Director Jocelyn Cooper joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 349. Jocelyn stops by the bungalow and discusses her unconventional path into the film industry, beginning with music video production, shares insights into directing, the importance of social media for creators, maintaining a positive, productive set environment, and more!

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BEATS--
00:00 - Jocelyn slates her name.
00:12 - Introduction.
02:00 - Sharing directing stories on TikTok.
05:06 - Surname Cooper meaning.
06:03 - Appendix removal.
07:25 - Studying film at Loyola Marymount.
09:52 - Working at a music video production company.
13:51 - Moving to the writing team.
19:32 - Having an analytical mind.
20:28 - Making a thesis film El Almuerzo.
25:15 - Moving from entry level and getting a chance to direct.
33:06 - Curating crews.
35:35 - Director's as lighthouses.
37:03 - Setting the tone on set.
38:58 - Actor pet peeves.
43:25 - Social media.
44:59 - How involved in casting process.
51:19 - Average gigs in a year.
53:18 - Embracing AI.
58:23 - Who took a chance on Jocelyn.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/349

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MORE JOCELYN COOPER --
Check Jocelyn's IMDb.
Follow Jocelyn on Instagram @jocecooper.
Follow Jocelyn on TikTok @jocecooperrr.
Check out her thesis film on her website.

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MORE BOX ANGELES --
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Casting Director Ryan Bernstein of RMB Casting joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 348. Ryan stops by the bungalow and discusses how it's hard to make a career in this business, callbacks being the goal for the actors, wanting to only do in person auditions at his office, how many submissions he is getting, and more!
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BEATS--
00:00 - Ryan slates his name.
00:10 - Introduction.
02:10 - Former actor and doing Chicago improv.
06:22 - Goals always changing and shift to casting.
10:18 - Never casting oneself in the work.
13:05 - Is a career possible with the corporate and talent dillution of the industry.
15:05 - AI's impact on casting.
17:45 - Vulture article, Casting Directors Can Win Oscars Now, But It's a Lost Art.
19:48 - Commercial side still busy.
24:40 - Mike's audition numbers at RMB Casting.
26:40 - Callbacks are the goal.
36:09 - Typically, how many actors are submitted and auditioned.
39:18 - Actors cancelling.
42:13 - Self tapes versus in-person auditions.
51:07 - Mike's recent audition specific numbers.
54:31 - Casting budget and audition line items in production.
56:52 - Celebs in commercials.
1:00:42 - "I don't wanna see the same thing all day".
1:04:35 - Who took a chance on Ryan.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/348

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MORE RYAN BERNSTEIN --
Check Ryan's IMDb.
Follow Ryan on Instagram @rmbcasting.
Check out the RMB Casting website.

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MORE BOX ANGELES --
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Actor Jessy Hodges joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 347. Jessy stops by the bungalow and discusses the evolving landscape of auditioning, the importance of making your own stuff, whether or not we should be concerned about artificial intelligence, studying at Tisch in a program that emphasized body awareness, and more!

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BEATS--
00:00 - Jessy slates her name.
00:10 - Introduction.
00:52 - Podcasts and Odenkirk-Provissiero management.
03:01 - Conversations with actor reps.
05:40 - Callbacks.
06:48 - Audition volume and a spokesperson gig.
08:34 - Shifting away from commercials.
11:24 - Making your own short films.
17:21 - Using AI as actors.
23:34 - Audition coaching and self tapes.
29:20 - Standing out in auditions.
33:52 - Attending the Experimental Theatre Wing at Tisch School.
42:53 - How Jessy discovered NYU in high school.
47:25 - Being a series regular on a multi-cam in Indebted.
54:40 - Who took a chance on Jessy.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/347

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MORE JESSY HODGES --
Check Jessy's IMDb.
Follow Jessy on Instagram @jessyhodges.
Watch Jessy's short film Every Part of You.

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MORE BOX ANGELES --
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Actor Matt Jones stops by the bungalow and discusses his unwillingness to pay for self tapes, the state of television, never being happier personally, and more!

