Actors Making It

This weeks guest is the ever charismatic, loveable, laughable Gary Boulter. Gary is an actor, event MC, murder mystery host and just a wonderful guy.  In this weeks  we talk about Gary’s approach to keeping motivated, viewing his craft as a business and him being a sole trader. 

There is also some interesting stories about sights he’s seen on walking tours around the rocks in Sydney and an “indecent proposal” in the blue mountains. We also talk about Gary’s experience with WeAudition.

This week I chat with Aussie Actor, Daniel Wilson… who, has beaten me to a handful of commercial gigs that we both auditioned for over the years.   Daniel and I first met on the set of Steve Khuory's AFTRS graduate film Bimbalo, it was a very different time! Since then, Daniels career has gone from strength to strength.

In this weeks episode we talk about Daniels decision at age 33 to finally follow his heart and pursue a career in the arts. 7 years on, Daniel is being cast in commercials and scripted work regularly. We also talk about the moment when he felt comfortable calling his full time job his side hustle and feeling like it’s the right time that acting took centre stage.  

This weeks guest is British actor Mariama Bojang. Now Mariama has coined herself “The Articulate Autistic Actor”

She has an interesting story on how she can promote herself and get her dream part on some well known UK Soap Operas. I won’t go in to details here, but you can hear all about her unique marketing idea in the episode.

As always, thanks for listening to actors making it and good luck on your journey to making it.

Stephen is a London based Actor/commercial model. Since completing training at Kingdom School of Arts 2014/2015 he has gone onto perform at the Arcola theatre London, The Courtyard theatre in ‘Undercover’, and Brookside theatre in ‘The Buddy Holly Story’. 

He has previously been cast as Detective Douglas in CBS network show Killer Cops and most recently in Feature film ‘The Stranger In My Bed’ Directed by Giles Alderson due for nationwide release at the end of the year. 

Prior to this his latest short film ‘Unwashed’ which he wrote and produced has just won an Award for Best Cinematography (London International Film Festival). 

In this weeks episode we talk about the way he used his short film to market himself to casting directors while it was still doing the rounds at festivals. Which for anyone who has produced their own work and thought “I cant do anything with this until festival have finished” THINK AGAIN. It was really interesting to hear his thoughts on how to get in front of the right people. We also talk about how he has been approached directly by an agent in the USA, pretty unexpectedly and what that now means for him and his family. 

I hope you enjoy this weeks conversation with Stephen and as always, good luck on your journey to making it. 

This weeks guest is SF3 Festival Director Angela Blake who only ever set her sights on a career in the arts.   

With dreams of young talent time, Angela has forged a successful career in the arts and is quite the multi-hyphenate having garnered experienced as a writer, actor, dancer, director and the list goes on.   

Tune in to this episode to hear about Angela's journey to Making it, but also some great tips if you want to make a film for a festival.   

Head to https://sf3.com.au/ to get all the details on the festival and submissions AND if you are stuck for an idea for a film, why not check out https://sf3.com.au/submit/micro-fictions/  

This weeks guest, began his career with a desire to act. He applied to and was successful in an entry to The Juilliard School based in New York City. A world leader in performing arts education.

Craig has lived and worked in the USA forging a career in the arts until the pandemic hit and he made his way back to Australia. These days though, while still acting Craig pivoted to a career as a theatre director where he most recently directed “Heroes of the Fourth Turning” for Outhouse Theatre Co at Seymour Centre. “Happy Days” at the Old Fitz. “John” which won best independent production at the 2020 Sydney Theatre Awards.

In this weeks episode we talk about the switch to directing but also what is actually involved for any of you looking to add another string to your bow.

Hope you enjoy this weeks episode with Craig Baldwin and good luck on your own journey to making it.

This week I have a chat with writer, director, actors of theatre and screen, teacher, radio host and filmmaker, Wayne Tunks.

In this weeks episode we talk a lot about developing your own works. Wayne wasn’t being cast all that much and decided to write himself all the best parts and has amassed an impressive portfolio of works that he has developed from plotting through to shooting and doing the festival circuits.

This weeks guest is just 18 years old and has already racked up some amazing credits in some amazing home grown series such as Frayed, Born to Spy and most recently Barons.   When I tell you this actor has the type of drive and determination that is enviable, I don’t think that is enough to do her justice. 

Honestly, I think if I hustled half as much as Lulu Quirk, I wonder where I would be… Lulu is so incredibly likeable and passionate about this game that I just know she is going to go far. 

In this weeks episode we talk about how when her parents said no to a performing arts school, she saved the money from her part time job and presented her parents with a financial plan on how to pay for school AND THEY AGREED.   

