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Jamie Foxx

002 Jonathan Kite on That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse

Jonathan Kite

Jonathan Kite 1500 750 Alyshia Ochse

Opportunity: Practice How You Play

This year, Jonathan Kite can be seen starring in Netflix’s brand new comedy series, “Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!” opposite Jamie Foxx. Kite shines as Johnny Williams, Brian’s (Foxx) best friend since childhood, and an honorary member of the family. The series, inspired by Foxx’s real life relationship with his daughter, is slated to debut globally on Netflix on April 14, 2021. Kite may be best known for his starring role as the hilarious and lovable Ukrainian cook Oleg in CBS’ long running, award winning comedy series “2 Broke Girls” opposite Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs. The show, created by Michael Patrick King and Whitney Cummings, ran from 2011-2017 and was nominated for 12 Emmy Awards and four People’s Choice Awards. Additional credits for Kite include indie comedy feature “The Bellman” opposite Thomas Lennon and Richard Kind, horror feature “All the Creatures Were Stirring” alongside Constance Wu, and the Jamie Foxx produced sketch show, “In the Flow with Affion Crockett” for FOX. Aside from his live-action work, Kite has leant his voice to multiple films and series including the Warner Bros. feature film “Smallfoot,” Peacock’s “Cleopatra in Space,” Netflix’s “The Boss Baby: Back in Business,” Adult Swim’s “Black Dynamite,” FOX’s “Family Guy” and “American Dad!” As a stand-up comedian,

Kite has performed nationwide and internationally to sold out audiences. He is an expert impressionist, boasting over 100 celebrity impressions that include Donald Trump, Vince Vaughn, Tom Hanks, Seth Rogen, Liam Neeson, Christian Bale, Jeff Bridges, Robert Downey Jr. and John Lithgow, to name a few. Born and raised in Skokie, Illinois, Kite studied drama in high school and at the University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre. He performed many times on stage in Illinois before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in voice over, film, and television. Kite also studied improvisation and sketch comedy with Chicago’s Second City and The Groundlings in Los Angeles. He is a founding member of the improv group, L. Ron Jeremy which in 2010 set the national Cage Match Competition record at the Improv Olympic West Theater, winning 52 weeks in a row and then retiring undefeated.

In 2009, he created, wrote, produced, and starred in his own sketch comedy television pilot, “The Skokie-Jo and Shappy Show,” which has been described as “Mr. Show” meets “Quantum Leap.” Kite currently resides in Los Angeles. Upcoming projects: Netflix’s brand new comedy series, “Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!” for which Jonathan stars opposite Jamie Foxx.


Resources

LINKS:
QUOTES:

“[Those on the bench] have to show up just as hard as those other guys whether you play in the game or not.”

“For me, it’s about being consistent always, whether anybody sees it or not.”

“It takes a team to win championships.”

VIDEOS:


Credits:

  • WRITER: Lizzy Dalla Betta
  • SOUND DESIGN: Zachary Jameson
  • WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
  • ASSISTANT: Elle Powell
  • SOCIAL OUTREACH: Bebe Katsenes

032: Jonathan Kite

032: Jonathan Kite 1500 1000 Alyshia Ochse

Jonathan Kite is best known as “Oleg,” the hilarious, lovable, sex-crazed Ukrainian cook, opposite Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs on the current CBS comedy hit, 2 BROKE GIRLS. Kite credits Wilt Chamberlin and Ukrainian porn star Vlad, the Impaler as major influences when creating his character. Jonathan Kite was born and raised just outside of Chicago in Skokie, IL. He studied drama in high school and at the University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre. He performed many times on stage in Illinois before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in voice over, film, television and zoological criminology.

In addition to his role on the series, Kite voices many of the color impaired characters on the Adult Swim throwback, “Black Dynamite: The Animated Series.” When asked to list them, Kite simply said “just call me EVERY WHITE.” Before “2 Broke Girls,” Kite was seen in a number of notable supporting roles including the pilot of FOX’s hit “Raising Hope”.

Aside from a busy acting career, Kite is an expert impressionist boasting over 100 celebrity impressions that include: Vince Vaughn, Tom Hanks, Seth Rogen, Liam Neeson, Christian Bale, Jeff Bridges, Robert Downey Jr., and John Lithgow. In 2013, he began touring, and has performed and headlined at some of the top comedy clubs nationwide. He recently filmed his first stand up comedy special entitled “Back to School Special” at his high school alma mater Niles North, where it all began.

 

Tune into our Interview on iTunes HERE

 

Resources

LINKS:
QUOTES:

“My impressions spurred out of the writers strike because sketch shows became prevalent.”

“When I saw guys like Jim Carrey, John Lithegow, Michael Keaton…There was something very odd about them, they are not putting it on and I found myself in them.”

“For impressions you have to do a voice that is universally recognizable.”

“Auditioning is a finding a new ingredient for the recipe.” | CLICK TO TWEET

“You need people that believe in you and that’s sort of it.”

“If what I say I can do lines up with what they (agents) think I can do, then you are good.”

