In the room today is Kenny Wong, an award-winning screen writer, actor and violinist. Kenny tells us about how he got into acting after a devastating diagnosis during his time at McGill University in the music performance program. He gets in to how he made that transition, the work he put in and the dedication he had to achieving his goals. Kenny also tells us how he turned his diagnosis in to a script, which went on to win many awards! We hear about how he signed with his first and current agents, his highs and lows, auditions and bookings. Kenny also tells us about his experience on NBC's Transplant where he played the recurring role of Arnold for 4 seasons! He also shares some great tips for actors. Kenny is charismatic, driven, talented and has an amazing work ethic. Let's get into it!

Suzanna and Jess talk about the realities of working on big projects that sound exciting to "non-actors" vs. working on smaller indie projects that are more fulfilling. We get into talking to your family who doesn't quite understand how the industry works about your work as an actor and what they mean. Let's get in to it!

In the room today are actors and sought-after writing duo; Erica Deutschman and Katy Breier! We discuss their start into acting; the real struggle of taking a bus to and from Toronto for in person auditions (before self-tapes), living in a house full of actors and the cost of booking as a local. We then get into how they've become so successful as a writing duo, selling 11 scripts, how they became writing partners and where they are headed. They give amazing acting, writing and life advice. They are charming and funny - let's get into it!

Suzanna and Jess preface this weeks later episode with Erica and Katy. They are actresses and a sought-after writing duo. When they recount their journey, all seems to be quite easy and flowy but we are here to recount some of their struggles that we spoke about after recording! Not everything is as easy as it seems, there is no such thing as an overnight success and things take time, and experience! Let's get into it!

In the room today is Holly Gauthier-Frankel who is an actor, singer, burlesque dancer and award-winning voice actor and director working in this industry for 30 years! Holly is a brave artist who has self-funded and self-generated so many projects. She's taken the leap and taken lots of risks, pushed through insecurities throughout her entire career. She has diversified, and is very candid with her ups and downs, mistakes she's made but has always come out on top! She is very inspiring. Let's get into it!

Suzanna and Jess talk about their own experience with imposter syndrome and how they overcame it.

In the room today is one of Canada's most renowned voice directors and actors, Richard M. Dumont. He has director over 500 projects; from top rated video games such as Avatar and Assassin's Creed Origins, to hit animation shows such as Miramax's, "Little Twins" and Gwen Stefani's "KuuKuu Harajuku". We learn about his past and how he got into this industry. What is very inspiring is his positive attitude, how he found opportunity everywhere and his love of work. Let's get into it!

In the room today, Suzanna and Jess discuss some big points that this weeks guest, Richard M. Dumont brings up. We dive into being optimistic, seeing opportunity everywhere and that it's OK to self-promote! Let's get into it :)

In our season 2 premiere episode, Suzanna and Jess recap their summers and things they are currently working on. We also get into the elephant in the room...the WGA (Writers Guild of America) and SAG (Screen Actors Guild) strikes. We discuss what the strikes are about, the realities of how it affects us, what we can do and what to expect.

Suzanna's Online On-Camera Acting Class:

https://www.udemy.com/course/on-camera-acting-with-suzanna-lenir/?couponCode=BACKTOACTING

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Suzanna and Jess are wrapping it up for the holiday season. We will be back in the New Year with more episodes! Today we discuss the lack of funding for Canadian television and films, how reliant we are on the US to boost our industry and self-tape burn out. We discuss our goals for the podcast, our careers and personal growth. Let's get into it!

In the room today is acting coach and actor, Anik Matern. We discuss her early years as an actor from murder mysteries, to life in France to running the very successful Dynamic Theatre Factory (DTF). We get into her style of teaching which is a beautiful combination of improv and her spiritual beliefs. Anik also tells us about her latest experience on set as an acting coach and how to balance working with kids, their parents and the director. Anik is such a safe and calming presence, she is very self-aware and reflective and such a joy to speak with. Let's get into it!

Suzanna's online course:

⁠https://www.udemy.com/course/on-camera-acting-with-suzanna-lenir/?couponCode=BACKTOACTING⁠

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In the room today is actor and director, Carlo Mestroni! Carlo shares his stories of his early beginnings in the arts, how he returned after 10 years in the medical field and how he structured his acting career like a business. We get into balancing his work for his family and himself. He explains the importance of analyzing the energy and anxiety you give to a discipline and what is the return on that investment? Carlo has great advice for those just starting out and for anyone who has been working through this industry. Carlo is smart, funny and a great example of a talented working actor in our city. Let's get into it!

