WEBVTT - The Spirited Actor - Robi Reed (12/29/2020) 0:00:00.120 --> 0:00:03.320 Hello, and welcome to the Spirited Actor Podcast with me 0:00:03.520 --> 0:00:06.480 Tracy Moore. I was a casting director for film and 0:00:06.519 --> 0:00:10.640 TV and commercials for over thirty years. I transitioned to 0:00:10.680 --> 0:00:14.240 a celebrity acting coach after I cast a film New 0:00:14.320 --> 0:00:19.440 Jersey Drive with executive producer Spike Lee and director Nick Domez. 0:00:20.079 --> 0:00:24.479 I auditioned every rapper from Biggie Smalls to Tupac, and 0:00:24.560 --> 0:00:28.240 I realized that rappers and musical artists they needed help 0:00:28.280 --> 0:00:32.640 transitioning to acting. My clients consist of musical artists from 0:00:32.800 --> 0:00:37.440 Buster Rhymes to Eve, Missy Elliott, Angela Yee from The 0:00:37.440 --> 0:00:41.120 Breakfast Club, and Vanessa Simmons, to name a few. I 0:00:41.280 --> 0:00:45.120 also coach sports stars and host as well. I feel 0:00:45.320 --> 0:00:48.760 I have the best of both worlds. As a casting director, 0:00:48.800 --> 0:00:51.360 I know exactly what they're looking for, and as an 0:00:51.360 --> 0:00:53.880 acting coach, I can coach you to be remembered in 0:00:53.880 --> 0:00:57.120 that room. Now I know, I know actors want to 0:00:57.160 --> 0:01:00.240 get the job. I get that, but being remembered by 0:01:00.360 --> 0:01:05.720 casting director that is powerful. And now it's time for 0:01:06.240 --> 0:01:11.680 meditation of the day. If you think education is expensive, 0:01:12.319 --> 0:01:15.920 try ignorance. When I was a kid, I used to 0:01:16.080 --> 0:01:20.200 question the subjects I had to take. I couldnot understand 0:01:20.280 --> 0:01:25.039 the relevance of algebra. I hated the subject. One day, 0:01:25.080 --> 0:01:27.400 I was in class and it came to me. I 0:01:27.520 --> 0:01:32.800 used my brains and solved a problem right there. In 0:01:32.840 --> 0:01:36.520 that very moment, I understood why I needed algebra in 0:01:36.560 --> 0:01:41.240 my life. Whether you understand it now, know that in 0:01:41.280 --> 0:01:45.680 some way everything you learn is soon to be applied 0:01:45.720 --> 0:01:51.080 in your life. Today I will grasp all the knowledge 0:01:51.400 --> 0:01:57.000 and cherish it. Welcome to the Spirited Actor Podcast with 0:01:57.080 --> 0:02:05.280 me Tracy Moore. Need you guys to sit back you are. 0:02:07.960 --> 0:02:10.880 I can't even tell you the blessing that is before 0:02:10.919 --> 0:02:16.760 you right now. Not only is she an outstanding, award 0:02:16.880 --> 0:02:21.840 winning casting director, but she is a blessing as a beautiful, 0:02:21.880 --> 0:02:25.480 spiritual human being. Ladies and gentlemen, I want you to 0:02:25.600 --> 0:02:28.440 stand up. I want you to put your hands together. 0:02:29.320 --> 0:02:33.480 For casting director extraordinaire Robbie Reeve. 0:02:35.120 --> 0:02:39.880 Oh, thank you, thank you, sys. I appreciate you so much. 0:02:39.960 --> 0:02:42.000 And that was a beautiful intro. 0:02:43.240 --> 0:02:47.399 Who is truth? Who is that? It is the truth? 0:02:48.160 --> 0:02:53.840 I have admired Robbie. There were two mentors in my 0:02:54.000 --> 0:02:58.320 head right when I first started casting. And please, audience, 0:02:58.400 --> 0:02:59.960 I want you to listen they wear in my hand. 0:03:00.160 --> 0:03:03.600 They didn't know this at the time, but it was 0:03:03.720 --> 0:03:09.240 Robbie Reid and Ruben Cannon. And I have the pleasure 0:03:09.280 --> 0:03:12.519 of telling Robbie because she blessed me with the gig 0:03:13.280 --> 0:03:17.440 and I've known her for years, So grateful to know 0:03:17.520 --> 0:03:23.040 her and just to know that we're going to go through. 