Crafting Characters: Resilience, Mentorship, and Modern Filmmaking Insights

Ever wondered how a chance encounter in Alabama could lead to the bustling streets of Hollywood? KeriAnne Dawson, founder and director of the Actors' Den, shares her incredible journey from the modeling world to becoming a seasoned SAG-AFTRA member. Her story starts with a unique blend of serendipity and sheer determination, capturing the essence of risk-taking and relentless drive. Alongside her inspiring narrative, we sip on a Kentucky Vanilla Barrel Cream Ale, capturing the comforting flavors reminiscent of a cozy holiday season.

From the early days of acting in Munich to the struggles of living in a tent on the beach with nothing but a Jeep and a credit card, Tim share's his path to Hollywood. Their tales are not just about the glitz and glamour; it's a tribute to resilience, mentorship, and the willingness to embrace the raw grit of an uncertain journey. We also discuss her reflections on the evolving entertainment industry, highlighting the potential pitfalls and opportunities brought about by modern technology, CGI, and AI. This conversation is a beacon of hope for anyone chasing a dream, emphasizing that perseverance can indeed turn a spark of passion into a successful career.

The podcast takes a light-hearted turn as we reminisce about favorite TV shows, from the nostalgic 80s themes of Cobra Kai to the charm of period pieces like Outlander. KeriAnne's work at the Actors' Den comes to life as she talks about nurturing aspiring actors and embracing authenticity. With anecdotes about celebrity encounters, such as unforgettable moments with Pamela Anderson and David Hasselhoff, the episode is both entertaining and insightful. Whether you're an aspiring actor or simply a fan of engaging stories, KeriAnne's journey offers valuable lessons and inspiration to keep pushing forward, regardless of the challenges ahead.

Sponsor of this episode:  Digital Boardwalk
Digital Boardwalk is one of the top 10 Managed IT Service Providers in the United States.  If you are seeking to outsource your IT Management, or if your IT Team could use some help with projects or asset management, give Digital Boardwalk a call today!  They offer a FREE IT Maturity Assessment on their website.  If you want to see how your business's IT scores against industry standards, go to GoModernOffice.com now.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:25):
Hey, hey everyone.
Welcome to another excitingepisode of Nerds on Tap, where
we get nerdy for an hour withexciting discussions around
entrepreneurship, business andtechnology.
Today we have the amazingCarrie Ann Dawson joining us on

(00:47):
the show.
Carrie Ann is the founder anddirector of the Actors' Den.
She is a member of SAG or theScreen Actors Guild and AFTRA,
the American Federation ofTelevision and Radio Artists,
since 1993.
She has a variety of actingexperiences, both on stage and

(01:07):
screen, as well as in teachingand directing children's
workshops and musical cabarets.
She enjoys teaching aspiringactors the skills that they will
need in order to developcharacters in any given
circumstances.
Carrie-anne is a mom of two anda wife to an amazing local
musician.
Circumstances Carrie Ann is amom of two and a wife to an
amazing local musician, so herfavorite pastime is, of course,

(01:27):
spending time with her familycooking, watching movies,
listening to lots of music andtaking walks on the beach at
night.
Welcome to the show, carrie Ann.

Speaker 2 (01:37):
Thank you so much, glad to be here.
You've done your homework on me.

Speaker 1 (01:41):
Well, if you've listened to this show before,
what do we do first?

Speaker 2 (01:46):
Introduce oh stalk.

Speaker 1 (01:55):
We drink a beer.
We drink a beer, tim, tell mewhat we're having.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcometo Nerds on Tap.
I'm your host, tim Shue, and Icouldn't be more excited to
embark on this nerdy adventurewith all of you.
So grab your favorite brew,because things are about to get
exciting 3, 2, 1, go.

Speaker 3 (02:18):
Alright.
So the first beer that we haveis the Kentucky Vanilla Barrel
Cream Ale from Lexington Brewingand Distilling Company.
They took a cold-conditionedcream ale, brewed with a hint of
flaked corn and bourbon vanillabeans, and aged it in a freshly
decanted bourbon barrels for atleast six weeks.

(02:38):
Kentucky Vanilla Barrel CreamAle's medium body makes it the
perfect barrel-aged beer for anall-day event.

Speaker 1 (02:47):
So I'm a regular beer drinker.
I like Pilsners and, of course,lagers.
So this to me it's not my style.
Do you want to taste yours?

Speaker 2 (02:59):
Yes, I will do that, let me grab it.

Speaker 1 (03:02):
There you go.

Speaker 2 (03:03):
That's kind of far away from me.

Speaker 1 (03:04):
It's very.
You know what it tastes likeChristmas.

Speaker 2 (03:14):
You know what it makes me want to open some
presents.

Speaker 1 (03:16):
Yeah, I know I like this.
Now I'm ready to decorate.

Speaker 2 (03:19):
Yeah, I say cheers on that.
Yeah, that's nice yeah.

Speaker 1 (03:22):
Cheers to you being on the show.

Speaker 2 (03:25):
Oh, thank you so much glad to be here.

Speaker 1 (03:26):
So Carrie Ann um tell me about your journey to
Hollywood.
I mean, I've seen pics of youfrom back in the day hugging.
Oh, you know Billy Idol, paulStanley, gary Busey, jay Leno,
vanilla Ice, alice Cooper and afew more, all of which I am a
fan of, so you must have mademore than just a splash.

Speaker 2 (03:53):
I like that terminology there.
Yeah, you know what?
It's interesting how I ended upin Hollywood, because my mother
actually helped me get there.
So my mother was managing LakeForest Yacht Club in Daphne,
Alabama, so very local, and Ididn't have really a lot of

(04:13):
inspiration there, you know, togo to Hollywood at the time.
But then they were working on amovie, I think, on the USS
Alabama in Mobile area and theycame in.
The whole crew came in one nightfor dinner and drinks and my
mother's like hey, here's apicture of my daughter, you guys
need someone on the show or onthe movie or whatever.

(04:34):
And so, wow, she's beautiful.
And I mean I was way cuter backthen.
But one thing led to anotherand then, um, the one of the
girls actually, who was a makeupartist really thought she's
like you're so outgoing, youhave, you know, you have, you're
so funny, you're so creative,you should come to Hollywood.

(04:55):
And I was like, well, wow, Inever thought about that before.
So, um, okay, you know it wasthat simple for me um and then
the adventure begins.
The adventure did begin, so,like probably two weeks to a
month after they wrapped up thefilm, I ended up moving to
hollywood.
But, um, I didn't really know Iwas going to move there yet.

(05:19):
I was going to visit for twoweeks and then I ended up.
My mother ended up sending memacaroni and cheese and raviolis
and she's sending me stuff toHollywood, thinking, you know,
my daughter's not coming backhome, she's going to stay out
there, so I need to feed her andmake sure she's eating.
But one thing did lead toanother.
But I started off as a model Iwas doing.
I became a Hawaiian Tropic girl.

Speaker 1 (05:41):
So I saw her Hawaiian Tropic girl on a postcard.

Speaker 2 (05:45):
You did yeah.

Speaker 1 (05:46):
Oh, okay, so didn't you do a series of postcards?

Speaker 2 (05:51):
I did.

Speaker 1 (05:51):
While you were out there, I did yes.
So was that one of the firstgigs you had, or is that
different than what we'retalking about here?

Speaker 2 (05:58):
It actually was one of the first gigs that I had as
a model, because I started doingVenus swimwear too and if you
remember, there was a Smutmagazine, National Enquirer.
You know everything was justgarbage, you know just, but it
was one of those interesting adsthat they put in there and you

(06:19):
saw me running and jumping withmy swimsuit on for Venus
swimwear.
So that's how it started for me, as just a model, and one thing
kind of led to another.

Speaker 1 (06:28):
Is that when you caught the bug, because we all
do at one point.
It may not be at the beginning,might be in the middle, some
catch it later in life.

Speaker 2 (06:36):
It's interesting, you know, at the age that I was.
You know, tim, I think for meyou didn't really.

Speaker 1 (06:44):
How old were you?
How old were you?

Speaker 2 (06:45):
I was 20.

Speaker 1 (06:47):
20.

Speaker 2 (06:47):
Okay, I was 20.
Very naive 20 year old.
Be honest, I was smart, but Iwas not you know at the time,
because I didn't expect thatEverything that I saw on TV, I
had no idea that I was going tobe a part of that in a world you
know.
So when I became a part of thatworld, it was just so surreal,
it was unbelievable.
It's like am I really here,pinch me?

