Off Duty Actors

Kathleen Simmonds: Bite-Sized-Bits! Marketing Your Film, Attaching Names and Why You Should Be Like Tom Cruise

If you haven't listened to my full chat with the incredibly insightful actor and producer Kathleen Simmonds, I highly recommend it - and if you have, welcome back to this Bite-Sized-Bits! In this quick, yummy, 10 minute episode Kathleen and I discuss the importance of marketing, particularly just how much of your budget should go towards it. We chat about attaching names to a production and why that's important, but how to navigate it to keep introducing up and coming actors into productions... and why Tom Cruise is the ultimate guide to how you should approach being on set. Maybe don't hang out the side of an airplane (or do, whatever ya fancy ya maniac) but you should know all your crew departments just like he does. Enjoy this extra episode with Kathleen Simmonds!

All The Way From NYC! Actor and Producer Kathleen Simmonds: Why Your Audition is a Miracle, On Building Long Lasting Relationships and Longevity in the Film Industry

Aussie actor and producer Kathleen Simmonds joins us all the way from New York for this episode! If you’ve ever felt stuck in the wrong career and wondered whether acting or producing might be for you, this is a realistic conversation about whether the grass is truly greener and what it means to follow your gut. Kathleen shares her tumultuous decision to leave her job as a lawyer in Brisbane, Australia, to study at The Actors Studio in New York, where she gained experience and career advice from the likes of Al Pacino, Ellen Burstyn, and Alec Baldwin, to name a few. She later leveraged her law degree to secure a visa and work as a line producer and producer of documentaries such as on Emmy Award-winning The Sixth (A24) and Little Richard: I Am Everything. Kathleen is now producing from her company, KingoSimmo Productions, LLC, with the goal of opening doors in theatre and film for creatives who focus on authentic, unique stories, while continuing to work as an actor across the U.S. and Australia. We discuss the importance of relationships and marketing in the industry, her love of theatre, and why having your life in order is key to building a sustainable career. I recommend this episode to actors seeking an honest conversation about the industry and how to create longevity. If you enjoy this episode, keep an eye out for a Bite-Sized Bits ep, it’s a 10-minute bonus chat with Kathleen on realistic marketing and attaching names (dropping soon) Enjoy this chat with the sharp and entrepreneurial Kathleen Simmonds!  Follow us on Instagram & TikTok, this episode is available on Spotify, iTunes and Substack. Hosted by Rachel Di Renzo, music is One Woman Band by Grace Mesa and sourced from Premium Beat. Like, subscribe and share if it tickles your fancy. This podcast is brought to you by me, Rachel Di Renzo, actor, screenwriter, producer and now, podcaster. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening to Off Duty Actors, now go make the thing.

Rebecca Dyson-Smith: The On-Set Experience and Finding Your Creative Path by Not Sleep Walking Through Life

Welcome to Off Duty Actors! You might recognise our stunning guest Rebecca Dyson-Smith “Becca” from shows such as Slow Horses, The Queens Gambit, SAS Rogue Heroes, the list goes on. In this episode we chat about how Becca found her point of difference in her German heritage and used it to her advantage, creating work for herself before she even left acting school and how she maintains a consistent flow in her career.  We chat about studying acting in Scotland, hierarchy on-set (do you introduce yourself to Number One on the call sheet or do you wait for them to introduce themselves?), advocating for yourself in hairy scenes, enjoying and finding fulfilling work outside of acting, the audition experience with Nina Gold for Slow Horses, the actors anxiety and finding the creative path that works for you. I particularly enjoy our back and forth on the little things, like habit forming and making sure you’re not sleep walking through life... ya know, little things. Becca and I really delve into the nuances of the creative brain and it’s SO MUCH FUN.  I loved this episode, it’s an intellectually stimulating chat about acting, being on-set, career advice and figuring it out between two very curious actors. So please enjoy this chat with actress Rebecca Dyson-Smith. Follow us on Instagram & TikTok, this episode is available on Spotify, iTunes and Substack. Hosted by Rachel Di Renzo, music is One Woman Band by Grace Mesa and sourced from Premium Beat. Like, subscribe and share if it tickles your fancy. This podcast is brought to you by me, Rachel Di Renzo, actor, screenwriter, producer and now, podcaster. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening to Off Duty Actors, now go make the thing.

