December 11, 2024 • 39 mins
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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 producer Spike Lee and director Nick Domez.
I auditioned every rapper from Biggie Smalls 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. Now I know, I know actors want to
get the job. I get that, but being remembered by
casting director that is powerful. And now it's time for
(01:06):
meditation of the day. If you think education is expensive,
try ignorance. When I was a kid, I used to
question the subjects I had to take. I couldnot understand
the relevance of algebra. I hated the subject. One day,
I was in class and it came to me. I
(01:27):
used my brains and solved a problem right there. In
that very moment, I understood why I needed algebra in
my life. Whether you understand it now, know that in
some way everything you learn is soon to be applied
in your life. Today I will grasp all the knowledge
(01:51):
and cherish it. Welcome to the Spirited Actor Podcast with
me Tracy Moore. Need you guys to sit back you are.
I can't even tell you the blessing that is before
you right now. Not only is she an outstanding, award
(02:16):
winning casting director, but she is a blessing as a beautiful,
spiritual human being. Ladies and gentlemen, I want you to
stand up. I want you to put your hands together.
For casting director extraordinaire Robbie Reeve.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Oh, thank you, thank you, sys. I appreciate you so much.
And that was a beautiful intro.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Who is truth? Who is that? It is the truth?
I have admired Robbie. There were two mentors in my
head right when I first started casting. And please, audience,
I want you to listen they wear in my hand.
They didn't know this at the time, but it was
(03:03):
Robbie Reid and Ruben Cannon. And I have the pleasure
of telling Robbie because she blessed me with the gig
and I've known her for years, So grateful to know
her and just to know that we're going to go through.
And I want you guys to go to IMDb dot
(03:25):
com right now, and I want you to put in
Robbie's name, and I want you to see the credits
because you have to do your due diligence on people
that are on the show and know who's on the show.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Man.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
We're going to start at the beginning. Robbie, how did
you get started as a casting director? What led you
into casting? And you are a legend in casting.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Well, let's see you when I was but a mere
five year old when I started a business. Yes, she was,
I'm really I knew so I wanted to cast at
the age of fifteen, and I was exposed to it,
you know, with my brother being a child actor, and
so I would a company my parents on his auditions
(04:11):
and while they were parking the car, I would go
inside with him to check him in and one day
I asked the reception is who is he going to
see behind that door? And they said, well, that's the
casting director. And I was like, oh, well, what does
the casting director do? And that was the first explanation
and exposure and that just was a light bulb that
went off. I was like, oh, that sounds like something
(04:32):
I would love to do too. So that's where it
was birthed. And then from there. I was always an
avid reader, and I was reading a book, I couldn't
start it without putting attaching actors to the characters, not
even realizing I was casting.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
And that's where it began.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
After college, I went to Hampton HBCU shout out.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
And then my daughter went to the other HU Howard.
Oh Hu, Yes, you.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Guys did advice and I love it.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
But so right after Hampton, you know, I just pursued
it and had, you know, kind of just went you know,
when you really do believe in yourself, the lead that
you're doing something your purpose to do was just like,
you're fearless.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
And I was that, you know, I wish I had
some of that fearlessness.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Now really, you know, so caused it to the wind
and I called everybody. I didn't know until somebody answered me,
and that was Jackie Brown Carmen.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
Oh love Jackie Brown.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Yes, and she gave me just really inspiration, you know.
From mayor, I met Rubin who was also my mentor. Wow,
and I turned with him for a short while and
when it ended, you know, I just from there I
became a production assistant movie called The Falcon and the Snowman.
(06:06):
Oh I believe I said that I was fine though.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Then from there I met the casting director of the
next film, Ellen Channel With who didn't have an assistant,
and she hired me and that movie was called Sweet
Dreams that starred Jessica Layne and Ed Harris. Wow, and
I have been working since then. I met Spike soon
(06:31):
there after, I went to at a casting company called
McClinton Mail, where I got a lot of experience and
right sort of in the middle of that two.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Year stint wasn't quite two years.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Actually, my best friend from Hampton, Ray Dowell, was in
the She's Got a Habit and.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
When she got she was given the script. I was
the only person kind of in the business that.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
She knew, right, so she called me and we were
going over the contract and Spike was like, who is
that that you're talking to, Well, that's my friend Robbie Reid,
and one day you need to meet her.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
And wow, they came, you know, and he.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Was in La for the La Film Festival, which for
some reason was canceled that year. I don't remember why,
but it was just a buying order because it really
was us, you know, purpose to meet in that moment, right,
and spent a fateful day together and you know, by
(07:34):
the end of the evening he was like, one day,
who knows you're going to cast one of my movies?
And he wrote down his address and said keep in touch.
And within a few months I had the script for
School Days.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Wow. So you know, I worked with Spike in the
later part, but in the beginning because I think I
was one of the first people to see She's got
to have it as an audience because it was there
was a theater on twelfth Street between sixth Avenue and
(08:13):
Fifth Avenue, I believe it was, and there were and
they had like the film had just there was buzz
on it and they were like, oh, you know, I
was affiliated with the music business at that point, and
so a lot of like uh Russell Simmons and Andre
Herrels and Guy rest Is Soul. All of those people
(08:34):
were there, Nelson George's and that's when I saw it
and I was like, oh my god, Like what Spike
made me feel like in that moment was that he
broke all of the rules in filmmaking. And I was like,
you could do that, you could do that. So and
I am And I always think of Spike as the
(08:54):
Midas touch. I feel like he knows he has the
sensibility of discovering talent and then also breathing life and
reinvention of talent. And so how was that in the beginning,
like those early days school days? Because just from that film,
we can list all of the people the working actors
from there in terms of because he was a little
(09:18):
unconventional in terms of you telling him ideas about you know, uh,
you know, different actors that you wanted to submit to him.
How open was he for that?
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Oh my god.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
I love working with Spike because of that openness was
so collaboratives, so interesting.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
I just did this.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Interview with Kim Coleman American Cinematigue where you know, they're
honoring him, and we were just talking about our individual experiences.
You know, I was the early part and she is
now and he's the same. He's the same spike. He
loves the process, which is amazing to find a co
(10:04):
creator that loves casting as much as you do. Yeah,
we were laughing at how you have to be on
your toes because you knows actors, you know, and it'd.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Be like have you know, you know, have you seen? Yeah,
but always open.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
And the thing that I love, which is what he
loves too, is and the part about the job that
I love is being able to give people opportunities you know,
and get and giving.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Them a path way that gets.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
The closer to their dream, you know, and that casting
does that and always open for looking, you know, for
the raw talent or giving people their first breaks, you know,
a history of it.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
So it's great working with him.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
I also love the fact that again and if you
all go back to IMDb dot com and just reference
some of the credit in terms of do the right
thing and mo better Blues, Oh my god, I fellow
love we Bad Blues.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
Again.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
A lot of these actors this was maybe their first
job or you know, this was definitely the momentum into
their career. As a working actor, what's that thing that
stands out to you? Unfortunately we don't have live auditions
anymore so the self tape world. But you know what,
(11:31):
what are some things that actors really need to know
about what is going to in the self tape world.
