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How We Role: A Podcast for Actors by Casting Networks
How We Role: A Podcast for Actors by Casting Networks, breaks down an actor's journey, one topic at a time. Join award-winning actor, writer and host Robert Peterpaul alongside industry talent and experts as they discuss how to build a successful career as a performer and beyond in the entertainment industry. From inspirational casting stories to practical advice on the craft of acting, tune in to expand your skill set and book that role.
Get cast today at castingnetworks.com.
How We Role: A Podcast for Actors by Casting Networks
Actor Anxiety? Mindset Hacks That Actually Work with Casting Director Lisa London
Veteran Casting Director Lisa London shares insights on the most powerful tool in an actor's toolkit - their mindset. She joins How We Role host Robert Peterpaul to uncover how an actor can be more mindful and present in the room.
The episode covers:
- Why focusing on the process rather than the outcome will set you free.
- The common thread between the successful actors she's cast like Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt and Emma Stone.
- Her #1 tip for being on a set.
- Her golden rule for self-tapes and so much more.
Lisa London has been a casting director for more than 30 years and
has cast over a 100 successful film and television shows. She and her business partner, Catherine Stroud, have cast many notable actors and actresses at the beginning of in their careers who have all gone on to become stars.
Some of these actors include: Miley Cyrus, Jonah Hill, Emma Stone, Katharine
McPhee, Selena Gomez, Jennifer Aniston, Mark Ruffalo, Brad Pitt, Megan Hilty, Adrian R. Mante, Joey King, Yara Shahidi, Noah Centineo, Josh Gad and Mariska Hargitay.
Lisa has cast many film and TV genres from comedies to dramas to thrillers to family friendly films. She cast many movies for Adam Sandler’s company, Happy Madison Productions including the comedy classic, Grandma’s Boy and The House Bunny. She also works with many independent filmmakers helping them to get talent attached to their films to get them into production.
Lisa also wrote a book for actors which is the 411 guide on the business side of acting, From Start to Stardom (The Casting Director’s Guide For Actors). Her book is available on Amazon. She also teaches audition technique classes where she strives to help actors with many aspects of their careers. Lisa assists actors in building confidence in themselves and turning their goals into realities.
Find out more at: www.fromstarttostardom.com
This is - How We Role. Get cast today at castingnetworks.com.
Follow Host, Actor and Producer Robert Peterpaul (Amazon's Sitting in Bars with Cake, The Art of Kindness podcast) on Instagram @robpeterpaul and learn more at robertpeterpaul.com.
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Hi, I'm Lisa London. I'm a casting director. I'm 5'5" and you're listening to how we Roll.
Speaker 2:When it comes to working in entertainment, there's a lot of hows, and they all boil down to how we navigate this wild industry. While how we follow our dreams is uncertain, how we roll along the way is in our hands. Welcome to how we Roll, a podcast for actors by Casting Networks. Hi, fellow actors, it's your friend, robert Peterpaul, back for a very special episode. Today we're covering what I believe to be the most powerful tool in an actor's toolkit. No, not a headshot your mindset. Whether you feel like you're self-sabotaging in a self-tape spiral, been there. You have audition anxiety, anxiety, oh, audition anxiety or you're just lacking confidence in your career. I'm thrilled you're tuning in to hear from today's esteemed guest casting director, lisa London.
Speaker 2:Lisa London is a veteran casting director with over 30 years of experience and more than 100 film and television credits to her name. Alongside her business partner, catherine Stroud, she's helped launch the careers of wait for this. Stars like Miley Cyrus, brad Pitt, jennifer Aniston, emma Stone and Selena Gomez Are we on a red carpet right now. Her casting credits include Hannah Montana, the Suite, life of Zack and Cody House Bunny, five films for Adam Sandler's Happy Madison Productions. I mean, the list goes on. But my favorite part is that Lisa gives back, sharing her wealth of knowledge with us actors through coaching sessions, her book From Start to Stardom and one incredibly inspiring social media presence. Join the thousands of other actors following her at Lisa London Casting. I'll see you in the comments. Discover more of her magic at FromStartToStardomcom or at the link in our show notes, or at the link in our show notes. Lisa leads with kindness in this industry and I think that truly shines through in today's conversation. Be a part of our next chat by submitting your questions on Instagram, at Casting Networks or at Rob Peterpaul. Hey, I truly hope that Lisa's wisdom serves you well this Mental Health Month and beyond.
Speaker 2:Now here's how we roll with actor mindset, featuring casting director Lisa London. Welcome to how we Roll, lisa. I am so excited to finally do this with you. Thank you for being here. Absolutely, I'm so excited. I know I had my Kristen Wiig hands in the air. I'm like I'm so excited. Yeah, exactly, I'm thrilled. Thank you for everything you do, from your classes, coaching to, again, your social media posts. You are just a guide for all of us in this industry and help us get on that healthy and happy path, which I think relates to exactly what we're going to discuss today, so I wanted to start with a place of gratitude, because you're really doing so much, so thank you.
Speaker 1:Oh well, thank you very much. I love to help actors, so that's always been my vibe, so I'm glad that I can help and do that. So I really appreciate that.
Speaker 2:Oh, I'm glad to hear that and I guess, speaking of that vibe for some context here, I know you actually grew up in this biz because of your dad, jerry, who seemed like such an amazing director and worked on all these iconic shows. When was the first time you remember thinking, ok, I really want to be the one championing actors and working with actors and helping them succeed?
Speaker 1:I grew up in the business with my father who you know directed all these shows, these iconic shows in that you know, from the Brady Bunch and Parch family and Kojak and Six Million Dollar man and Rock Profile. So I grew up on sets. So I spent a lot of time when after school and I'd go hey, I'm going to the set and I'd hang out and I'd talk to actors and I was always interested in actors journey. How'd you get there? I don't know why. I just was right as a kid. So I went to college and I studied at the University of Southern California and I studied cinema and television there and during my summers I worked as a production assistant on movies that my father did, movies of the Week, and what happened was during. I didn't know actually I was going to get in casting. I did not know that in college but I always, like I said, when I was on these sets, I really liked actors and I talked to actors. My father did Shogun, the original Shogun. I went to.
Speaker 1:Japan. You know John Rhys-Davies, who is an amazing actor, if you guys know him. He was in all the Indiana Jones movies and I used to sit on his lap and he would recite Shakespeare to me.
Speaker 2:I would say write a book already. Oh, this one's good, this one's great, okay, those two.
Speaker 1:No, that doesn't work, but that one works with that one. And I had all these opinions and that's kind of how I got started. But it was very interesting because when I started as an assistant then I realized that was my path. Because of the fact that I always liked actors, I used to tear out articles in magazines.
