Two Unemployed Actors

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 85 of the Two Unemployed Actors podcast, hosts Max and Sam welcome veteran Australian casting director Anousha Zarkesh . With over twenty-five years of experience across film, television, and commercials, Anousha provides a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the casting process. She discusses her early involvement in projects, often starting at the development stage to att...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 84: Scripting the Future and the Art of Action  Welcome back to another instalment of Two Unemployed Actors! In Episode 84, Max and Sam take a moment to breathe after a whirlwind of interviews with some of the industry’s heavy hitters. This week is all about turning that external inspiration into internal momentum as the boys discuss the tangible progress they are making o...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to another episode of Two Unemployed Actors. I'm Max Belmonte, and today we have an incredible guest who has truly redefined action cinema. Joining us is Sam Hargrave, the visionary director behind the hit film Extraction and its highly anticipated sequel. Sam’s journey is one of the most fascinating in Hollywood, evolving from a dedicated stunt performer into a...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 82 of Two Unemployed Actors, hosts Max and Sam welcome the quintessential Australian "slashie," Christiaan Van Vuuren. Known globally as one-half of the viral sensation Bondi Hipsters, Christiaan’s journey from a hospital bed to major network deals is a masterclass in creative resilience and strategic thinking.   The conversation kicks off with the unexpected...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Episode 81 of Two Unemployed Actors! As we emerge from the constraints of lockdown, hosts Max Belmonte and Sam Folden explore a fundamental question for any performer: what are we watching, and more importantly, what can we learn from it? This week, the duo dives into an extensive binge list, offering a unique "actor’s takeout" on some of the biggest hits avai...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Episode 80 of Two Unemployed Actors! As we step into 2022, Max and Sam reflect on the strange journey of surviving the pandemic while keeping their creative careers alive. In this milestone episode, the guys discuss the reality of being "between projects" during a global crisis and how they pivoted to maintain their momentum.   Max shares his deep dive in...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 79 of Two Unemployed Actors , Max flies solo while Sam is mid-move, navigating the "between projects" reality from a strictly locked-down New South Wales. This episode pulls back the curtain on the oddities of the professional world and the mindset shifts required to level up your career. The Hardware Mystery The episode kicks off with a bizarre story involvin...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to another episode of Two Unemployed Actors, where Max and Sam dive deep into the highs, lows, and hilarious absurdities of the Australian screen industry. This week, Max recounts a whirlwind schedule that saw him jumping from playing a troubled father in a rural short film to recording voiceovers for a wine company. Along the way, he navigates the tricky waters of lo...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Two Unemployed Actors! In Episode 77, Max and Sam dive into the reality of staying "work-fit" in an industry that feels like feast or famine. If you’ve wondered why some Actors seem perpetually busy, this episode reveals the secret: there are no shortcuts. It is about the consistent grind, practicing monologues, and ensuring materials are always ready. Jo...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 76: Trusting Your Gut and Avoiding "The Muppet Agency" In this seventy-sixth instalment of Two Unemployed Actors , Sam and Max return with a cautionary tale about the high cost of ignoring your intuition. If there is one recurring theme in the entertainment industry, it is that red flags are usually waving for a reason. Max recounts a recent string of professiona...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Episode 75 of Two Unemployed Actors! This week, Max and Sam explore the highs and lows of the industry, starting with a surreal victory: Max managed to book two separate professional gigs while simply standing in line for his vaccination. It is absolute proof that the hustle never stops, even when you are waiting for a jab.    However, the episode takes a serious t...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Two Unemployed Actors! In Episode 74, Max and Sam dive deep into the evolving landscape of the industry, proving that being "between projects" is never actually a quiet time. We kick things off with some surprisingly blunt skincare advice Max received while in the makeup chair, turns out, soap isn't a routine!   The main focus of the week is Max’s re...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Episode 73 of Two Unemployed Actors! After a brief hiatus, Max Belmonte and Sam Folden return to dive deep into the essential tools every performer needs in their professional arsenal. This week, the conversation begins with the absolute foundation of any performance: the voice. Max shares his quick-fire vocal warm-up techniques for those urgent voiceover sessions...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Episode 72 of Two Unemployed Actors. This week, Max and Sam dive into the essential hustle of staying productive between projects and how to turn "strong maybes" into career momentum.   Max opens with a significant update regarding his audition for the local Australian play, "Spooks," celebrating a successful callback that puts him back in the t...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 71: Preparation, Payoff, and the Big Screen Grind Welcome to Episode 71 of Two Unemployed Actors! This week, Max and Sam explore the dual nature of the industry: the meticulous preparation behind the scenes and the exciting payoff on the big screen. From managing personal branding to hitting the books with dialect coaches, this episode is packed with the practical realitie...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to another instalment of Two Unemployed Actors! In this landmark Episode 70, hosts Max and Sam dive deep into the highs and lows of the performing arts lifestyle, covering everything from celebrity Martial Arts connections to the sheer absurdity of finding the perfect stage prop in suburban Sydney.   Sam kicks things off with a wrap report, having recently finished wo...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 69 of the Two Unemployed Actors podcast, Max and Sam reunite in the studio accompanied by the vocal 'Fred the dog' to discuss the beautiful chaos of actually being employed. In this episode, the duo dives into the contrasting worlds of independent feature filmmaking and theatre production, offering a candid look at logistical hurdles Actors face daily.   Sam k...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Episode 68 of Two Unemployed Actors, where Max and Sam dive deep into the chaotic, rewarding, and often exhausting reality of the acting world. In this instalment, Max is firmly in the phase of his latest theatrical endeavour, sharing a hilariously relatable saga of renting a van and scavenging Facebook Marketplace to secure furniture for the stage. From hauling co...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Episode 67 of Two Unemployed Actors , where Max and Sam dive into latest wins, hustle, and the absolute madness of the screen industry. The episode kicks off with some fantastic news as Max shares that his play, "Lipstick," is nearly sold out, signalling the return of live theatre in Sydney. But the acting life isn't all stage lights and applause; Ma...

