Episodes
Hello after a long time away! This episode, Gary, Brian and Andrea delve into listener (and working actor) Fola Evans-Akingbola called in to ask about what happens when all the preparation you do before you work doesn't seem to be working?  Do you fake it? Do you force the truth? We get into it! Let us know your listener questions! @vagabondactors on twitter and instagram
Published 06/15/22
Published 06/15/22
This week we are delighted to talk with Samantha Win. Samantha is an accomplished martial artist and stuntwoman who talks with us about the drive needed to be an olympic competitor, her transition into stunt work and becoming recognized as the wonderful actor she is. Our tips this week: Samantha: Dungeons and Dragons Brian: The Two Handsome Siblings (Netflix) Gary: Maniac (Netflix) Andrea: Philadelphia (1993 film), The Miracle Morning (Book by Hal Elrod)
Published 02/10/22
We're back from a long hiatus with a wonderful interview, talking with director Miguel Alexandre. Miguel directed Brian in Spy City (AMC+) and, when we recorded this in August, was just about to release Black Island on Netflix (which is really great! definitely go check it out). We talk with Miguel about directing actors, his dos and don'ts for castings, keeping a lot of irons in the fire, and much more! Our tips this week: Miguel: Black Island (Netflix), Another Round (Film) Andrea: The...
Published 11/18/21
This episode we answer some listener questions. Prashansa from Bombay asks about how to make connections into a market outside of where you are living. Alex from Prague asks about how to be more free with following your instincts and Jaana from Helsinki asks about how you know when it's time to move on from a long running series. Our tips this week: Andrea: Fences (Film),  The Way of Integrity (Book by Martha Beck) Gary: Summer and Smoke (Play by Tennessee Williams) Brian: What Every Body...
Published 09/09/21
This episode, we talk with actor and audio book narrator Wayne Mitchell. Wayne studied with Andrea at Playhouse West and talks extensively about the audio book narration business: how he got in, his experiences recording, getting work and dealing with the authors and publishers. It's a great episode for anyone interested in getting into the audio book field! You can check out Wayne's work here: https://www.allthingswaynemitchell.com/ Our top tips this week: Gary: There Will Be Blood...
Published 08/18/21
This week we talk about how actors might deal with the traumatic emotional experiences that can come with the circumstances we are asked to portray.  Our tips for this week: Brian: Grand Designs (Netflix) Gary: Elia Kazan: On Directing (book) Andrea: The Tim Ferris Show (Podcast), the episode with Jacqueline Novogratz as well as the episode with George Mumford
Published 07/16/21
This week we get into a philosophical question that has a direct impact on how actors approach their craft and their roles: What is Truth? More specifically, what is truth in acting or what is truthful acting? We also get into the difference between "real" truth and "artistic" truth. Our Top Tips this week: Brian: Schitt's Creek (TV show) Gary: Edvard Munch (Painter) Andrea: Ozark (TV show) & Boundary Boss (Book by Terri Cole)
Published 06/15/21
We're back after a break with director and screenwriter Marcus Markou. Marcus wrote, directed, produced, and self-distributed the smash hit feature film "Papadopoulos & Sons", which went on to become one of the most successful self-distributed films in the UK.  Marcus talks about his process, his approach to filmmaking, casting and a lot more! This week's tips: Andrea: Any film featuring Olympia Dukakis Brian: Here and Now, Ram Dass (podcast) Gary: The New York Trilogy by Paul...
Published 06/06/21
This week Christian Cascone asks about what actors should think about while acting. Inner monologue? Nothing? Something else? We do our best to delve into the topic and end up in a heated agreement. We want to know what our listeners think about while they're acting. Let us know: @vagabondactors on Twitter, Instagram or on our Facebook page! Our recommendations this week: Andrea: Professional Troublemaker (book by Luvvie Ajayi Jones on Audible) Brian: Young Frankenstein (Mel Brooks...
Published 05/14/21
This week we answer a question that listener Christian Bitar asked us on our Instagram account (@vagabondactors). He asked whether working on commercials hurts your reputation as a film or TV actor. We expand the question to talk about whether there is any work that actors should or shouldn't take and if there was work we took that we regretted. Our recommendations this week: Andrea: The 100 Foot Journey (film on Netflix), Professional Troublemaker (book by Luvvie Ajayi Jones) Brian: The...
