The Background Scoop

S2 E2: Swiftly Patrolling Doom

Sun, 17 Apr 2022 16:55:24 +0000

In this episode, I primarily talk about some of the featured roles I've played lately, how synchronicity plays a role in where your acting career goes, how easy it can be to find yourself in the finished product, the unique and somewhat peculiar way Tyler Perry makes his TV shows, giving people a second chance, and Greek Holidays. All told through stories from recent background jobs I've had.

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Linktree

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S2 E1: Monologues, Taping Auditions, and EcoCast Lives

Sat, 26 Feb 2022 19:43:55 +0000

In this episode, I primarily talk about Monologues, Taped Auditions, and Live Auditions, to the extent that I have done all 3 of these. I'm just a beginner, but I think you'll glean some valuable points by listening to what I've done and learned in the process. I include some actual monologues I did for my acting class and a snippet of a role I played for that class. And, of course, the usual stories from recent background jobs I've had. But I'm cutting way back on these. Seriously. I feel as if I've been there, done that, and talked it to death. So, I'm shifting the content to focus more on the acting work and including background content as it relates to any points I'm trying to make.

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Linktree

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S1 E23: What's On The Landscape

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 12:53:08 +0000

Here's what I talk about in this episode:

I talk about scams, taping auditions, some shows I've recently worked on such as Monarch and The Wonder Years for the sixth time, some movies I've been involved in recently such as Creed III and Landscape with Invisible Hand, as well as a student film I did called On Demand. I also talk about the wonderful acting class I'm taking at The Alliance Theatre right now. And I close with some recorded voiceover material I recently did.

This may be the last episode for me for a while. I kind of feel like I've said everything there is to say about background acting, and in 2022, I feel like I'm now morphing into a real actor or a non-background actor if you will, whatever you want to call it. So, hopefully, those who have been following along will continue to listen and tune in and see how that all pans out. It may be a bit before I get back to this. Once I've got enough material to talk about that going forward. So, again, thanks for tuning in, and we'll talk to you soon.

If you like this podcast, please provide a rating on whatever platform you're listening on and tell your friends.

If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links:

Linktree

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S1 E22: P-Valley, Monarch, and Zoltar

Sun, 16 Jan 2022 15:16:53 +0000

Here's what I talk about in this episode: Perseverence, Networking, Actcicles, Feedback, Medical Emergencies, and Auditioning for roles. I'll use recent acting experiences to support my message so you can clearly see how it's exemplified. And I'll attempt to sum up the moral of each story for you so you don't have to think too hard about it. Think Aesop's Fables, but in the 21st century for people who don't like read and would rather listen. If you like this podcast, please provide a rating on whatever platform you're listening on and tell your friends. If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links: Linktree https://linktr.ee/Djstavropoulos --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebackgroundscoop/support

S1 E21: The Deep South

Sun, 02 Jan 2022 16:30:09 +0000

In this episode, I talk about doing a bank robbery scene, standing in for an actor on Ordinary Joe, a garden party in Buckhead, playing a lawyer in a courtroom, and how much I really loved how Hawkeye came out. I am clearly seen as a threat walking past Jeremy Renner and Hailee Steinfeld in the snow. Warning: I also talk about how my dog, Sugar, died just before Christmas and the pros and cons of letting your pet go naturally vs. having them euthanized. Finally, I got my first line in a film for an independent filmmaker, which was nothing like the background work I've done. I also auditioned to play a South Carolina lawyer in the late nineteenth century. And, I attended two workshops at Alliance Theatre and am registered for an acting class that starts in January 2022. If you like this podcast, please provide a rating on whatever platform you're listening on and tell your friends. If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links: Linktree https://linktr.ee/Djstavropoulos --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebackgroundscoop/support