0:03:23.120 --> 0:03:25.000 And I want you guys to go to IMDb dot 0:03:25.000 --> 0:03:27.320 com right now, and I want you to put in 0:03:27.400 --> 0:03:29.679 Robbie's name, and I want you to see the credits 0:03:29.800 --> 0:03:32.919 because you have to do your due diligence on people 0:03:32.919 --> 0:03:35.040 that are on the show and know who's on the show. 0:03:35.880 --> 0:03:36.120 Man. 0:03:36.920 --> 0:03:40.400 We're going to start at the beginning. Robbie, how did 0:03:40.400 --> 0:03:43.839 you get started as a casting director? What led you 0:03:43.880 --> 0:03:48.360 into casting? And you are a legend in casting. 0:03:48.880 --> 0:03:51.360 Well, let's see you when I was but a mere 0:03:51.600 --> 0:03:56.800 five year old when I started a business. Yes, she was, 0:03:58.040 --> 0:04:01.040 I'm really I knew so I wanted to cast at 0:04:01.040 --> 0:04:05.040 the age of fifteen, and I was exposed to it, 0:04:05.240 --> 0:04:08.400 you know, with my brother being a child actor, and 0:04:08.480 --> 0:04:11.560 so I would a company my parents on his auditions 0:04:11.560 --> 0:04:13.960 and while they were parking the car, I would go 0:04:14.040 --> 0:04:16.360 inside with him to check him in and one day 0:04:16.440 --> 0:04:18.320 I asked the reception is who is he going to 0:04:18.360 --> 0:04:20.919 see behind that door? And they said, well, that's the 0:04:20.960 --> 0:04:22.840 casting director. And I was like, oh, well, what does 0:04:22.880 --> 0:04:26.880 the casting director do? And that was the first explanation 0:04:27.200 --> 0:04:29.680 and exposure and that just was a light bulb that 0:04:29.760 --> 0:04:32.520 went off. I was like, oh, that sounds like something 0:04:32.600 --> 0:04:35.880 I would love to do too. So that's where it 0:04:35.960 --> 0:04:38.320 was birthed. And then from there. I was always an 0:04:38.320 --> 0:04:42.200 avid reader, and I was reading a book, I couldn't 0:04:42.680 --> 0:04:48.160 start it without putting attaching actors to the characters, not 0:04:48.200 --> 0:04:51.560 even realizing I was casting. 0:04:52.320 --> 0:04:53.799 And that's where it began. 0:04:53.880 --> 0:04:56.960 After college, I went to Hampton HBCU shout out. 0:04:57.880 --> 0:05:00.440 And then my daughter went to the other HU Howard. 0:05:00.600 --> 0:05:08.240 Oh Hu, Yes, you. 0:05:08.160 --> 0:05:09.760 Guys did advice and I love it. 0:05:11.440 --> 0:05:14.240 But so right after Hampton, you know, I just pursued 0:05:14.279 --> 0:05:18.800 it and had, you know, kind of just went you know, 0:05:18.920 --> 0:05:22.000 when you really do believe in yourself, the lead that 0:05:22.080 --> 0:05:24.159 you're doing something your purpose to do was just like, 0:05:24.200 --> 0:05:24.960 you're fearless. 0:05:25.440 --> 0:05:27.960 And I was that, you know, I wish I had 0:05:28.000 --> 0:05:30.120 some of that fearlessness. 0:05:29.400 --> 0:05:33.480 Now really, you know, so caused it to the wind 0:05:33.600 --> 0:05:37.800 and I called everybody. I didn't know until somebody answered me, 0:05:38.000 --> 0:05:39.560 and that was Jackie Brown Carmen. 0:05:40.080 --> 0:05:41.640 Oh love Jackie Brown. 0:05:41.720 --> 0:05:47.080 Yes, and she gave me just really inspiration, you know. 0:05:48.720 --> 0:05:53.719 From mayor, I met Rubin who was also my mentor. Wow, 0:05:53.839 --> 0:05:57.039 and I turned with him for a short while and 0:05:57.080 --> 0:06:00.560 when it ended, you know, I just from there I 0:06:00.680 --> 0:06:06.240 became a production assistant movie called The Falcon and the Snowman. 0:06:06.560 --> 0:06:09.840 Oh I believe I said that I was fine though. 