Speaker 2:Oh, wow.
Speaker 1:And I had a big file and my mother would go what are you doing with these? I go, I don't know. And so I feel, in a way, that it was sort of the path. I didn't know that was how it was going to go, because I always sat on sets and I would talk to the actors. I learned lots about production, like I had a big overview about production. But that's kind of how it started.
Speaker 2:So cool and I think what I loved learning most about your journey aside this dreamy life growing up on set is that I believe and we could talk about this maybe in a future episode, because I already want to have you back, I think you're incredible is that you said you wanted to just be a casting director. You know, I think you went from assistant to director. You skipped the associate, so you had this kind of belief in yourself, which I think translates to today's topic. It's all about mindset and mindfulness for actors Just to start as a creative person yourself. Mindfulness for actors, just to start as a creative person yourself. What is your sort of mindset routine or how do you approach that?
Speaker 1:Let's say this Every aspect of this business, I feel you have to have a certain mindset to continue to persist. You have to have the joy which I definitely have the joy as a casting director. I love helping actors, right, I love casting, I love putting an ensemble together, I love finding new talent, I love creating all that magic that happens on the screen, right with talent. So I have always had that joy. That's why I love to teach, that's why I love to coach, that's why I love to cast and I'll do all those things. But I do believe you have to have the mindset every day. Of course there's challenges in my field and all of our fields, right. We work in this business called show, so my routine is really about that. I love it and I find joy in it. It's not that I don't have any difficult moments, because I do but I feel that when I get up in the morning, my mindset is like okay, well, what am I going to do today to create my career?
Speaker 1:And that's as I'm an independent cast director. Right, I'm not on staff anywhere, so I have to get jobs, just like actors. It's a you're white. You can't sit around anymore waiting for a phone to ring. That does not work Right, and we go through a lot of highs and lows in all aspects. Doesn't matter whether you're a writer, producer, director, casting director, actor, production personnel, it doesn't matter Right, we all go through the highs and lows. So it's what can you do every single day to create your career?
Speaker 1:What little doesn't have to be. Oh, my God, I have to do the biggest thing in the world, but what can you? What one little thing can you do every single day? And that's what I have to tell myself.
Speaker 2:I love that.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I heard Jessica Chastain, who we love bow down, say something similar, which is that she had a long journey before she, you know, came to success, and she said she would do something every day that made her call herself an actor. So she was, I think, transcribing Hamlet into a female perspective just for herself. And I love that advice because it kind of gives you control in this industry where we really have no control.
Speaker 1:Absolutely.
Speaker 2:And that's beautiful.
Speaker 1:And also Rob, you know it doesn't. As an actor, I can say it doesn't matter what you do as long as you're creating something for your career.
Speaker 1:That could be whether you're not you're in a class. It could be whether you're in a class. It could be whether you're getting together with a group of actors and you're reading a script. You know it could be you're watching movies to get more educated on different ways to play roles. It could be reading books, and it could be reading books, you know, not only about actors, but maybe about directing, maybe about producing. There's a million things you can do every day to create towards your career.
Speaker 2:I think that's so true. Right, speaking of Jessica Chastain, who's sort of this beautiful titan in the industry you've worked with so many of these titans, I was trying to find a word for it. I'm just going to say, lisa, you're a meteoroid, I mean because I feel like you've created a lot of shooting stars. I was just going to say, lisa, you're a meteoroid, I mean because I feel like you've created a lot of shooting stars. I was going to say you shot stars, but that did not sound right. So I said meteoroid and I feel like from Jennifer Aniston in Leprechaun, which is a cult classic, emma Stone in House Bunny, which I also love, miley Cyrus, who got the best of both worlds. I mean, the list goes on. Have you noticed, as we're looking at mindset for actors out there, have you noticed a common thread in these folks that have gone on to have these incredible, iconic careers as far as mindset and maybe the aura and vibe they just bring into a room?
Speaker 1:Well, yeah, so that's two different things. One is I feel that these actors that go on to have very successful careers. I feel they work really hard. That's the thing, and I don't mean hard in a way like, oh, it takes so much effort, you know, not that kind of hard, they're just persistent and they put in the work.
Speaker 1:You know that's the trick you have to put in the work in this business, and so that's one side of it. I feel that all the like when I look at all these people like you can go from, like Lady Gaga, who is writing songs for other people way back you know there's so many people whose career I mean my favorite.
Speaker 1:One of my favorite stories is Brian Cranston, who talks about that he got his first job for Malcolm in the Middle in his 40s and he got his iconic role in Breaking Bad in his 50s.
Speaker 1:Okay, it's him working it working it, you know working hard. It takes a huge amount of persistence and you know there's a lot of, you know, rejection and things that happen. But if, like I said, I'll go back to you love it, it's really what you want to do, then you keep persisting along that road and I feel what those, all those actors have, who go on to be hugely successful, is their not only their charisma and their je ne sais quoi that untangible quality.
Speaker 1:You know about them, but they work really hard. They're hard workers and they put in. They work on the craft you know. Now, look, if you're a kid and like Miley, when we cast Miley and Hannah, she was 12, right, it's not like she had a whole buttload of experience, but she, you know, she had a certain persona, a certain charisma about her and when she came in a room she lit up a room. She had that spark. You know that shine and that's part of it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, getting back to the childlike energy in all of us too is something I've really I mean, it's not hard for me because I'm a man child but something I've really thought about and tried to work toward, Because you take all these classes and you learn a lot of business tips and things can get in your head. It's so subjective and so remembering to just bring that fun to it is such an important lesson, I think, and it also never stops, right. I mean, look at Ariana Grande. You would think she wouldn't have to audition like she had to for Wicked with this big platform she's on, but she put in a year's worth of work to even just audition, and I think those are important lessons.
Speaker 1:So Absolutely All of them. They made everybody audition for.
Speaker 2:Wicked what I read. I mean, I think, Cynthia.
Speaker 1:Erivo auditioned too. Yeah, you know, I mean, and she's a huge Broadway star, amazing actress, she auditioned, you know so you just never know. But whatever it is, when opportunity comes and those moments happen it's that quote right when preparation meets opportunity, because you need to be prepared, you do.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and part of that preparation that I can't wait to talk to you about is the mindset and mindfulness angle, because you could know all your lines, you could have a your lines, you could have a bunch of different takes on the role prepared, a bunch of different perspectives. But if you get into an audition or have a self tape or go to a meeting or whatever it is and you kind of get in your own way and you're not centered or just being a human in a normal way, I guess if there is a normal way, then you're you're not going to meet that opportunity. So I think an interesting place to start with you would be in regards to auditions, are there certain exercises or tips you have for actors to get into that good headspace and vibe before they actually hit record or go into a Zoom or go into a room?