(07:08):
People only dream about hangingout and doing the things that
I'm doing, hanging out with thepeople that you're hanging out
with and modeling and justworking on the set.
One thing led to another, butthen after that I ended up
getting an agent and the agencyjust started sending me out on
stuff.
So I was in all the old shows.
There's this old show calledModels Inc and I was just.

(07:31):
I played one of the models, sothat was just right up my alley,
yeah, it was very cool.
You know I was.
I didn't know where it wasgoing to go, but I thought, well
, this is exciting that I'm apart of it.
You know, and um, it was justum, it was so simple for me
because you just walked on theset and you did what they asked
you to do and you made friendsand they made it easy you know,

(07:51):
because you become family whenyou're on the set, you know, for
a long time, and then so youdidn't know, prior to 20 year
old Carrie Ann, you didn't knowthat that was a path you were
going to take.

Speaker 1 (08:03):
What were you originally going to grow up to
be?

Speaker 2 (08:06):
I always thought I was going to be a nurse a nurse.

Speaker 1 (08:08):
I really did.
Well, that's a change.

Speaker 2 (08:10):
Well, it is, it is.
And I just, I did do six monthsof prerequisites, yeah yeah, I
did Um six months ofprerequisite, prerequisites, oh
yeah.
And then, um, I ended up doingmedical assisting stuff because
there was a year wait to getinto the nursing program.
But I thought, what am I goingto do?
I need something to fall backon.

(08:30):
So I just started doing medicalstuff.
But I realized when I went intothe medical field that it
wasn't for me at all we carrythat acting bug in common.

Speaker 1 (08:41):
I mean, what we're doing now.
This is my backup, this is my.
You know IT was my backup.
I wanted to be an actor.

Speaker 2 (08:50):
And I want to ask you about that actually.

Speaker 1 (08:52):
Well, you know, something a lot of people don't
know is I caught the acting bugat a really early age.
I did plays in elementary andmiddle school and in middle
school I was living in Munich,Germany.
I was going to an American highschool.
They were middle school.
I was living in Munich, Germany.
I was going to an American highschool.
They were middle school.
I was in eighth grade, Movedback here in ninth grade and in
eighth grade they were filming amovie in Munich called Inside

(09:15):
the Third Reich.
Oh, wow, and it was a bigproduction, yeah, Huge
production.
They had all the craft trailersand all the and it was my.
So they came to our schoolscouting seventh and eighth
graders and they were looking topick two kids to be in this

(09:36):
movie that they needed, and theyneeded kids that spoke English,
because the director wasAmerican.

Speaker 2 (09:42):
Okay.

Speaker 1 (09:42):
And there were a lot of Germans on set and I was one
of two kids selected out ofseveral hundred kids and I guess
I had to look.
It's a compliment.
There was no audition, it wasall about the look and I play a
homeless kid, which was not faroff from my first bout in

(10:03):
Hollywood.
Play a homeless kid.
There's a fight that breaks out.
I'm kind of like an extra butI'm crying.
They wanted me to cry and I'min this alleyway crying, and
then the fight opens up and itzooms in on me.

Speaker 2 (10:17):
They asked you to cry and you just were able to
reproduce.

Speaker 1 (10:20):
They were like you're either going to be a paper boy
or you're going to be a homelesskid.
It was middle of winter.
They were like you're eithergoing to be a paper boy or
you're going to be a homelesskid.
It was middle of winter, it wasice cold outside and they put
me in these ripped up garbs,they cut my hair, they did all
this stuff.
I was in a trailer gettingready and I thought oh my God,
this is awesome.
I love this life.
It's a good feeling.
I had my own trailer with theseother two kids.

(10:41):
It was fricking cool.
But, um, that was my first bug.
And then fast forward, uh,moved to Hollywood when I was 24
, 25 years old.
Yeah, and I was a late bloomer.
Well, I had just gotten out ofthe Navy.

Speaker 2 (11:02):
Oh, okay.

Speaker 1 (11:03):
And I was literally one week out of the Navy and I
traveled to Hollywood with nocontacts, nothing, and I lived
in a tent.

Speaker 2 (11:11):
So you came out of the Navy Several months and
you're just like I want to go toHollywood.
Yeah, my dad was mad.
What a big transition.

Speaker 1 (11:17):
My dad told me I was going to be a bum.
Oh you're going to be a bum.
And I said, dad, I'm going tobe the best damn bum California
has ever seen, and I was, but Iwill.
To this day since Hollywood, Ihaven't eaten another Beanie
Weenie.

Speaker 2 (11:35):
Oh no ramen noodles.

Speaker 1 (11:37):
Another bag of ramen noodles, saltines and peanut
butter and jelly.
Well, you have a wife now, soshe's probably making sure, but
I lived off of that for severalmonths and and uh upgraded to a
small studio apartment and thenjust kind of progressed from
there.
And had I not gone toCalifornia to do that, I
wouldn't have met the mentorsthat got me back into this

(12:01):
industry and helped me developin this industry.

Speaker 2 (12:05):
That's wonderful.

Speaker 1 (12:06):
You know fate.

Speaker 2 (12:08):
Everything is fate.
I think Fate is a hunter.
I mean it does find us, youknow, no matter what you do.
While we're busy planning, Ithink life is taking over
sometimes with us, but that'swonderful.
So I want to know about thetent living.
I mean I see that a lot.

Speaker 1 (12:24):
So this is funny, because I couldn't afford to
stay at a normal campground.
Oh normal campground at the timewas probably 15 to $25 a night.
Oh, I didn't have any money.
Wow, I had, um, and now youknow, I I wasn't.
I'm completely destitute.
I mean, I had a Jeep, I had acredit card, but I chose to live

(12:46):
that way because I was tryingto get out of my rut so I could
get on my feet, and thecampground where I stayed on the
beach was an overnighter forRVs, so all it had was a picnic
table, a fire pit and a faucetthat stuck up out of the ground.
So when I wanted to shower,that was my next question.

(13:08):
Yeah, so every three or fourdays, I would yeah.
I know I stuck.
I would drive down to thiscampground that took quarters in
a shower and I would feed itquarters and take a shower every
few days.
So yeah, I was that stinky kidgoing to auditions.

Speaker 2 (13:24):
Did it smell like a urinal by any chance at that
place it might have.

Speaker 1 (13:29):
It might have.
But that's my story, that's howI kind of started, and then I
kind of just grew into it fromthere.

Speaker 2 (13:36):
And I think it's great that you're telling it
because you know, I think itgives people hope too that you
know they can go through somehard times and some hardships
and come out being successfulsometimes.

Speaker 1 (13:48):
Let me ask you to maybe give your knowledge to the
audience on taking the leap ornot.
My quote would be do it whileyou're young, because life
happens as you get older.
It would be hard, almostimpossible, for me to just go
now and try that all over, butwhen you're young you got

(14:11):
stories to tell yourgrandchildren.

Speaker 2 (14:13):
It's absolutely true.
I think that back in the day,though, when we were going, when
we were in Hollywood, I thinkit was a lot.
I mean, I hate to say it, butit's true.
I think it was easier back inthe day.
You think it was, I do.

Speaker 1 (14:25):
Even with the access to YouTube and all the media
outlets they have now.

Speaker 2 (14:31):
Well, now I feel like everything is.
There's just too muchtechnology involved for me.
I like the naturalness of howit used to be in Hollywood,
where, if I auditioned,Headshots.
Yes.

Speaker 1 (14:43):
Resume on the back?

Speaker 2 (14:44):
Yes, because when they see your face they get to
see your personality.
It's like you're a talkingheadshot, you know, just walking
in.
They get to hear you and seeyou and see your facial
expressions and how they canchange and how you're not just
this one person and thatheadshot.
And I got to go to Paramount,you know, parked my car and it's
like, oh, you know, carrie ann,come in, park my car and I

(15:06):
auditioned for commercials andstuff like that.
It was just, it was a lot offun, um, because you got to meet
people, you got to actually bephysically there and it just
seemed easier for me.
I don't know why.
And I got accepted more, um,but then again, that was the age
that was.
We didn't have all thistechnology, we didn't have you,
this technology, we didn't havethe internet, we didn't have

(15:26):
cell phones.
Back in the day, you just got aphone call.

Speaker 1 (15:29):
It definitely made it hard.
I think I had either a pager orA pager.
Yes, yeah, and that's actuallythe number that was on my.
I had a little business cardwith my headshot on it.
It said Tim Schee.
I still have that.

