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Neil Sandilands on That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse

Neil Sandilands

Neil Sandilands 1920 960 Alyshia Ochse

The 6 Pillars for A.C.T.O.R.S.

In 2021, award-winning actor Neil Sandilands can be seen starring in Netflix’s highly anticipated, sci-fi/fantasy drama series “Sweet Tooth.” Based on the beloved DC Vertigo comics by Jeff Lemire and executive produced by Robert Downey Jr., the show follows a boy who is half human and half deer, and is searching for a new beginning in a post-apocalyptic world. Sandilands shines as General Abbot, (opposite Dania Ramirez, Christian Convery, and Nonso Anozie) a self-appointed general who leads through wit, intimidation, and quirkiness. “Sweet Tooth” is slated to premiere on June 4, 2021.

In film, Sandilands was most recently seen starring as Wilhelm Leonberger opposite Tom Hanks in Universal Pictures’ Academy Award nominated feature “News of the World” (2020) directed by Paul Greengrass. A master of disguise, Sandilands recently starred as super villain “Big Bad” Clifford Devoe/The Thinker on The CW’s hit show “The Flash.” Additional television credits include starring as the contentious, mythological character Titus in “The 100” for The CW, AMC/Sundance TV’s “Hap and Leonard” opposite James Purefoy, Michael K. Williams, Christina Hendricks, Jimmi Simpson and Bill Sage, “House MD,” “The Americans” and “NCIS: LA.” In 2018, Sandilands starred opposite Eric Roberts in an indie biopic about Frank Sinatra entitled “Frank and Ava” as famed Hollywood director, Fred Zinneman. 2019 featured his portrayal as The Violator in Lionsgate’s “The Drone” – a contemporary homage to the film “Child’s Play.” Also in 2019, “Coyote Lake” introduced Sandilands to the Latin market, as he starred alongside Oscar nominee Adriana Barrazza, as well as Manny Perez and Camilla Mendez.

Born in the mining town of Randfontein, South Africa, Sandilands is arguably one of the country’s most versatile actors, bringing characters to life in film and television for over three decades, having started his professional acting career at just fourteen years old. Sandilands is the eldest of three children, his father having been a mining professional and his mother a teacher. He attended boarding school in neighboring town Krugersdorp and with the help of an encouraging teacher, booked his first television acting gig in “Meester” (The Master) in 1989. Sandilands received his bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences from the Rand Afrikaans University. He received an honorary award for his contribution to Arts & Culture from the University, having won its Theatre Festival three years consecutively with plays that he had written and starred in, as well as initiating an International Film Festival.

Sandilands crossed the international divide in 2003 with the arthouse film “Proteus” by Canadian director John Greyson, and by 2007 he was a household name in South Africa. He is well known for his portrayal of Bart Kruger in the South African soap opera “7de Laan.” However, Sandilands had his sights on an international career, and has made the transition seamlessly. While Sandilands can currently be seen appearing in projects with a global reach, he still works often in South Africa where he performs in his native tongue, Afrikaans (English is his second language).

In May of 2021, Sandilands released his debut album “Sangoma Sandilands & Jou Pa se Posse – Maanskyn”, in his native tongue, Afrikaans. The album leaped to Number 1 on iTunes South Africa’s charts in 24 hours. Sandilands considers this album an artistic and literary contribution to his country of birth. He collaborated with the cream of South African musicians to produce this 10 track album, writing and composing 7 of the tracks, performing lead vocals and playing the ukulele. He had two previous #1 hits with renowned South African performer Karen Zoid.

Accolades for Sandilands include being a recipient of the South African Academy of Arts and Sciences award for his directorial work on “Impresario” – a 21-episode documentary. In 2014 he received a Clio, also as a documentary director. Sandilands is most proud of the fact that he played rugby in South Africa, America, England, Wales and Ireland, and regards the South African Rugby World Cup victory in 2019, for the 3rd time, a miraculous anomaly. He enjoys fishing and cites his philosophical development as being most influenced by Camus, Wittgenstein, Deleuze and Nietzsche, in reverse order. He would love to portray Nietzsche or the character Meursault from Camus’ “L’Étranger” in the future.