Speaker 1:Yeah. So let me, I want to talk about one thing and then I'll give you those little tips from my perspective. But self-confidence, right? The word confidence means your belief in yourself, right? Your self-assured belief in your abilities, your abilities, your skills right, and your knowledge. That, to me, is first off. You have to believe in yourself, right? So when you're going to do a self-tape or you get a call back and you're going to be on Zoom or you're going to go in person, you want to have that confidence in yourself, because that comes through in an audition and that's part of what we look for. I just want to say, like your confidence, we can see it. It's okay to be nervous. I don't want to say, don't be, that's not true. I, like nerve, turn that nervousness, I always say, into nervous excitement.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's the same feeling scientifically. I think I've read.
Speaker 1:Right, you know to go. Okay, I'm nervous People have said that to me so many times in a room on Zoom. I'm nervous, like okay, great, hey, don't be nervous, don't worry, we're just going to have fun, we're just going to get it and we're going to have fun.
Speaker 1:So that's one thing about you, know. But my point is that you got to have first the belief in yourself, right, and to be an actor, you got to believe in yourself or any aspect of the business. You got to believe you can do it right. So that's first. So, when you are going to do an audition or a callback, some of the things that I say to actors and this is just me, everybody's got their own way to do something. But I say breathe. Number one, breathe right, whether that's you, take a few deep breaths before you even come on the screen. You know, sometimes there's all different kinds of breathing exercises, but you can breathe in for four, hold it, let it out for four, relax before you do that audition. That's number one, I would say, because a lot of people are like, oh, so nervous about it, which I totally understand, right. So don't hold your breath.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because you probably then see a lot of actors. Whenever I've been on the other side of the table then, and I'm sure I've done it instead of breathing in, it's like start the scene and they sort of exhale. It's like yeah. And that's like you're just kind of depleting yourself. You know it's the opposite. So this is a great reminder.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so that's one thing I think is important, especially, I know, for people when they're going to get a Zoom callback. You know they tend to get oh I'm so I'm nervous about that.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Or a callback in person. When you're self-taping it's a little different. You're in your house, you can do it a couple of times and then move on. So you might not be as nervous as you probably won't be is when you're gonna get a Zoom or a callback. Right, but breathe, remember to breathe is first. The other thing is do something for yourself. Well, maybe you have to listen to music. Maybe you listen to some songs, or there's certain music that pumps you up and makes you feel okay, this is going to get me in the zone. Whatever, that is for you, right?
Speaker 2:Dolly Parton.
Speaker 1:Yeah, whatever it is Adele, whoever it is you know whatever you need to listen to before, that gets you in the headspace, you know, gets you focused. The main thing for these, the mindset, is you want to be focused and you want to be ready to listen and take direction.
Speaker 2:That's super important, right? Because then, if you book the job and get on set, what's going to happen?
Speaker 1:change it up, and so my opinion on that is you have to. That's why I'm saying take the time to be focused. Before you come on the screen, you've made your choices. Or you come in a room in person and you've made your choices, you make them and then, when they give you that direction, if you're focused and you're super prepared, you can process that and take that direction.
Speaker 2:You know it's funny you say choices. I mean it's not funny. You're a casting director. Of course you would say choices at one point. But I've been asking different casting folks what that actually means to them, because I think we think we know what it means as an actor. But sometimes you hear make a choice and you're sort of like, is it just the perspective of the person? Should that? Does that mean I should be louder? Should I talk faster? What? So what does a choice mean to you when you say that to an actor?
Speaker 1:To me, it means it's using you're taking that little description of a character and your material, your scenes, and you're making a choice, using your creative imagination, on how you want to play that character and you're committing to that choice all the way through. That's to me, what it means you commit to your choice, right.
Speaker 2:I love that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's what it means to me. I mean, you know, and that could be whatever it is, you know, when you look at, like Will Ferrell, who does these amazing, crazy, wild characters, he commits all the way through to that choice. So you, as an actor, when you're doing a self-tape, it's committing to that choice, that's what it?
Speaker 1:is Coming in a room. You're committed to your choice, but you must be malleable, fluid. You got to be able to change it up when asked, because directors will ask you hey, try this, let's change this. What about this moment? Whatever they're going to say. And that's because when you get on a set, they want to make sure you can do that.
Speaker 2:Well, I'm guessing you are that way in an audition setting, you know, I'm sure you're very malleable, because I've heard you say over and over that part of casting's job is to make an actor feel comfortable, which is very kind. As a casting director. In that vein, what do you like to see most in that preamble or pre-chat in a room or on a live Zoom? Are you sort of malleable depending on the actor coming in, or do you prefer a certain way? Do you prefer people to just come and do their job? Do you like to chit-chat what is your vibe there? And even to extend to a slate, because I think sometimes people use the slate in that regard too.
Speaker 1:Yeah, ok. So on, when they come in a room I like to chit chat because to me when they come in a room where they're on Zoom, I always chit chat a little. Now let's say, it's a very serious role, an actor, you, it's your 10 minutes in a room, whatever that is, it's your time. So you're welcome to say, hey, do you mind if we chat after, if you're in the zone for a very serious role or whatever that is, so you can do that. But I like to chat because to me what I miss the most about being in the room with actors is that that's how you get to see their essence, their vibe, and I miss that as a casting director, you know. That's why I like to do at least Zoom pre-reads when I can, because at least it's the next best thing to being in a room. But part of casting is the connection and seeing what an actor does and seeing their personality. And seeing what an actor does and seeing their personality, and part of that is by talking to them.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and we need more of that in the world.
Speaker 1:I think in general, right, they're missing that connection and also it's engagement. You know, like, hey, when I ask you how are you doing, or where are you from, or whatever it is, are you communicating back to me? You know, are we having a conversation? That's part of seeing your vibe, you know, just like in life, meet people.
Speaker 2:Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1:That was. That's that part when you go in the room. You asked me about the slate, so on the slate now listen, this is me okay. I tell actors you should show personality on a slate, so, for example, whatever that is, you don't have to just be hi, I'm Lisa Lunden, I'm 5'5" and I live in Los Angeles. You know it doesn't have to be that Now some cast directors might tell you I don't care about the slate.
Speaker 1:They just want the name, the height, where you're from, and that's it right. I'm saying I like personality because that when I take my notes I'm looking, I look at the slates first, so I write down that I have a whole thing of all my notes, so I write down their name, where they're from, the height, and I'm looking at their vibe right off there. So let's say, you speak Spanish, I don't know.
