April 14, 2020 • 40 mins
Wendy began her career in the entertainment industry as a fashion model and dancer. At a booked video shoot, the casting director realized that she needed additional models to complete the job. Wendy offered her services to assist the casting director with coordinating a last minute casting. Realizing that she had a knack for recognizing talent, she began to freelance on numerous casting projects. Early in her career she worked with prominent casting director, Tracy Moore, to cast for “New Jersey Drive”. Wendy was part of the team that welcomed newcomer, Christopher Wallace, aka “Notorious B.I.G.” to the project. She partnered with mentor, Tracy “Twinkie” Byrd to cast memorable music videos for artists, Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, and numerous others. Branching off on her own, Wendy became a regular casting facilitator for MTV On Air Promos such as “Yo Mama”, “Sucker Free Sunday”; and product launches and ad campaigns for G- Unit Clothing, 7th on 6th Fashion week, “Fusha Designs”, most recent “OOVOO” video and print ad campaign and numerous others projects. The pivotal point in Wendy’s career occurred when she was hired to serve as lead New York Casting Director for Fox Searchlight Pictures, “Notorious”, the biopic story of rapper, Christopher Wallace. The 10 month long casting project lauded Wendy with the coo of finding and introducing, Jamal “Gravy” Woolard, who convincingly played the role of “Notorious B.I.G.”. While working on the Notorious project, Fox Searchlight asked Wendy to provide limited casting services for “Secret Life of Bees” and the 2010 Academy Award Nominated, “The Blindside”. For the second time, Wendy successfully introduced a new talent, Quinton Aaron, to a major motion picture project. Quinton Aaron was cast in the role of Michael Oher. Wendy Mckenzie, Acting Coach: Wendy has taught and or guided many successful talents including... Victor Cruz, Michael K Williams, Naturi Naughton, Donshea Hopkins, Nafessa Williams, Diggy Simmons , Rylee Gabriel King, Chinua Baraka Payne, Marquise Neal, Juju, Safaree, Tahiry Jose, Jessie Woo, and Fatboy Sse.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
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 transition to
a celebrity acting coach after I cast a film New
Jersey Drive with executive producers Spike Lee and director Nick Thomas.
I audition every rapper from Biggie's 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 Ye 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 meditation of the day. Like you,
(01:06):
I'm still a work in progress and the next step
beyond failure could be your biggest success. Debbie Allen, I
have a sincere appreciation for actors. They have a strong
desire to succeed in their journey. What you have to
remember is that you're always growing and learning. It is
(01:28):
the beauty of the art. Life is a series of
experiences that you should embrace as an actor. You will
depend on them to help you build the various characters
that you will be called upon to perform. I will
appreciate all of my successes. Today. Welcome to the Spirited
Actor Podcast with me Tracy Moore and Um. Once again,
(01:53):
I have to stress to my audience, get your pen
and paper out, UM, your phone, however, you want to
document this interview, and you want to play it back
over and over because the gems that Wendy Mackenzie is
about to drop on you. You're gonna thank me later.
Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for our first
(02:14):
acting coach on the Spirited Actor of Podcast, Miss Wendy Mackenzie. Yeah,
we have a live studio audience, Yes we do, so
we can we can pull from them. We can pull
from them. Wendy, where do I start the beginning? Okay,
I have to tell my Wendy Mackenzie story. So Wendy
(02:36):
was as young as she is today, right, because she's timeless.
And um, I just remember Wendy coming to my office
on Houston Street. Were casting casting UM Music Theater, Yes
and Um. Wendy asked me about UM assisting and I
(03:03):
was I just was like, okay, I didn't. I don't
think I looked at a resume. I didn't ask for references.
I was just like she asked, Okay, So Wendy, take
us from the beginning, because this is what I met her.
We're talking over twenty years ago, ladies and gentlemen. That's
been our journey and from there, that's where it started
(03:26):
with me, right, okay, so tell us the journey from there.
I remember I knew I wanted to be an entertainment
but I couldn't wrap. U couldn't sing. Where do I
fit in? Right? Okay? So as a model, you would
get cast in music videos. And while I was on
set at a music video shoot, the cast and director
needed more people, and I told her, look, all my
(03:48):
friends will fly. They're beautiful, their dancers. I can bring them,
and so I did, and she asked me to do
it again. And at that moment I realized I just
did her job and I said to her, what is
your tile? And when she told me, it just hit
me like a ton of bricks. And I said, to myself,
whatever that is, that's what I want to do. I
want to be a casting director and it it just
(04:09):
woke up something inside of me and I started pursuing it.
While I was on the shoot Tracy Drinky Bird and
cast the Positive K video and I was a part
of that video. And then she gave me if one advice,
she said, surround yourself with people who are doing what
you want to do. That was so powerful in itself.
So I took a job at Musical Theater Works and
(04:32):
a musical theater works, that's where all the casting directors
came to hold their auditions. So while I was working
as a receptionist, I remember just being I'm always helpful,
So I would say, hey, do you need water? Do
you need me to sign your people in? What can
I do to help you? You know, It's just part
of my job and I just want to go above
and beyond, and I do it out of the kindness
(04:53):
of my heart. And so I remember just meeting Tracy
and she was always so nice. I'm not saying this
because she said, everybody knows. I know, she's sweet, she's nice,
and she's always so kind, and I always felt warm
around you, and I always wanted to do everything I
can to make your process easy. Because Tracy would see
like a thousand people in one day, thank you, thank you.
(05:16):
That was a lot. So I wanted to help. And
you know, you get what you deserve when you serve,
and I wanted to serve, and so that's why I said, hey,
can I, you know, assist you. You know, I want
to be there for you. And she said yes, and
with no experience, Like she said, I had no experience,
and she hired me as a cast and assistant on
New Jersey Drive. I was like, I can't believe she
(05:39):
said yes, and I'm working on my first movie with
no experience. But when I look back at that, I
realized that I did surround myself with the right people
and and you you, but your work ethic was fierce
at musical theater works because, um, when a casting director
uses space over and over again and put a lot
of money into their pockets, um, it's it's great to
(06:03):
have people in that space that are accommodating. And you
did go above and beyond and it was your passion,
like this is what I want to do, and I
was like, okay, I just got this movie, Come do
this movie. And then we were in New Jersey drive
and having crazy fun. That was history on that project.
I realized I do have a not for funding talent.
(06:26):
And I remember, you know, Biggie came in and audition.
I tell people that story. Biggie came in an audition.
I remember it clearly because he hadn't came out as
a rapper yet. And I remember him walking down this
long hallway with you know a few people, and he
was just like, what up, ma, And I was like,
he still had the yes already said that be I
(06:49):
knew he would because he had did a song early
on with U super Cat and Dolly My Baby, and
I remember just loving that record and I was like,
whoever he is, He's about to pop. And I remember us,
you know, submitting and talking to the studios about this
new guy, but you know, he wasn't famous yet, so
the really went to heavy d. Right. That's when I
(07:10):
discovered the politics of the business and I was like,
but I realized that I do have a not for
fun and talent and I cast Andre who lived on
the street for me Yes as Andrea More. He was
one of the Yes. He was one of the characters
Um with the afro, with the break in his hair.
He had no acting experience, and I remember we looked
(07:31):
at seven hundred and fifty guys for that one role.
Did you guys hear that? And I remember we couldn't
figure out what was missing from that, you know, from
the audition, and so I remember going to Andre and said,
you know, plus he lived in that world where story
you know, you know what I mean, But it was
a different time back, and so he came in, he
(07:53):
came to my house. He read the part, and I
was like, that's what's missing. He's simply having a conversation.
No one else read it like that. Everyone read it
so angry. And I remember feeling really good about the
choice of me Um, just discovering that. And I called
you and I said, Tracy, I think this kid should
come in and you say, yeah, bring him in. And
(08:13):
he's no experience. You know, the studios they're like, look,
we need an actor. He needs to have a headshot, resume.
