The Background Scoop

In this episode I talk about my Voiceover and Advanced Audition Techniques classes at The Alliance Theatre, a BankofAmerica gig I did, the Love Is Illusion movie I recently shot, Herbal Tea Therapy, coloring my hair for Colorsmith, and my thoughts on Squid Game. If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links: Linktree https://linktr.ee/Djstavropoulos

In this episode, I talk about Snake Oil, a new game show on Fox, my commercial auditions class at The Alliance Theatre, followed by another class called Voiceover: Audiobook Narration. And how I finally, finally, finally landed an agent. Plus my day filming a Popeye's commercial and what happened when I volunteered for the hot seat with Amy Jo Berman. If you like what you heard and want to see...

In this episode, I talk about two different court TV shows I worked on recently, a user generated content project I did (otherwise known as UGC), visiting a college campus where a TV show I worked on was set, doing my first web series, and the start of a Commercial Audition class I'm taking at The Alliance Theatre. Since I'm doing much less background and more real acting these days, I should prob...

In this episode, I talk about an Ally Bank commercial, my Film III Class at The Alliance Theatre, a weird Booth Filler Job I did at a convention in downtown Atlanta, and a few odd background jobs I've done, although I have pretty much stopped doing those. And then there may or may not be content about a documentary series I applied to. It turns out I have what may be confidential information in he...

In this episode, I talk about a student film I just worked on called "Hang Up The Gloves," which I didn't even have to audition for, another student film called "The School Mistress," playing Abraham Lincoln in an independent film called "American Civil War," completing my Film II class at the Alliance Theatre, and my continued group coaching with Amy Jo Berman. L...

In this episode, I talk about group coaching with Amy Jo Berman, which I just signed up for. I'm in her Unstoppable Actor Next Level program. This woman is amazing, and she's not paying me to say that. My 16 days as Secret Service on a project that just wouldn't end. A funny experience with someone who Googled me before we met. My first ever corporate photo shoot for a major company. And how my co...

In this episode, I recap the end of my five month stint on "The Resident," distinguishing between the actor and the character they play, a random newbie named Britni whom I met in the real world, a bad stand-in experience, making a movie within a movie, cat actors, and working the same project twice on the same day. I also rave about Amy Jo Berman and how I've joined her Next Level Unstoppable Act...

In this episode, I talk about The Resident, my Film I class at The Alliance Theatre, and filming "The Devil Comes Dressed For Church Too" with Planet Muzick Studios. This wraps up Season 2 of my podcast, but I will be back next year (2023) with a potentially new format focusing on interview with peers in the TV & film space. Oh, and I jumped on the Lensa avatar bandwagon recently as was so happy w...

In this episode, I talk about my new Film I class at The Alliance Theatre, making a commercial for the drug BIKTARVY, auditioning using my perfected ZOOM technique, an in-person table read in Birmingham, and my usual experiences on "The Resident." I tell a story about how Malcolm Jamal Warner apologized to me on set one day . . . in front of everyone. If you like this podcast, please provide a rat...

In this episode, I talking about filming a Febreze commercial with a SCAD student, filming the PSA portion of a music video, and my usual experiences on "The Resident." That includes almost cheating and executing a complicated walk & talk. I also talk a bit about physical headshots, and my experience printing these out after using only digital copies for the past three years. Hint: use a high-qual...

In this episode, since I've been doing nothing but The Resident for two months now (mid-July to mid-September), all I talk about is this TV show. But I do cover some new learnings, including multiple start marks, auditioning for a sleeping role, set grafitti, misinterpreting marks as a stand-in, having a famous actor speak to me, and celebrating the show's 100th episode. If you like this podcast,...

In this episode, I talk mostly about my first month as core background on Fox’s hit TV show, The Resident, Season 6. Yes, I am rubbing noses daily with Leela, Padma, Devon, Conrad, Cade, Billie, and Dr. Voss. I haven't worked with Dr. Bell just yet. And, I've been spending an average of one day per week filming at The High Museum of Art in midtown and the rest of the time on set in Conyers. And I'...