Speaker 1:You could be like hola como esta? You know, whatever or whatever you want to do in a slate I mean short unless they tell you they want a personality chat on a slate. That's a different thing, but which we've done sometimes, especially with kids. You know, we'll ask for a personality slate where we'll ask a question and see how they respond to it. But, otherwise, I think it's okay to put a little fun into your slate. That's me.
Speaker 2:I love that. Yeah, I think it's great to have all this knowledge, because when you're armed with this, it allows you to be more mindful and intentional and you kind of know what to expect. And I think for some actors, not knowing what to expect is part of the reason why we can spiral. You talk a lot about owning the room, and I love that you talk about that, because it empowers the actor. You sort of mentioned it even before, but what is your general advice there on how an actor can come into an audition and own the room?
Speaker 1:I think that goes back to the confidence you know, your self-confidence.
Speaker 1:You feel confident when you walk in a room and the confidence to me also besides your belief in yourself comes from your own preparation. I feel if an actor is prepared enough, the more prepared you are, I feel, the better you're going to do when you go in a room, because then if the director throws you a curveball, you're so prepared you're going to handle it Right. So preparation, I think, is super important when you come into the room, and I also feel it comes back down to that, having that confidence, because the more you feel that about yourself, I think the better you're going to do.
Speaker 1:Isn't that how it is in life anyways? I mean, I'm not talking cocky. That's not what I mean by that. I just mean you believe in yourself and know that you're going to do well, you know that you've got this. You know that's what I'm talking about.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I always think about it in the way of other careers. A lot of people don't go into their office and just think they suck at it. You know they think, oh, this is my job, I'm good at it, I'm going to do it. And it's funny because in our industry it's so tied with your personality and who you are that I think all these things get a little mixed up together and sometimes that's not a good recipe. But if you don't have these foundational items, like you're saying, it can lead to you then spiraling during your auditions, during your at bats, when you have these opportunities. Let's say, an actor feels like they're prepared, but maybe it's almost the opposite. They think they're so good for the role, they're so excited that they psych themselves out. Do you have any tangible tips for shaking that off? Let's say, we're mid take and we just can't. You know, we can't get out of our own way.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so I was gonna say that one of the things that I wanted to mention is, when you're doing an audition, you cannot be in your head, and what I mean by that is you can't be saying lines and judging how you said them. So you're reading a line and in your head you're going well, oh my God, I blew that. That's not how I wanted to do it. Oh my. God, that was wrong. Oh, I'm so off, you cannot do that what you're doing.
Speaker 1:You're not in the moment right. Because what happens when you're on a set and an actor you're reading, you're doing a scene with another actor or a couple actors and they go and do something else, they throw an improv line in there or something. If you're in here, you're not in the moment right. So I'm always trying to get actors, I'm always working to get actors to not be in here. Do not be judging as you're acting. Create the character, make your choices, commit to those choices and go for it and be there, present, be authentic, be in the moment and don't be prejudging or judging as you go. And I know that's easier said than done a lot of times, but it really is. How are you going to be in a moment? How are you?
Speaker 2:going to be present.
Speaker 1:How do you be authentic to that character if you're judging it as you say it?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm going to clip that and play it before every audition from now on. Just listen to it.
Speaker 1:Does that make sense? Because you know a lot of actors do it. I'm in class when I'm teaching and I'm like are you thinking about everything you're saying?
Speaker 2:They're like yeah.
Speaker 1:And I'm like you got to let it go. Just be and create and have fun. You've made your choices, Just go for it. Stop judging it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think a lot of us. When we start out, we have that judgment and it can be hard to shake. That's going to be so helpful for listeners.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:In looking at mindfulness and mindset. The founder of mindfulness, whose name is escaping me right now, but I'm still going to bring it up. Somebody fact check me. He actually talked about how his philosophy came to be because of washing his hands and washing the dishes and just being aware of the feeling of the water, and we all do that and don't think about it. But do you have any tangible things in that regard that you think could help actors be more mindful, you know, and be more present?
Speaker 1:Well, one, you know. Okay, I'm going to go back to my Brian Cranston, who I'm a huge fan of. I've met a few times. I haven't had the pleasure of casting him. I've run into him a number of times. I've tried to cast him, but he's always busy.
Speaker 1:Anyway he had this. I read this article and I think it's really great, and he said you should focus on the process rather than the outcome. And when he said that, and what he means and this is what I took away from it is when you focus on the outcome, that can create more stress and more anxiety and get you more in your head Because you're focusing on oh, I got to get this job. Oh, I really am perfect for this job. I'm going to get this job. You're focusing on the end and the result and that's going to cause you more stress, right?
Speaker 1:But, if you focus on the process, how am I going to create this character? What am I going to bring to it? Oh hey, I have a great idea. This guy could be this or this role. That could be so quirky and interesting.
Speaker 1:And if you focus on the process, that's going to bring you more joy, because that's what you should be doing as an actor is focusing on the process and creating and in having that gives you more joy and will give you less stress, and I think that is such such great advice, because then you're not focusing on the outcome. You're focusing on what can I do to create? And that's what we as artists do. We create and we make an impact on an audience. Right, that's what you as actors do. You make an impact by how your emotions and your attitudes and what you're putting out there, that and you're impacting us and we have these feelings and we are sad or happy or laughing or crying or pissed off based on what you're giving us and when. Imagine that's what you're doing and you get to create that. So that's what I think, as actors, is really important is don't focus on the outcome anymore.
Speaker 2:That's phenomenal.
Speaker 1:Because that creates more stress right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, process over product. I love that. I'm going to put that on a sticky note and put it right here on my wall.
Speaker 1:I read this article of Brian's and I was like man, he's so right and so many people do it. Because you don't know, rob. You don't know why somebody gets a job. There's so many factors that go into casting. So let's say you could do an amazing audition, ten guys could do great auditions, five, how many? Ever it doesn't?
Speaker 2:matter.
Speaker 1:Hundreds. Whatever, what I'm saying is, there's so many factors that go into casting a role about how these people match together. What's the chemistry? Does the family look right? Does the best friends, do the enemies, the antagonists? How do they all fit together? There's so many reasons. Okay, this role we need this. Ethnicity this thing you don't know. Ethnicity this thing you don't know. So you can do a great, fabulous audition and not get the job because it just didn't fit on how the team saw that part right.
