Blog Stage - Acting in Film, TV, Theatre - Backstage

SAG Foundation Voice-Over Summit 2012 - Registration Open to Union & Non-Union!

The 2012 SAG Foundation Voice-Over Summit benefiting the Don LaFontaine Voice-Over Lab is set to launch on February 21st and features a series of exclusive discussions on the Art and Future of Voice-Overs.  The series will take place in the SAG Foundation's Actors Center in Los Angeles and boasts participation from top leaders in the voice-over field. 

Staying true to the SAG Foundation mission, this series offers an opportunity to educate and inspire actors with special access to professionals in the Voice-Over community and related fields.  Proceeds from the 2012 Voice-Over Summit will benefit the Don LaFontaine Voice-Over Lab in Los Angeles and help it continue to be a ground-breaking technological and educational facility.

From Actorfest to 'Pan Am' in Two Days Time

Ready for career takeoff? Ebrima N'Dure sure is. Like many of this year's Actorfest NY attendees, N'Dure showed up to the Metropolitan Pavilion bright and early on the morning of Sunday, Oct. 23 to take advantage of the annual event's open call auditions and myriad skill-strengthening panels and exhibitors. Little did he know that after a brief visit to the Grant Wilfley Casting open call, he'd land a featured background role on Pan Am, the recently launched ABC dramatic series with a sumptuous 1960s aesthetic guaranteed to enhance the reel of any performer fortunate enough to find themselves aboard its friendly skies.

The Grant Wilfley Casting open call has been a staple of Back Stage's Actorfest NY for the last several years, and it's a relationship that has proved beneficial to both event attendees and casting personnel alike. "A lot of people who are new to the city and people we don't see all the time at our other open calls [attend Actorfest]. New faces to the city are always good for us," explains GWC senior casting associate Allison Hall, whose current TV projects include Boardwalk Empire, Royal Pains, and Smash, in addition to several high-profile feature films featuring New York units.

"We're always in a different location for Pan Am," Hall continues, referring to the show's globe-trotting weekly itinerary. "We needed a younger Haitian boy, but I was having a hard time finding someone who looked young but was still over 18."

Fortunately, Hall and her on-site team found their guy in Actorfest attendee N'Dure. Not two days after meeting him at their open call, they were sending the young actor to a wardrobe fitting, readying him for his first visit to the fabled "Jet Age." "We sent him to get fit, and he's working next week," Hall confirms.

Post "True Blood" Q&A with Janina Gavankar

Video: Back Stage at the SAG Foundation Presents--Janina Gavankar, Star currently on HBO's hit show "True Blood."

 

Moderated by: Zino Macaluso

She will be sharing her tips regarding how young Hollywood is using and can best use social media.

Already a favorite of the devoted fans of her two earlier series, The L Word and The Gates, Janina now plays Luna on True Blood. She is a shape-shifter, which pretty much describes Janina in her real life.

In addition to her starring roles in three series, the three-quarters Indian, one-quarter Dutch beauty has appeared in Stargate Atlantis, Grey's Anatomy, The Cleaner, Dollhouse, NCIS  and Three Rivers.

But there’s also Janina the Geek, who not only writes program code for friends, but who was also the first celebrity to sign up with Twitter. She is so technologically creative that she is regularly asked to be on panels at conferences educating the entertainment industry on the practical application of multiple new digital platforms. Follow her on twitter @Janina.

Event Type: Conversations
Title: True Blood
Date: Tuesday, October 11th 2011
Time: 7pm
Location:  SAG Foundation Actors Center
                        5757 Wilshire Blvd, Mezzanine
                        Los Angeles

Like what you see?  Additional videos from the SAG Foundation available here!

Funded by grants and donations, the non-profit Screen Actors Guild Foundation’s free programs assist, educate and inspire actors toward their fullest potential in career, life and community. Celebrate the actor – support the SAG Foundation!  www.sagfoundation.org

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Actors Walk to Fight Alzheimer's

Actor Nancy Daly has organized a national team for the Alzheimer's Association's 2011 Walk to End Alzheimer's. Her team, "We Take Care of Our Own—Actors United to End Alzheimer's," will participate in walks in several cities across the country between now and Nov. 5, and is receiving support from Actors' Equity Association, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and Screen Actors Guild.

"My mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's two days before Thanksgiving in 2009," Daly said. "I founded the national team, 'We Take Care of Our Own—Actors United to End Alzheimer's,' so that actors across the country could join together to support all of their fellow members who are living with Alzheimer's. It is too late for me to have more time with my mom—she doesn't know me anymore. But maybe this work will bring guidance, support and comfort to other actors and they might be able to have one more month of awareness with their own mom or dad while they still remember their name."

Comic Troupe Partners With Health Expert for Fundraiser

Theater and food go hand in hand. New York theaters are turning concession stands into daytime eateries, and now Los Angeles comedy outpost, The Groundlings, is capitalizing on the Los Angeles health food craze with a fundraiser centering on celebrity health expert Dr. Andrew Weil's new restaurant.

True Food Kitchen officially opens on May 9, but for a $50 donation, patrons can get an early taste on May 5. For the price of admission, attendees receive a three-course meal and two beverages, alcoholic or non-alcoholic.

Founded by Gary Austin in 1974, The Groundlings are known for being something of a comedy mecca. Humor's household names Will Ferrell, Jennifer Coolidge, Kristen Wiig, and Kathy Griffin have all worked at the theater. Event attendees will get to schmooze with current troupe members.

L.A. Stage Alliance Ovation Awards to be Held in Thousand Oaks

On January 17, the L.A. Stage Alliance Ovation Awards Ceremony for the 2010 theatre season will be held at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. There at the home of the Cabrillo Music Theatre, awards will be given in 29 categories, and the recipients of the 2010 Sherwood Award and four 2010 Ovation Honors will be announced.

The event will include a diverse cast of presenters including Shirley Jones, Patrick Cassidy, Sally Struthers, Doris Roberts, T.R. Knight, Harry Groener, Mike O’Malley ("Glee"), Alan Mandell, Tessa Thompson ("For Colored Girls"), Monica Rosenthal ("Everybody Loves Raymond"), and Erich Bergen & Michael Ingersoll ("Jersey Boys").

'Hair' Tribe Hosting "Be-In" in L.A.

Cast members from the Hair national tour will stage a "Be-In" during the tour's stop in Los Angeles next week. The event will feature the Hair tribe singing their favorite songs, with special guest performances by original Broadway Hair cast members Bryce Ryness and Lauren Elder.

The L.A. "Be-In" follows similar events in D.C. and Seattle. All of the proceeds from the evening will be donated to Broadway Impact -- founded by former Hair tribe member Gavin Creel -- to support their efforts in the fight for marriage equality.

Free Movie Tickets: 'The Assistants'

If you're in the L.A. area and interested in seeing a free movie this week, check out "The Assistants" at the Laemmle Sunset 5. The filmmaker is giving away free tickets this opening weekend; you just need to go to assistantsthemovie.com. On the main page, download and print the free coupon for free admission.

Read a description of the film after the jump.

Back Stage presents An Evening With... 'Barney's Version'

For more info about the upcoming An Evening with... Paul Giamatti & "Barney's Version" free screening and Q&A, read the Back Stage Bulletin or check out the event page on Facebook.

Back Stage presents An Evening With... 'Another Year'

For more info about the upcoming An Evening with... "Another Year" free screening and Q&A, read the Back Stage Bulletin or check out the event page on Facebook.