That One Audition with 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. IG: @mariannapalka

This week we dive deep into the journey of finding your spotlight by saying yes, hustling and doing the work. Work can come in the form of sitting around a campfire expressing your art to your fellow actor, coaching others to their potential, or holding the space for other actors opportunities as the best damn reader in town. Getting to work with Josh as an actor, coach or reader will highly improve your level of artistry. With over 20 years experience, Josh Bitton is hitting his stride in the light of highly complex characters and understanding that the gratitude for what you have will land you the happiness of being right where you are. Joshua Bitton is a stage, film and television actor best known for his work in HBO’s critically acclaimed series “The Night Of” as Maldonado and for his portrayal of Sgt. J.P. Morgan in Steven Spielberg’s award-winning World War II mini series “The Pacific.” Bitton’s been featured in numerous hit television projects, including “Castle,” “The Mentalist,” “Bosch,” and “Justified.” Additionally he’s guest starred in “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Last Tycoon,” “American Vandal,” “Reverie,” “Lucifer,” and “Daredevil,” to name a few. His film credits include “National Treasure,” “Larry Crowne,” “For Love of Money,” and “The Tangle.” He’s currently teaching acting classes in Los Angeles. From drama to comedy, Joshua Bitton has appeared in dozens of award-winning projects in film and television over the years and is positioned for his most exciting year yet. In 2018, he can be seen starring on CBS All Access’ new mystery drama series, “One Dollar,” opposite John Carroll Lynch, Leslie Odom Jr., Aleksa Palladino, and Hamilton Clancy.  IG: @Joshua Bitton 

Actor, writer, and producer Arturo Del Puerto got his first headshots at 14 years old by stealing his mother's credit card. Creating opportunities for himself and being paid to learn has been his mission to landing him in Los Angeles. Arturo gives insight about being rejected twice from a prestigious acting conservatory in Spain, making his way to America, and finding his mentor/teacher, casting director Felicia Fasano. Stepping into assist Fasano in the casting room, Arturo shares the tips and tricks of watching actors coming in to audition and how he landed his first series regular job on the hit HBO series CAMPING. Arturo Del Puerto is a television, film and voice actor best known for his performances as Luis Flores in AMC’s “Fear The Walking Dead,” as well as his work in “The Last Ship” and “Independence Day: Resurgence.” Puerto has guest starred and featured in numerous television series, most recently including “Claws,” “Glow,” “The Flash,” “Better Things,” and “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.” Puerto lended his voice in two Disney animated series, a reimagined “DuckTales” as Panchito Pistoles and as Rico in “Elena of Avalor.” Puerto recently appeared in Dax Shepard’s Highway Patrol officer comedy “CHIPS” and worked alongside Joey King and Luke Pasqualino in “Smartass.” You can currently catch Puerto in Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner’s newest HBO series “Camping,” following a group of old friends on a camping trip as it spirals out of control. Puerto is also in production for Ronald D. Moore’s “For All Mankind,” a sci-fi series due in 2019. 

Pen Densham is an author, an art photographer, and an Oscar nominated filmmaker and screenwriter. He founded the Trilogy Entertainment Group with his partner John Watson, creating hit films like Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Blown Away, Larger Than Life, The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys and Backdraft. Densham and Trilogy Entertainment have produced numerous television series and mini-series, including Syfy Channel’s The Outer Limits, the successful and long running anthology series following science fiction tales. They’ve also produced The Twilight Zone, The Magnificent Seven, Poltergeist: The Legacy, and The Creature. Additionally, Densham is author of the bestselling book “Riding The Alligator,” a creatively driven screenwriting guide. Part two conversation dives into the deep layers of interpreting and surrendering to the themes that are important to us as artists and people, what our soul spigots are, our life scripts and our passion projects. Pen takes us through what it was like to edit a film for the first time, to overcoming the imposter feeling as a writer, to learning how to best sell a film, and how he and his writing partner Oscar nominated writer\producers.