Speaker 1:But that doesn't mean you did a bad audition. Or if you focus on the outcome, you're going. Oh, I didn't get the role. That's so bad I'm stink. Oh my God, you go. The whole thing you get in your head right. But if you focus on the process and you go wow, I really enjoyed that. I got to create this amazing character. I met new people. I sent in a self tape. That was so fun. I really enjoyed that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, believe the positive thought. Right, believe the positive thought, not the negative ones. Let those go by. It's the same in life. You know you're thinking why isn't someone texting me back? Well, believe that they have the best intention. Believe that they're just busy. They have something else going on instead of spiraling and thinking they hate you. I think it's a human condition.
Speaker 1:A hundred percent, and we all do it Let me tell you I've gotten that and like wait, why didn't my son text me?
Speaker 2:back.
Speaker 1:All the time Like, oh my God, I texted them like two days ago. How come they didn't return my text? Why didn't they call me back?
Speaker 2:It's hard, it's the benefit of the doubt. I think that can be tricky but is needed. And it gets extra tricky, I think, for a lot of people when we're choosing self-tape takes. Some alliteration there, just like your name, lisa London, because then you do have to see the product. So what's your advice? And this could even be on a larger level, for just how we see ourselves. But what's your advice there, mindset-wise, for kind of looking at your takes, choosing them and sending the best one, versus looking at them and saying I look horrible, I was awful, I need to retape.
Speaker 1:Right, okay. So my first piece of advice is how many takes are you doing Like? Okay, I'm going to ask you how many takes do you normally do for a scene.
Speaker 2:Yeah, my new rule is I cap it off at five. Excellent, I'm very happy to hear that, and then I always shoot the first one off at five Excellent.
Speaker 1:I'm very happy to hear that. And then I always shoot the first one, yeah, okay. So that's my first question, because that's what I would tell actors If you're doing more than like four or five takes of a scene, you are not only losing your authenticity, you're losing your vulnerability, it's becoming more kind of rote. You know what I'm saying, because that is what happens. I met a girl once in a class I taught and I said to her how many takes are you doing? You know what? She told me 35. We've all been there 35.
Speaker 1:We've all been there and I said to her okay, so you're trying, you're you're a perfectionist and it doesn't exist. It doesn't exist, Perfect doesn't exist. So you can't do that to yourself. So my first piece of advice is don't do more than about five takes it's excellent advice, because you'll also lose friends.
Speaker 2:You'll lose readers. Nobody's going to want to read with you if you're doing 37 takes, which we've all been there, you know it's ridiculous.
Speaker 1:And not only that, you'll never find the perfect take because you're going to go. Well, you know, this moment was good in take 10. And this moment was good in take 15. If only I could combine them together. And then you're trying to do that. That's just, that's ridiculous.
Speaker 2:And why do you want to watch 30 takes of yourself. You don't no.
Speaker 1:So what you do is my. This is my opinion on it. You do a couple of takes. This is how I do it. I do a couple of takes, like maybe two or three, and I watch them.
Speaker 2:Like if.
Speaker 1:I'm coaching, I have the act, let's watch them. Watch a couple of them. I can pretty much Like if I'm coaching, I have the act, let's watch them, Watch a couple of them. I can pretty much tell when I'm coaching somebody or I'm working with somebody, okay, this one's good, this take is great. Okay, that's perfect. Okay, let's do one more for safety and see what else comes up. But I say you watch them after a couple, do like two, watch them and you'll go. Okay, that was great, really like that. Okay, I think I can improve on this and then maybe you do two more. I wouldn't take five and then go back and watch five. I would watch two, do two of them, do a couple, watch them, evaluate it and then go.
Speaker 2:Okay, I feel I can make this moment, these moments, stronger here, and then do a couple more that's what I would say and that's how you would pick, in my opinion, because if you do five all at once before you watch them, that's kind of tricky yeah, and they say I think chaos is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. It's like give yourself a pause. Why are you doing another? Take Like kind of think about it.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So if you do two and then watch, then you go. Okay, I see I can fix this, do that, I'm going to add this moment here. I like that. Or you might go, you know what. That's great, I love it. And the other thing I will say is say and this is one thing an actor messes up a word, say, you mess up, you change a D or an A or whatever. Okay, don't go. Oh, my God, I have to redo it because I didn't get that line perfect. Now, listen, I know there's certain. You know directors and people, you know Aaron Sorkin, you can't change a word. That's the way it goes, that's the way you have to do. It, got it. You know there's certain other people that that's what you have to adhere to, that what they want, but others, you know you miss a word, you change a word as long as it doesn't change the whole essence of the line.
Speaker 1:That's fine, and you know you make sure you're in comedy. You hit the comedic moment Great, you miss. If you blew the comedic moment, yeah, you might have to. Yeah, right, but that's what my advice is, so you don't get caught in going. I don't know which take to pick.
Speaker 2:I think that's really smart. My agency is called Take Three and that's a good reminder for me as well, because I shouldn't do more than three takes. I usually do at least five, but you know what I think? It's also helped me to think of my mindset at least as walking into my, my room, your office, your bedroom, wherever it is, as the casting office. And when you go into the casting office, they're probably not going to have you do more than two or three. So think of it that way and just say just make your reader cut you off. It's like they need to get you out of the room, lock you out.
Speaker 1:So I think that's great. And also, when you're on a set, how many takes do you think you're going to get? True, especially those co-star roles You're not going to get, especially on TV series and movies of the week, where I mean limited, when they're trying to get it done. How many takes do you think you're going to get?
Speaker 2:I mean limited when they're trying to get it done. How many takes? Do you think you're going to get Two or three?
Speaker 1:You don't get a lot. And I'll tell you something. One of the things that I the self-tapes are great because we can see so many more people. Like, I'm in Los Angeles, but I cast movies everywhere, right, we cast all over the country and we've done movies in Atlanta, north Carolina, minnesota, montana, kentucky, new York, it doesn't matter. So we get to see a lot of people from a lot of places. But the disadvantage of this self-taping, that's the advantage, right?
Speaker 1:You can be anywhere, like you said, you can be in Connecticut and get a job in New York, it doesn't matter. You can be in Connecticut and, you know, get a job in New York, it doesn't matter. But the disadvantage is if you're home and you're doing 10, 15 takes as you're trying to, you keep doing it over and over and over and. I think that is not the thing to do. Yes, you know that is not something you want to learn and get in your mind.
Speaker 1:Oh, I'm going to get 10 takes. When you used to come in a room we did a couple.
Speaker 2:Remember those days when you came in and we recorded you you did.
Speaker 1:Okay, that was good, try this, let's try this. Maybe did two or three, and that was it. Maybe did two or three, and that was it.