S1 E20 Being Brad's Dad

Sat, 20 Nov 2021 00:35:54 +0000

This episode is chock full of more stories of my life on set over the past month and what I've learned. I did The Game, Ordinary Joe, The Walking Dead, The Wonder Years, and cancelled The Staircase. If you haven't heard, Netflix Released their most expensive movie ever, Red Notice, at theatres on Friday, November 5 and streaming on Netflix a week later. I've watched it twice already. I am impressed beyond belief at how well this came out and honestly feel that it's an instant classic. I plan to buy several copies and give them as Christmas gifts, that is, if it's out on DVD in time. The one very strange this is that after waiting a year, part of you has moved on so far that you don't even care. But then when you watch it, it brings you right back to those glorious 9 weeks we spent holed up in the Crowne Plaza Peachtree City on Route 74. I've already heard rumors that there's discussion about making 2 more of these at the same time. That would be grant. As usual, listen and enjoy yourselves as you live vicariously through my bumbling background stints. If you like this podcast, please provide a rating on whatever platform you're listening on and tell your friends. If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links: Linktree https://linktr.ee/Djstavropoulos --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebackgroundscoop/support

S1 E19 No Ordinary Joe

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 21:18:41 +0000

Ozark, Ordinary Joe, The Wonder Years, and The Staircase. You'll see a pattern here. I'm leaning more towards television lately because it's easier, more predictable work, and you get to see the results fairly quickly. Like 4-8 weeks vs. the year or more that a film takes. Yes, Red Notice, which I covered extensively in the first episode is finally being released on November 5, 2021 after I finished my work on it last November. But it will be worth the wait. This episode is about the close knit families that form on projects, how it feels to work on a show you watch and love, encountering people you don't remember, discovering that someone's impersonating you online, the wonders of a science fair, hair readiness, protesting, FOMO, screaming on queue, shuttling to nowhere, hair color, exposing yourself, and building friendships over time. That's a lot, I know. I can't possibly summarize everything here or limit my content because it's a lot of little things I pick up along the way. But if you listen closely, you'll find some golden nuggets. And that's the whole point. If you learn just one thing from me, it's a lesson you don't have to learn yourself.

If you like this podcast, please provide a rating on whatever platform you're listening on and tell your friends.

If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links:

Linktree

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S1 E18 Specialty Roles and Mute Principals

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 15:37:28 +0000

This episode is primarily about what it's like to play a featured background role (sometimes called a specialty role) as well as playing a role that's almost a principal role, except it has no lines. I cover the complexity of driving your car on set, how driving a manual transmission complicates it, and that it's possible and really nice to teach your friends to drive a stick if they need to for a role. I discuss how complicated scenes with lots of people crossing can be dangerous. I describe the importance of understanding the scene you're in so you don't waste time trying to figure it out on your own. And recognizing that you will be treated differently as your roles become more prominent; enjoy this but don't forget who you are and that it's important to treat others as you want to be treated yourself. Finally, I recount a fitting story about a famous Roman emperor and my inability to recognize who I'd be playing before I arrived. If you like this podcast, please provide a rating on whatever platform you're listening on and tell your friends. If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links: Linktree https://linktr.ee/Djstavropoulos --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebackgroundscoop/support

S1 E17 Crimson and Charlock

Sat, 21 Aug 2021 16:01:44 +0000

This episode is primarily about the seven-day job I did on a Marvel production recently and what I learned from that experience. It's about ghost passes and clean plates What it's like to dance to no music or to music that won't actually be in the scene. How inclement weather impacts production here in the South. The power of background actors even if they're NOT in a union. And how really talented Pas can provide support and emotional positivity to your job. I cover what happens when you're fighting over HVAC with your neighbors. The risk of being literally forgotten in a scene because no one came to geet you. How COVID has changed access to Crafty food. And finally, how the delta variant is taking some productions a year into the past to ensure the safety of all. If you like this podcast, please provide a rating on whatever platform you're listening on and tell your friends.

If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links:

https://linktr.ee/Djstavropoulos

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S1 E16 Rise of the Dynasty

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 22:55:21 +0000

This episode is about how doing background work can ruin your viewing experience, what core stand-in means, director-selected roles, how establishing scenes work, and making yourself heard when you're given no lines. Although many background jobs can have hundreds of people, I talk about doing background with no principal actors and doing stand-in with no background. Both are much more intimate because there are fewer people and moving parts and all eyes are on you. I also discuss handling weirdos on set as well as a COVID case that shut down production for two days and what I learned about it on a Google Meets Town Hall. Damn you, Delta variant! For added interest, I've included a bit about Meerkat Manor which is back on after 20 years and my trip to Cape Cod with my dog, where I met interesting people and drove through cities in Virginia with very odd names. If you like this podcast, please provide a rating on whatever platform you're listening on and tell your friends. If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links: Facebook http://www.facebook.com/d.j.stavropoulos Instagram http://www.instagram.com/d.j.stavropoulos LinkedIn http://www.Linkedin.com/in/djstavropoulos Pinterest http://www.Pinterest.com/djstavropoulos Twitter http://www.Twitter.com/djstavropoulos YouTube http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC67CJvv-jrWtPbTQWhu79Qg?view_as=subscriber IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm12147879/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebackgroundscoop/support