0:06:10.520 --> 0:06:11.640 Yeah. 0:06:11.880 --> 0:06:15.200 Then from there I met the casting director of the 0:06:15.240 --> 0:06:18.360 next film, Ellen Channel With who didn't have an assistant, 0:06:18.440 --> 0:06:21.440 and she hired me and that movie was called Sweet 0:06:21.520 --> 0:06:28.360 Dreams that starred Jessica Layne and Ed Harris. Wow, and 0:06:29.320 --> 0:06:31.920 I have been working since then. I met Spike soon 0:06:31.960 --> 0:06:36.240 there after, I went to at a casting company called 0:06:36.279 --> 0:06:40.040 McClinton Mail, where I got a lot of experience and 0:06:40.279 --> 0:06:42.720 right sort of in the middle of that two. 0:06:42.520 --> 0:06:45.159 Year stint wasn't quite two years. 0:06:45.200 --> 0:06:50.080 Actually, my best friend from Hampton, Ray Dowell, was in 0:06:50.160 --> 0:06:52.480 the She's Got a Habit and. 0:06:52.720 --> 0:06:55.720 When she got she was given the script. I was 0:06:55.760 --> 0:06:58.160 the only person kind of in the business that. 0:06:58.200 --> 0:07:01.880 She knew, right, so she called me and we were 0:07:01.880 --> 0:07:04.640 going over the contract and Spike was like, who is 0:07:04.680 --> 0:07:08.360 that that you're talking to, Well, that's my friend Robbie Reid, 0:07:08.360 --> 0:07:09.880 and one day you need to meet her. 0:07:10.520 --> 0:07:14.800 And wow, they came, you know, and he. 0:07:14.920 --> 0:07:18.520 Was in La for the La Film Festival, which for 0:07:18.560 --> 0:07:21.560 some reason was canceled that year. I don't remember why, 0:07:22.280 --> 0:07:24.679 but it was just a buying order because it really 0:07:24.840 --> 0:07:29.040 was us, you know, purpose to meet in that moment, right, 0:07:30.240 --> 0:07:34.920 and spent a fateful day together and you know, by 0:07:34.960 --> 0:07:39.560 the end of the evening he was like, one day, 0:07:39.880 --> 0:07:41.800 who knows you're going to cast one of my movies? 0:07:41.840 --> 0:07:44.400 And he wrote down his address and said keep in touch. 0:07:44.920 --> 0:07:47.560 And within a few months I had the script for 0:07:47.600 --> 0:07:48.240 School Days. 0:07:48.480 --> 0:07:53.160 Wow. So you know, I worked with Spike in the 0:07:53.240 --> 0:07:57.040 later part, but in the beginning because I think I 0:07:57.200 --> 0:07:59.880 was one of the first people to see She's got 0:07:59.920 --> 0:08:05.640 to have it as an audience because it was there 0:08:05.720 --> 0:08:11.800 was a theater on twelfth Street between sixth Avenue and 0:08:13.840 --> 0:08:16.960 Fifth Avenue, I believe it was, and there were and 0:08:17.000 --> 0:08:21.600 they had like the film had just there was buzz 0:08:21.640 --> 0:08:23.600 on it and they were like, oh, you know, I 0:08:23.720 --> 0:08:26.960 was affiliated with the music business at that point, and 0:08:27.000 --> 0:08:30.880 so a lot of like uh Russell Simmons and Andre 0:08:30.960 --> 0:08:33.720 Herrels and Guy rest Is Soul. All of those people 0:08:34.040 --> 0:08:37.680 were there, Nelson George's and that's when I saw it 0:08:37.720 --> 0:08:39.920 and I was like, oh my god, Like what Spike 0:08:40.000 --> 0:08:42.040 made me feel like in that moment was that he 0:08:42.120 --> 0:08:45.640 broke all of the rules in filmmaking. And I was like, 0:08:45.720 --> 0:08:51.400 you could do that, you could do that. So and 0:08:51.520 --> 0:08:54.720 I am And I always think of Spike as the 0:08:54.840 --> 0:08:58.080 Midas touch. I feel like he knows he has the 0:08:58.120 --> 0:09:02.000 sensibility of discovering talent and then also breathing life and 0:09:02.080 --> 0:09:07.160 reinvention of talent. And so how was that in the beginning, 0:09:07.320 --> 0:09:12.200 like those early days school days? Because just from that film, 0:09:12.240 --> 0:09:14.760 we can list all of the people the working actors 0:09:14.800 --> 0:09:18.120 from there in terms of because he was a little 0:09:18.200 --> 0:09:27.400 unconventional in terms of you telling him ideas about you know, uh, 0:09:27.679 --> 0:09:31.400 you know, different actors that you wanted to submit to him. 0:09:31.480 --> 0:09:32.840 How open was he for that? 0:09:33.280 --> 0:09:33.920 Oh my god. 0:09:34.000 --> 0:09:38.400 I love working with Spike because of that openness was 0:09:38.480 --> 0:09:41.360 so collaboratives, so interesting. 