To say that Erica Arvold is passionate about what she does is an understatement.  Most actors know her as a casting director but, as she likes to point out, she is so much more than that.  She is a producer, a director, and a committed educator.  But one of the things that I most appreciate about Erica is how she loves learning about other people.  If you’ve auditioned for Erica you know that during Covid she started the 30 second stories where actors got to share 30 seconds about themselves that was not related to acting.  And at the end of our conversation, she asked me a question.  That has never happened.  Now you won’t hear that part as I edited it out because the podcast is not about me.  What it did show is that, for Erica, it is as much about the other person as it is about herself.  I hope you enjoy my conversation with Erica Arvold as much as I did.  Erica Arvold, owner and CEO of Arvold, has spent 30 years as a casting director, educator, speaker, producer, writer, director and an advocate for screen artists. Erica has contributed to, participated in, or helmed the making of over 140 films, 85 television shows, and countless multimedia & commercial projects.  Casting credits include The Black Phone, Red Notice, Dopesick, Swagger, The Good Lord Bird, House of Cards, Charm City Kings, Harriet, and Lincoln. Erica directed the short films Thursday and Here Today, for which she won ‘Best First Time Director’ at Indie Short Fest Los Angeles. She has served as a producer on projects including Coming Through the Rye, Elemental, House Hunting, Josephine, Texas Rein, Time Machine Guitar, and Wish You Well. She has been nominated for CSA’s Artios Award five times, inducted into First Lady of Virginia’s Opportunity Hall of Fame for contributing to the economic growth in the state. In 2010, Erica founded Arvold.Education to cultivate artistic growth in actors and filmmakers, which quickly expanded into offering classes for all humans. Her collaboration with master teacher/actor/director Richard Warner is now Arvold Warner Studio, and focuses on actor & multi-hyphenate screen artist training.  Erica’s career is so full and extensive that you can learn more at her website https://www.arvold.com/casting/ On IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0038145/on IG: https://www.instagram.com/arvoldofficialon Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvoldofficial If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/and visit the group site. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle and on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle

Actors Group: Conversations on Craft

Episode 28: Spontaneity, Creative Impulses, and Being Invited to the Party: A Conversation with casting director, Erica Arvold.

I was so excited to have the opportunity to talk to Risa Bramon Garcia, co-founder and master teacher of The BGB Studio in LA. I wanted to know why it was so important to her to empower the actors in her studio and around the world. "There is a big difference between the actor who takes ownership of their talent and the actor who does not," she says. Risa goes on to explain that when actors do the work for its own sake, then they feel like they belong. We also talked about the importance for actors to write and the need for more varied stories to be told. Risa's passion for all that she does in the industry was clear throughout. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Risa as much as I did. In addition to being co-founder and master teacher at The BGB Studio, Risa has worked consistently as a director, producer, casting director, and writer. She's had the great fortune to have collaborated with some of the most talented, passionate, and groundbreaking artists in the world both in theatre and film/TV. Risa's passion for teaching and coaching has lead to her collaboration with Steve Braun in The BGB Studio, a creative space and community they created as an artistic home for actors, writers, directors, filmmakers, and casting directors. Here she gets to do it all! You can read more about Risa and The BGB Studio on their website: https://bramongarciabraun.com You can listen to their podcast which is full of great information for actors: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-acting-podcast/id1203009952 5 Self-Care Practices: https://5-self-care-practices.bramongarciabraun.com Meditation bundle: https://bramongarciabraun.com/train-online/3-in-1-challenge-bundle/ Follow Risa on IG @risabg Follow The BGB Studio on IG @bgbstudio On Twitter @BGBStudio If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to the FB group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/446862949543735 Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle

Episode 27: Episode 27 The Importance of Empowerment, Expanding Stories, and Being Ready All The Time: A Conversation with Risa Bramon Garcia of The BGB Studio

