Actor - and commercial session director - Reece Rios (Scandal, Ray Donovan, Young Sheldon) joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 359. Reece stops by the bungalow and discusses the nuances of auditioning, the impact of self-tapes, the psychological demands of the entertainment industry, what he's learned from teaching the Commercial Class, and more!

---

BEATS--
00:00 - Reece slates.
00:10 - Introduction.
02:35 - Time spent on video games.
09:03 - Session directing.
12:35 - How exhausting that job is.
17:46 - Giving actors the benefit of the doubt.
24:23 - Returning to in person auditions more lately.
27:26 - Thoughts on self tapes.
31:23 - Have self tapes impacted quality of in person auditions.
33:01 - What does session directing teach you as an actor.
40:09 - The need for a psychology of acting class.
43:33 - Journey to joining Groundlings Sunday Company.
48:06 - Why Reece books more dramatic work.
54:04 - Six different named roles in Scandal for the same character.
1:03:36 - Who took a chance on Reece.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/359

---

MORE REECE RIOS --
Check Reece's IMDb.
Follow Reece on Instagram @reecerios.

---

MORE BOX ANGELES --
Follow Box Angeles on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
Support Box Angeles on Patreon.

Actor Harvey Guillen (What We Do in the Shadows, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, The Thundermans) joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 358. Harvey stops by the bungalow and discusses the value of every role, even one-liners, how unexpected chances shape a career, his approach to self-tapes versus in-person auditions, how to manage relationships with representation, and more!

---

BEATS--
00:00 - Harvey slates.
00:10 - Introduction.
02:07 - Companion the best film of the year.
06:56 - Being offered that role and awkward meetings with directors.
10:30 - Never being above an audition and how one line can be a whole scene.
14:21 - Not knowing what could come of booking the room auditions.
17:50 - How audition for What We Do In The Shadows came to be.
20:48 - Preferring in-person over self tapes.
23:06 - Zoom audition slots.
26:24 - Coaching for auditions.
28:21 - Saying no to things.
31:30 - Does the team help with auditions.
35:09 - Seeing people lose jobs on set.
38:59 - Audition volume and working weeks in a year.
42:04 - Breaking into voice work.
47:58 - Relationship with reps.
52:47 - How Emmys events come about.
54:55 - Oh Mary potential.
57:21 - Whot took a chance on Harvey.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/358

---

MORE HARVEY GUILLEN --
Check Harvey's IMDb.
Follow Harvey on Instagram @harveyguillen.
Visit Harvey's website.

---

MORE BOX ANGELES --
Follow Box Angeles on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
Support Box Angeles on Patreon.

Actor-Comedian Matt McCarthy (Conan, Adam Ruins Everything, Brooklyn Nine-Nine) joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 357. Matt stops by the bungalow and discusses how he rarely reads scripts, trusting his instincts when auditioning, how he prioritizes his many endeavors, not enjoying his time as a collegiate mascot, and more!

---

BEATS --
00:00 - Matt slates.
00:10 - Introduction.
02:10 - Matt's comedic role in (the best movie of the year) Companion.
08:52 - Reading scripts.
11:17 - Acting on instincts.
13:06 - Self taping on tour for Companion.
15:06 - Not enjoying and getting too much feedback.
20:52 - Confidence and approach to self tapes.
24:34 - Less opportunities.
27:01 - Doing many different things and early aspirations.
30:50 - Comedian goals in 2025.
34:45 - Prioritizing of everything Matt has going on.
38:41 - Matt's VHS garage.
48:50 - Losing footage from the past.
51:24 - Be kind, rewind.
53:38 - Being passionate about your hobbies.
55:59 - College mascot experience at Fordham.
1:03:42 - Who took a chance on Matt.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/357

---

MORE MATT MCCARTHY --
Check Matt's IMDb.
Follow Matt on Instagram @mccarthyredhead.
Follow Matt on TikTok @mccarthyredhead.
Check out Matt's website.

---

MORE BOX ANGELES --
Follow Box Angeles on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
Support Box Angeles on Patreon.

