Slate It Till You Make It

As someone who’s booked over 50 national commercials and has spent the last decade deep in the trenches of commercial casting, it’s taken me a long time to learn one thing: you are almost never the reason you don’t get a callback. Most of the time it has nothing to do with you, your talent, or your tape. It’s the chaos behind the curtain — the brand, the agency, the director, the client’s cousin,...

In this episode, host Catherine Donnelly sits down with Beth Fraser (Elizabeth Nicole Fraser), an actor and former broadcast journalist whose career spans commercials, television, and film. Originally from Douglas, Georgia, Beth grew up in Sarasota, Florida, and earned her degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Florida before beginning her on-camera career as a model for the Home Sh...

In this episode, Catherine Donnelly unpacks the major shift at Casting Networks — namely, the new paid subscription model for all U.S.-based agents and managers , beginning January 1, 2026. We walk through exactly what the new tiered fees are, why Casting Networks says it’s doing this, and how actors who depend on CN for commercial auditions should plug the gaps. (Source: Casting Networks Support...

In this episode of Slate It Till You Make It , host Catherine Donnelly sits down with recurring guest John Fulton, a multi-talented comedian, musician, and actor, to discuss his top ten commercial booking tips. From his early days as a basketball team captain in Topsfield, MA, to DJing a jazz show at the University of Rhode Island, and eventually hosting Must Love Cats on Animal Planet, John’s car...

What does it really take to stand out, book more work, and build a sustainable acting career in today’s rapidly shifting industry? In this episode of Slate It Pod , host, Catherine Donnelly, sits down with Murisa Harba — award-winning actress, director, and founder of About The Work , a Hollywood-based acting studio she launched in 2013. Murisa has coached thousands of actors across five continent...

What does it take to build a thriving career in commercials — and keep your sanity while doing it? In this episode of Slate It Till You Make It , host, Catherine Donnelly sits down with Stuart K. Robinson , CEO of Brady, Brannon & Rich Talent (BBR) — one of the top commercial agencies in Los Angeles. Stuart’s career spans decades as an actor, Broadway performer, motivational speaker, voice art...

On this episode of Slate it Till You Make It, host Catherine Donnelly takes a deep dive with Lindsay Bronson of AHC Casting , one of the most successful commercial casting offices in the country. With decades of experience and a client list that spans major global brands, Lindsay brings unmatched insight into what it really takes to book work in today’s evolving commercial industry. We dive into:...

In this episode of Slate It Till You Make It , host Catherine Donnelly is joined by the powerhouse that is Havilah Malone—4x bestselling author, award-winning actress, spoken word artist, and executive producer—whose mission is to inspire over 2 billion people to unlock their intuitive genius and confidently communicate their value. From starring in hit shows like Barry , Insecure , and NCIS: New...

Arlene Schuster-Goss has been a leading force in commercial casting for more than 25 years. As the founder of ASG Casting , she has shaped campaigns for major national brands including McDonald’s, Honda, and Google, and her credits extend to Super Bowl spots and global projects. Known for her discerning eye for talent and straightforward approach, Arlene has built a reputation as both a respected...

In this episode of 'Slate It Till You Make It,' host Catherine Donnelly shares her Top 10 Self-Tape Tips to help actors stand out, impress casting, and book more work. From mastering your frame and lighting to delivering authentic, high-energy reads, Catherine breaks down exactly what commercial casting directors are looking for—and the biggest self-tape mistakes to avoid. She also reveals **why t...

In this episode of "Slate It Till You Make It," host Catherine Donnelly sits down with Daniel Rojas and Jamila Hache, the visionary co-founders of Rafy, an innovative self-tape app designed to give actors more freedom, flexibility, and control over their auditions. As self-tapes continue to dominate the industry, actors face ongoing challenges—limited space, scheduling conflicts, and the struggle...

In this episode of 'Slate It Till You Make It,' host Catherine Donnelly interviews returning guest Sean Spann: an actor, teacher, private coach and VO dubbing artist born and raised outside St. Louis, MO. An LA resident for almost 17 years, he's worked as an actor in television, film, commercials, and stage. TV/Film credits include The Little Things, Little America, Shameless, General Hospital, an...

