Where Working Actors Talk

Colleen Foy sits down with actor, model, producer, and advocate Amanda Booth to reflect on the unexpected path that took her from being a small-town athlete on a college scholarship to modeling in New York and Europe, and eventually to building a career in commercials and acting in Los Angeles. Amanda opens up about navigating the entertainment industry, becoming a mother to her son, Micah, in 2014, and how his Down syndrome and autism diagnosis caused her to reevaluate her priorities and redefine her sense of self. She shares what it took to rediscover her boundaries, identity, and balance, and how the loss of her brother, Julian, profoundly shaped her perspective. Colleen and Amanda also dive into Amanda's evolution from actor to producer, how her personal experiences influence the work she creates, and what it means to take control of your creative career and finally make the kinds of stories she's always wanted to see. 00:00 Meet Amanda Booth 01:23 Small Town to New York 02:14 Modeling Breakthrough 03:27 LA Move and Commercial Niche 05:47 Advice on Balance 07:11 Finding Ease on Set 10:23 Motherhood Changes Everything 12:50 Boundaries and Hustle 15:44 Loss and Perspective 17:47 Auditions as Play 19:45 Producing for Inclusion 23:17 Next Projects and Vic 27:38 Private Road Deep Dive 33:18 Dream Disability Stories 37:53 Life in Austin 39:31 Micah and Representation 42:37 Stan Kirsch Studio Journey 44:20 Closing Thanks EPISODE LINKS: · Amanda Booth IMDb · Follow Amanda on IG @amanda_booth · Supporting “Casting Christmas” Host: ⁠Colleen Foy⁠ Producer: ⁠Kristyn Daniel⁠ Music by: Lindsay Boreing and Will Boreing ________________ Want to learn more about Stan Kirsch Studios? ⁠Visit Our Website Here.⁠ ⁠Catch up on the podcast here.⁠ Follow SKS on IG ⁠@stankirschstudios ⁠

Greg Benson has been a working LA actor, comedian, and director since 1991 — with credits on Beef, Matlock, NCIS, and Bel-Air, plus 150+ national commercials. He's also an early online-comedy pioneer, growing his YouTube channel MediocreFilms to over a million subscribers. Greg gets into moving from Texas to LA, walking headshots door to door, and booking his first audition (Ghost Ship) after months of silence. He breaks down the mindset shift that came from treating acting like a full-time job, how that led him into sketch comedy and content creation, and how his and his wife's show Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show landed a Sony/Crackle deal. He also opens up about taking a decade off auditioning, coming back post-COVID, and finding new reps through cold outreach — all while learning to actually enjoy the ride. 00:00 Meet Greg Benson 01:52 Texas Roots and Theater Camp 03:13 Breaking Into LA Pre Internet 04:50 Chutzpah and Agent Calls 07:02 First LA Booking and New Energy 09:19 Treating Acting Like a Job 11:44 From Acting to Digital Creator 12:47 Public Access and Early Filmmaking 16:21 MySpace to YouTube Breakthrough 18:09 Deals and Casting Lessons 22:08 Audition Mistakes to Avoid 24:54 Asking for Help and Referrals 26:05 Content Creation Takes Over 27:02 Choosing YouTube Focus 27:44 Self Tape Skills Boost 28:52 Try Hard Audition Story 30:03 Redefining Career Success 32:37 Life Over Acting 34:36 Returning After Hiatus 37:22 COVID Pause and Priorities 38:32 ADHD and Variety Channel 42:17 Memorization Systems 46:12 New Reps and Outreach 48:50 Rapunzl Email Strategy 51:08 Dry Spells and Joy 52:56 Closing Thanks EPISODE LINKS: · Greg’s Website · Greg’s IMDb · Greg on Actors Access · Subscribe to Greg’s YouTube Channel MediocreFilms · Follow Greg on IG @gregbenson Host: Colleen Foy Producer: ⁠Kristyn Daniel⁠ Music by: Lindsay Boreing and Will Boreing ________________ Want to learn more about Stan Kirsch Studios? ⁠Visit Our Website Here.⁠ ⁠Catch up on the podcast here.⁠ Follow SKS on IG ⁠@stankirschstudios ⁠

Colleen Foy sits down with actor and image consultant Buckley Sampson to talk actor headshots, audition wardrobe, self-tape outfits, personal branding, and how actors can use style to communicate their casting type. Buckley shares how she went from working as an actress to helping actors align their headshots, wardrobe, and on-camera presence with the roles they want to book. From what to wear for actor headshots and auditions to lifestyle photos, film festivals, and red-carpet looks, she breaks down how fit, tailoring, jewelry, fabrics, patterns, and even small wardrobe details can communicate character, status, and story. Colleen and Buckley also dig into casting type and “essence,” headshot styling, self-tape wardrobe, when actors should update their headshots, and why having a handful of reliable audition outfits ready to go can make self-taping easier. Buckley walks through her image consulting process, including closet reviews, shopping, Pinterest boards, and collaborating with agents, managers, photographers, and hair and makeup artists. Plus, they talk about navigating changing industry trends, aging as an actor, and choosing headshots that actually represent how casting sees you. If you’ve ever wondered what to wear for headshots, how to dress for an audition or self-tape, or how to build a stronger personal brand as an actor, this episode is for you.

