The Spirited Actor - Phyillicia Bishop

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, and welcome to the Spirited Actor Podcast with me
Tracy Moore. I was a casting director for film and
TV and commercials for over thirty years. I transitioned to
a celebrity acting coach after I cast a film New
Jersey Drive with executive producers Spike Lee and director Nick Domez.
I auditioned every rapper from biggiees Balls to Tupac, and

(00:24):
I realized that rappers and musical artists they needed help
transitioning to acting. My clients consist of musical artists from
Buster Rhymes to Eve, Missy Elliott, Angela Yee from The
Breakfast Club, and Vanessa Simmons, to name a few. I
also coach sports stars and host as well. I feel

(00:45):
I have the best of both worlds. As a casting director,
I know exactly what they're looking for, and as an
acting coach, I can coach you to be remembered in
that room.

Speaker 2 (00:54):
Now. I know, I know actors want to get the job.
I get that, but.

Speaker 1 (00:59):
Being remembered by casting director that is powerful. And now
it's time for meditation of the day. The struggle, like
life itself, should be joyful. Miriam Miranda, I just want
to say those people and I know I'm coming strong
today because I feel it in my spirit. The struggle

(01:23):
is not set up for you to feel bad. The
struggle is not set up for you to think that
it's impossible or that you're not enough. The quote unquote
struggle is set up for you to reintroduce you to
the truth of who you are. And you are powerful,

(01:44):
you are mighty. You can make possible out of impossible.
You can make a way. This too shall pass. Understand
that nothing is being dubbe to you, It's being done
through you. And as you reflect on our guests today

(02:08):
Felicia Bishop, understand that she took an idea, she took
a thought, she took something that was God given to her,
and she made a way.

Speaker 2 (02:21):
She held the vision and today.

Speaker 1 (02:24):
She has created an award winning series that is going
to sell, that is going to be streaming, and all
of you will have the joy of experiencing it.

Speaker 2 (02:37):
Today.

Speaker 1 (02:38):
I will not allow the words struggle to deflect, distract,
or disturb my groove. Before we get started, I like
to remind everyone to go to Krackle network to use
seasons one and two of my show Inside the Black
Box that I co host with the Great Emmy Award

(03:01):
winning Joe Morton look out for news on season three.
Soon Welcome to the Spirited Action Podcast with me Tracy Moore.
That was a loving, a very very loving exhale. For
those of you who know me, you know when I

(03:24):
have someone really special and I take my time in
my introduction because I do have to acknowledge them. I
don't even know, but when she comes on, we'll ask
her how many years, But I'm going to gauge at
least fifteen because my son was really little when she
met him. Well not little, but he's a grown man now.

(03:46):
This woman, our guest, Felicia Bishop, was introduced to me
by my next door neighbor Larry, and he was like, Tracy,
I want you to meet this actors.

Speaker 2 (03:57):
She's a young woman.

Speaker 1 (03:58):
You know she's coming into the business, and I also
want you to mentor her, like whatever you're going to
give her or whatever. I said, okay, cool, because I
love Larry and Stacy, and he gave her my number.
I can't remember where we met, but I know we
met up to talk and go over things, et cetera.
I fell in love with her when I met her.

(04:22):
First of all, I think we got the same color eyes.

Speaker 2 (04:24):
Okay, wait, all right, sorry, But her spirit, her passion,
her joy, I have never, ever, ever, and I'm not
around her twenty four hours to say, but I have
known her for a very long time. I've never seen
her drag, energy, sad.

Speaker 1 (04:45):
I've seen you sometuf on Instagram, but I know her
as joyous, glorious, joyous.

Speaker 2 (04:51):
Right, She's beyond talented. I had an opportunity a couple
of years ago to direct a music video.

Speaker 1 (04:58):
Felicia was the first person when I thought of the scenario,
I was like, I'm want flee shit.

Speaker 2 (05:02):
She gonna be grated, right. I have known this woman.

Speaker 1 (05:07):
I continue to support her, and let me tell you
why I'm doing mad backflips with a kool Aid smile.
Felicia's one of those actors that took her career in
her own hands, and she decided she had a great idea,
and she decided she was going to write that that idea,
produce that idea, direct that idea, cats that idea. Whatever

(05:31):
she needed to do to get in a New York
minute on, she did it.

Speaker 2 (05:36):
And through that show, she has given opportunities to spirit
an actor alumni. She has created just great platforms for people,
and I.

Speaker 1 (05:47):
Can't wait until I get an two directed episode, because
she did ask me if the ric full way it
happened was I had to do something new, but Eway,
I love her. Please stand up for my friend, my colleague,
Felicia Bischa.

Speaker 3 (06:05):
Thank you, Tracy. That was like the best introduction I've
ever gotten. I'm so glad to be here. Thank you
for having me.

Speaker 1 (06:14):
Okay, we kind of have the same color eyes. They're
not exactly, but I love her eyes. I love's eyes, Felicia.
When I tell you, I am so happy to have
you on this podcast and give you this platform because
I saw your work ethic from day one. Had no
idea we were going to land here, but I was like, listen,

(06:37):
keep her close because you might need Dad's Kokua job.

Speaker 2 (06:43):
And I did. I was like, Felicia, if you ever
need a director full episode up here.

Speaker 3 (06:47):
For you sometime? Yes, No, for sure, it's coming.

Speaker 2 (06:50):
It's coming.

Speaker 3 (06:51):
I know that the dates in the line for us
that time, but it's gonna come. It's gonna come.

Speaker 2 (06:55):
I believe it too. I'm not going anywhere, and I
love the show.

Speaker 1 (07:00):
First, let's start at the beginning, Felicia, because I believe.

Speaker 2 (07:03):
That this show is going to be so.

Speaker 1 (07:06):
Incredibly inspirational to actors because you did it. So starting out,
let's go from the beginning. Yes, you woke up one
morning and you said I choose acting or did acting
choose you?

