of creating intimate scenes, from the choreography and rehearsal to closed sets, robes, intimacy calls, consent forms, and those little details that audiences will never see but that can completely change an actor’s experience. We talked about why a kiss isn't necessarily “just a kiss,” how physical violence can also fall under the intimacy umbrella, and how you take something that is carefully choreographed and make it feel completely natural to the audience. Sometimes the most important thing an actor can learn isn’t how to say yes. It’s knowing when and how to say no. I loved this conversation because Jocelyn reminded me that protecting yourself and creating great art aren't mutually exclusive. Sometimes the boundaries and trust you establish are exactly what allow an actor to let go, take a breath, and truly disappear into the scene. This episode is full of the rare knowledge every actor should have, but few ever get! A huge thanks to our team: Producer: Devyn Arnold | Intro: Tamika Katon-Donegal Assistant: Ian Butter +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision and join us as we bring you shows with the industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, and filmmakers - sharing the real-world insights, experiences, and advice that can help take your career to the next level. Your support helps us continue creating these conversations.

It's never too late to follow your dream...  In this episode, we are continuing our Actor Series with Brian Shoop whose career is proof that there is no single timeline for success.  Brian discovered his love of acting while raising a family and working in Tulsa, but it wasn’t until he was 47 that he finally decided to pursue acting full-time.   Since then, he has built a career spanning more than 50 credits, including The Rookie, Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, Tulsa King, Severance, Poker Face, Reservation Dogs, Jesus Revolution, and Reagan - alongside an extensive theatre resumé! Today we dig into what it really takes to build a career outside the traditional timeline: making the leap to go all in, walking onto sets with some of the biggest names in the business, and continuing to train and grow along after establishing oneself.  Most importantly, we tackle the question so many actors wrestle with  “Am I too late?”  A huge thanks to our team: Producer: Devyn Arnold | Intro: Tamika Katon-Donegal Assistants: Ian Butter   _______   If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision and join a community that wants to understand this business from the people who know it best.  Each week, I sit down with leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, filmmakers, and other indu99stry professionals for candid conversations about what it really takes to build and sustain a career in entertainment.  Their experiences, insights, and advice can help you make smarter choices, recognize new opportunities, and take the next step in your own career.  Subscribe, listen, and keep learning. Your support allows us to keep bringing these important conversations to you. And they are free!

What happens when you enter the entertainment industry just as all the old rules are being rewritten? This week on VersaVision, I sit down with actress Hannah Deale, and what interested me most about our conversation is that Hannah’s career is being built in the middle of enormous changes in the entertainment industry. She graduated from AMDA New York in 2021, at a time when the industry, and the world was still finding its footing. Instead of waiting for a traditional path to appear, Hannah began creating one of her own, moving between independent feature films, television, festivals and now the rapidly expanding world of vertical entertainment. At the center of our conversation is her remarkable performance in No Choice, where Hannah took on her first leading feature-film role as Amy, a young woman facing an unexpected pregnancy in a state where abortion is illegal. It’s an emotionally demanding role that required vulnerability, restraint and the ability to carry an extraordinarily difficult story without ever losing the humanity of the woman at its center. The film went on to win the Grand Jury Prize for Narrative Feature at Dances With Films, while Hannah’s performance earned praise from The Independent Critic, which called her “the real deal.” But I wanted to know what happens behind a performance like that. How does an actor make fear feel real without “playing scared”? How do you access vulnerability without forcing it? What happens when much of what a character is experiencing has to remain internal? And what does it feel like to carry the emotional weight of an entire feature film? We also talk about Hannah’s move into completely different worlds; from the heightened horror of Mountain King to the fast-moving storytelling of vertical entertainment, where she stars as Skylar Thorn in This Time Daddy Won’t Fail.  In October she starts filming her fourth lead role in The Annihaltor. And this is where our conversation gets particularly interesting for actors. Verticals are creating jobs, developing stars and changing the speed at which actors are expected to establish character, conflict and emotional stakes. Hannah has experienced both traditional independent filmmaking and this emerging format firsthand, so I wanted her perspective on what actors may still misunderstand about it. Most importantly, we talk about what it means to build a career when there is no longer one clearly defined road to success. Hannah Deale is still at the beginning of her journey and that may be exactly why this conversation matters. She isn’t looking back at a career built under the old rules. She’s building one under the new ones. Join me for a candid conversation about vulnerability, risk, independent filmmaking, verticals, and finding your place in an entertainment industry that refuses to stand still. Word of the Week:  Manifestation All this week on VersaVision ======================= A huge thanks to our team: Producer: Devyn Arnold | Intro: Tamika Katon-Donegal Assistants: Ian Butter _______ If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision and join a community that wants to understand this business from the people who know it best. Each week, I sit down with leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, filmmakers, and other indu99stry professionals for candid conversations about what it really takes to build and sustain a career in entertainment.  Their experiences, insights, and advice can help you make smarter choices, recognize new opportunities, and take the next step in your own career. Subscribe, listen, and keep learning. Your support allows us to keep bringing these important conversations to you. And they are free!