What's going to make them stand out? Because on a
job that you know I just finished, we got like
anywhere from nine hundred and twenty seven to fifteen hundred
submissions per character. That's not humanly possible for Elsa and
(11:53):
I to look at all of that. What's that thing
that they need to do?
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Oh wow, that's a good question. Well, first of all,
I'm gonna believe God that we get back to some
form of what it was, because to me, there's nothing like.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Being in the room. You know, old school. I don't care.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
I'm old school too, Robbie. I'm with you.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
I mean.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
And even though I love, as many people know, open
casting calls, you know, I was still doing them every
year and just had done one this past time, well
for the Uptown mini series got rest Andre and we
were just in Dallas together in January.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
Yeah, hundreds upon hundreds of people. But anyway, I think
the best thing that anyone can do now with.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
The self tape is to give no reason for us
to look at anything in the tape.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
But you you know, so.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Having your setup, you know, because it is like the.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
Way of the way of things now, they are not
as many.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Excuses for it to not be perfect. So clost the
perfect as you can get. And we know how the
internet can be, you know, spotty, yanky or whatever on
any day. But at least have your your lighting, your background,
your sound. Those are the things you want to have
(13:24):
perfect it, you know, if it means you got to
shut up and just practice it every day, so you know,
wherever in your house, yeah, you know, wherever you might be,
it's a spot.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
And if the sound is weird, put some egg cartons
on the wall. Whatever you do. Invest in you. It's
what you have and preparation, you know. So and because
again it's a camera and it's like this, you know,
reading sites or whatever.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
It's going to be hard for us to always get
you know, the best look at you.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
It's okay, but try to be off book.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
And work out whoever is your seeing partner, you know,
whether you've recorded it, you know, or that person's on
the phone or just as long as the sound is
as good as it can be, because if it's not,
those things really are distracting and it takes.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
Away from you.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
Yeah, And I have to concur because one of the
challenges that I had was because being old school, I'm
used to reading. I love reading with actors, that's my saying.
But the readers and these self tapes, I just have
to stress they have to get people who can read
(14:41):
it's it's I had three different scenarios. I have the
reader who could not read, which was extremely distracting from
your performance. And then I had the reader who was upstaging. Yeah,
the person who was audition and I was like, Okay,
who's is this? And you know, and then the parent,
(15:03):
you know, who doesn't have any clue and they're just
you know, trying the best that they can. And I
just highly recommend that people, like you said, either tape
it or get a fellow actor to come in and
read with you, you know, because you're you're jeopardizing our
eyes on you and now we're all over the place.
(15:24):
Like you said, do you find because I think that
classes teach actors the craft. But this is also a
business too. How important is it for actors to understand
the terminology the job, like what your job as a
casting director? What an agent? How important is it for
(15:47):
them to know the business of show business.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
It's called show business for a reason, right, It is
of the utmost importance that you know everything about this business.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
You know who?
Speaker 2 (16:02):
You know what executives mean at a studio as opposed
to what executives mean at a network.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
You know where I used to say, no, who's in
the room, it's still now who's in your zoom room?
Speaker 4 (16:14):
You know?
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Who are you reading for? What can you find out
about them? What credits? You know?
Speaker 2 (16:20):
So you if you're given an opportunity to have a conversation,
then you might have you know, something real interesting and
unexpected to talk about, you know.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
But it is business.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
So knowing you know where you are where you make
the investment. So you know, right now everything's virtual, so
you can literally be anywhere and work right from anywhere.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
But just really think.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
About how invested are you and then you know again,
like just getting the proper equipment for your self tape,
that's an investment, you know, And so if it means
you've got to put some money aside, you know, and
not do something else to do it.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
It's worth it. It's your livelihood.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
You know, and investing in your your craft and studying
and just keeping your tools as sharpened as they can be,
you know. And then there are all kinds of classes
online that will teach you the business about the business
of show, you know, and it's really worth it, you know,
(17:27):
and knowing just really what everyone's role is.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
It's important people who just kind of wake up and
decide this.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Is what they want to do, you know, they're they're
just not ready, you know, And when opportunity nots, you
want to be ready. And having all that information will
be helpful. It might not seem like it at the beginning,
but it is. You can't know too much.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
I want to talk to the parents. I got so
many questions, but I want to talk to the parents
right now because the challenge that I have right in
coaching some children or teenagers. The parents will say to me, oh,
you know, I want my child to make it. Oh
I need my child. Meanwhile, I'll say to them when
they send me the information, did you read the breakdown?
Speaker 2 (18:17):
You know?
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Did you read who the executive producer, the writer, the director,
the casting director are and they'll say no, and I'm like,
this is the thing you want your child to make it,
you want your child to move their career long, but
you don't even do the due diligence on who your
child is in front of. That's a blessing, you know
(18:37):
what I mean. It's they're standing in front of Robbie
Reid and they're like, oh, I got to get things moving,
my god, know who Robbie Reid is?
Speaker 2 (18:45):
You know.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
So I suggest to parents all the time to take
classes to understand the business for their child because if
they're if they have anxiety, they're passing that into their child.
What are some things that you would say to parents
who are you know, desperately seeking stardom for their children?
Speaker 2 (19:09):
You know, well, I think first know that your child
really does want to do it, and you are not
forcing them, as.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
I see that a lot. You know they're and you know,
you know immediately they're different.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Ye. So, and I think when when kids are really interested,
they ask, you know, they ask for it, and then
you'll see too where they just you know, kind of
are you know, they're inclined you know, on to it,
and I can I also tell parents to just let
(19:48):
kids be kids. So they've got a lot of natural,
really great natural raw instincts, and sometimes parents can over reheards,
you know, in preparation for an audition, and that kills it.
As you know, when when we cast kids, we want
the kids to be kids and be yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
You know as it can. Right, So there's that, and uh, what.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Else if i'm again, I think just continuing to check
in with your child to make sure it's something, to
make sure it's something that they want to do and
not something that the parent is on them, I.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Think said as actors, you know, and especially looking at
a lot of self tapes recently, can you tell actors
that listening and reacting is a part of the whole
process as well? How does that play into their performance?