Speaker 2 (15:43):
Do you really?
Yeah, it's funny.

Speaker 1 (15:47):
It doesn't look any my daughter said Dad, that
doesn't look anything like you.
I go well it was me.

Speaker 2 (15:51):
It was me a long, long time ago.
It's interesting, but nowadayskids are doing, they're
auditioning at home.
They can audition in thecomforts of their own homes the
comforts of their own homes, youknow.
And they, um, they set up, likea little gray, you know, uh, a
sheet, you know.
Or they buy a backdrop and theyset up their lighting and their

(16:11):
cameras.
They do it with their iPhones.
Now, you don't have to set upall this, you know, um, you
don't have a whole lot going on,you just set up your iPhone and
a few lighting.

Speaker 1 (16:17):
But other than the ease of being able to prep and
do what they're doing, doesn'tit create more competition in
the space Cause now?

Speaker 2 (16:26):
anybody can do it.
You're absolutely right aboutthat.
You know, um, it goes back tothe fate thing.
You know you either have it oryou don't.
Right, you got to have that.
Look that they're looking forthe eye color, the hair, the
timing.
You know, yes, um, you have tobe right for the part.
I mean exactly right.
I really think that there is alot of competition.

(16:47):
I think it hinders a lot ofpeople.
I have some of my students thatare actually signed with agents
right now and they're feeling alittle defeated right now
because of the fact that it'snot happening quick enough for
them.
They want to get that big role.
You know they're waiting forthat big role and I said, well,
just hang in there, becausewhat's happening is we had to go

(17:09):
through COVID.
So we had COVID happen.
That shut down everything, itslowed down everything, it
stopped everything in its tracks.
And then we had the SAG afterstrike, which stopped production
, which stopped everything inits tracks.
So now everything's playingcatch up.
So I say to my students now, ifyou get signed, well, look they
, they obviously like you, theywant you, they've accepted you,

(17:32):
um, because they saw you performthrough, maybe over zoom, um,
or through a self tape and theylike you so.
So that's a.
That's a wonderful thing.
Your foot's in the door, sodon't stop.

Speaker 1 (17:43):
But I'm sure you share your wisdom about a lot of
these old school actors thatspent their lives in Hollywood
without making a splash and thenone day in their 40s, some of
them in their was it who?
Was it Not Christopher Walken?
Christopher Walken, did he?
There was, some of them veryfamous actors that hit in their

(18:04):
40s and 50s.

Speaker 2 (18:07):
Yeah, there's a few that actually did.

Speaker 1 (18:10):
But they had been doing it for 20, 25 years.

Speaker 2 (18:13):
That's right, it's so funny.
One of the biggest things outthere was when you went to a
restaurant in Hollywood to eatand you would ask.
They would say, yeah, I'm anactor too, you know, and they're
waiting tables and this andthat you know, but they finally
do get their break.
Um, oh gosh.

Speaker 1 (18:32):
Every time I would go into a bar and mingle and a
girl would ask me oh, what doyou do?
And I'd go, I'm an actor.
And they'd go.
Oh yeah, what restaurant?
I swear to god.
Okay, well, moving on, that'sthat's so funny because I
thought it was cool to say I'man actor.

Speaker 2 (18:55):
It is so I actually did a short film with john cryer
from two and a half men, yeah,and of course he was ducky and
pretty and pink.
one of my all-time favoritemovies, very good movie, so it
was called the Waiter and it wasa short film and so I just had
a small little part in it.
But a friend of mine wasdirecting it and wrote it and
everything.
It was very interesting becauseit was the opposite.

(19:17):
So he was trying to be a waiter, not an actor, and so it was
really interesting because, um,he wanted to be the head waiter.
It was just a meme going on inhollywood about like everybody
wants to be an actor, soeverybody's a waiter or waitress
yeah, and this was a reversal,so it was just really funny who
wrote that?
um, oh you remember.

Speaker 1 (19:39):
I don't remember off, I just love.
But I can get back to you onthat, because I do have it.
Because it's such a realconcept.

Speaker 2 (19:45):
Yeah, I have the VHS.
That's how old it was, but itwas a great concept.

Speaker 1 (19:52):
So I'm going to keep moving on here.
We're going to get into somemore fun stuff before we go into
segment two, when we get reallynerdy and start talking about
AI and acting oh boy.
But before we do, let's getinto some fun questions.
So what shows or movies are youcurrently hooked on or would
you recommend?
Now, this is totally off thesubject of acting.
Let's just get into some funfreelance stuff If we're talking

(20:14):
about a series.

Speaker 2 (20:16):
I am from the 80s, so I'm a big, huge Cobra Kai fan.
And I love Stranger Thingsbecause it's about the 80s as
well, so I'm all about that I'veseen all those.
And Outlander.

Speaker 1 (20:29):
Okay.

Speaker 2 (20:31):
I love the period pieces a lot because it takes me
back in time.

Speaker 1 (20:35):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (20:35):
Have you ever seen it yet?

Speaker 1 (20:37):
No, I haven't gotten into Outlander.
Wow, wonderful show.
I am caught up on Yellowstone.
Yeah, yellowstone.
This is the funny thing, I amcaught up on Yellowstone.

Speaker 2 (20:44):
Yeah, Yellowstone.

Speaker 1 (20:44):
This is the funny thing.
I had this conversation theother day with someone.
My favorite Yellowstones arethe prequels like 1923, I think
it was, and 1883.

Speaker 2 (20:55):
Yes.

Speaker 1 (20:55):
Just because of the era piece, part of it.

Speaker 2 (20:59):
Yes and the costumes and the historical facts, yes.

Speaker 1 (21:04):
What does it make you feel like?
What does it make you feel likeit takes you there?
Costumes and the historicalfacts.

Speaker 2 (21:05):
you know that in the way that you know just what does
it make you feel.
Like, what does it make youfeel?
It takes you there.
It takes you there.

Speaker 1 (21:09):
And it's, it's kind of an it's wow.
Yeah, I had no idea that theyhad to cross.
You know, there there's a sceneI think it's in 1883 where
they're crossing a small riverand how difficult that was at
that time with a carriage river,river.

Speaker 2 (21:26):
Yeah, and how difficult that was at that time
with a carriage, did you seethat?
Yeah, it's insane, yeah, um, sowhat shows are you following?

Speaker 1 (21:30):
I finished cobra kai I've watched yellowstone um.

Speaker 2 (21:34):
I'm watching um what about outer banks?
Did you ever get on I?

Speaker 1 (21:38):
don't get in outer banks uh it's for the young
little weird, a weird littlepoppy show right now called AI
Bio.
Oh, I haven't seen it.
It's kind of a quirky littleshow I've been following, so are
there any you commonly hearfrom students that inspired them
to get into acting?

Speaker 2 (21:58):
You know I get a lot of.
When I was younger, I justalways wanted to act.
I just found it fun.
I get a lot of the simplicityof why they want to do acting.
It's really cute, actually,because I'll ask them why do you
want to be an actor?
Who's your favorite actor?
What is your favorite movie?
And if you were stuck sittingin a movie theater for the whole

(22:21):
day and you could pick anymovie that you want to watch and
it can only be one one and youcan watch it over and over and
over, what movie would it be?
It kind of allows me to get toknow them and a little bit it.
It allows me to um see what theylike know, what they like and
why, and it gives me, um, youknow a big heads up on their

(22:41):
character and what they want, um, and then I'll, and I'll ask
them the same thing about music.
You know a big heads up ontheir character and what they
want, um, and then I'll, andI'll ask them the same thing
about music.
You know, if you're stuck in anelevator for like an hour what
would be your favorite song.
But, um, I get a lot ofdifferent answers.
You know I have one that'sreally cute.
She's a little she's, she's sofunny.
I said if you could play a role, what role would you play and

(23:06):
why?
You, why?
And she goes well, I want to bea mafia wife.
And she goes into Goodfellas.
Now, this little girl, she's 13years old, but her dad's
Italian, they're an Italianfamily, they're out of New
Jersey, and I just couldn'tbelieve it.
She knows everything, she'swatched every mafia movie out
there and she wants to play arole as a mafia wife.
And she's so serious, she justis so serious.

(23:29):
I couldn't believe it.
I was like so nothing else,that's it.
But she won me over justbecause it's like.
I understand I come from anItalian family, so I get how
they are and they love thosemovies family so I get how they
are and you know they, they lovethose movies.

