This is Us

041 Ron Cephas Jones on That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse

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The Little Moments that Build into Big Moments

Two-time Emmy Award winning actor and poet Ron Cephas Jones continues to captivate audiences with his heartfelt and memorable performances on both stage and screen. This year, Jones and his daughter Jasmine Cephas Jones made Emmy history as the first father-daughter duo to both win individual Emmy awards in the same year.

Jones stars in NBC’s award-winning drama series, THIS IS US, which returned to NBC for season 4 in September 2019. Jones plays ‘William Hill’, a gay, recovering addict who becomes reconnected with his biological son while coming to terms with his own terminal cancer. Mandy Moore, Milo Ventimiglia, and Sterling K. Brown co-star in the series. Jones’ heart-wrenching work on the show has earned him two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series along with an additional Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor and two Black Reel Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor. As a cast, the show has received a 2018 SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble, a 2018 and a 2017 Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Drama Series as well as show wins at the Critics’ Choice and People’s Choice Awards.

Jones was recently seen in the AppleTV+ Series TRUTH BE TOLD, which is based on the novel Are You Sleeping by Kathleen Barber. Starring Octavia Spencer as Poppy Scoville-Parnell, the show revolves around a journalist who creates a true-crime podcast to reinvestigate a decades old murder case that may have convicted the wrong killer – someone she condemned. Jones plays Poppy’s father, a former Black Panther who may be in the early stages of dementia, in a performance The Hollywood Reporter called, “magnetic.” Jones will reprise this role in season 2 of the series which has been ordered by Apple TV+.

Next, Jones will star alongside Julianna Moore in Stephen Kings’ new AppleTV+ Series LISEY’S STORY which follows a widow who becomes the object of a dangerous stalker, obsessed with her husband’s work.

On the small screen, Jones was recently seen in LUKE CAGE, Netflix’s critically acclaimed series based on the popular Marvel comic of the same name. In 2015, he appeared in the sophomore season of USA’s Emmy nominated drama series, MR. ROBOT opposite Rami Malek and Christian Slater. His other television credits include Baz Luhrman’s THE GET DOWN for Netflix, AMC’s LOW WINTER SUN, BANSHEE, THE BLACKLIST, LAW & ORDER: SVU, and ABC’s 2008 adaptation of A RAISIN IN THE SUN opposite Phylicia Rashad and Audra McDonald.

Jones can previously be seen in the installment of Sony’s Marvel Universe, VENOM, opposite Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams and W oody Harrelson. Other film credits include Ken Marino’s DOG DAYS, HE GOT GAME, Woody Allen’s SWEET AND LOWDOWN, and PAID IN FULL.

On stage, Jones has appeared in a depth of diverse roles including; Longacre’s Broadway production OF MICE AND MEN opposite James Franco, Second Stage’s BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY, Off-Broadway productions of THE EXONERATED, TWO TRAINS RUNNING, and TITUS ANDRONICUS, Classical Theater Harlem’s THE TEMPEST, as well as the title character in RICHARD III as part of The Public Theater’s Mobile Shakespeare Unit. Jones has also appeared on the London stage in Old Vic London’s THE TEMPEST & AS YOU LIKE IT, the Almeida Theater’s THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT, Greenwich Theatre’s OTHELLO, and on Westend, JESUS HOPPED THE A TRAIN.

In 2006, Jones was a recipient of the prestigious “Sustained Excellence of Performance” at the Obie Awards. He has additionally received recognition for his theatre performances at the Connecticut Critics Circle Awards.

Resources

LINKS:
QUOTES:

“It’s all about the action…You can’t focus on what you’re feeling until you can focus on what you’re doing…You don’t feel anything until after the action.”

“You can’t do this to be successful, you have to do it because you love it. Success is a byproduct of doing something you love.”

VIDEOS:

Guest links:

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Show Links:

Credits:

  • WRITER: Erin McCluskey
  • SOUND DESIGN: Zachary Jameson
  • WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
  • ASSISTANT: Elle Powell
  • SOCIAL OUTREACH: Bebe Katsenes
Brandon Scott on That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse

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Tribe Vibe Mentality: The Importance of Community

Brandon Scott currently stars in the fourth and final season of Amazon’s GOLIATH, alongside Billy Bob Thornton, J.K. Simmons, and Bruce Dern among others. He recently starred in the Netflix hit DEAD TO ME as Linda Cardellini’s love interest and former detective whom may be getting closer to the truth behind the murder mystery at the center of the series. Christina Applegate and James Marsden also star. Scott also starred in the latest season of the CBS All Access series STRANGE ANGEL. He is recurring on Netflix’s 13 REASONS WHY and NBC’s THIS IS US.

Scott had a supporting role in the critically acclaimed limited series GUERRILLA, which premiered on Showtime. The six-episode series about a politically active couple trying to change the world in 1970s London was from creator-writer-producer John Ridley and EP/co-star Idris Elba.

Scott also appeared as the lead in the third and fourth installments of the anthology series CHANNEL ZERO for SyFy and Creator Nick Antasoca.

After graduating from NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Brandon Scott moved to Los Angeles and quickly landed a memorable role as Dr. Ryan Spalding on GREY’S ANATOMY. Soon after, he participated in the ABC Diversity Talent Showcase and garnered an overall talent deal with ABC/ABC Studios.