Speaker 2:And now you have to be your lighting designer, your camera operator. You kind of have to do it all. So I think you got to find the perfect sauce for you. You know what makes you most comfortable. Is it having everything set up and it lives in a certain corner or closet, and then you just go in there and you walk out and then it's done and you feel good.
Speaker 2:Does it stress you out to set it up beforehand? Should you do it the night before? You know, I think it's personal right and it's in our hands. But, like you said, a lot of us are perfectionists. We'll never stop, or maybe we're just having fun and we keep doing take after take. So this is a good reminder to just stop it, forget it and then hopefully get on set, which you mentioned, and that was a question I had to mindset wise, I think being on set can come with a whole new set of fears for people and I wonder what is your advice there? You know what's your advice on mindset for actors going on to a set, maybe for the first time?
Speaker 1:Well, I would say number one make sure you're. Remember it's a business, so you're, you have a job, You're professional, right, you come prepared, you come early or on time. You know don't be late. I've known you don't want to know the stories of actors. You know didn't show up on time. I get the phone calls from the assistant director and the director.
Speaker 2:Oh no, I take it the opposite way. My first TV co-star, I literally got there two hours early. It was like four in the morning and I was just in my car like sleeping oh my god really I was like maybe I got here too early. I was just nervous about traffic.
Speaker 1:Anyway, I'm sorry what time was your call time?
Speaker 2:I think it was 6 am in Queens, because the traffic you just never know no, did you set an alarm, though, to know to wake up.
Speaker 1:So at 5 30 yeah, I barely sleep.
Speaker 2:I was just laying there like this on my phone, like I saw the crew pulling up, I'm like lowering my seat so no one sees me. Yeah, I was just too excited.
Speaker 1:Good being early, be early, be prepared, you know, bring anything that you need to bring If you're supposed to. Sometimes on smaller projects they have you. Bring your wardrobe, whatever it is, just make sure you're super prepared, You're professional. But so all of that is important, right? But the number one piece of advice that I would tell people going on a set be, kind to everybody.
Speaker 1:Kindness matters and I'm not just talking. Be kind to you know, the director, producer, actors. Be kind to the crew. They're working really hard. My son, I'll remember when I got him a job working on a movie that I cast this was years ago for Adam Sandler, called Sandy Wexler. And he got a job as a production assistant on the movie and one of the producers came to me and said, oh, your son is so kind. And I was like, okay, good, he takes after me.
Speaker 2:That's what you want to hear, yeah.
Speaker 1:He knew all the crew. He knew the crew like their names. You know, he knew them and I think that's really important. Learn people's names and be kind to people. You have to remember everybody's working together to create an amazing, the best amazing product they can create.
Speaker 1:And it's a team and it's a collaboration, and that's really what this business is. It's a collaboration from everything from acting, writing, directing, producing, lighting the makeup, the costumes, sound, every editing. Every part of it is a collaboration and I think that's the most important advice I could give to anybody, whether you're newer or you've been on a set before be kind, because everybody is working really hard to create an amazing product. And people, when they get kind of you know jerky or whatever why it stands out. Don't get into the ego things and parents with kids and the competition.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, no.
Speaker 1:You know, just be there and enjoy it and obviously, obviously be kind to people. That's what I would advise.
Speaker 2:I co-sign that. I love that so much. That's that would be my advice too, because we live in a world, especially now, where we need more kindness in every industry, I believe, and it comes back to you. You know, if you go on a set and you're a little nervous, if you're kind to somebody, it's going to come back to you. You know, if you go on a set and you're a little nervous, if you're kind to somebody, it's going to come back to you. You know you're going to get kindness back, which isn't the reason to do it, but it's a reason where I say why not?
Speaker 2:Why wouldn't you do it? It's literally science, it's contagious. So I love that advice.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you know how it is. It's like be grateful, man, you're on a set. That's how I feel. I grew up on sets as we started this conversation. I love that. I love being on a set. That's part of what I miss. When they're not shooting here, or if they're shooting in Kentucky, I don't get to go hang on the set.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I loved being on sets.
Speaker 2:It's magic in the making.
Speaker 1:That's what they say in Sunset Boulevard.
Speaker 2:you know, it really is yeah it is.
Speaker 1:It's so much fun and I love that process and talking to people. That's what I miss. I miss about that, you know, I miss being in the room where it happens.
Speaker 2:I know We'll quote another musical Hamilton hey. Hamilton hey, no-transcript.
Speaker 1:Some people yeah, but you know what you got to do it.
Speaker 1:That's what I say, because you never know when you're going to meet somebody that they'll say, oh my God, I want to the director or producer or cast oh, you'd be perfect for my next movie or project or TV show, or we can collaborate on something you don't know. Listen, even myself, sometimes you know I'm like oh, I got to go to this thing. You got to, you got to get out. This is not a job where you sit home and you just wait for the phone to ring, which I said earlier. So you got to get out because you never know who you're going to meet. You just don't.
Speaker 1:I really feel, and I don't be afraid in any way, shape or form, as an actor. If you're at a event or you go to a screening, or you're at a short film festival or you're at any kind of film festival, or you're wherever you are, you're at the theater. Don't be afraid if you're there and you see producers, directors, cast directors, if you're there and you see producers, directors, casting directors, introduce yourself.
Speaker 2:Yeah, make a friend. At the least it's like we're all here to connect.
Speaker 1:Exactly, just connect, don't be, you know.
Speaker 2:I'm sure you get that as casting directors a lot. It's like you get people maybe nervous to come up to you and it's yeah, but I'm so like you don't know.
Speaker 1:I, yeah, but I'm so like you don't know. I'll meet at waiters. You know like I'll be in a restaurant, I'll go. That guy's an actor, I just could tell and I'll go yeah, and I'll go. Okay, I'm a Lisa Lennon, I'm a casting director, and the guy would go oh, really, and I go, yeah, and I'll go.
Speaker 2:Here's my car, I'm so oh, he's like, here's the menu and here's also my resume on the back.
Speaker 1:No, I don't get that, but I'll go. They'll say I'll DM you or whatever. But, I feel don't be pompous about it, Do you?
Speaker 2:know what.
Speaker 1:I'm saying, but I meet, I go out and I'll meet producers or I'll meet directors or I'll meet actors that I didn't know, and people will say, oh yeah, we should sit down. And I met somebody recently down at the local coffee shop that I go to by my house an actress and a producer and it was great. I was like, oh my God, I'm a huge fan of hers, like Jillian Bell. I don't know if you Jillian Bell, she's so fun Shout out yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm giving her a shout out. Her sister Brianna. They just made this movie. It's on Hulu. I'm giving them a shout out. It's called Summer of 69 with Chloe Fineman.
