Lisa and David speak with the multifaceted JAMES DUFF, an actor, Broadway playwright, Emmy-nominated screenwriter, and showrunner/creator about how the young actor can approach material with mature and controversial themes, why it’s okay to decline an audition if the role makes you uncomfortable, the importance of telling authentic stories, the role of the showrunner, and much more.
This week’s mailbag question: “What should I do if I’m getting conflicting advice from my agent and manager?”
JAMES DUFF
James Duff was born in New Orleans and raised in Texas where he studied piano, journalism and drama, eventually becoming a working actor, performing in several productions at Theatre Three (Chicago, The Taking Away of Little Willy, The Seagull), Dallas Repertory Theatre (Shenandoah, God’s Favorite), and Casa Mañana (Grease, Man of La Mancha), as well as doing voice overs, commercials and industrial films.
On moving to New York, Duff switched careers, deciding to concentrate on writing plays. His first drama, The War at Home, premiered at the Hampstead Theatre Company in London, and successfully traveled the world with productions in Israel, Belgium, Greece, South Africa, Sweden (directed by Ingmar Bergman) and a four-city tour of Germany. Retitled Home Front, it opened on Broadway in January of 1985. His second play, A Quarrel of Sparrows premiered at the Cleveland Playhouse in 1991 and went on to bow at The Promenade Theatre in New York City six months later. That same year, his first television movie, Doing Time on Maple Drive, aired on FOX, garnering Duff an Emmy nomination.
Other TV movies include Without A Kiss Goodbye and Betrayed. His series work includes stints writing and producing Popular, Felicity, The Agency and Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Picard. He is probably best known for creating, producing and writing The D.A., The Closer and its spinoff, Major Crimes. The Closer and Major Crimes both reached a worldwide audience of over eighty million viewers. Other work includes executive producing Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Picard. Currently, he is show running Sherlock & Daughter, currently prepping in Dublin.
Duff is married to actor Phillip P. Keene and lives in Paris and Southern California.
THE YOUNG ACTOR WORKSPACE was born out of a single request — a mom who was looking for help with an audition for her son. At the time, the young actor was doing a play with Lisa Picotte and David Kaufman. They were both happy to share their personal insight and advice on how to approach the particularly difficult audition material. He booked the job. Word of mouth ensued and a studio was born. In the past 20 years, Lisa and David have worked with hundreds of young actors, both in weekly classes and private coaching. Some of the young actors who have studied and coached with them have gone on to tremendous success — Millie Bobby Brown, Taylor Lautner, Rico Rodriguez, Raini Rodriguez, Grace Kaufman, Tanner Buchanan, Haley Ramm, Brenna D’Amico, Bobby Soto, just to name a few. While these young actors’ success is a point of pride for Lisa and David, they are just as proud of the many other young actors who are also working regularly, or simply gaining the skills to go out into the world feeling confident in their ability to speak in front of and honestly engage with others in whatever paths they eventually choose. While the studio continues to thrive, Lisa is now a sought-after set coach for young actors. She has worked for ABC, CBS, Showtime, Apple TV Plus and Disney among others.
Instagram: @lisapicotteworkspace
Facebook: @lisapicotteworkspace
Website: www.youngactorworkspace.com