We doctored off his headshot, got him a resume and
figured it out. And on that project I realized I
have a knack for finding talent and I love this
no matter what. I love it right. And actors feel
that from you. What is it that um gets you
(08:35):
excited or your hair stands up when you know, like
with andre I got something. What is it about an
actor that makes you pay attention and you're engaged in
them when they're not acting. I always say, don't act,
just be And when a Tory Nothing came in an
(08:55):
audition for Notorious, I remember again saying, some thing is missing.
Let me talk to her. So she came in the
next day and we had a conversation about the role
and and the emotions and the experience that Little Kim
had with Biggie and so how can she relate to that?
And when she you know, she couldn't connect. But I said,
(09:17):
what about your group three LW that's the same feeling
that you guys had with Kim had with Big She
wasing a light skin girl, they push you out the group,
they chose a light skin girl. How did that feel?
And then I told her, I say, connect to that.
And then also the other thing that that I realized
in that moment is that she came in, no hair like,
(09:39):
no makeup, no weave, she just looked herself. And at
that moment I realized, that's Kimberly Jones. Everyone else came
in us. And so moments like that is what makes
me go Like usually when I I know, I feel like,
whatever it is, I'm ready, I'm done. I'm done casting.
(10:00):
We have our talent. Thank you, goodnight. Studios are like
miss Wendy stock you got to see everyone. I'm saying, yeah,
I know, but you know this person is the right person.
And no matter how much we beg and plead, always
tell actors, we don't have the final say and decision
making in that you know situation. Um, when you I
(10:21):
just want to go back to when you said to
just be because we live in a world of instant gratification.
We're on the phones, were not communicating, we're feeling. How
do you get actors to just be let go and
live and live in the moment. So I the day
(10:43):
I turned fifty, I challenged myself, and I'll be fifty
four next week. So I told Watch nine. Sorry, I
told everyone. Um, I asked everyone, when was the last
time you did something for the first time? M and
(11:04):
because most people, you're so comfortable with doing your everyday routine,
you're not really living. And so in order for you
to be, you have to experience lives, which means you
have to live life and you have to try new things,
whether it's going to a new restaurant or you know,
buying a new candle or you know, traveling the world.
You have to try new things. You have to live
in order for you to be. And so they shut
(11:27):
off that part of them because they rather live on Instagram.
They were rather watch people living and doing their things
instead of them going out and doing it themselves. So
without that experience, how can you create? You stump your growth.
So that's a That's why I hope that everyone took
that note, because, um, people forget how to live because
(11:49):
we are caught up in the movement and the day
to days and responsibilities. And I think that's a really
great point to highlight, ladies and gentlemen. UM As an
acting coach, how important is it for you? UM, I
want to talk about classes. I want to talk about
coaching because I know in your experience you may have
had this where people don't think they need classes or
(12:12):
they don't think they need coaching. What what's how do
you feel about that? I understand it. So learning the
process of acting and the technique and helped me to
be a better person because now I don't judge people,
and as an actor, in order for you to play
your character effectively, you cannot judge that character. So then
(12:34):
now when I'm coaching, I never judge. I see things
through their eyes. And so when they say something like that, yes,
you see Denzel doing his thing or um Angela Bassett,
but they make it look easy because they've been doing
it for so long. You know, we can catch something
like this because we've been doing it for thirty five years.
(12:57):
You know, my son is thirty five this year and
shout outside my baby sky. And it's so important to
understand that we have thirty five years of practice. That's
why it looks so easy. And so then I take
the time to explain that to them. It's like juggling,
it's like cooking, It's like you know, it takes time,
(13:19):
it takes practice. I always use the analogy of me
driving a car. I don't drive by the way, So
if you'll ever see me on the road, make sure
you run and you know when I get in a car,
I have to tap on the pedal is on the
right is the gas and the one in the next
to it is the Yeah, she's definitely right, okay, So
(13:40):
and so then I take my time and I put
on my seatbelt and then I look at the marriage
and then I you know, adjusting, saying and then put
the car in No for reverse, Scott, what do you
tell what I'm saying? So when I explain that to them,
they're looking at me like, no, you can't drive, I
say both. That's you in acting. You can't act right
(14:03):
this second. You have to take your time and do
this every single day. Practice every day. That's why you're
dead at driving. That's why you can maneuver our traffic
because you do it every day. But what about your acting?
Do you do that every day? Do you exercise that
muscle every day? You don't? You get what I'm saying.
So absolutely get what you're saying. And what are what
are some of the suggestions that you have for actors
(14:26):
to exercise their muscle every day? Because I agree with
you so easy. And for those actors who say I
can't afford classes, go read a book. It's in a
book it's on. There's so many acting cultures who are
giving information on YouTube. There, there's the round Table, the
Hollywood round Table. There's so many different and I posted,
we posted on our Instagram all of the time. But
(14:49):
if you are a forward thinker, you would write it
down and go research it. It's really that simple. Young
people have it so easy today, and I think that's
why they take advantage that is because for us, we
had to walk the pavement and freaking things out day
by day. They can just click on a button and
us right there, and they take advantage of that because
they have it so easy. Oh my god, I wish
(15:10):
there were buttons back then. Do you remember the Mayor's
Office of Film and Broadcasting, right and sitting because there
was no internet at that time, and so we would
have notebooks like this, right. And then they would have
because the Mayor's office is where you have to go
to get your permit to shoot anywhere on the streets
(15:31):
in New York. You cannot shoot on any street in
any state, right, so they would have these permits about
I mean, you know you can't see audience, but very high. Right.
We would take those permits one at a time and
physically right, the production manager, the production's name, the phone number,
(15:51):
and then we would just go in a circle at
this conference table and pass it around and until we
finish the stack. And then you would that would be
on a Friday, because Friday from one to three you
could do that. Then Monday we'd make all of those
calls to say casting director, do you need a casting
director on your project? Every Friday. That was a job
(16:13):
within itself. So you can put a group tech together,
group a group email, and just press one button and
that has done. Yeah. But I think that, and this
is what I really appreciate love about our journey is
that there was a different work ethic right we by
any means necessary was a mantra um you know on
(16:37):
um well before I met you, but on just Another
Girl in the I R T. My apartment was a
holding area. I was scouting locations, helping find locations like
because it makes you well rounded. When you speak to
your actors, you're not just talking to them about the craft,
you're talking work ethics. The things that you're saying your experiences.
(16:59):
So I think that and bringing it forward, we have
experience and work ethics that we can share and help hone,
you know with this younger generation, right, because I know
you give homework too. With my goodness, I said, just
because you're not in front of me, this doesn't mean
the work stops. You have to work even when I'm
(17:19):
not in your face. You know, when I started out, um,
I was not computer savvy and I didn't have a
computer actually, and I was cast in music videos, and
I remember across the street was the book of Basement
studio if anybody knows, that is where White Clefts family lives.
Tita Renal Duplessis, Gerry Duplessis, and I would run across
(17:41):
the street to use their computer at night when I
would get a call late from our director out of
l A and I would be like, oh my god,
I have to go try to email them. And I
didn't have a computer, so by any means necessary, I
don't care what it was. I was getting it done,
you know. So when when I see actors put up excuses,
I'm just like, serious, let me explain my life to
you really quick. That's what, especially if you don't have
(18:03):
children or other responses and sends on. I was like,
my mom, I'm and I'm an entrepreneur and I'm doing this,
you know, not alone, but thank God the love of
my mom. She was there for me to watch my
son whenever I needed him, and sometimes I would just
bring him on set with me. You know, our kids.