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BEATS --
00:00 - Matt slates his name.
00:22 - Introduction.
01:20 - Sneaking things into slates.
04:38 - Not wanting to pay for self tapes.
06:33 - Matt is a fan of the podcast clips.
11:25 - Matt's voice work and AI.
14:15 - Apple shows and the state of TV.
17:12 - Still having to audition.
21:58 - Gersh Agency and not needing validation.
24:38 - Coaching baseball.
27:01 - Walking away from the business.
28:55 - Never being happier personally.
30:35 - TV money not being what it was.
33:33 - Bob Hearts Abishola talent cost-reduction move.
38:45 - Should new actors be optimistic.
47:16 - Did Gersh try to sell Matt.
48:40 - Commercials.
51:03 - The math for cost of living in LA.
56:22 - Matt's soapbox.
59:24 - Who took a chance on Matt.
1:01:08 - Matt Jones XLVIII.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/346

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MORE MATT JONES --
Check Matt's IMDb.
Follow Matt on Instagram @mattjonesisdead.
Matt's first Box Angeles -- boxangeles.com/092.

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MORE BOX ANGELES --
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Actor Adam Shapiro stops by the bungalow and discusses how he stands out in this industry by bending the rules, what he learned working as a casting assistant, his passion project turned side hustle Shappy Pretzel, and more!

Adam's IMDb and Instagram @shappyshaps.

00:00 - Introduction.
01:35 - Adam slates his name.
02:05 - How Jason Winer changed Adam's career.
09:25 - An Adam Shapiro type.
13:04 - Modulating voice.
16:21 - Adam's slate trick.
17:24 - Working as a casting assistant.
22:29 - Breaking rules.
26:13 - Carnegie Melon*, small resumes and demo reel commentary.
35:55 - Getting offered The Bear.
38:45 - Side hustles, passion projects and Schappy Pretzel.
50:06 - Shifting into a business and dividing time.
57:53 - A Kate Winslet SAG awards story and buying Leo's house.
1:03:22 - How the Oscars started buying pretzels
1:07:15 - Who took a chance on Adam.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/345

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Casting director Lindsay Bronson stops by the bungalow and discusses best practices when auditioning with kids, commonalities between people who book frequently, how new people can get seen, and more!

Lindsay's IMDb and Instagram @lindsaybronson.

00:00 - Introduction.
01:43 - Lindsay slates her name.
03:40 - Focusing on kid, beauty and real-people casting.
04:55 - Best practices auditioning with kids.
17:45 - Adult actors have a lot going on.
18:33 - Mike crying after an audition.
20:34 - Discussing Mike's recent self tapes for AHC Casting.
24:37 - General actor feedback.
26:44 - Slates and multiple takes.
31:25 - Group auditions.
33:23 - People that book frequently.
39:54 - How do new people get in front of casting.
44:31 - Pivoting from acting to casting.
48:55 - How they find casting help.
50:24 - What makes the best session directors.
53:21 - Monitoring casting sessions.
55:35 - What's going on in actor's lives.
57:44 - Last minute self tapes.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/344

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Actor Craig Cackowski stops by the bungalow and discusses improv post covid, the joy he gets from teaching, what roles he is currently going out for, and more!

Craig's IMDb and Instagram @ccackowski.

00:00 - Introduction.
01:30 - Craig slates his name.
02:22 - Improv hangouts.
08:46 - How Craig is handling post improv theatre closures.
17:47 - Day jobs.
20:36 - Joy teaching improv.
23:00 - Mike's half bits.
24:54 - Would Craig walk away from teaching.
26:53 - 70 episodes of Drunk History.
31:17 - Negotiating rates.
36:30 - Reflecting on Craig's career thus far.
39:56 - Craig's type.
43:06 - How does Craig step away.
47:43 - Audition numbers.
49:43 - Taking acting classes.
55:07 - Who took a chance on Craig.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/343

Craig's first Box Angeles -- boxangeles.com/013

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Director Sarah Adina Smith stops by the bungalow and discusses the importance of finding a creative ally, her first look deal with Amazon, having to audition as a director, and more!

Sarah's IMDb and Instagram @sarahadinasmith.

00:00 - Introduction.
01:37 - Sarah slates her name.
02:19 - Adapting things for the screen like Lessons in Chemistry.
08:15 - Directing things you write and finding collaboration.
12:45 - Sarah didn't direct the first feature she co-wrote Goodbye World.
13:45 - Juggling multiple jobs on set and finding a creative ally.
17:10 - A first look deal with Amazon.
25:46 - How much involvement in casting.
28:00 - Picking casting directors.
30:45 - Do actors ever surprise you.
39:10 - Structure and time management.
43:27 - Having no life when directing.
44:35 - Prep for shoots.
48:17 - Work procurement.
49:06 - Pitching yourself as a director.
53:59 - Who took a chance on Sarah.
56:50 - Mike's short film, again.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/342

Support Box Angeles (and access the audio archives) on Patreon.

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