Speaker 3 (07:22):
I think acting chose me. If I want to start
from the beginning. My mom, Yes, I was always like
into dance and doing like, of course, creative things. I
grew up in Brooklyn, but it wasn't until I really
got to college. I was in a class and I
was voicing my opinion and the professor at the time,
I didn't know he was the head of the theater department.
I thought he was just a professor. And he was like, stay,

(07:42):
I have to class. I have to talk to you.
And I was like, oh no, I'm ruffle Feathers again.
And he was like, no, I need you to audition
for the play. And I was like, oh, that's not
my major. My major at the time was communications broadcasting.

Speaker 2 (07:55):
I want to tell.

Speaker 3 (07:55):
You like a talk show host. And he was like, no,
I need you to audition for this, like this role
is for you and I was like no. And literally
the night before I changed my mind. My roommate helped
me to say just do it, and of course I
got the part, and then I was in every I
didn't change my major though, but I was in every
play after and that's what basically I was like, Oh,
this is something I want to do, so I definitely

(08:18):
shows me.

Speaker 1 (08:20):
So when you decided to embark in this career, like
because I'm gonna start with Larry, how did how did
you find out about me?

Speaker 2 (08:31):
Or was it what Larry said you should meet my
next door neighbor because I didn't know that backstory.

Speaker 3 (08:37):
So my whole life has been whatever survival job I
have has to connect to like my creativity. So at
the time BMW in Manhattan was in the building of
and I think they might still be there. It was
like NBC or something like that, like we're upstairs. I
was like, oh, I'm want to work here because in
my head I was like still on my broadcasting acting.
I'm like someone's gonna see me. Larry used to walk

(08:59):
past the desk all the time for when customers would
need his help, and one time we just were talking
and he was like, you don't look like you belong here,
Like what do you really do? And that's when I
was like, I'm actually I want to be an actress.
And he was like, there's somebody you have to meet.
He was like, her name is Tracy Da Da Da.
He gave me the number and he was like, you
have to Literally that day. I didn't waste any time.
I was like, and we ended up.

Speaker 2 (09:23):
You're right.

Speaker 3 (09:23):
I don't remember where the coffee shop was, but it
was a coffee shop and broke yes and we met
and we sat and we talked and then I was like,
whatever you need help with, I can help because I
just want to learn. And that was basically the backstory.
But it was so funny because Larry wasn't someone from
NBC or even from being he has his own company.
He was just there. So it was just like that's

(09:44):
why it's very important to talk to people you know,
and like really saying you never know, you never know?

Speaker 1 (09:50):
Yeah, I just knew, and now, like I mean over
thirty years in casting, Like you know, when people say,
how do you know? At this point in my life,
I just know, and you can take my word for
it or not, but at this point I just knew,
and I knew sitting down with you and I was
just like trying to figure it out, like how we
could work together.

Speaker 2 (10:11):
I just thought, like.

Speaker 1 (10:12):
Everything I'm doing, everything that happens, I'm just going to
call you, right, So I do Urban World, I'm going
to call you. Yes, let me tell you something audience
every year for the past almost thirty years now, because
I was one of the first people to start Urban
World with Stacy Spikes when he started it, and at

(10:33):
that time, the readings that we did, the actors actually
sat on stage and chairs. They had podiums to put
their books and they just sat there and read. And
so that Stacy was like, you know, Tracy, you could
you know, form it, you.

Speaker 2 (10:49):
Know, structured it however you want.

Speaker 1 (10:51):
So at first the first two readings, I was like, yeah,
it kind of stiff, right, And I was like.

Speaker 2 (10:56):
Well, if you guys are going to perform, let's perform, like,
get rid of the chairs, get rid of the podium
sots to a stage reading. And that's how it evolved
into that.

Speaker 1 (11:04):
So I remember putting a bookmark in my head like
I'm a cast Felicia in a stage reading and a
couple right.

Speaker 2 (11:14):
I did a couple of books I did, but the
one that I really liked that you did was it Binga.
Did you do Binga? I think because the celebrity.

Speaker 3 (11:25):
I was gonna say it was with John David Washington,
John David Washington.

Speaker 1 (11:29):
That so that was Binga, because you know who else
was there, Miles Tony Award winning Miles Fross.

Speaker 2 (11:36):
Because Miles with Binga.

Speaker 3 (11:39):
Yes, yes, yes, yes, and ladies and gentlemen.

Speaker 2 (11:41):
This is all before these people.

Speaker 1 (11:44):
Got well, John David Washington was known, Binga was known,
but no one knew Miles Ross at that time. And
Miles didn't even have a bonologue to perform for Robbie
Reid because after so what happened you got is that
after the reading, I moderate the Q and A with

(12:04):
the writers, and.

Speaker 2 (12:05):
Then after that BT sponsors this event.

Speaker 1 (12:08):
During that time Robbie read, she would set aside an
hour for all of the cast and they could do
a monologue in front of her. At that time, when
Felicia performed, she was doing the Soul Train TV show.

Speaker 2 (12:23):
She was looking for people. She had told you guys.

Speaker 1 (12:25):
Right, And I sat Miles right next to Robbie and
I said, Miles, tell her I don't have a monologue,
but I can see right.

Speaker 2 (12:34):
We laugh about that to this day.

Speaker 1 (12:37):
But every opportunity that I could find to bring Felicia
or be a part of. Like that's how I felt
our connection. And then when she decided to write her show,
her award winning show, Ladies and Gentlemen, I want her
to tell you about.

Speaker 2 (12:54):
That, I was like, do it.

Speaker 1 (13:00):
This is where you, guys, take your career in your
own hands, because when Felicia sells this show and it's streaming,
you guys, nobody can do this show, Felicia. I mean,
of course, the powers to be are gonna intervene. Okay,
like inside the black Box. However, this was your brainchild.

(13:21):
Nobody knows this show but.

Speaker 2 (13:23):
You, and they need you.

Speaker 1 (13:24):
They need you, but this is the kicker. They know
that you don't need them because you didn't. They They're like,
we better jump off Felicia because if we don't, she
don't do it anyway, and then we really not gonna.

Speaker 2 (13:36):
Be a part.

Speaker 1 (13:38):
So I just want to I want you to take
our audience through this journey.

Speaker 2 (13:43):
How you were inspired to you being on Red Carpet.
I think it was two weeks ago I saw on Instagram.

