Hometown To Hollywood W/ Bonnie J Wallace

My guest on this very special Hometown to Hollywood podcast episode is director, producer, and choreographer Kenny Ortega. Kenny has directed many iconic film, TV and theatre projects, but he is best known for his work directing Newsies, Hocus Pocus, This is It, High School Musical 1,2, and 3, and Descendants 1, 2, and 3, as well as creating choreography for Michael Jackson, Cher, Madonna, Gloria Estefan, and Elton John. He has won three Emmy awards and two Directors Guild of America awards, among many others, and was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He recently produced and directed Julie and The Phantoms for Netflix. In this very inspiring conversation, Kenny Ortega shares how he began in the industry, how he made the jump from choreography to directing, his approach to directing, what he looks for in an actor, audition advice, casting, advice for both parents of young actors as well as for actors, and so much more.   Some of my favorite quotes from our conversation: “I couldn’t be one of

Today my guest on this episode of the Hometown to Hollywood podcast is Jillian Clare.   Jillian has been in the entertainment industry since the young age of 7. Having grown up on the soap opera Days Of Our Lives, Jillian went on to star in the Victorious special Freak the Freak Out, as well as roles in several other indie films and TV series.    Besides acting, Jillian has taken her turn behind the camera as well. She recently produced and starred in the indie film Pretty Broken which premiered at the Newport Beach Film Festival. In the last four years, she has directed two hit teen feature films To The Beat! and To The Beat! Back 2 School making her one of the only female directors to direct both the original and sequel in a films' series.    We discuss her experience as a young child actor, her school experience, transitioning from a child actor to a teen actor to an adult actor, the CHSPE, why she got into directing and producing, auditioning advice, her podcast Thanks for Coming In, and much more.

Hi, thanks for joining us! This is Bonnie Wallace, author of The Hollywood Parents Guide, Young Hollywood Actors, and Top Hollywood Acting Teachers, and today my guest on this podcast is television director Jody Margolin Hahn.   Jody started her career working with sitcom writers. She has directed over 150 episodes of television, including The Conners for ABC, Call Me Kat and The Cool Kids for FOX, One Day at a Time, Fuller House, Mr. Iglesias, Alexa & Katie, and others for Netflix, Nickelodeon and The Disney Channel. She recently completed her first short film, "Yes/No" and directed the pilot and multiple episodes of the Netflix series, The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia. She’s a member of the Director’s Guild of America.   We discuss how she started directing, what it really takes to direct TV, differences between multi-cam and single cam shows, what she looks for in an actor, advice for auditions and self-tapes, advice for parents of young actors as well as for young actors themselves, and MUC

My guest on this episode of the Hometown to Hollywood podcast is Mike Manning. Mike is an award-winning actor and Emmy-winning producer.   As an actor, Manning is most known for his roles in Disney's snowboarding movie Cloud 9, and MTV's Teen Wolf. Other TV credits include Hawaii Five-0, Major Crimes, The Bay, Crash & Bernstein, Operation Cupcake, and Days of Our Lives.   When not performing, Manning works as a producer, co-founding Chhibber Mann Productions in 2015. He's been involved behind the camera on dozens of films including the Showtime documentary Kidnapped for Christ, Jinn, The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson, Folk Hero and Funny Guy, M.F.A., and Lost in America, featuring Halle Berry, Rosario Dawson, Jewel, and Tiffany Haddish.   We discuss how he started acting professionally, his training, how he broke into producing, the power of storytelling to change the world, the importance of nonprofit work, advice for young actors, and much more.   Listen all the way to the end for a brilli

Today my guest on the Hometown to Hollywood podcast is talent manager Sherry Kayne, co-founder of Moxie Artists. Sherry's clients are working in TV, Film, commercials and print, Broadway and professional stage productions and National Tours. They include Haley Reinhart, Catherine Mary Stewart, Akira Akbar, Quvenzhané Wallis, JD McCrary, Young Dylan, Mackenzie Hancsicsak, and more.   We discuss social media, star quality, what makes for good acting and a good relationship with your agent or manager, the importance of letting young actors have a life, thoughts around education, and MUCH more. Join us! Listen to the first 10 minutes here for free, or become a Friend of the Podcast for just $5 a month — and get access to the full interview, as well as access to the entire collection of over 100 other inspiring and educational episodes designed to help you succeed in the entertainment industry.   Some of my favorite quotes from our conversation: “You need to bring yourself to the role in order for it to f