We please don't make a sound right. And you know,
(18:27):
despite any obstacles in your way, if this is something
you really want to do, I don't care what's standing
in your way, you can get through it. I always
focused at the pot of goal at the end of
the rainbow, and that's what I'm leaning towards. And my
passionates was driving me towards that. I love this. I
can say what I do with my day. Tracy called
(18:47):
me a few days ago and said, hey, can you
come in and said yes, yes, And I was so excited. Yes,
I was excited for I mean, we can talk about both.
We can talk about casting and we can talk about
acting coaching. And I am going to bring you back
because we gotta. You know this, this is twenty eight minutes.
It flies by. You have your plethora, plethora of information. UM,
(19:10):
but I do want to talk about the classes and
the coaching. UM. Tell us some of your clients, some
of the film projects that you've worked on. I also
want actors to know where to find you, um, where
your classes, where they can all of that information. So
let's talk about your client list and your work client lists.
I'll start with the babies. I've worked with kids who
(19:32):
on Broadway, like Kinky Boots, Lion King Uh currently Riley
Gabrielle King is on the photograph with Sa ray Oh.
I coached her for that particular project and I was
on set with her. She's nine years old, and so
I work with all ages on three year olds on
up to hundred and three. And the first Mentia had
(19:53):
was Michael Kay Williams. And I remember Tracy and I
Tracy Bird and I. We were mentoring young people dancers
back then because we were casting um Deaf comedy jam
and so we would meet dances and we would tell them, look,
you guys could take this further, you know, take acting
and modeling and do you could do everything. Michael Kay
Williams was my very first man tee. Yeah, and we
(20:15):
we recently talked about that the other day. And Notori Nothing,
who plays Tasha on Power and I still work with
Notori till this day. She has a self tape on
there by her side and just making sure her self
tape is ready to be seen by the casting directors.
Who else I'm like Nafisa Williams Lisa were not Fisa
and we were just talking on Instagram. She was in Philly.
(20:40):
Who so I remember, So this is what I tell
my clients. I always say, when you learn, your teach,
when you get, you give. And Nafisa was one of
those actors who I said, look, people can benefit from
your knowledge. Because she and I would talk every time
she would go to l A and then she moved
to l A and I remember her telling me she
(21:00):
has a male acting coach and I said, well, how
is that for you? She said, I love it. It's
different and it's totally different from how a female thing.
Because I said, I get that, So I incorporate a
male actor Jeremy Burnett into my class and so so
the actress can get a perspective of an actress point
of view, a male point of view, got casting a
rerectress point of view, a female point of view, and
so not Fisa and I we just talked the other
(21:22):
day about um teaming up in Jersey because she strictly
she always goes back to Philly to do workshops but
we're gonna team up in Jersey so she could come
to my workshop and a Tori and I just did
a workshop at the iron Bound Film Studios in North
New Jersey. And is the New York New Jersey Film
Festival coming up, yes, since September. Alright, cool because you're
(21:46):
a part of that as well. Yes, Yes, I teach.
I teach improv classes and team building classes for actors
and it's fun. It's about saying a hundred to two
hundred people. Sometimes I didn't know I could rock that
large amount of people lesson she got there. So I
don't know what you're talking about. I've seen you and
(22:09):
and I'm like, it's not the it's and it isn't
the quantity, it's the quality that you bring and that
you know. I mean, I'm Jersey. Um, just being able
to have the ability like with you from three too,
because you still teach kids that are grown up. Right, Yeah,
I've had that experience as well. That's like freaky. There
(22:30):
were three and then now they're twenty three, and it's like, okay,
I watched you grow up. Literally, Um, the classes that
you have now do you have? Are they current now?
And then you have some Okay. I have class tonight. Okay.
So I teach every Tuesday at Ripley Greer Studios in
Manhattan adult classes, and then I am also teaching on Saturdays.
(22:51):
I have five to seven year olds at ten a m.
And then UM eight to seventeen and then adults after that.
So on Saturdays are full days. Okay. And where can
UM the actors reach you. It's really best to go
to my instagram and join my email list the email
(23:12):
lists in the bio. Once you join the email list,
you will get updates for classes, workshop seminars. Okay. So
we just go to the bio and it's Wendy Mackenzie.
Is that your hand, Wendy acting coach? Okay, when Dy
acting coach. That's easy for you, guys, Wendy Acting Coach.
Go to her Instagram, go to the bio, click the link.
(23:32):
Make sure you give her all your information so that
she has a way of reaching out to you and
you guys, I'm sure you update them with all the
stuff that you're doing. Okay, great, I knew this, I
felt it. I knew this was coming to a close. See,
we still have other layers to talk about. We have
to talk about self tape. We have to talk about
(23:52):
how you audition. But the thing that we're going to
be able to get in right now are Now it's
time for you to drop some jewels, some diamonds and pearls.
Tell us top three things that you either look for
or these are your pet peeves or whatever you want
to give us. Okay. The number one thing is your look. Okay,
(24:14):
how you look. Put you in front, and I really
want actors or people just to embrace your look. Sometimes
people like, oh, I'm too fat or I'm too skinnier,
I'm no. Embrace who you are. If you really look
at actors who are working. Everyone is working, all age,
all shapes, all sizes, everyone is working. So embrace who
you are. Your look is what's going to take you in,
(24:35):
get you into that room with your head shots. Just
keep that in mind. People always put that in the
back burner. That's a great but that's I love the
way that you say it in a way of acceptance.
Not I gotta go get cut up to I could
look like no, whoever you are, your individuality, love and
embrace that. That's so beautiful. Okay. Number two, number two,
(24:57):
compare yourself for what you prayed for. Oh, it's so
important to understand that if this is something that you want,
you work towards it. Your dreams work when you work.
It's really that simple. So you have to put the
work in, reading the books, taking classes, educating yourself, all
of those things. Prepare yourself because I guarantee you, once
you put that energy out there, opportunity will not trust
(25:20):
me because when I look back at my life, I'm like,
how did I get this? But I actually did put
that out there, you know, and we work long hours.
I just want to say, there were times when we
were at two Boots and had boxes of pizza and
we were in the office until one or two o'clock.
Are like crazy. So put in the work. Prepare yourself
for what you pray for. That was beautiful, okay. Number three?
(25:44):
Number three your personality. Be yourself. Who you are is
what separates you from the person next to you. Be yourself.
I'm not trying to be like Tracy More. Yes, I
want to be happy and just full of love and joy,
but some days I'm just not that person. You will
catch a break if you cross it the wrong way.
All I'm saying is that people know when they come
(26:05):
to me. My tone is different from Tracy. So I'm
being myself. I'm staying true to who I am. Tracy's
being her sweet love him self. She's being true to
who she is. Be yourself. That's one of the things
I told Jamal Willard when he came into audition for Biggie.
So we liked him in New York. So, but they
we have to fly into l A I said to
(26:27):
I said to Jamal, I said, Graby, listen, the only
thing I want you to focus on is being yourself.
Just be yourself because the person that I love, they're
gonna love that person. To see yourself, be true to
who you are. I don't know about you, guys, but
I'm a little emotional, like I don't want to see him.
I mean, if you guys didn't write down those three
(26:48):
magnificent points like that and you and it's so simple
and it's not something that I have to go out
and conform to buy and you have everything right there already.
Just embrace what David to you. You better use it.
We have to do what you've got to get what
you want. Wendy, I'm not sad because you're coming back.
(27:14):
This is just part one of Wendy Mackenzie Casting director
Extraordinary and acting coach Extraordinary. Everyone that sits in these
seats are extraordinary, extraordinary individuals. I am so no because
of you, man, because if you didn't come to me
and say I want to you know, And I think
back sometimes, Wendy, because I'm like, I wasn't really professional,
(27:38):
you know, because okay, you can work tomorrow. Be here, um,
Ladies and gentlemen, put rance together for Wendy Mackenzie. Thank you, Wendsy. Okay,
and we'll be back with Class in Session on the
Spirited Actor Podcast with me Tracy Moore. Welcome to the
(28:03):
Spirited Actor Podcast with me Tracy Moore. And now we
are coming into Class in Session and we still have
our guests. Wendy Mackenzie is telling the house yes, so
we get to play with Wendy today, Ladies and gentlemen.