0:09:41.400 --> 0:09:42.160 I just did this. 0:09:42.160 --> 0:09:48.000 Interview with Kim Coleman American Cinematigue where you know, they're 0:09:48.000 --> 0:09:52.640 honoring him, and we were just talking about our individual experiences. 0:09:53.080 --> 0:09:55.120 You know, I was the early part and she is 0:09:55.280 --> 0:09:58.959 now and he's the same. He's the same spike. He 0:09:59.160 --> 0:10:03.920 loves the process, which is amazing to find a co 0:10:04.120 --> 0:10:07.960 creator that loves casting as much as you do. Yeah, 0:10:08.040 --> 0:10:09.880 we were laughing at how you have to be on 0:10:09.920 --> 0:10:14.720 your toes because you knows actors, you know, and it'd. 0:10:14.000 --> 0:10:18.160 Be like have you know, you know, have you seen? Yeah, 0:10:18.200 --> 0:10:19.640 but always open. 0:10:19.679 --> 0:10:22.080 And the thing that I love, which is what he 0:10:22.200 --> 0:10:25.880 loves too, is and the part about the job that 0:10:25.920 --> 0:10:29.960 I love is being able to give people opportunities you know, 0:10:30.280 --> 0:10:32.600 and get and giving. 0:10:32.280 --> 0:10:34.160 Them a path way that gets. 0:10:33.920 --> 0:10:38.559 The closer to their dream, you know, and that casting 0:10:38.640 --> 0:10:42.600 does that and always open for looking, you know, for 0:10:42.920 --> 0:10:45.400 the raw talent or giving people their first breaks, you know, 0:10:46.679 --> 0:10:47.600 a history of it. 0:10:48.120 --> 0:10:51.240 So it's great working with him. 0:10:51.400 --> 0:10:54.600 I also love the fact that again and if you 0:10:54.800 --> 0:10:59.360 all go back to IMDb dot com and just reference 0:10:59.400 --> 0:11:01.320 some of the credit in terms of do the right 0:11:01.360 --> 0:11:04.000 thing and mo better Blues, Oh my god, I fellow 0:11:04.040 --> 0:11:05.360 love we Bad Blues. 0:11:06.600 --> 0:11:06.960 Again. 0:11:07.440 --> 0:11:11.679 A lot of these actors this was maybe their first 0:11:11.760 --> 0:11:15.760 job or you know, this was definitely the momentum into 0:11:15.840 --> 0:11:20.200 their career. As a working actor, what's that thing that 0:11:20.400 --> 0:11:26.280 stands out to you? Unfortunately we don't have live auditions 0:11:26.320 --> 0:11:31.480 anymore so the self tape world. But you know what, 0:11:31.480 --> 0:11:34.640 what are some things that actors really need to know 0:11:34.840 --> 0:11:38.360 about what is going to in the self tape world. 0:11:38.440 --> 0:11:40.839 What's going to make them stand out? Because on a 0:11:41.400 --> 0:11:44.560 job that you know I just finished, we got like 0:11:44.640 --> 0:11:48.040 anywhere from nine hundred and twenty seven to fifteen hundred 0:11:48.120 --> 0:11:53.079 submissions per character. That's not humanly possible for Elsa and 0:11:53.160 --> 0:11:56.600 I to look at all of that. What's that thing 0:11:56.640 --> 0:11:57.559 that they need to do? 0:11:58.320 --> 0:12:02.400 Oh wow, that's a good question. Well, first of all, 0:12:02.440 --> 0:12:06.080 I'm gonna believe God that we get back to some 0:12:06.360 --> 0:12:10.720 form of what it was, because to me, there's nothing like. 0:12:10.640 --> 0:12:15.640 Being in the room. You know, old school. I don't care. 0:12:15.880 --> 0:12:17.760 I'm old school too, Robbie. I'm with you. 0:12:18.280 --> 0:12:18.720 I mean. 0:12:18.800 --> 0:12:22.079 And even though I love, as many people know, open 0:12:22.080 --> 0:12:25.240 casting calls, you know, I was still doing them every 0:12:25.360 --> 0:12:28.719 year and just had done one this past time, well 0:12:28.760 --> 0:12:33.440 for the Uptown mini series got rest Andre and we 0:12:33.440 --> 0:12:37.240 were just in Dallas together in January. 