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, you've got to be in the
scene so so you know, acting it should be as
natural as it can be.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
So it's like you're having a conversation.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
If you are listening and really in a conversation and
actively listening, you're waiting to hear what the person has
say before you can answer them right and non anticipate
what they're saying, right, No, immediately when that happens, and
we know it in a scene when an actor anticipates
the line because it's not connected, you know that the
(21:16):
reaction isn't real or it's not natural, right, it just
feels like interacting, right, So yes, listening and then reacting
is really important.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
Excellent. So while we're doing this self tape for now,
how do you in this zoom sort of age, how
are you discovering quote unquote talent? You know, I know,
maybe through self tape, but are there other ways? Like
is there an email that actors or is there some
(21:50):
actors can follow you somewhere and submit to you.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
Oh, for sure, I have an email.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
It's b ET Casting and b et.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
Com dot com.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Okay, e T Casting at b e T dot com.
And then also they can send me info at casting
by Robbie read at gmail dot com.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
Okay. I want to emphasize these things for the actors
because you know, I mean, we're there's it's a different world. Now.
You can go on YouTube and scan that if you
have time and side.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
I want to say, one more thing to do is
post a monologue and tag me.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
Yeah, post monologue and tag me.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
At I am Robbie Reid on that on Instagram.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
And Twitter I am you read, don't you know a minute?
Speaker 1 (22:49):
One minute? Yeah, because when we were in real life,
two minutes saves log right, But on it's.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Great, I mean, oh my god, yeah, I mean you
really can see it all of my open casting calls
that have done in the last five years. You know,
some people coming, they get one minute to show whatever
talent they have.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
You want to show me you can sing?
Speaker 2 (23:13):
Use your people did singing, acting and dancing in a minute.
Speaker 1 (23:17):
Yeah, yeah, No, you're right, You're absolutely right. I want
to acknowledge to our audience that Robbie has an Emmy award,
you guys like it's somewhere in her house. She got
an Emmy, Okay, And and is are you the first
(23:39):
African American Robbie.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Yes, I am the first African American to being nominated
and win an Emmy for casting.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
Yes, that's major, that's just I mean when you were
the year you were nominated for HBO to Skeigee Airman,
I was, you know, just indirectly, just you know, I
was rooting you on, and I just remember it being
such a huge deal in our community. Casting Tracy Villar,
(24:14):
Tracy Runcy Wins Sinclair, we were all like Robbie right,
such a great accomplishment and an amazing project. Amazing project
and how timely in a way where I heard last
night on CNN one of the uhmen, but they were
speaking of the Cuskegee Airmen and they were saying, how
(24:38):
this is why black people are skeptical about vaccinations because
of what you did. Yeah, so last night I was like, wow,
Robbie cast that it got to Ivy looking crazy, and
that's where we are today, you know, trying to trust
the government and giving us a accipen. So you know,
(25:02):
but you guys, I think that for me, it was
groundbreaking when you won the award. It just felt like, wow,
we could get awards, you know, so proud, thank you,
so proud that you have that award there. Also, I
did want to acknowledge the spiritual side, since you know
(25:23):
this is the spiritual actor. But I have tapped in
with you and Devon Franklin, my lord actors, and I
always say actors need to be able to retreat somewhere
for peace, and can you tell us how that started?
And you know what led you to do that?
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Wow?
Speaker 2 (25:42):
Well, let's see it's doctor Holly Carter and I who's
you know, Holly is a producer.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
Been doing amazing work lately.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
God, it's just really blowing her all the way up
and all the way live. Clay and I have been
friends for over twenty years and we managed Kirk Franklin together. Actually, yeah,
over twenty years ago. She was the agent, I was
the manager and.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
It was awesome and we're all still friends. Kirk Kirk
is our brother.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
So Holly and I were on a retreat, a women's
retreat spiritual and both of us was in the mountains
and we both were, you know, given a word and
it was put on our heart to start a Bible
study for people in the industry. And you know, we
(26:36):
were burdened with that, you know, because it was truly
heaven sent, and we attempted.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
We were like, okay, all right, God, this is how
we'll do it. We'll just do it at lunchtime.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
And we see a few people at lunch and we
tried to bring other people in, and of course that
didn't work because God was like.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
Now what I did, you didn't do We On June no.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
May twelfth, two thousand and seven, I opened the doors
of my house and we had our first Bible study
and send.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
God gave me the name of Sin exclamation point VI.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
And you know, people just came to my house every fourth,
every fourth Tuesday of the month.
Speaker 3 (27:24):
It was just beautiful.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
Lives were saved, change, people got married, industry, and we
had a wonderful woman pastor out Via Sims, who was
the speaker and teacher for the first several years, seven years,
and then she, you know, something happened in her schedule.
She wasn't as available and pastor to Ray Roberts and
(27:50):
Devon Franklin then became our speakers and it just you know,
just had a natural progression. You know, it was de
Vaughn and we've been going strong. I mean, so twenty
two thousand and seven, what are we at?
Speaker 1 (28:04):
This is thirteen Wow, you know.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
It to be out through my house and you know,
because we knew we had to open the doors wind up.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
Yeah, now you know.
Speaker 3 (28:14):
It's virtually everywhere.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
In fact, we have we'll be sitting out in a
flyer because we're going to do it next Tuesday.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
Okay, I'm going to put it on the Instagram and
I want to put it on my because it's just
a blessing. Like I just think that that's the part
for me, that is the human connection and just your
love and generosity, because especially now you know what I
think about the Broadway actors, and I just think about
(28:44):
just people in general. You know, people need a hug,
and this feels like the first time I went in,
I just felt like a hug. I felt like, oh man,
this feels good for your spirits. So kudos to you
guys and all of you actors and just people in
general who are listening. You should really check on my
Instagram the Spirited Actor, because I'm going to be posting
(29:06):
it and we're posting it everywhere. So, Asbrus said, twenty
eight minutes flew by, and we are at the end,
and I'm so sad because I never get to see Robbie.
Only in September now when we have Urban World.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
Oh gosh, that was.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
That's okay, we're coming back. I know we're coming back.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
They are and it's a big year, right yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
I believe that if you could just leave our audience
with some diamonds and pearls, because you gave us a lot,
but if you could give us a few more that
they need on this journey towards their dreams.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Well, I think the main thing I love to leave
people with is this, and it really is my mantra
because it truly is the truth, and that is whoever
is supposed to be in the movie will end up
with the movie.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
Whoever is supposed to have the role.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
Will end up with the role, which means what's for
you is for you. So the best thing you can do,
when given opportunities is to win the room, not the role.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
Leave an impression.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
So when your moment comes, you will get it because
if it's yours and your name is on it, that
means nobody else will have it.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
You, guys, believe that it's the God's truth.
Speaker 5 (30:33):
For you.
Speaker 1 (30:34):
That's I mean, that's for actors. But I receive that
and I know everybody on this podcast received it as well. Amen.
I told you, guys, I told you that this was
going to be it. I told you. Now you can
levitate through your day because this is all you need.