So I'm going to introduce our spirit Actor alumni. Who's here.
(28:25):
We have Leeanna Mada her hair. Gotchen is a new
Spirited Actor. Question. Hi, tell us who you are? I
Gretchen Natalie No, uh huh, and I am Tracy students
and I am new here. Okay, we're happy to have
(28:47):
you here. Gretchen. Okay, so m how this works. Uh,
Wendy bought in a scene, so this is great. So
this is the first time we've had our guests bringing
a scene and so um, Leanne and Gretchen are going
to read it and then after they read, Wendy is
going to do her magic. All right, here we go.
(29:09):
You guys ready, all right? Action were you at Henderson's
the night he died? Alie? What are these? What do
you think they are? Evade with a question. Invade it
with a question. First, Jesus, you know any other time
(29:31):
you treat me like I'm an adult and all of
a sudden, I'm a kid, just because you can't get
it together to be an adult. You really want to
know those are Henderson's. They're not. They're Randoms. He's not
(29:53):
even in it. I know he did it to me.
Oh I don't believe you. Who's your photo? Then you
don't believe me? You need proof. Don't be mad at
(30:20):
me because he was a bad guy and you fell
for it. He was my friend, he wasn't your friend.
Let me guess I made you promise to not telling
you when they two hanging out alone together, basic predator move.
You are a lot of things, but you are not
(30:40):
stupid Ellie. And see, okay, all right, when they're all
yours question, what is your relationship? Right? You guys are sisters,
you guys are family. So I need to feel that aemistry.
(31:02):
There is a sense of urgency here that I'm not getting.
And if you notice in the first line you rush in,
you're very upset. You have to think about that. What
made you upset? That my sister knows the truth and
she's holding him back, she's holding back on it. And
(31:23):
what he did to her? What did he do to her? Well,
I think he was setting up to rape her. I
don't think he did it yet. But this is the thing,
whatever is going on in your mind if you think
something bad is happening, we don't just like assume we
are going for the worst situation possible. So what I
(31:45):
want you to think about all the bad things that
can happen to her because they already happened to you.
You get what I'm saying. So then that's why they
have to be a sense of urgency there, because you're
fighting to make sure that this does not happen to her.
What happened to you. You already went through hell. You
don't want her to go through the same thing. Now,
the chemistry between you guys is like a give and take,
(32:07):
so which means the pacing has to be like combative.
You guys are coming at each other left and right.
You're trying to defend yourself. You're trying to defend a
person that you care about, that's your friend, right and
this person that you don't give two ships about. So
there's no sense of urgency. And that's what I want
to feel. I want to feel that more. And the
(32:27):
only way to get that is going back into your history.
If you guys are sisters, think about how many times
you protected her, whether she fell off a bike, fell
off the bed, anything. Did you guys do your character work? Yeah,
because I'm like, I don't think we really get along
as sisters as a normal Nazi. And that's the thing
(32:48):
you have to think about. What I noticed with people
is that they go to the negative real fast opposed
to the positive. Like when you are if you're five,
you're having a good experience with your sisters, so you
go back to that memory. That's why she's protecting you,
because she loves you, So she loves you. Where's the love?
Where's that in your in your character work? You get
(33:12):
what I'm saying. So doing that helps a lot. And
you you also have to think about that moment before.
What was your moment before? Um? I needed her to
tell me the truth? But what triggered at because she's
not she's not speaking up about it, she's not telling
because you asked her were you at Henderson a night? Yeah,
she's protecting him, she's defending him, and I'm like, you don't, like,
(33:33):
she has no clue what I know and I didn't
want to That's the thing. What is your moment before?
Like what happened? What happened right before that that triggered
you to do this? I just got all the pictures
of like the news that I bring in and I
show her you asked her where you at Anderson and
night he died? Because I know that he died, But
(33:53):
how do you know that news got out about it? Okay? Yeah,
you gotta make clear choices in that moment before, because
that's what's gonna drive you into this performance. That's what's
gonna give you that sense of urgency. We discover something
and you're like, oh shit, I gotta running, I gotta
protect her. You know that you want to think about
(34:15):
those things, now, little sis? What's on these photographs? I
imagine there were um backshots of women legs open, like
where I really can't identify their faith and no, like,
no man is in it. Their their nudes, just obscene
photos of women that he's taken without their permission. Okay,
(34:36):
So then when you say what are these you're confused
by how these pictures got here? Who are these people
in it? What's happening? It's mind boggling to you. Now,
can you figure out a time in your life that
you felt this. Let's find a parallel situation that connects
(34:57):
you to this. Talk to me mind boteling situation. Yeah,
a parallel situation, something that happened in your life that
you can parallel with this. Yeah. I can think of few.
M just just when I had a boyfriend, I'm thinking
about photos of him with other girls, and I'm saying,
(35:19):
this is his girlfriend, this is who he's dating. These
are like no, it's not like untrue photos that clearly
blew my head up, Like, but think about your character.
He doesn't believe any of this, right, I'm not believing.
I didn't believe the girl in the photo that they
showed me back when I was like in high school.
I didn't believe he was dating there because I was
(35:41):
with him, but the girl was in another high school,
so I still didn't even believe it. He didn't die,
But I want you to go back to that place
because what I'm looking at you right now is your
inner works. I can see it in your eyes that
you drop back into that moment, and that's what I
want you to connect to, to drop into this scene. Okay, okay,
what about you. I'm what I'm coming up with is
(36:02):
like when I didn't believe something, So I'm trying to
think of something that we're like I I was adamant
or trying to like prove that, like I know the
ship that I'm talking about. It's almost like, um, you
have just checked and keep someone, yeah safe, and you
have to think about when was the last time you
protected and kept someone safe from some destructive ship? I
(36:23):
got it, you got it. Yeah, a cousin I was
like wrongfully accused of murder and uh yeah, okay, right
all right, so go again, here we go? Yes, absolutely, okay, ladies,
you ready and take all of that in. Okay, and
whenever you're ready action. Were you at Henderson's house and
(36:45):
night that he died? Earlie? What are they? What do
you think they are? Don't evade with a question. Evaded
with the question. First, Jesus have to tell you treat
me like an adult, and all of a sudden, I'm
a child. It's because you can't get it together. If
you really want to know, Kelly, those are Henderson's pictures. No,
(37:11):
they're not, dude, They're random. He's not even at it.
You know he did that ship to me. I don't
believe you. So where's your photo that? Don't believe me?
You need proof. Listen, don't be mad at me because
(37:32):
he was a bad guy. You fell for it. He
wasn't your saying. Let me ask you something. Did you
make you promise not tell anyone that you were hanging
alone together? That's basic predator ship. You want a lot
of things, Alie, but you're not stupid. Wow. Yes, And
(38:01):
here's the thing. Here's the thing. You see how connected
they are scales. That's what I'm talking about. And that's
why I say, don't act, just be You really dropped
in and you connected to it, and it's not something
you could just let go. Once you connect and really feel,
you can see all the layers and colors in it.
You get what I'm saying, and they're still connected. That's
why it's so important to work on your inner work
(38:21):
so we can see what's behind your eyes opposed to
the outer. Does that make sense? No, tiss, you put
your hands to me. They McKenzie. Right before your eyes.
