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by Justin Younts
The DMF with Justin Younts (Discovering Meaning in Film & Acting) is an acting and filmmaking podcast for actors and creatives. Host Justin Younts explores acting technique, audition tips, casting insights, career strategy, and the craft of film and theatre. Featuring actors, casting directors, and filmmakers, DMF delivers real-world advice to help you book roles, build your reel, and grow as a professional actor.
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Welcome to The DMF — Discovering Meaning in Film and Acting. I'm Justin Younts, and in thisepisode I sit down with Amy Lord, partner at Eris Talent Agency, for the complete interview.Most actors never find out what their agent actually does all day, or what their agent wishes they'ddo differently. Amy Lord, partner at Eris Talent Agency, gets specific: the difference between anagent and a manager, why a self-tape can win the room before you walk in, and why so manyactors forget this is a business.From there, Amy tells me how she became an agent, starting in the commercial department, andhow she ended up building Eris's East Coast presence as a partner. We get into what makes Erisdifferent, how production incentives shape where films get made, and why New York, LA andAtlanta each work differently. Then she gets practical about agent feedback, doing yourhomework, and how self-tapes win the room.It starts well before the business side. Amy grew up in Brooklyn, and her love of theater startedearly. Her mom was an NYU English professor who took her to shows before she lost her at five.We talk about performing arts high school, summer stock in the Berkshires (including FrankLangella's Dracula), and what it took to get seen back when actors were pounding the pavementwith headshots and roster books. Then Tony n' Tina's Wedding took her to LA, and from there shemoved into writing, including Grandma Sylvia's Funeral, which she co-wrote with Glenn Wein, andThe Boychick Affair. She also talks about Club Disco, immersive theater and her time writing forthe Huffington Post. We close with her time studying with Uta Hagen at HB Studios, and a storyabout sending cupcakes to casting.In this episode we discuss:• Growing up in Brooklyn and falling in love with theater• Summer stock, the Berkshires and Frank Langella's Dracula• Headshots, roster books and how auditions have changed• Tony n' Tina's Wedding and moving to LA• Writing Grandma Sylvia's Funeral, Club Disco and The Boychick Affair• Immersive theater and writing for the Huffington Post• Becoming a talent agent and partnering at Eris• Talent agent vs. manager• Self-tapes, doing your homework and winning the room• Studying with Uta Hagen and why actors forget it's a businessTimestamps00:00:00 Introduction00:00:11 Guest Introduction00:00:37 Growing Up in Brooklyn00:01:33 Early Love of Theater00:02:09 Summer Stock & Frank Langella's Dracula00:02:55 Parents, Family & Being Exposed to Shows00:03:44 Performing Arts High School00:04:55 Pounding the Pavement: Headshots & Roster Books00:06:41 How Auditions Have Changed00:07:31 Tony n' Tina's Wedding & Moving to LA00:08:40 Making the Rounds in LA00:09:20 Moving into Writing00:09:55 Samuel French & Club Disco00:10:36 Immersive Theater00:11:21 Writing for Huffington Post00:11:44 Becoming an Agent00:13:20 Loving Clients & Setting Boundaries00:14:29 Starting in the Commercial Department00:15:47 Why Amy Moved into Agenting00:16:42 Building Eris's East Coast Presence00:18:25 What Makes Eris Different00:21:31 Navigating New York and LA00:22:53 Production Incentives & Film Markets00:24:56 Talent Agent vs. Manager00:26:33 Agent Feedback & Communication00:28:31 Why Actors Forget It's a Business00:29:30 Different Markets: Film, Theater, New York & Atlanta00:30:36 Doing Your Homework00:32:09 Self-Tapes & Winning the Room00:35:34 Studying with Uta Hagen00:36:21 The Kitchen Scene00:38:21 Sending Cupcakes to Casting00:39:29 A Tight Community00:40:42 Conclusion#DMF #AmyLord #ErisTalentAgency #TalentAgent #Acting #ActingTips #SelfTape #Casting#Theater #Playwright #Filmmaking #Podcast