This is all you need right now. Robbie, when I say,
(30:57):
I am grateful and I feel so blessed to know
you all these DearS and to be you are my
soul sister for real, my soul sister. And we go
have that book sued, right, Robbie.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
Yes, yes, I'll come back and talk about it.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
Robbie, I got an agent for you. I already have
a literary agent for you and everything set up.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
I'm telling you, okay, okay, that's comprehended it.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
I'm just going to email you that's it, and then
I'm going to allow God to work in God's ways.
Speaker 3 (31:28):
Look at him, he's already working.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
Okay. Amen, Amen, ladies and gentlemen, once again, put your
hands together for casting director Spiritual be extraordinariy Robbie Reed.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
Thank you, thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
Thank you, Robbie, thank you, And we will be back
on the Spirited Actor Podcast with you know my favorite segment,
Class in Session. Welcome back to the Spirited Actor Podcast
with me Trey see More. And we are at class
in session and class and session is where we play.
(32:07):
And we are still blessed and you are still blessed
to have guesting director Robbie read on. And so we
have our two spirit Actor alumni. We have Lian Amato,
who is also Robbie. I call her our writer in
residence because she writes all the scenes. Lian and we
(32:29):
have to Melissa Capri. Heay, and thank you Elsa for
reading the direction. So we're going to start by reading
the scene, and then after Robbie, whatever feedback criticism, you
can just jump in and give it to him. Okay,
all right, everybody ready, Okay, else it's on you.
Speaker 6 (32:54):
He's for everybody. Written by Lean A Model exterior Keith
South's front door day. Lisa rings the doorbell, surprised to
see Michelle answer the door.
Speaker 3 (33:10):
Hi, I'm gonna say to get the rest of my stuff.
Speaker 6 (33:17):
Michelle opens the door and steps out the way for her.
Lisa obviously knows where she's going.
Speaker 3 (33:24):
You don't have anything you want to say to me?
Speaker 4 (33:27):
Do you expect me to have something to say to you?
Speaker 3 (33:31):
No, I'm shocked that you could even face me right now.
But I realized the character of who is that I'm talking.
Speaker 5 (33:38):
To, Blert. It's not like you wanted to be here, Lisa, Great.
I mean, how could you be mad at the next
one for stepping up someone was going to do it.
Speaker 3 (33:49):
When the next one was the one who knew what
was going on all along. That's foul as hell.
Speaker 7 (33:53):
Michelle, you knew everything that I was dealing with. How
could you use that against me and then slide your
way in. That's some thirsty ass shit looking for a
come up. Lisa proceeds to get her stuff. Michelle grabs
her arm to stop her. Lisa pulls back.
Speaker 5 (34:12):
Let's say what you want, Lisa, but this it's not
place now, So please get your stuff and step out.
Respect me.
Speaker 7 (34:21):
Oh my god, I think that you're forgetting who did
Who's wrong here?
Speaker 3 (34:26):
He could go please and you're gonna see that figure
damn self.
Speaker 7 (34:29):
But when someone that I consider closer than family betrays
me like this and you're making me feel wrong about it,
it's really fucked up, Michelle.
Speaker 4 (34:40):
So it wasn't meant to go this way. I mean,
you know me better than that. It a'll just it happened.
Speaker 3 (34:51):
What happened to God doesn't like ugly Mama.
Speaker 4 (34:54):
She deserves a hell of a lot more than what
you have to give me, more than you wanted to get.
Speaker 5 (35:01):
He was just so concerned with getting yourself together this
whole time.
Speaker 4 (35:05):
Let's be honest. Most of all, she deserved kids, and
you knew that. Who come at me like that?
Speaker 5 (35:17):
It's really low, Michelle Slow.
Speaker 7 (35:21):
She does deserve it, but he didn't need it from
my best friend, it's all good.
Speaker 3 (35:26):
You'll see, Sis has asked time.
Speaker 6 (35:32):
They both noticed Keith pulled into the driveway. Lisa walks
out with her stuff, passing him, both playing like they
don't care. He walks into greet Michelle, who's smiling at
him as he proceeds in on the phone, distracted yet
confused at what he just saw.
Speaker 1 (35:50):
And good ladies, Okay, all right, good scene. Okay, So
I'm just gonna throw it to you, Robbie, and whatever
you feel, it is great.
Speaker 3 (35:59):
And I believe both of you.
Speaker 2 (36:01):
The thing that for me, I'm always looking for someone
to make me forget that I'm watching them act right.
So you guys immediately drew me in, you know, because
you approached it from a very truthful, honest place.
Speaker 3 (36:16):
This is hard.
Speaker 2 (36:17):
So it was, you know, it was believable.
Speaker 3 (36:22):
You're you know, I could hear you your projection.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
Like you did everything right, and then the characters.
Speaker 3 (36:32):
You were believable in those characters.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
So do you know as a from from a casting,
you know, point of view, I could see where you
would be cast in that role, and you would be
cast in that role, she Lisa.
Speaker 3 (36:43):
So that's also an important thing, So thank you.
Speaker 1 (36:48):
Thanks, Wow, yeah, and I have to say with because
I've known both of them, but they both are so
they do their due diligence and their craft. And one
thing I wrote down and put exclamations they invest in themselves.
So thank you Robbie, because when you said that, I
(37:11):
was like, that is what so I always like to
they have all the information, right, ladies, you took down
Robbie Reid, BT casting all of that right, and.
Speaker 3 (37:24):
You leave photos sen it to me.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
Yay, all right, well, once again I want my audience
to put their hands together and again you guys had
a tremendous blessing. So I just blow sprinkle dust and
pray that you take it with you because these are
the nuggets that you need on your journey, and especially
from someone like casting director Robbie Reid and producer. Thank
(37:52):
you so much for Robby. Once to you, Thank you
and thank you, and we'll be back on the Spirited
Actor podcast with me Tracy Moore and we're going to
give love. And now it's time to give love. You
guys need to get fired up. I need people to
get fired up. I need you to jump out of
(38:13):
your bed in the morning, be grateful that you're standing
on your own two feet. I need you to get
fired up by your life. I need you to get
fired up by the possibilities. I need you to get
fired up with your dreams and dream big. If you're
going to do it, dream big. Don't edit your dreams.
(38:33):
Don't even get yourself involved in how it's going to
happen or when it's going to happen. Just be fired
up that it can happen. I need you to be
fired up about twenty twenty one. Yes, we've all had challenges,
and it's been long, and it's been dark, and there
have been moments of doubt and fear. But it's a
(38:56):
brand new day. It's a brand new time. And if
we focus all our thoughts into getting fired up about
this new year, embracing it with new hope, new vision,
and new possibilities, we can live a very peaceful, abundant
(39:19):
and happy life. Get fired up because it's not promised
to us, and what is promised, You need to live
your life with fire. Thank you for joining us on
the Spirited Actor Podcast with me Tracy Moore. I look
forward to our next Spirited podcast. Thank you,
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 producer Spike Lee and director Nick Domez.