Published 05/08/21
This week we invite actor and filmmaker Ben Steel on to talk about the state of mental health in the creative industry. Ben has spent the last 4 years working on a documentary called The Show Must Go On about how people working in the creative industry (Film/Theatre, Dance. Music) deal with mental health issues. Ben talks about the lessons that he learned about his own struggles with depression, how he worked through it and how he is now helping others with programs and raising...
Published 04/29/21
This week (well, technically last week) marks the first anniversary of Vagabond Actors. So Brian, Gary and Andrea talk about year we just had, what we learned doing the podcast, what our favorite part of doing it is, what surprised us and what we're looking forward to in the coming months.  
Published 04/22/21
Actors, aside from the leads and stars on a production, typically have very little power in dealing with unscrupulous producers. This week we talk about what to do when you find yourself in a situation on a job that you don't think is fair or when you feel like you're being taken advantage of.  Let us know your thoughts on this? Have you had experiences like this? How did you solve it?
Published 04/08/21
This week we talk with showrunner Sean Crouch about his career writing stories for television, his experiences and thoughts on working with actors, auditions and much more! Be sure to like, subscribe, share and leave us questions!
Published 04/02/21
Actress Emily Jackman wrote in to ask about how the writing or directing style of a piece will affect how we go about working on a role and the choices we make. Acting teachers Gary Condes, Andrea Helene and Brian Caspe tackle the question. Let us know what you think! Be sure to like, subscribe to the podcast and rate us!   
Published 03/25/21
We're re-releasing our discussion on doing self-tapes this week. As the business starts to pick up, actors are getting more and more self tapes to do and it's more important than ever to be prepared. We'll be back with a new episode next week! Let us know about your self-tape rituals. @vagabondactors on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to make sure you don't miss an episode!  
Published 03/18/21
This week we dig into listener Petra Bučková's three really interesting questions about how to deal with a character's backstory (especially when you don't have a lot of time in the scene), how to deal with a character being "bored" and what to do if your character needs to lie about something. It was great getting some real live questions, so if you have questions about the process or craft, definitely get in touch with us @vagabondactors on twitter, instagram and facebook!  
Published 03/12/21
This week we delve into acting and auditioning for small roles. We spend so much time in acting class working on the big characters but, especially at the start, when so many actors get a "real" audition, they only have a few lines or a scene. What to do then? Join in the discussion! Like the podcast, subscribe and comment on Facebook, twitter or instagram!
Published 03/06/21
This week it's our pleasure to welcome actor Stacy Martin to the podcast. She talks about her career, starting as the lead in Lars von Trier's Nymphomaniac, her thoughts on the craft of acting and working in multiple markets and languages!  
Published 02/26/21
This week we follow up on our first episode on agents (How to get one) with a conversation on how to communicate with your representatives. Basically: don't stalk them!Let us know about your communication with your agent! @vagabondactors on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! 
Published 02/19/21
This week, acting teachers Andrea Helene, Brian Caspe and Gary Condes talk about dealing with student pushback. There are a few different types of pushback and we agree that most pushback is an understandable outcome of being challenged.Be sure to like, subscribe, comment and let us know what you think! 
Published 02/11/21
This week we (finally) release the follow up to our Finding Monologues episode. We talk about some of the pitfalls in working on what seems like a solo piece and how we like to rehearse them. We also talk about getting inspiration from books and paintings.Be sure to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcast app!
Published 02/05/21
This week we are thrilled to welcome filmmaker and showreel guru Daniel Johnson to the podcast. Dan has been making films and helping actors put together great showreel scenes for a number of years. He's just about to release a book on the subject called "How To Build A Great Acting Showreel". We got a chance to talk with him about the book and his thoughts and experiences of what makes a great showreel scene and how to go about writing one or taking it from material you already have. The...
Published 01/28/21
This episode, acting teachers Andrea Helene, Brian Caspe and Gary Condes (recorded December 1, 2020) cover the benefits, techniques, and practice of improvisation. We talk about the difference between Improv and working in an improvisational way. We talk about how to use improvisation to explore a given text and deepen your work. And we talk about our experiences with improvisation on set and in rehearsal as well as our favorite improvised moments from film.Join in the conversation!...
Published 01/23/21