“Part of being a good actor is knowing your strengths and weaknesses and showcasing the stuff that is working and working on the stuff that isn’t working.” | CLICK TO TWEET

“Never lie about what you can do…unless you can learn something fast.” | CLICK TO TWEET

“When I am doing impressions, I study the person. I never look in the mirror or listen to my own voice. I study them.”

“Going to University was like the Hunger Games. At the two year marker they do cuts. We started with 20 students and our graduating class ended with 9 students. ”

“The cutting process in University is tough love. It’s a wake up call that you are always competing.”

“In this business you have to show up all the time. You can’t have a day off.” | CLICK TO TWEET

“You have to show up all the time because that’s what this business is. You can’t take a day off, especially with auditioning.”

“You have to treat acting like an athlete. You are constantly competing and training.

“This is a business first and if you get to act you are lucky.”

“I always want to leave people with them wanting to work with me in the future.”

“I never had a pilot season before 2 Broke Girls.”

“The audition was literally ten 90 year old women and ME.”

“Part of this job is just saying YES.”

“YOU have to do the work.”

“I like to create the weight of my characters emotionally through clothes.”

 

VIDEOS:

025: Alyshia Ochse

025: Alyshia Ochse 1500 1000 Alyshia Ochse

An in depth look with the host of THAT ONE AUDITION, Alyshia Ochse, and how she has battled the audition process, scored a few great jobs and what she has learned on her journey into her artistry. These days, Alyshia is best known as “Lucy” opposite Academy Award Winner, Matthew McConaughey, from the critically-acclaimed and Golden Globe nominated TRUE DETECTIVE, as well as her roles in SATISFACTION, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, HART OF DIXIE, GENERAL HOSPITAL and CW show LIFE SENTENCE. Alyshia’s other credits include roles in such movies as THE OTHER WOMAN, PARKER, MARAUDERS, and the highly anticipated indie films, SHE’S IN PORTLAND and OUT OF BLUE.

When she’s not acting, Alyshia spends her time hosting this podcast and championing female driven content.

Tune into our Interview on iTunes HERE

 

Resources

LINKS:
QUOTES:

“I always felt a little different and very isolated.”
“I was such loner as a child, but outwardly extroverted.”
“I would sit at the large window in my living room and make up stories about the kids hanging out on the corner.”
“The study of human behavior was happening before I could really intellectualize it.”
“I don’t think I was able to express how I was feeling as a child and I felt like people on TV could emote in ways that I couldn’t.”
“When I grow up I want to be in the TV.”
“I was such an empath and I wanted to alleviate the pain I could feel in others.”
“I felt shame in wanting to be an actor as a child, so I didn’t outwardly express it.”
“I am enough and there is enough for all of us.” | CLICK TO TWEET
“A big part of my journey was fighting for what I wanted to do and now I am fighting for the experience as my characters.”
“I needed to drop my 15lbs of my Kentucky love and wear a lot less makeup and be confident in me.”
“A big part of acting is being confident in your person so you can exude different parts of your person.”
“I’ve done years of therapy to work with the tension between wanting to be seen and hiding from being seen.”
“It took me six years to say I am actor without shame flushing my face.”
“I prayed if I’m not suppose to do this, then make something else show up.”
“I’m riding the wave of confidence and lack of confidence, skill and lack of skill.”
“I found my playfulness when I sank into myself and learned how to like my strengths and weaknesses.”
“I love to learn from people and the human experience.”
“There is this wall between being completely vulnerable and open as the character and not taking on the outside influence.” | CLICK TO TWEET
“As an actor sometimes you don’t give yourself the grace to be heartbroken when you don’t get the part.”
“The industry has made it harder to make a living as an actor. But I think you can embrace living as an working actor if you can embrace the opportunity in the audition.” | CLICK TO TWEET
“I like to bring forward the imprint of my characters.
“I try to go against my first impressions of my character and understand what might make them misunderstood.”
“My imaginative work allows me to be constantly be free and in the moment.”
“The ah-ha moment sometimes happens four hours after the audition.” | CLICK TO TWEET
“I think that we are mostly operating out of our own lack.”
“Acting has really taught me how to see the world outside of myself.”
“I’m really grateful for everyone that has told me NO.”
“The ‘no’ is a redirect.”
“There is never a fullness with creativity.”
“I was so desperate to get my creativity back, but I didn’t realize that I had just created…I created a human being.”
“In order to be creative you have to have what I call winter. A time to let yourself reboot.”
“Surround yourself with those that are positive and working hard.”
“Creativity takes time. And time is on your side.”
“Stay in your purpose and enjoy it.”
“Breath and connect. When you get quiet and breath, your intention will rise within you.”
“Be still and know. Trust that knowing.”
“One word that describes artistry: instinct.”
“The instinct that is inside you is your artistry. That is who you are, so trust your instincts.” | CLICK TO TWEET

 

VIDEOS:

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ALYSHIA OCHSE

Los Angeles-based actress, bestselling author, host of That One Audition podcast, entrepreneur, & mother.

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