Welcome to the TradeVine whose purpose is to encourage the entertainment industry to read their trades: Variety, Backstage, Hollywood Reporter, etc. Enjoy learning about your industry.
Each Friday, The TradeVine seeks out a few of the informative trade articles you may have missed. Please visit the trade, itself, for the entire article.

Back Stage, March 29th – How Can Young Actors Find Appropriate Monologues? Rita Litton.

Rita Litton

Actors have a hard time knowing their “type.” And a young actor who’s morphing yearly is even harder to peg. Focus on your vocal quality, inflections, and timing (which is key for comedy). Are you at ease or uncomfortable with the material? How smart (street or book) are you? Can you easily identify with the life story/background of the character or are major substitutions going to be necessary? When a piece clicks with an actor, their reaction/response will often form the basis for coaching and directing sessions to come. Keep the choice of material appropriate to your age range. A young teen should not choose a monologue about their day at work, their bad marriages, divorces, or lovers. Even if you play leading adult roles in your high school, you should choose roles close to your age. Contrasting pieces require a variety of situations, statuses, attitudes, and uses of irony and humor—not age span. It’s important to understand the background and exposition of your monologue when the stakes or the subtext may not be obvious in the text. Read the play, not just the monologue. Working with a coach with extensive theater experience is invaluable in choosing appropriate material. Choose monologues that speak to you, that allow you to bring your intelligence, imagination, life experience, empathy, unique type and personality to your performance.
Read Entire Article Here

Hollywood Reporter, March 30th – New Hollywood Economy: Pay-for-Play Auditions for Actors Gain Dominance, by Gary Baum.

Casting Director Billy DaMota

When you became an actor, you went into business for yourself, a casting director tells the assembly of close to 20 at The Actor’s Key, which hosted 160 such sessions in January, at the height of TV’s pilot season. On any given night, hundreds of struggling actors dole out cash for the privilege of reading brief scenes in an attempt to impress many of the town’s gatekeeper casting directors and their assistants. These aren’t auditions, they’re called “workshops,” a chance for entry-level and other actors to show their skills to a casting professional and get constructive criticism. While these workshops are a gateway for those hoping to secure a coveted role, critics say they flout a law that no one enforces: It’s so easy to exploit actors, says casting director Billy DaMota. Workshops have been part of Hollywood’s casting system for decades, but as TV and streaming production has ramped up in recent years, and studios and networks have trimmed or eliminated in-house casting departments, the workshops have metastasized into a cornerstone of the industry’s de facto human resources policy. But exchanging money for the prospect of employment remains illegal in California. The Krekorian Talent Scam Prevention Act, which was passed in 2009, specifically outlaws workshops and casting directors from charging or attempting to charge an artist for an audition or employment opportunity. Both the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA, and the Casting Society of America say they are aware of concerns about the workshops. Yet both guilds position themselves as powerless to effect change and say they repeatedly have lobbied the Los Angeles city attorney’s office to prioritize the issue.
Read Entire Article Here

Variety, March 30th – Screening Room Headed to CinemaCon; Brett Ratner Checks Out Technology, by Brent Lang.

Screening Room and its CEO Prem Akkaraju will be meeting with exhibitors at CinemaCon, the annual exhibition industry trade show unfolding next month in Las Vegas. The day-and-date home entertainment platform has raised the ire of some theater owners, who fear that the company will undercut their business. That could result in a chilly reception. However, Screening Room is appearing in Sin City at the request of some theater owners, and is not looking to disrupt the gathering or be disrespectful, according to a source close to the company. It will be hosting demonstrations of its technology. Major movies typically appear exclusively in theaters for 90 days before hitting home entertainment platforms. In recent years studios have flirted with ways to shorten that period of time, believing that will allow them to capitalize on the marketing campaigns they launch for a theatrical debut, potentially saving them money.
Read Entire Article Here

Please send any questions or comments to TradeVine@ActorsReporter.com  

And, remember, you heard it through The TradeVine. 

 

The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.
 

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Celebrity photo credit: Sheri Determan

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Teen actress singer Laci Kay for Actors Reporter performed at and covered the Eric “EZ” Zuley, Jose Beltran Birthday Celebration at H.o.m.e Beverly Hills red carpet.

There were special appearances by: Judge Joe Brown, Choreographer Shane Sparks (ABDC Judge/Master P Show), Munni Irone (Founder A4PAwards) Carmelita Pittman (singer, songwriter, producer, and Founder of The Rose Breast Cancer Society.), Michael Zanetis (Executive Producer BB KING Film), Mary Desmond (American Idol), Shevyn Roberts (Opened for Justin Bieber), Laci Kay (Modern Family), Vincent M. Ward (Walking Dead), Trae Ireland (Actor), Patrick Faucette (Own Tyler Perry The Have and the have nots), Reatha Grey (Betty Whites Off Their Rockers), Ken Davitian (Borat), Kaye-Cee Austin (Founder TeenTrep.Co), Faithy J (CEO TeenTrep.Co), Kate Linder (Hollywood Walk Of Fame), and David Eugene Andrews (Author of The English Slave), Jay Pugh (RK Records), Rosalyn Kahn (author and TedX Speaker) Penny Lambright (founder Patriots and Paws), Lalanii R. Grant (Creative Writer), Tori Vild (Actress), Ewart Chin (Actor), and many others.

Celebrities and fans were entertained by singer performers Laci Kay, FaithyJ, Shevyn Roberts and the celebrity magician Evan Disney displaying his amazing skills.

There were be raffles and numerous other goody giveaways, as well as auctions and opportunities for charity donations.
Acknowledge were United States Veterans, who have served and fought for our country. The evening activities included three Expert Panels and guests were allowed to participate in the amazing Q&A sessions.

As DJ Juan played a selection of soothing music in the background, this became truly a night to be remember.

The evening also included:

Launch of the new Waz-Kal Verizon, Amazon eZWayTV Channel.

and

2 screenings:
1. Mr. & Mrs. Smith The Series Trailer
and
2. Wind International Film Festival

Photos by EZ Broadcasting:

The evening was produced by: eZWay Broadcasting, INC, WPS Events, and TeenTrep.Co.

This event was sponsored by Get Jazzed Munchies (Jennifer A. Zaft), WPS Events, TeenTrep.Co, W.e.i, The Rose Breast Cancer Society, and Pike & Sons Fudge (Renee Pike, Dillon Pike, Zachary Pike Pike and Sons.

Michael Phelps art

H.O.M.E. in Beverly Hills is one of the most popular locations, where people like Stevie Wonder and other A-List celebrities have performed. The food and service at this well-known location has received amazing ratings. This event at the House of Music and Entertainment
(HOME90210.com) will feature seven different, talented music artists, performing in a variety of music genres.

Please visit: ezWay Broadcasting

and learn more about our Actors Reporter host, Laci Kay at:
Laci Kay Official

And, Thank you to Bob Delgadillo Events Photographer

and Thank you to: Sheri Determan Photography

Eric “EZ” Zuley’s birthday party at H.O.M.E. in Beverly Hills, coverage by Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.

Welcome to the TradeVine whose purpose is to encourage the entertainment industry to read their trades: Variety, Backstage, Hollywood Reporter, etc. Enjoy learning about your industry.
Each Friday, The TradeVine seeks out a few of the informative trade articles you may have missed. Please visit the trade, itself, for the entire article.

Back Stage, April 7th – 3 Mistakes That Make Self-Produced Demos Look Unprofessional, by Retta Putignano.