There’s something about talking to Tamika Katon-Donegal that makes you rethink the way you look at this business. Maybe it’s because she’s been doing this long enough to have seen just about every side of it. Or maybe it’s because she has a way of cutting through all the noise and getting back to what actually matters her love of acting. Tamika has built an incredible career across theatre, television, film, commercials and voiceover, with credits including Veronica Mars, Marvel’s Agent Carter, Fresh Off the Boat, How to Get Away with Murder, Adam Ruins Everything, Godzilla, and Doctor Strange. But our conversation quickly became about something much deeper than credits. It became a conversation about knowing your value in an industry that will constantly give you reasons to question it. Tamika told me about the advice Sissy Spacek gave her years ago that became her “North Star”: “No one in this town knows shit.” Tamika shares the advice Sissy Spacek once gave her, which became her North Star: "No one in this town knows shit." She shared the story of walking into an audition, looking around at the other women in the waiting room, and immediately deciding she had been sent to the wrong place. She counted herself out before she even walked through the door. She went in with absolutely no expectation that she would get the job. She then got on a plane the next morning to fly back to New York, only to turn her phone on after landing and hear from her agent: you booked it. You need to come back. That story says so much about this business, because sometimes the person telling you that you don’t belong in the room… is you. Tamika spills on why versatility can be one of an actor’s greatest assets, what theatre can teach you about working on camera, and how to recognize when it’s time to step outside of what’s familiar. We’ll also get into the shift from waiting for the next opportunity to creating your own, because in this business, standing still can be just as dangerous as falling behind. Know who you are. Do the work. Don't count yourself out. Keep acting and allow joy to come in. This is a conversation with a few stories you won't forget, and one that might change how you walk into your next audition. ================= A huge thanks to our team: Producer: Devyn Arnold | Intro: Tamika Katon-Donegal Assistants: Will Peroni | Ian Butter _______ If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision and join a community that wants to understand this business from the people who know it best. Each week, I sit down with leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, filmmakers, and other indu99stry professionals for candid conversations about what it really takes to build and sustain a career in entertainment.  Their experiences, insights, and advice can help you make smarter choices, recognize new opportunities, and take the next step in your own career. Subscribe, listen, and keep learning. Your support allows us to keep bringing these important conversations to you. And they are free!