Pen Densham is an author, an art photographer, and an Oscar nominated filmmaker and screenwriter. He founded the Trilogy Entertainment Group with his partner John Watson, creating hit films like Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Blown Away, Larger Than Life, The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys and Backdraft. Densham and Trilogy Entertainment have produced numerous television series and mini-series, including Syfy Channel’s The Outer Limits, the successful and long running anthology series following science fiction tales. They’ve also produced The Twilight Zone, The Magnificent Seven, Poltergeist: The Legacy, and The Creature. Additionally, Densham is author of the bestselling book “Riding The Alligator,” a creatively driven screenwriting guide. Part one is a visceral conversation about existing in this world as a creative person and what your responsibility is as a storyteller. Pen shares the difficulties he had growing up because he didn’t feel his creativity was nourished, and how he learned to thrive in his proces, making leaps and bounds towards his future, persuading The Rolling Stones to let him photograph them at just 15 years old, building an artist's community, working alongside renowned documentarians, to his coping mechanisms around self doubt and the sometimes overwhelming anxiety creative people are more likely to have. We talk about evolutionary habits, spirituality, the most effective way of framing and relating a potential story, the euphoria he feels when he’s learning and teaching, his fearful journey through the writing process, to becoming a published author of a besting selling book.

Mehcad Brooks is an actor, musician, and producer raised in Austin, Texas. From bringing characters to life on screen, to writing and producing films, and recording soulful music under an alias, award-winning actor and musician, Mehcad Brooks, has become known in the entertainment industry for his raw and refined talent, charisma, and moving presence. Throughout his successful and celebrated career Brooks is best known for his work in USA’s “Necessary Roughness,” for his portrayal of Terrence King, starring alongside Scott Cohen and Callie Thorne. He is also known for his characterisation of Eggs in Alan Ball’s HBO series “True Blood,” and for his work in ABC’s hit show “Desperate Housewives,” portraying Matthew Applewhite. Additionally Brooks starred in Noah Hawley’s docu-drama “My Generation,” and “The Deep End.” His film credits include his breakout role is Jerry Bruckheimer’s “Glory Road” as Harry Flournoy, which followed the 1966 first all-black college basketball teams starting line-up and their eventual NCAA national championship win. Brooks was also featured in “In the Valley of Elah,” “Adulterers,” “Wildlife,” “Just Wright,” and “About Last Night.” Brooks is currently starring in Greg Berlanti’s “Supergirl” as James Olsen in the shows fourth season, along with Melissa Benoist and David Harewood. You can catch his most recent film, Tyler Perry’s “Nobody’s Fool,” starring Brooks, Tiffany Haddish and Whoopi Goldberg in theatres now. While bringing characters to life remains one of Mehcad’s biggest passions, his love for telling stories through music is equally important.  Writing and recording under the moniker KING GVPSV, Mehcad recently released his debut, full length album “May 20th” on July 13, 2018.  The album features 16 soulful brand-new tracks, including the single “Tears Away” which has been featured in an episode of his series “Supergirl.”  The album was inspired by multiple near-death experiences that Mehcad has endured, all taking place on May 20th and forever changing his life. IG: @mehcadbrooks

Our guest today is a multi talented, New Mexican born and raised actor with a penchant for carpentry, and an exceptional ear for accents. He is a chameleon, whether he’s playing the villain or the anti hero, from the countless 99 seat theatres he performed in after he graduated USC, building sets out of school, to acting alongside heavy hitters like Emily Blunt, Miles Teller, Josh Brolin and Chris Pine. Dylan Kenin is a theatrically trained actor best known for his work in television and film. Recently he was featured in Joseph Kosinski’s Only the Brave, acting alongside Josh Brolin and Jeff Bridges, based on the true story of a group of elite firefighters in the Granite Mountain Hotshots. He is best known for his work on Sicario as a Delta Leader in the drama following an FBI agent in a government task force. He is also known for Hell or High Water, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, and Shot Caller. Kenin has guest starred and featured in many television shows, including being a recurring guest on Seth MacFarlane’s The Orville as Captain Haros, Yellowstone, NCIS: New Orleans, Rebel, Westworld, Roots, and Rebel.