I auditioned every rapper from Biggie Smalls 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. Now I know, I know actors want to
get the job. I get that, but being remembered by
casting director that is powerful. And now it's time for
(01:06):
meditation of the day. If you think education is expensive,
try ignorance. When I was a kid, I used to
question the subjects I had to take. I couldnot understand
the relevance of algebra. I hated the subject. One day,
I was in class and it came to me. I
(01:27):
used my brains and solved a problem right there. In
that very moment, I understood why I needed algebra in
my life. Whether you understand it now, know that in
some way everything you learn is soon to be applied
in your life. Today I will grasp all the knowledge
(01:51):
and cherish it. Welcome to the Spirited Actor Podcast with
me Tracy Moore. Need you guys to sit back you are.
I can't even tell you the blessing that is before
you right now. Not only is she an outstanding, award
(02:16):
winning casting director, but she is a blessing as a beautiful,
spiritual human being. Ladies and gentlemen, I want you to
stand up. I want you to put your hands together.
For casting director extraordinaire Robbie Reeve.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Oh, thank you, thank you, sys. I appreciate you so much.
And that was a beautiful intro.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Who is truth? Who is that? It is the truth?
I have admired Robbie. There were two mentors in my
head right when I first started casting. And please, audience,
I want you to listen they wear in my hand.
They didn't know this at the time, but it was
(03:03):
Robbie Reid and Ruben Cannon. And I have the pleasure
of telling Robbie because she blessed me with the gig
and I've known her for years, So grateful to know
her and just to know that we're going to go through.
And I want you guys to go to IMDb dot
(03:25):
com right now, and I want you to put in
Robbie's name, and I want you to see the credits
because you have to do your due diligence on people
that are on the show and know who's on the show.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Man.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
We're going to start at the beginning. Robbie, how did
you get started as a casting director? What led you
into casting? And you are a legend in casting.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Well, let's see you when I was but a mere
five year old when I started a business. Yes, she was,
I'm really I knew so I wanted to cast at
the age of fifteen, and I was exposed to it,
you know, with my brother being a child actor, and
so I would a company my parents on his auditions
(04:11):
and while they were parking the car, I would go
inside with him to check him in and one day
I asked the reception is who is he going to
see behind that door? And they said, well, that's the
casting director. And I was like, oh, well, what does
the casting director do? And that was the first explanation
and exposure and that just was a light bulb that
went off. I was like, oh, that sounds like something
(04:32):
I would love to do too. So that's where it
was birthed. And then from there. I was always an
avid reader, and I was reading a book, I couldn't
start it without putting attaching actors to the characters, not
even realizing I was casting.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
And that's where it began.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
After college, I went to Hampton HBCU shout out.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
And then my daughter went to the other HU Howard.
Oh Hu, Yes, you.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Guys did advice and I love it.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
But so right after Hampton, you know, I just pursued
it and had, you know, kind of just went you know,
when you really do believe in yourself, the lead that
you're doing something your purpose to do was just like,
you're fearless.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
And I was that, you know, I wish I had
some of that fearlessness.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Now really, you know, so caused it to the wind
and I called everybody. I didn't know until somebody answered me,
and that was Jackie Brown Carmen.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
Oh love Jackie Brown.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Yes, and she gave me just really inspiration, you know.
From mayor, I met Rubin who was also my mentor. Wow,
and I turned with him for a short while and
when it ended, you know, I just from there I
became a production assistant movie called The Falcon and the Snowman.
(06:06):
Oh I believe I said that I was fine though.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Then from there I met the casting director of the
next film, Ellen Channel With who didn't have an assistant,
and she hired me and that movie was called Sweet
Dreams that starred Jessica Layne and Ed Harris. Wow, and
I have been working since then. I met Spike soon
(06:31):
there after, I went to at a casting company called
McClinton Mail, where I got a lot of experience and
right sort of in the middle of that two.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Year stint wasn't quite two years.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Actually, my best friend from Hampton, Ray Dowell, was in
the She's Got a Habit and.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
When she got she was given the script. I was
the only person kind of in the business that.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
She knew, right, so she called me and we were
going over the contract and Spike was like, who is
that that you're talking to, Well, that's my friend Robbie Reid,
and one day you need to meet her.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
And wow, they came, you know, and he.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Was in La for the La Film Festival, which for
some reason was canceled that year. I don't remember why,
but it was just a buying order because it really
was us, you know, purpose to meet in that moment, right,
and spent a fateful day together and you know, by
(07:34):
the end of the evening he was like, one day,
who knows you're going to cast one of my movies?
And he wrote down his address and said keep in touch.
And within a few months I had the script for
School Days.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Wow. So you know, I worked with Spike in the
later part, but in the beginning because I think I
was one of the first people to see She's got
to have it as an audience because it was there
was a theater on twelfth Street between sixth Avenue and
(08:13):
Fifth Avenue, I believe it was, and there were and
they had like the film had just there was buzz
on it and they were like, oh, you know, I
was affiliated with the music business at that point, and
so a lot of like uh Russell Simmons and Andre
Herrels and Guy rest Is Soul. All of those people
(08:34):
were there, Nelson George's and that's when I saw it
and I was like, oh my god, Like what Spike
made me feel like in that moment was that he
broke all of the rules in filmmaking. And I was like,
you could do that, you could do that. So and
I am And I always think of Spike as the
(08:54):
Midas touch. I feel like he knows he has the
sensibility of discovering talent and then also breathing life and
reinvention of talent. And so how was that in the beginning,
like those early days school days? Because just from that film,
we can list all of the people the working actors
from there in terms of because he was a little
(09:18):
unconventional in terms of you telling him ideas about you know, uh,
you know, different actors that you wanted to submit to him.
How open was he for that?
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Oh my god.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
I love working with Spike because of that openness was
so collaboratives, so interesting.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
I just did this.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Interview with Kim Coleman American Cinematigue where you know, they're
honoring him, and we were just talking about our individual experiences.
You know, I was the early part and she is
now and he's the same. He's the same spike. He
loves the process, which is amazing to find a co
(10:04):
creator that loves casting as much as you do. Yeah,
we were laughing at how you have to be on
your toes because you knows actors, you know, and it'd.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Be like have you know, you know, have you seen? Yeah,
but always open.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
And the thing that I love, which is what he
loves too, is and the part about the job that
I love is being able to give people opportunities you know,
and get and giving.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Them a path way that gets.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
The closer to their dream, you know, and that casting
does that and always open for looking, you know, for
the raw talent or giving people their first breaks, you know,
a history of it.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
So it's great working with him.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
I also love the fact that again and if you
all go back to IMDb dot com and just reference
some of the credit in terms of do the right
thing and mo better Blues, Oh my god, I fellow
love we Bad Blues.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
Again.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
A lot of these actors this was maybe their first
job or you know, this was definitely the momentum into
their career. As a working actor, what's that thing that
stands out to you? Unfortunately we don't have live auditions
anymore so the self tape world. But you know what,
(11:31):
what are some things that actors really need to know
about what is going to in the self tape world.