Now she is performing in her first ever stage production Young Bodies / Some Bodies which is showing until this Saturday the 28th at the flight path theatre in Marrickville. Ill share link to tickets in the bio.   

Look, if you don’t come away from this podcast feeling inspired, I don’t know what’s wrong with you. Lulu’s energy is infectious.   

Hope you enjoy this weeks episode and good luck on your own journey to making it.  

Soooo this episode feels a little self indulgent to be honest with you BUT number of people recommended telling my story on the podcast and well, Rachel Baker from the ‘Don’t be so dramatic’ podcast agreed to interview me for Actors Making it.  

I will let you decide if this is or is not an interesting episode cause really its just my story. Rachel and I talk about my journey to the UK the first time I moved and how I had no idea what I was doing or what it took to make it. Becoming homeless within the first 2 months, and the different tactics I took to try and make it as an actor. We also discuss the time I stupidly let someone tell me something about my acting career that I believed and let that derail my acting journey for a while.   

Being a guest on my own podcast made me a little more appreciative of the gusts I have had the pleasure of interviewing though because I did what everyone does and go right round the houses to answer a question haha.

A couple of weeks ago I had a really wonderful chat with Nathanial Hall who has appeared in major LGBT TV Shows "Cucumber" and "It's a Sin"  

In this weeks episode we talk about how Nathanial turned his experience of contracting HIV into a an award winning theatre production, growing up gay and what that has meant to his career and choices he has made. His theatre company and also some advice for those people that may be struggling with their own diagnosis and what that may mean for their careers. I hope you enjoy the episode.

This weeks guest is the very chilled Hawaii born, LA based actor Josh Magulies. 

Josh has been grinding for about 20 years and forging a career in the industry though it wasn’t until he moved to LA in 2008 that he felt like he could start calling himself an actor.   

In this weeks episode we talk about how Josh gets physical to deal with any mental health hurdles he may have, the moments of his career where he already feels he has made it and how being present above all else is whats important  

This weeks guest is Paul Talbot who moved to Sydney from Brisbane a little over two years ago and has been going from strength to strength.   

In this episode we talk about going all in and focussing completely on acting above all else. His hustle which saw him shoot over 200 short films in 3 years and what I found really interesting, which is his 10 step roadmap to making it. Which I think if you’re a goal oriented person is a great way of tackling your career. 

What is important to note though is how long it's taken for Paul to get exactly where he is at this moment in time.   

I had a question from regular listener, Christina Kim about working as an extra and I thought it was interesting and worth taking about.

The comment: I'm glad you and David mentioned how extra work can still be an avenue to earn income as an actor and be on set.

The question: Any thoughts on putting it in your resume/casting profiles/imdb though? I hear casting directors don't take you seriously if you list extra work.

In this quick episode I talk about my personal experience around the value of doing extra work, the value of networking in the industry and how I assess whether I should or should not take work as an extra. 

Living with Obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD and pretty sever Anxiety...

Tally is making a real go of it following her passion of acting.  

In this weeks episode we talk about Tally's experiences with OCD and Anxiety and how it manifests for her and what that means for her acting journey.   We discuss the hustle to making it in LA without an agent and how she pays the bills in between.   

If you enjoy this episode, consider subscribing or leaving a review

This weeks guest is another Aussie making it in Hollywood, Josh Futcher. 

Josh had big dreams of making it as an actor and living on the gold coast, he did the thing that most south east Queenslanders do who wanna be actors – he got a job at warner brothers movie world when he was a teenager. It wasn’t until he was 20 that he had his first taste of the actors life and ever since he has been hooked.  

In this weeks episode we talk about his views on when to move to LA, his successes, how he earns money now as well as depression how therapy can help during those times when it all feels like it isn’t coming together.  

I also want to apologise in advance, I changed where I sit in my apartment, changed the mic and there is a little feedback that despite best efforts I wasn’t able to reduce.   

Regardless of that, I hope you enjoy this episode with Josh.   

Lee didn't listen to his family or teachers and quit law to pursue an acting career. As someone of Asian heritage and not seeing himself represented on Australian screens, Lee packed his bags and headed for bright light and relocated to the Hollywood of the north, Vancouver to try and make it in this world of acting.

In this episode we discuss all sorts such as how far the pendulum has swung regarding diversity and that it's actually harder now than it was before. We also have a really interesting discussion around the O1 visa and some of the restrictions. It turns out its really not as easy as just having an O1 and being able to work.

Lee is a super nice bloke and is now trying his luck in Hollywood. His credits include Supernatural, Arrow and a recurring role on The man in the high castle.

