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2 months ago | 
backstage.com | Suzy Woltmann
“Well, what if there is no tomorrow? There wasn’t one today!” proclaims Phil Connors (Bill Murray) in “Groundhog Day.” This moment of existential crisis marks Phil’s turning point as he realizes that even if he can’t alter his situational circumstances, he can change himself—a lesson that also applies to the craft of performance. Here are some of the top time loops from films and TV and what they can teach you about acting.
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Jan 21, 2025 | 
backstage.com | Suzy Woltmann |David Green
Before becoming the household name (and EGOT!) she is today, Viola Davis was just an aspiring actor with a few school plays under her belt. Although her beginner acting résumé may have been less than auspicious, Davis kept building it by attending a state school theater program, making her stage debut, and enrolling at Juilliard, before finally moving on to Broadway and onscreen work.
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Jan 17, 2025 | 
backstage.com | Suzy Woltmann
Jude Law, Ralph Macchio, and Kerry Washington are just a few of the most recent names to earn a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Although the honor is certainly a boast-worthy achievement, it’s important for up-and-comers with stars in their eyes to remember that all that glisters is not gold. Here’s what you need to know about the concrete cosmos, whether Hollywood stars really matter, and ways to get one in your orbit. What is the Hollywood Walk of Fame?
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Nov 25, 2024 | 
backstage.com | Suzy Woltmann
The Talent Managers Association’s Heller Awards came roaring back Nov. 14, following a brief hiatus due to last year’s historic double strikes. Hosted by Jeremy Holm (“House of Cards,” “Mr. Robot”), with Victoria Mojica Monroe, Lori Kay, and Tammy Wallace producing and Ryan Guess directing, the ceremony celebrated excellence in talent representation and casting. This year’s theme, “Resurgence,” served as a powerful reminder of the industry’s resilience.
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Oct 31, 2024 | 
backstage.com | Suzy Woltmann
For neurodivergent voice actors like Kellen Goff (“Five Nights at Freddy’s,” “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure”) and Analesa Fisher (“Yummiland,” “Craig of the Creek”), who both have autism, seeing (and hearing!) the world a little bit differently means bringing something special to the table… or the recording booth.
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Oct 9, 2024 | 
backstage.com | Byronic Hero |Suzy Woltmann
From the wise-cracking sidekick to the wily trickster, the just-out-of-reach love interest to the grizzled mentor, archetypal characters fit into age-old storytelling patterns. The most popular archetypes permeate literature, film, and TV, providing us with familiar faces that make us feel at home, even in the most innovative of narratives. What is a character archetype? A character archetype describes a fictional figure who is easily recognizable due to their major traits.
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Sep 16, 2024 | 
backstage.com | Suzy Woltmann
SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher isn’t just a “millennial whisperer,” fashion icon, and famed rocker of a red lip; she’s also a fearless advocate for performers’ rights, a self-proclaimed “fierce beast,” and this year’s recipient of the Backstage Vanguard Award.
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Sep 10, 2024 | 
backstage.com | Suzy Woltmann |Maggie Bera
If you want to bear virtual witness to life’s many wonders and absurdities, short-form video is where it’s at. And for aspiring creators or performers, learning how to harness the power of this content is a great way to connect with your audience and grow your brand. Want to be the next viral sensation? Let’s dive into the short, sweet, and often silly world of short-form videos. What is short-form video content?
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Sep 6, 2024 | 
backstage.com | Suzy Woltmann
After a brief hiatus due to last year’s double strike, the Heller Awards are back! The event will take place at the Taglyan Complex in Los Angeles on Nov. 14. Named after talent manager Seymour Heller, one of the founders of the Talent Managers Association, the Heller Awards honor the industry’s top talent representatives. This year, the ceremony’s theme is “Resurgence,” reflecting the industry-wide revival and the ways that representatives rallied around their talent.
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Aug 14, 2024 | 
backstage.com | Suzy Woltmann
Multihyphenate Bo Burnham kicked off hiscareer by embracing his most distinctive talent: composing and performing comedic songs, which he posted on YouTube. Despite what he calls the “mountains of content” available on the internet, he was able to parlay an initially meager channel into widespread fame. Let’s dive into how people like Burnham—and maybe, one day, you—can successfully convert content creation into Hollywood stardom. What is an internet personality?