What's going to make them stand out? Because on a
job that you know I just finished, we got like
anywhere from nine hundred and twenty seven to fifteen hundred
submissions per character. That's not humanly possible for Elsa and
(11:53):
I to look at all of that. What's that thing
that they need to do?
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Oh wow, that's a good question. Well, first of all,
I'm gonna believe God that we get back to some
form of what it was, because to me, there's nothing like.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Being in the room. You know, old school. I don't care.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
I'm old school too, Robbie. I'm with you.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
I mean.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
And even though I love, as many people know, open
casting calls, you know, I was still doing them every
year and just had done one this past time, well
for the Uptown mini series got rest Andre and we
were just in Dallas together in January.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
Yeah, hundreds upon hundreds of people. But anyway, I think
the best thing that anyone can do now with.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
The self tape is to give no reason for us
to look at anything in the tape.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
But you you know, so.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Having your setup, you know, because it is like the.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
Way of the way of things now, they are not
as many.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Excuses for it to not be perfect. So clost the
perfect as you can get. And we know how the
internet can be, you know, spotty, yanky or whatever on
any day. But at least have your your lighting, your background,
your sound. Those are the things you want to have
(13:24):
perfect it, you know, if it means you got to
shut up and just practice it every day, so you know,
wherever in your house, yeah, you know, wherever you might be,
it's a spot.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
And if the sound is weird, put some egg cartons
on the wall. Whatever you do. Invest in you. It's
what you have and preparation, you know. So and because
again it's a camera and it's like this, you know,
reading sites or whatever.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
It's going to be hard for us to always get
you know, the best look at you.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
It's okay, but try to be off book.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
And work out whoever is your seeing partner, you know,
whether you've recorded it, you know, or that person's on
the phone or just as long as the sound is
as good as it can be, because if it's not,
those things really are distracting and it takes.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
Away from you.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
Yeah, And I have to concur because one of the
challenges that I had was because being old school, I'm
used to reading. I love reading with actors, that's my saying.
But the readers and these self tapes, I just have
to stress they have to get people who can read
(14:41):
it's it's I had three different scenarios. I have the
reader who could not read, which was extremely distracting from
your performance. And then I had the reader who was upstaging. Yeah,
the person who was audition and I was like, Okay,
who's is this? And you know, and then the parent,
(15:03):
you know, who doesn't have any clue and they're just
you know, trying the best that they can. And I
just highly recommend that people, like you said, either tape
it or get a fellow actor to come in and
read with you, you know, because you're you're jeopardizing our
eyes on you and now we're all over the place.
(15:24):
Like you said, do you find because I think that
classes teach actors the craft. But this is also a
business too. How important is it for actors to understand
the terminology the job, like what your job as a
casting director? What an agent? How important is it for
(15:47):
them to know the business of show business.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
It's called show business for a reason, right, It is
of the utmost importance that you know everything about this business.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
You know who?
Speaker 2 (16:02):
You know what executives mean at a studio as opposed
to what executives mean at a network.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
You know where I used to say, no, who's in
the room, it's still now who's in your zoom room?
Speaker 4 (16:14):
You know?
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Who are you reading for? What can you find out
about them? What credits? You know?
Speaker 2 (16:20):
So you if you're given an opportunity to have a conversation,
then you might have you know, something real interesting and
unexpected to talk about, you know.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
But it is business.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
So knowing you know where you are where you make
the investment. So you know, right now everything's virtual, so
you can literally be anywhere and work right from anywhere.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
But just really think.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
About how invested are you and then you know again,
like just getting the proper equipment for your self tape,
that's an investment, you know, And so if it means
you've got to put some money aside, you know, and
not do something else to do it.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
It's worth it. It's your livelihood.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
You know, and investing in your your craft and studying
and just keeping your tools as sharpened as they can be,
you know. And then there are all kinds of classes
online that will teach you the business about the business
of show, you know, and it's really worth it, you know,
(17:27):
and knowing just really what everyone's role is.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
It's important people who just kind of wake up and
decide this.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Is what they want to do, you know, they're they're
just not ready, you know, And when opportunity nots, you
want to be ready. And having all that information will
be helpful. It might not seem like it at the beginning,
but it is. You can't know too much.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
I want to talk to the parents. I got so
many questions, but I want to talk to the parents
right now because the challenge that I have right in
coaching some children or teenagers. The parents will say to me, oh,
you know, I want my child to make it. Oh
I need my child. Meanwhile, I'll say to them when
they send me the information, did you read the breakdown?
Speaker 2 (18:17):
You know?
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Did you read who the executive producer, the writer, the director,
the casting director are and they'll say no, and I'm like,
this is the thing you want your child to make it,
you want your child to move their career long, but
you don't even do the due diligence on who your
child is in front of. That's a blessing, you know
(18:37):
what I mean. It's they're standing in front of Robbie
Reid and they're like, oh, I got to get things moving,
my god, know who Robbie Reid is?
Speaker 2 (18:45):
You know.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
So I suggest to parents all the time to take
classes to understand the business for their child because if
they're if they have anxiety, they're passing that into their child.
What are some things that you would say to parents
who are you know, desperately seeking stardom for their children?
Speaker 2 (19:09):
You know, well, I think first know that your child
really does want to do it, and you are not
forcing them, as.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
I see that a lot. You know they're and you know,
you know immediately they're different.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Ye. So, and I think when when kids are really interested,
they ask, you know, they ask for it, and then
you'll see too where they just you know, kind of
are you know, they're inclined you know, on to it,
and I can I also tell parents to just let
(19:48):
kids be kids. So they've got a lot of natural,
really great natural raw instincts, and sometimes parents can over reheards,
you know, in preparation for an audition, and that kills it.
As you know, when when we cast kids, we want
the kids to be kids and be yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
You know as it can. Right, So there's that, and uh, what.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Else if i'm again, I think just continuing to check
in with your child to make sure it's something, to
make sure it's something that they want to do and
not something that the parent is on them, I.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Think said as actors, you know, and especially looking at
a lot of self tapes recently, can you tell actors
that listening and reacting is a part of the whole
process as well? How does that play into their performance?