0:12:37.840 --> 0:12:41.880 Yeah, hundreds upon hundreds of people. But anyway, I think 0:12:41.920 --> 0:12:44.360 the best thing that anyone can do now with. 0:12:44.320 --> 0:12:48.480 The self tape is to give no reason for us 0:12:48.520 --> 0:12:50.160 to look at anything in the tape. 0:12:50.160 --> 0:12:52.079 But you you know, so. 0:12:53.679 --> 0:12:57.080 Having your setup, you know, because it is like the. 0:12:57.840 --> 0:13:01.480 Way of the way of things now, they are not 0:13:01.640 --> 0:13:02.559 as many. 0:13:02.559 --> 0:13:06.320 Excuses for it to not be perfect. So clost the 0:13:06.320 --> 0:13:07.960 perfect as you can get. And we know how the 0:13:08.040 --> 0:13:12.560 internet can be, you know, spotty, yanky or whatever on 0:13:12.600 --> 0:13:18.599 any day. But at least have your your lighting, your background, 0:13:19.559 --> 0:13:23.600 your sound. Those are the things you want to have 0:13:24.559 --> 0:13:27.280 perfect it, you know, if it means you got to 0:13:27.320 --> 0:13:29.880 shut up and just practice it every day, so you know, 0:13:30.000 --> 0:13:33.400 wherever in your house, yeah, you know, wherever you might be, 0:13:33.640 --> 0:13:34.400 it's a spot. 0:13:34.480 --> 0:13:36.800 And if the sound is weird, put some egg cartons 0:13:36.800 --> 0:13:40.160 on the wall. Whatever you do. Invest in you. It's 0:13:40.200 --> 0:13:45.559 what you have and preparation, you know. So and because 0:13:45.840 --> 0:13:48.760 again it's a camera and it's like this, you know, 0:13:49.000 --> 0:13:50.559 reading sites or whatever. 0:13:50.640 --> 0:13:53.720 It's going to be hard for us to always get 0:13:53.960 --> 0:13:55.640 you know, the best look at you. 0:13:55.800 --> 0:13:58.400 It's okay, but try to be off book. 0:13:59.600 --> 0:14:05.040 And work out whoever is your seeing partner, you know, 0:14:05.240 --> 0:14:08.720 whether you've recorded it, you know, or that person's on 0:14:08.760 --> 0:14:12.520 the phone or just as long as the sound is 0:14:12.880 --> 0:14:15.360 as good as it can be, because if it's not, 0:14:15.360 --> 0:14:18.120 those things really are distracting and it takes. 0:14:17.800 --> 0:14:18.840 Away from you. 0:14:19.440 --> 0:14:24.680 Yeah, And I have to concur because one of the 0:14:24.800 --> 0:14:29.240 challenges that I had was because being old school, I'm 0:14:29.320 --> 0:14:32.360 used to reading. I love reading with actors, that's my saying. 0:14:33.440 --> 0:14:37.400 But the readers and these self tapes, I just have 0:14:37.480 --> 0:14:40.080 to stress they have to get people who can read 0:14:41.600 --> 0:14:44.680 it's it's I had three different scenarios. I have the 0:14:45.400 --> 0:14:48.840 reader who could not read, which was extremely distracting from 0:14:48.880 --> 0:14:53.960 your performance. And then I had the reader who was upstaging. Yeah, 0:14:54.040 --> 0:14:57.440 the person who was audition and I was like, Okay, 0:14:57.480 --> 0:15:02.320 who's is this? And you know, and then the parent, 0:15:03.040 --> 0:15:06.040 you know, who doesn't have any clue and they're just 0:15:06.760 --> 0:15:09.560 you know, trying the best that they can. And I 0:15:09.720 --> 0:15:13.280 just highly recommend that people, like you said, either tape 0:15:13.320 --> 0:15:16.680 it or get a fellow actor to come in and 0:15:16.720 --> 0:15:21.120 read with you, you know, because you're you're jeopardizing our 0:15:21.200 --> 0:15:24.120 eyes on you and now we're all over the place. 