Today my guest on this episode of the Hometown to Hollywood podcast is actor Patrick Fabian. Patrick is truly a career actor, working steadily for almost 30 years, primarily in television. He is best known for his roles in Better Call Saul, Big Love, Veronica Mars, The Last Exorcism, Must Love Dogs, and Star Trek: Voyager. Recent guest stars include Lucifer, Code Black, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Grimm, Scorpion, The Newsroom, Longmire, Castle and Scandal. Patrick also played my daughter Dove’s father in the Disney Channel original movie Cloud Nine. We discuss his training, how he broke into the LA market after college, lessons he’s learned over his 27-year career, advice for young artists, and much more.   Listen to the first 10 minutes here for free, or become a Friend of the Podcast for just $5 a month — and get access to the full interview, as well as access to the entire collection of over 100 other inspiring and educational episodes designed to help you succeed in the entertainment industry.   Some o

Steven Vincent, VP Music & Soundtracks at Disney Branded TV Today my guest on the Hometown to Hollywood podcast is Steven Vincent, Vice President of Music & Soundtracks at Disney Branded Television. He is the man behind the music you love from not only the Disney Plus and The Disney Channel, but also Disney XD, ABC Family, and more, since 2007. Steven Vincent advises and collaborates with TV series and TV movie producers on script development and creating original music, as well as licensed songs. He works with recording artists, songwriters and composers in conjunction with Disney Publishing, Disney Music Group and Radio Disney as well as external labels, publishers and management.   On the talent side, he has supervised the TV music careers of Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Jonas Bros, Zendaya, Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, Bridgit Mendler, Bella Thorne, Ross Lynch, Laura Marano, Zac Efron & Vanessa Hudgens.   Vincent has a degree in Music Composition from UCLA, and studied film sco

  My guests today on the Hometown to Hollywood podcast are Dave Thomas Brown and Amelia Bay. Dave is a triple threat whose roles on Broadway have included Elder Price in The Book of Mormon, Josh in Clueless the Musical, David Van Patten in American Psycho, JD in Heathers the Musical, and many more roles in touring and regional theatre. He played Elder Price on the West End in London as well as on Broadway. Amelia is a professional hairdresser and wig maker for both Broadway and TV. Her credits include Law & Order SVU, Monsterland, Marvelous Miss Maisel, Be More Chill, She Loves Me, The Book of Mormon, and Aladdin. Dave and Amelia are business partners and are also engaged. We do a deep dive on the importance of training, audition advice, how to get started on Broadway (whether you are an actor or an artist backstage), surprises, challenges, and advice for people who want this life. It was especially fun to chat with both Dave and Amelia, who bring such complementary insight into how the industry work

My guest on this Hometown to Hollywood podcast episode is actor, podcast creator and author Matthew Del Negro. Mathew’s success has been well-earned and slow-burning. He began doing small theatre productions in New York before landing a pivotal role in Season 4 of The Sopranos. Since then his career has spanned theatre, film, and TV, and he is best known for his roles in Goliath, Huge in France, Wind River, Scandal, The West Wing, When We Rise, Hot Pursuit, Teen Wolf, and many more. In 2017, after describing his career as "being told 'No' for a living" when speaking to near-graduates of MFA Theater Programs in Los Angeles, Matthew created and launched his podcast, 10,000 Nos, which can be listened to on the Apple Podcasts App, Spotify and at 10000nos.com. On it, Matthew gets up close and personal with successful people from all walks of life about the 10,000 "No"s they've had to endure and the struggles they've had to overcome on their journey to where they are today. We cover some inspiring territory, inc

My guest on this episode of the Hometown to Hollywood Podcast is top dialect coach Jerome Butler. As a dialect coach for actors performing in movies, television, or theater, Jerome’s job is to give actors enough understanding of the accent for their imagination to take over and bring the character to life.  And as a Juilliard School graduate with more than 25 years of experience in theater, television, and film, Jerome Butler understands the challenges facing actors.  Performers he’s worked with range from Naomi Watts, Thandie Newton, Melanie Liburd, Noomi Rapace, Stephanie Szostak, and Ellen Burstyn to Tom Hardy, Gerard Butler, Robert Downey Jr., Jonathan Pryce, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Jerome Butler’s credits include For Life, When They See Us, This is Us, Blade Runner 2049 and many more. He has also worked as  a Dialect, Speech and Vocal coach at Juilliard, American Academy of Dramatic Arts, NYU and numerous other actor training programs. He is also the founder of dialectcoahcescorner.com, an innovative