Sandilands currently splits his time between South Africa, and Los Angeles, California.


Resources

LINKS:
QUOTES:

“I am first a human being and then I’m an actor.”

“I think your most valuable auditions are probably the ones that you don’t book.”

“Make every breath [in life] count.”

VIDEOS:


Credits:

  • WRITER: Erin McCluskey
  • SOUND DESIGN: Zachary Jameson
  • WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
  • ASSISTANT: Elle Powell
  • SOCIAL OUTREACH: Bebe Katsenes

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

Cameron Britton on That One Audition Podcast with Alyshia Ochse

S2 020: Cameron Britton

S2 020: Cameron Britton 1500 750 Alyshia Ochse

The Freedom in Getting it Wrong

Cameron Britton is a Canadian actor best known for his breakout role as “Ed Kemper” (the highly intellectual American serial killer and necrophile) on the acclaimed Netflix series Mindhunter, for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. Cameron played hacker “Plague” in the crime thriller The Girl in the Spider’s Web, and “Hazel” on Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy. He’s also appeared in multiple TV shows such as Barry, S.W.A.T, Stichers, and Battle Creek.

Before working professionally as an actor, he graduated from AMDA (The American Musical and Dramatic Academy), and honed his craft working in theatre. Cameron was also a preschool teacher for eight years teaching special needs children. He’s a member of the LOFT Ensemble theatre group in North Hollywood where, pre-Covid, he offered discussion-based movie nights for actors to learn from great actors doing their work. You can check out the company here.

You can watch Cameron’s latest work in Discovery Channel’s Manhunt alongside such memorable talents as Sam Worthington, Paul Bettany, and Judith Light.


Resources

LINKS:
QUOTES:

“Actors keep trying to get it right; directors want you to get it wrong.”

“If you’re doing this because you love it, remember you love it!”

“If you can’t explain something simply, you don’t understand it well enough yet.” – Einstein

VIDEOS:


Credits:

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

S2 017: Brandon Kyle Goodman

S2 017: Brandon Kyle Goodman 1500 750 Alyshia Ochse

99% of the Work is Being a Better Human

From bringing diverse, powerful characters to life on the screen, to writing scripts for one of the most successful television series on Netflix, Brandon Kyle Goodman has emerged in the entertainment industry as a powerful force with a voice to be reckoned with.

This summer, Goodman can be seen starring in Netflix’s upcoming feature film, “Feel the Beat,” opposite Sofia Carson. The drama follows an out-of-work actress, April (Carson), who returns to her small hometown after failing to find success on Broadway and is soon recruited to train a misfit group of young dancers for a big competition. Goodman shines as the outspokenly brave, queer Deco, April’s neighbor and support system while she adjusts returning to her country life. “Feel the Beat” is slated to premiere on Netflix on June 19, 2020.

Additional acting credits for Goodman include recently starring as Andy, an eager father-to-be, in Amazon’s successful rom-com anthology series, “Modern Love,” as well as a recurring role in the Amazon pilot, “People Just Do Nothing.” Goodman has also appeared as one of the leads in Fullscreen’s digital series, “Alive in Denver,” and can be seen in the independent features, “The Blackout,” “The Relationtrip,” Hulu’s “Plus One,” and Blue Fox’s “Papi Chulo,” alongside Matt Bomer and Wendi McLendon-Covey. When not acting in front of the camera, Goodman has also found success in the writers’ room. This year, Goodman joined the writing team for seasons four and five of Netflix’s smash-hit, animated comedy series, “Big Mouth.” “Big Mouth” is currently set to return for its fourth season on Netflix in 2020, following an unprecedented, three-season renewal announcement from the network.

Born and raised in Queens, New York, Goodman discovered a love of acting throughout high school, before attending the Tisch School of Arts at New York University (NYU). Upon graduation from NYU, Goodman joined a musical sketch comedy group called “Political Subversities,” which featured weekly sketch and song performances by many NYU alumni about what was happening in the zeitgeist of pop-culture and politics and was even created into a web series. It wasn’t long before Goodman moved to LA full-time to pursue a career as both an actor and writer in Hollywood.