"It's a hell of a drug, storytelling..." Amy Scott takes us on her journey of storytelling through cutting and directing the messages that the world must explore! Her tenacity and fearlessness in pursuing the films she wanted made, her ingenuity and painstaking detail, her drive and talent, and the fact that she taught herself how to expertly fine tune her narrative and lovingly portray her subjects while editing and directing is beyond inspiring. This conversation explores the subject of her Sundance nominated film “Hal, her life in Los Angeles, motherhood, 70’s cinema, invaluable how to's, getting those creative chills, crowdfunding, and why she wouldn’t be in any other career. Amy Scott is a Los Angeles based filmmaker and editor originally from Lawton, Oklahoma. Throughout her twelve year career she’s created films, shorts and music videos. After receiving her BFA in Film Studies from University of Oklahoma she spent a decade in Chicago, Illinois working as a documentary filmmaker, editor and as media producer for the University of Chicago, the head digital archivist at the Chicago History Museum under Studs Terkel. Scott also taught as an instructor of documentary film at Chicago Filmmakers. Scott is best known for her work as editor on projects such as The History of Caves, Me, The Beast & The Angel, and Fully Loaded. Her Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize nominated feature-length directorial debut Once I Was: The Hal Ashby Story follows the life and career of filmmaker Hal Ashby. 

This conversation with Ben Lawson is true look inside a working actors highs and lows; how long it can take for a casting director to find that perfect project for you, his first experience on the set of a huge movie, and what it feels like to lose your confidence and then gain it back in spades. Sometimes it might take 6 months in New York City to shift your focus, to unblock the fear around auditioning and booking and trust in your own artistry. This conversation is about the journey in an actors career, not about the destination. Ben Lawson is an Australian film and television actor best known for his portrayal Damien Rennett in ABC’s “Designated Survivor,” Netflix’s hit series “13 Reasons Why,” as Coach Rick, and “The Deep End.” He has guest starred and featured in various shows, including “Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23,” “Grim,” “Billions,” “Modern Family,” iZombie,” “Love Child,” and “Secrets & Lies.” He began his 26 year career in the popular Australian soap opera “Neighbours.”  IG: @bennyvegas

This is the perfect episode for anyone trying to find a shift in their career, or in their artistry, for the actors who are wanting to make brave decisions in their life and in their approach of character. Our guest today is the incomparable Jenna Elfman, an efferevescent performer and person. This is an inspiring listen about how she navigated life after DHARMA & GREG, the fumbles, the touchstones, and the vulnerabilities in learning a new character on FEAR THE WALKING DEAD. Jenna Elfman is a film and television actress who started her career as a dancer and appeared in music videos by various artists, including Depeche Mode and Anthrax. She is best known for her role as Dharma in “Dharma & Greg,” the hit series that led her to earn three Emmy Awards nominations and a Golden Globe Award. Elfman is also known for her work in the ABC comedy series “Imaginary Mary,” “Growing Up Fisher,” “1600 Penn,” “Damages,” and an appearance on “Shameless.” She’s also had guest appearances in “Two and a Half Men,” Royal Pain,” “My Name is Earl,” and “The Mindy Project.” In film she’s best known for “Keeping the Faith,” which she starred in with Ben Stiller and directed by Edward Norton, “Can’t Hardly Wait,” Ron Howard’s “Edtv,” with Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey, and “Big Stone Gap,” with Ashley Judd and Whoopi Goldberg. Currently she’s starring in the hit AMC series “Fear the Walking Dead.” IG: @jennaelfman