Over the course of his career, he has had notable guest star spots on shows such as THE MIDDLE, MASTERS OF SEX, and STITCHERS, as well as a recurring role on MTV’s LOOSLEY EXACTLY NICOLE.

Scott has also made a dent in the film world, having played a lead role in the indie VILLAGE PEOPLE. He has also made film cameos in Lakeshore’s STAND-UP GUYS (opposite Christopher Walken and Al Pacino) and Disney’s WRECK IT RALPH. His other voice-over work includes stand-out characters in the acclaimed video games, THE LAST OF US and UNCHARTED 4.

Hobbies include producing theater with his two LA based companies, recent Ovation award winning IAMA Theatre and Ammunition Theatre. He also performs with his Hip Hop/Soul band, Sin City. Scott is repped by Sweeney Entertainment and Innovative Artists.

Resources

LINKS:
QUOTES:

“I love the idea that we, as artists, can connect the dream world to reality.”

“Where I’m hoping to move more into is being comfortable in, and loving, the mistakes and the unknown and the discoveries.”

“Be kind to yourself.”

VIDEOS:

Credits:

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

077: Amanda Warren
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Today we’re chatting with actress, Amanda Warren, whose incredible artistry is matched by her wisdom, insight, and extraordinarily grounded and compassionate energy. She has established herself with a resume that is not only lengthy, but loaded with some of TV and Film’s most respected projects in recent years. From her work with Martin McDonagh and Darren Aronofsky to Denzel Washington, Francis McDormand, and beyond, her work ethic and craftsmanship has earned her the respect of her peers and gained the attention of artists across the industry.

She shares how she works on set, what she’s learned from working with world-class artists, and how she stays focused on her own journey—putting in the work, one step at a time.

Most recently her on screen work includes THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI, THE PURGE for USA, MOTHER, HOUSE OF CARDS, BLACK MIRROR, THIS IS US, HBO’s THE LEFTOVERS, and Apple TV’s new series DICKINSON.

IG: @amandawarrenofficial

 

Tune in

Listen On iTunes

 

Resources

LINKS:
QUOTES:

“We do not need to adhere to this ‘stuggling artist’ theory anymore. This is your craft, this is your talent, you are giving of yourself and your tools. I’m going to give you my energy and pay you to see it…”

“You do the work at home so you can play on the day. If you do the work at home, you can do everything 7000 different ways to Sunday.”

“There’s a lot of money that goes into telling stories, expecially with the screen work, and time is money. It is so valuable, expecially these days. People need to know that they are trusting you with not only the story, but the money that they’re going to put into this.”

“There are quality rejections–quality ‘no’s.’ Just because it doesn’t work out for you then, doesn’t mean it doesn’t work out later.”

“What makes those great people so great at what they do…what makes them great craftspeople is that they work with their scene partners, they are never above their scene partner.”

“We’re in the business of saving lives…it’s an escape for people. Don’t think about the business, just bring them with you. Help them escape, help them stop thinking about business.”

VIDEOS:

046: Jon Huertas
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Jon Huertas over 60 credits to his name, starring in both television and film. He is known for his talents as an actor as well as an executive producer and recording artist. Jon is best known for his role among the core four in ABC’s hit show Castle as Javier Esposito, starring alongside Stana Katic and Nathan Fillion. He also starred in HBO’s Generation Kill as Sgt. Antonio Espera. He portrayed Joe Negroni is Why Do Fools Fall in Love, and can most recently be seen in the incredibly popular NBC family drama This Is Us as Miguel Rivas, playing alongside Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, and Sterling K. Brown.

Tune into our Interview on iTunes HERE

Resources

LINKS:
QUOTES:

“Even auditioning is being a professional actor. Studying acting out here is being a professional actor.”

“I don’t get rejected. I just don’t get the job because the job isn’t mine. “

“I would do this for free. I think we have agents and managers and lawyers so that we don’t destroy ourselves, because I would do this for free.”

 

Chris Sullivan on That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse

018: Chris Sullivan
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THIS IS US made America sit up in their seats and pay attention to the man behind the immediate heart throb of Toby, Chris Sullivan.  He first gained attention for his portrayal of Tom Cleary on the Cinemax drama THE KNICK.   He played Benny Hammond in STRANGER THINGS and Taserface in GUARDIAN OF GALAXY VOL. 2.  It may appear that Chris had an easy ride to the dense career track he is on, but he has been putting in the work for over 17 years.  Graduation from Loyal Marymont University left him transformed from a Tennis pro turned actor and climbing the ladder to seek representation.   A self-proclaimed perfectionist and dedicated artist with no backup plan, listen in to see how he landed his agent several years after graduation, how he made $5000 stretch for almost a year living in Los Angeles, how Broadway prepared him for a role of a lifetime on the Cinemax show THE KNICK and how every part since The KNICK can all be traced back to that character.

Chris is currently starring on the hit NBC show THIS IS US and is the lead singer of the band SULLY AND THE BENEVOLENT FOLK.

Tune into our Interview on iTunes HERE

 

 

Resources

LINKS:
QUOTES:

“Have faith in something, develop faith in something greater than yourself.  That is the thing that will carry you through all the hard times.”

“Rehearsal for high school play is the same as Broadway rehearsal, doesn’t matter, creativity is the same.” CLICK TO TWEET

“An artistic endeavor, job of any art (good, bad or other) is to elicit some desire of exploration in the audience.” 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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