As a proud, queer, Black person, Goodman has recently emerged as a staunch advocate for the #BlackLivesMatter movement, having gained over 20,000 followers and counting in the span of just a few days following a recent viral video message to Goodman’s white peers regarding his experience as a Black person in America. After the video message received over a million views and a handful of high-profile celebrity reposts, Goodman continues to actively speak out against the injustices that have been plaguing the Black community for decades, encouraging his followers to donate to the Innocence Projects, LA LGBT Center, Color of Change, and Black Lives Matter.


Resources

LINKS:
QUOTES:

“99% of the work does not happen in class and does not happen in auditions. 99% of the work is being a better human.”

“A no to a project is actually far more powerful than that yes.”

“A pause is really just allowing serenity to come into everything.”

VIDEOS:


Credits:

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

Ben Barnes on That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse

S2 014: Ben Barnes

S2 014: Ben Barnes 1920 960 Alyshia Ochse

Lean Into Where You Are

Ben Barnes is one of Hollywood’s most varied and charismatic actors. Born in London, England, he began acting in musicals as a member of the National Youth Music Theatre. He later studied drama and English Literature at Kingston University.

Soon after graduating, Ben made his TV debut on the series Doctors, joined a West End production of The History Boys, and made his feature film debut in Stardust. He received a nomination for MTV Movie Award’s Best Breakthrough Male Performance for his role as Prince Caspian in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. He reprised the role of Caspian in The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

Though he may be best known for his role as Logan Delos on HBO’s science fiction thriller Westworld, his work includes an array of diverse film and TV credits including By The Gun, Seventh Son, Big Wedding, History Channel’s Sons of Liberty, Marvel Netflix’s The Punisher, and BBC’s Gold Digger. Ben will star as the Darkling in the upcoming Netflix series Shadow and Bone, an adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s popular fantasy series.


Resources

LINKS:
QUOTES:

“If you’re not happy and things aren’t working for you, you have to change something no matter how small.”

“The first thing I usually think about [preparing for an audition] is to look at the exact opposite of whatever is written… seeing the opposite helps to highlight what’s sitting on the surface.”

“The only reason you’ll ever really get cast in something is because you’re you… because of what you felt in the moment or what’s going on with you that managed to shine through the cloud.”

VIDEOS:


Credits:

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

Simone Missick on That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse

S2 004: Simone Missick

S2 004: Simone Missick 1500 750 Alyshia Ochse

The Spiritual Path of Acting

Simone leads CBS’ ALL RISE which is currently the most popular new network show of 2019! She is the first African American woman to lead a series on CBS, and it’s been a huge huge hit for the network. The show is sort of a “Grey’s Anatomy” type of format and follows the lives of judges in Los Angeles.

She will also soon be seen opposite Anthony Mackie in the second season of Netflix’s hit sci-fi anthology drama ALTERED CARBON. As an anthology series, this second season will follow the huuuuugely successful first with all new characters and storylines. Taking place 300 years in the future where society has been transformed by new technology, this season will also set out to solve a mystery. Simone plays Trepp, an expert bounty hunter who is known for her ability to track down anyone… for the right price. She has several layers to her storyline which are revealed along the way (she and her wife have a child, which is crazy expensive to do in the world she lives in, which explains why she is so driven at work). She also has this awesome technology of coils built into her hair which help her see what people are doing (yeah, I know… will have to see it to believe it lol). There isn’t a lot we’re allowed to talk about yet, but… you get the picture.

Simone was most recently be seen as the iconic Marvel character, and television’s history-making first African-American female superhero, Misty Knight on Netflix’s LUKE CAGE. Prior to that, she appeared in ABC’s SCANDAL and in Showtime’s RAY DONOVAN. Additionally, for the role of “Sweet Tea” in The Road Weeps, the Well Runs Dry at the LA Theatre Center; Simone was nominated for the NAACP Best Supporting Actress Theater Award in 2014. Simone studied acting at Howard University and the British American Drama Academy in Oxford, taking master classes with legends like Ben Kingsley, Alan Rickman, and Jane Lapotaire.

