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

Categories

  • Actor Life
  • Actors
  • Analysis
  • Audition Highlights
  • Awards
  • Books
  • Business
  • Casting
  • Casting News
  • Comedy
  • Comic-Con
  • Dance
  • Downloads
  • Festivals
  • Film
  • Government
  • Inside Back Stage
  • Internet & Video
  • Los Angeles Events
  • Movies
  • Music
  • New Issue
  • New Media
  • New York City Events
  • New York Theater
  • Odds Botkins
  • Overheard
  • Quick Shots
  • Regional Theater
  • SAG Foundation
  • Seeking Submissions
  • SoCal Stages
  • Stage
  • Television
  • Theater
  • Union Watch

Recent Posts

  • Audition Highlights Have Moved to BackStage.com
  • NY LifeRaft Notice - Overcoming Career Sabotage Panel Event
  • California Auditions at a Glance – March 29-April 6
  • New York Auditions at a Glance – March 29-April 6
  • Regional Auditions at a Glance – March 29-April 6
  • California Auditions at a Glance – March 22-30
  • New York Auditions at a Glance – March 22-30
  • Regional Auditions at a Glance – March 22-30
  • SAG Foundation Short Film Showcase Call for Submissions for May 2012
  • California Auditions at a Glance – March 15-23

Archives

  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011


'Lose Yourself' in the Background as a Movie Extra

Benjamin Gooch, Matt Flynn, and Ryan Shibley star in this hilarious new parody music video about actors doing background work in TV and movies, with music and lyrics based on Eminem's "Lose Yourself." Watch the video to see their take on the life of a professional extra:

Continue reading "'Lose Yourself' in the Background as a Movie Extra" »

October 12, 2011 in Internet & Video, Music | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Thriller Franchise and Childhood Sitcom Combine in New Video

A new music video by actor Miles Fischer parodies a strange combination- “Final Destination” meets “Saved by the Bell.” The video portrays Fischer as Zack Morris, and at a glance one could mistake the “visual pop single” for the 90’s sitcom itself, according to Mashable.

 

Continue reading "Thriller Franchise and Childhood Sitcom Combine in New Video " »

August 04, 2011 in Music | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Andrew Lippa's "It Gets Better" Now Available on iTunes

"It Gets Better," a song written by Tony-nominated composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa (The Addams Family, Wild Party), is now available on iTunes. Lippa completed the song during his residency at Texas State University, where he took a select group of musical theater students into the studio to record "It Gets Better" and accompanied them during a live performance.

The song itself refers to the It Gets Better Project, sending a message out to LGBTQ youth everywhere that although they may be bullied or feel isolated at present time, life will improve, and they should not give up hope. "It Gets Better" is Lippa's contribution to the campaign. The message of having the courage to stand up and fight through the most hopeless times encourages the persistence to hang on until better days.

Continue reading "Andrew Lippa's "It Gets Better" Now Available on iTunes" »

August 01, 2011 in Music | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Watch 'Spider-Man' Broadway Star Reeve Carney in New "Rise Above" Music Video

Watch the new music video for "Rise Above 1," in which Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark composers Bono and The Edge of U2 appear alongside star Reeve Carney to perform the Broadway musical's anthem on the rooftops of Manhattan. The video also includes footage from the rehearsals and performances of Spider-Man.

July 28, 2011 in Internet & Video, Music | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Watch Rivers Cuomo Sing "Tonight" from 'West Side Story'

Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo tweeted this video a couple days ago, singing "Tonight" from West Side Story:

Continue reading "Watch Rivers Cuomo Sing "Tonight" from 'West Side Story'" »

July 27, 2011 in Internet & Video, Music | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

How Back Stage Gives Buskers a Boost

Thief and cobbler 1 As a young, aspiring artist giving it my best shot in New York City, I live in a constant state of preparation. I keep my game face on and my voice warmed up. I work hard at my small "survival" jobs, and keep my eyes peeled for new opportunities. All of this, so that in my daily attempt to scale the great wall that my art school professors call "the door to the industry," I might have a slight advantage over the climber next to me.

Thus a precious and rare moment occurs for the weary climber when something presents itself as a "leg up" on the wall -- a little boost that restores your faith and puts you just ahead of the rest. Finding Back Stage was that leg up for me.