Actor Mirko Grillini - On Embracing Your Accent, The Study of Acting and Forging Your Own Path

It was a beautiful reunion, interviewing my mafia boss father from my second-ever short film, actor Mirko Grillini, more than a decade after we wrapped. It’s a reminder of how important the relationships you form early in your career can be! You might recognise Mirko from The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Wanted (Netflix), Underbelly Files: Infiltration, or the recently AACTA Award–nominated Not Russian Anywhere. His journey began in Bologna, Italy, where he worked as a model before moving to London to work in an Italian restaurant, casually meeting the likes of Princess Diana, Jerry Lewis, and Paul Newman, before eventually beginning his acting career in Australia, “despite his accent.” We dive into his path to becoming an actor: from making pasta from scratch to studying at The Actors Conservatory; leaving an agent who saw his accent and heritage as obstacles rather than strengths; and now mentoring the next generation about the realities of life on set. Mirko shares stories of a life rich in food, experience, love, and craft. We also talk about his work in writing, producing, and teaching, and the value of strong casting and on-set relationships, qualities that have earned him deep respect in the Australian industry. It’s essentially two Italians joyfully talking each other’s ears off and what a joy it was. I recommend this episode to anyone who thinks their accent might be a “problem,” actors just starting out, or anyone tempted to give acting a crack for the sheer love of it. Mirko shares his hard-earned wisdom, and I was beyond chuffed to hear his story. Follow us on Instagram & TikTok, this episode is available on Spotify, iTunes and Substack. Hosted by Rachel Di Renzo, music is One Woman Band by Grace Mesa and sourced from Premium Beat. Like, subscribe and share if it tickles your fancy. This podcast is brought to you by me, Rachel Di Renzo, actor, screenwriter, producer and now, podcaster. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening to Off Duty Actors, now go make the thing.

This month on Yapper Board: The New Hollywood: How Margot Robbie, Personal Branding & Film Marketing Are Reshaping Hollywood | The Rise of Actor-Led Empires | Wuthering Heights Redefining Success

Emerald Fennell's "Wuthering Heights" first thoughts, Lucky Chap and Margot Robbie are redefining the cinema experience, SEND HELP! (but don't!) Personal Branding & What TV We're Watching Right Now!  Welcome to February’s Yapper Board Session with your hosts Actor Rachel Di Renzo and Creative Producer Brooke Lagana. In this episode of Yapper Board, Rachel and Brooke dive into the evolving landscape of film and television, exploring how cinema is transforming into a fully immersive cultural experience. From Margot Robbie’s influence on modern film marketing (hello premiere dresses made out of hair) to the rise of actor-driven branding, they unpack the forces, such as Jacob Elordie’s golden tooth, shaping entertainment today. After a Valentines Day screening with her mum, Rachel’s “Wuthering Heights” gushing review is in and it might be controversial considering the conversations happening online! A deep dive into performances, Director Emerald Fennell’s casting choices, production design, costume design, reimagining and taking on a beloved (and heavily adapted) book - there was a lot to discuss. Send Help! But don’t if we’re stuck on an island with Dylan O’Brien and Rachel McAdam’s because there is fan-girling flying around this movie chat - we are obsessed. MASSIVE stamp of approval, being dubbed as an actually very fucking funny comedy thriller featuring flawless chemistry, impeccably well paced storyline and phenomenal acting. Chemistry casting is back! What are we watching? TV Shows such as Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette (Yesssss) Amadeus (Fuck yesssss) Under Salt Marsh (FUCK YES!!!) The conversation explores authenticity, chemistry between actors, and why audiences today crave entertainment that transports them emotionally. Key word there: ENTERTAINMENT. A deep dive into the intersection of storytelling, marketing, and cultural influence in modern cinema. We chat about the evolution of cinema as spectacle, Margot Robbie’s cultural and commercial influence, personal branding in Hollywood, the power of authenticity in actors and how marketing is the real determiner of a films success. So strap in, this Yapper Board Yap Session is all about entertainment and the reimagining of what it means to release a movie as a filmmaker 🎬 Follow us on Instagram & TikTok, this episode is available on Spotify, iTunes and Substack. Hosted by Rachel Di Renzo and Brooke Lagana. Like, subscribe and share if it tickles your fancy. This podcast is brought to you by Rachel Di Renzo, actor, screenwriter, producer and now, podcaster. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening to Off Duty Actors, now go make the thing.