What does an agent actually see when they look at an actor, and what makes them believe someone has star power? This week on VersaVision, I sit down with Ideal Talent Agency founder Ryan Hayden for a fascinating look at the business from the other side of representation. Ryan’s path has taken him from acting and reality television casting to working at ICM and ultimately building Ideal Talent Agency from the ground up. Along the way, he developed a unique perspective on something every actor wants to understand: What makes someone stand out? We talk about the elusive quality we call star power - presence, charisma, emotional life, storytelling ability, and the work ethic it takes to turn potential into a career. Ryan also shares why reality television became an unexpected launching pad for some actors, what influencers may understand about holding an audience, and what agents are really looking for when they decide to invest in someone. But one of the most important parts of our conversation is about progress. Careers rarely change overnight. One audition can make a casting director remember you. One relationship can pay off years later. And sometimes, while you’re focused on the job you didn’t get, you’re missing all the evidence that your career is actually moving forward. If you’ve ever wondered what an agent sees when they look at you or questioned whether you’re getting anywhere at all? This is a conversation you need to hear. WORD OF THE WEEK: COMMITMENT VIEWING RECOMMENDATIONS: Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, For All Mankind A huge thanks to our team: Producer: Devyn Arnold Intro provided by Tamika Katon-Donegal Assistants: Will Peroni and Ian Butter ++++++++++++++++++++++ If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision and join a community that wants to understand this business from the people who know it best. Each week, I sit down with leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, filmmakers, and other industry professionals for candid conversations about what it really takes to build and sustain a career in entertainment.  Their experiences, insights, and advice can help you make smarter choices, recognize new opportunities, and take the next step in your own career. Subscribe, listen, and keep learning. Your support allows us to keep bringing these important conversations to you. And they are free!

What does an agent actually see when they look at an actor, and what makes them believe someone has star power? This week on VersaVision, I sit down with Ideal Talent Agency founder Ryan Hayden for a fascinating look at the business from the other side of representation. Ryan’s path has taken him from acting and reality television casting to working at ICM and ultimately building Ideal Talent Agency from the ground up. Along the way, he developed a unique perspective on something every actor wants to understand: What makes someone stand out? We talk about the elusive quality we call star power - presence, charisma, emotional life, storytelling ability, and the work ethic it takes to turn potential into a career. Ryan also shares why reality television became an unexpected launching pad for some actors, what influencers may understand about holding an audience, and what agents are really looking for when they decide to invest in someone. But one of the most important parts of our conversation is about progress. Careers rarely change overnight. One audition can make a casting director remember you. One relationship can pay off years later. And sometimes, while you’re focused on the job you didn’t get, you’re missing all the evidence that your career is actually moving forward. If you’ve ever wondered what an agent sees when they look at you or questioned whether you’re getting anywhere at all? This is a conversation you need to hear. WORD OF THE WEEK: COMMITMENT VIEWING RECOMMENDATIONS: Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, For All Mankind ++++++++++++++++++++++ A huge thanks to our team: Producer: Devyn Arnold Intro provided by Tamika Katon-Donegal Assistants: Will Peroni and Ian Butter If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision and join a community that wants to understand this business from the people who know it best. Each week, I sit down with leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, filmmakers, and other industry professionals for candid conversations about what it really takes to build and sustain a career in entertainment.  Their experiences, insights, and advice can help you make smarter choices, recognize new opportunities, and take the next step in your own career. Subscribe, listen, and keep learning. Your support allows us to keep bringing these important conversations to you. And they are free!

You’ve done the training. You’ve prepared. You know the lines. Now what? What does it truly mean to “do the work” as an actor, and why are most people getting it wrong?? Average actors chase auditions. The ones who "do the work" book and get chased. We discuss the difference and how to leverage it. Don't play too small just attack the issues from multiple angles. Tune in to learn how Sheila Ball has done it all ... theater, television, film, commercials, daytime drama, and now vertical entertainment. She graduated from Princeton, trained in New York, and studied at BADA alongside instructors like Alan Rickman. Her credits read like a masterclass in range: Guiding Light, As the World Turns, Another World, One Life to Live, plus films like Assault on VA-33, By Deception, Basic, and more. But listen to her for five minutes, and one thing becomes obvious: Sheila has never stopped being a student of the craft. She doesn't treat acting as something you switch on when you book a job. It's a daily practice, an accent drilled, a poem memorized, ASL practiced, a spark kept alive whether or not the phone is ringing. Her philosophy is simple: work begets work. The more you do, the more you book. The more you're on set, the more doors open. In this episode, she breaks down how to flip the script so directors, producers, and casting directors start chasing you. Consider this your reminder: the work isn't something you survive on your way to a career. The work is the career. And then... you can DANCE. WORD OF THE WEEK: WONDERMENT ____________________________________________________ Produced by: Devyn Arnold                      Intro by: Tamika Katon Donegal Assistants: Will Peroni and Ian Butter _______________________________________________________ If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision and join a community that wants to understand this business from the people who know it best. Each week, I sit down with leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, filmmakers, and other industry professionals for candid conversations about what it really takes to build and sustain a career in entertainment. Their experiences, insights, and advice can help you make smarter choices, recognize new opportunities, and take the next step in your own career. Subscribe, listen, and keep learning. Your support allows us to keep bringing these important conversations to you.