My guest on this episode of the Hometown to Hollywood podcast is triple threat Sydney James Harcourt. Sydney has performed on some of the world’s finest concert stages including Radio City Music Hall, Avery Fischer Hall, and Carnegie Hall.  He has appeared on and off Broadway starring in productions like HAMILTON (the original Broadway company and 1st replacement for Aaron Burr), Disney's THE LION KING (where he played Simba), Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT, and was most recently seen as Joe Scott in the critically acclaimed original American cast of Bob Dylan’s GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY at the Public Theater. You've seen him in films and on TV series – including Blue Bloods, NCIS, Elementary, Younger, The Good Wife, Law and Order, and Disney's Enchanted.   He's toured across North America from coast to coast, and played sold out stadiums from Australia, to Indonesia, to Puerto Rico. This is a genuinely inspiring conversation, especially useful for anyone who is interested in a career on Broadway or doing mu

Today my guest on the Hometown to Hollywood podcast is casting director Howard Meltzer. Howard has cast for Broadway, Off-Broadway, CBS, Disney Channel, Fox, NBC, Netflix, Nickelodeon, Peacock, Sony Pictures Television Studios, 20th Century Fox, and Warner Brothers Television. He has been nominated for 22 Artios Awards for excellence in casting, winning the honor three times. He has served as the Vice President of the Casting Society of America and is currently a Governor of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. We cover a fantastic range in this conversation, from the differences in casting a pilot or movie vs. casting co-stars and guest stars; how far casting will look for the right actor for a role; how COVID has affected the casting process; whether and when it’s important for n actor to be in LA and how to decide when it might be time to come to LA; how an actor should approach a CD they don’t yet know; the role of parents in the casting process for younger actors, and much, much more. Listen

Today my guest on the Hometown to Hollywood podcast is Los Angeles talent manager Sheila Russo of SR Talent Management. Her clients are currently series regulars & recurring on Apple TV, Netflix, Amazon, and Nickelodeon as well as starring in National Commercials for AllState, Farmers, Cheerios, Apple, Audi, Mercedes and many more.   We discuss what makes a great talent manager, the differences between managers and agents, how to get the attention of a potential manager, advice for parents of young actors, the best times to come out to Los Angeles, and much more. Join us!   Some of my favorite quotes from our conversation:   “We work hands-on with the casting directors, and so do agents.” “I look for clients that are genuine.” “Be flexible. Be willing to try something different.” “If a casting director asks you to make a change, it’s often just to see if you can do it.” “The hours on set are very restricted under six years.” “I think the best thing to do for your kid is to put them in plays.”

Hi, thanks for joining us today! This is Bonnie Wallace, author of Young Hollywood Actors and the upcoming Top Hollywood Acting Teachers, and today my guests on the Hometown to Hollywood podcast are award-winning casting directors Amber Horn and Danielle Aufiero, of Aufiero/Horn Casting. Danielle Aufiero and Amber Horn immediately made a splash in the entertainment industry when they opened the doors to Aufiero / Horn Casting over ten years ago. Their longstanding relationships with studios, production companies, and filmmakers have allowed them to cast for a variety of projects.   With over 75 feature films, television pilots and series collectively; the pair have earned multiple award nominations and recently won a 2020 Artios Award for their casting work on Disney Channel’s Andi Mack. Other notable projects Aufiero / Horn have cast include On My Block (Netflix), The 100 (The CW), The Baby-Sitters Club (Netflix), Motherland: Fort Salem (Freeform), 13 Reasons Why (S4, Netflix), and Awkward (MTV), among man

My guest on this episode of the Hometown to Hollywood podcast is actress and singer Kira Kosarin.   Kira is best known for her role as Phoebe Thunderman in in The Thundermans, as well as roles in Light as a Feather, Good Trouble, All About the Washingtons, Knight Squad, School of Rock, Henry Danger, One Crazy Cruise, and more. Her EP Songbird was released in July of 2020. Look for her in the upcoming movie, Supercool.   We discuss her experience as a young actress and singer arriving in LA at the age of thirteen, growing up in the public eye, juggling both music and acting, audition advice, the importance of training, what she believe is important for success, and much more. Join us!   Listen to the first 10 minutes here for free, or become a Friend of the Podcast for access to the full interview, as well as access to the entire collection of over 100 other inspiring and educational episodes designed to help you succeed in the entertainment industry.   It’s easy! In your browser bar, go to https://home