0:15:24.200 --> 0:15:30.200 Like you said, do you find because I think that 0:15:31.200 --> 0:15:35.720 classes teach actors the craft. But this is also a 0:15:35.760 --> 0:15:39.920 business too. How important is it for actors to understand 0:15:40.000 --> 0:15:44.120 the terminology the job, like what your job as a 0:15:44.120 --> 0:15:47.040 casting director? What an agent? How important is it for 0:15:47.080 --> 0:15:49.680 them to know the business of show business. 0:15:50.320 --> 0:15:53.840 It's called show business for a reason, right, It is 0:15:53.880 --> 0:15:59.480 of the utmost importance that you know everything about this business. 0:15:59.840 --> 0:16:00.920 You know who? 0:16:02.000 --> 0:16:05.320 You know what executives mean at a studio as opposed 0:16:05.360 --> 0:16:07.840 to what executives mean at a network. 0:16:09.360 --> 0:16:11.480 You know where I used to say, no, who's in 0:16:11.520 --> 0:16:13.920 the room, it's still now who's in your zoom room? 0:16:14.360 --> 0:16:14.600 You know? 0:16:15.040 --> 0:16:17.760 Who are you reading for? What can you find out 0:16:17.760 --> 0:16:20.520 about them? What credits? You know? 0:16:20.800 --> 0:16:24.320 So you if you're given an opportunity to have a conversation, 0:16:24.440 --> 0:16:27.640 then you might have you know, something real interesting and 0:16:27.840 --> 0:16:30.360 unexpected to talk about, you know. 0:16:30.680 --> 0:16:32.440 But it is business. 0:16:32.080 --> 0:16:35.920 So knowing you know where you are where you make 0:16:35.960 --> 0:16:39.360 the investment. So you know, right now everything's virtual, so 0:16:39.400 --> 0:16:43.920 you can literally be anywhere and work right from anywhere. 0:16:44.280 --> 0:16:45.480 But just really think. 0:16:45.280 --> 0:16:50.280 About how invested are you and then you know again, 0:16:50.560 --> 0:16:53.960 like just getting the proper equipment for your self tape, 0:16:54.160 --> 0:16:57.960 that's an investment, you know, And so if it means 0:16:58.000 --> 0:17:00.280 you've got to put some money aside, you know, and 0:17:00.680 --> 0:17:02.400 not do something else to do it. 0:17:02.400 --> 0:17:06.240 It's worth it. It's your livelihood. 0:17:06.040 --> 0:17:11.440 You know, and investing in your your craft and studying 0:17:11.480 --> 0:17:14.439 and just keeping your tools as sharpened as they can be, 0:17:15.280 --> 0:17:18.680 you know. And then there are all kinds of classes 0:17:18.720 --> 0:17:22.040 online that will teach you the business about the business 0:17:22.040 --> 0:17:27.399 of show, you know, and it's really worth it, you know, 0:17:27.720 --> 0:17:32.119 and knowing just really what everyone's role is. 0:17:32.720 --> 0:17:36.600 It's important people who just kind of wake up and 0:17:36.600 --> 0:17:37.280 decide this. 0:17:37.160 --> 0:17:39.800 Is what they want to do, you know, they're they're 0:17:39.840 --> 0:17:43.359 just not ready, you know, And when opportunity nots, you 0:17:43.440 --> 0:17:49.000 want to be ready. And having all that information will 0:17:49.080 --> 0:17:52.000 be helpful. It might not seem like it at the beginning, 0:17:52.000 --> 0:17:54.000 but it is. You can't know too much. 0:17:55.280 --> 0:17:57.439 I want to talk to the parents. I got so 0:17:57.440 --> 0:17:59.320 many questions, but I want to talk to the parents 0:17:59.400 --> 0:18:02.960 right now because the challenge that I have right in 0:18:03.440 --> 0:18:07.680 coaching some children or teenagers. The parents will say to me, oh, 0:18:07.800 --> 0:18:09.400 you know, I want my child to make it. Oh 0:18:09.520 --> 0:18:13.080 I need my child. Meanwhile, I'll say to them when 0:18:13.119 --> 0:18:16.760 they send me the information, did you read the breakdown? 