Retta Putignano

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with shooting your own footage and adding it to your demo reel. The only purpose of self-produced footage is to show casting you can play the role, not that you were booked on that “Criminal Minds” episode. Shooting something that is completely professional may fool a few people, but for the most part, self-produced footage isn’t fooling the professionals in the industry. The goal should be to make it look as professionally produced as possible so casting only focuses on you, the actor. if you’re going to shoot your own demo reel scene, here are three production errors you need to avoid.
1. Poor audio. The picture is great, lighting looks good, but the audio sounds like your scene was shot in the Batcave. With the cost of HD and 4K cameras going down, a really excellent camera is affordable to many.Many DSLRs these days have tiny, built-in mics that are good quality, but don’t bode well for a scene in an echo-y living room or outside from 10 feet away. The solution? Rent a lavalier mic. Or better yet, if you’ve already invested $1500 in an HD camera, throw in another $200 for a boom.
2. Off-camera dialogue. The hybrid—an actor on camera with a scene partner that talks either off-camera or in an over-the-shoulder shot—just doesn’t cut it—especially when the scene partner isn’t wearing a mic.
3. The 180 rule.Take your two actors, and draw an imaginary line (known as the “axis”) connecting them. The camera should remain on one side of this axis, ensuring that Actor A is always frame-right of Actor B, and Actor B is always frame-left of Actor A. Unless you are intentionally trying to create a feeling of disorientation, stick to this rule for all your shots. It’s a pretty basic concept, but you’d be surprised how many times new filmmakers miss this.
Read Entire Article Here

Hollywood Reporter, April 7th – New York City Film Czar Outlines Growth Agenda (Guest Column), by Julie Menin.

Julie Menin

In the face of rising income inequality, New York City is leveraging the surge in local filmmaking to create new jobs and economic opportunities for working and middle class New Yorkers. Filmed entertainment injects nearly $9 billion to the Big Apple’s economy and employs 130,000 people. the benefits of this economic engine aren’t limited just to the industry, but are shared with the thousands of small businesses and individuals who support it — the caterers, construction workers, makeup artists and set designers — who live and work throughout the five boroughs.The benefits of filmed entertainment should be shared with the thousands of small businesses and individuals who support it.
Read Entire Article Here

Variety, April 7th – ‘American Idol’ Will Be Back, But It Won’t Ever Be as Big, by Brian Lowry.

American Idol Finale

Those feeling waves of nostalgia over the departure of “American Idol” should probably wipe away any tears. A concept that shines this brightly won’t be gone forever – or maybe even for very long, as a few of the principals have already suggested. But when (not if) it does return, it won’t be as big. Those moments in the cultural zeitgeist tend to be singular, and not quite so easily replicated as simply digging the title, theme music and set out of storage. The story of this century in network television, really, has centered on the reality-TV mega-hit, beginning in 1999 with “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” followed by “Survivor,” “Idol,” “The Apprentice” and currently “The Voice,” with less durable commodities emerging along the way. While cable has steadily risen as a creative force on multiple fronts, the broadcast networks have relied on eruptions from unscripted TV to buoy their numbers and occasionally engineer a rapid turnaround. All those shows, however, come with a certain shelf life, a moment where the torch isn’t doused, necessarily, but no longer smokes the competition. In the case of “Idol,” that flickering can be directly traced to the departure of judge Simon Cowell, who announced his plans in 2010, even if it took a while for the damage from his exit to fully manifest itself.
Read Entire Article Here

Please send any questions or comments to TradeVine@ActorsReporter.com  

And, remember, you heard it through The TradeVine. 

 

The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production. The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.
 

Welcome to the TradeVine whose purpose is to encourage the entertainment industry to read their trades: Variety, Backstage, Hollywood Reporter, etc. Enjoy learning about your industry.
Each Friday, The TradeVine seeks out a few of the informative trade articles you may have missed. Please visit the trade, itself, for the entire article.

Back Stage, April 12th – 6 Ways to Meet Powerful People, by David Patrick Green.

David Patrick Green

At some point, it will be a real live human who makes the decision to hire you, and they are not going to choose you unless they’re sure you’re not going to mess up their project. Here are some techniques to help you get beyond the initial greeting phase and create some space for yourself in the hearts and minds of these powerful people.
1. The Girl Scout cookie introduction. You know why Girl Scouts are so good at selling their cookies? Because the cookies taste great and everyone knows it. Actors often express fear about meeting people because they feel like they are trying to get something. The truth is that you are there to give.
2. Things change, so come back tomorrow. When someone says no to us, we don’t know why. Frankly, it doesn’t matter. Circumstances will be different by tomorrow. It doesn’t mean you will get what you want, but it will show your persistence.
3. Be helpful. Whenever you walk into a business or approach someone on the phone for the first time, there is a natural mistrust and potential for awkwardness. One of the best ways to break the ice is to start being helpful right away. Most businesses have someone out front who rests between you and the person you are trying to meet. Treat the gatekeeper like they are the most important person in that company.
4. Be open. Chances are that after a second of awkward silence, they are going to ask you how they can help you. Opening created.
5. Rules are for rulers. you can’t let others stand in the way of your dreams.
6. Start at the bottom. It’s a lot easier to show your value at something for which you are eminently qualified.
Read Entire Article Here

Hollywood Reporter, April 12th – Mike Francesa, King of New York Sports Radio for 30 Years, Prepares to Abdicate His Throne, by Scott Feinberg.

Mike Francesa sits in his sparse office at CBS Radio’s WFAN, the station at which he has worked for nearly 30 years — initially in a urine-stained basement at the Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens, now in a Soho skyrise — staring at a TV blasting CNBC. Unlike most employees in this troubled time for radio — CBS alone has let go of hundreds of employees in recent months — Francesa isn’t interested in endearing himself to his bosses. He doesn’t have to because he has chart-topping ratings — just as he has had since 1987 — and has already announced that he’s leaving the network when his current contract expires at the end of 2017. If you met Francesa and had no idea who he was, you might assume, from his husky build, thick Long Island accent and blunt manner, that he’s a construction worker or a trucker, rather than “the most relevant sports media figure in New York for almost three full decades,” as HBO’s Bill Simmons describes him.
Read Entire Article Here

Variety, April 12th – NATO Chief Addresses Theatrical Shift at CinemaCon, by Brent Lang.

Without saying it by name, National Association of Theatre Owners head John Fithian made it clear that he is no fan of Screening Room. The controversial start-up wants to make movies available in the home for $50 a piece, but Fithian, who is the top lobbyist for the exhibition industry, said that the theatrical window must be preserved.“Exclusive theatrical windows make new movies into events,” Fithian told a crowd of studio executives and theater owners at CinemaCon, the exhibition industry trade show taking place this week in Las Vegas. “Success there establishes brand value and bolsters revenue in downstream markets.” Major Hollywood releases typically remain in theaters for 90 days before launching on home entertainment platforms. Opponents of Screening Room believe that the business model would encourage people to skip the multiplexes for the comforts of home. Fithian said that theater owners are open to experimenting with new distribution models, but they want to revise any plans in coordination with studios, not by third parties, such as Screening Room.
Read Entire Article Here

Please send any questions or comments to TradeVine@ActorsReporter.com  

And, remember, you heard it through The TradeVine. 

 

The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production. The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.
 

Welcome to the TradeVine whose purpose is to encourage the entertainment industry to read their trades: Variety, Backstage, Hollywood Reporter, etc. Enjoy learning about your industry.
Each Friday, The TradeVine seeks out a few of the informative trade articles you may have missed. Please visit the trade, itself, for the entire article.

Back Stage, April 15th – How to Book the Job With Just One Line, by Gunnar Todd Rohrbacher.

Gunnar Todd Rohrbacher

What do I do with just one line? This is an important question that beguiles many actors. The quest for a certain answer is understandable since one-liners, or co-star roles, are how most actors start acquiring credits and building a résumé. There is no pat answer that covers how to perform all one-liners because they aren’t all written for the same reason, and are not spoken on the same projects. Often, one-liners are utilitarian in nature. Consider a service provider interacting with the lead and verbally acknowledging a transaction. “Here’s your drink, ma’am.” Almost always the breakdown for this type of role is a pleasant person, happy to do their job in an emotionally neutral state, who comes and goes without making the audience wonder what’s going on in their life. Many actors make the mistake of making service-oriented workers grouchy or in a bad mood. Unless the breakdown or stage directions specifically call for that it’s generally a huge error. The overall story is never about a person with one line. Playing a character as cross, upset, or moody when it’s not called for redirects the storyline to them and away from the leads. So then just “throw it away,” right? No, not at all. The producers of the show aren’t looking for lifeless wet blankets for these roles, either. Throwing away a line has a very dismissive, negative connotation aligned with it, and incorporating it as an acting strategy just makes you look boring and uninterested.
Read Entire Article Here

Hollywood Reporter, April 16th – YouTube Launches “Foundry” Initiative to Develop Music Talent, by Andy Gensler.