This weeks guest, Ionica Adriana is an English actor, presenter, host, judge, photographer, videographer and someone who isn’t afraid to put herself out there to achieve her goals.

In this episode we talk about finding a job you can bare to keep at while pushing forward in your career, the business of acting, social media and its place in your career along with when to say yes and when to say no to work.

Ionica is someone that throws herself into her career and has pounced on what were seemingly small opportunities that turned into bread winning gigs.

Hope you enjoy this weeks episode of actors making it. 

Charlie Brooks, aka Janine Butcher has been gracing our screens since she was but a wee teenager. 

When we think about actors that have just been in the industry for such a long time, it's so easy to assume that they are not experiencing the same kind of insecurities as us who are hustling to get our first big break. Well, Charlie is a great example of someone who experiences all the same thoughts that we do. 

Whilst landing her first big break in her teens on Eastenders, in this episode we discuss Charlies insecurities around her craft, how turning 40 has changed her thinking and starting her own online drama school iampro. 

I hope you enjoy this weeks episode.

Michael Henry moved to LA with dreams of being on billboards but after never getting chosen to audition, to get the part or even act in his friends short films, he pivoted and created a successful YouTube channel. Now he's free to create as much as he likes as his channel has 170,000 followers and is monetised enough to pay for his life. 

It's no easy ride though, Michael is a hustler and is making it the way he has chosen to.

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Dominic is probably someone you could consider has made it, but just like you and me he's been through all the same things we have.   

Being told he needs to lose weight or that an agent doesn't know what to do with him, over coming adversity and just never shying away from his dream Dominic has been working in the industry steadily since 2005.  

Hailing from the UK and crossing the pond to LA quite soon after graduating drama school, Dominic is a professional and killing it on his journey to making it. 

Like many, Murisa migrated to LA with big dreams and a desire to make it as an actor after being inspired by dirty dancing at the age of 4.  

Years later, she's founded her own acting studio, written a book, founded her own acting technique, "The Chakra Approach", and learned many valuable lessons along the way.  

Benjamin Murray is no stranger to overcoming obstacles in the pursuit of his dreams. Having developed thyroid cancer at a young age, he threw caution to the wind and chose acting rather than treatment. 

He also is dyslexic and has ADD which we talk about in this weeks episode along with his tips on learning lines and communicating with crews his needs. 

You know when you meet someone and you just click and connect, and you just know that that they are your people… this weeks guest is one of those people. Muki Zubis is a Londoner living and thriving in the capital of England making her way through life as an actor a singer and just generally being an outright legend.  

This week we speak heavily around diversity, as a black actor Muki has had to prepare herself for life on set from expectations around makeup to type casting and questioning if she was indeed the right person for the part.   

We obviously talk about many other thing so I hope you enjoy this weeks chat.

This weeks guest has experienced the roller coaster that is being an Actor. 

Tim Pocock's very first film was as young cyclops in X-Men Origins, Wolverine. 

I have spoken recently with past guest Rachel Baker about freelancing and in this episode Tim talks about how he landed his first major role as Scott Summers without an agent.   I hope you enjoy this weeks conversation as much as I enjoyed having it with Tim. 

This weeks guest is the ever talented Nick Hardcastle. Nick is an Aussie actor who after landing his first commercial at the tender age of 8 years old has never looked back and has been a main stay in the industry for decades.   

From gracing our screens on Home and Away and All Saints to directing the Short and Sweet theatre festival. Nicks heart is well and truly in this industry.   From small town country boy to international artist. 

I hope you enjoy this weeks conversation with Nick Hardcastle.    

This week we have our first international guest, Vancouver based, Canada Native Claude Knowlton who has been in the game 20 plus years.

While acting consistently over the last 20 years, recently Claude has felt in his mid 50s, he has been reminded that anything is possible after landing a great part on CWs Super Girl.

Claude gives us some great tips if you wanna try and make it in Vancouver. We talk about auditioning in a self tape world and what its like navigating the industry as an openly gay actor.

I hope you enjoy this weeks episode as we explore Claudes Journey to making it.

Actor, writer, producer, podcast host, Rachel Baker is a true artist. I had a lovely time catching up this week with honestly one of my favourite industry podcast hosts.

This conversation was really interesting and for all you without an agent, in this episode Rachel discussed her decision to terminate her relationship with her agent as well as how to make it as a freelancer. So if you are without an agent, I suggest keeping an ear out for the pearls of wisdom on securing work as a freelancer. 

Rachel is full of light and positivity and provided a fresh perspective on journaling that frankly, I think I am going to give a crack.   Join me as I explore Rachels journey to making it.   

Patrick had huge dreams of making in big in Hollywood after discovering the joy of acting at a young age. Performing in the school plays and landing an agent early on in his career, he thought he was set.   