There was a transition, ladies and gentlemen, right before your eyes. Um, Wendy,
(38:47):
I just have to thank you again, and we have
to do this again. I got chills, Like yeah, I
got chills. That was really fun. All right. I hate
to end class in session, but we have to end
it and we'll be back with give love. And now
it's time forgive love. Regardless of what you're going through,
(39:09):
all you have to do is have faith. Have you
seen a mustard seed in the Bible, It says all
you have to have is faith of a mustard seed.
It is extremely tiny, but that's all the faith you
need to know that you are going to make it
through whatever you're going through. You may not understand what
(39:31):
these challenges are that present themselves, but if you stay
present and whatever your religious belief is, if you believe
that there is a power, there is a source, there
is an entity there to protect you, you will survive.
You have to create mantras in your life right. One
of my favorite mantras is I can do all things
(39:53):
through Christ, who strengthens me. How great is that to
know that you have a safety net, a spirit, of
an entity, of a force, of an energy that has
your back and that believes regardless of how difficult and
challenging you think your situation is. God thinks you have it.
No matter what you are going through, embrace your faith
(40:17):
and embrace your trust in the spirit that you are
going to be fine. 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 transition to
a celebrity acting coach after I cast a film New
Jersey Drive with executive producers Spike Lee and director Nick Thomas.
I audition every rapper from Biggie's 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 Ye 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 meditation of the day. Like you,
(01:06):
I'm still a work in progress and the next step
beyond failure could be your biggest success. Debbie Allen, I
have a sincere appreciation for actors. They have a strong
desire to succeed in their journey. What you have to
remember is that you're always growing and learning. It is
(01:28):
the beauty of the art. Life is a series of
experiences that you should embrace as an actor. You will
depend on them to help you build the various characters
that you will be called upon to perform. I will
appreciate all of my successes. Today. Welcome to the Spirited
Actor Podcast with me Tracy Moore and Um. Once again,
(01:53):
I have to stress to my audience, get your pen
and paper out, UM, your phone, however, you want to
document this interview, and you want to play it back
over and over because the gems that Wendy Mackenzie is
about to drop on you. You're gonna thank me later.
Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for our first
(02:14):
acting coach on the Spirited Actor of Podcast, Miss Wendy Mackenzie. Yeah,
we have a live studio audience, Yes we do, so
we can we can pull from them. We can pull
from them. Wendy, where do I start the beginning? Okay,
I have to tell my Wendy Mackenzie story. So Wendy
(02:36):
was as young as she is today, right, because she's timeless.
And um, I just remember Wendy coming to my office
on Houston Street. Were casting casting UM Music Theater, Yes
and Um. Wendy asked me about UM assisting and I
(03:03):
was I just was like, okay, I didn't. I don't
think I looked at a resume. I didn't ask for references.
I was just like she asked, Okay, So Wendy, take
us from the beginning, because this is what I met her.
We're talking over twenty years ago, ladies and gentlemen. That's
been our journey and from there, that's where it started
(03:26):
with me, right, okay, so tell us the journey from there.
I remember I knew I wanted to be an entertainment
but I couldn't wrap. U couldn't sing. Where do I
fit in? Right? Okay? So as a model, you would
get cast in music videos. And while I was on
set at a music video shoot, the cast and director
needed more people, and I told her, look, all my
(03:48):
friends will fly. They're beautiful, their dancers. I can bring them,
and so I did, and she asked me to do
it again. And at that moment I realized I just
did her job and I said to her, what is
your tile? And when she told me, it just hit
me like a ton of bricks. And I said, to myself,
whatever that is, that's what I want to do. I
want to be a casting director and it it just
(04:09):
woke up something inside of me and I started pursuing it.
While I was on the shoot Tracy Drinky Bird and
cast the Positive K video and I was a part
of that video. And then she gave me if one advice,
she said, surround yourself with people who are doing what
you want to do. That was so powerful in itself.
So I took a job at Musical Theater Works and
(04:32):
a musical theater works, that's where all the casting directors
came to hold their auditions. So while I was working
as a receptionist, I remember just being I'm always helpful,
So I would say, hey, do you need water? Do
you need me to sign your people in? What can
I do to help you? You know, It's just part
of my job and I just want to go above
and beyond, and I do it out of the kindness
(04:53):
of my heart. And so I remember just meeting Tracy
and she was always so nice. I'm not saying this
because she said, everybody knows. I know, she's sweet, she's nice,
and she's always so kind, and I always felt warm
around you, and I always wanted to do everything I
can to make your process easy. Because Tracy would see
like a thousand people in one day, thank you, thank you.
(05:16):
That was a lot. So I wanted to help. And
you know, you get what you deserve when you serve,
and I wanted to serve, and so that's why I said, hey,
can I, you know, assist you. You know, I want
to be there for you. And she said yes, and
with no experience, Like she said, I had no experience,
and she hired me as a cast and assistant on
New Jersey Drive. I was like, I can't believe she
(05:39):
said yes, and I'm working on my first movie with
no experience. But when I look back at that, I
realized that I did surround myself with the right people
and and you you, but your work ethic was fierce
at musical theater works because, um, when a casting director
uses space over and over again and put a lot
of money into their pockets, um, it's it's great to
(06:03):
have people in that space that are accommodating. And you
did go above and beyond and it was your passion,
like this is what I want to do, and I
was like, okay, I just got this movie, Come do
this movie. And then we were in New Jersey drive
and having crazy fun. That was history on that project.
I realized I do have a not for funding talent.
(06:26):
And I remember, you know, Biggie came in and audition.
I tell people that story. Biggie came in an audition.
I remember it clearly because he hadn't came out as
a rapper yet. And I remember him walking down this
long hallway with you know a few people, and he
was just like, what up, ma, And I was like,
he still had the yes already said that be I
(06:49):
knew he would because he had did a song early
on with U super Cat and Dolly My Baby, and
I remember just loving that record and I was like,
whoever he is, He's about to pop. And I remember us,
you know, submitting and talking to the studios about this
new guy, but you know, he wasn't famous yet, so
the really went to heavy d. Right. That's when I
(07:10):
discovered the politics of the business and I was like,
but I realized that I do have a not for
fun and talent and I cast Andre who lived on
the street for me Yes as Andrea More. He was
one of the Yes. He was one of the characters
Um with the afro, with the break in his hair.
He had no acting experience, and I remember we looked
(07:31):
at seven hundred and fifty guys for that one role.
Did you guys hear that? And I remember we couldn't
figure out what was missing from that, you know, from
the audition, and so I remember going to Andre and said,
you know, plus he lived in that world where story
you know, you know what I mean, But it was
a different time back, and so he came in, he
(07:53):
came to my house. He read the part, and I
was like, that's what's missing. He's simply having a conversation.
No one else read it like that. Everyone read it
so angry. And I remember feeling really good about the
choice of me Um, just discovering that. And I called
you and I said, Tracy, I think this kid should
come in and you say, yeah, bring him in. And
(08:13):
he's no experience. You know, the studios they're like, look,
we need an actor. He needs to have a headshot, resume.
We doctored off his headshot, got him a resume and
figured it out. And on that project I realized I
have a knack for finding talent and I love this
no matter what. I love it right. And actors feel
that from you. What is it that um gets you
(08:35):
excited or your hair stands up when you know, like
with andre I got something. What is it about an
actor that makes you pay attention and you're engaged in
them when they're not acting. I always say, don't act,
just be And when a Tory Nothing came in an
(08:55):
audition for Notorious, I remember again saying, some thing is missing.
Let me talk to her. So she came in the
next day and we had a conversation about the role
and and the emotions and the experience that Little Kim
had with Biggie and so how can she relate to that?
And when she you know, she couldn't connect. But I said,
(09:17):
what about your group three LW that's the same feeling
that you guys had with Kim had with Big She
wasing a light skin girl, they push you out the group,
they chose a light skin girl. How did that feel?
And then I told her, I say, connect to that.