Speaker 1 (23:47):
You know it's funny talking about what.
What inspired us to be actors,or whatever we I think you and I
knew from a very early age wewere going to be actors.
But what inspired me to makethe move to Hollywood?
I worked a four on, four, fouroff shift in the Navy and I was
on my way out and I was tryingto figure out my next thing and
I hadn't yet set on going toHollywood.

(24:09):
I was still trying to figureout where I was going to go,
what I was going to do, and Ipopped a people magazine open to
the centerfold and it was awhole article on Brad Pitt, this
new up and coming actor in 94,95.
I think I don't know if it wasRiver Runs Through it or what
was that other big movie he did.

Speaker 2 (24:25):
Thelma and Louise?

Speaker 1 (24:26):
No, it was the big, big production where?

Speaker 2 (24:33):
Okay, I'm drawing a blank.
Come on, Tim.

Speaker 3 (24:37):
I don't know.
I can look it up though.

Speaker 1 (24:39):
He'll come up with it .
I read that article.
He went out there with like 300bucks in his pocket and a
little red.
He called it the red runabout.
It was a rabbit it was yeah.
And he went to a reading with agirlfriend of his and she was
up for a part and he was just inthere to read with her and they

(25:00):
picked him.

Speaker 2 (25:02):
Yeah, I'm going to Juliette Lewis.

Speaker 1 (25:04):
I think that's.
Yeah, that was his girlfriend.

Speaker 2 (25:06):
I think she got him started in the business.
Yeah, and she was doing umwhat's eating, gilbert great oh,
yeah, stuff like that, yeah,yeah, they were they were a nice
couple.

Speaker 1 (25:16):
That's what.

Speaker 3 (25:16):
Yeah, leo in that so a couple of his older movies um,
the dark Side of the Sun, happyTogether, cutting Class, johnny
Suede, thelma and Louise.
These are all before Cool World, before A River Runs Through it
, 1992.
, california, 1993.

(25:39):
I do True Romance.
It was on one of my walls.
Interview with the Vampire was1994.
The one where he has the twobrothers, that's one of my walls
.
Interview with the Vampire was1994.
The one where he has the twobrothers.

Speaker 2 (25:45):
That's one of my personal favorites With the two
brothers and the dad With thetwo brothers and the dad, the
shotgun Legends of the Fall.

Speaker 1 (25:51):
Legends of the Fall.

Speaker 3 (25:52):
Yes, that's the movie .
Oh what?

Speaker 2 (25:54):
a wonderful movie that was.
Now I want to go back and watchit again.
I do, too.
Came out oh my god.
It's just away from my oh goodacting, and that's what elevated
him having those actors aroundhim.
Yes, oh yes.
So I love that movie.
So much.

Speaker 1 (26:10):
Let's close this segment and go into ai.
Let's let's finish up by umshare one fun fact or memorable
moment from your career, onething that you can think about
that just pops in your head.
That was just a cool moment.

Speaker 2 (26:28):
Probably working on Baywatch.

Speaker 1 (26:30):
Okay, you were on Baywatch.

Speaker 2 (26:33):
Yes, I was on Baywatch for like three years on
and off.
It wasn't every day, but it wasweekly to every two.

Speaker 1 (26:41):
You were a lifeguard.

Speaker 2 (26:42):
I was a second unit lifeguard.
Okay, and also a littlebackground here and there.
A second unit lifeguard, okay,and also a little background
here and there if they needed meon the set.
But yeah, I still have mybathing suit.

Speaker 1 (26:50):
So you were hanging out with Pamela Anderson.

Speaker 2 (26:51):
Yes.

Speaker 1 (26:52):
And David.

Speaker 2 (26:52):
Hasselhoff I was hanging out with him.
So one of the funniest thingsthat occurred to me on that show
is the fact that I'm walkingalong and we're on a break so it
was cut, let's go eat the wholething.
David Hasselhoff was funny.
He got along with everybody.
He just talked to everybody andhe's like I went to walk off and
he goes.
Hey, yeah, he goes.

(27:17):
Do you work out?
Not really, only on the beachhere.
It was just so funny to mebecause I really didn't work out
, because back in the day, whenyou're in your early 20s, you
don't have to do a whole lot ofworking out, because your
metabolism is there, yourmetabolism is there, but I just
thought it was so funny.
But Little Richard was on theshow.

Speaker 3 (27:34):
Oh, wow.

Speaker 2 (27:35):
And Little Richard, and I'll never forget this
moment.
In a nutshell version we weresitting on top of a picnic table
and he was getting ready to dohis scene on the show and he was
a guest on the show.
And anyway, he says to me I'mjust so nervous, I'm so nervous.
I'm like why are you nervous?

(27:56):
Do you know who you are?
Yeah, do you understand who youare?
But I think he was older and hewas just nervous.
So he wanted to do the rightthing and be the right.
But I just I found that reallytouching, that he was opening up
to me.

Speaker 1 (28:07):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (28:08):
I didn't even know, he didn't know me.

Speaker 1 (28:10):
They're humans.

Speaker 2 (28:11):
And I thought that was a very defining moment for
me because of the fact that hewas human.
He was just so down to earth.
Yeah, so sweet, so nice, sogentle to everybody on the set,
you know, just like family, youknow.

Speaker 1 (28:24):
That's awesome.

Speaker 2 (28:25):
Very personable guy, but yeah, that was it.

Speaker 1 (28:28):
Tim, what's our next beer?

Speaker 3 (28:32):
All right, so our next one in line is the Abita
Root Beer from the Abita BrewingCompany in Abita Springs,
louisiana and Abita Springs,louisiana.
Abita root beer is made with ahot mix process using spring
water, herbs, vanilla and yucca,which creates foam.
Unlike most soft drinkmanufacturers, abita sweetens

(28:54):
its root beer with pureLouisiana cane sugar.
The resulting taste isreminiscent of soft drinks made
in the 1940s and 1950s, beforebottlers turned to corn, sugar
and fructose.

Speaker 1 (29:09):
Yeah, so this is good yes.

Speaker 3 (29:10):
Yeah, so some uh soft drink makers add caffeine to
their product, but a beta isnaturally caffeine free.

Speaker 2 (29:18):
Oh, wow.

Speaker 1 (29:18):
It's very good.
Um, definitely a throwback rootbeer.

Speaker 2 (29:22):
I love that.
It's like all the time it'ssweet.

Speaker 1 (29:25):
I'm not, you know I don't eat a lot of sugar, so
that that definitely hit me Ithink, yeah, I think, only a few
sips and you're good yeah, oh,yeah, yeah I like the vanilla
very tasty.
Yeah, you can taste the vanillain that we don't drink a lot of
non-alcoholic stuff on thisshow, but we're starting to
invite more of that with withdifferent of variation of guests

(29:47):
like yourself yes I'm kind ofpleased about it, because that
is a that that's a pleasant toneto start our next segment.
I love that, yes um, tell meabout the actors.
So.
So this next segment we'regoing to talk about ai and we're
going to talk about the actors.
Dan, very exciting, that's howwe met, because I reached out to

(30:07):
you looking for actors.

Speaker 2 (30:10):
You know, that was exciting.
Actually, I was like oh good,Because as soon as I met you and
you're like yeah, I need someactors, my actors got super
excited.
They're so excited.
Yes, Sign me up.

Speaker 1 (30:21):
They were so awesome.
I mean, they did such.
Your son was incredible.
I really enjoyed working withhim.

Speaker 2 (30:27):
Yeah, you met Crosby, my son.

Speaker 1 (30:29):
Yeah, and.
Clay Clay's like another sonClay was really awesome.

Speaker 2 (30:32):
Been with me a long time.

Speaker 1 (30:33):
And the firefighter.
What was his name?

Speaker 2 (30:35):
Oh.

Speaker 1 (30:37):
He's one of your students, right?

Speaker 2 (30:38):
Yes, god, oh Lord, what's his name?
Now I'm going to draw a blank.

Speaker 1 (30:42):
He hasn't been with me for like two years now.
Kind of stunk for him becausesome of the stuff we were
supposed to film with him didn'thappen.

Speaker 2 (30:49):
Oh, but you know what ?
I hadn't talked to him in awhile because he had to go into
firefighting.
His dad wanted him.
He needed something else tofall back on, but he was very
excited.
As soon as I asked him, hedidn't hesitate one bit.
He's like when and where.

Speaker 1 (31:03):
They communicated really well.
They reached out.
Tell me about the Actors' Denand your mission to help these
students, and what is themission and what are you trying
to achieve with these students?