Speaker 3 (13:50):
Yes, well now yes it's coming up on the second week.

Speaker 1 (13:53):
Yes, okay, see yeah, because it's still fresh. I still
got the pictures coming up, so good, so tell us
that journey because you're going to inspire other actors here.

Speaker 3 (14:04):
So, first of all, I always loved writing, but it
wasn't until I was in because Tracy didn't tell you
guys this. But she also teaches an amazing spirited actor
class that I was also always a part of. But
in that class there were I believe one of our
homework exercise was to write a scene. Tracy also likes
us to use all of our tools like write a scene.

(14:25):
If you want to act, you also need to know
the behind scenes. And the scene that I wrote was
I believe it was about a couple, but very simple.
But that's what really kicked up my Oh, I can
write a script because before I used to write in
book format novels, which is totally different. And then during COVID,
as we know, everything's shut down, there were no auditions, nothing,

(14:47):
and a couple of my active friends like Felicia, well,
you're the writer, so write us some stuff and we
can try to see if we can film it. So
that's really how in a New York Minute started because
it was like, Okay, how can I write this, what
can we do using our own apart mints, our own resources,
our own locations, so that we can get something down.
So during this time period, when we get back in

(15:08):
front of cast and they're not like, well, what have
you been doing? Like you know, like what have you
been doing, we can show you what we've been doing.
So that's what really started in a New York minute,
And then as I got deeper into the writing, the
story really encompasses the African American and Latino community and
how we don't take therapy seriously and how it's something

(15:29):
that a lot of men don't really speak about. And
I wanted to shed a light on that I have brothers,
but also there are a lot of times in the
era that we grew up, boys were taught be tough,
stop crying what you're crying for, don't do this, And
I wanted to show that these are now the men
that we have, and it's like it's harder for them
to be vulnerable, it's harder for them to express their feelings.

(15:49):
So the show, which was supposed to be at first
lighthearted about couples and just making it through New York,
it has this bit of seriousness that it's like other
men hopefully can relate to everyone can relate to as
far as like being in New York and doing the
struggle and trying to find your dream and it's expensive here.
But then also there's that mental peace, right, how do
you keep yourself going? How do you motivate yourself to know,

(16:12):
like a bad day is not every day? And that's
where the whole thing came in. But of course I
got to use great actors that are currently spirited actors
and alumnis Jalisa, Reina, Sasha, and I feel like keeping
those connections for who you have, whoever you're like in
classmate or you encounter, is also very important because we
all have to help each other, right. But yeah, so

(16:36):
that was go ahead, excuse.

Speaker 2 (16:38):
Me, no, no, no, I was just gonna say.

Speaker 1 (16:41):
I think you met because at that time I was
also teaching classes next in my house. And I remember
when you and Sasha got together, maybe you read a
scene or something together, but after that.

Speaker 2 (16:53):
You guys were locked in as friends. I remember.

Speaker 3 (16:55):
It's true, so true. We never never split after that.
And Rain is amazing too. The crazy part. I met
raina through taking another class, initially with Yolanda hunt, which
you also are. So it was just like so many
things of like just keeping the community together. But after
going ahead and we shot this throughing COVID and it

(17:16):
was hard, but we got it through. And then a
year later we were featured in now the New York
Latino Film Festival and then also Arts and Arts Festival
in Calli. And I say all of this because that
was started twenty twenty one. We're in twenty four. So
it's just the whole like, don't give up. Everything takes time,
but you just have to stick to it. Like you

(17:37):
can change the course or whatever and the journey, but
that change the end goal.

Speaker 1 (17:42):
Right, And you know what I've learned, Felicia, And you know,
my show was eighteen years of holding the vision right
for Inside the Black Box, and what I learned throughout
the process at the end of season two.

Speaker 2 (17:56):
I'm glad that there are these sort of guide rails,
guide rails, or what they call them the rails. Right.

Speaker 1 (18:09):
What I mean is I'm glad that when you're on
a journey pursuing your dream, that it doesn't happen the
way we want it to happen, right, because ideally, right,
we're both creators if it happened the.

Speaker 2 (18:24):
Way we want to happen, we would be at.

Speaker 1 (18:26):
The network we want, have the choice of actors all
of the titles.

Speaker 2 (18:30):
Is that right?

Speaker 1 (18:31):
But that's not the way it rolls in this business.
You have to go through the boot camp. That's what
it is. It's the boot camp. Because listen, ladies and gentlemen.
Right now, Felicia has invested in herself and I'm sure,
and I pray and I want to be one of
these people too, but I'm sure people have invested in

(18:53):
her as well. Right So the financial investment that you
have right now, it's going to be tenfold when someone
buys it for.

Speaker 3 (19:05):
Me, thank you.

Speaker 2 (19:08):
Oh oh, no doubt.

Speaker 1 (19:10):
And on top of that, on top of the fact
that it's going to be tenfold, the wisdom and the
knowledge that Felicia has gained on this journey because I
know she is a researcher, a googler. I know she
covers all of her duetiligence. I work with her, you guys,

(19:30):
I know. So what I mean by that is that
when you get in a position like myself and you're
talking to these quote unquote powers to be a crackle,
you're talking to these powers to be who have those
resumes and TV and stuff, you're neck and ut with them.
There's no, Well, you don't have the experience you're here. No, no,

(19:51):
Because I'm gonna tell you when you don't have the money,
the resources, and all of those things to create and
make something happen the people who have the money, that's
cute because you could make it happen out enough, Yes,
and that makes you more powerful, And that, to me
gives you. Because I kept saying to myself perst season

(20:15):
of my show, I kept feeling like a little in balance, right,
like Cracker was here and they were trying to position whatever.
One day I was in the dress room and I said,
wait a minute, both of that, well enough. I called
Jill Morton and asked Jill Morton to be on the
show and be my co host.

Speaker 2 (20:28):
Right, They didn't, right, gave me such a list.