And then also the other thing that that I realized
in that moment is that she came in, no hair like,
(09:39):
no makeup, no weave, she just looked herself. And at
that moment I realized, that's Kimberly Jones. Everyone else came
in us. And so moments like that is what makes
me go Like usually when I I know, I feel like,
whatever it is, I'm ready, I'm done. I'm done casting.
(10:00):
We have our talent. Thank you, goodnight. Studios are like
miss Wendy stock you got to see everyone. I'm saying, yeah,
I know, but you know this person is the right person.
And no matter how much we beg and plead, always
tell actors, we don't have the final say and decision
making in that you know situation. Um, when you I
(10:21):
just want to go back to when you said to
just be because we live in a world of instant gratification.
We're on the phones, were not communicating, we're feeling. How
do you get actors to just be let go and
live and live in the moment. So I the day
(10:43):
I turned fifty, I challenged myself, and I'll be fifty
four next week. So I told Watch nine. Sorry, I
told everyone. Um, I asked everyone, when was the last
time you did something for the first time? M and
(11:04):
because most people, you're so comfortable with doing your everyday routine,
you're not really living. And so in order for you
to be, you have to experience lives, which means you
have to live life and you have to try new things,
whether it's going to a new restaurant or you know,
buying a new candle or you know, traveling the world.
You have to try new things. You have to live
in order for you to be. And so they shut
(11:27):
off that part of them because they rather live on Instagram.
They were rather watch people living and doing their things
instead of them going out and doing it themselves. So
without that experience, how can you create? You stump your growth.
So that's a That's why I hope that everyone took
that note, because, um, people forget how to live because
(11:49):
we are caught up in the movement and the day
to days and responsibilities. And I think that's a really
great point to highlight, ladies and gentlemen. UM As an
acting coach, how important is it for you? UM, I
want to talk about classes. I want to talk about
coaching because I know in your experience you may have
had this where people don't think they need classes or
(12:12):
they don't think they need coaching. What what's how do
you feel about that? I understand it. So learning the
process of acting and the technique and helped me to
be a better person because now I don't judge people,
and as an actor, in order for you to play
your character effectively, you cannot judge that character. So then
(12:34):
now when I'm coaching, I never judge. I see things
through their eyes. And so when they say something like that, yes,
you see Denzel doing his thing or um Angela Bassett,
but they make it look easy because they've been doing
it for so long. You know, we can catch something
like this because we've been doing it for thirty five years.
(12:57):
You know, my son is thirty five this year and
shout outside my baby sky. And it's so important to
understand that we have thirty five years of practice. That's
why it looks so easy. And so then I take
the time to explain that to them. It's like juggling,
it's like cooking, It's like you know, it takes time,
(13:19):
it takes practice. I always use the analogy of me
driving a car. I don't drive by the way, So
if you'll ever see me on the road, make sure
you run and you know when I get in a car,
I have to tap on the pedal is on the
right is the gas and the one in the next
to it is the Yeah, she's definitely right, okay, So
(13:40):
and so then I take my time and I put
on my seatbelt and then I look at the marriage
and then I you know, adjusting, saying and then put
the car in No for reverse, Scott, what do you
tell what I'm saying? So when I explain that to them,
they're looking at me like, no, you can't drive, I
say both. That's you in acting. You can't act right
(14:03):
this second. You have to take your time and do
this every single day. Practice every day. That's why you're
dead at driving. That's why you can maneuver our traffic
because you do it every day. But what about your acting?
Do you do that every day? Do you exercise that
muscle every day? You don't? You get what I'm saying.
So absolutely get what you're saying. And what are what
are some of the suggestions that you have for actors
(14:26):
to exercise their muscle every day? Because I agree with
you so easy. And for those actors who say I
can't afford classes, go read a book. It's in a
book it's on. There's so many acting cultures who are
giving information on YouTube. There, there's the round Table, the
Hollywood round Table. There's so many different and I posted,
we posted on our Instagram all of the time. But
(14:49):
if you are a forward thinker, you would write it
down and go research it. It's really that simple. Young
people have it so easy today, and I think that's
why they take advantage that is because for us, we
had to walk the pavement and freaking things out day
by day. They can just click on a button and
us right there, and they take advantage of that because
they have it so easy. Oh my god, I wish
(15:10):
there were buttons back then. Do you remember the Mayor's
Office of Film and Broadcasting, right and sitting because there
was no internet at that time, and so we would
have notebooks like this, right. And then they would have
because the Mayor's office is where you have to go
to get your permit to shoot anywhere on the streets
(15:31):
in New York. You cannot shoot on any street in
any state, right, so they would have these permits about
I mean, you know you can't see audience, but very high. Right.
We would take those permits one at a time and
physically right, the production manager, the production's name, the phone number,
(15:51):
and then we would just go in a circle at
this conference table and pass it around and until we
finish the stack. And then you would that would be
on a Friday, because Friday from one to three you
could do that. Then Monday we'd make all of those
calls to say casting director, do you need a casting
director on your project? Every Friday. That was a job
(16:13):
within itself. So you can put a group tech together,
group a group email, and just press one button and
that has done. Yeah. But I think that, and this
is what I really appreciate love about our journey is
that there was a different work ethic right we by
any means necessary was a mantra um you know on
(16:37):
um well before I met you, but on just Another
Girl in the I R T. My apartment was a
holding area. I was scouting locations, helping find locations like
because it makes you well rounded. When you speak to
your actors, you're not just talking to them about the craft,
you're talking work ethics. The things that you're saying your experiences.
(16:59):
So I think that and bringing it forward, we have
experience and work ethics that we can share and help hone,
you know with this younger generation, right, because I know
you give homework too. With my goodness, I said, just
because you're not in front of me, this doesn't mean
the work stops. You have to work even when I'm
(17:19):
not in your face. You know, when I started out, um,
I was not computer savvy and I didn't have a
computer actually, and I was cast in music videos, and
I remember across the street was the book of Basement
studio if anybody knows, that is where White Clefts family lives.
Tita Renal Duplessis, Gerry Duplessis, and I would run across
(17:41):
the street to use their computer at night when I
would get a call late from our director out of
l A and I would be like, oh my god,
I have to go try to email them. And I
didn't have a computer, so by any means necessary, I
don't care what it was. I was getting it done,
you know. So when when I see actors put up excuses,
I'm just like, serious, let me explain my life to
you really quick. That's what, especially if you don't have
(18:03):
children or other responses and sends on. I was like,
my mom, I'm and I'm an entrepreneur and I'm doing this,
you know, not alone, but thank God the love of
my mom. She was there for me to watch my
son whenever I needed him, and sometimes I would just
bring him on set with me. You know, our kids.
We please don't make a sound right. And you know,
(18:27):
despite any obstacles in your way, if this is something
you really want to do, I don't care what's standing
in your way, you can get through it. I always
focused at the pot of goal at the end of
the rainbow, and that's what I'm leaning towards. And my
passionates was driving me towards that. I love this. I
can say what I do with my day. Tracy called
(18:47):
me a few days ago and said, hey, can you
come in and said yes, yes, And I was so excited. Yes,
I was excited for I mean, we can talk about both.
We can talk about casting and we can talk about
acting coaching. And I am going to bring you back
because we gotta. You know this, this is twenty eight minutes.
It flies by. You have your plethora, plethora of information. UM,
(19:10):
but I do want to talk about the classes and
the coaching. UM. Tell us some of your clients, some
of the film projects that you've worked on. I also
want actors to know where to find you, um, where
your classes, where they can all of that information. So
let's talk about your client list and your work client lists.
I'll start with the babies. I've worked with kids who
(19:32):
on Broadway, like Kinky Boots, Lion King Uh currently Riley
Gabrielle King is on the photograph with Sa ray Oh.