Not letting the script push you around is something that Burgess Jenkins says in class a lot. But, as actors, we are also told to honor the writing. So, what exactly does Burgess mean? Do we not stick to the writing and the stage directions? For him it’s more about opening up the possibilities that are inherently in the script. He says, too often, beginners typically box themselves in with one single idea based on what the script says. That will make it difficult for actors to be more fluid or flexible and they won’t be able to internalize notes given by casting directors or directors. We have to remember that If it says, “he/she slaps the table in anger”, each of us displays our anger differently. Burgess says the writer is simply trying to convey the emotions of the scene to the reader. You have to bring your version of what the writer is saying. For him it goes back to the difference between executing ideas and “finding the greatness in the work that is underneath.” So do you want to be like everyone else, slapping the table? Or do you want to be the actor that has internalized the emotional context of the scene and taken ownership? Hopefully this episode will guide you towards being an original. Burgess has been in a myriad of projects ranging from arthouse independents to blockbuster films. He is best known for his role as Ray Budds, in Remember the Titans, opposite Denzel Washington. He was Hilary Swank’s husband in The Reaping and most recently worked with Shirley McClean and Mira Sorvino. He’s had several recurring roles on such shows as the Young and the Restless, Army Wives, and One Tree Hill. When he is not acting, he is an instructor at the Actors Group studio in Winston-Salem, which is a training ground for film and television actors. If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group site. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle Find out more about Actors Group: https://www.actorsgroup.net/ Find out more about Burgess Jenkins: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420792/

Episode 26: Episode 26: Don't Be Hotel Lobby Art: A conversation with Burgess Jenkins about allowing yourself to explore the possibilities in the script

When I asked the founders of the Atlanta Actors Collective what they hoped the future of their organization would be, Kevon Pryce didn’t hesitate, “I want to take over the world. I want us to be THE Actors Collective.” It is clear throughout our conversation that it isn’t for any kind of self-aggrandizement purposes that he says this. He, along with Sarah Toran and Rashal James, started the AAC to create a community for actors and creatives based in the Atlanta market. Their goal was, and still is, to strengthen the sense of community and to provide the resources and help that they didn’t have when they moved to Atlanta. It is clear when talking to these young people, they believe that in helping each other we all succeed. As they say, “There’s power in collaboration. There’s power in community.” Sarah Toran is a model, actor and voiceover artist from Chicago, IL; where she trained at Second City. She moved to Atlanta to continue to pursue her acting career in a warmer climate. She has met so many other talented creatives in the tv & film industry through classes, intensives, workshops, events and of course on-set. She has been in numerous short films and television shows and is excited about the new projects she is working on. Kevon Pryce is a writer and filmmaker based in Atlanta, Georgia. He writes film news, short stories, poems, and screenplays. His films have screened at festivals across the southeast such as Atlanta Film Festival, Rome International Film Festival, and Sidewalk Film Festival. Rashal James is a trained Actor/Voice Actor from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Originally starting out in the music industry as a rapper he then decided to pursue a career in film. He trained with a few instructors and soon found like-minded individuals who shared his enthusiasm for acting and helping other actors find resources to hone their skills. Catch Rashal’s work on Disney +, The CW, and Lifetime Movie Network. Together they co-founded the Atlanta Actors Collective. A group focused on building relationships between tv & film industry creatives and is an informational resource for the acting community in Atlanta. If you want to find out more about the Atlanta Actors Collective: Follow them on IG @atlantaactorscollective https://www.facebook.com/atlantaactorscollective If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group site. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle

Episode 25: Episode 25: The Power of Community: A Conversation with the Atlanta Actors Collective

Passionate is one of the first descriptors that comes to mind when talking about casting director, Rhavynn Drummer. She is passionate about her job and about working with actors. Our conversation covered topics ranging from auditioning, taking risks, to advice she has for actors of color. To actors and creatives of color she says, “Don’t wait for me.” She wants all actors to trust their gift because she relies on our artistry. She tells us, “Take risks…show me your artistry.” Rhavynn Drummer is an award-winning producer, director, and casting director who has always had a love for actors and great performances. She began her career in casting at Tyler Perry Studios in 2007 and continues to cast all of his films, plays, and TV shows. She has directed and produced such projects as Good Girls and Brooklyn.Blue.Sky and was recently hired as an adjunct professor in the theatre and communication studies department at Clark Atlanta University. (bio extracted in part from her website) You can connect with Rhayvnn on most social media platforms. Website: rhayvnndrummer.com IG @rhavynn Twitter @RhavynnDrummer If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group site. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle NOTE: There were a few technical glitches in this episode that I did my best to clean up. I apologize for the small echoes heard occasionally and the clothing hitting the mic sounds.

