Monday, March 7, 2011

Studio E's Improv Class!


We started to really tap into the improv world this week!! I always stress to my actors to - add on and make it your own. Sometimes I see 100 people a day for 1 role and the only way one can really stand out is by - adding on and making it your own. Improv really helps us do just that - we get out of our head and bring some really great stuff to the table. Improv can be really tricky - we say think, but don't think. What does that mean? Well we do lots of exercises to get the brain thinking and aware of everything going on in the group and once we are in the scene we let our brains take over and we go with the moment. GO BIG OR GO HOME! Another thing I really stress. If you go big or do something no one else is doing - you will stand out. It may not be right, and we may ask you to bring it down or change the tone - but I can promise you...we will remember you...because you went big and you will stand out in our mind at the end of the day.

Some improv stuff we learned this week...
  1. LISTENING - listening to your partner and really taking in everything they are doing helps the scene find the funny.
  2. STAY TRUE TO YOURSELF - of course we can bring characters to the table, but inside we are all funny and the more we play each scene to the best of our abilities the easier the scene can find the funny.
  3. TAKING EXPERIENCES FROM OUR OWN, REAL LIFE - we do this one awesome exercise where we tell a real story about something we went through (could be something funny) and that should inspire someone else in the group to bring something to the table and so forth as so on. We are all funny inside - the more we make it true to us and our character the easier the scene can find the funny.
Stay tuned for more exciting improv tips as we continue to explore it each week.

-db

WICK

Here is a still from a film I did the casting on!



This is a psychological horror film that just won an award at The Sacramento Horror Film Festival in 2010. Congrats to Micah and the gang - it was awesome!

-db

AT&T CAMPUS ''STUDY ANYTIME, ANYWHERE''



Here is one of my AT&T spots! I loved the cast!! They looked perfect for this and they were all super talented and professional. I also think this just looks beautiful! Great job Michael Chaves and the entire crew!

-db

SUPER SCRIBBLENAUTS



This is a beautiful spot! I was blown away by how great it turned out. The kid I cast in this was also super cool and awesome to work with!

-db

Congratulations Lexi DiBenedetto!!



Congratulations Lexi DiBenedetto!!! Lexi is an absolutely amazing actress!! She is extremely committed and always gives 150%. We started working with Lexi about 4 months ago and we are constantly blown away by her commitment, dedication and incredible skills!!! If you haven't already seen her in this anti-smoking PSA, tune into Criminal Minds!!! Lexi just booked a guest spot on Criminal Minds and shot with them last week!! WAY TO GO LEXI!!! We are so proud of you!!!!

21X helps us organize our Actor's Book!!



Studio E was so excited to have Tara Kenevan join us for class a couple weeks ago! Tara runs a professional organizing company called 21x in NY and LA!! I approached Tara asking for advice about organizing my actors and Tara was AWESOME!!!! She created, The Actor's Book!!!

It is so easy to get unorganized and I can't tell you how many times I have seen actors and parents scramble and feel overwhelmed right before they come in to audition for me. My goal when casting is to make the actors feel so incredibly comfortable so I can get the absolute best out of them and when they are scrambling it can be really challenging. The Actor's Book takes care of that problem and lets the parents and actors feel completely in control and calm when waiting in the lobby. The book organizes and controls EVERYTHING from you commercial headshot to the quarters you will need to fill the meter!

Click here to check out 21x and learn more about organizing those books!! Here is a great pic of MaDonna and her Dad who claim that Tara's class was one of the most informative they have experienced since they moved to LA nine years ago! Their book looks awesome!!

-db

Brookie books again!!!

Congratulations to Miss Brookie Lloyd AGAIN!!! We just heard the news this weekend - Brook just booked a Cabbage Patch Kids commercial and she is shooting it this week!!! YAY BROOKIE!! We are extremely proud of her and her hard work!!! She is not only super talented, but a great kid!! We can't wait to hear all the details!! WAY TO GO BROOKIE!!