I coached her for that particular project and I was
on set with her. She's nine years old, and so
I work with all ages on three year olds on
up to hundred and three. And the first Mentia had
(19:53):
was Michael Kay Williams. And I remember Tracy and I
Tracy Bird and I. We were mentoring young people dancers
back then because we were casting um Deaf comedy jam
and so we would meet dances and we would tell them, look,
you guys could take this further, you know, take acting
and modeling and do you could do everything. Michael Kay
Williams was my very first man tee. Yeah, and we
(20:15):
we recently talked about that the other day. And Notori Nothing,
who plays Tasha on Power and I still work with
Notori till this day. She has a self tape on
there by her side and just making sure her self
tape is ready to be seen by the casting directors.
Who else I'm like Nafisa Williams Lisa were not Fisa
and we were just talking on Instagram. She was in Philly.
(20:40):
Who so I remember, So this is what I tell
my clients. I always say, when you learn, your teach,
when you get, you give. And Nafisa was one of
those actors who I said, look, people can benefit from
your knowledge. Because she and I would talk every time
she would go to l A and then she moved
to l A and I remember her telling me she
(21:00):
has a male acting coach and I said, well, how
is that for you? She said, I love it. It's
different and it's totally different from how a female thing.
Because I said, I get that, So I incorporate a
male actor Jeremy Burnett into my class and so so
the actress can get a perspective of an actress point
of view, a male point of view, got casting a
rerectress point of view, a female point of view, and
so not Fisa and I we just talked the other
(21:22):
day about um teaming up in Jersey because she strictly
she always goes back to Philly to do workshops but
we're gonna team up in Jersey so she could come
to my workshop and a Tori and I just did
a workshop at the iron Bound Film Studios in North
New Jersey. And is the New York New Jersey Film
Festival coming up, yes, since September. Alright, cool because you're
(21:46):
a part of that as well. Yes, Yes, I teach.
I teach improv classes and team building classes for actors
and it's fun. It's about saying a hundred to two
hundred people. Sometimes I didn't know I could rock that
large amount of people lesson she got there. So I
don't know what you're talking about. I've seen you and
(22:09):
and I'm like, it's not the it's and it isn't
the quantity, it's the quality that you bring and that
you know. I mean, I'm Jersey. Um, just being able
to have the ability like with you from three too,
because you still teach kids that are grown up. Right, Yeah,
I've had that experience as well. That's like freaky. There
(22:30):
were three and then now they're twenty three, and it's like, okay,
I watched you grow up. Literally, Um, the classes that
you have now do you have? Are they current now?
And then you have some Okay. I have class tonight. Okay.
So I teach every Tuesday at Ripley Greer Studios in
Manhattan adult classes, and then I am also teaching on Saturdays.
(22:51):
I have five to seven year olds at ten a m.
And then UM eight to seventeen and then adults after that.
So on Saturdays are full days. Okay. And where can
UM the actors reach you. It's really best to go
to my instagram and join my email list the email
(23:12):
lists in the bio. Once you join the email list,
you will get updates for classes, workshop seminars. Okay. So
we just go to the bio and it's Wendy Mackenzie.
Is that your hand, Wendy acting coach? Okay, when Dy
acting coach. That's easy for you, guys, Wendy Acting Coach.
Go to her Instagram, go to the bio, click the link.
(23:32):
Make sure you give her all your information so that
she has a way of reaching out to you and
you guys, I'm sure you update them with all the
stuff that you're doing. Okay, great, I knew this, I
felt it. I knew this was coming to a close. See,
we still have other layers to talk about. We have
to talk about self tape. We have to talk about
(23:52):
how you audition. But the thing that we're going to
be able to get in right now are Now it's
time for you to drop some jewels, some diamonds and pearls.
Tell us top three things that you either look for
or these are your pet peeves or whatever you want
to give us. Okay. The number one thing is your look. Okay,
(24:14):
how you look. Put you in front, and I really
want actors or people just to embrace your look. Sometimes
people like, oh, I'm too fat or I'm too skinnier,
I'm no. Embrace who you are. If you really look
at actors who are working. Everyone is working, all age,
all shapes, all sizes, everyone is working. So embrace who
you are. Your look is what's going to take you in,
(24:35):
get you into that room with your head shots. Just
keep that in mind. People always put that in the
back burner. That's a great but that's I love the
way that you say it in a way of acceptance.
Not I gotta go get cut up to I could
look like no, whoever you are, your individuality, love and
embrace that. That's so beautiful. Okay. Number two, number two,
(24:57):
compare yourself for what you prayed for. Oh, it's so
important to understand that if this is something that you want,
you work towards it. Your dreams work when you work.
It's really that simple. So you have to put the
work in, reading the books, taking classes, educating yourself, all
of those things. Prepare yourself because I guarantee you, once
you put that energy out there, opportunity will not trust
(25:20):
me because when I look back at my life, I'm like,
how did I get this? But I actually did put
that out there, you know, and we work long hours.
I just want to say, there were times when we
were at two Boots and had boxes of pizza and
we were in the office until one or two o'clock.
Are like crazy. So put in the work. Prepare yourself
for what you pray for. That was beautiful, okay. Number three?
(25:44):
Number three your personality. Be yourself. Who you are is
what separates you from the person next to you. Be yourself.
I'm not trying to be like Tracy More. Yes, I
want to be happy and just full of love and joy,
but some days I'm just not that person. You will
catch a break if you cross it the wrong way.
All I'm saying is that people know when they come
(26:05):
to me. My tone is different from Tracy. So I'm
being myself. I'm staying true to who I am. Tracy's
being her sweet love him self. She's being true to
who she is. Be yourself. That's one of the things
I told Jamal Willard when he came into audition for Biggie.
So we liked him in New York. So, but they
we have to fly into l A I said to
(26:27):
I said to Jamal, I said, Graby, listen, the only
thing I want you to focus on is being yourself.
Just be yourself because the person that I love, they're
gonna love that person. To see yourself, be true to
who you are. I don't know about you, guys, but
I'm a little emotional, like I don't want to see him.
I mean, if you guys didn't write down those three
(26:48):
magnificent points like that and you and it's so simple
and it's not something that I have to go out
and conform to buy and you have everything right there already.
Just embrace what David to you. You better use it.
We have to do what you've got to get what
you want. Wendy, I'm not sad because you're coming back.
(27:14):
This is just part one of Wendy Mackenzie Casting director
Extraordinary and acting coach Extraordinary. Everyone that sits in these
seats are extraordinary, extraordinary individuals. I am so no because
of you, man, because if you didn't come to me
and say I want to you know, And I think
back sometimes, Wendy, because I'm like, I wasn't really professional,
(27:38):
you know, because okay, you can work tomorrow. Be here, um,
Ladies and gentlemen, put rance together for Wendy Mackenzie. Thank you, Wendsy. Okay,
and we'll be back with Class in Session on the
Spirited Actor Podcast with me Tracy Moore. Welcome to the
(28:03):
Spirited Actor Podcast with me Tracy Moore. And now we
are coming into Class in Session and we still have
our guests. Wendy Mackenzie is telling the house yes, so
we get to play with Wendy today, Ladies and gentlemen.
So I'm going to introduce our spirit Actor alumni. Who's here.
(28:25):
We have Leeanna Mada her hair. Gotchen is a new
Spirited Actor. Question. Hi, tell us who you are? I
Gretchen Natalie No, uh huh, and I am Tracy students
and I am new here. Okay, we're happy to have
(28:47):
you here. Gretchen. Okay, so m how this works. Uh,
Wendy bought in a scene, so this is great. So
this is the first time we've had our guests bringing
a scene and so um, Leanne and Gretchen are going
to read it and then after they read, Wendy is
going to do her magic. All right, here we go.