S1 E15 SAGgy White Eve

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 14:56:55 +0000

This episode is about SAG-AFTRA, divorce, and finding yourself in the middle of a foreign city that doesn't really exist. No airlines fly there; you have to take a shuttle bus that seats only 8 people, and there's only one of them, so getting a hundred people there can take as long as a cross-country flight. I've decided that to protect myself from potential lawsuits, I'm no longer going to mention any of the real names of anything I've worked on unless it's already been released. I also cover how to remove duplicate IMDB pages, getting injured on the set, and the perils of working in the hot, summer sun. As well as sexual harassment, meeting Cleopatra (really), and how to pretend to get money out of a broken down ATM from the early 1990s. You can even WATCH a portion of this episode on my YouTube channel, D. J. Stavropoulos (see the link below). If you like this podcast, please provide a rating on whatever platform you're listening on and tell your friends. If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links: Facebook http://www.facebook.com/d.j.stavropoulos Instagram http://www.instagram.com/d.j.stavropoulos LinkedIn http://www.Linkedin.com/in/djstavropoulos Pinterest http://www.Pinterest.com/djstavropoulos Twitter http://www.Twitter.com/djstavropoulos YouTube http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC67CJvv-jrWtPbTQWhu79Qg?view_as=subscriber IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm12147879/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebackgroundscoop/support

S1 E14 Up All Night for Iowa's Big Caucus

Sat, 29 May 2021 22:27:55 +0000

This episode is about being part of a large caucus and working all night long. More specifically, a one-day job on Season 2 of The First Lady with Viola Davis. And an all-nighter on the remake of a movie called The Valet. It's about what happens when you don't carefully read your call-time email. Looking for hints that you'll be working until 7 AM the next day. How unexpected precipitation can totally rain on your filming parade and delay the shoot. How the simple act of brining the right outfit can backfire on you. How using your car in a scene can have you literally backpedaling. The importance of ignoring the principal actors to remain employed. And, last but not least, how being the right height in the right place at the right time can land you a promotion and a raise.

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http://www.Pinterest.com/djstavropoulos

Twitter

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YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC67CJvv-jrWtPbTQWhu79Qg?view_as=subscriber

IMDB

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--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebackgroundscoop/support

S1 E13 Roadkill

Sun, 23 May 2021 14:38:16 +0000

This episode is about roadkill. Yes, those dead animals in the road and my reaction to them when driving down local roads to get to my background jobs. Especially those an hour away south of the city. I also make a revelatory discovery that a finished product can be so good that people find it hard to watch. It’s a figurative roadkill. The Underground Railroad is just that. I include stories about friends I made during my first 11 days on a very popular show filmed down in Senoia. I don't watch the show because it's too gory, but you can bet my eyes will be glued to Season 11 when it premieres. Trying to figure out how to calculate your hourly rate? I talk about that, too. And always always always choose a multi-day job over several one-day jobs if you can. When you get old, be aware that you may lose your ability to recognize people you lived with in a COVID bubble for nine weeks, so err on the side of approaching complete strangers who look like them. Finally, even with a name as uncommon as mine, someone somewhere will name a disease after you. They may cleverly sandwich it between EN and IS, but it will be clear as day to you that your given name, Demetrios, has been hijacked. If you like this podcast, please provide a rating on whatever platform you're listening on and tell your friends. If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links: Facebook http://www.facebook.com/d.j.stavropoulos Instagram http://www.instagram.com/d.j.stavropoulos LinkedIn http://www.Linkedin.com/in/djstavropoulos Pinterest http://www.Pinterest.com/djstavropoulos Twitter http://www.Twitter.com/djstavropoulos YouTube http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC67CJvv-jrWtPbTQWhu79Qg?view_as=subscriber IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm12147879/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebackgroundscoop/support