In the room today is Hannah Antaki, casting associate and director. She has worked with different casting directors in Toronto and she is here to debunk all of the myths of the Toronto casting process. HINT - we are the same! We get into everything from submissions to selections, from prep to wardrobe and from agents to networking. We also get to hear a bit about the latest project she's working on, Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Hannah answers a lot of your burning questions. She's realistic, honest, nice and approachable! Let's get into it :) LINKS Suzanna's online course: ⁠https://www.udemy.com/course/on-camera-acting-with-suzanna-lenir/?couponCode=BACKTOACTING⁠ FOLLOW US YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@booktheroompodcast/videos⁠  Instagram : ⁠https://www.instagram.com/booktheroompodcast/⁠  Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089225750910

In the room today is actor, Moe Jeudy Lamour who plays Thierry Zoreaux on the Emmy award winning show, Ted Lasso. We hear stories about how he grew his relationship with Jason Sudeikis, his move from Montreal to Vancouver, Toronto and LA, his first theatre experience and filming a scene with Bruce Willis! We hear how the advice from Orlando Jones, Josh Hopkins and Hugh Jackman made a huge impact on his career. There is so much, let's get into it!

MOE JEUDY LAMOUR

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3907801/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moethursdaylove/?hl=en

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Suzanna and Jess recap the highlights of season 1 and what they took away from it. We assess and look at our intentions and if we reached them or not. We want to thank all of our guests this season for their generosity in sharing so much of themselves and their experiences and advice. We want to thank our listeners for tuning in and for sharing their feedback! We will be back with new episodes in September for season 2 !!

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In the room today is Lorna Kidjo, who is an actor, director, writer and all around storyteller! We dive deep into how she got her film made, the different funding programs and what each institution looks for. Lorna tells us about all of her different jobs within the industry and how helpful they were to her when it came time to get her projects made. We talk about the importance of experience, asking for help and determination. Lorna tells us about her project, Oversight, how she got it made, the mistakes she'll never make again and her inspiration. She too is a believer in creating a full life and having passions equal to acting to maintain a healthy mindset. The best way to learn is by just doing and making it work along the way. Let's get into it!

GUEST: Lorna Kidjo

Website: https://stellarcollisioninc.wixsite.com/scfilms

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6606527/

Suzanna and Jess talk about their part time jobs when they were younger and the different paths you can take. They discuss the pros and cons of working within your field and things to keep in mind. Let's get into it!

In the room today is the talented and successful Tristan D. Lalla. We get into the importance of sticking to the things you love and knowing who you are and what your voice is. We get the exclusive story on how he got his role in How She Move which launched his impressive career. From voicing over 100 video games to having 3 recurring roles currently on air (Animal Control FOX, Ghosts CBS, Pretty Hard Cases CBC, Nurses NBC). How energy is EVERYTHING, so you got to show up, be ready and do good work. Tristan tells us how working with Charlize Theron reminded him that all of these celebrities are humans too and to maintain a sense of play. There is a ton of great advice, insight and inspiration. Let's get into it!

Suzanna and Jess talk share some updates on their latest manifestations when it comes to their work and careers and share some that have already come to fruition. Let's get into it!

In the room today is veteran actor Christian Paul. Christian has been acting for years in both English and French. We dive into his early days as a tennis pro and how his athlete mindset has supported his acting career. We discuss some of the major changes that have taken place in the industry over the years, from self tapes to stereotypes to the union and more. Christian also talks about the self tape bubble, globalization, and how much power and agency you have over your career. He also shares how he embraces the hard times, because it makes him face reality so he can build himself back up. The conversation is real, insightful and inspiring, let’s get into it!

Suzanna and Jess talk about bold choices, what we mean by them and some examples. Jess also shares a story where there was a nutty surprise in one of her self tapes! Let's get into it.

In the room today is comedian and actor Akeem Hoyte-Charles. We talk about how the arts and entertainment was actually his plan B, the support he got from his friends and family and how he bombed his first show. Akeem explains how his comedy makes him a better actor and vice versa. He has booked a lot and has had a lot of success as a comedian without doing 1 acting class or going about things in the traditional way. He's an anomaly, a rebel and his energy is contagious! Let's get into it!

Suzanna and Jess talk about the advantages and disadvantages of working in different cities. After speaking with many successful actors, many have spent time outside of Montreal and talk to us abut their experiences and how it's helped them. We discuss the realities of how long it might take, when to make the move and when to know to come back. Let's get into it!

Suzanna and Jess get into different approaches to casting after having spoken to Toronto Casting Director, Hannah Antaki (episode out Nov. 23). We talk about the pros and cons of Zoom and self-tape auditions, reiterate that the auditions are auditions and NOT workshops and if you do decide to expand to Toronto, understand how competitive it is - but don't be deterred! Let's get into it!