Speaker 2:Oh, I was going to watch that last night I heard it's great.
Speaker 1:You should watch it. It's so fun. I met them outside my local coffee shop. I love Jillian, I know her work. I introduced myself and we started chatting and then I emailed them and said, hey, can we have coffee?
Speaker 2:That's so sweet and look what came of it A great interaction at the least, and then you never know what else will happen. So I think you're so right. It's a great reminder. I feel like anytime I've gone out and met people and just vibed. You know people want to work with people they like, like that. You just want to be around people who you enjoy and to some extent I've seen that to be very true in the industry. You mentioned Adam Sandler. He just wants to make movies with all the same people, all of his friends.
Speaker 1:So and he does. He makes you know he uses a lot of the same guys over and over. We did so many movies for him, from Grandma's Boy, where he put Jonah Hill in one of his early movies, and, like you mentioned, emma Stone and you know, catherine McPhee is now Catherine Foster. You know, we gave her her first job in that movie. But it all comes from connection and relationships. So, there's no. You never know who you're going to meet by going out.
Speaker 2:That's beautiful, yeah, and this all happened because we connected online. Look at that, everybody.
Speaker 1:Come on I know, because you made those really funny videos and I really liked the videos and I kept commenting on them.
Speaker 2:That's so sweet.
Speaker 1:I'm a little Muppet, short and stout, you're so funny and you made me laugh all the time, so I was like oh.
Speaker 2:You're so sweet and you inspire me all the time on social media, and now my cheeks are. I keep smiling. I love that. I usually play a game called casting keywords, which maybe we'll play next time, but I actually made a custom game just for you, lisa. Okay, this is sort of like an affirmations-based game, since you're so good at putting up these reels where you speak to actors and give them such great, bite-sized advice.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay.
Speaker 2:So this is called Casting Confidence with Lisa London.
Speaker 1:All right.
Speaker 2:Lisa, I'm going to throw out a common actor scenario or feeling and for each one just give us a quick affirmation or piece of mindset. Magic Does that make sense. Yeah, okay, okay, you'll get the hang of it once I start to say these phrases.
Speaker 1:Okay, so an affirmation phrase or something for your, whatever you say.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's almost like we're writing a letter. So I'm going to say to an actor who da, da, da, da, da, and then you say whatever beautiful thing you're going to say.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay, okay, we'll have fun.
Speaker 2:Okay, this will be a good time.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:And this will be to all different types of people listening.
Speaker 1:So we're going to speak to people directly, to an actor who feels discouraged today never give up hope, because you don't know when that one audition is going to turn your life around.
Speaker 2:Oh, I love that, so you're already nailing this.
Speaker 1:I mean I would go on a story, but you know John Krasinski's got a great one about that you can always go on a tangent with me.
Speaker 1:I'm a safe tangent person, you know that story about John Krasinski told his mom I'm going to paraphrase it so you guys can look it up to get it exact, I'm sure it's out there on YouTube or whatever. But he told his mom he wanted to be an actor. His mom said, ok, but once you go do this, don't ask me to pull you out, because I can't do it. And so after a couple of years I think it was he got discouraged and he called his mom and he said I can't do this anymore. And she said honey, why don't you give it to the end of the year, and then we'll see what happens? And like a few weeks later, a month later, he got the office.
Speaker 2:I love that and that's so true. Melissa McCarthy had a similar story, I think she said by her 30th birthday she was just going to throw the towel in because it wasn't happening after years of auditioning, and that's when she got Gilmore Girls, which was her first kind of big break. So it's such wonderful reminders. Hang in there everybody. Okay, let's say there's an actor who's hanging in there, but this is to an actor who just got rejected from a dream job.
Speaker 1:Oh yes, and how many times has that happened where an actor really wanted that job so bad. You know what I'm going to say to that when one door closes, another one opens. I know that's probably cliche. I love bummed and I am going to tell you, be bummed for like 24 hours. Move on, don't sit in it, because when one door closes, another one opens. And I had that personally happen to me where, a very long time ago, very early in my career, I mean this is going to be like total honesty. Well, I'm honest anyways. This is going to be like total honesty. Well, I'm honest anyways. But I got, I was working on a movie and I we got fired. I got fired up because the director, whatever, we didn't buy. We'll just say yeah.
Speaker 1:And what I was bummed out. And the next day I got a meeting on Arliss for HBO and I ended up casting seven seasons on Arliss.
Speaker 2:Wow, look at that. Thank you for sharing that and being open, because I think that's relatable for actors too. For everybody in any business. It's like sometimes it's just not the right fit and you're trying your best to make it fit and you're a good person, but for whatever reason it doesn't happen and there's always going to be something else. It's like you fall down 10 times, you get up 11 to have another cliche in there, correct.
Speaker 1:So when one door closes, another one opens. And that piece, that's exactly what happened to me, so that's what I would say.
Speaker 2:Okay. Well, what would you say when us actors are on there, though, seeing people on social media not your beautiful videos, but maybe things that we start to compare ourselves to? So this is to an actor who feels like everyone else is doing better than them.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Okay. Do not compare yourself with the Joneses. That's my first piece of advice about that. Listen, you can't do it. You can't compare yourself because you are your own unique self and you're we're looking for that. We're looking for you to bring your own unique self to a role. So do not compare yourself to anybody else out there, because you are not the same as anybody else and we're looking for you. And people forget that because they compare themselves. We all do it. We look at that social media. That person's got 30 more thousand followers than me. It's like somewhat.
Speaker 1:It doesn't matter, it does not matter.
Speaker 2:They might not even be real.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's like you don't even know. It's really about you creating the content you want to create. It's about you creating the content you want to create. It's about you creating your unique self and you put out whatever you want to put out on social media. But remember that what we're looking for is you and your qualities. So you comparing yourself to somebody else. You don't know how long it took this person to get their first job, but you don't know any of that right. So I would say don't compare yourself to the Joneses.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I love that you know who are the Joneses. Even anyway, they can stay in their house and lock the door. I think it's funny the way I laid this out, because the next one I actually have is to an actor who feels like they don't know who they are, who feels like they don't know what makes them unique.
Speaker 1:Wow, okay. So if you don't know what makes you unique, then I'm going to say then you need to. My advice for that would be get in a class and start trying, not trying. I don't like my friend Gil says don't use the word, try, get in a class. Don't use try, so Get in a class Go ahead, only do Don't use try. So Gil Jackson always says that to me Don't use the word try and he's right.