S1 E12 Being Featured (Right This Way, Mrs. Ford)

Sun, 23 May 2021 14:36:56 +0000

This episode is primarily about The First Lady (a new Showtime series) and about being featured, which is when a scene clearly shows you, the background actor, versus having you appear in the background, possibly not visible at all. I discuss getting feedback as a featured actor and some of the challenges I encountered with fake rain having an old car driven towards me by a stunt woman. I talk about the boredom of not getting used, the danger of working two consecutive days on one or more projects, not-so-rapid COVID tests, and the ups and downs of back-to-back availability inquiries and last minute cancellations by either you or the casting companies. I've also included the first podcast voicemail I've gotten from a listener. And me reading the first review that someone posted about The Background Scoop on Apple Podcasts. Included are stories that exemplify these ideas and illustrate how they've impacted me personally and shaped how I think about doing background work. If you like this podcast, please provide a rating on whatever platform you're listening on and tell your friends. If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links: Facebook http://www.facebook.com/d.j.stavropoulos Instagram http://www.instagram.com/d.j.stavropoulos LinkedIn http://www.Linkedin.com/in/djstavropoulos Pinterest http://www.Pinterest.com/djstavropoulos Twitter http://www.Twitter.com/djstavropoulos YouTube http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC67CJvv-jrWtPbTQWhu79Qg?view_as=subscriber IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm12147879/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebackgroundscoop/support

S1 E11 The Wonderful Games Naomi Plays

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 15:33:08 +0000

This episode is about getting excited about opportunities but then getting rejected or cancelled by the production at the last minute. About rushing out for last minute calls and getting COVID tests. About how 12 hours on a project translated to mere seconds or minutes in the finished product. About boarding your pet when you have no idea of your call time or how long you will be on set. About seeing yourself in the finished product and possibly ending up on the cutting room floor and the disappointment that brings. About how to track your jobs so that you can easily find yourself when the show or film airs; it's not always easy if you don't take good notes. About using background opportunities to explore parts of yourself you've kept hidden away for years. And finally, there's a few tidbits about IMDB and recording your work so that the whole world can see what you've been in. Included are stories that exemplify these ideas and illustrate how they've impacted me personally and shaped how I think about doing background work. If you like this podcast, please provide a rating on whatever platform you're listening on and tell your friends. If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links: Facebook http://www.facebook.com/d.j.stavropoulos Instagram http://www.instagram.com/d.j.stavropoulos LinkedIn http://www.Linkedin.com/in/djstavropoulos Pinterest http://www.Pinterest.com/djstavropoulos Twitter http://www.Twitter.com/djstavropoulos YouTube http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC67CJvv-jrWtPbTQWhu79Qg?view_as=subscriber IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm12147879/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebackgroundscoop/support

S1 E10 MacGyver & The First Lady

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 15:25:41 +0000

This episode is about the complexity and simplicity of making shows and movies, eavesdropping on famous people and then researching them online, running into old friends, and making new ones. Most of all, it's about meeting and connecting with people on the set. It's also about doing period work during a period when you were actually alive as a kid! It creates a new perspective on the world when you're filming a period you were actually part of. Finally, it's about what you're willing to do to get a role, in this case shaving your face in advance or finding out you might have to and wondering how you'll respond to that if it happens.

Included are stories that exemplify these ideas and illustrate how they've impacted me personally and shaped how I think about doing background work.

If you like this podcast, please provide a rating on whatever platform you're listening on and tell your friends.