Welcome to The DMF — Discovering Meaning in Film and Acting. I'm Justin Younts, and in this episode I sit down with acting coach Tom Draper, who has worked with actors including Shea Whigham and Eric André and trained across Michael Chekhov, Sanford Meisner and more.Tom grew up in Studio City with the industry all around him and had no interest in acting. He was a sports guy. Then a college fine arts class and a shy kid with a stutter led him to audition for The Rivals, and by the end of that summer he'd decided to be an actor. He finished his philosophy degree at Gonzaga taking every acting class he could, then skipped the MFA and built his own program in Los Angeles, studying with Meisner, Jeff Corey, Jose Quintero and George Shdanoff, Michael Chekhov's closest collaborator.We talk about the movies that shaped him, from early Woody Allen to Alec Guinness, and about Orson Welles as an actor. We get into whether dogma gets in the way of actors finding what works, why Tom doesn't like calling his classes master classes, and the Marlon Brando acting class that was taped and never released. Then we get into the working actor's questions: self-tapes, the audition where the actor brought a horse, being off-book, why so many actors don't train every day, and why Tom thinks script analysis is the biggest obstacle actors face right now.We close on Chekhov's technique, the body knowing more than the mind, atmosphere, and how to read a script out loud.In this episode we discuss:How Tom went from not wanting to act to building his own training in LAChekhov, Meisner, Jeff Corey and finding the technique that works for youOrson Welles, Alec Guinness and the movies that shaped himThe Acting Project and why Tom drops the "master class" labelSelf-tapes, the horse audition and what casting directors actually wantWhy actors need to train every dayScript analysis, atmosphere and reading scripts out loudThe Marlon Brando class and Kubrick storiesTom Draper Acting Project: https://www.tomdraperacting.com00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:31 - Growing Up in Los Angeles 00:01:48 - No Interest in Acting as a Kid 00:02:37 - "No Such Thing as Boring Acting, Just Boring Actors" 00:03:38 - A College Acting Class and The Rivals 00:05:21 - Gonzaga University and Philosophy 00:05:47 - Favorite Movies: Woody Allen, Scorsese, Keaton & Chaplin 00:08:13 - Alec Guinness 00:09:03 - De Niro and "Doing Nothing" in Acting 00:10:00 - What Attracted Tom to Acting 00:11:03 - Orson Welles as an Actor 00:13:14 - Why Michael Chekhov 00:14:51 - Skipping the MFA and Building His Own Training 00:17:12 - Lightness and Ease 00:19:30 - Playing Tense Characters Without Being Tense 00:20:28 - Does Dogma Get in the Way? Jeff Corey and Finding Your Own Technique 00:23:59 - The Acting Project 00:25:15 - Mixing Beginners and Seasoned Actors 00:27:53 - Why Tom Doesn't Say "Master Class" 00:30:14 - How Tom Got Into Teaching 00:31:21 - Marlon Brando's Acting Class 00:34:19 - Kubrick, Harvey Keitel & Full Metal Jacket 00:36:06 - Is There a Magic Pill to Getting Cast? 00:38:43 - The Horse Self-Tape 00:40:49 - Self-Tapes and Actors as Filmmakers 00:42:19 - Casting Directors, Props & the Josh Brolin Audition 00:43:55 - Being Off-Book and Memorizing Sides 00:46:24 - How to Get Noticed: Real Thoughts, Listening & Fire 00:47:50 - Why Actors Don't Train Every Day 00:51:04 - Social Media and the Myth That Acting Is Easy 00:52:53 - Naturals, Beginners & Child Actors 00:54:57 - Famous Actors Who Don't Know What They're Doing 00:58:29 - The Biggest Obstacle for Actors: Script Analysis 01:01:55 - Why Actors Don't Read 01:03:11 - The Body Knows More Than the Mind 01:06:01 - Rehearsal and Prep Work at Home 01:07:24 - Natural Acting and Playing Bigger 01:09:39 - Are We Losing Characters? 01:10:57 - What Chekhov Would Think of Acting Today 01:12:05 - Atmosphere 01:14:15 - Reading Scripts Out Loud: Table Reads & Cold Reads 01:18:03 - Wrap-Up
Welcome to The DMF — Discovering Meaning in Film and Acting. I'm Justin Younts, and in this episode I sit down with Mel Mack for part three of our conversation.This one gets into the things actors don't always talk about openly, starting with crying on cue. We get into the different ways actors get there, from external aids like menthol to genuinely tapping into real emotion, and why it's worth being honest with yourself about which one you're actually using.We also talk routines, morning and night, and how much they shape a performance. Meditation, fitness, the small habits that keep you grounded before you step in front of a camera. From there it's special skills and the risk of overstating them on a resume, audition prep, and a detour into the music and movies that shaped us — Taylor Swift, Jack Nicholson, Chinatown, and Uncut Gems.In this episode we discuss:Crying on cue and the techniques actors use to get thereMorning and night routines, meditation, and fitnessSpecial skills and the risk of overstating themAudition preparationJack Nicholson, Chinatown, and Uncut GemsHow to reach Mel Mack Acting StudioMel Mack Acting Studio: https://melmackactingstudio.com/00:00:00 - Crying on Cue 00:01:57 - Daily Routines, Meditation, and Fitness 00:06:26 - Special Skills and the Risks of Exaggerating 00:09:37 - Books, New York, and Audition Preparation 00:11:42 - Music and Taylor Swift's Influence 00:16:10 - What Mel's Watching 00:16:31 - Jack Nicholson, Movie Legends, and Being an Extra 00:19:28 - Chinatown, Marty Supreme, and Uncut Gems 00:20:51 - How to Reach Mel Mack Acting Studio#ActingTips #CryingOnCue #JackNicholson #TaylorSwift #AuditionPrep #ActingPodcast