Billboard. YouTube has informally launched an initiative to develop music talent under the name “YouTube Music Foundry,” which gives artists new tools and guidance on how to successfully grow their presence on the video platform, according to YouTube. All Foundry content is available for free on the main site as well as on the YouTube Music app. The Foundry program is one of many the company has created over the last several years to assist artists and the music industry in producing and optimizing content. Among the tools artists are learning to use now include live video production, a rapidly growing technology that over the last several years has grown exponentially with the ascent of Periscope, Meerkat, Snapchat and other social media technologies with video. Facebook recently announced it was making live video streaming tools more widely available for its users.
Read Entire Article Here

Variety, April 17th – William Holden: The Golden Boy of Vintage Hollywood, by Tim Gray.

Sunday marks the birthday of William Holden. Born in 1918, the actor ranked No. 25 on AFI’s list of all-time great leading men. Since he had classic good looks, an expressive voice, and was an excellent actor who starred in some of Hollywood’s most memorable movies, why wasn’t he even higher on the list? Maybe because Holden had a special talent for always making his co-stars look so good. It’s hard to think of another leading man who was equally magnetic and self-effacing. Holden won an Oscar for his second collaboration with Billy Wilder, the 1953 “Stalag 17.” He also starred in such iconic films as “Our Town,” “Picnic,” “The Wild Bunch” and “The Towering Inferno.”
Read Entire Article Here

Please send any questions or comments to TradeVine@ActorsReporter.com  

And, remember, you heard it through The TradeVine. 

 

The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production. The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.
 

Welcome to the TradeVine whose purpose is to encourage the entertainment industry to read their trades: Variety, Backstage, Hollywood Reporter, etc. Enjoy learning about your industry.
Each Friday, The TradeVine seeks out a few of the informative trade articles you may have missed. Please visit the trade, itself, for the entire article.

Back Stage, February 26th – 7 Tips to Get Started in Voiceover, by Kate McClanaghan.

Kate McClanaghan

“You have a remarkable voice. You should be doing voiceover!” So, how do you get started?
1. You need to get oriented with the industry. You need to understand who your core clients would be and who you would eventually create a voiceover demo for, namely, producers.
2. You need training. “Winging it” isn’t professional because it’s unreliable.
3. You need a simple, reliable, home-recording setup. You need the ability to record, edit, and turnaround a proper audition.
4. If you expect to sound professional, you need professional demo production. Please don’t do this on your own. A music producer produces music, a voiceover demo producer… I think you get the idea.
5. Promote yourself to agents who specifically handle VO. Agents, just like talent, typically specialize.
6. Audition like crazy! Beyond a well produced demo, consistently offering the best of your abilities with every audition will further establish your professional career.7. Make sure your demo is posted online in as many places where lots of voice talent can be found and hired. You will increase your opportunities by a great margin if you make your professionally produced demo accessible to anyone and everyone who may hire you. That’s a great start. And as the adage goes, “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great!”
Read Entire Article Here

Hollywood Reporter, February 27th – Spirit Awards: ‘Spotlight’ Wins Big in Diverse Show, by Gregg Kilday.

Tom McCarthy’s drama Spotlight, about the reporters who exposed the Catholic Church took home five trophies, while first-time performers Abraham Attah and Mya Taylor were welcomed into the limelight. Film Independent, which puts on the awards show celebrating independently produced film, also made something of a show of diversity by rewarding a couple of first-time performers: Abraham Attah, the young actor from Ghana who was hailed as best male actor for playing a child soldier in Beasts of No Nation, and Mya Taylor, the transgender actress who was singled out as best supporting female for her work in Tangerine. the ceremony, which took place in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica, did its best to present itself as the anti-Oscars. Read Entire Article Here

Variety, February 27th – Jennifer Lawrence, Patricia Arquette Take Stand for Equal Pay at Women in Film Party, by Alyssa Sage.

Discussions on pay inequality and gender diversity commanded the Women in Film Pre-Oscar Cocktail Party Friday night, where actresses including Jennifer Lawrence, Alicia Vikander and Patricia Arquette convened to honor 2016’s 51 female Oscar nominees. Before the cocktail partycommenced, Women in Film president Cathy Schulman led a toast to recognize all the 2016 Oscar nominees — who were adorned with corsages — in attendance at the gathering, and in doing so, invited “Straight Outta Compton” screenwriter Andrea Berloff, Arquette and Lawrence to share the stage. Arquette, who famously used her 2015 Oscar acceptance speech as a platform to discuss the gender wage gap, spoke about pay inequality’s effect beyond the entertainment industry and the gap’s impact on the country’s poverty levels. Lawrence graced the stage briefly after some prodding, noting that “this is the second night in a row this has happened to me.” (The night before, she was also put on the spot for remarks at Arquette’s Dinner for Equality.) Lawrence emphasized the importance of mentorship and reiterated Arquette’s equal pay sentiments with a triumphant, “Equal pay for women!”
Read Entire Article Here

Please send any questions or comments to TradeVine@ActorsReporter.com  

And, remember, you heard it through The TradeVine. 

 

The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.
 

Welcome to the TradeVine whose purpose is to encourage the entertainment industry to read their trades: Variety, Backstage, Hollywood Reporter, etc. Enjoy learning about your industry.
Each Friday, The TradeVine seeks out a few of the informative trade articles you may have missed. Please visit the trade, itself, for the entire article.

Back Stage, March 9th – 7 Ways to Stop Holding Your Career Back, by AJ Riley.

AJ Riley

We are on the road to becoming consistently working professionals. A successful working actor’s day often goes beyond just a few hours on set; sometimes those hours can be long, followed by days full of interviews, shoots, rehearsals, promotions, and other duties. What do we do? Here are a few things we can all do to control our inner-resistance: First, write down your weekly schedule to determine how much time you really have available. Next, make a list of daily and weekly goals to achieve. Make sure to find balance and don’t overload your daily goals. Print a few copies of this list and pin them around the house in places you can’t avoid. Use reminder apps on your phone, laptop, or desktop to help stay on top of your goals. Want to take an extra step? Have a friend, family member, or someone you trust, hold you accountable every week for how many goals you’ve completed from your list. Catch yourself saying things like, “It’s difficult,” “It’s too hard,” “I’m tired,” “I’m trying,” “I want to but…,” etc. Beat it by reminding yourself of everything you’ve already done for your career, for your family, your vision. Finally, commit to your plan. Get excited, get organized, and see your world align with the success you deserve. Read Entire Article Here

Hollywood Reporter, March 3rd – Pioneering Gay Oscar Winner Offers Sam Smith a History Lesson (Guest Column), by Rob Epstein.

Rob Epstein

The long road to freedom is so easily forgotten. That was a crack made while watching Sam Smith claim to be the first openly gay person to win an Oscar. By now the blogosphere has made hay of Mr. Smith’s misinformed statement. But the corrections, including blogs published by The New York Times and The Hollywood Reporter, have not adequately addressed the specific claim. Thirty-one years ago at the 57th Academy Awards in 1985, Rob Epstein won the Oscar for best documentary feature for The Times of Harvey Milk. No other gay-themed film, made by openly gay filmmakers, had ever received this acknowledgement. Epstein said not only was this a thrill of a lifetime, it was indeed historic. On stage, he thanked Harvey Milk for his courage, his pride in being gay, and his hope that one day we will all live together in a world of mutual respect. With presidential candidates who regard truth, fact, and history as mere annoyances, we must be ever vigilant. Epstein says facts and history matter. Filmmaker Rob Epstein, a two-time Oscar winner and former member of the Academy’s Board of Governors, has directed such films as the 1995 documentary The Celluloid Closet, the 2010 dramatic feature Howl and the 2014 documentary And the Oscar Goes To…
Read Entire Article Here

Variety, March 9th – Studios, Exhibitors Consider Revolutionary Plan for Day-and-Date Movies at Home (EXCLUSIVE), by Brent Lang.

