A Swarm Is Coming To Broadway
August 31, 2010 by Lance Carter
Filed under Actor News
Are you on Foursquare? Are you in New York City?
If so, head to Sardi‘s today at 6pm today for Broadways first Foursquare Swarm!
You’ll get to meet Tony Award winner, Gregory Jbara (Billy Elliot), and have a chance to win 2 tickets to shows The Scottsboro Boys, A Life in the Theatre, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Chicago, Stomp and more!
Also, the first 50 people to check-in will receive a Broadway or Off-Broadway cast album.
I wish I were there. I love free stuff!
Sardi’s is located at 234 West 44th Street, New York, NY.
For more information, click here.
Mad Men – Season 4 Actor Biographies and Character Descriptions
July 30, 2010 by Lance Carter
Filed under Actor News
JON HAMM – “Don”
Jon Hamm’s nuanced portrayal of the high-powered, philandering advertising executive, Don Draper has firmly established him as one of Hollywood’s most talented and versatile actors, and earned him numerous accolades, including the 2008 Golden Globe® Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama. Additionally, Hamm has been nominated for an Emmy® Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (2008, 2009) and a Screen Actors Guild® Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series (2008, 2009, 2010). In 2009 and 2010, he joined with the entire cast to win the Screen Actors Guild® Award for Best Ensemble in a Drama Series.
On the big screen, Hamm will next star opposite Ben Affleck and Rebecca Hall in The Town, which Affleck also directed. Additional upcoming films include roles in the indie feature Howl, about poet Allen Ginsberg, opposite James Franco, Mary-Louise Parker, Jeff Daniels, and David Strathairn, and in Zack Snyder’s fantasy-thriller Sucker Punch. His previous film credits include Shrek Forever After, in which he voiced the character ‘Brogan,’ The Day the Earth Stood Still, Stolen, Ira & Abby, Kissing Jessica Stein and We Were Soldiers.
Hamm first came to audience’s attention in the NBC series “Providence.” Signed for a cameo role, he so impressed the producer’s that he ended up with an 18-episode run in the series. Additional television credits include the popular Lifetime television series “The Division,” as well as “What About Brian,” “The Unit,” “Numb3rs” and “CSI Miami,” among others. Hamm has also appeared on the Emmy-winning comedy, “30 Rock,” for which he received a 2009 Emmy® nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, and has twice hosted “Saturday Night Live” to critical acclaim.
A native of St. Louis, MO, Hamm received his Bachelor of Arts in English at the University of Missouri-Columbia and currently resides in Los Angeles.
What’s happening with Don Draper this year?
Don Draper’s marriage dissolved after his worst fear came to fruition: Betty discovering his secret past, causing her to reject him and ultimately seek a divorce. As he struggled with the dissolution of his marriage and family, Don also faced the disbandment of Sterling Cooper. As everything in his life that defined him was stripped away, Don rallied Roger, Bert and Lane to launch a new firm. With the birth of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, Don faces the process of redefining his relationships and his world.
Top 11 Reputable Casting Websites
June 29, 2010 by Erin Cronican
Filed under Columns
One of the things that can get me incensed as a career coach is when casting websites pop up promising to give actors access to stardom. Some sites make it sounds like an actor’s big break is just around the corner, and all they need to do is pay a fee and they’re in! But most actors know that success comes with good training, strong relationship building, and the ability & wherewithal to seize an opportunity when it presents itself (also known as tenacity.) The trouble is, even the smartest actor has heard at least one rags-to-riches story, and the allure of a quick win sometimes overshadows common sense.
So, to combat the many unscrupulous characters baiting actors with empty promises, below you’ll find are 11 of my favorite reputable websites where casting notices can be found.
Actors Access
Backstage
Actors Equity Casting Call
Playbill
SAG Indie
Now Casting
Casting Networks/LACasting.com
Casting Networks/NYCasting.com
NYCastings.com
Mandy.com
Craigslist
Any of the others not listed here typically have the same notices that are on the above sites. If you are in LA or NY, I would caution you if paying to use any website other than these listed- it probably wouldn’t be worth the money. Of course, there are exceptions and I am sure a new website will come along and blow away the competition. But as of now, the above sites are the most reputable for those in the major markets.