Welcome to The DMF — Discovering Meaning in Film and Acting. I'm Justin Younts, and this is part 2 of my conversation with acting coach Mel Mack.Mel and I get into the biggest obstacle she sees actors running into right now, especially since the pandemic and the rise of social media: misinformation and self-doubt. She's watched actors get talked out of their own confidence by comments from people who don't actually know what they're talking about, and we talk about why doing your homework on who you're learning from matters as much as any class you'll take.We also dig into why so many actors set goals that are too small, and why Mel pushes the actors she coaches to think bigger and get specific about what they want. From there we get practical: networking with actual purpose instead of just collecting contacts, the preparation and mindset it takes to walk onto a set or into an audition room ready, and why the perfectionism trap so many actors fall into with self-tapes works against them instead of for them. Mel also breaks down why training never really stops, no matter how far along you are.If you've ever felt like the industry was talking you out of your own confidence, this conversation is for you.In this episode we discuss:The biggest obstacle facing actors today: misinformation and self-doubtWhy Mel coaches actors to set bold, specific career goals instead of small onesNetworking with purpose and building real fans in the industryPreparation, adaptability, and staying present in the sceneSelf-tapes and the perfectionism trapWhy actors have to keep training, no matter where they are in their careerWhat actually happens on a film set, and how to prepare for itUnderstanding direction and staying presentGoing off book and training consistentlyStaying the course without shortcutsBringing newness and wonder to every sceneGuest: Mel Mack, acting coach and author of 101 Acting Tips Mel Mack Acting Studio: https://melmackactingstudio.com/Timestamps: 00:00:00 - The Biggest Obstacle Facing Actors Today 00:02:21 - Setting Bold, Specific Career Goals 00:04:54 - Networking with Purpose and Building Industry Fans 00:07:01 - Preparation, Adaptability, and Staying in the Scene 00:10:05 - Self-Tapes and the Perfectionism Trap 00:12:23 - Why Actors Must Keep Training 00:14:31 - Preparing Actors for the Reality of a Film Set 00:15:18 - Understanding Direction and Staying Present 00:17:26 - Going Off Book and Training Consistently 00:20:12 - Staying the Course Without Shortcuts 00:21:14 - Bringing Newness and Wonder to Every Scene#Acting #ActingCoach #ActingTips #ActingCareer #AuditionTips #SelfTape #ActingStudio #Hollywood #Podcast
Welcome to The DMF — Discovering Meaning in Film and Acting. I'm Justin Younts, and in this episode I sit down with Mel Mack for the complete interview.Mel is an acting coach, casting director, actress, and author of 101 Acting Tips, and coaching is really the thread that runs through everything she does. We start with where she's from — Buffalo and Medina, New York — and how she found acting before making the leap to Hollywood, Florida, and eventually Los Angeles with no map for how the business actually worked.What stuck with me most was Mel's take on boldness and analysis paralysis — how so many actors talk themselves out of the choice that would've booked the room, and how she coaches actors out of that pattern. She's blunt about the gap acting schools leave in actors' training: technique gets taught, the business side almost never does. That gap is exactly why she started her own acting studio — the same instinct that carried her through booking Will & Grace and working with Madonna. We also get into what it actually means to bring your authentic self into a room, why bigger choices are easier for a director to work with, and how she coaches actors to adapt their skills across mediums.If you've ever walked out of an audition knowing something was off but couldn't name it, this conversation is for you.In this episode we discuss:Why she started her own acting studio, and the gap in acting education that led her thereHow she coaches actors out