The woman is a FORCE. She’s truly impressive and is just blowing people away.


Resources

LINKS:
QUOTES:

“The reliance is not on self, it’s on trust”

“We keep a spirit of positivity and love by giving grace”

VIDEOS:


Credits:


S2 001: Maz Jobrani

S2 001: Maz Jobrani 1500 750 Alyshia Ochse

The Entrepreneurial Actor/Comedian: What Separates You From Everyone Else?

Maz Jobrani was born in Iran, and relocated to Tiburon in the San Francisco Bay area after his family was forced to flee during the revolution.  He went on to receive a B.A. degree from UC Berkeley, and chose to further his education by enrolling in UCLA’s PH.D. program, when he decided to change course to pursue his calling in “showbiz.”

Most recently Jobrani was seen opposite Rita Wilson in the indie feature “A Simple Wedding,” (from the producers of My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding), and portrayed the loveable “Fawz” on the CBS comedy SUPERIOR DONUTS as a series regular.  He has additionally frequented on television’s most popular shows such as GREY’S ANATOMY, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, THE DETOUR, LAST MAN STANDING, and SHAMELESS.

His original standup special IMMIGRANT, was filmed at the prestigious Kennedy Center and is currently streaming on NETFLIX.  He’s also released 3 additional solo specials on SHOWTIME including: BROWN AND FRIENDLY, I COME IN PEACE, and I’M NOT A TERRORIST, BUT I’VE PLAYED ONE ON TV. No stranger to the comedy circuit, Jobrani was a founding member of THE AXIS OF EVIL comedy tour, which aired on Comedy Central.  He is a regular panelist on NPR’s WAIT WAIT DONT TELL ME and has given 2 TED Talks. His LA Times Best Selling Book, I’M NOT A TERRORIST BUT I’VE PLAYED ONE ON TV, was published by Simon & Schuster.  He’s also given two TED Talks:

Jobrani currently hosts his own podcast Back to School with Maz Jobrani and is currently on tour with his Peaceful Warrior Tour (tickets and tour dates available at MazJobrani.com).


Resources

LINKS:
QUOTES:

“You live once and you gotta live for you.”

“More specific you get the more others can relate.”

“Write as much as you can. Get up as much as you can and write about things that are specific to you”

VIDEOS:


098: Lesley-Ann Brandt

098: Lesley-Ann Brandt 1500 750 Alyshia Ochse

Punch Above Your Weight

Born and raised in Cape Town South Africa, Brandt immigrated with her family to Auckland, New Zealand in her late teens. Discovered by local casting directors, Brandt took on the role of “Naevia” in the Starz hits, “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” and “Spartacus: Gods of the Arena.” Working with producers Steven S. D Knight, Sam Raimi, and Rob Tapert, she captivated audiences with her performance and became one of the show’s breakout stars.

Brandt’s other credits include the feature film Drift opposite Sam Worthington, Fox’s “Gotham” and the dark comedy, Killing Winston Jones starring opposite Richard Dreyfuss, Danny Glover and Jon Heder for director Joel David Moore. In 2015, she won the role of Maze in the FOX television series Lucifer and has since played the role in all 5 seasons of the show’s run.

Tune in

Listen On iTunes


Resources

LINKS:
QUOTES:

“I always like to work with people where I feel like I’m punching above my weight.”

“Your managers, your agents, your publicists are extension of you. When they speak, they speak for me… it’s as if it’s me speaking. Be tough, but be respectful.”

“It’s our jobs to inspire the people who work for us…”

VIDEOS:


Leven Rambin on That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse

066: Leven Rambin

066: Leven Rambin 1500 750 Alyshia Ochse

Our episode today is a must listen for actors who want to learn how to orchestrate a career. This is an conversation about empowering yourself as an artist, about staying power, about the necessity to invest in yourself, and the importance of having a vision of where you want to go in your career and how to align everything in your life around that vision. Our guest today has fully arrived as an artist and is here to stay!