Fast forward to quitting drama school, giving in to the pressures of fitting in and letting toxic friendships crush his spirit, Patrick threw in the towel for many years as the pressures and impact on his mental health all became too much.   

Years later, he's reignited his passion and landed his first three TV Credits while living in Europe and he's relocated home to England to follow his dreams.   

In this weeks conversation we talk about body dysmorphia, mental health struggles and juggling full time employment while trying to Make It.  

Inspired by Bruce Lee movies, Miguel has big dreams of making it big as an action star.

In this weeks conversation we talk about how Miguel deals with racial stereotyping and how this isn’t something he can control, he prefers focus. on the things he can such as doing the work and honing the craft. Though he has felt the shift over the last 3 years and is pleased to see the representation in what he is watching.

Grinding for over a decade, he has performed on stage at the Opera House as well as many screen gigs throughout the years and when it comes to keeping motivated its all down to proactivity – the more proactive he is the better he feels.

With everything she's achieved, you'd be forgiven for being surprised to learn that Kate's only been at this acting game for 4 years.

Kate's a fighter, she fought for her first lead role in the play "Gaslight," she's fought again battles of self confidence and she's fought to keep motivated during the seasons of less work.

If there is anything to know about Kate that her faith helps her keep her faith in the industry.

In this weeks conversation, Kate and I talk about how quitting permanent teaching and taking roles as crew has helped shape her as an actress but also as a writer-producer.

I'm introducing questions for the audience this week. If you are on listening on Spotify you can answer in the app though if you are listening on apple podcasts, you can always leave a review and answer the question. This weeks question is “How do you keep motivated to keep on your journey to making it?”

This weeks conversation is with US Born, Australian and openly proud gay actor Matt Young. Following in his older siblings footsteps, as was usually the case as a kid, Matts first experience of treading the boards was in the year 6 school play… after that he was hooked. Unlike the rest of the brood, acting stuck. Moving to NYC to study at New York University when he was 18 Matt landed his first role on Broadway within 3 months.   Today we talk about stereotypes, what it was like signing an agent as an openly gay man and how he brings a little “Queer” to every character.   

Growing up backstage on the West End and heckling his father while on stage in Oliver, Sam Have has been in and around performance since he was but a wee boy.  He has come a long way, training at NIDA and finding the joy of teaching in his third year of study, Sam is one of the leading acting coaches in Sydney with Sydney Actors Association.   In this weeks conversation, we talk about mental health struggles, that what Sam always wanted to do was "The work and do it well."  Join us through on Sam's journey as an Actor Making It.

Ever the funny man, Jesse is well on his way to making it. 7 years of hard graft he is racking up the IMDb credits and has already lived his dream of becoming a cowboy.   You can follow Jesse on TikTok, Instagram and Twitter @jessedingo or follow @arcproductions.aus on YouTube and Insta.

Gaining success early in his life Harry has been forging his career for years. Starring alongside Geena Davis in Accidents Happen was his big break in the industry. We discuss what it's like trying to Make It as a gay actor and his dreams of one day becoming Julia Roberts.

This weeks conversation with Steve Khoury is a look into the other side of the camera. Steve is a director, cinemaphotographer and editor. 

We have a chat about how he tried to fit too much into his first project, Bimbalo, working in retail and finding balance in working for clients, working with friends and also working on stuff that isn't creatively inspiring to pay the rent. 

In this weeks conversation, Samantha Camilleri tells us about her decision to forge ahead in a career of acting though still training to become a teacher because it's a "real job.' We also talk about not only the negative reinforcements she gives herself but the doubt from friends and family after 7 years of trying to make it as an actress. 

In this weeks conversation, Clayton and I talk about his decisions to delay drama school and moving to Hollywood, checking your ego when it comes to auditions and recognising that we are all part of a larger machine. During the audition process, we are there to make the casting director look good in front of their clients.

Clay also talks about choosing the right "non-acting" jobs that can allow him to pay the bills and still follow his dreams as an actor.

In this weeks conversation, Amelia and I delve into her decision to tackle acting head-on. Quitting her career as a graphic designer she jumped headfirst into scene work and has now written, directed, produced and acted in her own series "Roller Coaster Testers"  

If you want to follow Amelia on her journey, you can follow her: 

Join me and Katrina as we delve into Kat's creative processes, how she keeps herself grounded and what her big goals are as she puts in the hard work to make it in this crazy entertainment world.

Kat's a dance teacher, a performer at Luna Park Sydney and invests loads of time in keeping her acting muscle taught and ready for the roles to roll on in. 

If you want to follow Kat's journey you can follow her at: