The Acting Podcast

Ep. 27: Not Just An Actor: Making Your Own Box

Show Notes: Season 1!

Show Notes: Season 2!

Show Notes: Season 3!

Risa and Steve sit down with an incredible group of successful multi-hyphenates- Milena Govich, Will McCormack, Grasie Mercedes, and Brea Grant- all of whom started their journeys as actors and have since grown into other roles in the Industry, making names for themselves as writers, directors, producers, and showrunners. Together they discuss their unique paths, and how they’ve found empowerment and fulfillment by stretching themselves in multiple areas of their careers, acquiring agency to expand their artistic lives in the process. P.S. And it’s made them stronger, freer actors.

“One of the reasons I have so much fun in these meetings now is because people really want to know who I am, and why I’m the one telling this story, or why I’m the person they should hire on their TV show. So often as an actor, you come into an audition, and the only time you have in the room is with someone else’s words. I have found great joy in booking work as a director and promoting my own work because it’s about who I am as a person, and who I am as an artist. I’m hired for my brain much more than I ever was as an actor.”

- Milena Govich

“I just grew up at a time where I couldn’t name one female director…or not a single woman would get on stage to accept a producer award at the Oscars…representation matters because if you don’t see it, you don’t know that you can do it. Being a woman on the other side of the camera was not something that I ever saw.”
-Ellyn Jameson

“Then the desperation went away and I had an ease in audition rooms that I’d never had before because I had a life outside of wanting someone to pick me.”
-Dominic Burgess

“It happened entirely because I was following the path that was put in front of me without a tremendous amount of judgment around it. And I’m a judgy motherfucker…if I can do this, anyone can.”
-Johnathan McClain

“Walk into every room, and everything you ever write, and everything you create, and just make it you, just authentically you. And most of the time, the people who’ll respond to it will love it because you’re being yourself and there’s only one of you in the world. And it feels amazing when you put yourself forward and people reward you for it.”
-Caroline Lindy

Guests & Resources:

Milena Govich:  IMDb, Instagram, Twitter

Will McCormack:  IMDb, Instagram

Grasie Mercedes:  IMDb, Instagram, Not (Blank) Enough podcast

Brea Grant:  IMDb, Official Site, Instagram

Credits:

Producer:
Erin McIntosh
Tech + Design:
Andy Abelow
Music:
Sam Dewees + Andy Abelow
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