Episode 24: Episode 24 Don't Wait For Me: A Conversation With Rhavynn Drummer

In this episode I talk to Burgess Jenkins about the importance of investing in the other person in your scene. Even if you have good ideas that you want to put on "display", you can never leave the other person out because that is when “the ride begins.” Actors have to overcome the fear or anxiety of not knowing what is coming next. Burgess says that you can book and be a good actor “executing” the work, but you will never be great if you don’t take the other person in and react to what they are giving you. He says, “you should not be working when the camera comes on. You should be free to experience it with the other person and go dance.” Burgess has been in a myriad of projects ranging from arthouse independents to blockbuster films. He is best known for his role as Ray Budds, in Remember the Titans, opposite Denzel Washington. He was Hilary Swank’s husband in The Reaping and most recently worked with Shirley McClean and Mira Sorvino. He’s had several recurring roles on such shows as the Young and the Restless, Army Wives, and One Tree Hill. When he is not acting, he is an instructor at the Actors Group studio in Winston-Salem, which is a training ground for film and television actors. If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group site. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle Find out more about Actors Group: https://www.actorsgroup.net/ Find out more about Burgess Jenkins: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420792/

Episode 23: It's Not All About You. A conversation with Burgess Jenkins about the importance of investing in your scene partner.

For Burgess Jenkins, the work of an actor is mostly in the preparation. Your prep is what launches you into any scene and enables you to live the experience. He says once you’ve done the work in your preparation and created your “bridge” to the character fully, then it’s time to play.” All too often Burgess says he sees actors try to control the scene while they are in it. If you do that, then it’s impossible to be artistic and creative “in a big way” and where is the fun in that? Burgess has been in a myriad of projects ranging from arthouse independents to blockbuster films. He is best known for his role as Ray Budds, in Remember the Titans, opposite Denzel Washington. He was Hilary Swank’s husband in The Reaping and most recently worked with Shirley McClean and Mira Sorvino. He’s had several recurring roles on such shows as the Young and the Restless, Army Wives, and One Tree Hill. When he is not acting, he is an instructor at the Actors Group studio in Winston-Salem, which is a training ground for film and television actors. If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group site. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle Find out more about Actors Group: https://www.actorsgroup.net/ Find out more about Burgess Jenkins: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420792/

Episode 22: The Power of Preparation

In the final installment of my conversations on how people stayed creative during the time of COVID, I spoke to Dr. Joseph Mills, Charis Jeffers, and Noelle Mills-Tarmey. Joe Mills stated creativity looks a lot like wandering, but what he’s really doing is collecting material. He says the creative person has to, “be willing to let yourself have leisure to collect the material to be able to work with it.” For him there is a distinct difference between creativity and productivity. It is important to separate the two as the pressure to be productive can stifle the creativity. For Charis, my second guest, it was important to keep working. As she says, “I need to be in that creative space so that I don’t lose that mindset.” The many monologue challenges offered by casting directors gave her an emotional outlet. It helped that there were deadlines attached, otherwise she claims she would never have completed any of the challenges and writng opportunities that were offered. Noelle When Noelle responded to my question, I thought it would be interesting to get the perspective of a teenager going through this. According to her, writing letters, making lists, creating a YouTube channel were activities that helped keep her mind of the fact that she was stuck at home on her own (well, with her parents). If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group page. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle Find out more about writer and poet Dr. Joseph Mills https://www.josephrobertmills.com Follow on IG @josephrmills On FB https://www.facebook.com/joe.mills.334 Find out more about Charis: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4949626/ Follow her on IG @carrots_jeffers Website https://www.charisjeffers.com/ Noelle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHjDO_C0xIo

Episode 21: Creativity in the time of COVID, Part III

These are interesting times we are living. In March all of our lives were disrupted. As states open up and the film/tv industry tries to find a new normal, I wanted to know what fellow creatives had been doing to stay creative during quarantine. In the next several episodes you will hear from actors, a school receptionist, a poet, and a teen. Each of them giving some insight into how they dealt with quarantine and the loss of their normal routines. In today’s episode I talk to my friend and fellow actor, June Dare. She has always been involved in artistic endeavors, whether it is singing in choirs or with her sisters, acting in and co-producing theater productions, as well as appearing in several film, TV, and commercial works. With in-person events being shuttered June turned back to writing and singing with her sister in Nashville. My second guest is actor and friend, Rodney Williams who used his downtime to study films more closely and try his own hand at writing, specifically in the thriller genre. My last guest on this episode is a familiar one, Burgess Jenkins. Instead of imparting pearls of wisdom about the craft of acting he talks about trying his hand at a completely new creative endeavor: cutting hair. Enjoy part II of Creativity in the time of COVID. If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group page. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle Find out more about June Dare @actorjunedare on IG Actor June Dare on FB IMDB https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3993982/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 Find out more about Rodney Williams @_noexcuses_begreat on IG Rodney Williams on FB IMDB https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10257800/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 Find out more about Burgess Jenkins @bjenkins34 on IG IMDB https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420792/