Suzanna's online course:

⁠https://www.udemy.com/course/on-camera-acting-with-suzanna-lenir/?couponCode=BACKTOACTING⁠

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In the room today is Simon Peacock; improv master, writer, actor and voice director, also president of ACTRA Montreal. He gives us all of the scoop on voice work in Montreal. From dubbing to animation and video games. He boasts about how much talent we have here in Montreal, specifically in the voice world, how dubbing has almost quadrupled in the city and how everything is cyclical. He talks about the importance of knowing and understanding the genre of project you are reading for, your ability to have fun and being great at cold reading. AND why you shouldn't lie about which accents you can do, because you WILL be tested! There is so much great information in this episode. Let's get into it

We share some insights on self tapes and reasons why casting asks for certain formats. If you understand the reasons why, you may be less likely to forget or ignore the instructions :) Let's get into it!

Today in the room is one of Montreal's most sought-after talent agents, Cha Cha da Vinci! She tells us about her past as a dancer and performer and how she walked away from that to become an agent. Cha has a beautiful understanding of actors and the industry because she was in it as a performer herself. She knows what it takes to be successful and how to read new talent. She shares all of these great tips and insider info on the business of acting, when to push and to always be prepared for that million dollar phone call. She was a blast to talk to and her insights are amazing. Let's get in to it!

Suzanna and Jess talk about the importance of a good attitude from the auditions to set and all in between. Put yourself in the shoes of the casting director or director - are you someone they would want to work with and be around for the next X number of days / weeks / months? Always be yourself; but remember to be professional and decent. Let's get into it!

In the room today is actor, writer, producer, Jesse Camacho. You may recognize him from Netflix's Locke and Key, HBO Canada's, Less Than Kind or hear his voice in Agent Binky; Pets of the Universe. We talk about his early days as a kid actor, how he got into acting and his first few auditions and bookings. We hear fun stories of Jesse in Suzanna's class with all of the "cool kids" and how they've all achieved such success since. We get to hear Jesse's first hand experience from booking the lead to shooting HBO's Less Than Kind. We discuss the difference between your job as a lead vs a recurring role and how nerves don't every really go away and he shares some of his pre-audition routines. He is a really humble actor who is simply just passionate about his craft and work.

Suzanna and Jess talk about the importance of reading the room. To understand your role in this production puzzle, where you stand, how far you can go and when to leave!

In the room today is the talented Amber Goldfarb. You may recognize her from the popular Ubisoft game, Assassin's Creed, as well as the multiple film and TV roles such as, Bellevue, Les Moments Parfaits, The Bold Type and Sex/Life. She tells us when she knew she wanted to be an actor, the space her mom gave her to figure this journey out on her own terms, getting beat up from theatre school and working to get her confidence back. We talk about the importance of trusting your gut, investing in all areas of your life while remaining ambitious and how important timing is in your acting career. We get into her experience in the CFC Actor's conservatory and one of her latest roles as Trina on Netflix's Sex/Life. We discuss working with an intimacy coordinator and understanding your boundaries AND how it is OK to reassess what your definition of success is - because there is a big cost to some of the success you think you want. Let's get into it!\

Suzanna and Jess talk about normalizing making mistakes, taking the pressure off and practicing how you will recover when you make those mistakes. Practice, self-awareness and preparation are pillars in this. Let's get into it!

In the room today is Maxime Giroux, casting director for feature films, TV and commercials working in both English and French. He tells us how he got into the world of casting and what he loves about working on commercials. Maxime gives us an inside look into what it entails to cast a commercial, everything from pressures from the clients to navigating conflicts with actors. He shares the big differences between casting for commercials vs. TV and film. His insights shed so much light which will help you understand more of what goes into the casting process. His passion for his craft and love and respect for actors shines right through. He is so fun to listen to, let's get into it!

Suzanna and Jess share some stories from the start of their careers which leads into some pretty important lessons for auditions and acting in general! Let's get into it.

Suzanna and Jess talk about the stress and realities of being a day player on a series. We give you tips on how to prepare and ease the nerves a bit. We also preview Thursdays episode with the great Anik Matern, actor, coach, healer!

Let's get into it!