Five years ago, major studios attempts to offer first-run movies in the home months early set off a fierce standoff with theater owners. Now, a startup backed by Sean Parker of Facebook and Napster fame is trying to encourage Hollywood studios and exhibitors to wade back into those controversial waters. Called the Screening Room, the company offers secure anti-piracy technology that will offer new releases in the home on the same day they hit theaters,Individuals briefed on the plan said Screening Room would charge about $150 for access to the set-top box that transmits the movies and charge $50 per view. Consumers have a 48-hour window to view the film.To get exhibitors on board, the company proposes cutting them in on a significant percentage of the revenue, as much as $20 of the fee. As an added incentive to theater owners, Screening Room is also offering customers who pay the $50 two free tickets to see the movie at a cinema of their choice. That way, exhibitors would get the added benefit of profiting from concession sales to those moviegoers.
Read Entire Article Here

Please send any questions or comments to TradeVine@ActorsReporter.com  

And, remember, you heard it through The TradeVine. 

 

The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.
 

Welcome to the TradeVine whose purpose is to encourage the entertainment industry to read their trades: Variety, Backstage, Hollywood Reporter, etc. Enjoy learning about your industry.
Each Friday, The TradeVine seeks out a few of the informative trade articles you may have missed. Please visit the trade, itself, for the entire article.

Back Stage, March 11th – How to Choose the Most Efficient Acting Goals, by David Patrick Green.

David Patrick Green

Actions can lead to all sorts of great stuff. But if you want to get the most out of your actions, you have to have a goal. Look at some of the crazy things that mankind has pulled off. We have walked on the moon, explored the deepest oceans, even sent a dune buggy to Mars—four times! The key to every single one of those accomplishments was actually knowing what it was. Following the Greats. If we want to do something big, we have to accept that even accidental successes like the Post-its, the microwave oven, and Buffalo wings came from very focused attempts to do something specific. We can learn so much from the few lucky people that are naturally goal-oriented. Just Say It. We all have an evil twin. They are the largely bossy dominant twin in charge of holding us back in life. Isn’t it time the twin with big, clear ideas and confidence became the dominant twin? To succeed at anything—including acting—you have to listen to your fantastical twin. Your fantastical twin knows the one reason why you should do something. You should do it because you want to and you have no other pressing engagements. Now That You Know. Now that you have a goal, you can do all the things you need to do to accomplish that goal. How do you accomplish a goal? You have to have a plan. Read Entire Article Here

Hollywood Reporter, March 12th – Ghetto Film School L.A. Launches New Program for Female Students, by Caitlin Plummer.

Ghetto Film School L.A. is welcoming a new program to its spring curriculum, with one condition: no boys allowed. Titled “Iris-In: A Ghetto Film School Program for Young Women,” the class is being offered to the nonprofit’s female students and will feature showbiz women like writer Lauren Blum and Cake producer Kristin Hahn as guest speakers and panelists.Ghetto Film School founder Joe Hall liked Olde’s idea and launched a program in New York in the fall. The L.A. program followed, and Olde played a major role in wrangling the speakers for both cities. Read Entire Article Here

Variety, March 13th – Kids’ Choice Awards: Ellen DeGeneres Masters Snapchat, Blake Shelton Goes Full Unicorn, by Lamarco McClendon.

Country music star Blake Shelton set out to “save the Kids’ Choice Awards,” held Saturday at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif. – but not until his famous pals Pharrell, Adam Levine and Selena Gomez paid him a visit, offering words of encouragement. Shelton sat in front of his dressing room mirror staring at himself as “Star Wars” stormtroopers marched onstage to take over the Nickelodeon show. The host grabbed his blaster and exchanged fire with the troopers – interrupted by last year’s host Nick Jonas shouting “keep it down” — before driving on the KCA stage in a chair modeled after his seating on “The Voice.” “You all know why this show is so cool?” “The Voice” judge asked, greeting the crowd. “Because you control everything.” The audience was given more control over this year’s show than any other year. They voted for the winners, the set design for the stage and which viral Internet star would be slimed – Bethany Mota or Cameron Dallas. Read Entire Article Here

Please send any questions or comments to TradeVine@ActorsReporter.com  

And, remember, you heard it through The TradeVine. 

 

The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.
 

Welcome to the TradeVine whose purpose is to encourage the entertainment industry to read their trades: Variety, Backstage, Hollywood Reporter, etc. Enjoy learning about your industry.
Each Friday, The TradeVine seeks out a few of the informative trade articles you may have missed. Please visit the trade, itself, for the entire article.

Back Stage, March 21st – 5 Ways to Empower Actors With Learning Disabilities, by Jane Jessop.

Jane Jessop

It is time to accept and believe that there are now actors with learning disabilities who offer significant and thought-provoking work on stage and on camera. We have a cohort of actors with learning disabilities who are ready to be treated equally, to work professionally, to take on major roles, and to be part of mainstream productions. there is an audience for their work, and a hunger for work where every performer is equally valued.
1. Raise that ceiling of expectation. Never let people down by offering them anything less than the best or by putting in artificial ceilings of expectation.
2. Work professionally and support them to work professionally. Anything less lets them down. Supporting them professionally includes looking at our own expectations. Are we expecting a professional performance? Do we believe in our performers? Are we ready to showcase their work to the widest possible audiences.
3. Prepare to be surprised! Never did Jessop expect that performers with Down syndrome and other learning disabilities would take “Hamlet” in Shakespeare’s language on tour to professional venues and build sizable audiences in places where no one had ever heard of us. In their hands, “Hamlet,” brought new insights and moved people to tears.
4. Make sure you communicate. Give them time and your focus when needed. Make sure you have explained what you need from them clearly.
5. Support the actor to think about their character, where they are in the story, how they are feeling, and to enjoy developing their role. Many actors like to create a back story or relate a role to a character they know. Someone with a learning disability may need help thinking about this. Then, trust them to own the role, allow them to experiment, and encourage them to go deeper and further. Allow them to grow in front of you.
Read Entire Article Here

Hollywood Reporter, March 18th – Why 2016 Could Be a Banner Year for Hollywood Studio Mergers and Acquisitions, by Georg Szalai.

Hollywood studio chiefs and entertainment industry CEOs appear to have dealmaking on their minds. CEOs from Tribune Media’s Peter Liguori to John Malone say they’re ready to make some moves as the future of networks such as WGN America, Starz, Lionsgate and Paramount remain uncertain. All of this could lead to what is already looking like a potential banner 2016 for mergers and acquisitions in the entertainment industry. That puts this year already within striking distance of the $9.3 billion of deals that the firm tallied in 2015 and the $10.9 billion racked up in 2014. Read Entire Article Here

Variety, March 15th – Academy Increases Diversity Push by Adding Three Governors, by Tim Gray.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences furthered its efforts at diversity by adding three members to the board of governors, and six members to various board committees.The board OK’d president Cheryl Boone Isaacs’s choices of Reginald Hudlin (directors branch), Gregory Nava (writers branch) and Jennifer Yuh Nelson (short films and feature animation). They will serve three-year terms, effective immediately. The board also appointed additional Academy members to each of the six board committees that provide oversight to specific Academy areas. “I’m proud of the steps we have taken to increase diversity,” said Boone Isaacs. “However, we know there is more to do as we move forward to make this a more inclusive organization.” Read Entire Article Here

Please send any questions or comments to TradeVine@ActorsReporter.com  

And, remember, you heard it through The TradeVine. 

 

The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.
 

Night of 100 Stars

Mobile Version

Click here to view the embedded video.

Laci Kay hosts red carpet for Actors Reporter.

OSCAR NIGHT PARTY – Night of 100 Stars by Norby Walters

On Oscar Sunday February 28th, 2016, Actors Reporter’s Laci Kay was on the red carpet at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in Beverly Hills, California, the venue for the arrival of approximately 200 film and TV stars to attend one of the the hottest celebrity Oscar Awards party in town:
Norby Walters’ 26th Annual Night of 100 Stars Black Tie Dinner Viewing Gala.

Billionaire clothing designer / manufacturer Peter Nygard, Founder and Chairman of Nygard International returned as the wonderful sponsor.

 

Photos by Pepper Jay:

Doris Roberts

Sally Kirkland

John Savage

Garry Marshall

Garry Marshall and Laci Kay

Gloria Allred

Tanya Lemani George

Eric Roberts

Willie Garson

Bai Ling

Ernie Hudson

Martin Landau

Lou Ferrigno

Ernie Hudson

Kathleen Bradley

Garry Marshall

Préity Üupala

Mark Valinsky

Tamara Henry

Ed Lozzi

Rob Steinberg

And special shout out to Ed Lozzi PR!

See more at:
Night of 100 Stars

Learn more about Pepper Jay at:
PepperJay.com

Actors Reporter is a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.

 

Welcome to the TradeVine whose purpose is to encourage the entertainment industry to read their trades: Variety, Backstage, Hollywood Reporter, etc. Enjoy learning about your industry.
Each Friday, The TradeVine seeks out a few of the informative trade articles you may have missed. Please visit the trade, itself, for the entire article.

Back Stage, April 29th – 6 Résumé Basics Actors Must Know, by Clifton Guterman.

Clifton Guterman

Does an impressive and nicely laid out résumé really make a difference in the audition room? Often.Can a questionable or vague document raise eyebrows and undercut a fabulously acted appointment? Sometimes. Are there specific ways to impress and, alternatively, pollute an opportunity? You bet.
1. A professional résumé should include your name, a working phone number and email address, always (either yours or your agent’s).
2. Most theater casting folks don’t tend to care much about notated physical stats like height, weight, hair color, and eye color.
3. In general, the order for credit categories can vary. common groupings/headings stacked from top to bottom: Film/TV, Commercials/Industrials, Broadway, National Tours, Regional Theater, Academic Theater (if you’re still at a stage in your career where including school productions is helpful)*, Training (college degrees and specialized class work), Special Skills (dialects, musical instruments, vocal ability, dance, etc.) Only include a category if you have something to list underneath.
4. Please share show titles, roles, directors, and producing organizations. Casting directors and directors often reach out to others in the biz to “check in” about actors.
5. In general, 100 percent honesty on paper is your best friend. Beware a vast list of quirky special skills if you can’t legitimately execute all of them on the spot.
6. Finally, carefully look over your own résumé before every audition. Refresh the memory. Where have you worked, with whom, when, etc. What experiences would you happily, voluntarily discuss? Who on your résumé might have a connection to that day’s auditors or company?
Read Entire Article Here

Hollywood Reporter, April 28th – Like the Academy, BAFTA Is Reviewing Its Members’ Voting Privileges, by Scott Feinberg.

Like the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts is currently reviewing its membership rolls to decide who should retain voting privileges for its annual BAFTA Awards. But unlike the Academy, whose efforts have proven controversial, BAFTA’s review has gone much more smoothly, winning the approval of the majority of its members. BAFTA shares a considerable number of its members with the Academy. And its new rules, while similar to those the Academy has instituted, are actual stricter.
Read Entire Article Here

Variety, April 29th – Prince Music Piracy Jumps More Than Tenfold After Artist’s Death, by Todd Spangler.

Internet pirates went crazy downloading Prince songs the week following the legendary musician’s death. During his career, Prince actively fought piracy and unauthorized posts of his material, even threatening to sue fans who shared links to file-sharing sites with his songs. The surge in piracy of Prince’s work following his death isn’t surprising. It’s worth noting that sales of his albums shot to the top of iTunes, Amazon and other services the day news broke that he was found dead, just as the deaths of artists like David Bowie and Michael Jackson precipitated a rise in purchases of their music. But the piracy numbers show that illegal sharing of songs remains an ongoing issue for the music biz, despite broad digital distribution of music on paid download services and streaming outlets like Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal.
Read Entire Article Here

Please send any questions or comments to TradeVine@ActorsReporter.com  

And, remember, you heard it through The TradeVine. 

 

The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production. The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.
 

Welcome to the TradeVine whose purpose is to encourage the entertainment industry to read their trades: Variety, Backstage, Hollywood Reporter, etc. Enjoy learning about your industry.
Each Friday, The TradeVine seeks out a few of the informative trade articles you may have missed. Please visit the trade, itself, for the entire article.

Back Stage, May 5th – 5 Ways to Get Into Character by Ken Lazer.

Ken Lazer

The technique of acting is very important to anyone who wants to be a serious actor. Having an audience to believe the role you are acting is all about preparation. The technique, however, will help you bring a character in a written text/script alive. 1. Do your homework. Ensure you have proper knowledge of what you think the play and your character are about. This way, by the time you get into rehearsal, you’ll be ready to make decisions regarding your character. 2. Think physically. Think about the physicality of your character and the degree of self-awareness—how your character walks, stands, and the gestures they might use. 3. Believe in the unconscious. When you adapt to situations or circumstances you create yourself, it becomes much easier to adapt to a character with the unconscious mind. 4. Avoid distractions. Don’t let any other actor or anyone distract you while you are preparing your lines. Go to a private corner or space and work on your scene alone. 5. Find a source of motivation. You need to look beyond the script to achieve this state. The more you know why your character made an action, the more easily you can get into the mind of your character. http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/5-ways-get-character/

Hollywood Reporter, May 6th – Holy Social Security! Older Stars Are Cashing in on Superhero Movies by Rebecca Ford and Borys Kit.

Superhero movies long have taken a chance on unproven actors in their 30s and 40s for lead roles. Marvel’s Captain America star Chris Evans is 34; Batman v. Superman’s Henry Cavill is 32; Iron Man’s Robert Downey Jr. was 41 when he first donned the suit. But now there’s a new class of more pedigreed actors reaping the rewards of the superhero craze — and many of them get the senior discount. Michael Douglas was 69 when he joined Marvel’s Ant-Man; Robert Redford, the patriarch of indie film, took a supporting role in Captain America: The Winter Soldier at 76; and Glenn Close was 66 when she signed on to Guardians of the Galaxy.Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice featured Laurence Fishburne, 54, Kevin Costner, 61, and Jeremy Irons, 67. Marvel’s new release, Captain America: Civil War (May 6), includes William Hurt, 66, as a character he first played in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. And Warner Bros. has assembled its upcoming Justice League with J.K. Simmons, 61, and Willem Dafoe, 60. All of the above have won or been nominated for an Oscar.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/holy-social-security-older-stars-890301

Variety, May 3rd- Incentives Scorecard: Unique Locations, Cash Rebate Help Lure Productions to South Korea by, The Variety Staff.

In addition to its own thriving film industry — which produces pictures for domestic consumption and for distribution to other Asian countries, the U.S. and elsewhere — South Korea is luring foreign producers with a combination of unique locations and a cash rebate of up to 25% on qualified spending. https://variety.com/2016/artisans/production/south-korea-production-incentives-1201765821/

Please send any questions or comments to TradeVine@ActorsReporter.com  

And, remember, you heard it through The TradeVine. 

 

The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production. The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.
 

Welcome to the TradeVine whose purpose is to encourage the entertainment industry to read their trades: Variety, Backstage, Hollywood Reporter, etc. Enjoy learning about your industry.
Each Friday, The TradeVine seeks out a few of the informative trade articles you may have missed. Please visit the trade, itself, for the entire article.

Back Stage, May 11th – What Kind of Career Do You Want? by Erin Cronican.

Erin Cronican

“What kind of career do you want to have?” This kind of question can be networking suicide for actors, because actors have long been trained to want to do everything. Actors have a golden opportunity to make a real connection when someone asks this question, which can start the wheels of his/her career in motion. To take advantage of this type of question, you need to think out your answer in advance. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
1. Which breakdowns are perfect for you? Go through your audition resources and Backstage’s casting notices and start to note which breakdowns fit you perfectly.
2. Which genre is perfect for you? Are you best suited for wacky physical comedy or do you salivate over brooding period dramas? You can certainly include other genres in your search for projects, but choosing your preferred genre will help you to focus your energy and attention to that which inspires you the most.
3. If you had your dream career, which medium would you spend the most time in? Do you prefer the intimacy of on-camera work or do you thrive on the energy of a live audience? Or would you prefer to combine the two in a studio audience setting? Getting specific about what you would prefer doesn’t pigeon-hole you into one medium, it simply creates a context for your career that is focused and manageable.
4. Which successful actor has your career path? This is a very important question and one that you will be asked most often. This doesn’t mean, “Whose work do you love the most?” This means, when you look at their body of work, which actor looks, sounds, and acts the way you would if you had the same roles. Which actor has the kind of career you could imagine leading? Passionately seek out projects that look for that type of actor. And when asked, “What actor are you most like?” you’ll be armed with a specific response that is educated and palpable!
Read Entire Article Here

Hollywood Reporter, May 11th – ‘Star Wars’ Gets Kenny Loggins ‘Top Gun’ Treatment, by Ryan Parker.