Speaker 1 (20:33):
So that's why I'm saying that the boot camp is
not set up to struggle, to make you feel bad,
to doubt yourself, and all of that is set up
to prepare you for what you're going to deal with
when you get in the ring with the powers to
be that run this Hollywood and then the budget. If
you could take twenty dollars and make it one hundred,

(20:56):
imagine when they give.

Speaker 2 (20:57):
You that seven eight figure deal, right, what's you going
to do?

Speaker 1 (21:03):
So that's what I feel like because I say this, Felicia,
because I know what the journey is like.

Speaker 2 (21:08):
I've seen you, We've had conversation, I've seen your show.

Speaker 1 (21:12):
But I'm so happy that regardless of what has gone
on and maybe a camera fill or whatever, you keep going.

Speaker 2 (21:21):
There's nothing in your mindset that's like, I hope this
she will get picked up, whether.

Speaker 1 (21:26):
You get picked up by Paramount or Pride is gonna
get picked up.

Speaker 2 (21:32):
There are two men.

Speaker 1 (21:34):
I'm on your team man, and I'm you know when
when it is time. I'm in a position now working
with a woman who I said, no, you didn't get
a chance to meet, Zoe Bridged Bridgman.

Speaker 2 (21:50):
She has.

Speaker 1 (21:51):
Her name is Zoe Bridgeman. She has a production company
called Late Bloomer Productions. And this is God because this
is a massive show all of you, and this is
to you, Felicia. It was a year in July I
have worked with this woman and July of last year
she was able to put some financing together and then

(22:12):
it ran out August September, but Spirit said stay with her, stay.

Speaker 2 (22:19):
With her, And now we cut two.

Speaker 1 (22:22):
Not only does she have financing for her film, but
she has financing for her production company.

Speaker 3 (22:29):
You see, amazing, amazing Back to.

Speaker 2 (22:34):
You, Felicia. This is what I'm saying.

Speaker 1 (22:36):
You're because when the awards start coming, eyes are on you.
So right now, there's a community that has their eyes
on you, watching you see what you're going to do.

Speaker 2 (22:47):
Because the first season is always like that's cute.

Speaker 1 (22:50):
It's the sophomore season that happens, right, So you've gotten there,
so you got eyes on you, you got.

Speaker 2 (22:56):
People like what she did this and blah blah blah blah.

Speaker 1 (22:59):
Next thing, you know, the awkward black woman goes to
insecure HBO. That's what I'm holding for you, and I
know you're going to do it because you put in
the work and you're deserving.

Speaker 2 (23:12):
OPTU thank you so, because I'm holt of that vision
and that's where I am. Where do you see in
a New York men?

Speaker 3 (23:22):
So season two, I'm glad you said that is actually
coming out November, which we're so excited about because it's
in November. Yes, Okay, we don't have the exact date,
but it's coming November. And you're so right about season
one being that whole like, oh, you're learning, and then
season two like, Okay, we know we have to do
this different kind of thing, and it's amazing to see

(23:46):
the journey already And honestly, what I really want for this,
no matter what production picks it up or network, it's
more of to make sure that I had, like you said,
have something under my belt that when something else comes
up with if I write something else, It's like, I'm
not a new beginner at this. This is not my
first radio so making it a great, strong foundation is

(24:07):
what's really more important to me than getting picked up.
But I would love I love Peacock. I would love
for Peacock everything that allowed. But yeah, honestly, any kind
of streaming everor that is going to get them the
story across effectively, because I feel like the story needs
to be told about mental health in the minority communities.

Speaker 2 (24:29):
Absolutely.

Speaker 1 (24:30):
I am Fulicia, I'm gonna tell you, I just left
two sets in May.

Speaker 2 (24:35):
One was the Lifetime movie.

Speaker 1 (24:37):
Obduction at HBCU with Lcory Notaton and then Naked Gunn
I coached Buster and these both in Atlanta. And what
I am stressing with actors right now is that the studios,
including yourself, have discovered that you can shoot in twelve, fifteen, seventeen,

(24:59):
twenty one day. And what that means for actors you
don't have I just coached someone the other day and said, listen,
you don't have warm up time anymore on the set.
Do you understand you don't have let me run lines
on the set. You have you better get there volcanic
coott right, you better have at least I personally would

(25:21):
say anywhere between five to seven choices per see, just some.

Speaker 2 (25:27):
Work here, because what you don't want to do. And
I worked with one of the topics actresses in the
business Victory nonven, and she was asking for a second take.

Speaker 1 (25:43):
So if you're not prepared and put everything in that
first take, they're going to be sadly, sadly disappointed when
the director says moving on, and you're like, I felt
my eyelash if I left eye and they're like whatever,
moving on. So the urgency of having it together is

(26:10):
more at stakes than it's ever.

Speaker 2 (26:12):
Been in the history of Hollywood.

Speaker 1 (26:14):
Because I come from four six eight week shoots depending
upon the budget. The other thing is what I want
to say to you.

Speaker 2 (26:26):
I applaud you.

Speaker 1 (26:27):
I applaud you for doing the work that you are
because in essence, you are preparing them.

Speaker 2 (26:32):
But the story is what we need because what I
saw Felicia in Atlanta on both sets anxiety stress.

Speaker 1 (26:45):
And I've never worked at Tyler Perry's studios, but I
know from actors telling me it moves fast.

Speaker 2 (26:52):
Scripts changed so much and if you.

Speaker 1 (26:55):
Are not grounded in some way, that can definitely affect
your mentally. And the thing that people have when I'm
on set and working with them, they have the advantage
of me sitting in video village. I can take a
shot of where the camera is so you and then
come and say, Felicia, this is the this is a

(27:16):
close up they're doing, this is the why that they're doing,
or make help you make the adjustments. If the director
says I don't have any notes, I'm cool.

Speaker 2 (27:26):
So you are.

Speaker 1 (27:28):
Preparing them, which I love. But at the same time,
this show is definitely bringing the awareness that people need.

Speaker 2 (27:37):
Actors need if they have that they need to talk
to someone and they need to because you know how
set moves.

Speaker 1 (27:45):
You know and if an actor is not mentally stable
in that process, that could cause you know, and that's
just what I saw and sense on the film where actors,
you know, actors were coming up to me.