If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links:

Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/d.j.stavropoulos

Instagram

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http://www.Linkedin.com/in/djstavropoulos

http://www.Pinterest.com/djstavropoulos

Twitter

http://www.Twitter.com/djstavropoulos

YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC67CJvv-jrWtPbTQWhu79Qg?view_as=subscriber

IMDB

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm12147879/

--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebackgroundscoop/support

S1 E09 Fake vs. Real

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 22:08:09 +0000

Is it real or is it fake? The film and TV industry's job is to entertain you with productions that look as real as possible. And in order to do that, they have to create reality with a lot of fake things. In other words, nothing is filmed without creating the right set, whether it's built from scratch or discovered by a location scout and turned into something that it isn't really. Since acting is pretending you're someone you're not, it's only logical that you're doing this in an environment that is also pretending to be something it's not. There's lots of fakery going on, and it's half the fun of doing this work because many times it even fools the best of us. Here are some stories of non-real situations I've been in as well as what jobs I've done recently and how each exemplifies this fake vs. real concept. I vividly remember my first day on set, spending 10 hours on Ozark, only to get in my car and drive back into the real world, which was incredibly strange after being in this fake one all day. You get used to it. And, if you're like me, the excitement of discovering what fakeness you'll encounter on today's job never wears off. Here's to pretending all the way home and never letting it bore you. It's fascinating! If you like this podcast, please provide a rating on whatever platform you're listening on and tell your friends. If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links: Facebook http://www.facebook.com/d.j.stavropoulos Instagram http://www.instagram.com/d.j.stavropoulos LinkedIn http://www.Linkedin.com/in/djstavropoulos Pinterest http://www.Pinterest.com/djstavropoulos Twitter http://www.Twitter.com/djstavropoulos YouTube http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC67CJvv-jrWtPbTQWhu79Qg?view_as=subscriber IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm12147879/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebackgroundscoop/support

S1 E01 What is BG?

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 02:07:36 +0000

Some call them "extras," but BG (or Background) is the industry term for people hired to work on a film or TV production that aren't the main actors. They're those people literally in the background that you don't even really notice, but they play a very big and important role in creating a reality that makes the production believable. When you're making a movie or TV show, you want it to look real, and in the real world, there are usually people in the background. Consider this: you're walking down the street to meet a friend at Starbucks for a coffee. You go inside and order from the Barista. You, your friend, and the barista are the main characters. Everyone else there is background. OK, so why this podcast? Why here? Why now? I've lived in Atlanta, GA for almost 25 years now, and stumbled into this industry about a year ago (October 2019 to be exact). I was just minding my own business selling real estate but uncovered another world (on another planet) within an industry that's booming here right now. People call it "Yallywood" (a portmanteau of Y'all and Hollywood) for good reason. Don't quote me on this, but I believe there are more productions being done here on Georgia than anywhere else in the country due to the tax incentives. So, a whole new industry has popped up. And people are flocking to it. Like me, but it was an accident. Really. I responded to an email from a company called Nine9. I paid them some money. Not to throw them under the bus, but it probably wasn't worth it, and everyone I met consider them to be a "scam" (perhaps true). I got wind of some Facebook pages and websites that posted open calls for background work, and the rest is history. Between October 2019 and March 2020 (roughly six months), I worked on 30 projects. I've learned a lot. And my goal here is to share some useful information about the business for those just getting into it, coupled with real-life stories of what I've encountered along the way. Some good. Some bad. It's not my primary source of income (I sell real estate full-time), but it's a fascinating way to spend your days (if you have the flexibility), meet interesting people, make some money, and (at some point hopefully) see yourself on the big screen. I hope you enjoy listening. If you like this podcast, please provide a rating on whatever platform you're listening on and tell your friends. If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links: Facebook http://www.facebook.com/d.j.stavropoulos Instagram http://www.instagram.com/d.j.stavropoulos LinkedIn http://www.Linkedin.com/in/djstavropoulos Pinterest http://www.Pinterest.com/djstavropoulos Twitter http://www.Twitter.com/djstavropoulos YouTube http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC67CJvv-jrWtPbTQWhu79Qg?view_as=subscriber IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm12147879/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebackgroundscoop/support

S1 E08 The Culture

Sun, 14 Feb 2021 18:46:22 +0000

The film and TV industry is probably unlike any other, and it makes sense to explore this a bit if you're considering background acting. I've done close to 40 jobs at this point and have been exposed to all kinds of things that are quite different from the cultures of Corporate America and real estate, where I currently operate. This episode is dedicated to the unique characteristics of the industry. What's its like in terms of people and behaviors and what to expect if you're not used to this. Be prepared! It may not be at all what you're used to. If you like this podcast, please provide a rating on whatever platform you're listening on and tell your friends. If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links: Facebook http://www.facebook.com/d.j.stavropoulos Instagram http://www.instagram.com/d.j.stavropoulos LinkedIn http://www.Linkedin.com/in/djstavropoulos Pinterest http://www.Pinterest.com/djstavropoulos Twitter http://www.Twitter.com/djstavropoulos YouTube http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC67CJvv-jrWtPbTQWhu79Qg?view_as=subscriber IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm12147879/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebackgroundscoop/support