Top Gun turns 30 this month, and a fan figured out that its theme song, Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone,” pairs really well with the space dogfights from the Star Wars saga. The mash-up, a fan-made video posted to Vimeo by user Weston Wong, shows scenes from the original trilogy, the prequels and The Force Awakens set to the iconic 1986 tune. The video already has more than 71,000 views. A follow-up to Top Gun is in the works with Justin Marks attached to write the screenplay.
Read Entire Article Here

Variety, May 11th – ‘Better Call Saul,’ Melissa Benoist, Nichelle Nichols To Be Honored at Saturn Awards, by Lamarco McClendon.

Nichelle Nichols, Simon Kinberg, Melissa Benoist and AMC’s “Better Call Saul” are among the recipients set to be honored at the 42nd annual Saturn Awards in June. Nichols, who starred as Lt. Uhura in “Star Trek,” will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the “Star Trek” series, musical arts and genre entertainment. The award will coincide with the 50 anniversary of the “Star Trek” franchise. She will also be recognized for her tireless support of NASA and space exploration.
Read Entire Article Here

Please send any questions or comments to TradeVine@ActorsReporter.com  

And, remember, you heard it through The TradeVine. 

 

The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production. The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.
 

Welcome to the TradeVine whose purpose is to encourage the entertainment industry to read their trades: Variety, Backstage, Hollywood Reporter, etc. Enjoy learning about your industry.
Each Friday, The TradeVine seeks out a few of the informative trade articles you may have missed. Please visit the trade, itself, for the entire article.

Back Stage, May 26th – 1 Piece of Inspiration You Need Today, by Paul Barry.

Paul Barry

Actors are called upon to sometimes play Hamlet for four-and-a-half hours a night, and other times deliver one line after waiting two days of the schedule being shifted around to accommodate the lead cast and weather considerations. Vastly different sized roles may seem to also require a different level of focus when it comes to the performance. Though talent and stamina are obvious factors, without the same level of commitment to finding the “center” of both roles it is entirely possible to receive a standing ovation as Hamlet one night, and be fired as an extra the following day for being terrible at it. Rock climbers can scale cliffs without any form of rope for safety or support. How? Eventually, you will see that the answer is, “One grip at a time.” If you can climb a 10-foot wall proficiently, then once you add stamina and mental discipline, you can climb that same wall for a mile. Extending the analogy of climbing the mountain, you don’t climb one by simply walking out of your house and arriving at the top. There is much training, conditioning, and mental preparation required. There is one factor though more important than all the rest. it would seem that the deepest understanding of progress is to focus on the smallest target as possible, not the largest. The center, the nub, the crux, the heart, the kernel, the core. If you can walk a journey of one step, you can walk a thousand steps. If you can confidently climb a foot up a staircase, you can learn to confidently climb a mile up a mountain. If you can walk, you can dance. If you can speak, you can sing.
Read Entire Article Here

Hollywood Reporter, May 26th – Emmys: 9 Wide-Open Races Poised to Shake Up This Year’s Noms, by Michael O’Connell.

If TV’s potential nominees sound like candidates in another (less important) national election, here’s why: Nine categories are wide open thanks to brash upstarts, former sure things that are no longer and more.
On the eve of Emmy nomination voting, which starts June 13th, there is a refreshing air of possibility for this year’s race. After an Oscar race that resulted in a mostly predictable winner’s circle, TV’s top honor (scheduled to be handed out Sept. 18 on ABC) currently isn’t poised to have too many repeat victors. As any programmer will breathlessly remind anyone who asks, there is more content than ever, translating to a record number of eligible nominees.
Read Entire Article Here

Variety, May 26th – NBC Bets on Maya Rudolph, Martin Short to Revive a TV Mainstay, by Brian Steinberg.

With the buzz around Beyonce’s “Lemonade” still fresh, many people have been asking Maya Rudolph to do her popular impression of the singer just one more time. Will she? “It’s got to be right,” the comic actress says in her best Beyonce voice. “It’s got to be just a little sour, and just a little bit sweet.”Rudolph may find her moment next week, when she and actor Martin Short – known for everything from “SCTV” to giving voice to “The Cat In The Hat” on PBS – tackle an interesting mission. On May 31 at 10 p.m. on NBC, the pair will launch “Maya & Marty” a six-episode exploration of what for a younger generation of viewers will be a new frontier: a variety show, complete with special guests, singing and comic sketches. Not everyone could hold their own under such circumstances, but Short and Rudolph can do more than just get laughs. They can sing and dance, too.
Read Entire Article Here

Please send any questions or comments to TradeVine@ActorsReporter.com  

And, remember, you heard it through The TradeVine. 

 

The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production. The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.
 

Night of 100 Stars

Mobile Version

Click here to view the embedded video.

Laci Kay hosts red carpet for Actors Reporter.

OSCAR NIGHT PARTY – Night of 100 Stars by Norby Walters

On Oscar Sunday February 28th, 2016, Actors Reporter’s Laci Kay was on the red carpet at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in Beverly Hills, California, the venue for the arrival of approximately 200 film and TV stars to attend one of the the hottest celebrity Oscar Awards party in town:
Norby Walters’ 26th Annual Night of 100 Stars Black Tie Dinner Viewing Gala.

Billionaire clothing designer / manufacturer Peter Nygard, Founder and Chairman of Nygard International returned as the wonderful sponsor.

 

Photos by Pepper Jay:

Doris Roberts

Sally Kirkland

John Savage

Garry Marshall

Garry Marshall and Laci Kay

Gloria Allred

Tanya Lemani George

Eric Roberts

Willie Garson

Bai Ling

Ernie Hudson

Martin Landau

Lou Ferrigno

Ernie Hudson

Kathleen Bradley

Garry Marshall

Préity Üupala

Mark Valinsky

Tamara Henry

Ed Lozzi

Rob Steinberg

And special shout out to Ed Lozzi PR!

See more at:
Night of 100 Stars

Learn more about Pepper Jay at:
PepperJay.com

Actors Reporter is a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.

 

Welcome to the TradeVine whose purpose is to encourage the entertainment industry to read their trades: Variety, Backstage, Hollywood Reporter, etc. Enjoy learning about your industry.
Each Friday, The TradeVine seeks out a few of the informative trade articles you may have missed. Please visit the trade, itself, for the entire article.

Back Stage, March 29th – How Can Young Actors Find Appropriate Monologues? Rita Litton.

Rita Litton

Actors have a hard time knowing their “type.” And a young actor who’s morphing yearly is even harder to peg. Focus on your vocal quality, inflections, and timing (which is key for comedy). Are you at ease or uncomfortable with the material? How smart (street or book) are you? Can you easily identify with the life story/background of the character or are major substitutions going to be necessary? When a piece clicks with an actor, their reaction/response will often form the basis for coaching and directing sessions to come. Keep the choice of material appropriate to your age range. A young teen should not choose a monologue about their day at work, their bad marriages, divorces, or lovers. Even if you play leading adult roles in your high school, you should choose roles close to your age. Contrasting pieces require a variety of situations, statuses, attitudes, and uses of irony and humor—not age span. It’s important to understand the background and exposition of your monologue when the stakes or the subtext may not be obvious in the text. Read the play, not just the monologue. Working with a coach with extensive theater experience is invaluable in choosing appropriate material. Choose monologues that speak to you, that allow you to bring your intelligence, imagination, life experience, empathy, unique type and personality to your performance.
Read Entire Article Here

Hollywood Reporter, March 30th – New Hollywood Economy: Pay-for-Play Auditions for Actors Gain Dominance, by Gary Baum.