Actor, activist, and certified intimacy coordinator Julia Belanova joins SKS master teacher Colleen Foy for a candid conversation about building a sustainable acting career, taking creative risks, navigating representation, and creating safer, more empowered film and television sets. A magna cum laude Harvard graduate and longtime member of the Stan Kirsch Studios community, Julia shares her journey from theater to film and TV and how her pursuit of joy and freedom in her work has pushed her to make bold choices, both in the audition room and in her career. From an iconic punk-rock buzz cut that made it clear she shouldn’t be underestimated to a fearless Mayans M.C. audition choice that resulted in a same-day booking, Julia has learned the value of trusting her instincts and embracing what sets her apart. She also reflects on working alongside Colin Farrell and how the experience deepened her commitment to presence, freedom, and authenticity as an actor, as well as the challenges of finding representation and why Stan Kirsch Studios became an artistic anchor throughout her career. Julia and Colleen also dive into her work as an intimacy coordinator and advocate for safer sets, including her advocacy with The Hollywood Commission and training with IDC and IPA. Julia breaks down what intimacy coordination actually looks like behind the scenes, from casting breakdowns and pre-production through filming and post-production, and discusses consent, trauma-informed practices, working with minors, and why intimacy support can be just as important in emotionally intense scenes as it is in scenes involving physical intimacy. This episode is a conversation about taking risks, trusting your instincts, finding your artistic community, and building an acting career that leaves room for both creative freedom and advocacy. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:48 Moving to LA After Harvard 01:20 Finding Community at Stan Kirsch 02:55 Stage to Screen Transition 03:37 Representation and Daily Progress 05:01 Buzz Cut as Branding 06:43 Reinvention and Creative Risk 09:01 Mayans MC Set Experience 11:14 Essence Versus Casting Type 13:49 Learning Through Ongoing Class 15:02 Breakthrough Booking With Colin Farrell 16:56 Reinventing Acting Path 17:29 Becoming Intimacy Coordinator 18:12 Why Advocacy Matters 20:38 Training Programs Explained 22:00 Joining a Production Team 23:23 Actor Support Surprises 24:44 Trauma Informed Boundaries 27:47 Safety Versus Set Speed 29:18 When the Work Hits Home 30:30 Protecting Child Performers 31:40 How the Role Changed Her 32:51 Closing Gratitude and Community EPISODE LINKS: · Julia’s Website · Julia’s IMDb · Follow Julia on IG @_juliabelanova Host: Colleen Foy Producer: ⁠Kristyn Daniel⁠ Music by: Lindsay Boreing and Will Boreing ________________ Want to learn more about Stan Kirsch Studios? ⁠Visit Our Website Here.⁠ ⁠Catch up on the podcast here.⁠ Follow SKS on IG ⁠@stankirschstudios ⁠

Colleen sits down with Heather Hemmens (Roswell New Mexico, Hellcats, Yellowstone) to talk about sustaining a decades-long career through resilience, craft, and self-care. Heather looks back on moving from Maine to LA at 18 with little money, the disheartening early years, and how depression in her early 20s led her to coping tools like hiking, yoga, meditation, and better health habits. Stan Kirsch Studios was one of the places that gave her a sense of community and built her groundwork for on-camera training, and she also got support from a manager who stuck with her before she booked for years. Heather breaks down what she learned watching herself on camera, her seven-audition journey to booking Hellcats despite getting harsh feedback from a casting director, and how that propelled her in the future when she was up for Roswell, New Mexico. From working with Tyler Perry to Taylor Sheridan, Heather has absorbed the artistry of those around her and used it to further her acting career and work. No matter what happened, she refused to give up, and that’s how she was able to keep going. See her in “Texas Two Step” now playing on Hallmark. 00:00 Meet Heather Hemmens 01:01 Moving to LA at 18 02:45 Full Circle Milestone 04:07 Self Care Survival 06:16 Depression and Coping Tools 08:07 Finding Stan Kirsch Studios 10:56 On Camera Breakthroughs 15:03 Booking Hellcats 18:26 Notes and Callbacks 20:10 Resilience Before the Break 24:39 Health Crisis to Business 26:53 Roswell Audition Shift 27:10 Booking Roswell Fast 29:20 Juggling Three Shows 31:14 Champagne Problems Reality 35:21 Tyler vs Taylor Workflows 38:41 Tyler Perry Boot Camp 41:45 Directing Actors Gently 46:02 Staying Flexible On Set 47:35 Dancing Again Texas Two Step 50:14 Choosing Directing Home Turf 52:40 Trusting Intuition Self Care EPISODE LINKS: · Heather’s IMDb · Follow Heather on IG @heatherhemmens · Get some Galifornia Undies Host: Colleen Foy Producer: ⁠Kristyn Daniel⁠ Music by: Lindsay Boreing and Will Boreing ________________ Want to learn more about Stan Kirsch Studios? ⁠Visit Our Website Here.⁠ ⁠Catch up on the podcast here.⁠ Follow SKS on IG ⁠@stankirschstudios ⁠