Speaker 2 (31:15):
You know, my mission is always to make sure that they
are, first and foremost, beingthemselves.
I said, you know, first andforemost, I just want you to be
yourself times two.
You know, I don't want you tohave to be a chameleon and act
like somebody else and besomebody else.
I want you to dress up your owncharacters, you know, bring out
the intent of your owncharacter.
You know who, you know thewho's, what's, the why's, the

(31:38):
where's and everything like thatwe have.
We have so much fun doing thistoo.
Because they're like oh, missCarrie Ann, you mean, I can
dress my character up any way Iwant to.
And I said absolutely, you can,you can, but let's stay, you
know, script it.
Stay on script with it, you know.

Speaker 1 (31:53):
Do you do the?
What's the?
It's been so long, that's okay.

Speaker 2 (31:57):
What is?

Speaker 1 (31:57):
the exercise with your jaw, with the movement of
your mouth.
Well, so that's the tonguetwisters, with the movement of
your mouth.

Speaker 2 (32:03):
Well, so that's the tongue twisters, yeah, we do a
lot of tongue twisters in thereTalk about that for a minute.
Well, the tongue twisters areinteresting because it helps
them read better.
It gives them you know like ithelps release stress in their
jaw, their tongue they don't getas tongue tied when they're
reading their scenes and stufflike that.
So, for example, let's see if Ican do this without messing it

(32:24):
up.
The big black bug bit a bigblack bear and the big black
bear bled black blood.
And they have to say that threetimes and I asked them please
just enunciate.

Speaker 1 (32:40):
Yeah, so let's start with the bug.

Speaker 2 (32:42):
Ready, the big black bug, the big black, the big Ah.

Speaker 1 (32:43):
The big black bug bit a big bear, bit a big black
bear, and the big black bearbled black blood, bled black
blood.

Speaker 2 (32:50):
Yeah, you do it on your own.
The big, say it one more timethe big black bug bit a big
black bear.

Speaker 1 (32:54):
The big black bug bit a big, big black.

Speaker 2 (32:59):
Tim.

Speaker 1 (33:01):
Edge, edge, you can't interrupt our show with
laughter.
The big black bug bit a bigblack bear and the big black
bear drew black blood.
I got it, let's move on.

Speaker 2 (33:19):
Okay, so he almost had it, so that's okay, let's
move on.
Okay, so he almost had it, sothat's okay, that's all right.
So the tongue twisters arereally good, and then we go into
doing a monologue work or ascene.

Speaker 1 (33:32):
We're losing it on this show and there's no alcohol
on this show.
How is this happening?

Speaker 2 (33:36):
And then Unique New York Say that three times.

Speaker 1 (33:39):
Unique New York, unique New York.
Say that three times Unique NewYork.
Unique New York.

Speaker 2 (33:42):
Unique New York.
You know you live and needUnique New York.

Speaker 1 (33:45):
You know, you live and you need.
You know, you need.

Speaker 2 (33:49):
Unique New York.

Speaker 1 (33:50):
Unique New York.
You know you need Unique NewYork.
You know you need Unique NewYork.

Speaker 2 (33:54):
Yes, yes, that's very good actually, and Sally sells
seashells by the seashore is abig one for the smaller kids.

Speaker 1 (34:02):
You'd be surprised tim edge skips through the
tulips in the middle of thenight um, I do, yeah, so the
mission that sounds lovely, bythe way so how do you
incorporate technology in yourteaching methods at the actors
den?
Do you use any sort?

(34:22):
Because we talked earlier abouthow you love the simplicity,
way back when we were coming up.

Speaker 2 (34:28):
I do.
I like the realism of acting.
I like natural emotion.
I think it's overwhelming intoday's world with the CGI stuff
and everything, but we'll getinto that in just a little bit.

Speaker 1 (34:42):
We'll get into the CGI but how are you
incorporating technology?
I know you are, because you'rehaving to communicate, you're
having to Zoom, probably withsome students.
You're doing some of that.
So there's that technology.

Speaker 2 (34:55):
Exactly, I have my students doing screen tests live
through Zoom.
How does that?

Speaker 1 (35:01):
work oh it's amazing.

Speaker 2 (35:03):
It's amazing.
So all of them go on at thesame time.
I mean there could be like 30,40, whatever on at the same time
and they're auditioning infront of agencies.

Speaker 3 (35:16):
Wow.

Speaker 2 (35:17):
And yeah, it's amazing that they can do that.
You can literally be in yourown room, set it up, have your
computer open.
I love this.
I love this part of it becauseyou don't have to travel to Los
Angeles or the big cities orAtlanta.
You can just sit in thecomforts of your own home.
So you go on Zoom and you'regetting ready to do your scene.

(35:39):
So you practice.
You have a good couple weeks topractice with your scene
partner and then, when it's timeto do screen test live, you
have like nine to 10 agenciesthat are going to be on zoom
with them, that are going towatch them perform.
Each one each and they do it inpairs, two at a time.

Speaker 1 (35:57):
But, being in their own home, are they able to do?
You feel like they'reexpressing themselves more and
they're really getting intocharacter more because they have
that privacy, even thoughthey're on Zoom with these folks
, tim, I do.

Speaker 2 (36:09):
I really think they're allowed, they're more
relaxed, they can just come outof their shell.
You know, and also.

Speaker 1 (36:16):
But what happens?
What happens when theytransition and they're on set?

Speaker 2 (36:20):
I know that's very good and we practice that in the
studio.
So we do go over that.
We go over all of that.
I make them do it in front ofeverybody, so they have to do
their monologues and scenes infront of the class.
I sometimes make the parentsstay in there, because the
biggest thing with my studentssometimes is they don't like it

(36:40):
when their parents are in theroom because they feel judged
and they know that their parentsare going to, because they know
them so well that they knowthat they just have to do this
one look and the parent already.

Speaker 1 (36:49):
I know, I know that, but they do that.

Speaker 2 (36:51):
They do that, but they end up I said if you can do
this in front of your parents,then you're golden.
You can do it in front ofanyone, honestly, but they do it
in front of the class, they doit in front of their peers, the
other actors, and they build uptheir confidence one block at a
time.
The more they come in, the morethey learn on how to route

(37:12):
themselves toward having moreconfidence.
And I mean that in a way like,for example, I had one student
just could not barely open themouth to get a word out, so
nervous, so just very nervous.
And I said to this person I hadone student just could not
barely open the mouth to get aword out, so nervous, so just
very nervous.
And I said, I said to thisperson I said you know what?
Um, I just want you to beyourself, just, please, just be
yourself, but times two, that'sit.

(37:34):
I'm giving you a script.
Let's, let's take it down,let's break it down one line at
a time, okay, and as soon asthey do that, they feel so
confident.
So well, how did that sound?
Let's say let's say it again,do that line again, but do it a
different way.
Let's do it three differentways with three different
emotions, and how does thatsound to you?
And then they start feeling itand they start getting more
comfortable.
They do they they really pick upon that.

(37:56):
They get into their own littlerhythm, you know, if you will,
and they um, that's how they'rebuilding up their confidence.
I just make them do it over andover again until it sounds
right to them.
I never want them to leave my,my studio not knowing why they
did it, and I want to know whatthey got out of it, you know and
it's a wonderful feeling forthem.
It's a wonderful feeling for meas an acting coach, cause I've

(38:17):
been doing this over 20 years.

Speaker 1 (38:19):
I just remember back in the day standing in line for
a John Hughes film.

Speaker 2 (38:24):
Yes, we called that Cattle Call.
Oh my God, it was called CattleCall.
It was horrible in the heat andthen you get in there.

Speaker 1 (38:31):
you're soaking wet.
Yeah, you finally get in frontof two or three people that are
auditioning you.
You're already worn out.
You feel like a total wreck,just ready to go and you're
nervous as all get out and oh myGod, I remember that cattle
call I bombed, oh bomb, the hellout of it, I was so I just was

(38:54):
ready to go home and have a beer.

Speaker 2 (38:56):
So what did they ask you to do?
Do you remember?
I don't even I.

Speaker 1 (39:00):
I well, we had our sides and I I was uh reading and
I remember I was prepping forit.
We you get the sides once youget into the auditorium, or it
was an auditorium or gym orwhatever and I just how'd you
like those cold reads?
Yeah, no, it was awful.
It was awful because I read itcompletely.
I I misread what the characterwas supposed to be.

(39:24):
Oh, supposed to be.