What happens when an actor who has spent decades working in traditional television, film, and theatre finds themselves at the center of an entirely new form of storytelling? I welcomed Buzz Leer to VersaVision this week for an in-depth conversation about his career, the evolution of the entertainment industry, and why vertical/micro dramas may be one of the biggest opportunities actors aren't paying enough attention to. Buzz has had one of those careers that seems to have a little bit of everything. He began as the host of HGTV's House Detectives, went on to build an extensive acting career with credits including Chicago PD, Chicago Fire, neXt, and Days of Our Lives, became a two-time Webby Award winner for the Being Golden podcast, and has now appeared in more than 40 vertical productions. What I loved about our conversation was hearing Buzz describe how all of those seemingly different experiences have ultimately come together in what he's doing today. We talked about what first drew Buzz into vertical entertainment, how dramatically the format has evolved, and what he discovered about his own acting when he started working in this space. One of the things that really surprised me was his realization that vertical acting actually brought him back to his stage training. The performances required bigger choices, more immediacy, and a different kind of energy than traditional television and film. Buzz also gave us a firsthand look at what it's actually like to work on these productions. After doing more than 40 verticals in just a few years, he's had a front-row seat to the evolution of the format - watching crews grow, production value increase, and the entire ecosystem develop at an incredible pace. And eventually, he realized something: somebody needed to document what was happening. That realization became The Vertical Buzz. Most importantly, Buzz's message to actors interested in verticals was refreshingly simple: do it! If an opportunity gives you another chance to work, get on camera, collaborate with different actors and directors, and continue developing your craft, why wouldn't you take it? Whether you're curious about vertical acting, interested in Buzz's incredible career journey, or trying to understand where the entertainment industry is heading next, this conversation is a really fun look at what happens when you stay adaptable, keep working, and recognize an opportunity while it's still emerging. WORD OF THE WEEK: Grateful VIEWING RECOMMENDATIONS: Lucky (Apple TV), Sugar (Apple TV), Slow Horses (Apple TV), Obsession (Peacock) A huge thanks to our team: Producer: Devyn Arnold | Intro: Tamika Katon-Done Assistants: Will Peroni | Ian Butter _____________________________________________________________________ If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision and join us as we bring you shows with the industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, and filmmakers - sharing the real-world insights, experiences, and advice that can help take your career to the next level. Your support helps us continue creating these conversations.