John C. Reilly and Jonah Hill on ‘Cyrus’, Improvising and more!
March 22, 2010 by Lance Carter
Filed under Interviews
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
John C. Reilly and Jonah Hill, two of the best comedic actors around right now, are currently starring in the new film, Cyrus.
Cyrus is a bit of a departure for both actors (although you can’t tell from the trailer). Reilly plays more of a grown up then he has recently and Hill plays it serious but it’s still an incredibly funny movie. The film, one of the highlights from SXSW, was mostly improvised and solidifies just how talented these two guys really are.
So do you think the era of the John C. Riley, leading man romantic comedy is finally here?
John: Yes (laughter). I don’t know. Is there an era right now? I hope so. I’m a very romantic person. I like doing parts like this. And I think there’s lots of people out there that are not represented in movies that have romantic feelings whose stories don’t get told.
Exactly.
John: You know what I’m talking about (laughter). Neither of us look like Brad Pitt. Let’s not fool ourselves. I’m with you brother.
Yeah, I’m happy to see you do this genre and bring a reality to it that’s missing, an emotional reality.
John: Yeah we try to be truthful in our emotions in this movie.
Did you think of yourself kind of as the straight man in this, if you’re gonna call it a romantic comedy?
John: No, you know, the “straight man” is Marisa’s [Tomei] character because she doesn’t know what’s going on. We’ve got this whole secret battle happening standing in front of her like it’s not going on. Because I’m a very foolish character in this movie, too, I make a lot of mistakes and bad choices and yeah.
But with a little more maturity though I think. I like the maturity of your character.
John: Yeah, that’s one thing I really did enjoy playing in this movie, you know I’m not a kid anymore. I often play or have played man-child kind of characters before. It was really great to be able to just sit in a scene and be as mature as I am in life. And I think that’s some of the best moments of awkwardness between Jonah and I when he’s like, ‘Seriously dude don’t fuck my mom’ (laughter), and my comeback, you improvised that line, and my comeback was, ‘Well, I’m not going to lie to you. Your mom and I did have sex.’ It’s just one of those moments where you’re being truthful. Alright, if this is the situation, regardless of what the script says, this is how I would deal with it, if I was sitting across from a 21-year-old like, Mommy and I are –
Jonah: Special friends (laughter).
Chicago Actor Resources
March 4, 2010 by Lance Carter
Filed under
Are you a photographer? Click here
Headshot Photographers
February 3, 2010 by Lance Carter
Filed under
| Los Angeles | New York |
Canada
| Vancouver | Toronto |
Are you a Headshot Photographer and want to be listed? Click here!
Chelcie Ross, ‘Mad Men’s’ Conrad Hilton: “In a script, I don’t want to know what other characters are doing”
November 20, 2009 by Lance Carter
Filed under Actor News
From chicagotribune.com:
Q. You and your character seemed to fit right in from the start on “Mad Men.” What was it like to work on the show?
A. There are places you go to work where you’re immediately made to feel at home and everybody’s there because they want to be there. Nobody’s just putting in time. That’s the atmosphere on “Mad Men.”
In my considered opinion, (the tone is set) from the top. And the director and producers of “Mad Men” couldn’t be nicer. That’s always been one of the things that has made an experience exceptional –— when the director absolutely believes in what he’s doing and he’s filled up with the prospect of bringing this (story) to life and making it as real for everybody else as it is for him. I used to work with a director named David H. Bell at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire. He had that same kind of infectious quality about him, (the attitude that) nothing is small about what we’re doing if we don’t belittle it and (if we) believe in what we’re doing.
Jon Hamm is truly a down-to-earth Missouri guy, he brings his dog Cora to the set most days. I had a great time with Robert Morse, he’s fun and he’s so good and his resume is jaw-dropping. He’s really an actor’s actor. It’s a good group. I’m glad that it looked like I belonged there because I’d like to go back.
David Koechner on improvising, working just to work and Anchorman 2
September 30, 2009 by Lance Carter
Filed under Actor News
You’ve accrued a lot of television, film and stand-up experience. In addition to Hank, what kind of work excites you most?