Episode 20: Creativity in the time of COVID Part II

These are interesting times we are living. In March all of our lives were disrupted. Now as states open up and the film/tv industry tries to find a new normal, I wanted to know what fellow creatives had been doing to stay creative during quarantine. In the next several episodes you will hear from actors, a school receptionist, a poet, and a teen. Each of them giving some insight into how they dealt with quarantine and the loss of their normal routines. In today’s episode I talk to Alison Haselden, who is an actor, a marketing consultant, and host of the podcast It’s a Slate of Mind. She has found that during this time she has had to adjust her thinking and be OK with her reduced list of things to do. Alison has found that she is having to “fight less with herself.” She also has fallen back on trusting her intuition more on a daily basis. My second guest Laurin Christian, an actor and mental health advocate, has watched movies ranging from Midsommar to Ghostbusters and listened to music while dancing in her kitchen. Through these activities she has found herself often inspired by the acting, the stories, and/or the music. My last guest on this episode is Donna Brown who works at the front desk of a charter school. She has used her downtime at home to forge lasting friendships through TikTok. Her favorite thing to do is duet with someone and, she says, she has found the TikTok community to be incredibly supportive of her creative endeavors. For her, it isn’t about the number of followers that she can get, it’s about making someone smile. Enjoy this first episode of Creativity in the time of COVID. If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group page. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle Find out more about Alison Haselden: on IG @alison_haselden, @itsaslateofmind IMDB https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11027488/ Follow Laurin Christian: on IG @laurinchristian Follow Donna Brown: on TikTok @lynndahand

Episode 19 Creativity in the Time of COVID, Part I

For this episode I ask Jeryl Prescott to talk to me about the state of race relations in the film/tv industry. We talked about what she has experienced in Hollywood over the last 15-20 years. We talked about the roles Jordan Peele, Ava DuVernay, and Tyler Perry have played in breaking down stereotypes about what black and brown audiences want to watch. When I asked her what she hopes will come of the social unrest, with regards the industry, she says, “Hopefully we will get beyond the numbers game.” However, she does go on to say that the commitment for real change has to come from the top, “That’s where some of the most difficult conversations about bias and racism have to happen.” Jeryl Prescott is an actress best known for her role as Jacqui on The Walking Dead and a series regular as Madame Xanadu on Swamp Thing. Jeryl has also worked on many other projects including Birth of a Nation and High Flying Bird. Find out more about Jeryl Prescott https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1367802/ and on IG @therealjeryl If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group page. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle

Race and the Film/Tv Industry: A Conversation with Jeryl Prescott

Actors often have preconceived notions of what the bad guy “acts” like and Burgess Jenkins says it is always a trap. Our character becomes two dimensional. As an actor who has played several bad guy roles, he says actors should say to themselves: “I’m the bad guy and there are no limits. It is candy land. I can do whatever I want.” The key, of course, is to figure out why the character is doing it. What motivates them? What has led to this? How can you justify what he/she is doing? Burgess says justification is one of the most important words for acting. “If, as an actor, you don’t embrace the concept of justification at every turn, then you’re missing out on all the fun.” The justification unlocks “your freedom to go forward with whatever you want to do.” Burgess has been in a myriad of projects ranging from arthouse independents to blockbuster films. He is best known for his role as Ray Budds, in Remember the Titans, opposite Denzel Washington. He was Hilary Swank’s husband in The Reaping and most recently worked with Shirley McClean and Mira Sorvino. He’s had several recurring roles on such shows as the Young and the Restless, Army Wives, and One Tree Hill. When he is not acting, he is an instructor at the Actors Group studio in Winston-Salem, which is a training ground for film and television actors. If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group page. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle Find out more about Actors Group: https://www.actorsgroup.net/ Find out more about Burgess Jenkins: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420792/

The Bad Guy Has No Limits: A conversation with Burgess Jenkins about the art of playing the "bad guy."