Speaker 2 (27:58):
I didn't even know, can I run lines with you?

Speaker 1 (28:00):
And I'm like, first of all, I'm with the notary
or not, and then second of all, I don't run line.

Speaker 2 (28:03):
That's your homework done the home if anything.

Speaker 1 (28:08):
Read with Naori because you're the scene with her and
vibe and get that energy, but I'm not in mine.

Speaker 2 (28:13):
That's your one.

Speaker 1 (28:15):
So I just wanted to say thank you because I
think that on two levels, you're going to bring a
dynamic awareness with this story, but also encouraging people if
you need help, still help because it's okay.

Speaker 2 (28:28):
There's no shame at texting me.

Speaker 3 (28:30):
Yes, it's okay to talk to someone, especially because you
know a lot of times people don't want to talk
to someone close to them. Why because you're like, I
don't want this person in my business. Just think about this.
You have a stranger knowing your business and they can't
legally tell anybody.

Speaker 2 (28:43):
Well, it's like you can get it out.

Speaker 3 (28:45):
I always say the first step to healing and anything
is getting it out, whether it's voice, paper, pen, music,
but you kind of got to get it out of
your Your body holds so much tension you have to
release it in some way. So yeah, for therapy, there's
different ways, but like definitely is something that should be
talked about.

Speaker 2 (29:02):
I highly encourage therapy.

Speaker 1 (29:04):
I encourage marriage therapy, counseling before you get married, before, before, before,
I've experienced it during my marriage.

Speaker 2 (29:14):
But I will say this, you know, just and I
pray that, and I know this is a part of
your message too in your story that if you.

Speaker 1 (29:23):
Do, it's okay. There's nothing quote unquote wrong with you.
Because I said to my doctor. I love when I
when I see my doctor and she says, well, you know,
your blood pressure is up just a little bit.

Speaker 2 (29:36):
Nothing, you know, I don't need to give you medication now,
just making you aware.

Speaker 1 (29:39):
And I always say to her, can you introduce me
to that person that has no high blood pressure, that's
just living, yo, just to live in this world. I
got high pressure, right forget about my day to day,
my children, my grandchild, just living and walking out of
my door.

Speaker 2 (29:58):
Right.

Speaker 1 (29:58):
So I think it's a carre is to assume or
to think that there's anybody on the face of this world,
this earth and globally who's walking around dope, blood, precious, chilling.
Something is going on somewhere in your life or your
extended family.

Speaker 2 (30:16):
Something. We have five minutes. I want to give it
all to you, whatever words that you want to inspire,
whatever experience that you walked away with and said yes,
I want them to hear you.

Speaker 3 (30:29):
Yes for sure. So I think the number one advice
that I always start to tell everyone is if you
have like, if you can feel it and you can
think it, it can come. So no matter what that
dream is, it doesn't have to be something creative, whatever
it is. If you envision a certain car, if you
envision a certain home, God in the universe, or whatever
you believe in, doesn't give you that feeling for no reason.

(30:52):
So I'm always like, and it doesn't matter, like you
don't have to run and sprint to the finish line,
but don't ever give up those feelings, because I feel
like the minute you do is when you're also struggling
with yourself of like do I have to choose or
what do I pick? Like, No, that's your goal and
that's what you want. It's okay to want, and it's
also okay to want different things. You don't have to
stay on one path forever. Those are things that I

(31:15):
definitely always keep to keep myself going that whole jolly thing.
Like you said, it's like, yes, I am usually keep
myself in good spirits because I don't like to feel
down for too long. But it is work. It's journaling,
it's talking to people, it's having great mentors like you, Tracy.
It's like knowing that if I do get a big
audition because I deal do still act, I can call
Trace to say, hey, I need you to brun this

(31:35):
with me. It's having those resources and just knowing that
no matter what, even if you're down, it's okay. The
only way from down, and this is one of the
biggest lines in the web series is up. So if
you hit rock bottom, it's okay. You have to get up,
and it's okay to be down. It's not a bad thing.
That's just life, the role of the life. But for sure,

(31:57):
just always make sure you keep resources around you and
it's okay to let all the emotions out, like at
any time, it's okay.

Speaker 1 (32:06):
Well, police, I want to say this, excuse me, I
started a new class called the Playground, which is a membership.
Basically it is fifty dollars a month and it is
a three hour class and it's the playground where we're
coming to play. And the last hour is for industry

(32:31):
guests to answer questions, give inspirational feedback, allow actors to
vent positively, and give them some sort of virtual embrace,
because you know, I do want to hug my people,
but you know, the virus is still out there, son,

(32:53):
That's why I just called. I'm still but I want
to extend an invitation to you. We're going to play
tomorrow from twelve to three at the South Oxford I'm
telling you audience at twelve to three at South Oxford Space,
which is one thirty eight South Oxford Place in Brooklyn,
near the Bar play Center. You do have to register

(33:15):
to come in, but industry guests are an invitation only.

Speaker 2 (33:19):
We have seven industry guests.

Speaker 1 (33:21):
Coming tomorrow, three of which are casting directors, and I've
just confirmed a director that I'm really excited about because
he just got a film with Lifetime, just got it amazing.
So I would love for you to come and be
our industry guests, and if you can't make it. Tomorrow,

(33:42):
last Saturday of every month, we are at the playground.
We come to play It's going to be a safe, supportive,
loving environment for actors to.

Speaker 2 (33:52):
Work on monologues, work on new ones, bring in I
have in the scenes. I have an actor coming tomorrow
that's bringing in a scene that he's doing on Sunday,
so he wants to work with someone. So it really
is and like you, you can come in and bring
in a scene that you're working with, maybe it's stuck
or whatever. You can bring in the scene. They can

(34:12):
read for you.

Speaker 1 (34:13):
You can cast out of the actors that are gonna
be there. I want actors to have fun. I'm trying
to get ahead of the stress. I'm trying to get
ahead of the anxiety and remind the actors why they're
doing this in the first place. So this is your
I would love to have you there. So let me
know we're gonna go put. We'll be in the playground
tomorrow from twelve to three. We got playground rules and

(34:37):
we got a playgrounds, can't you that's amazing?