Speaker 2 (39:26):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (39:26):
Because I only had a few minutes.

Speaker 2 (39:28):
Yes, you were nervous , that's why.

Speaker 1 (39:30):
And I was nervous.

Speaker 2 (39:30):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (39:31):
And when I left there I was like, oh well, yeah.

Speaker 2 (39:34):
Moving on.

Speaker 1 (39:34):
Yes, and in the beginning, when I first got out
there, rejection was really hardto take because I'm like why
don't they like me?

Speaker 2 (39:42):
I think a lot of people go through that, tim, you
know, but you explained, it'stiming, it's timing, it's the
look.

Speaker 1 (39:48):
It's all of these things.
So how?
So?
We talked about collaborationbetween the agencies and your
students, and I'm sure thestudents collaborate the same
way using Zoom.
Your students, and I'm sure thestudents collaborate the same
way using zoom how do youprepare them, the students, for
a future where um AI might playa significant role in their

(40:08):
careers?
I mean because the world is achange.

Speaker 2 (40:12):
This is all new for me too, all this deep fake stuff
and I mean I fast and furiouscomes to mind with, uh, paul
Walker.

Speaker 1 (40:20):
Yeah, I mean the newest one, he's in it.
Yeah, but he's been gone for solong and it looks mostly real.

Speaker 2 (40:30):
Well, I had to make my notes because I wanted to
make sure that I didn't skip abeat with you on this.
You know, and I think that forme I had it can feel artificial.
You know first for me, becauseI come from the 70s, 80s, and so
I know what's real and what'snot, especially when characters

(40:53):
or environments appear toodigitally perfect, you can tell
when something's just tooperfect.
Personally for me, I come froma very um imperfect world.
Um, I'm the most imperfect,perfect person.
Does that make sense?

Speaker 1 (41:10):
I'm the most imperfect person, whatever.

Speaker 2 (41:13):
But I, um, I feel like if you dress something up
way too much, then it just looksfake.
It's almost just like whatpeople are putting filters on
their faces and everything thesedays.
It's like nobody wants to.
And I feel that way with moviemaking because movie making it
means a lot to me.
I love a good movie and I haveto feel it and it has to reel me
in right, so with them.

(41:33):
I don't know if I'm answeringyour question or not.

Speaker 1 (41:35):
No, yeah, keep going.

Speaker 3 (41:37):
Okay.

Speaker 2 (41:37):
I'm going to put my glass on because I don't make my
notes.
But first of all, it's limitingcreative freedom or forcing
studios to prioritize visualeffects over story.

Speaker 1 (41:48):
Okay, does that make sense?
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (41:50):
How does that make sense to you?
Because it makes sense, butanyway.
But there are some key pointsto it.
There's some good stuff with it.

Speaker 1 (42:00):
So when you talk about so, to me it depends on
the movie being made sure thatis if it's action thriller.

Speaker 2 (42:08):
Yeah but even in the action movies it it's really
hard when the entire thing iscgi versus little hints like
jurassic park yeah, well, littlehints of cgi, yeah, like where
they're using a little bit ofcgi just to kind of just enough
to compliment it, just tocompliment it what's already
been, yeah, you know, I thinkspielberg uh is good with that

(42:30):
very good he's, isn't he?
Yes, it's one of my favorites.

Speaker 1 (42:34):
He's doing mine too well, I I'm all across the
spectrum, because I likescorsese, you know, hit, you
know, and I love mafia movies.

Speaker 2 (42:42):
Oh, yeah, but.

Speaker 1 (42:43):
I also love.
One of my favorite movies ofall time is ET.

Speaker 2 (42:46):
Oh, come on.
People all know that we alllove ET.
Yes, but you got the throwbackto the 80s.

Speaker 1 (42:50):
Yes, you know everything in there resonated
with us as kids, but it was youknow and he used to.
I think it was a.
I think ET was a mix ofanimatronics and someone in a
suit.

Speaker 2 (43:07):
Yes, absolutely.
But even then it just seemedmore natural for me.
I don't know why it wasn'toverdone.

Speaker 1 (43:14):
That's the evolution of CGI.

Speaker 2 (43:16):
Star Wars was filmed back when CGI, really Back in
the 70s, they had to usemodeling.
Back in the 70s, yeah, and theyhad to use modeling.
They had to use modeling, yeah,yes.

Speaker 1 (43:26):
So, but getting back on topic, here we're talking
about AI.
Let's stay on the AI topic.
So deepfakes is a real concernfor a lot of actors and wasn't
there a negotiation between SAGand AMPTP.
See, Now you got me.
My tongues are totally twisted.

Speaker 2 (43:46):
You need some tongue twisters.
The big black bear Generative.

Speaker 1 (43:48):
AI became the major sticking point.
Back in July, studios claimthey offered a groundbreaking AI
proposal that protects actors'digital likenesses, because
otherwise they'd be able to usethem in whatever and not pay
them digital likenesses, becauseotherwise they'd be able to use
them in whatever and not paythem.

Speaker 2 (44:07):
Well, that's the thing.
You know, um, it's verydisheartening when I, when I was
listening to that and hearingit, and Fran Drescher, um,
really, she was, you know, soupset about it and she made it
known to everybody in theSAG-AFTRA industry how upset she
really was.
She wasn't holding back and shewasn't, you know, but, um, to
me it's like you know what aboutthe background um actors?
You know so what?
What was going to happen withbackground actors?

(44:29):
What was going to happen tothem was they're going to be cut
right out.
Why?
Because cgi has stepped in andthey've already.
They've recorded, videoedwhatever they do.
They've already recorded,videoed whatever they do.
They've taken all thebackground.
They're going to reuse it forother things and then they just
piece it in, like in a Coliseum.

Speaker 1 (44:47):
I wonder if the new Gladiator movie.
What did they do there?

Speaker 2 (44:50):
I haven't seen it yet .
I don't know.
I haven't seen it yet.
Think about that.

Speaker 1 (44:54):
They can trickle in all those likenesses of the
actors.
You don't know when you'rewatching the movie, because
you're focused on the maincharacters.

Speaker 2 (45:02):
Right, and I encourage my actors to go work
on and be background.
I want them to be on the set, Iwant them to get their foot in
the door, I want them to see howthings are done on a day-to-day
basis on, you know, being onthe set of a movie.
But if they come in and wipethem out, there's no background.
You just know, that's it.

Speaker 1 (45:22):
Yeah, we're getting a little short on time, okay, so
I'm going to ask you one morequestion before we get into the
third segment, yep.
What are, give me one of yourbiggest challenges and one of
your biggest rewards of runningthe Actors Den.

Speaker 2 (45:37):
One of my biggest challenges probably to convince
the new students that come inthat they're just not ready yet,
when they are completely readyin their own minds.
Oh, I'm ready to do acting.
I want to get an agent today,you know, oh, yeah, yeah yeah,
and so that's a challenge for me, because you know you don't

(45:58):
want to let them down, you knowyou don't want to be that one to
just I don't know just kind ofburn their little fire out.
You know you don't want to letthem down, you know you don't
want to be that one to just Idon't know just kind of burn
their little fire out, you know.
So for me that's a bigchallenge because you don't want
to hurt their feelings.
So I'm just very matter of fact.
I'm like, well, you have to havesome training, you know, let's
see how much natural ability youhave, and then let's you go

(46:18):
from there but they also have tolearn rejection and absolutely
so I was just gonna say um, youknow, if you are, if you're on
the set of a movie and you're inthe middle of doing a scene and
you got lucky enough to get inthere so quickly and you mess
something up or you saysomething wrong or you or your
actions weren't right on themark, um, the last thing you

(46:42):
want is a director yelling atyou, going uh yeah, are you, do
we have?

Speaker 1 (46:47):
do we have any?

Speaker 2 (46:48):
acting yeah uh, you know capabilities here.
Did you have any acting classes?
Yeah, you know, and it'sinteresting, but, um, the most
rewarding for me would be, um,to see them getting signed with
an agency because they are ready, yeah, and to have those
beautiful little notes that theywrite me behind closed doors

(47:09):
and they send it to me on a textor an email or they'll call me
and they just thank you foreverything that you've done for
my child.
You know, if it weren't for you,you, they wouldn't have gotten
this far, they wouldn't have youknow.
So they call me a littlediamond in the rough and I laugh
about that.
I'm like, oh, I just.
Oh, okay, I never consideredmyself a diamond in the rough,

(47:32):
but I, it sounds you are, ifyou're catapulting.