Casting Director Billy DaMota

When you became an actor, you went into business for yourself, a casting director tells the assembly of close to 20 at The Actor’s Key, which hosted 160 such sessions in January, at the height of TV’s pilot season. On any given night, hundreds of struggling actors dole out cash for the privilege of reading brief scenes in an attempt to impress many of the town’s gatekeeper casting directors and their assistants. These aren’t auditions, they’re called “workshops,” a chance for entry-level and other actors to show their skills to a casting professional and get constructive criticism. While these workshops are a gateway for those hoping to secure a coveted role, critics say they flout a law that no one enforces: It’s so easy to exploit actors, says casting director Billy DaMota. Workshops have been part of Hollywood’s casting system for decades, but as TV and streaming production has ramped up in recent years, and studios and networks have trimmed or eliminated in-house casting departments, the workshops have metastasized into a cornerstone of the industry’s de facto human resources policy. But exchanging money for the prospect of employment remains illegal in California. The Krekorian Talent Scam Prevention Act, which was passed in 2009, specifically outlaws workshops and casting directors from charging or attempting to charge an artist for an audition or employment opportunity. Both the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA, and the Casting Society of America say they are aware of concerns about the workshops. Yet both guilds position themselves as powerless to effect change and say they repeatedly have lobbied the Los Angeles city attorney’s office to prioritize the issue.
Read Entire Article Here

Variety, March 30th – Screening Room Headed to CinemaCon; Brett Ratner Checks Out Technology, by Brent Lang.

Screening Room and its CEO Prem Akkaraju will be meeting with exhibitors at CinemaCon, the annual exhibition industry trade show unfolding next month in Las Vegas. The day-and-date home entertainment platform has raised the ire of some theater owners, who fear that the company will undercut their business. That could result in a chilly reception. However, Screening Room is appearing in Sin City at the request of some theater owners, and is not looking to disrupt the gathering or be disrespectful, according to a source close to the company. It will be hosting demonstrations of its technology. Major movies typically appear exclusively in theaters for 90 days before hitting home entertainment platforms. In recent years studios have flirted with ways to shorten that period of time, believing that will allow them to capitalize on the marketing campaigns they launch for a theatrical debut, potentially saving them money.
Read Entire Article Here

Please send any questions or comments to TradeVine@ActorsReporter.com  

And, remember, you heard it through The TradeVine. 

 

The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.
 

Teen actress singer Laci Kay for Actors Reporter performed at and covered the Eric “EZ” Zuley, Jose Beltran Birthday Celebration at H.o.m.e Beverly Hills red carpet.

There were special appearances by: Judge Joe Brown, Choreographer Shane Sparks (ABDC Judge/Master P Show), Munni Irone (Founder A4PAwards) Carmelita Pittman (singer, songwriter, producer, and Founder of The Rose Breast Cancer Society.), Michael Zanetis (Executive Producer BB KING Film), Mary Desmond (American Idol), Shevyn Roberts (Opened for Justin Bieber), Laci Kay (Modern Family), Vincent M. Ward (Walking Dead), Trae Ireland (Actor), Patrick Faucette (Own Tyler Perry The Have and the have nots), Reatha Grey (Betty Whites Off Their Rockers), Ken Davitian (Borat), Kaye-Cee Austin (Founder TeenTrep.Co), Faithy J (CEO TeenTrep.Co), Kate Linder (Hollywood Walk Of Fame), and David Eugene Andrews (Author of The English Slave), Jay Pugh (RK Records), Rosalyn Kahn (author and TedX Speaker) Penny Lambright (founder Patriots and Paws), Lalanii R. Grant (Creative Writer), Tori V (Actress), Ewart Chin (Actor), Jonathan JG Goldstein (James Brown’s right hand man) and many others.

Celebrities and fans were entertained by singer performers Laci Kay, FaithyJ, Shevyn Roberts and the celebrity magician Evan Disney displaying his amazing skills, Allen Ramos, Lili Lev, Mary Desmond (American Idol).

There were be raffles and numerous other goody giveaways, as well as auctions and opportunities for charity donations.
Acknowledge were United States Veterans, who have served and fought for our country. The evening activities included three Expert Panels and guests were allowed to participate in the amazing Q&A sessions.

As DJ Juan played a selection of soothing music in the background, this became truly a night to be remember.

The evening also included:

Launch of the new Waz-Kal Verizon, Amazon eZWayTV Channel.

and

2 screenings:
1. Mr. & Mrs. Smith The Series Trailer
and
2. Wind International Film Festival

Photos by EZ Broadcasting:

The evening was produced by: eZWay Broadcasting, INC and WPS Events.

This event was sponsored by Get Jazzed Munchies (Jennifer A. Zaft), WPS Events, TeenTrep.Co, W.e.i, The Rose Breast Cancer Society, and Pike & Sons Fudge (Renee Pike, Dillon Pike, Zachary Pike Pike and Sons.

Michael Phelps art

H.O.M.E. in Beverly Hills is one of the most popular locations, where people like Stevie Wonder and other A-List celebrities have performed. The food and service at this well-known location has received amazing ratings. This event at the House of Music and Entertainment
(HOME90210.com) will feature seven different, talented music artists, performing in a variety of music genres.

Please visit: ezWay Broadcasting

and learn more about our Actors Reporter host, Laci Kay at:
Laci Kay Official

And, Thank you to Bob Delgadillo Events Photographer

and Thank you to: Sheri Determan Photography

Eric “EZ” Zuley’s birthday party at H.O.M.E. in Beverly Hills, coverage by Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.

Welcome to the TradeVine whose purpose is to encourage the entertainment industry to read their trades: Variety, Backstage, Hollywood Reporter, etc. Enjoy learning about your industry.
Each Friday, The TradeVine seeks out a few of the informative trade articles you may have missed. Please visit the trade, itself, for the entire article.

Back Stage, April 7th – 3 Mistakes That Make Self-Produced Demos Look Unprofessional, by Retta Putignano.

Retta Putignano

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with shooting your own footage and adding it to your demo reel. The only purpose of self-produced footage is to show casting you can play the role, not that you were booked on that “Criminal Minds” episode. Shooting something that is completely professional may fool a few people, but for the most part, self-produced footage isn’t fooling the professionals in the industry. The goal should be to make it look as professionally produced as possible so casting only focuses on you, the actor. if you’re going to shoot your own demo reel scene, here are three production errors you need to avoid.
1. Poor audio. The picture is great, lighting looks good, but the audio sounds like your scene was shot in the Batcave. With the cost of HD and 4K cameras going down, a really excellent camera is affordable to many.Many DSLRs these days have tiny, built-in mics that are good quality, but don’t bode well for a scene in an echo-y living room or outside from 10 feet away. The solution? Rent a lavalier mic. Or better yet, if you’ve already invested $1500 in an HD camera, throw in another $200 for a boom.
2. Off-camera dialogue. The hybrid—an actor on camera with a scene partner that talks either off-camera or in an over-the-shoulder shot—just doesn’t cut it—especially when the scene partner isn’t wearing a mic.
3. The 180 rule.Take your two actors, and draw an imaginary line (known as the “axis”) connecting them. The camera should remain on one side of this axis, ensuring that Actor A is always frame-right of Actor B, and Actor B is always frame-left of Actor A. Unless you are intentionally trying to create a feeling of disorientation, stick to this rule for all your shots. It’s a pretty basic concept, but you’d be surprised how many times new filmmakers miss this.
Read Entire Article Here

Hollywood Reporter, April 7th – New York City Film Czar Outlines Growth Agenda (Guest Column), by Julie Menin.

Julie Menin

In the face of rising income inequality, New York City is leveraging the surge in local filmmaking to create new jobs and economic opportunities for working and middle class New Yorkers. Filmed entertainment injects nearly $9 billion to the Big Apple’s economy and employs 130,000 people. the benefits of this economic engine aren’t limited just to the industry, but are shared with the thousands of small businesses and individuals who support it — the caterers, construction workers, makeup artists and set designers — who live and work throughout the five boroughs.The benefits of filmed entertainment should be shared with the thousands of small businesses and individuals who support it.
Read Entire Article Here

Variety, April 7th – ‘American Idol’ Will Be Back, But It Won’t Ever Be as Big, by Brian Lowry.