Speaker 2:My nanny says that a lot there's only doing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, doing. I would say get in a class and experience different types of roles and see what you feel like. Oh, I could do this. Or oh, wow, I'm bringing my unique self to this kind of part. This thing isn't exactly my vibe. Maybe I'm not that lawyer type, but I'm really good playing that crazy quirky neighbor next door. I feel you have to experience, Like if you're not sure, how are you going to figure it out If?
Speaker 1:you're not sure what your unique personality is or what your unique vibe is. Go start doing things. Doing things, you can also put things out there and you see, okay, this resonates with me. This is who I really am. But also be willing to grow, because, as an actor, what if you try something and you, you know you work in on a role and you go. I don't really like it's the same, rob. You get an audition and you go. I don't know if this is really my vibe.
Speaker 1:Well, if it's not something that goes against your moral principles, then you should go for it and see what you can create in it, because you never know, maybe that's the thing that creates this super interesting energy and essence and vulnerability that you didn't even know you had.
Speaker 2:And in this day and age it's such a win just to get an audition. So also trust casting that they saw something in you. How many times do we watch a TV show and then if you actually analyze it, it's like, oh, I wouldn't actually peg that that person's a police officer or a detective in real life, but they're great in the show, it's perfect in the story. You know, absolutely, it's so true.
Speaker 1:And you should really, I want to add think outside the box. I always tell actors when you make choices that was one thing. I forgot to say that outside the box it should fit what the character would do, but make a choice that could be a bit outside the same. And there'll be those five that maybe did something different, and when they do something different, that could be the thing that we're looking for, that we didn't even think so.
Speaker 1:don't be afraid to think outside the box. So when you're trying to figure out who you are as an actor and a character or whatever that is, think outside the box.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I actually thought about the other day Robin Williams in Mork Mindy I think his audition was. He went in there and did it upside down.
Speaker 1:Standing on his head.
Speaker 2:Yeah, as I was auditioning for something, I thought about that because it was for a genie. I probably I won't say what, just in case I don't know if I said something I can't remember.
Speaker 1:But I about that. It's like also something that should just be fun for you.
Speaker 2:Do something that amuses yourself in a creative way, exactly, and that's where we got back to your working on process, because process brings the joy. Well, speaking of the joy, you know what brings the joy Booking and I wonder in addition, what's your sentiment to an actor who isn't booking and just feels like oh, I just keep auditioning and I'm just getting nothing?
Speaker 1:OK, well, first I would ask them if they're. Maybe they need an outside opinion. So maybe there might be somebody who maybe they need to have some coaching. And I only say that because sometimes you need an other, an outside perspective. Right, that could be one angle. You could talk to your agent or manager and say hey, you know, if they're watching your auditions, is there something else that you need to be doing? And it could also be that they're doing these auditions and I know you can get discouraged, like I said, and sometimes it takes it could. One girl I saw who I know, an actress. She said it had been two years and 70 auditions she's had in the last two years and she finally booked another role Like it had been a couple years since she'd worked.
Speaker 1:So you don't know, you just have if you love the game. You have to keep going. Oh, I love that. Keep playing, Keep playing, Do not? You have to keep going.
Speaker 2:Oh, I love that, keep playing.
Speaker 1:Keep playing, do not. You can't give up. It's just. I know it can be discouraging and that's part of the trick of doing a lot of self-tapes and not getting feedback.
Speaker 2:Right, you know but you do get feedback.
Speaker 1:If you get a callback, you do get feedback. If you get a redirection, if you're getting you know with the same casting director and they keep having you audition and audition that's feedback.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that means they like something about what you're doing and they want to help you. They want to get you cast.
Speaker 1:So, but you can do those things, Get coaching. If you don't get coaching, you know, to get an outside perspective maybe. Or talk to your agent and manager If they're looking at your tapes. Is there anything else I can be doing? And then remember it's a game where there's a lot of opinions and there's a lot of reasons why people get cast and don't get cast. So if you love it, you keep playing persistence.
Speaker 2:I think that's such great advice to end on. But speaking of giving, we always end here on how we roll with a got and a give and I will say we've taken how we roll to a whole new level, as both of us are on rolling chairs and this whole time I'm like, anyway, sorry, I just hope.
Speaker 1:I wasn't rolling too much, no it was awesome.
Speaker 2:I usually smack the mic. At least once I didn't do that today, but there's still time yes. Okay, but we always end with a got and a give. So maybe we can make this mindset themed for this episode. This is a piece of advice you've gotten and then one you've given, sort of the best pieces you have for people in this industry. So we can start with the got.
Speaker 1:Okay, the best piece of advice I ever got was from my father, and my dad, jerry London, my amazing father, said to me you cannot take it too seriously. And that is really because there's been many moments in my life where I, like I said either it was a job I wanted, or this went south, or that and he goes, and I would go. I would do what I'm telling you, all of these actors today, what I'm saying. I'd go right in here and go. You know all those thoughts.
Speaker 2:And he goes, lisa.
Speaker 1:It has nothing to do with your abilities. You are an amazing casting director. You can't take it too seriously. So that's the best piece of advice I've ever gotten.
Speaker 2:What an amazing dad yeah. That's great advice.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:And on the opposite end. Well, you did just give us all advice, but what's the best piece of advice you have to give to actors? I know people probably ask you that question all the time, but I'm going to ask it anyway because you're so good in an interview setting time.
Speaker 1:But I'm going to ask it anyway because you're so good in an interview setting you have these great answers ready to go, I would say my best piece of advice is what are you doing right now, everybody out there? What are you doing right now? To stay creative and remember that we are all artists, and artists are the ones who make a huge impact in this world. So that's what you should be doing right now is, what can you do to constantly keep creating, because you're an artist?
Speaker 2:That's beautiful. That reminds me of I think Viola Davis said it recently it's not about what she does and what she books, it's about how people feel when they watch her work. It's about the other people, and I think that's a similar way to put it. And I also will say if you're listening to this right now, give yourself a cookie or a reward later, because that means you're doing something to further your career. So just by tuning in today, I want to thank you. I think you're on the right track and keep rolling along. It's hard, but we have amazing people like Lisa in this industry to guide us, be our little lighthouses, with the light shining us where to go, and I just think it's been such a wonderful time together. So thank you for doing this, lisa. I really appreciate it.
Speaker 1:Oh, thanks so much for having me, rob. That was so fun, you're so fun and I hope actors get so much for having me, rob that was so fun, you're so fun and I hope actors get so much out of this.
Speaker 2:I know they will.
Speaker 1:I hope so too. That's so amazing and I really appreciate it, and I hope everybody does well out there you know, keeps creating on their career, because that we need you.
Speaker 2:Keep creating, yes.