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In the room today is content creator and actor, Nir Guzinski! He shares his ups and downs in acting, how he finds comfort in playing characters, the journey with different social media platforms, how to know your value as an actor and the unsuspecting video that got 2.5 million views!! You don't want to miss this one...let's get into it

GUEST: Nir Guzinski Website: https://www.nirguzinski.com/nir-guzinski Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nir_guzinski/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjKIZwTxzp5aCvefuYG3Y2Q

How do you figure out what your casting is? We talk about the importance of being self-aware, try different things and surround yourself with people who have your best interests at heart and know you well enough to point out things you may not notice yourself!

Today we have the privilege of speaking with Bianca, also known as Bibi Cristal. Bibi is an inner development coach, medium and spiritual teacher.  She is a lover of ambition, awareness and alignment. We go deep on the importance of believing in a bigger picture, how we give reasons to all of our experiences, the importance of being self aware and how checking in with our desires will give us a renewed sense of commitment. Bibi is the perfect balance of reality and possibility. Let's get into it!!

GUEST

Bibi Cristal: https://www.bibicristal.com/

https://www.instagram.com/bibicristal.mtl/?hl=en

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I know we all have been faced with hard times and challenging situations. Has it ever happened to you where days / weeks / years go by and you realize why you were faced with such adversity? Well we have! And we share our stories here :)

In the room today is award-wining director, Sid Zanforlin.  Sid has director numerous TV shows in Canada, and has also written, directed and produced his own award-winning shorts, such as Attack of the Brainsucker and Never Tear Us Apart.  We discuss his career background, his experience as a director and his methods of working with actors. Actors, there are A LOT of good pieces of information in this one...let's get into it!

LINKS:

Sid Zanforlin

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0952982/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Website: https://www.sidzanforlin.com/

Judith Westin's : Directing Actors

https://a.co/d/8Lj0eav

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This week Suzanna and Jess expand on their upcoming talk with director Sid Zanforlin about being an "actors director".  How it is for the actor and the casting director and the skill it takes to know how to direct actors and manage expectations of performances.

In the room today is actor and content creator, Matthew Giuffrida.  He tells us how he took the leap into acting and his non-traditional approach to gaining experience and taking control over his career. We also talk about his online success and what's in the pipeline for him! Matthew is driven, creative and very inspiring, let's get into it!

GUEST: Matthew Giuffrida

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpQZSnMFVnTGP5HuWl5G59g 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthew.giuffrida/?hl=en 

BOOK THE ROOM:

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In today's minisode, Suzanna and Jess talk about this weeks guest, Matthew Giuffrida and how quickly he moved on from things that didn't serve him or things that weren't aligned with his goals.  Try different things, eliminate what you don't like and focus on things that you do love! 

In the room today is BAFTA nominated actor and ACTRA award winner, Alex Weiner !  We talk about going all-in at a young age, his journey and growth in the industry, how he treats acting like a business and so much more.  We also discuss his latest role, Rocket Racoon in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy video game. Let's get into it!

In today's minisode, Suzanna and Jess talk about LUCKY PEOPLE...is there such a thing? How much of your success do you attribute to luck vs. hard work? 

Suzanna and Jess talk about the realities of local casting and how it doesn't always go to locals! So if it doesn't go to locals, what's stopping YOU from auditioning for projects that are out of your city? Let's get into it.

Suzanna and Jess talk about the realities of local casting and how it doesn't always go to locals! So if it doesn't go to locals, what's stopping YOU from auditioning for projects that are out of your city? Let's get into it.Suzanna's class:⁠https://www.udemy.com/course/on-camera-acting-with-suzanna-lenir/?couponCode=BACKTOACTING⁠ FOLLOW US!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@booktheroompodcast/videos Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/booktheroompodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089225750910

In the room today is Canadian casting director Rosina Bucci!  Rosina, of Elite Casting has been casting for film, TV and commercials for over 30 years.  She shares how she got her start, how things have changed over the years and how things have very much remained the same.  Her insights and experience will be valuable for veteran and rookie actors alike!  

In today's episode, Suzanna and Jess talk about an actors intention.  WHY are you an actor? When was the last time you check in with yourself?  It’s important to identify your WHY as it will keep you pushing forward on your journey.

In the room today is one of Montreal’s most sought after talent agents, Marc Elias of Haus of Marc.  Marc tells us how he became the agent he could never find for himself as an actor.  We dive into the agent/actor relationship and the role he plays in this partnership.  We talk about how he built his roster and when it's time to part ways with talent. We get into A LOT! Have a listen :) 

GUEST

Marc Elias - Owner/Talent Agent at Haus of Marc 

Website: https://www.hausofmarc.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hausofmarcagency/

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Suzanna and Jess talk about building a community and networking with like-minded people who will help you grow.  They also talk about the importance of being nice and treating everyone you meet with the same respect - from assistant to producer.

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