(29:09):
You guys ready, all right? Action were you at Henderson's
the night he died? Alie? What are these? What do
you think they are? Evade with a question. Invade it
with a question. First, Jesus, you know any other time
(29:31):
you treat me like I'm an adult and all of
a sudden, I'm a kid, just because you can't get
it together to be an adult. You really want to
know those are Henderson's. They're not. They're Randoms. He's not
(29:53):
even in it. I know he did it to me.
Oh I don't believe you. Who's your photo? Then you
don't believe me? You need proof. Don't be mad at
(30:20):
me because he was a bad guy and you fell
for it. He was my friend, he wasn't your friend.
Let me guess I made you promise to not telling
you when they two hanging out alone together, basic predator move.
You are a lot of things, but you are not
(30:40):
stupid Ellie. And see, okay, all right, when they're all
yours question, what is your relationship? Right? You guys are sisters,
you guys are family. So I need to feel that aemistry.
(31:02):
There is a sense of urgency here that I'm not getting.
And if you notice in the first line you rush in,
you're very upset. You have to think about that. What
made you upset? That my sister knows the truth and
she's holding him back, she's holding back on it. And
(31:23):
what he did to her? What did he do to her? Well,
I think he was setting up to rape her. I
don't think he did it yet. But this is the thing,
whatever is going on in your mind if you think
something bad is happening, we don't just like assume we
are going for the worst situation possible. So what I
(31:45):
want you to think about all the bad things that
can happen to her because they already happened to you.
You get what I'm saying. So then that's why they
have to be a sense of urgency there, because you're
fighting to make sure that this does not happen to her.
What happened to you. You already went through hell. You
don't want her to go through the same thing. Now,
the chemistry between you guys is like a give and take,
(32:07):
so which means the pacing has to be like combative.
You guys are coming at each other left and right.
You're trying to defend yourself. You're trying to defend a
person that you care about, that's your friend, right and
this person that you don't give two ships about. So
there's no sense of urgency. And that's what I want
to feel. I want to feel that more. And the
(32:27):
only way to get that is going back into your history.
If you guys are sisters, think about how many times
you protected her, whether she fell off a bike, fell
off the bed, anything. Did you guys do your character work? Yeah,
because I'm like, I don't think we really get along
as sisters as a normal Nazi. And that's the thing
(32:48):
you have to think about. What I noticed with people
is that they go to the negative real fast opposed
to the positive. Like when you are if you're five,
you're having a good experience with your sisters, so you
go back to that memory. That's why she's protecting you,
because she loves you, So she loves you. Where's the love?
Where's that in your in your character work? You get
(33:12):
what I'm saying. So doing that helps a lot. And
you you also have to think about that moment before.
What was your moment before? Um? I needed her to
tell me the truth? But what triggered at because she's
not she's not speaking up about it, she's not telling
because you asked her were you at Henderson a night? Yeah,
she's protecting him, she's defending him, and I'm like, you don't, like,
(33:33):
she has no clue what I know and I didn't
want to That's the thing. What is your moment before?
Like what happened? What happened right before that that triggered
you to do this? I just got all the pictures
of like the news that I bring in and I
show her you asked her where you at Anderson and
night he died? Because I know that he died, But
(33:53):
how do you know that news got out about it? Okay? Yeah,
you gotta make clear choices in that moment before, because
that's what's gonna drive you into this performance. That's what's
gonna give you that sense of urgency. We discover something
and you're like, oh shit, I gotta running, I gotta
protect her. You know that you want to think about
(34:15):
those things, now, little sis? What's on these photographs? I
imagine there were um backshots of women legs open, like
where I really can't identify their faith and no, like,
no man is in it. Their their nudes, just obscene
photos of women that he's taken without their permission. Okay,
(34:36):
So then when you say what are these you're confused
by how these pictures got here? Who are these people
in it? What's happening? It's mind boggling to you. Now,
can you figure out a time in your life that
you felt this. Let's find a parallel situation that connects
(34:57):
you to this. Talk to me mind boteling situation. Yeah,
a parallel situation, something that happened in your life that
you can parallel with this. Yeah. I can think of few.
M just just when I had a boyfriend, I'm thinking
about photos of him with other girls, and I'm saying,
(35:19):
this is his girlfriend, this is who he's dating. These
are like no, it's not like untrue photos that clearly
blew my head up, Like, but think about your character.
He doesn't believe any of this, right, I'm not believing.
I didn't believe the girl in the photo that they
showed me back when I was like in high school.
I didn't believe he was dating there because I was
(35:41):
with him, but the girl was in another high school,
so I still didn't even believe it. He didn't die,
But I want you to go back to that place
because what I'm looking at you right now is your
inner works. I can see it in your eyes that
you drop back into that moment, and that's what I
want you to connect to, to drop into this scene. Okay, okay,
what about you. I'm what I'm coming up with is
(36:02):
like when I didn't believe something, So I'm trying to
think of something that we're like I I was adamant
or trying to like prove that, like I know the
ship that I'm talking about. It's almost like, um, you
have just checked and keep someone, yeah safe, and you
have to think about when was the last time you
protected and kept someone safe from some destructive ship? I
(36:23):
got it, you got it. Yeah, a cousin I was
like wrongfully accused of murder and uh yeah, okay, right
all right, so go again, here we go? Yes, absolutely, okay, ladies,
you ready and take all of that in. Okay, and
whenever you're ready action. Were you at Henderson's house and
(36:45):
night that he died? Earlie? What are they? What do
you think they are? Don't evade with a question. Evaded
with the question. First, Jesus have to tell you treat
me like an adult, and all of a sudden, I'm
a child. It's because you can't get it together. If
you really want to know, Kelly, those are Henderson's pictures. No,
(37:11):
they're not, dude, They're random. He's not even at it.
You know he did that ship to me. I don't
believe you. So where's your photo that? Don't believe me?
You need proof. Listen, don't be mad at me because
(37:32):
he was a bad guy. You fell for it. He
wasn't your saying. Let me ask you something. Did you
make you promise not tell anyone that you were hanging
alone together? That's basic predator ship. You want a lot
of things, Alie, but you're not stupid. Wow. Yes, And
(38:01):
here's the thing. Here's the thing. You see how connected
they are scales. That's what I'm talking about. And that's
why I say, don't act, just be You really dropped
in and you connected to it, and it's not something
you could just let go. Once you connect and really feel,
you can see all the layers and colors in it.
You get what I'm saying, and they're still connected. That's
why it's so important to work on your inner work
(38:21):
so we can see what's behind your eyes opposed to
the outer. Does that make sense? No, tiss, you put
your hands to me. They McKenzie. Right before your eyes.
There was a transition, ladies and gentlemen, right before your eyes. Um, Wendy,
(38:47):
I just have to thank you again, and we have
to do this again. I got chills, Like yeah, I
got chills. That was really fun. All right. I hate
to end class in session, but we have to end
it and we'll be back with give love. And now
it's time forgive love. Regardless of what you're going through,
(39:09):
all you have to do is have faith. Have you
seen a mustard seed in the Bible, It says all
you have to have is faith of a mustard seed.
It is extremely tiny, but that's all the faith you
need to know that you are going to make it
through whatever you're going through. You may not understand what
(39:31):
these challenges are that present themselves, but if you stay
present and whatever your religious belief is, if you believe
that there is a power, there is a source, there
is an entity there to protect you, you will survive.
You have to create mantras in your life right. One
of my favorite mantras is I can do all things
(39:53):
through Christ, who strengthens me. How great is that to
know that you have a safety net, a spirit, of
an entity, of a force, of an energy that has
your back and that believes regardless of how difficult and
challenging you think your situation is. God thinks you have it.
No matter what you are going through, embrace your faith
(40:17):
and embrace your trust in the spirit that you are
going to be fine. 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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