Ep 14. Everything (I think) I know about auditioning

Ep 14. Everything (I think) I know about auditioning

What actually makes a self-tape watchable? How do you make the viewer feel like they're watching an edited scene (where they. understand exactly what is going on) instead of a 3 minute uninterrupted close up? In this episode of Dave on the Internet, Matt and I go deep into a topic that has become the foundation of my audition class: why most audition tapes visually look like nothing is changing, and what we can do about it. We talk about the biggest shift in my own understanding of auditioning over the last few years—the realization that actors are often trying to communicate emotions when perhaps they should be focusing on trying to understand what is happening and how to tell that story with their body. In film and television, the edit helps tell the story. Every few seconds the camera cuts, reframes, pushes in, or reveals new information. In a self-tape, none of those tools exist. You're sending a 90-second close-up to a casting director who may watch dozens of auditions back-to-back. If the story isn't physically recognizable, it can become almost impossible for the viewer to track what is actually happening. We discuss: * Why most actors focus on emotion instead of story * How to identify the actual events of a scene * The difference between demonstrating feelings and allowing feelings to emerge * Why interruptions, discoveries, threats, confessions, and relationship shifts matter so much * How behavior creates clearer storytelling than emotional indication * What casting directors (maybe?) are actually watching for in self-tapes * Why "off his look" doesn't require acting a look * How to create the feeling of an edited scene when it's just you in a close up. * The role of clarity, aliveness, and physical storytelling in great auditions * Why some of the most compelling performances come from people who aren't trying to perform at all Throughout the conversation, we break down examples from audition classes, professional self-tapes, film scenes, and on-set experiences to explore a simple question: What if great acting isn't about showing us what you're feeling? What if it's about helping us understand what's happening? If you're an actor trying to book more work, tell clearer stories, and stop pushing so hard in auditions, this episode is for you. Keywords: acting audition tips, self tape audition technique, how to audition for film and television, acting class, audition coaching, on-camera acting, self tape acting, casting director advice, storytelling in auditions, acting craft, actor training, film acting, TV acting, audition preparation, acting career.

Ep 13. Law of Attraction (Applied to Acting)

There was a period in my life where Law of Attraction ruled everything....specifically applied to acting. I was journaling daily. Reframing auditions. Repeating mantras in the mirror like a lunatic. Trying to bridge what I now call “the belief gap” between what I wanted and what I actually believed I could have. And during that stretch… things moved. In this episode of Dave on the Internet, we talk about: – The belief gap (and how it affects audition performance) – The specific journaling method I used – Celebrating small bookings to redefine identity. – The concept of “Excess Importance” and why squeezing something can push it away – Why most major career shifts happen sideways, not directly from the thing you’re chasing – Action vs obsession – Acting, identity, and psychological pressure This isn’t a “manifest your Ferrari” episode. It’s about performance psychology, responsibility, and how belief changes behavior in the room. If you’re an actor trying to book more consistently, or someone navigating ambition without losing your mind... this one might hit :)

Ep 12 Peter Rinaldi (Back to One Podcast)- Lessons learned from interviewing 300+ actors

On his Podcast @backtoOne, Peter has interviewed many of the most talented actors working today. Paul Mescal, Diane Kruger, Tom Pelphrey, Vincent D’Onofrio, Michael Shannon, Daisy Ridley, Simon Rex, Julianne Nicholson, Jon Bernthal, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Carrie Coon, Christopher Abbott, Aubrey Plaza, Clive Owen, Zoë Deutch, Brit Marling, Jon Hamm, Vicky Krieps, Isabelle Huppert, Juliette Binoche and so many others. We got into what he’s learned from interviewing 300+ actors at completely different stages of their careers, and how those conversations slowly dismantled his belief that there’s a single “right way” to act. We talked about why he started the podcast in the first place: he was genuinely afraid of actors—afraid of over-directing, under-directing, saying the wrong thing, or not understanding the language of the work. We talked about the difference between younger / less experienced actors and more seasoned ones—especially how experienced actors tend to let go of tools they once clung to, not because the tools didn’t matter, but because they’re now embodied. Presence vs control. We spent time on the paradox of craft: you do need technique and preparation—but eventually the work deepens when you’re brave enough to release it and actually live in the moment. We talked about how directing finally kicked his ass in a real way when he had to work with trained actors, and how talking to actors is not the same thing as directing them. And lessons learned from directing his first play last summer. We talked about how Peter became such a fixture in the Brooklyn theater scene—after years of creative isolation—by finding communities of younger artists who actually take the work seriously, want to improve, and respect the craft rather than perform irony. We talked about industry contraction, AI, commercials, and the anxiety around what’s disappearing—and why the answer isn’t doom, but raising the level of the work so it’s harder to replace. And we ended on something that felt important: how actors grow not just by working, but by living—risking, failing, getting heartbroken, putting themselves out there. Acting, as Peter put it, is a great place to fail and come back stronger.

Ep 11. Jordan Syatt - Getting an 'Out of your League Mentor', and letting yourself look dumb in the short term to get better faster

Jordan Syatt is my childhood best friend and probably my biggest mentor. We got voted attached at the hip in high school, and Jordan is also a pretty major reason why I have a vanguard account! I’ve had a front row seat watching Jordan become pretty much the most successful person I know over the past 15 years.  There have been a handful of things that I’ve watched him accomplish that I previously thought were impossible.   Fundamentally I think I’ve learned how to think better from him.   This is gonna seem super trivial.  I wonder if Jordan even remembers this.  But one time we went to a BJJ class together when we were both white belts. In the class, I got paired with a blue belt… and he no joke submitted me 5 times in a minute with the same move.   Afterwards, I’m discouraged, and kinda uninspired by the whole thing.  It’s jarring how enormous and unsurmountable of a skill gap there was.  Jordan looks over at me and goes “but isn’t it awesome that when you’re a blue belt your gonna be able to do that too” I remember also one time Jordan telling me that if he feels uncomfortable, or sad, for nervous or lonely or whatever negative emotion.  He’s comforted because if he’s feeling it, that means that it’s something that everyone feels and he’s not alone. MY WHOLE LIFE I FELT THE EXACT OPPOSITE. We cover a lot in this episode.  Enjoy.  If you enjoy this episode please leave me one of those dang 5🌟 ratings. xo Love you

Ep 10. Everything (I think) I know about acting in 90 mins.

In this episode of Dave on the Internet, we break down: 1) Specific skillsets that from my POV help you stand out as an actor 2) The skillsets that help you book work 3) Things to do in every single audition 4) Getting an agent, and broadly how to think about industry 5) + my own psychology behind all of that I hope you enjoy this episode and if you do, please leave a lil review on itunes or spotify. Also. Im teaching an on-camera audition intensive DEC 5-7. please reach out if you're interested. We're gonna be going into a lot of this in depth. xo