of analysis paralysis and into bolder choicesCoaching actors on bringing their authentic selves into the roomWhy bigger choices are easier for a director to work withCoaching actors to adapt their skills across different mediumsBreaking into Los Angeles and learning the business the hard wayBooking Will & Grace and working with MadonnaGrowing up in Buffalo and Medina, and the move to Hollywood, FloridaGuest: Mel Mack, acting coach and author of 101 Acting Tips Mel Mack Acting Studio: https://melmackactingstudio.com/Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Mel Mack 00:00:41 - Growing Up in Buffalo and Medina 00:02:15 - Discovering Acting and Moving to Hollywood, Florida 00:04:09 - Boldness, Risk-Taking, and Analysis Paralysis 00:11:48 - Breaking into Los Angeles and Learning the Business 00:13:05 - Why Acting Schools Don't Prepare Actors for Auditions 00:16:11 - From Audition Struggles to Starting an Acting Studio 00:17:57 - Booking Will & Grace and Working with Madonna 00:21:03 - Helping Actors Bring Their Authentic Selves 00:23:57 - Adapting Acting Skills for Different Mediums 00:24:28 - Why Bigger Choices Are Easier to Direct#Acting #ActingCoach #ActingTips #AuditionTips #ActingStudio #CastingDirector #WillAndGrace #Madonna #Hollywood #ActingCareer #Podcast
Welcome to The DMF — Discovering Meaning in Film and Acting. I'm Justin Younts, and this is the complete interview with casting director Tiffany Little Canfield of Telsey Company — known for her work on Wicked, Mean Girls, and more. All three parts together.Tiffany grew up in Sacramento, got serious about acting early, moved into directing, and eventually found her way to casting — where her background on both sides of the table changed how she reads actors and approaches every project. This conversation covers all of it.We start with her path into the industry, the casting process, what actors consistently misunderstand about auditions, the impact of self-tapes, and why training never stops mattering. From there we get into the specific casting stories — A Most Violent Year, Miss Sloane, Margin Call, and Wicked. Tiffany gets into how Ariana Grande was cast as Glinda, the casting of The Wizard, Madame Morrible, and Boq, and what the process looked like on a production of that scale.We also get into Snow White and The Little Mermaid — the casting challenges, audience reception, and the conversation around diversity in casting. Tiffany talks about the Academy finally establishing a casting branch and what that recognition means for the profession. We close with upcoming projects, personal habits, what she's watching, and thoughts on Maggie Gyllenhaal's directing work.In this episode we discuss:Tiffany's path from acting to directing to castingThe casting process and what actors get wrongSelf-tapes and the reality of modern auditionsCasting Wicked — Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff GoldblumCasting Snow White and The Little MermaidDiversity in casting and audience receptionThe Academy finally recognizing casting directorsUpcoming projects including Only Murders in the Building and Paradise00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:14 - Guest Introduction and Early Life 00:00:34 - Early Acting Experience and Education 00:02:23 - Transition from Acting to Directing 00:06:21 - Transition from Directing to Casting 00:09:50 - The Casting Process and Similarities to Acting 00:10:03 - The Role of a Casting Director 00:13:45 - The Importance of Scene Work in Casting 00:15:13 - The Misconceptions of Acting 00:15:40 - The Importance of Training in Acting 00:20:32 - The Reality of Auditions 00:22:07 - The Impact of Self-Tapes 00:24:43 - The Future of Storytelling 00:27:00 - The Power of Subtlety in Acting 00:28:45 - Working with the Telsey Office 00:30:00 - Casting 'A Most Violent Year' 00:30:46 - Casting 'A Most Violent Year' Continued 00:36:34 - Casting 'Miss Sloane' 00:39:19 - Casting 'Margin Call' 00:41:37 - Casting 'Wicked' 00:46:15 - Casting Ariana Grande in 'Wicked' 00:50:03 - Casting 'Wicked': The Wizard and Madame Morrible 00:55:35 - Casting 'Wicked': Boq 00:57:12 - Reflections on 'Snow White' and 'The Little Mermaid' 00:59:25 - Casting Challenges in 'Snow White' 01:01:37 - Casting 'Snow White' and 'The Little Mermaid': Audience Reception 01:03:43 - Addressing Diversity in Casting 01:05:59 - The Role of Casting Directors in Film Production 01:07:40 - Recognition of Casting Directors at the Academy Awards 01:12:08 - Upcoming Projects and Future Plans 01:12:47 - Personal Life and Habits 01:16:47 - Discussing Current TV Shows and Movies 01:17:18 - Thoughts on 'Wuthering Heights' 01:18:15 - Maggie Gyllenhaal's Directing Work 01:19:10 - How to Reach the Guest 01:19:30 - Closing Remarks#DMF #TiffanyLittleCanfield #CastingDirector #Wicked #ArianaGrande #SnowWhite #TheLittleMermaid #TelseyCompany #Oscars #Academy #Acting #Casting #Filmmaking #Podcast