Welcome to the Back to School Edition of Hometown to Hollywood! Today my guest on this podcast is Cheryl Diamond. Cheryl is a certified Studio Teacher/Welfare Worker in the state of California and teaches young actors on set. She’s also the President of the Union Local 884, which represents studio teachers. Educating young actors can be a challenge, because their commitments to work and auditions often compete with regular school hours. Certified Studio Teachers in California are in charge of not only educating young actors on set, but also ensuring their safety and wellbeing. In this episode, Cheryl shares some of the benefits and challenges of learning on set, how studio teachers coordinate with a young actor’s school, the relationship of work permits and grades, some of the laws protecting minor actors, safeguards that are in place to keep kids safe on set, her thoughts on the CHSPE, and much more. This conversation is a must-listen for parents of young actors as well as any actor under 18. And it’s an

Today my guest on the Hometown to Hollywood podcast is actor, singer, dancer, and all-around creative talent, Jordan Fisher. Jordan’s resume is very long for someone who’s still just in his mid-twenties, but he is best known for Moana, Grease Live, RENT Live, Liv and Maddie, To All the Boys: PS I Still Love You, Until Dawn, Teen Beach Movie, Teen Beach 2, and The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Jordan was crowned the Season 25 winner of "Dancing with the Stars" alongside dance partner Lindsay Arnold, and played the role of Evan Hanson in Dear Evan Hanson on Broadway, as well as the roles of John Laurens/Philip Hamilton in the Broadway production of Hamilton. His voiceover credits include Sea Hawk in She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. He plays six instruments: piano, guitar, bass, harmonica, French horn and drums. Our conversation is wide-ranging and inspiring, covering how Jordan’s journey began and going into audition advice, staying sane through challenging times, and much more. Listen to the firs

My guests on this episode of the Hometown to Hollywood podcast are the founders of coaching business Acting with Actors, actresses Victoria Moroles and Audrey Whitby. Audrey is known best for her work on The Thundermans, The Standoff, Liv and Maddie, Betch, So Random!, Awesomeness TV, Townies, Guilty Party, and In the Vault. Victoria is best known for her work on Teen Wolf, Liv and Maddie, Down a Dark Hall, Here and Now, Cloud 9, and Snow Falls. With a combined 100+ episodes of children's and network television under their belts, chances are they know the casting director or show-runner on most projects, especially if it's under the Nick or Disney umbrella. Multi-cams and sitcoms are Audrey’s specialty, and Victoria has starred in multiple teen-dramas and features. Both have experience teaching, coaching, and working with kids. We cover a lot of ground, including how they each got their start in the industry, audition advice, how they approach coaching actors, advice for young people who want a career as

Today my guest on the Hometown to Hollywood podcast is actress Jessica Marie Garcia. Jessica is best known for her roles of Jasmine in the Netflix hit On My Block, Willow in Liv and Maddie, and Becky in The Middle, as well as recurring roles on Diary of a Future President, How to Get Away with Murder, American Princess, Starter Pack, Hacking High School, Huge, and more. She is a member of the all-female ensemble cast of BETCH: A Sketch Show on Hulu, and her feature film Avenge The Crows was released on iTunes, where she plays Peaches starring alongside Danny Trejo and Lou Diamond Phillips. This is Jessica’s second time on the podcast—our last interview was almost exactly four years ago today. Our conversation covers a wide range, and includes how she got started, audition advice, the role of training in her success, challenges she’s had, thoughts on social media, the importance of seeing people who look like you in film and TV, and much, much more. We also laugh a lot!  Listen to the first 10 minutes here

Today my guest on this special edition of the Hometown to Hollywood podcast is Anthony Meindl. Anthony is a master acting coach, and founder of Anthony Meindl’s Actor Workshop, which has locations in Los Angeles, New York, Vancouver, London, Atlanta, Toronto, Santa Fe, Chicago, Cape Town, Copenhagen, and Sydney. His philosophy is radically different from the status quo—he does not use scene objective, sense memory, or any of the standard 20th Century approaches that most acting schools take as their foundation—instead, he emphasizes “living truthfully in imaginary circumstances.” In this special edition of the podcast, we focus on the connections between art & social justice, and between actors & culture. We also discuss acting and the industry and one of the very best audition tips I’ve ever heard shows up about 45 minutes into our conversation. It’s an unusual episode for an unusual time: typically these episodes are designed to be as evergreen and timeless as possible, but I felt that a deeper div