Creating Behavior with Charlie Sandlan

What separates the actors that consistently create vivid, organic, interesting human behavior at the highest level, and those that don't? What is the difference between just being OK at something, and operating with artistry? This week Charlie talks to his friend, and fellow teacher Victor Villar-Hauser, one of LA's most sought after coaches. Victor talks about coaching Kingsley Ben-Adir...

What is a kaizen muse? This week Charlie talks to actress, musician, and kaizen muse Esma Kirim. As a creativity coach, Esma helps artists confront the lie we often tell ourselves, that we need permission from others in order to make decisions that will bring us joy. As creatives, how can we take incremental steps forward to help confront those periods when we lack motivation? How can we fill the...

In this week's solo episode Charlie answers some of your questions. Topics cover the HBO documentary Woodstock '99, how to look for and get the most out of private coaching, the ways to re-engage with your art form when life takes you away from it, and some thoughts on how to handle self-doubt and foster the confidence you need to sustain a long-term artistic career. Charlie also shares...

Intervening with the need for approval is incredibly important for the creative artist. How many of you get caught up in working for the compliment, wanting to be liked, trying to give others what you think they want? This week Charlie talks to Joe Nicastro, who has been carving out an artistic life for almost a decade. Professional dancer, actor, influencer, personal trainer and motivator, Joe sh...

Dierdre Friel is having quite a run lately; 19 episodes as the barista Ella on the hit show New Amsterdam, and currently her series regular role as Greta on the new Apple + show Physical staring Rose Byrne. Dierdre and Charlie talk about the big decisions she's made over her twenty year career, and how they led her to consistently working at the top of the profession. Dierdre shares how she c...

If you are an actor,  you've probably stressed a lot about this question. What's my type? On this weeks solo episode, Charlie talks about how you should consider this question, and some ways to keep it from filling you with anxiety. Charlie also shares his thoughts on the importance of Nadine Labaki's film Capernaum, and the Cuban artists who are literally risking their lives to giv...

The imagination is the most important part of an artist's instrument. For the actor, activating and stimulating your imagination is the key to keeping you from the prison of conventionality. Actor's who are weighed down by practicality and pedestrian habits will always struggle to be  interesting. This week Charlie talks to one of his mentors, the master teacher Lenard Petit. Lenard has...

Toby Sandeman was one of the best sprinters in England.  He was a two-time gold medal winner at the 2009 European Athletics U23 Championships. After a successful modeling career, when Toby decided to dedicate himself to the craft of acting, he brought with him his athletic work-ethic. He has been grinding out a professional acting career for the last ten years. Now he plays series regular Symphony...

It's a solo episode this week fellow daydreamers. Charlie shares his thoughts on Kevin Can F&%K Himself, Bo Burnham's Netflix special Inside, and Lin-Manuel Miranda's apology for colorism in his film In the Heights. He also catches you up on his home life, Julianne Nicholson's acting in Mare of Easttown, and even reads you an Elzabeth Bishop poem. You can follow CBP on Inst...

Mackenzie Lansing's excellent work in HBO's hit Mare of Easttown playing the bully Briana Delraso, wouldn't have been possible when she first came to NYC to pursue a professional acting career. What happens when you deny yourself the permission to function from your authenticity, from the fullness of who you are? Mackenzie talks about her journey of coming out of the closet professi...

Charlie talks with Gavin Larsen, a Prima Ballerina who retired in 2010 after a two decade career working at the top of the profession. Her new memoir, Being a Ballerina, is a love letter to artistry. An extraordinary insight into the beauty, the heartbreak, the passion, the struggle, and the incredible dedication it takes to live a creative life. What does it mean to be obsessed with your art? Wha...

It's a solo episode this week fellow daydreamers. Charlie shares some thoughts on the damage that excuses do to our self-esteem and confidence, and how they erode our ability to achieve anything substantial. How many of you feel sabotaged by your excuses, find yourself feeling unhappy, unfulfilled, or stagnate? Charlie talks about looking at the fear of failure and of the unknown, those insid...