0:18:17.280 --> 0:18:17.440 You know? 0:18:17.640 --> 0:18:20.760 Did you read who the executive producer, the writer, the director, 0:18:20.800 --> 0:18:24.840 the casting director are and they'll say no, and I'm like, 0:18:25.240 --> 0:18:27.760 this is the thing you want your child to make it, 0:18:28.000 --> 0:18:31.239 you want your child to move their career long, but 0:18:31.320 --> 0:18:33.959 you don't even do the due diligence on who your 0:18:34.080 --> 0:18:37.760 child is in front of. That's a blessing, you know 0:18:37.840 --> 0:18:39.760 what I mean. It's they're standing in front of Robbie 0:18:39.800 --> 0:18:42.240 Reid and they're like, oh, I got to get things moving, 0:18:42.520 --> 0:18:44.600 my god, know who Robbie Reid is? 0:18:45.880 --> 0:18:46.159 You know. 0:18:46.720 --> 0:18:52.280 So I suggest to parents all the time to take 0:18:52.320 --> 0:18:55.880 classes to understand the business for their child because if 0:18:55.920 --> 0:18:59.960 they're if they have anxiety, they're passing that into their child. 0:19:01.240 --> 0:19:03.920 What are some things that you would say to parents 0:19:04.160 --> 0:19:08.840 who are you know, desperately seeking stardom for their children? 0:19:09.680 --> 0:19:13.719 You know, well, I think first know that your child 0:19:13.800 --> 0:19:18.320 really does want to do it, and you are not 0:19:18.680 --> 0:19:20.120 forcing them, as. 0:19:19.920 --> 0:19:23.480 I see that a lot. You know they're and you know, 0:19:24.040 --> 0:19:26.159 you know immediately they're different. 0:19:26.800 --> 0:19:31.399 Ye. So, and I think when when kids are really interested, 0:19:31.440 --> 0:19:36.000 they ask, you know, they ask for it, and then 0:19:36.040 --> 0:19:39.040 you'll see too where they just you know, kind of 0:19:39.160 --> 0:19:43.240 are you know, they're inclined you know, on to it, 0:19:45.119 --> 0:19:48.040 and I can I also tell parents to just let 0:19:48.160 --> 0:19:50.040 kids be kids. So they've got a lot of natural, 0:19:50.160 --> 0:19:56.320 really great natural raw instincts, and sometimes parents can over reheards, 0:19:56.880 --> 0:20:00.240 you know, in preparation for an audition, and that kills it. 0:20:01.720 --> 0:20:04.359 As you know, when when we cast kids, we want 0:20:04.440 --> 0:20:08.400 the kids to be kids and be yeah. 0:20:07.400 --> 0:20:12.840 You know as it can. Right, So there's that, and uh, what. 0:20:12.880 --> 0:20:16.400 Else if i'm again, I think just continuing to check 0:20:16.440 --> 0:20:18.840 in with your child to make sure it's something, to 0:20:18.920 --> 0:20:21.600 make sure it's something that they want to do and 0:20:22.119 --> 0:20:25.720 not something that the parent is on them, I. 0:20:25.640 --> 0:20:30.040 Think said as actors, you know, and especially looking at 0:20:30.080 --> 0:20:35.520 a lot of self tapes recently, can you tell actors 0:20:35.560 --> 0:20:40.840 that listening and reacting is a part of the whole 0:20:40.920 --> 0:20:44.240 process as well? How does that play into their performance? 0:20:44.800 --> 0:20:46.560 Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, you've got to be in the 0:20:46.600 --> 0:20:49.119 scene so so you know, acting it should be as 0:20:49.200 --> 0:20:50.320 natural as it can be. 0:20:50.800 --> 0:20:52.520 So it's like you're having a conversation. 