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, you've got to be in the
scene so so you know, acting it should be as
natural as it can be.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
So it's like you're having a conversation.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
If you are listening and really in a conversation and
actively listening, you're waiting to hear what the person has
say before you can answer them right and non anticipate
what they're saying, right, No, immediately when that happens, and
we know it in a scene when an actor anticipates
the line because it's not connected, you know that the
(21:16):
reaction isn't real or it's not natural, right, it just
feels like interacting, right, So yes, listening and then reacting
is really important.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
Excellent. So while we're doing this self tape for now,
how do you in this zoom sort of age, how
are you discovering quote unquote talent? You know, I know,
maybe through self tape, but are there other ways? Like
is there an email that actors or is there some
(21:50):
actors can follow you somewhere and submit to you.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
Oh, for sure, I have an email.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
It's b ET Casting and b et.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
Com dot com.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Okay, e T Casting at b e T dot com.
And then also they can send me info at casting
by Robbie read at gmail dot com.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
Okay. I want to emphasize these things for the actors
because you know, I mean, we're there's it's a different world. Now.
You can go on YouTube and scan that if you
have time and side.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
I want to say, one more thing to do is
post a monologue and tag me.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
Yeah, post monologue and tag me.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
At I am Robbie Reid on that on Instagram.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
And Twitter I am you read, don't you know a minute?
Speaker 1 (22:49):
One minute? Yeah, because when we were in real life,
two minutes saves log right, But on it's.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Great, I mean, oh my god, yeah, I mean you
really can see it all of my open casting calls
that have done in the last five years. You know,
some people coming, they get one minute to show whatever
talent they have.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
You want to show me you can sing?
Speaker 2 (23:13):
Use your people did singing, acting and dancing in a minute.
Speaker 1 (23:17):
Yeah, yeah, No, you're right, You're absolutely right. I want
to acknowledge to our audience that Robbie has an Emmy award,
you guys like it's somewhere in her house. She got
an Emmy, Okay, And and is are you the first
(23:39):
African American Robbie.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Yes, I am the first African American to being nominated
and win an Emmy for casting.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
Yes, that's major, that's just I mean when you were
the year you were nominated for HBO to Skeigee Airman,
I was, you know, just indirectly, just you know, I
was rooting you on, and I just remember it being
such a huge deal in our community. Casting Tracy Villar,
(24:14):
Tracy Runcy Wins Sinclair, we were all like Robbie right,
such a great accomplishment and an amazing project. Amazing project
and how timely in a way where I heard last
night on CNN one of the uhmen, but they were
speaking of the Cuskegee Airmen and they were saying, how
(24:38):
this is why black people are skeptical about vaccinations because
of what you did. Yeah, so last night I was like, wow,
Robbie cast that it got to Ivy looking crazy, and
that's where we are today, you know, trying to trust
the government and giving us a accipen. So you know,
(25:02):
but you guys, I think that for me, it was
groundbreaking when you won the award. It just felt like, wow,
we could get awards, you know, so proud, thank you,
so proud that you have that award there. Also, I
did want to acknowledge the spiritual side, since you know
(25:23):
this is the spiritual actor. But I have tapped in
with you and Devon Franklin, my lord actors, and I
always say actors need to be able to retreat somewhere
for peace, and can you tell us how that started?
And you know what led you to do that?
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Wow?
Speaker 2 (25:42):
Well, let's see it's doctor Holly Carter and I who's
you know, Holly is a producer.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
Been doing amazing work lately.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
God, it's just really blowing her all the way up
and all the way live. Clay and I have been
friends for over twenty years and we managed Kirk Franklin together. Actually, yeah,
over twenty years ago. She was the agent, I was
the manager and.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
It was awesome and we're all still friends. Kirk Kirk
is our brother.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
So Holly and I were on a retreat, a women's
retreat spiritual and both of us was in the mountains
and we both were, you know, given a word and
it was put on our heart to start a Bible
study for people in the industry. And you know, we
(26:36):
were burdened with that, you know, because it was truly
heaven sent, and we attempted.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
We were like, okay, all right, God, this is how
we'll do it. We'll just do it at lunchtime.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
And we see a few people at lunch and we
tried to bring other people in, and of course that
didn't work because God was like.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
Now what I did, you didn't do We On June no.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
May twelfth, two thousand and seven, I opened the doors
of my house and we had our first Bible study
and send.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
God gave me the name of Sin exclamation point VI.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
And you know, people just came to my house every fourth,
every fourth Tuesday of the month.
Speaker 3 (27:24):
It was just beautiful.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
Lives were saved, change, people got married, industry, and we
had a wonderful woman pastor out Via Sims, who was
the speaker and teacher for the first several years, seven years,
and then she, you know, something happened in her schedule.
She wasn't as available and pastor to Ray Roberts and
(27:50):
Devon Franklin then became our speakers and it just you know,
just had a natural progression. You know, it was de
Vaughn and we've been going strong. I mean, so twenty
two thousand and seven, what are we at?
Speaker 1 (28:04):
This is thirteen Wow, you know.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
It to be out through my house and you know,
because we knew we had to open the doors wind up.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
Yeah, now you know.
Speaker 3 (28:14):
It's virtually everywhere.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
In fact, we have we'll be sitting out in a
flyer because we're going to do it next Tuesday.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
Okay, I'm going to put it on the Instagram and
I want to put it on my because it's just
a blessing. Like I just think that that's the part
for me, that is the human connection and just your
love and generosity, because especially now you know what I
think about the Broadway actors, and I just think about
(28:44):
just people in general. You know, people need a hug,
and this feels like the first time I went in,
I just felt like a hug. I felt like, oh man,
this feels good for your spirits. So kudos to you
guys and all of you actors and just people in
general who are listening. You should really check on my
Instagram the Spirited Actor, because I'm going to be posting
(29:06):
it and we're posting it everywhere. So, Asbrus said, twenty
eight minutes flew by, and we are at the end,
and I'm so sad because I never get to see Robbie.
Only in September now when we have Urban World.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
Oh gosh, that was.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
That's okay, we're coming back. I know we're coming back.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
They are and it's a big year, right yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
I believe that if you could just leave our audience
with some diamonds and pearls, because you gave us a lot,
but if you could give us a few more that
they need on this journey towards their dreams.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Well, I think the main thing I love to leave
people with is this, and it really is my mantra
because it truly is the truth, and that is whoever
is supposed to be in the movie will end up
with the movie.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
Whoever is supposed to have the role.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
Will end up with the role, which means what's for
you is for you. So the best thing you can do,
when given opportunities is to win the room, not the role.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
Leave an impression.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
So when your moment comes, you will get it because
if it's yours and your name is on it, that
means nobody else will have it.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
You, guys, believe that it's the God's truth.
Speaker 5 (30:33):
For you.
Speaker 1 (30:34):
That's I mean, that's for actors. But I receive that
and I know everybody on this podcast received it as well. Amen.
I told you, guys, I told you that this was
going to be it. I told you. Now you can
levitate through your day because this is all you need.