Richard Robichaux is one of the funniest actors working. He is also one of our best acting teachers, currently the endowed Chair of Acting at the acclaimed MFA acting program at UCSD, one of the most prestigious graduate schools in the United States. Charlie and Richard discuss his twenty-five year career with memorable roles in Ocean's 8, Bernie, Boyhood, Where'd You Go, Bernadette, The...

Have you ever been unsettled coming upon a tall, muscular black man tattooed from head to toe with piercings through his nose, lips, and eyebrows? Might you avert your eyes and cross the street? Buckle up for this episode fellow daydreamers.  Don't let Charlie's former student and friend Antino Crowley-Kamenwati  fool you. He is one of the most interesting, sensitive and fascinating acto...

For an actor, the ability to relate off-camera or off-stage to the previous circumstance of a scene is an essential fundamental of your craft. How can you harness the ability to daydream and fantasize to your artistic process? How can you develop the skill to alter your emotional life, to access a deeper, richer level of insight in a healthy and creative way? In this week's solo episode, Char...

This week Charlie talks with Maggie Flanigan Studio alum  Suzanne Heathcote, the season three lead writer for Killing Eve, one of the best shows on television. She rolled the dice on herself. How does someone pack their bags, move to another country to seriously train, and end up working at the highest level of the profession? Suzanne knocked on and knocked down every door she's come across....

Acting can be boiled essentially into two things, conflict and intimacy. Prioritizing actor's safety and setting  professional guidelines have been in place a long time when it comes to conflict. Intimacy is a completely different story. This week Charlie talks with professional actor and intimacy coordinator Carly Zien. What do they do? Why are they necessary? What are the actor's right...

All of us experience and endure trauma and tragedy. Channeling personal pain for the actor can lead to incredible work. Looking at artists who have the grit and temerity to move creatively through life's blows is inspiring for all of us living an artistic life. It's a solo episode this week fellow daydreamers. Charlie talks about the brutal honesty of DMX, the courage of director Thomas...

Kate Lacey Kiley was being groomed to become a VP of Casting for Disney after almost a decade working as a casting director for the studio, but her heart wasn't in it. She left that job to pursue her acting career, and now, after 20 years in this business, has finally found her true calling as a producer of film and television. This business provides so many different areas for you to find yo...

This week Charlie talks with Kevin Kreider, one of the stars of the hit Netflix reality series Bling Empire.  How does a serious, well-trained actor end up on reality TV?  What can happen when you embrace Yes instead of No?  Charlie and Kevin have a deep conversation about battling demons, overcoming insecurities, and redefining Asian masculinity.  You can follow CBP on Instagram @creatingbehavior...

It's easy to get locked into a sense that everything has to happen RIGHT NOW. This destructive belief that an artistic life is a sprint. How can you work towards a career that defines grit, patience, and a love of the journey itself?  Can you look at your career as a marathon, a long and winding path that may lead you to a deeper appreciation of the creative struggle? Charlie addresses these...

Charlie talks with reiki master and certified nutritionist Laura Pensiero. She works with artists to confront limiting beliefs, while also providing them a process for releasing unhealthy behavior and setting positive intentions. How can you cultivate self-love? How does an actor navigate the high's and lows of the creative struggle? How can you address your resistance to being good to yourse...

For season two's first interview Charlie brings on one of his closest friends,  Luke Cage and Evil star Mike Colter. Friends now for almost twenty-three years, Colter comes on to share his thoughts and the insights gained from a solid two-decade career.  What's the importance of training? How do you navigate the ups and downs of success? What did you have to learn about becoming #1 on th...

Welcome back fellow Daydreamers! Season 2 kicks off with a solo episode. Charlie discusses the work of Daniel Kaluuya, and shares his reflections on Cicely Tyson, Chick Corea and Cloris Leachman. It's Oscar season, and Charlie shares some of the performances he found particularly compelling; Andra Day, Frances McDormand, Vanessa Kirby and Gary Oldman.  There are also a few gems that have flow...

Charlie closes out the first season of Creating Behavior with a look at a few important performances along with some of Charlie's favorite shows, books and music from 2020. He also shares a new holiday song by Lawrence Trailer the artist behind the show's theme song Not Enough. Charlie  also selects some of the best moments of the last 30 episodes.  Thank you to everyone who has listened...