Speaker 1 (47:35):
No, you know someone who has the the real desire and
the real passion to move forwardwith it and not just doing it
as a side thing when they diveinto it.
You're the catalyst for that.

Speaker 2 (47:49):
I'm so passionate about what I do.
I, I, really I, I.
It takes me hours to getcurriculum ready, cause I try to
you know gear it toward them onthat note.
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (47:58):
Let's have another beer, let's do that Sounds good.

Speaker 2 (48:00):
I was wondering when you're going to edge.
Let's do that Sounds good.
I was wondering when you weregoing to end Edge.
What do you got?

Speaker 3 (48:03):
All right.
So our last beer that we haveis the Crabby's Ginger Beer from
the brewing company JohnCrabby's and Co Beer in Scotland
.
For more than 200 years,Crabby's has shipped its ginger
beer from the Far East,following the pioneering
footsteps of the first Scotsmerchant adventurers.

(48:25):
Hence their distinctiveelephant trademark.
Following a top secret recipe,the steeped ginger is combined
with the quality ingredients andmatured for eight weeks to
release a deliciouslydistinctive flavor.
Yeah, that's distinctive.

Speaker 1 (48:40):
I was just going to say that's distinctive, all
right.

Speaker 2 (48:42):
I was just going to say, yeah, ditto.

Speaker 1 (48:46):
I'm not, it's.

Speaker 2 (48:50):
Yeah, well to me.

Speaker 1 (48:52):
Tim, I'm going to need a good lager after this
You've got a lot.
I'm kidding.
No, it's good.
Well, we're going to dive in.
So just to kind of continue offthat last segment a little bit
audience.
We were talking about CGI inmodern films, carrie Ann films
that are all CGI, yay or nay?
I think I know the answer tothat.

Speaker 2 (49:14):
Ask that again.

Speaker 1 (49:15):
Films that are all CGI.
Yay or nay.

Speaker 2 (49:20):
Nay.

Speaker 1 (49:20):
Are you?

Speaker 2 (49:20):
kidding me?
Is that a rhetorical question?
Well in the past we talkedabout, especially for us at our
age.

Speaker 1 (49:27):
Filmmakers solely depended on practical effects
back in the day and opticaltricks to shape audience
perception, utilizing techniqueslike camera angles and lens
selection and elaboratelydesigned sets.

Speaker 2 (49:42):
I love that.

Speaker 1 (49:43):
Now it's easier because everything's digital.
I know I'm in the middle ofediting a video right now and
how much easier it is than itwas just 20 years ago to edit
and how much more powerful themachines are to enable us to do
that.
But yeah, you know watchingtechniques in old movies and we
talked about star wars earlierhow they built a, a, a model set

(50:09):
they did, yeah, and that wasmore exciting, brought those
planes in, you know, or thespaceships, and hovered above
and the way it gave that appealthat they were flying in space
yes when c when CGI didn'treally exist.
It really wasn't there.
Chroma Key was kind of there.

Speaker 2 (50:30):
I want to get back to that.
I do too.
It's time consuming, and Ithink that's why they just want
to nix it, but I love it.
I think it shows yourcreativity but, I, love it I
think it's, it's um.

Speaker 1 (50:45):
It shows your creativity.
You know, and they used topaint um, uh, paint by hand.

Speaker 2 (50:48):
Yeah, oh, all the time you know they'd always have
that um someone coming in anddoing the murals and the.
It was awesome.

Speaker 1 (50:56):
Now it's green screen and volumetric LEDs and all of
those things.
And you know, the setextensions were painted, the
backdrops were painted.

Speaker 2 (51:07):
We don't have any of that I think, use it where it
really needs to be used.
Tim, you know Like I think thatwhen there's for stunts,
environmental stuff, if you justcan't create it, just put a
little you know little somethingsomething there, create it.
Um, just put a little you knowa little something something
there.
But um, I I had made a note.
It says um to enhance characterdesign and animation.

(51:28):
Okay, okay, that's, that'swonderful yeah you have cgi for
things like that.
I think it makes it morecreative oh yeah, it's, it's toy
story.

Speaker 1 (51:36):
Yes, one of my favorites, that's the first one
that comes to mind.
Absolutely, that's a good one.
That's amazing.
I mean, it won what?
How many awards.
I mean that is an amazingexample of that.

Speaker 2 (51:45):
Absolutely, and I yes and just, and it's very
pleasing, though it's notoverwhelming, you know it's not
too much.

Speaker 1 (51:53):
What about Avatar?
I wasn't a big Avatar fan,really.

Speaker 2 (52:00):
I wasn't a big avatar for them.

Speaker 1 (52:01):
Like you probably are .

Speaker 2 (52:02):
I mean, you know I'm not, that's just, it wasn't for
me.

Speaker 1 (52:06):
But what did you like about it?
I think I liked the story morethan anything in that,
especially the first one.
I just thought the story was agreat story to be, told and the
way it.
You know the way the uh itintroduced the characters, yeah,
the, the cgi characters, theway the cgi characters were

(52:26):
introduced at the beginning.

Speaker 2 (52:28):
You know when he steps into that character how
did he run off the set like,yeah, yeah, I like that.
Yeah, it was exhilarating.

Speaker 1 (52:36):
So how would you teach aspiring actors to
interact with CGI elements?
Tell me, because that's a thing, right.

Speaker 2 (52:44):
Wow, is it?

Speaker 1 (52:46):
I don't know, I mean.

Speaker 2 (52:47):
How would they do it?

Speaker 1 (52:48):
Now, if they're going in for a TV show, obviously
there's not going to be a wholelot of CGI.
But if they're going into amovie with CGI and they've never
done that before if you'reinteracting with a dinosaur,
yeah.
That's coming down andbreathing on you.

Speaker 2 (53:02):
Well, you're interacting with a dinosaur
that's coming down and breathingon you.
Well, that's interesting.
I'm not sure if I can answer it100% the way you probably need
me to, but I always have mystudents pretend like I'll put
something right in front of themand I'll follow them around the
room, like my clapperboard, andI'll follow them around the
room.
I'm like now, just pretend,this is something else, okay.

Speaker 1 (53:21):
Okay, I need you to around the room.

Speaker 2 (53:22):
I'm like now just pretend this is something else,
okay, okay.

Speaker 1 (53:24):
I need you to just stay focused.
Okay, there you go.

Speaker 2 (53:25):
I need you to stay focused.
I need you to say your lines,just like you normally would,
but except, this is going to bein front of you or we're going
to put it like right on the sideof you and I'm going to follow
you through the room.
So, basically, I'm blockingthem, I give them blocking
points.
You know, um, they love that.
I think it helps them to getout of their shell a little bit

(53:46):
more to um not be distracted, um, cause they get distracted so
easily until I start teachingthem how to do that.
And then they're like oh, I got, I see what you're saying.

Speaker 1 (53:58):
Have you ever given acting lessons?
Are you good on time?
Are you good on time?
Are you good?

Speaker 2 (54:02):
on.
Yes, I don't even know whattime it is.
I'm not in.

Speaker 1 (54:04):
Yeah, have you, have you ever given acting lessons to
someone that just wanted tocreate content on social media?

Speaker 2 (54:12):
um, I don't think they've told me about it, but
I'm sure I have you think theyare.

Speaker 1 (54:15):
You think that's what they're I don't know.
That's a good question youmight want to ask your students
that, because that's uh wow my,I mean my daughter.
You know she's getting intodoing that stuff really yeah,
that's wonderful, she's anincredible editor really she
edits all her own stuff andshe's 12 isn't it interesting,
though, that they're born intothis they're born into they're

(54:37):
born into.

Speaker 2 (54:38):
I mean that's it's second nature technology first
nature.

Speaker 1 (54:40):
Without the technology you, I mean we grew
up changing a tire on a car.
I don't think the kids know,how to do any of that.

Speaker 2 (54:49):
Yes.

Speaker 1 (54:50):
So how do you balance traditional?
I'm zooming through these, butit's very important, because how
do you balance traditionalacting methods, like we've
talked about throughout?
The show with moderntechnological advancements.
So do you balance those methodswhen you're teaching your

(55:11):
student, knowing that they'regoing to have to interact or do
things with not necessarily ahuman?

Speaker 2 (55:20):
Yeah, you know um.
This is all new for me too.
Yeah it is actually because thebecause I've, I'm very um, I
just want them to be who theyare, be themselves, right as far
as a distraction.
I would go back to just sayingyou know, just know that there's
going to be a lot ofdistractions.
Someone opens the door.
Don't look, just keep going.