Leven Rambin is an award winning actress and director originally from Houston, Texas who trained and taught at Playhouse West in New York City. Leven began her career at just thirteen years old on the set of “All My Children” as Lily Montgomery. Since then she’s worked on dozens of films, including “The Hunger Games,” “Chasing Mavericks,” “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters,” and “Two Night Stand.” Most recently she starred in Ramaa Mosley’s independent film “Lost Child” as an army veteran who has returned to her home in the Ozarks to find a young, mysterious boy in the woods. She is currently working on the film “London Calling” with Ron Perlman and Malcolm McDowell and “The Dirt,” which follows the origin story of Mötley Crüe. Her television credits include “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” “One Tree Hill,” “Scoundrels,” “Wizards of Waverly Place,” “The Tomorrow People,” and “Private Practice.” Leven joined the cast of “True Detective” in the shows second season before portrating Chloe Jones on Hulu’s “The Path,” starring alongside Aaron Paul and Michelle Monaghan. She is currently leading WGN’s crime drama “Gone” with Chris Noth and Danny Pino. “Gone” follows Leven Rambin’s character Kick Lannigan, a survivor of a famous child-abduction case, after joining a special task force dedicated to solving missing person and abduction cases.

Tune in

Listen On iTunes

 

Resources

LINKS:
QUOTES:

“Invest in yourself, have a vision of where you want to go, operate from that vision. I’m constantly evolving and becoming what it is that I still want to become.”

VIDEOS:

Marianna Palka on That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse

062: Marianna Palka

062: Marianna Palka 1500 750 Alyshia Ochse

We were so lucky to sit down for a second conversation with Marianna Palka. She’s a triple threat artist (writer/director/actor) with such a singular vision and voice to bring us closer together, change humanity and give the world a deeper understanding of the human condition. This is a conversation about creating the kind of work that is so needed in our landscape today. Her first film “Good Dick” came from a desire to explore how a sexual assault victims find intimacy and birthed from her frustrations about the lack of good, interesting/complex/ real characters for women. As Maya Angelou inspired her to write her scripts isolated in a hotel for a long weekend, she shares her writing ethic and her confidence to take ownership of her creativity and our shared responsibility to change the world. This is a MUST listen for all creative types!. These are the fearless, moving, authentic, compelling, owning your own space stories that have all led Marianna Palka right here.

Marianna Palka is Glasgow born and Los Angeles based filmmaker, actress and writer. She studied at the acclaimed New York Atlantic Theater Company before beginning her career in theater, film and television. Palka wrote, directed and starred in “Good Dick,” a 2008 Sundance Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize nominee, joining Jason Ritter, Martin Starr, Mark Webber and Tom Arnold in an exploration of intimacy and connection after sexual trauma. Palka’s critically acclaimed feature film “Bitch” premiered at Sundance last year and tells the story of a woman who transforms under the enormous pressure of motherhood, leaving her absent husband, Jason Ritter, to discover what it means to be a parent. Additionally Palka directed “Always Worthy,” “Heirloom,” “I’m the Same,” and “Egg,” starring Christina Hendricks, Alysia Reiner, David Alan Basche. Her recent work include “Mississippi Requiem,” a series of four short films written by William Faulkner and developed by James Franco, “We Are Boats,” “Spoonful,” “The Adventures of Thomasina Sawyer,” and “The Lion’s Mouth Opens,” Lucy Walker’s short documentary following Palka’s own relationship to Huntington’s Disease and her risk of inheriting. Palka is currently starring in Netflix’s Golden Globe nominated “GLOW” as Reggie Walsh.

Tune in

Listen On iTunes

Resources

LINKS:
QUOTES:

“I just feel like there’s something about human frailty and connection that I’m really fascinated by and I really want to make films that make the world a better place on an intimacy level.”

“I think it’s really cool to always know what you want and what your north star is because if you know what that is no one can take that away from you. You always know where you’re going.”

“Being huge is absolutely fine and take up that space and fill your life with stuff that you’re excited about because God knows we need it.”

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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