“Quit trying to hit someone else’s target.” This is something that we hear again and again in class. Burgess Jenkins, actor and founder of Actors Group studio, explains how actors must start doing the work for themselves. When we constantly try to please the teacher, or get applause from the audience, or do exactly what we think the casting director wants, then our work becomes forgettable. He says what you should be seeking when you are acting, “…it’s the experience, it’s the creativity that you should be after.” If that’s what you crave or seek, then “by default the viewing audience will be drawn to you.” Burgess has been in a myriad of projects ranging from arthouse independents to blockbuster films. He is best known for his role as Ray Budds, in Remember the Titans, opposite Denzel Washington. He was Hilary Swank’s husband in The Reaping and most recently worked with Shirley McClean and Mira Sorvino. He’s had several recurring roles on such shows as the Young and the Restless, Army Wives, and One Tree Hill. When he is not acting, he is an instructor at the Actors Group studio in Winston-Salem, which is a training ground for film and television actors. If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group site. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle Find out more about Actors Group: https://www.actorsgroup.net/ Find out more about Burgess Jenkins: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420792/

Quit Trying to Hit Someone Else's Target: A conversation with Burgess Jenkins about the pitfalls of acting for someone else's approval

“You can’t take you out of the equation.” This is something that we hear again and again in class. Burgess Jenkins, actor and founder of Actors Group studio, explains how actors must build bridges between themselves and the characters they portray. How do we do this? By figuring out the emotional space our character lives in. You find what they are feeling and then reinsert yourself. The amount of work you have to do is based on how close your character is to yourself. He says acting isn’t about putting on masks, it’s about taking them off. If you take yourself out of any character then it will be hollow and the experience won’t ring true for you or the audience. Burgess has been in a myriad of projects ranging from arthouse independents to blockbuster films. He is best known for his role as Ray Budds, in Remember the Titans, opposite Denzel Washington. He was Hilary Swank’s husband in The Reaping and most recently worked with Shirley McClean and Mira Sorvino. He’s had several recurring roles on such shows as the Young and the Restless, Army Wives, and One Tree Hill. When he is not acting, he is an instructor at the Actors Group studio in Winston-Salem, which is a training ground for film and television actors. If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group site. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle Find out more about Actors Group: https://www.actorsgroup.net/ Find out more about Burgess Jenkins: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420792/

Taking Off The Mask: A Conversation with Burgess Jenkins about keeping a part of you in any role you play

To be able to sit down with my film and TV agents for an entire hour and pick their brains was a gift. I was able to ask all the questions that have been going through my head since I signed with them. In this second part of the conversation, we talked about why it is important to communicate with your agent and stay in contact with them, how fortunate actors in the SE market are, and how actors need to stay focused on their own individual careers. Thom Milam is Co-Head of the Film and TV Department at People Store. He got his degree in Theater in Mississippi and went on to work as an agent in New York for many years. In 2015 he moved to Atlanta and started his position at People Store. He loves his career as an agent and describes himself as a professional cheerleader for actors. Thom wants every actor to remember that their “journey is different…each one of you is your own individual snowflake.” He goes on to say that although we are competing in a way, we are not in competition with anyone around us. Be the best “you” you can be. That is the way to book work. Jennifer Hummel is an agent in the Film and TV Department at People Store and this is her first job out of college. Although she went to SCAD for Performance Studies, she knew early on that she was more interested in being an agent. She started in 2016 and has never looked back. As we talked about how often actors should check in with their agents Jennifer says, “you should stop by if you can, if we haven’t seen you in a while.” And when talking about watching their actors audition tapes, she explains that sometimes they get upset because they always go “actor over project.” Find out more about People Store and their agents: https://peoplestore.net/ Follow People Store: IG @peoplestoreagency and on Twitter @People_Store If you want to chat or ask questions about the episode go to FB: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle/ and visit the group site. Follow me on IG @tarmeydanielle, on Twitter @TarmeyDanielle Find out more about Actors Group: https://www.actorsgroup.net/

Part II Demystifying the agent/actor relationship: A Conversation with Thom Milam and Jennifer Hummel of People Store Agency

A series of conversations with industry professionals about the craft of acting for film and television.

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Actors Group: Conversations on Craft

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