Welcome to The DMF — Discovering Meaning in Film and Acting. I'm Justin Younts, and this is part three with casting director Tiffany Little Canfield of Telsey Company.This one is about something that's been a long time coming — the Academy Awards is finally establishing a casting branch, officially recognizing casting directors for their contributions to film. Tiffany has been part of the push to make that happen, and she talks about what that fight looked like, why it took this long, and what it actually means for casting professionals who have been working behind the scenes for years without that acknowledgment.We get into what the casting branch means going forward, how casting directors can now advocate for themselves and educate the industry about their role, and why every casting decision — not just the stars — is a creative one that shapes the entire film. Tiffany also talks about upcoming projects including Only Murders in the Building and Paradise.We close with Inside the Actors Studio questions.In this episode we discuss:The Academy finally recognizing casting directorsThe establishment of a casting branch within the AcademyWhy casting directors have been overlooked for so longThe creative role of casting in shaping a film's narrativeCollaboration with directors, producers, and actorsUpcoming projects: Only Murders in the Building & Paradise00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:05 - Recognition of Casting Directors 00:00:28 - The Role of a Casting Director 00:01:18 - The Process and Challenges 00:02:22 - The Journey to Recognition 00:02:38 - The Casting Branch 00:04:34 - Future Projects 00:05:12 - Inside the Actors Studio Questions 00:11:57 - Conclusion#DMF #TiffanyLittleCanfield #CastingDirector #Academy #Oscars #TelseyCompany #OnlyMurdersInTheBuilding #Acting #Casting #Filmmaking #Podcast
Welcome to The DMF — Discovering Meaning in Film and Acting. I'm Justin Younts, and this is part two with casting director Tiffany Little Canfield of Telsey Company.This one gets into the specific casting stories behind some of the biggest films Tiffany has worked on — and she doesn't hold back. We talk about how Cynthia Erivo was cast as Elphaba, how Ariana Grande landed the role of Glinda, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard, and Bowen Yang. We also get into the casting of A Most Violent Year, Miss Sloane, and Margin Call.Tiffany also shares her thoughts on AI and storytelling — why she doesn't believe technology will ever replicate what a human can convey in a moment, especially in the room. We talk about the art of auditioning, staying in character, and what it looks like to work inside the Telsey office on projects of this scale.In this episode we discuss:The casting of Wicked and the stories behind each roleHow Ariana Grande was cast as GlindaCasting Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Yeoh & Jeff GoldblumCasting A Most Violent Year, Miss Sloane & Margin CallAI and the future of human storytellingThe art of auditioning and staying presentWhat it's like working at Telsey on major productions00:00:00 - Introduction & AI in Storytelling 00:00:37 - The Art of Auditioning 00:01:33 - Staying in Character 00:02:21 - Working with Telsey Office 00:03:37 - Casting 'A Most Violent Year' 00:10:11 - Casting 'Miss Sloan' 00:12:54 - Casting 'Margin Call' 00:15:14 - Casting 'Wicked' 00:15:38 - Casting Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba 00:15:47 - Casting Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible 00:19:03 - Casting Ariana Grande as Glinda 00:26:44 - Casting Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard 00:29:11 - Casting Bowen Yang#DMF #TiffanyLittleCanfield #CastingDirector #Wicked #ArianaGrande #MichelleYeoh #CynthiaErivo #JeffGoldblum #TelseyCompany #Acting #Casting #Podcast
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The DMF with Justin Younts (Discovering Meaning in Film & Acting) is an acting and filmmaking podcast for actors and creatives. Host Justin Younts explores acting technique, audition tips, casting insights, career strategy, and the craft of film and theatre. Featuring actors, casting directors, and filmmakers, DMF delivers real-world advice to help you book roles, build your reel, and grow as a professional actor.
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