Speaker 3 (34:40):
No, I love thank you for them. No, I'll definitely
come tomorrow. Okay, yes, yes.

Speaker 2 (34:44):
Yeah, we're doing a wrong.

Speaker 1 (34:46):
And I'm such a kid, like I am a big kid,
because all last night I was thinking, what do.

Speaker 2 (34:53):
I need in the playground?

Speaker 1 (34:54):
I need balloons, I need a cotton candy machine.

Speaker 2 (34:57):
I was like, all right, Tys, calm down, just the idea.
It's not literally so you're not going anywhere, Felicia.

Speaker 1 (35:06):
I'm bringing on our co executive producer of the show,
else Lathan and Elsa is going to bring on the
actors who have been so I pray inspired by this
young woman.

Speaker 4 (35:18):
How could they not thank you, Felicia. That was fantastic. No. Absolutely,
So today we have two of our spirited actors, one
semi og spirited actor and one new spirited actor. We
have mister Aaron Bolware. You can come on camera, Aaron,
and we have mister Damian Long he can come on
camera as well.

Speaker 2 (35:39):
Yeah, I would. I would consider both of them ogs. Now, Okay, No,
it has nothing to do with age.

Speaker 1 (35:44):
It's just you know, no, you know, I'm telling them audience,
it's not about age.

Speaker 2 (35:51):
It's about you know, their commitment to the spirited actor.

Speaker 4 (35:55):
All right, absolutely, absolutely, thank you guys for being here.
Aaron you can you're up first. What's your question?

Speaker 5 (36:02):
Felicia, thank you for taking the time out. When I
was first asked a coo here and to ask you
a question, I was like, what can I ask him?
So it was interesting to hear that you're a Googler
and you research, so I researched you. So I went
out on your id IMDb pro and I see that
you did, Uh, what's that?

Speaker 2 (36:23):
Stupid cupid?

Speaker 6 (36:24):
I watched that.

Speaker 5 (36:25):
I watched that, and then I've watched New York in
the New York Minute too.

Speaker 6 (36:30):
So my question is what is the key to.

Speaker 5 (36:35):
Writing a creative like writing something really creative that resonates
with people.

Speaker 2 (36:41):
Mm hmmm.

Speaker 3 (36:43):
I think the key is to always and I know
a lot of people are shy away from this, but
putting your own personal story in it so something that
a lot of people don't know. In a New York Minute,
I am every single one of those female characters, like
I have been in that stage of my life in
every so it was almost like, yes, you can create,
but in order for people to relate or be personal

(37:04):
to something, you got to add person like personal experiences.
So I think a lot of people are like, oh,
I don't want to tell my story, like it doesn't
have to be your story to the tea, but bring
in how you feel into the story. How would you
react to something, because I feel like sometimes people get
so caught up in the script and the lines. It's like, no, realistically,
somebody breaks your cup, what are.

Speaker 4 (37:23):
You going to do?

Speaker 3 (37:24):
Like you know, like you don't have to say a line,
but how does that make you feel? So I think
the key is to always personal and also with the research.
The Latino community is also big in my web series.
I'm not like, I don't self identify, but I have friends,
so I asked them, I asked research to make sure
that you're also making their voices amplified from them and

(37:45):
their point of view. I think that's also very important.
But definitely bringing in your own personal experiences. That's what's
helped with Stupid Cupid in the New York Minute, the series,
it's always something like personal.

Speaker 1 (37:58):
And I just want to ask that, Aaron, because I'm
feeling your writing creative vibes right now. As soon as
you said, I was like, Aaron's getting ready to work
on something or he is working on something. But the
best advice that I got in finding Forrester from Sir
Sean Connery was write what you know, right, what you know,

(38:21):
because nobody else has that experience that you have globally,
like universally if you write about death or grieving or
marriage weddings, that's universal, but it's not. Your experience is
not their experience, which makes it a unique story.

Speaker 2 (38:38):
Write what you know?

Speaker 4 (38:42):
Okay, ladies, Awesome, that's awesome, awesome advice. Damn, what's your question?

Speaker 2 (38:47):
Sir?

Speaker 6 (38:49):
Absolicious?

Speaker 7 (38:49):
So I wasn't familiar with your work, but now I'm
going to be a big fan. And really my question was,
you know, piggybagging off of Erond's how do you go
about writing.

Speaker 6 (39:04):
Something you know where you feel like it's good enough
to you.

Speaker 8 (39:11):
Know, not only tell your story but have it resonate
with others on a level where they'll keep coming back
time and time again.

Speaker 3 (39:20):
You know, that's a good question. I'm always practicing, I know,
I said journaling, but I also I have two journals,
like a personal one and one of like when I
think of a story, I just write it kind of thing.
But I think the thing of keeping people coming back
is not giving away the whole story in one shot.
So because this is a web series and episode, there's

(39:41):
a lot of times where I'm like, I know the ending.
I want everyone to know, and then it's like, wait,
you have to kind of go back. It's a lot
of rewriting, a lot of rereading or sending it to
someone what do you think about this, and making sure
you're like, okay, if this is the cliffhanger or if
this is what is the juicy part? How can I
extend that middle before we get there? So that's really
what keeps at the end of every episode. What we

(40:03):
tried to do was have it where it's like.

Speaker 2 (40:05):
But I need to know what happened to her?

Speaker 3 (40:07):
Or why didn't we find out what happened to this person?
And even if you don't answer all of the questions,
keeping those we're all curious minds, right, So keeping those
open ended parts of a scene will have someone use
their own creativity or want to know more. But that's
usually what I do. It's a it's a lot of rewriting,
a lot of like, let me go back, hold on this,
this gives it away too fast?

Speaker 2 (40:28):
Who else?

Speaker 3 (40:28):
What other character can we throw in here? That's really
what it is.

Speaker 2 (40:33):
Gotcha thank you great questions, great great questions.

Speaker 1 (40:38):
Well Felicia and Damien. Let me just let you know
she is watching the scene. But she has season three
coming up. I just want to tell you very season three,
and I think she gonna be asking director Tracy Boyd
into an episode. I mean, I don't rumors in the street.
They're in the street. They're always in the street, all right.