S1 E07 The Money

Sun, 31 Jan 2021 19:09:33 +0000

S1Making money is one of the primary reasons for doing background acting. Yes, it's fun and exciting to do this work, but if there weren't money involved, would you offer up your time for free? Some people would, and there are background acting jobs that pay nothing. This episode is about those that do. How the pay structure works. How you get paid. And how taxes are handled. I've added some personal stories along the way to help explain pay-related situations I've been in and how I've resolved them. I wouldn't say background acting is a get-rich-quick scheme to follow. But then again, the pay is relative to how valuable your time is and what you can make doing other things. For me, it's just one of many concurrent streams of income. I've never worked for free and the most I've made is about $24,000 for just a few months of work on a single project. If you like this podcast, please provide a rating on whatever platform you're listening on and tell your friends. If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links: Facebook http://www.facebook.com/d.j.stavropoulos Instagram http://www.instagram.com/d.j.stavropoulos LinkedIn http://www.Linkedin.com/in/djstavropoulos Pinterest http://www.Pinterest.com/djstavropoulos Twitter http://www.Twitter.com/djstavropoulos YouTube http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC67CJvv-jrWtPbTQWhu79Qg?view_as=subscriber IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm12147879/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebackgroundscoop/support

S1 E06 The First Wives Club

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 01:13:21 +0000

The film & TV industry has a whole vocabulary of its own, which was the original subject of this episode. I hadn't intended on doing an entire show about The First Wives Club. But I did this TV show three times in the past two weeks, and a number of things happened that I wanted to talk about. I do cover some industry terminology here, but your best bet to learn the most common terms is to listen to Season 1, Episode 4, where I cover terms such as crafty, your mark, pantomime, banana, and martini shot. So, instead of just sharing some new terminology, I talk about experiences and provide insight into pantomime vs. talking, getting crafty food, leading when no one else is, how to juggle multiple submissions for the same day, revised call times, cattle calls, and running into old friends. If you like this podcast, please provide a rating on whatever platform you're listening on and tell your friends. If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links: Facebook http://www.facebook.com/d.j.stavropoulos Instagram http://www.instagram.com/d.j.stavropoulos LinkedIn http://www.Linkedin.com/in/djstavropoulos Pinterest http://www.Pinterest.com/djstavropoulos Twitter http://www.Twitter.com/djstavropoulos YouTube http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC67CJvv-jrWtPbTQWhu79Qg?view_as=subscriber IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm12147879/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebackgroundscoop/support

S1 E05 What Can Go Wrong Will Go Wrong

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 04:36:30 +0000

I had a number of things go wrong on a single day on a project in January of 2021, so I recorded snippets that I had planned to intersperse into other episodes, but I very quickly realized I had enough material for an entire episode. So, this episode is dedicated to all the possible things that could go wrong, what's gone wrong for me, and how I addressed it. Clearly, it's not an all-inclusive list because there's probably an infinite number of things that could go wrong, and I alone have experienced only some of these. But, by sharing my real-life stories with you, you'll get a sense of some of the challenges of working in the industry so you're better prepared to handle similar situations. Listen in to my real-world bellyaching and maybe you, too, can solve the same challenges when they happen to you. And they will. If you like this podcast, please provide a rating on whatever platform you're listening on and tell your friends. If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links: Facebook http://www.facebook.com/d.j.stavropoulos Instagram http://www.instagram.com/d.j.stavropoulos LinkedIn http://www.Linkedin.com/in/djstavropoulos Pinterest http://www.Pinterest.com/djstavropoulos Twitter http://www.Twitter.com/djstavropoulos YouTube http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC67CJvv-jrWtPbTQWhu79Qg?view_as=subscriber IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm12147879/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebackgroundscoop/support