American Idol Finale

Those feeling waves of nostalgia over the departure of “American Idol” should probably wipe away any tears. A concept that shines this brightly won’t be gone forever – or maybe even for very long, as a few of the principals have already suggested. But when (not if) it does return, it won’t be as big. Those moments in the cultural zeitgeist tend to be singular, and not quite so easily replicated as simply digging the title, theme music and set out of storage. The story of this century in network television, really, has centered on the reality-TV mega-hit, beginning in 1999 with “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” followed by “Survivor,” “Idol,” “The Apprentice” and currently “The Voice,” with less durable commodities emerging along the way. While cable has steadily risen as a creative force on multiple fronts, the broadcast networks have relied on eruptions from unscripted TV to buoy their numbers and occasionally engineer a rapid turnaround. All those shows, however, come with a certain shelf life, a moment where the torch isn’t doused, necessarily, but no longer smokes the competition. In the case of “Idol,” that flickering can be directly traced to the departure of judge Simon Cowell, who announced his plans in 2010, even if it took a while for the damage from his exit to fully manifest itself.
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The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production. The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.
 

Welcome to the TradeVine whose purpose is to encourage the entertainment industry to read their trades: Variety, Backstage, Hollywood Reporter, etc. Enjoy learning about your industry.
Each Friday, The TradeVine seeks out a few of the informative trade articles you may have missed. Please visit the trade, itself, for the entire article.

Back Stage, April 12th – 6 Ways to Meet Powerful People, by David Patrick Green.

David Patrick Green

At some point, it will be a real live human who makes the decision to hire you, and they are not going to choose you unless they’re sure you’re not going to mess up their project. Here are some techniques to help you get beyond the initial greeting phase and create some space for yourself in the hearts and minds of these powerful people.
1. The Girl Scout cookie introduction. You know why Girl Scouts are so good at selling their cookies? Because the cookies taste great and everyone knows it. Actors often express fear about meeting people because they feel like they are trying to get something. The truth is that you are there to give.
2. Things change, so come back tomorrow. When someone says no to us, we don’t know why. Frankly, it doesn’t matter. Circumstances will be different by tomorrow. It doesn’t mean you will get what you want, but it will show your persistence.
3. Be helpful. Whenever you walk into a business or approach someone on the phone for the first time, there is a natural mistrust and potential for awkwardness. One of the best ways to break the ice is to start being helpful right away. Most businesses have someone out front who rests between you and the person you are trying to meet. Treat the gatekeeper like they are the most important person in that company.
4. Be open. Chances are that after a second of awkward silence, they are going to ask you how they can help you. Opening created.
5. Rules are for rulers. you can’t let others stand in the way of your dreams.
6. Start at the bottom. It’s a lot easier to show your value at something for which you are eminently qualified.
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Hollywood Reporter, April 12th – Mike Francesa, King of New York Sports Radio for 30 Years, Prepares to Abdicate His Throne, by Scott Feinberg.

Mike Francesa sits in his sparse office at CBS Radio’s WFAN, the station at which he has worked for nearly 30 years — initially in a urine-stained basement at the Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens, now in a Soho skyrise — staring at a TV blasting CNBC. Unlike most employees in this troubled time for radio — CBS alone has let go of hundreds of employees in recent months — Francesa isn’t interested in endearing himself to his bosses. He doesn’t have to because he has chart-topping ratings — just as he has had since 1987 — and has already announced that he’s leaving the network when his current contract expires at the end of 2017. If you met Francesa and had no idea who he was, you might assume, from his husky build, thick Long Island accent and blunt manner, that he’s a construction worker or a trucker, rather than “the most relevant sports media figure in New York for almost three full decades,” as HBO’s Bill Simmons describes him.
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Variety, April 12th – NATO Chief Addresses Theatrical Shift at CinemaCon, by Brent Lang.

Without saying it by name, National Association of Theatre Owners head John Fithian made it clear that he is no fan of Screening Room. The controversial start-up wants to make movies available in the home for $50 a piece, but Fithian, who is the top lobbyist for the exhibition industry, said that the theatrical window must be preserved.“Exclusive theatrical windows make new movies into events,” Fithian told a crowd of studio executives and theater owners at CinemaCon, the exhibition industry trade show taking place this week in Las Vegas. “Success there establishes brand value and bolsters revenue in downstream markets.” Major Hollywood releases typically remain in theaters for 90 days before launching on home entertainment platforms. Opponents of Screening Room believe that the business model would encourage people to skip the multiplexes for the comforts of home. Fithian said that theater owners are open to experimenting with new distribution models, but they want to revise any plans in coordination with studios, not by third parties, such as Screening Room.
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Please send any questions or comments to TradeVine@ActorsReporter.com  

And, remember, you heard it through The TradeVine. 

 

The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production. The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.
 

Welcome to the TradeVine whose purpose is to encourage the entertainment industry to read their trades: Variety, Backstage, Hollywood Reporter, etc. Enjoy learning about your industry.
Each Friday, The TradeVine seeks out a few of the informative trade articles you may have missed. Please visit the trade, itself, for the entire article.

Back Stage, April 15th – How to Book the Job With Just One Line, by Gunnar Todd Rohrbacher.

Gunnar Todd Rohrbacher

What do I do with just one line? This is an important question that beguiles many actors. The quest for a certain answer is understandable since one-liners, or co-star roles, are how most actors start acquiring credits and building a résumé. There is no pat answer that covers how to perform all one-liners because they aren’t all written for the same reason, and are not spoken on the same projects. Often, one-liners are utilitarian in nature. Consider a service provider interacting with the lead and verbally acknowledging a transaction. “Here’s your drink, ma’am.” Almost always the breakdown for this type of role is a pleasant person, happy to do their job in an emotionally neutral state, who comes and goes without making the audience wonder what’s going on in their life. Many actors make the mistake of making service-oriented workers grouchy or in a bad mood. Unless the breakdown or stage directions specifically call for that it’s generally a huge error. The overall story is never about a person with one line. Playing a character as cross, upset, or moody when it’s not called for redirects the storyline to them and away from the leads. So then just “throw it away,” right? No, not at all. The producers of the show aren’t looking for lifeless wet blankets for these roles, either. Throwing away a line has a very dismissive, negative connotation aligned with it, and incorporating it as an acting strategy just makes you look boring and uninterested.
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Hollywood Reporter, April 16th – YouTube Launches “Foundry” Initiative to Develop Music Talent, by Andy Gensler.

Billboard. YouTube has informally launched an initiative to develop music talent under the name “YouTube Music Foundry,” which gives artists new tools and guidance on how to successfully grow their presence on the video platform, according to YouTube. All Foundry content is available for free on the main site as well as on the YouTube Music app. The Foundry program is one of many the company has created over the last several years to assist artists and the music industry in producing and optimizing content. Among the tools artists are learning to use now include live video production, a rapidly growing technology that over the last several years has grown exponentially with the ascent of Periscope, Meerkat, Snapchat and other social media technologies with video. Facebook recently announced it was making live video streaming tools more widely available for its users.
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Variety, April 17th – William Holden: The Golden Boy of Vintage Hollywood, by Tim Gray.

Sunday marks the birthday of William Holden. Born in 1918, the actor ranked No. 25 on AFI’s list of all-time great leading men. Since he had classic good looks, an expressive voice, and was an excellent actor who starred in some of Hollywood’s most memorable movies, why wasn’t he even higher on the list? Maybe because Holden had a special talent for always making his co-stars look so good. It’s hard to think of another leading man who was equally magnetic and self-effacing. Holden won an Oscar for his second collaboration with Billy Wilder, the 1953 “Stalag 17.” He also starred in such iconic films as “Our Town,” “Picnic,” “The Wild Bunch” and “The Towering Inferno.”
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Please send any questions or comments to TradeVine@ActorsReporter.com  

And, remember, you heard it through The TradeVine. 

 

The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production. The TradeVine is a weekly article on Actors Reporter, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.