(40:58):
But I want you guys the whole time. When we
come back with the Spirited Actor Podcast, we are going
to do class and session.

Speaker 2 (41:05):
I'm excited. I'm excited to see Felicia in this position.

Speaker 1 (41:10):
This is so exciting to be because she's been on
the other end, Ladies and gentlemen, she has been a
class in session.

Speaker 2 (41:17):
So sit back, Sit tight.

Speaker 1 (41:19):
We're gonna be right back with the Spirited Actor Podcast
with Me Tracy Moore and the lovely, the lovely Felicia Bishop.
Welcome back to the Spirited Actor Podcast with Me Tracy Moore.
You guys miss out on the fun doing the breaks anyway.
I am so happy to still have Felicia Bishop with us.

(41:42):
She is the executive producer, writer, I'm gonna put director,
casting director, and starring. She is in her own series,
award winning in a New York Minute. Check it out
on YouTube. We are going into class and session. Can't
wait to hear and see her do this. This is
Stunn be on.

Speaker 2 (42:02):
So I'll say you bring on our actors and the sea.

Speaker 4 (42:06):
Thank you, yes, yes, So today's classing session will feature
mister Aaron Boulware. Welcome back Aaron and mister Damien Long.
This is his first time in doing class and Session
on the podcast.

Speaker 6 (42:23):
Welcome dam Thank you, thank you.

Speaker 2 (42:26):
So.

Speaker 4 (42:27):
Today's scene is the Climb written by Reddie Pittman. Exterior
Mountain Trail evening. Newly engaged Cameron is a fit young
man currently scaling his latest mountain trail. He sees a
small nook in the distance. There seems to be a
fire lit. As he approaches, he sees an older man
wrapped in a heavy blanket with his head head down,

(42:48):
sitting by the fire.

Speaker 6 (42:52):
Hey, sir, how you doing a You matter if I
sit with you?

Speaker 4 (42:58):
The old man, Julius respond, without breaking his attention from the.

Speaker 6 (43:01):
Flame, doesn't bother me. Go ahead.

Speaker 4 (43:06):
Cameron sits down close to the fire and gets comfortable.

Speaker 6 (43:09):
Not to that side the block the wind.

Speaker 4 (43:13):
Karen moves to the other side next to Julius.

Speaker 8 (43:18):
My fault, I guess keeping that fire going is pretty important.

Speaker 6 (43:22):
Huh.

Speaker 5 (43:24):
If it dies, we die, simple?

Speaker 6 (43:31):
Okay?

Speaker 2 (43:33):
Sure? Uh?

Speaker 6 (43:35):
How long did you say you were up here?

Speaker 5 (43:39):
A bit too long for my taste, not long enough
for the creatures waiting to eat my carcass.

Speaker 4 (43:47):
Julius cracks a smile, while Cameron nervously chuckles.

Speaker 9 (43:52):
Yeah, I mean, I'm Cam.

Speaker 6 (43:57):
I just got engaged. That's why I'm out here. Yeah.

Speaker 8 (44:02):
Man, she's such a great girl, you know. She she's funny,
she's she's cute. She's a software engineered so you know
she makes great money too.

Speaker 4 (44:13):
Julius smirks as he gathers a small pile of snow
on the ground with one hand and stokes the fire
with the other.

Speaker 5 (44:21):
Really, she seems ambitious and smart.

Speaker 9 (44:25):
Good for you, Yeah man, I mean, and I never
truly believed in you know, romance, true love until I
met her, And now I just want to spend the
rest of my life with her.

Speaker 4 (44:42):
Just then, the mountain shakes and the small avalanche drops them,
drops them in the traps, them in the nook.

Speaker 6 (44:49):
What the fuck was that.

Speaker 5 (44:53):
He got a small avalanche? Lucky it wasn't bigger.

Speaker 6 (44:58):
Lucky? Look is this dude?

Speaker 2 (45:00):
We're tracked?

Speaker 6 (45:01):
How are we gonna get out of here?

Speaker 4 (45:04):
Julius continues to stoke the fire as it begins to fade.

Speaker 5 (45:12):
Please save your energy, You're gonna need it.

Speaker 2 (45:18):
You see.

Speaker 5 (45:19):
I love my family, but I'm an old man and
I've lived a full life. This fire, this fire can
fully only no, only can comfort one of us throughout
the night.

Speaker 6 (45:41):
What are you saying? You said, I'm gonna have to.

Speaker 4 (45:46):
Juliu's nods and pulls a large knife from his pocket.

Speaker 5 (45:54):
My daughter is.

Speaker 6 (45:56):
Newly engaged too, what I said? Congrats man?

Speaker 5 (46:05):
Thanks?

Speaker 6 (46:06):
She really she really likes the guy.

Speaker 5 (46:10):
She says, he's really fit and kind of a thrill seeker.
But one night I overheard her confiding to her mother
that when he drinks too much, he gets abusive.

Speaker 4 (46:28):
Henry looks a little confused, then his eyes widening concerned
as Julius drops the blanket and lifts his head.

Speaker 6 (46:37):
Mister Sherman, Oh, mister Sherman.

Speaker 5 (46:44):
Very respectful of you, but you weren't respectful when you
hit my daughter.

Speaker 6 (46:49):
No, no, that was a mistake. It was a mistaken
I get help. You're not good enough for buye. It
won't happen again, missus.

Speaker 2 (47:01):
Oh, I know it won't. I know it won't.

Speaker 4 (47:07):
Julius clinches the knife and then grabs some of the
snow from the pile and smothers this fire scene.

Speaker 2 (47:17):
Oh my god, that took a terrible twist, right.

Speaker 1 (47:21):
I'm.