S1 E04 A Day on the Set

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 00:38:40 +0000

This episode covers things you'll encounter on the set on a typical day of a background job, if there is such a thing, since they're all different. But they all have a set of things in common and generally work the same way. The structure of the day, signing in/signing out, crafty and meals, wardrobe, props, holding, and the filming itself. This assumes you've gone through the effort of finding, applying, and being chosen for a background job and then going to a fitting and getting a COVID test before working. There are lots of details that make up the day itself. Consider this a high-level overview of what to expect. For some of these topics, I'll devote an entire episode to them and go into a lot more detail. Here's what I cover in this episode: Arriving & Signing In Wardrobe Hair & Makeup Props Holding Crafty & Meals Filming, and Wrapping Up at the End of the Day If you like this podcast, please provide a rating on whatever platform you're listening on and tell your friends. If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links: Facebook http://www.facebook.com/d.j.stavropoulos Instagram http://www.instagram.com/d.j.stavropoulos LinkedIn http://www.Linkedin.com/in/djstavropoulos Pinterest http://www.Pinterest.com/djstavropoulos Twitter http://www.Twitter.com/djstavropoulos YouTube http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC67CJvv-jrWtPbTQWhu79Qg?view_as=subscriber IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm12147879/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebackgroundscoop/support

S1 E03 Fittings, COVID Tests, and Everything In Between

Thu, 31 Dec 2020 03:24:49 +0000

This episode covers everything you need to know and do between the time you accept a background booking and arriving on set the day of the job. This consists of fitting(s), COVID testing, signing a non-disclosure agreement, getting the final logistics the day before, and packing what you need for your day of the shoot. These typically happen quickly if there's only a week or less between your booking and the shooting date; otherwise, they can span weeks. There are lots of moving parts here being coordinated by resources on the production itself since the casting company got you the job but has little to no role in executing these activities. Be aware of what's expected and prepare yourself to be complete these items as scheduled so you're ready to go on your big day. If you like this podcast, please provide a rating on whatever platform you're listening on and tell your friends. If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links: Facebook http://www.facebook.com/d.j.stavropoulos Instagram http://www.instagram.com/d.j.stavropoulos LinkedIn http://www.Linkedin.com/in/djstavropoulos Pinterest http://www.Pinterest.com/djstavropoulos Twitter http://www.Twitter.com/djstavropoulos YouTube http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC67CJvv-jrWtPbTQWhu79Qg?view_as=subscriber IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm12147879/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebackgroundscoop/support

S1 E02 Finding Background Jobs & Submitting Yourself

Mon, 28 Dec 2020 16:46:40 +0000

In this episode I cover how to find background jobs and how to submit for them. There are many companies hiring in Atlanta, and most use websites and Facebook to advertise these jobs. Most are totally free. I describe what to expect to submit for a job, what pictures you'll typically need, and how to track your submissions. If a casting company reaches out to you, they'll cover specific topics when confirming you for a job. Including details about fittings and COVID testing. You won't find out everything until the day before the job. Remember that this is a commitment you're making, and casting companies expect professionalism, accountability, and reliability when hiring. Do your best to present yourself in a way that shows you're serious, and you'll be on your way to making a great first impression. Here are the website links I mention in this episode: http://www.centralcasting.com http://www.tammysmithcasting.com/ https://www.backstage.com/resources/detail/castingdirector/catrett-locke-casting-aka-cl-casting-82285/ http://www.castingtaylormade.com http://www.hyltoncasting,com If you like this podcast, please provide a rating on whatever platform you're listening on and tell your friends. If you like what you heard and want to see more, here are my social media links: Facebook http://www.facebook.com/d.j.stavropoulos Instagram http://www.instagram.com/d.j.stavropoulos LinkedIn http://www.Linkedin.com/in/djstavropoulos Pinterest http://www.Pinterest.com/djstavropoulos Twitter http://www.Twitter.com/djstavropoulos YouTube http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC67CJvv-jrWtPbTQWhu79Qg?view_as=subscriber IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm12147879/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebackgroundscoop/support

The Background Scoop

Thu, 24 Dec 2020 23:16:50 +0000

Here’s a taste of what this podcast is about. No pun intended. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebackgroundscoop/support