0:20:53.040 --> 0:20:57.240 If you are listening and really in a conversation and 0:20:57.320 --> 0:20:59.920 actively listening, you're waiting to hear what the person has 0:21:00.160 --> 0:21:06.320 say before you can answer them right and non anticipate 0:21:06.400 --> 0:21:09.879 what they're saying, right, No, immediately when that happens, and 0:21:09.920 --> 0:21:12.480 we know it in a scene when an actor anticipates 0:21:12.520 --> 0:21:16.040 the line because it's not connected, you know that the 0:21:16.200 --> 0:21:19.679 reaction isn't real or it's not natural, right, it just 0:21:19.720 --> 0:21:26.919 feels like interacting, right, So yes, listening and then reacting 0:21:27.400 --> 0:21:28.560 is really important. 0:21:29.119 --> 0:21:33.119 Excellent. So while we're doing this self tape for now, 0:21:33.600 --> 0:21:38.560 how do you in this zoom sort of age, how 0:21:38.600 --> 0:21:43.199 are you discovering quote unquote talent? You know, I know, 0:21:43.560 --> 0:21:46.000 maybe through self tape, but are there other ways? Like 0:21:46.119 --> 0:21:48.919 is there an email that actors or is there some 0:21:50.400 --> 0:21:53.280 actors can follow you somewhere and submit to you. 0:21:53.880 --> 0:21:56.640 Oh, for sure, I have an email. 0:21:56.760 --> 0:22:02.600 It's b ET Casting and b et. 0:22:00.800 --> 0:22:02.280 Com dot com. 0:22:02.320 --> 0:22:05.680 Okay, e T Casting at b e T dot com. 0:22:05.720 --> 0:22:13.600 And then also they can send me info at casting 0:22:13.640 --> 0:22:15.720 by Robbie read at gmail dot com. 0:22:17.359 --> 0:22:21.920 Okay. I want to emphasize these things for the actors 0:22:22.000 --> 0:22:26.200 because you know, I mean, we're there's it's a different world. Now. 0:22:26.320 --> 0:22:28.800 You can go on YouTube and scan that if you 0:22:28.800 --> 0:22:29.720 have time and side. 0:22:29.760 --> 0:22:33.040 I want to say, one more thing to do is 0:22:33.119 --> 0:22:34.760 post a monologue and tag me. 0:22:35.880 --> 0:22:38.240 Yeah, post monologue and tag me. 0:22:38.280 --> 0:22:43.440 At I am Robbie Reid on that on Instagram. 0:22:42.480 --> 0:22:49.120 And Twitter I am you read, don't you know a minute? 0:22:49.480 --> 0:22:55.800 One minute? Yeah, because when we were in real life, 0:22:55.880 --> 0:22:59.160 two minutes saves log right, But on it's. 0:22:59.119 --> 0:23:02.679 Great, I mean, oh my god, yeah, I mean you 0:23:02.800 --> 0:23:05.400 really can see it all of my open casting calls 0:23:05.400 --> 0:23:07.679 that have done in the last five years. You know, 0:23:07.840 --> 0:23:10.639 some people coming, they get one minute to show whatever 0:23:10.800 --> 0:23:11.320 talent they have. 0:23:11.840 --> 0:23:13.080 You want to show me you can sing? 0:23:13.520 --> 0:23:16.920 Use your people did singing, acting and dancing in a minute. 0:23:17.200 --> 0:23:22.120 Yeah, yeah, No, you're right, You're absolutely right. I want 0:23:22.280 --> 0:23:28.320 to acknowledge to our audience that Robbie has an Emmy award, 0:23:28.720 --> 0:23:31.760 you guys like it's somewhere in her house. She got 0:23:31.760 --> 0:23:39.640 an Emmy, Okay, And and is are you the first 0:23:39.920 --> 0:23:42.280 African American Robbie. 0:23:42.880 --> 0:23:47.880 Yes, I am the first African American to being nominated 0:23:47.920 --> 0:23:49.520 and win an Emmy for casting. 0:23:50.119 --> 0:23:56.120 Yes, that's major, that's just I mean when you were 0:23:56.760 --> 0:23:59.800 the year you were nominated for HBO to Skeigee Airman, 0:24:01.600 --> 0:24:05.239 I was, you know, just indirectly, just you know, I 0:24:05.280 --> 0:24:09.520 was rooting you on, and I just remember it being 0:24:09.680 --> 0:24:14.040 such a huge deal in our community. Casting Tracy Villar, 0:24:14.680 --> 0:24:19.360 Tracy Runcy Wins Sinclair, we were all like Robbie right, 0:24:19.960 --> 0:24:25.760 such a great accomplishment and an amazing project. Amazing project 0:24:25.960 --> 0:24:29.480 and how timely in a way where I heard last 0:24:29.560 --> 0:24:34.280