This episode is a bonus episode created using a video of part of Season 1, Episode 15: SAGgy White Eve. I'm experimenting with video podcasting, which is available on the Spotify platform. I simply upload a video on Anchor.fm, and the audio portion appears on all the platforms except Spotify, which contains the video instead. If you like this podcast, please provide a rating on whatever platform y...

In this episode, the golden nugget is cold reads, which I've now done in my Acting III: Scene Study class at the Alliance Theatre. I also cover why a live audition beats a taped one, recording auditions with friends, my most recent monologue from "Up in the Air," and being a supporting actor in an independent film. All within the context of my never-ending stories about my days on set and in class...

Here are 8 monologues I recorded in April 2022 as part of one of my acting classes. Until I have a reel with footage from speaking roles, I at least have monologues to submit to agencies and/or casting directors. If you like this podcast, please provide a rating on whatever platform you're listening on and tell your friends all about it. If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my...

In this episode, I primarily talk about some of the featured roles I've played lately, how synchronicity plays a role in where your acting career goes, how easy it can be to find yourself in the finished product, the unique and somewhat peculiar way Tyler Perry makes his TV shows, giving people a second chance, and Greek Holidays. All told through stories from recent background jobs I've had. If y...

In this episode, I primarily talk about Monologues, Taped Auditions, and Live Auditions, to the extent that I have done all 3 of these. I'm just a beginner, but I think you'll glean some valuable points by listening to what I've done and learned in the process. I include some actual monologues I did for my acting class and a snippet of a role I played for that class. And, of course, the usual stor...

Here's what I talk about in this episode: I talk about scams, taping auditions, some shows I've recently worked on such as Monarch and The Wonder Years for the sixth time, some movies I've been involved in recently such as Creed III and Landscape with Invisible Hand, as well as a student film I did called On Demand. I also talk about the wonderful acting class I'm taking at The Alliance Theatre ri...

Here's what I talk about in this episode: Perseverence, Networking, Actcicles, Feedback, Medical Emergencies, and Auditioning for roles. I'll use recent acting experiences to support my message so you can clearly see how it's exemplified. And I'll attempt to sum up the moral of each story for you so you don't have to think too hard about it. Think Aesop's Fables, but in the 21st century for people...

In this episode, I talk about doing a bank robbery scene, standing in for an actor on Ordinary Joe, a garden party in Buckhead, playing a lawyer in a courtroom, and how much I really loved how Hawkeye came out. I am clearly seen as a threat walking past Jeremy Renner and Hailee Steinfeld in the snow. Warning: I also talk about how my dog, Sugar, died just before Christmas and the pros and cons of...

This episode is chock full of more stories of my life on set over the past month and what I've learned. I did The Game, Ordinary Joe, The Walking Dead, The Wonder Years, and cancelled The Staircase. If you haven't heard, Netflix Released their most expensive movie ever, Red Notice, at theatres on Friday, November 5 and streaming on Netflix a week later. I've watched it twice already. I am impresse...

Ozark, Ordinary Joe, The Wonder Years, and The Staircase. You'll see a pattern here. I'm leaning more towards television lately because it's easier, more predictable work, and you get to see the results fairly quickly. Like 4-8 weeks vs. the year or more that a film takes. Yes, Red Notice, which I covered extensively in the first episode is finally being released on November 5, 2021 after I finish...

This episode is primarily about what it's like to play a featured background role (sometimes called a specialty role) as well as playing a role that's almost a principal role, except it has no lines. I cover the complexity of driving your car on set, how driving a manual transmission complicates it, and that it's possible and really nice to teach your friends to drive a stick if they need to for a...

This episode is primarily about the seven-day job I did on a Marvel production recently and what I learned from that experience. It's about ghost passes and clean plates What it's like to dance to no music or to music that won't actually be in the scene. How inclement weather impacts production here in the South. The power of background actors even if they're NOT in a union. And how really talente...

This episode is about how doing background work can ruin your viewing experience, what core stand-in means, director-selected roles, how establishing scenes work, and making yourself heard when you're given no lines. Although many background jobs can have hundreds of people, I talk about doing background with no principal actors and doing stand-in with no background. Both are much more intimate be...