Look, anyone who has a job in show business. as far as I’m concerned. should be grateful and I certainly am. Sometimes you have a particular goal in mind and every actor is probably different in what they think they’re going to get. There have been times in my life where I’ve said “I just want to work.” And it just happens and I work. And then there have been other times when I’m looking around and I have a wife and four children. The number one thing I need to do is provide and so other opportunities come this way or that way. And I’m so fortunate that sometimes I have choices while other times I have only what is in front of me.
And right now, with Hank in particular, working on a four-camera sitcom is the best job in show business, it really is. This one in particular happens to be eight minutes from my house. [Just take the] freeway and an off-ramp and boom, I’m in the studio. I have four kids, I need to share my life with them, I can drop them off at school and I can pick them up and it’s a great job. So look, I’m very blessed to have this opportunity. I’ve never had a regular role on a series. I’ve done different guest spots or had an arc on a series years ago.
Plus, to get to work with Kelsey Grammer. So this is just another beautiful step, you never know where it’s going to take you. Wow, what a great trip. I get to do this one and that one. Look at all the great guys I’ve gotten to work with and going all the way back to Chicago, with all the people I worked with back there. And dude, here’s the thing I’ve realized about my path is that I will always get to work with a bunch of different great people and that’s the fun of it.
I imagine that the days are shorter than doing single-camera stuff.
That’s right.
Robert Knepper, from ‘Prison Break’ to ‘Heroes’
September 14, 2009 by Lance Carter
Filed under Actor News
Robert Knepper, a career actor who cut his teeth on the theatrical stage in his hometown of Fremont, Ohio before majoring in drama at Chicago’s Northwestern University, is often typecast as a villain, but he approaches each new role as if he were playing the sweetest person in the world.
Lessons from Prison Break:
“Prison Break taught me that the writers have to break the story. They ponder it, they wrestle with it and all of a sudden they figure it out. What I realized, week after week after week of doing Prison Break, is that you do the same thing as an actor. You break the story from that character’s point of view. You break that scene down and go, `Ah-a, I get it.’ It’s kind of like a slow- moving river that’s coming to a waterfall, and all of a sudden the water starts to flow. You can’t just memorize a scene without knowing what the scene’s about. If the writing’s not good, I can’t memorize it at all. I’m like, `Damn, why won’t these words stick in my head?’ Once I break the scene, like the writers do, then it flows.”
On Heroes:
“I have a good vibe for Heroes, because I’m pulling my hair out trying to discover that character. The difference between now and Prison Break is that Prison Break put me on the map. With Heroes – it’s weird, but I haven’t talked about this before – it’s almost as if I feel the audience will be watching me develop the character as I’m developing it. I haven’t got it all developed ahead of time. I’m still fiddling with it. We’ll get to see what happens with it from one week to the next. For the audience, it’s like the theatre. It’s like watching a live performance unfold that happens to be on film.”
Read more
Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig talk their careers and “A Steady Rain”
September 10, 2009 by Lance Carter
Filed under Actor News
On the show, A Steady Rain:
The gritty account of two Chicago policemen whose lives are upended by shattering events, some inspired by a real-life case, marks Craig’s Broadway debut.
Daniel Craig: “I just was fascinated by this great piece of writing, very emotional and disturbing but quite funny at points.”
Hugh Jackman: “It’s very raw — there are not many plays like it on Broadway.”
On Their Roles and careers:
Jackman: “I suppose the roles are different from others we’ve done, but that’s what you want. To be remembered for different things is something that motivates both of us.”
Craig: “We both come from places where the movie industry isn’t something you can walk straight into.”
Jackman: “Or make a living in.”
Craig: “In drama school, we’d have one day a term where someone brought a camera in, and we’d film each other mucking about. That was it, basically. People say that acting in theater and film are different disciplines, but I can’t agree completely. The only thing that matters in acting is truth. It’s all about making the audience believe you.”
The importance of working with a great actor:
Craig: “I don’t know how much smoke I should blow up his a—, but Hugh’s tremendously talented. When you’re on stage, you want to be looking at someone who’s intelligent and who’s got your back. It makes my job that much easier, lazy actor that I am.”