What happens when an actor who has spent decades working in traditional television, film, and theatre finds themselves at the center of an entirely new form of storytelling? I welcomed Buzz Leer to VersaVision this week for an in-depth conversation about his career, the evolution of the entertainment industry, and why vertical/micro dramas may be one of the biggest opportunities actors aren't paying enough attention to. Buzz has had one of those careers that seems to have a little bit of everything. He began as the host of HGTV's House Detectives, went on to build an extensive acting career with credits including Chicago PD, Chicago Fire, neXt, and Days of Our Lives, became a two-time Webby Award winner for the Being Golden podcast, and has now appeared in more than 40 vertical productions. What I loved about our conversation was hearing Buzz describe how all of those seemingly different experiences have ultimately come together in what he's doing today. We talked about what first drew Buzz into vertical entertainment, how dramatically the format has evolved, and what he discovered about his own acting when he started working in this space. One of the things that really surprised me was his realization that vertical acting actually brought him back to his stage training. The performances required bigger choices, more immediacy, and a different kind of energy than traditional television and film. Buzz also gave us a firsthand look at what it's actually like to work on these productions. After doing more than 40 verticals in just a few years, he's had a front-row seat to the evolution of the format - watching crews grow, production value increase, and the entire ecosystem develop at an incredible pace. And eventually, he realized something: somebody needed to document what was happening. That realization became The Vertical Buzz. Most importantly, Buzz's message to actors interested in verticals was refreshingly simple: do it! If an opportunity gives you another chance to work, get on camera, collaborate with different actors and directors, and continue developing your craft, why wouldn't you take it? Whether you're curious about vertical acting, interested in Buzz's incredible career journey, or trying to understand where the entertainment industry is heading next, this conversation is a really fun look at what happens when you stay adaptable, keep working, and recognize an opportunity while it's still emerging. WORD OF THE WEEK: Grateful VIEWING RECOMMENDATIONS: Lucky (Apple TV), Sugar (Apple TV), Slow Horses (Apple TV), Obsession (Peacock) A huge thanks to our team: Producer: Devyn Arnold | Intro: Tamika Katon-Done Assistants: Will Peroni | Ian Butter _____________________________________________________________________ If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision and join us as we bring you shows with the industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, and filmmakers - sharing the real-world insights, experiences, and advice that can help take your career to the next level. Your support helps us continue creating these conversations.

Emmy Award-winning casting director Paul Ruddy, the King of Casting for verticals and micro-dramas, took time out to join me on VersaVision! We dug into how much casting has changed, what actors need to understand to navigate the business today, and the misconceptions that still hold them back. Paul has spent 27 years in the entertainment industry, beginning his career in talent representation before making the transition into casting. Over the past 25 years, he’s cast major television shows, film, theatre, commercials, and some of the biggest emerging platforms in the industry. He’s also the recipient of an Emmy for his casting work on The Eastsiders. What really stood out to me throughout our conversation, though, was the perspective that comes from having watched this business evolve firsthand. We talked about what actually happens after an actor submits an audition, why getting the audition itself is a victory, and why not booking a role often has absolutely nothing to do with how talented you are. Paul also broke down some of the biggest misconceptions actors have about casting, including the idea that casting directors are "gatekeepers." His perspective? They're gate openers. And he explained exactly what that means. We also got into the realities of self-tapes, preparation, memorization, and what casting directors can recognize within the first few moments of watching a tape. Paul got incredibly candid about the simple mistakes that can hurt an audition, why actors don't need to turn their self-tape into a mini movie, and why being prepared gives you the freedom to actually make choices instead of simply trying to remember your lines. And then we dove into one of the biggest changes happening in the industry right now: vertical dramas. Paul was there near the beginning of this rapidly expanding format and has watched it evolve almost month by month. We talked about why he believes verticals are much more than a passing trend, how they're creating opportunities for thousands of actors, and why performers shouldn't dismiss a format simply because it doesn't look like the traditional career path they imagined. Most importantly, Paul shares a philosophy that I think every actor should take seriously: work begets work. Every audition, every job, every relationship and every opportunity can become part of the bigger picture of your career. Whether you're trying to understand what happens on the other side of your audition, looking for new ways to create opportunities, or simply trying to keep up with how quickly this industry is changing, this conversation with Paul is packed with insight, honesty, and plenty of things I think actors need to hear. PHRASE OF THE WEEK: Work Begets Work VIEWING RECOMMENDATIONS: Tuner (Prime), Casting By (HBO) A huge thanks to our team: Producer: Devyn Arnold | Intro: Tamika Katon-Donegal Assistants: Will Perino, Ian Butter _____________________________________________________________________ If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision and join us as we bring you shows with the industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, and filmmakers - sharing the real-world insights, experiences, and advice that can help take your career to the next level. Your support helps us continue creating these conversations.