Actor Megan Heyn (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The Big Bang Theory, 2 Broke Girls) joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 356. Megan stops by the bungalow and discusses her new web series Actors Anonymous, how this industry can feel abusive, using coaching on auditions as acting class, having those moments of actor tantrums, and more!

---

BEATS --

00:00 - Megan slates.
00:11 - Introduction.
02:10 - Being high energy.
03:17 - First impressions and journals.
13:46 - Megan's new web series Actors Anonymous.
17:04 - Everyone thinking about quitting the business right now.
19:23 - How gaslighty and abusive this industry can be.
23:21 - Appreciating the struggle.
26:49 - Enjoying auditions.
31:52 - Coaching on auditions and using that as an acting class.
35:35 - Actor tantrums.
39:26 - Megan's challenge directing Actors Anonymous when she likes feedback.
41:35 - Learning from shooting eight episodes.
43:45 - The struggle with editing.
46:54 - Funding your own projects.
51:12 - What Megan wants actors to take away from Actors Anonymous.
54:27 - Side hustles and residuals.
56:27 - Will Megan ever quit and it being okay to want to act.
59:25 - What would you do if you quit.
1:00:17 - Not auditioning or booking commercials.
1:02:37 - Who took a chance on Megan.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/356

---

MORE MEGAN HEYN --
Check Megan's IMDb.
Follow Megan on Instagram @megheyn.
Watch Megan's new web series Actors Anonymous.
Listen to Megan's first episode of Box Angeles, #152.

---

MORE BOX ANGELES --
Follow Box Angeles on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
Support Box Angeles on Patreon.

Actor Will Rothhaar (NCIS: Origins, Will Trent, The Rookie) joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 355. Will stops by the bungalow and discusses the career drought he went on after his last appearance on the podcast, the struggle to make health insurance, how he is always cast as the bad guy, and the desire to move to the energy of New York City someday, and more!

---

BEATS --

00:00 - Will slates.
00:12 - Introduction.
03:12 - A 7-ish year career drought after doing the podcast the first time.
09:50 - Making SAG insurance.
14:47 - Residuals.
17:14 - Thoughts on current state of the business.
19:35 - Having to start taking on side jobs.
28:50 - Still love for acting and in it for the long haul.
34:24 - These podcast interviews becoming more reflective lately.
35:05 - Self tapes.
41:56 - Gun and weapon classes.
43:20 - Always playing the bad guy.
49:00 - Two characters in the NCIS universe.
49:55 - Ever considered moving to NYC for theater.
56:45 - Who took a chance on Will.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/355

---

MORE WILL ROTHHAAR --
Check Will's IMDb.
Follow Will on Instagram @therealwillylamar.
Listen to Will's first episode of Box Angeles, #016.

---

MORE BOX ANGELES --
Follow Box Angeles on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
Support Box Angeles on Patreon.

Actor Mo Collins (Mad TV, Parks and Recreation, Fear the Walking Dead) joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 354. Mo stops by the bungalow and discusses why she is not optimistic about the business, the importance of questioning your faith as an artist, not currently having an agent, and candidly discusses the challenges of staying relevant in the industry, and more!

---

BEATS --

00:00 - Mo slates her name.
00:12 - Introduction.
03:42 - Small part on Jingle All The Way.
04:37 - Auditioning in Minnesota.
06:14 - Studying improv as a junior high kid.
08:09 - Attending St. Catherine University before getting kicked out for 'grafitti'.
11:24 - Surviving as a comedian in the Twin Cities.
13:36 - Getting fired from Brave New Workshop.
16:26 - Working at Disney in Orlando.
19:56 - Moving back to Minneapolis.
22:21 - Feeling late on the move to Los Angeles
25:00 - Current relationship with auditioning.
33:50 - Reason for leaving Mad TV.
37:17 - Loving what you do.
38:03 - Thoughts on current state of the business.
45:00 - Doing a one person show Mo Collins is Wiggin Out.
48:02 - Why isn't Mad TV on a streamer?
53:28 - Origin of the character Lorraine Swanson.
55:37 - Residuals.
56:34 - Representation.
59:48 - Who took a chance on Mo and playing Gina on 40 Year Old Virgin.
1:03:26 - Mad TV parties.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/354

---

MORE MO COLLINS --
Check Mo’s IMDb.
Follow Mo on Instagram @that_mo_collins.