(55:42):
You know, don't worry aboutwho's walking in.
As far as I'm so old fashionedTim.

Speaker 1 (55:49):
No, that's, I love the realism of just being
yourself.

Speaker 2 (55:53):
Times to just you know, I'm not really up on all
the CGI stuff as much as Ishould be right now and I need
to die, but that's not whatthey're coming to you for.

Speaker 1 (56:03):
I'm asking that because we have to get nerdy in
here but they're coming to youto learn how to pull that
character out of them and how toexpress their emotions in the
middle of a scene, right?

Speaker 2 (56:15):
Yes, they have a short time to bring out the
intent of a character, you know,and they have to do a good job
doing it.
You know, the one thing aboutdoing television, film and
television is that you can yell,cut and redo it over and over
and over again.
But hopefully with my studentsthey don't have to have to, you

(56:36):
know, do it over and over again,only because they're trained to
know that they need to nail itas soon as possible, like I make
sure you know that they don't.
It's okay to mess up your humanYou're not a robot but at the
same time, I want you to reallyfocus on the character that
you're portraying.
I want you to bring out theintent of your character, dress

(56:57):
up your character.
Where are you in the room?
Where are you at that?
Where are you in the room?
What is your?

Speaker 1 (57:02):
I'm right here.

Speaker 2 (57:03):
Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 1 (57:04):
I'm right here.

Speaker 2 (57:07):
I'm sitting next to you it helps them act better if
they know where they are.
You know where are they in thein the scene, where are they,
you know?
Put yourself in that scene, putyourself in the scene, put
yourself in that place and thenyou're gonna, you're gonna,
you're gonna do great, you'regonna feel it more.
You, I'm an empathy coach, so Ilike to empathize.

Speaker 1 (57:24):
I feel like that, but I do, I feel it.
Can you feel it?

Speaker 2 (57:27):
yeah, I can feel it, I'm in the air tonight hold on
what that's right.

Speaker 1 (57:41):
What advice would you give to actors who are just
starting out?

Speaker 2 (57:45):
take your time take your time yeah do it right.

Speaker 1 (57:48):
Yes, take your time don't rush it.

Speaker 2 (57:51):
You know we, as we talked about earlier in the show
here, um, you know fate is ahunter fate, you know it's gonna
to find them and they're goingto know when they're ready.
Don't rush it.
Take your time.
Don't be someone you're not.
Be yourself Always.

(58:12):
Go back to that, yeah.

Speaker 1 (58:13):
So we're going to close the show with a series of
rapid fire questions.

Speaker 2 (58:19):
Oh goodness.

Speaker 1 (58:19):
Are you ready?

Speaker 2 (58:22):
I think so.
Now you haven't been toldanything.
What's my favorite color?
Pink, okay.
What's your favorite color?
My daughter's is purple, okay,her entire room is purple.
Oh wow, crazy, that's, great.

Speaker 1 (58:31):
If you could, only, here we go.
Are you ready?
If you could only watch onemovie, for the rest would it be?

Speaker 2 (58:37):
Oh, you got that from .
Did you get that from me?

Speaker 1 (58:40):
No, go ahead, I don't know, I don't write this the
Breakfast Club.
Okay, I kind of knew that.

Speaker 2 (58:45):
Did you?

Speaker 1 (58:45):
I love, I love all the well, you mentioned it
earlier, I need a t-shirt.

Speaker 2 (58:48):
Do you have a t-shirt for me, john Hughes?
I'm only John Hughes movies.

Speaker 1 (58:52):
No, but we do have a nerds on tap t-shirt for you, oh
and a hat.

Speaker 2 (58:56):
Yes, I'll represent.

Speaker 1 (58:59):
What's one piece of advice you'd give to aspiring
actors in one sentence.
I think you already did it.

Speaker 2 (59:05):
Yeah, yeah, I would just say take your time, don't
rush it.

Speaker 1 (59:09):
Favorite celebrity encounter.

Speaker 2 (59:10):
Go.
I love John Travolta.

Speaker 1 (59:14):
All right, yeah, I love John Travolta, I love Kate.

Speaker 2 (59:16):
Winslet as well.
That movie right there, yes,yes.

Speaker 1 (59:19):
Absolutely my favorite.
Winslet as well.
Yes, yes, absolutely myfavorite movie.

Speaker 2 (59:21):
He's ever done.
Why is that?
Why is that?

Speaker 1 (59:22):
I love paul fix.

Speaker 2 (59:24):
Well, I'm a big why do you love it, though?
Quentin tarantino is probablymy favorite.

Speaker 1 (59:29):
Uh, I mean, I can watch every single one of his
movies, yeah, multiple times Igot to serve him a beer you did
quentin tarantino yeah, prettycool, yeah, I did because we
were on a nice long break, andso I was like oh, I need a job
in between.

Speaker 2 (59:46):
And so I worked at Barney's Beanery in Hollywood.

Speaker 1 (59:48):
What's your go-to karaoke song?

Speaker 2 (59:54):
Oh my God, I don't do karaoke.

Speaker 1 (59:57):
If you could sing a song.
But if I could sing a song,well, I think you just did.

Speaker 2 (01:00:03):
Okay, if you could sing a song.
Well, I think you just did.
Okay, yes, in the air tonight,there we go.
I would bomb it.
But yeah, I don't think I would.

Speaker 1 (01:00:06):
I don't know if I'd sing that one pineapple on pizza
, yes, or?
No, uh no good if you were castin a superhero movie.
Would would you rather be thehero or the villain?

Speaker 2 (01:00:16):
I would be the hero all right.

Speaker 1 (01:00:18):
If you could have dinner with any historical
figure, who would it be?

Speaker 2 (01:00:23):
Oh Jim.

Speaker 1 (01:00:23):
Morrison.

Speaker 2 (01:00:25):
Would you?
Yeah, you would.

Speaker 3 (01:00:27):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:00:28):
Oh my God, oh gosh, that's a good question.

Speaker 1 (01:00:35):
Oh my God, I got her stumped Tim, oh my.

Speaker 2 (01:00:37):
God.
Well, I'm trying to think ofher name Breakfast at Tiffany's.
What's her name?
Audrey Hepburn.
There you go.

Speaker 1 (01:00:45):
Oh, james Todd, Are you listening to this?
He's a big Audrey.

Speaker 2 (01:00:48):
Hepburn.
I love Audrey Hepburn.

Speaker 1 (01:00:50):
Yeah, what's a talent you have that most people don't
know about.

Speaker 2 (01:00:56):
Uh-oh, being able to laugh at myself.

Speaker 1 (01:01:00):
All right.

Speaker 2 (01:01:01):
Is that a talent?
I don't even know.

Speaker 1 (01:01:02):
What's a hobby?
You've always wanted to try,but haven't yet.

Speaker 2 (01:01:08):
Art drawing.

Speaker 1 (01:01:09):
Okay, and finally, what's the last thing you
binge-watched?
Cobra Kai.

Speaker 2 (01:01:13):
Yeah, actually, cobra Kai and Outlander.
Yes, yes.

Speaker 1 (01:01:21):
Yep.
Well, ladies and gentlemen,thank you for getting nerdy with
me and Carrie Ann Dawson for anhour or so.
Carrie Ann, why don't you sharewith the audience anything they
might want to know about theActors Den, where they can find
you on social media or theinternet, or how to get a hold

(01:01:41):
of you in case they want toreach out and yes be a student,
or if they know someone, like achild, that might want to get
inspired go.

Speaker 2 (01:01:51):
Absolutely, you can.
Um come to the actor's den,wwwtheactorsdencom, and um it
has all the information on therethat you'll need and if you
have any questions, you can justit has my phone number on there
.
You can just call me.
I'm very personable.

Speaker 1 (01:02:04):
Awesome, and thank you to Digital Boardwalk for
sponsoring the show andSmarterWeb.
You can find them atdigitalboardwalkcom and
smarterwebnet.
Thanks and have a nerdy day.

Speaker 2 (01:02:16):
Thank you, thank you.

Speaker 1 (01:02:20):
Cheers.
My fellow nerds and beer lovers.
Stay tuned for more Nerds onTap.
Oh, and one more thing Help usspread the nerdy love and the
love for grape brews by sharingthis podcast with your friends,
colleagues and fellow beerenthusiasts.
Let's build a community thatembraces curiosity, innovation

(01:02:45):
and the enjoyment of a cold one.