Send us Fan Mail Social Media Strategy for Actors Are you struggling to figure out your social media strategy, or do you even have one? In this solo episode of Two Unemployed Actors , Max Belmonte dives deep into how up-and-coming actors should manage their online presence. It is time to stop treating your profiles like a personal diary and start viewing your acting career as a professional commer...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to another jam-packed episode of Two Unemployed Actors! This week, Sam and Max are back to chat about the beautiful yet chaotic, exciting, and sometimes completely overwhelming reality of navigating the entertainment industry. The boys kick things off with some massive news: Sam’s short film has been officially accepted into an indie festival in Cannes, and Max shares...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the first episode of 2021! Max Belmonte and Sam Folden hit the ground running with a massive, action-packed update on their latest creative projects, industry insights, and the usual behind-the-scenes chaos.   Sam kicks things off by sharing his exciting experience filming a low-budget indie feature film up in Newcastle. From intense night shoots running from 7 PM to 2...

Send us Fan Mail Two Unemployed Actors – Episode 63: The Business of Acting & Mental Health with Simon Ward   With Sam busy working away on set, host Max Belmonte invites a very special guest into the studio for Episode 63. Simon Ward joins the podcast to offer a uniquely powerful perspective as both a trained professional psychologist and a passionate working actor. Together, Max and Simon un...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Two Unemployed Actors as we kick off a massive year three! Sam has the best possible excuse for missing this episode, he is actually working on set. Holding down the fort solo, Max dives straight into the gritty business realities of the acting world, sharing essential lessons from his busiest year yet. If you have ever felt like an agency or client was trying to t...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to another episode of Two Unemployed Actors! In Episode 61, Max and Sam wrap up a massive year by catching up on their busy end-of-year schedules, navigating unexpected set disasters, and diving deep into the technical world of film stunts, auditions, and major industry news.   Max kicks off the show by sharing his struggles with complex play blocking under strict COV...