---

MORE BOX ANGELES --
Follow Box Angeles on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
Support Box Angeles on Patreon.

Editor (and director) Jessica Brunetto (Hacks, Adults, Broad City) joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 353. Jessica stops by the bungalow and discusses the intricacies as well as the technical aspects of editing hit shows, her transition into directing, the importance for asking for stuff and making your intentions known, and more!

---

BEATS--

00:00 - Jessica slates her name.
00:10 - Introduction.
02:25 - Why Jess chose editing.
05:35 - Getting a BFA in directing from SUNY Purchase.
06:10 - Starting jobs and the editor career ladder.
10:12 - Coming into Broad City later and how many editors work a show.
12:11 - Are there editors' rooms on shows.
13:21 - Editors chain of command and prepping before an episode.
15:38 - How long to cut an episode and schedules.
18:54 - Continuity vs good take vs clean audio.
21:01 - Editing montages.
24:40 - Approach to individual scenes.
25:51 - Jess taking her first improv class.
28:28 - How often is someone over an editor's shoulder.
30:07 - Editing rituals.
34:13 - Economics of editing gigs.
35:30 - Technical questions; software, hardware.
38:23 - Views on current short form content.
42:31 - Pivoting to directing and asking for stuff.
47:45 - Shaking off first impressions.
48:47 - Coming on to direct Hacks in a later season and establishing a tone.
54:29 - Who took a chance on Jess.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/353

---

MORE JESSICA BRUNETTO --
Check Jessica's IMDb.
Follow Jessica on Instagram @jessicabrunetto.
Check out Jessica's website.

---

MORE BOX ANGELES --
Follow Box Angeles on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
Support Box Angeles on Patreon.

Actor - and commercial session director - Jonathan Runyon (Modern Family, Mad Men) joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 352. Jonathan stops by the bungalow and discusses the economics of being a session director, auditon & callback advice, common things he notices actors doing (and not doing), what the true goal is for commercial actors, and more!

---

BEATS--

00:00 - Jonathan slates his name.
00:11 - Introduction.
02:29 - Acting and working at 200 South La Brea.
03:11 - Slower commercially right now, but not for non union.
05:18 - Session director perspective on self tapes.
09:08 - Being a waiter dating back to studying at the Stella Adler Conservatory in NYC.
12:00 - The economics and schedule of session directing.
17:20 - How do you make acting work with session directing.
20:08 - Working with different offices.
22:35 - Getting a callback or audition for a session you're suppose to run.
26:36 - Giving personalized feedback / instructions in auditions.
31:47 - Actors that booking bringing themselves to the auditions.
33:59 - Naturally not being "grounded".
35:28 - Choosing the order auditions are submitted to highlight certain ones.
39:48 - Ideal time to audition in the session.
41:34 - Any patterns in auditions?
43:45 - Real time filtering happening in callbacks.
46:24 - How actors should enter a callback.
50:01 - Knowing who the director is at callbacks and a Philip Seymour Hoffman story.
52:56 - Self sabotaging actors.
57:25 - Are callbacks more stressful.
58:43 - Casting directors livestream of the room.
1:00:53 - Are callbacks the new goal for actors.
1:03:50 - There is a board with the list of auditions at 200 South La Brea (!!)
1:04:59 - Who took a chance on Jonathan.
1:06:37 - Surprised by who books things.

The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/352

---

MORE JONATHAN RUNYON --
Check Jonathan's IMDb.
Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jonathanrunyon.

---

MORE BOX ANGELES --
Support Box Angeles (and access the audio archives) on Patreon.
Follow Box Angeles on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.