Dear Fellow Angeleno Creatives - I love you. Stay Strong. - Catherine

In this episode of 'Slate it Till You Make It," host Catherine Donnelly sits down multi-hyphenate Spencer Kramber - actor, acting coach, and commercial session director. With a strong foundation in Theatre Arts from Minnesota State University and an MFA from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television, Spencer’s rigorous training has prepared him to excel both in front of and behind the camera....

In this episode of "Slate It Till You Make It," Catherine Donnelly curates valuable insights gleaned from Season 3, meticulously tailored to cater to emerging actors.

Jesse Hsu began his career in entertainment in New York where he studied with UCB and after moving to Los Angeles a few years ago, he has booked a variety of commercials with multiple casting agencies and worked with some amazing brands and directors. He has had commercial training with AHC and Killian's and voiceover classes at Real Voice LA and Kalmenson. In 2022, he was a guest star in a web se...

In this episode of "Slate It Till You Make It," host Catherine Donnelly sits down with Marisa Munoz of M Casting. Marisa's journey in the entertainment industry started in Los Angeles as a dancer, where her passion for creativity and storytelling began. Transitioning to behind the camera into production, with an eye for beauty and unique talent, she discovered her calling in the world of casting....

Breaking up with your commercial agent can feel overwhelming, but it’s an important step in taking control of your career. In this episode of "Slate It Till You Make It", host Catherine Donnelly reframes the process as a strategic business decision, not a personal one. She walks listeners through key steps, including identifying why you want to make a change, understanding what you’re looking for...

In this episode of "Slate It Till You Make it," host Catherine Donnelly sits down with TJ Alvarado is a prolific performer, working in film, television, theater and commercials. TJ established himself in television in the Recurring Guest Star role of "Dillon" on AMC/Netflix's LONGMIRE (4 Seasons). Recent television credits include a recurring role as "Toad" in MARVEL's AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D., CBS'...

In this episode of Slate It Till You Make It, host Catherine Donnelly sits down with CPA and financial expert Jaclynn Cherry to explore how actors can benefit from forming an LLC or S-Corp. They cover the basics of each business structure, discuss when it makes sense to incorporate, and dive into key tax-saving strategies. Jaclynn explains how to manage self-employment taxes, pay yourself from you...

In this episode of Slate It Till You Make It, host Catherine Donnelly sits down with CPA and actor Jaclynn Cherry for an essential guide to navigating W4 paperwork and tax strategies tailored for actors and freelancers. Jaclynn, a tax expert with over 15 years of experience in public and private accounting and a creative herself, sheds light on key topics like the benefits of voluntary withholding...

In this episode of "Slate It Till You Make It," host Catherine Donnelly sits down with John Lehr - comedic performer, writer and producer working in television, film and theater. Lehr co-created, wrote and executive produced and starred in both “10 Items or Less,” on TBS Hulu’s original comedy western “Quickdraw.” Lehr is one of the original Geico Cavemen from the wildly successful commercial camp...

In this episode of “Slate It Till You Make It,” host Catherine Donnelly interviews session director, actress and founder of the commercial club Ava Himmel. With a background in dramatic theater and improv skills honed at Second City Toronto, Ava has starred in major campaigns for brands like AT&T, McDonald’s, Dunkin' Donuts, and Toyota. For over 15 years, she’s also worked as a Session Director, g...

In this episode of "Slate It Till You Make It," host Catherine Donnelly sits down with John Fulton, a multi-talented comedian, musician, and actor, to discuss his unique journey through the entertainment industry. From his early days as a non-basketball team captain in Topsfield, MA, to DJing a jazz show at the University of Rhode Island, and eventually hosting Must Love Cats on Animal Planet, Joh...

In this episode of "Slate It Till You Make It," host Catherine Donnelly sits down with the talented actress Camille Chen to explore her journey of embracing cultural identity, resilience, and success in the acting world. Camille shares her personal experiences as a Taiwanese-American actress, discussing how her heritage has influenced her career and the importance of authentic representation in Ho...