Speaker 3 (47:24):
Oh my god, okay, Felicia's you so okay? First, Damien,
I loved your facial expressions, even from the jump of
like when the avalanche came down. All of that was
so good. And I especially love that I felt the
whole surprises, like even though it's my first time hearing it,

(47:45):
you both of you did great on like, oh wow,
I had no idea this was happening kind of thing.
And Aaron. I loved how you just played it so
cool in the beginning with the blanket on, and then
once the blanket came off, it was like, oh yeah,
I got you. As soon as you said the line
of my daughter got newly engaged too, I was like,

(48:06):
oh no, I was like, what's happening here? But I
love that you both stayed in the characters so well
that I believed it. I believe that you were a dad.
I believe that you know, Damien, that you were this
thrill seeker and that you're outside in the Wilderness, like
I believed every moment of it. I think this was
a great job, a really good job.

Speaker 2 (48:27):
Oh my god.

Speaker 1 (48:28):
I you know, I'm the worst, Felicia, because I believe,
like when I'm blocked in, you know, people hate to
watch TV or movies with me because I'm like this,
you don't know, funny story. Really quickly, Naory not had
a screening for the Lifetime movie.

Speaker 2 (48:46):
So I go to the screening.

Speaker 1 (48:47):
Notoria is sitting like it's very informal in this like
the Soho house, but the Dumble House in Brooklyn, right,
So they have couches chairs.

Speaker 2 (48:56):
I'm in this couch one row behind her. She tells me,
She's like.

Speaker 1 (49:00):
Tracy, you were really into that movie. I would turn
around to just get eye contacted you to.

Speaker 2 (49:06):
Say remember that scene or remember what happened here? She said.
I was like I was in it.

Speaker 1 (49:12):
So I'm saying that to say when I even when
Aaron said my daughters get married, I was still like
it was.

Speaker 2 (49:22):
Then. I was like, You're gonna en it was great.
I believe. I believe. So I'm gonna give you guys
around on the clause, Felicia Bishop.

Speaker 3 (49:33):
That was really Goodla award.

Speaker 2 (49:35):
Winning Bishop ladies and gentlemen.

Speaker 1 (49:39):
Yeah, she did it, and I'm gonna tell you right now,
now is the time to be to have her awareness
around you.

Speaker 2 (49:49):
So Elsa will send you Aaron and Damien's pitch your
resumes so you can have that for season three in
the New York for sure.

Speaker 3 (49:59):
I've even working on something else called the bench and
it's a shorter thing. So yeah, no, this is really nice.

Speaker 2 (50:05):
Yeah, nice, nice, Felicia. You know how I feel. You
know there is always love for you forever. I'm so
proud of you.

Speaker 1 (50:14):
Thank you, And I did tell you I wouldn't be
asking you for a job, and I'm so proud to
be asking you for a job.

Speaker 2 (50:21):
I'll send by real to you, Aaron Damien, thank you.

Speaker 1 (50:26):
For showing Felicia what we do here and who we
are as the spirited actors. I also want to extend
an invitation to Aaron and Damiens to come to the
playground because listen, the zoom was on fire Wednesday night.
I can't even imagine what's going to happen tomorrow. And
industry people are like, can I come to the playground, Tracy,
I'm like.

Speaker 2 (50:45):
Yes, say it, put it out there. I've come to
the playground play so right now we have seven industry
guests coming tomorrow, eight including Felicia.

Speaker 1 (50:55):
And I don't know what the Night is going to
present to us, but Felicia, thank.

Speaker 2 (51:01):
You again for being on the Spirited Active Podcast. We
support you, we love you, and you are the reason
why I get up and I'm inspired to do what
I do.

Speaker 3 (51:11):
Thank you so much. Thank you Tracie for being a
great mentor. We're having this amazing platform again. Eron and Damien,
you were amazing.

Speaker 2 (51:22):
And when we come back, ladies and gentlemen on the
Spirited act Podcast, when we Trady more, I'm gonna give
you mad love, mad Love.

Speaker 1 (51:31):
And now it's time for Kudos Corner. Kudos Corner is
where we celebrate, support and just love up on spirited
actors and introduce them to you. This week's Kudos Corner
puts the spotlight on spirited actor Mark Gutier. Mark has
been a featured actor on shows including Law and Order, SVU,

(51:54):
Evil Lives Here, and The First forty Eight. Also a
gifted writer, he wrote, executive produced, and was one of
the leads of the award winning short Black Roundtable, which
was directed by my good friend Michael Boogie Pickney. Mark
recently joined the cast of fellow Spirited actor Felicia Bishop's

(52:17):
web series In a New York Minute for its upcoming
second season. Kudos to Mark Butier and now it's time
to give luck. Now.

Speaker 2 (52:28):
I know we're in an election year.

Speaker 1 (52:30):
I'm not going to speak politically, but this is what
I will say. Words and images have power. I grew
up at a time where politicians talked about.

Speaker 2 (52:42):
Each other's.

Speaker 1 (52:45):
Let's say, you know mistakes or there, or you know
a bad track record. They talked about each other's work,
ethics or issues. Right now, we're in a time.

Speaker 2 (53:02):
Where people are really disgusting in terms of dragging people's names,
in terms of creating stories against other cultures.

Speaker 1 (53:11):
Where did we get to this point? How did this happen?
Words and images are powerful, and it's so important that
you are conscious of the words in which you use
because they affect other people's lives.

Speaker 2 (53:29):
It's a domino effect. Words create.

Speaker 1 (53:35):
And I pray that we go back to the day
what we are talking about each other's work ethics or
work records as opposed to damaging and tearing down someone's character.

Speaker 2 (53:50):
That's what it really should.

Speaker 4 (53:51):
Be about.

Speaker 2 (53:53):
Hi. Everyone. The Spirited Actor Podcast with Tracy Moore now
has a YouTube channel.

Speaker 1 (54:01):
You'll get to see exclusive video footage from our podcast taping,
as well as your favorite.

Speaker 2 (54:07):
Segments from the show.

Speaker 1 (54:09):
Make sure to like our videos, subscribe to our channel,
and share with all your friends.

Speaker 2 (54:16):
Don't forget to also follow.

Speaker 1 (54:18):
Us on Instagram, at the Spirited Actor and at both
Tracy Moore and at the Spirited Actor Podcast with Tracy
Moore on Facebook and X. Thank you for joining us
on The Spirited Actor Podcast with me Tracy Moore. I
look forward to our next Spirited podcast. Thank you