This is all you need right now. Robbie, when I say,
(30:57):
I am grateful and I feel so blessed to know
you all these DearS and to be you are my
soul sister for real, my soul sister. And we go
have that book sued, right, Robbie.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
Yes, yes, I'll come back and talk about it.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
Robbie, I got an agent for you. I already have
a literary agent for you and everything set up.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
I'm telling you, okay, okay, that's comprehended it.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
I'm just going to email you that's it, and then
I'm going to allow God to work in God's ways.
Speaker 3 (31:28):
Look at him, he's already working.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
Okay. Amen, Amen, ladies and gentlemen, once again, put your
hands together for casting director Spiritual be extraordinariy Robbie Reed.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
Thank you, thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
Thank you, Robbie, thank you, And we will be back
on the Spirited Actor Podcast with you know my favorite segment,
Class in Session. Welcome back to the Spirited Actor Podcast
with me Trey see More. And we are at class
in session and class and session is where we play.
(32:07):
And we are still blessed and you are still blessed
to have guesting director Robbie read on. And so we
have our two spirit Actor alumni. We have Lian Amato,
who is also Robbie. I call her our writer in
residence because she writes all the scenes. Lian and we
(32:29):
have to Melissa Capri. Heay, and thank you Elsa for
reading the direction. So we're going to start by reading
the scene, and then after Robbie, whatever feedback criticism, you
can just jump in and give it to him. Okay,
all right, everybody ready, Okay, else it's on you.
Speaker 6 (32:54):
He's for everybody. Written by Lean A Model exterior Keith
South's front door day. Lisa rings the doorbell, surprised to
see Michelle answer the door.
Speaker 3 (33:10):
Hi, I'm gonna say to get the rest of my stuff.
Speaker 6 (33:17):
Michelle opens the door and steps out the way for her.
Lisa obviously knows where she's going.
Speaker 3 (33:24):
You don't have anything you want to say to me?
Speaker 4 (33:27):
Do you expect me to have something to say to you?
Speaker 3 (33:31):
No, I'm shocked that you could even face me right now.
But I realized the character of who is that I'm talking.
Speaker 5 (33:38):
To, Blert. It's not like you wanted to be here, Lisa, Great.
I mean, how could you be mad at the next
one for stepping up someone was going to do it.
Speaker 3 (33:49):
When the next one was the one who knew what
was going on all along. That's foul as hell.
Speaker 7 (33:53):
Michelle, you knew everything that I was dealing with. How
could you use that against me and then slide your
way in. That's some thirsty ass shit looking for a
come up. Lisa proceeds to get her stuff. Michelle grabs
her arm to stop her. Lisa pulls back.
Speaker 5 (34:12):
Let's say what you want, Lisa, but this it's not
place now, So please get your stuff and step out.
Respect me.
Speaker 7 (34:21):
Oh my god, I think that you're forgetting who did
Who's wrong here?
Speaker 3 (34:26):
He could go please and you're gonna see that figure
damn self.
Speaker 7 (34:29):
But when someone that I consider closer than family betrays
me like this and you're making me feel wrong about it,
it's really fucked up, Michelle.
Speaker 4 (34:40):
So it wasn't meant to go this way. I mean,
you know me better than that. It a'll just it happened.
Speaker 3 (34:51):
What happened to God doesn't like ugly Mama.
Speaker 4 (34:54):
She deserves a hell of a lot more than what
you have to give me, more than you wanted to get.
Speaker 5 (35:01):
He was just so concerned with getting yourself together this
whole time.
Speaker 4 (35:05):
Let's be honest. Most of all, she deserved kids, and
you knew that. Who come at me like that?
Speaker 5 (35:17):
It's really low, Michelle Slow.
Speaker 7 (35:21):
She does deserve it, but he didn't need it from
my best friend, it's all good.
Speaker 3 (35:26):
You'll see, Sis has asked time.
Speaker 6 (35:32):
They both noticed Keith pulled into the driveway. Lisa walks
out with her stuff, passing him, both playing like they
don't care. He walks into greet Michelle, who's smiling at
him as he proceeds in on the phone, distracted yet
confused at what he just saw.
Speaker 1 (35:50):
And good ladies, Okay, all right, good scene. Okay, So
I'm just gonna throw it to you, Robbie, and whatever
you feel, it is great.
Speaker 3 (35:59):
And I believe both of you.
Speaker 2 (36:01):
The thing that for me, I'm always looking for someone
to make me forget that I'm watching them act right.
So you guys immediately drew me in, you know, because
you approached it from a very truthful, honest place.
Speaker 3 (36:16):
This is hard.
Speaker 2 (36:17):
So it was, you know, it was believable.
Speaker 3 (36:22):
You're you know, I could hear you your projection.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
Like you did everything right, and then the characters.
Speaker 3 (36:32):
You were believable in those characters.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
So do you know as a from from a casting,
you know, point of view, I could see where you
would be cast in that role, and you would be
cast in that role, she Lisa.
Speaker 3 (36:43):
So that's also an important thing, So thank you.
Speaker 1 (36:48):
Thanks, Wow, yeah, and I have to say with because
I've known both of them, but they both are so
they do their due diligence and their craft. And one
thing I wrote down and put exclamations they invest in themselves.
So thank you Robbie, because when you said that, I
(37:11):
was like, that is what so I always like to
they have all the information, right, ladies, you took down
Robbie Reid, BT casting all of that right, and.
Speaker 3 (37:24):
You leave photos sen it to me.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
Yay, all right, well, once again I want my audience
to put their hands together and again you guys had
a tremendous blessing. So I just blow sprinkle dust and
pray that you take it with you because these are
the nuggets that you need on your journey, and especially
from someone like casting director Robbie Reid and producer. Thank
(37:52):
you so much for Robby. Once to you, Thank you
and thank you, and we'll be back on the Spirited
Actor podcast with me Tracy Moore and we're going to
give love. And now it's time to give love. You
guys need to get fired up. I need people to
get fired up. I need you to jump out of
(38:13):
your bed in the morning, be grateful that you're standing
on your own two feet. I need you to get
fired up by your life. I need you to get
fired up by the possibilities. I need you to get
fired up with your dreams and dream big. If you're
going to do it, dream big. Don't edit your dreams.
(38:33):
Don't even get yourself involved in how it's going to
happen or when it's going to happen. Just be fired
up that it can happen. I need you to be
fired up about twenty twenty one. Yes, we've all had challenges,
and it's been long, and it's been dark, and there
have been moments of doubt and fear. But it's a
(38:56):
brand new day. It's a brand new time. And if
we focus all our thoughts into getting fired up about
this new year, embracing it with new hope, new vision,
and new possibilities, we can live a very peaceful, abundant
(39:19):
and happy life. Get fired up because it's not promised
to us, and what is promised, You need to live
your life with fire. Thank you for joining us on
the Spirited Actor Podcast with me Tracy Moore. I look
forward to our next Spirited podcast. Thank you,
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