In early April this year, having spent a school year (and a lifetime) dreaming about playing live acoustic shows in venues across the five boroughs of the city, I had just met a busker in the subway named Elijah Bridges, who with his big laugh and his blues harp soon became my close friend and bandmate. We called our duo the Thief and the Cobbler, after an old childhood movie we both knew, and over the course of many afternoons in April we turned the Bedford Avenue "L" subway station into a roaring dance hall. But we had no "ins"—no CD demo, or equipment, no friends who owned bars… and close to no money.

It was also in April that I first discovered Back Stage.  I had just subscribed to BackStage.com when in an online casting search, I discovered a listing for a talent showcase that was to be held at The Duplex NYC, the West Village cabaret venue.

Continue reading "How Back Stage Gives Buskers a Boost" »

June 23, 2011 in Actor Life, Music | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

OPERA America Offers Internet Career Resource

MetOpera2 Opera artists now have a new online resource at their disposal.

OPERA America announced the launch of the Career Guide for Opera, a database that can be found on their website. This new tool provides career guidance and information for emerging artists, administrators, and technical/production staff in the opera field.

“The Career Guide for Opera provides information that is essential for emerging opera professionals, but has never before been available from a single authoritative and accessible source,” said President and CEO of Opera America Marc A. Scorca in a press release.

Continue reading "OPERA America Offers Internet Career Resource " »

June 09, 2011 in Music | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Watch Bono and The Edge Sing "Rise Above" with 'Spider-Man' Star Reeve Carney on 'American Idol' Finale

Last night, Bono and The Edge continued to do their part in promoting the new version of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, which is scheduled to open on Broadway this month after revisions were made, scenes cut, and additional songs written. They joined Reeve Carney, who stars as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the production, to sing the show's big number "Rise Above" on the season 10 finale episode of American Idol last night:

Continue reading "Watch Bono and The Edge Sing "Rise Above" with 'Spider-Man' Star Reeve Carney on 'American Idol' Finale" »

May 26, 2011 in Music, New York Theater, Television | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Comedians as Rock Stars in New Pornographers' 'Moves' Video

Indie rock and alt-comedy combine in the video for the New Pornographers' new single "Moves," a faux-trailer for a biopic about A.C. Newman and the New Pornographers that chronicles the band's "rise and rise."

Director Tom Scharpling got some help from his funny friends: actors Paul Rudd and Kevin Corrigan, SNL cast member Bill Hader and alum Horatio Sanz, Community star Donald Glover, and The Daily Show correspondents Wyatt Cenac, Jon Oliver, and John Hodgman, plus comedians Todd Barry, Julie Klausner, Max Silvestri, and more:

Continue reading "Comedians as Rock Stars in New Pornographers' 'Moves' Video" »

February 08, 2011 in Comedy, Internet & Video, Music | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Exclusive: Making the Band... with Matthew Modine

Matthew-Modine-in-scarf "Have you ever gotten in front of people and sang? It’s the closest you'll get to getting up in front of people and taking your clothes off and standing there naked." This daunting nugget of advice (or extreme caution) comes courtesy of Matthew Modine, the actor/writer/director/self-deprecating conservationist -- and a recent Back Stage client.

Before the New Year, Back Stage published a casting notice for The Rocking Horsemen, a new feature film about four high-school boys starting a rock band in the early 1960s. The film's director is none other than Mr. Modine, an actor whose distinguished and varied filmography includes such cult favorites as Vision Quest and Married to the Mob, undisputed modern classics like Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket and Robert Altman's Short Cuts, and more recent performances as businessmen of questionable integrity on Showtime's Weeds and HBO's upcoming feature about the financial meltdown, Too Big To Fail.

Modine told us more about The Rocking Horsemen and his grassroots casting process, and he even invited Blog Stage to come check out his open call auditions in New York City. Read on for more about Modine's film and see exclusive video from the auditions, including thoughts from some Back Stage readers who came out for the call.

Continue reading "Exclusive: Making the Band... with Matthew Modine" »

February 04, 2011 in Casting News, Movies, Music | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Next »



About Back Stage

Check out Unscripted

Check out Behind the Scenes

Check out Back Stage FAQ

Email Us


Return to BackStage.com

Search Blog Stage
Subscribe to this blog's feed