In The Envelope: An Awards Podcast

Throughout his over 30 years in the biz, Hugh Grant has evolved through different phases, defining an era of romantic comedies before subverting expectations with the character-driven parts he’s always preferred. “I’d much rather have a silly voice, a funny haircut, and a funny walk,” he says, revealing the intricacies of his character-building process and how it’s changed since his 1990s Hollywood breakthrough. In particular, Hugh advises listeners on how to make each take fresh and believable: “On film, you have to mean it.” A London native and Oxford student, Hugh dabbled in writing and performing sketch comedy before giving acting a go on stages all over England. After film and TV work, including an award-winning turn in “Maurice,” he auditioned for and booked “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” which became the highest-grossing British movie in history and earned Hugh a Golden Globe Award. His streak as a romantic lead continued with “Sense and Sensibility,” “Notting Hill,” “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” “About a

Starstruck by cinema since childhood and then trained on London stages, John Boyega was always meant to be an actor. Recently the “Star Wars” star also became a producer, forming the U.K. production company Upperroom Entertainment Limited. In this interview about his creative processes, John reveals how to transform into a character until you hardly recognize yourself onscreen, as well as his best philosophy for fellow working artists: navigating the biz is about “being present, consistently staying a fan of cinema...and trying to find what specifically motivates you.” After training in multiple London theater programs, John broke into the film industry with sci-fi romp “Attack the Block,” and was launched to superstardom as Finn in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and its two sequels. He’s also appeared in “Imperial Dreams,” “Detroit,” and “Pacific Rim: Uprising,” which he produced. In “Red, White and Blue,” one of the films in Steve McQueen’s “Small Axe” anthology series now on Amazon Prime Video, John plays

Jonathan Majors approaches every performance with a “tabula rasa,” or blank slate, mentality. “You do so much work creatively, emotionally, physically, spiritually, to prepare for the role,” he says. “But then when you get there, it’s go time.” And only with a strong foundation of training and life experience—knowing one’s craft and oneself—can “go time” be achieved on set. Raised in Texas and discovering theater as a creative outlet while a teenager, Jonathan studied acting at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and Yale School of Drama. Since his big Hollywood break on the limited series “When We Rise,” he’s appeared in films “Hostiles,” “White Boy Rick,” “Out of Blue,” “Captive State,” “Gully,” “Jungleland,” and the award-winning “The Last Black Man in San Francisco.” This year he starred in Spike Lee’s Netflix film about Black Vietnam war soldiers, “Da 5 Bloods,” and led Misha Green’s HBO horror drama “Lovecraft Country” as Atticus “Tic” Freeman. Read more of Jonathan’s words here: https:

Writer-director-editor-producer Justin Simien believes all working and aspiring storytellers should have an artistic mission statement guiding them. Know thyself and know the industry, he advises, and stay in touch with the inherent joy of the creative process. “You should be thinking about the marketplace, you have to,” he tells listeners. “Most importantly, do you. Be clear about what that means.” A student of theater in Houston and film in Los Angeles, Justin seeks to bring typically underrepresented Black and LGBTQ perspectives to the screen. He worked in social media and publicity before filming a crowdfunded concept trailer for what would become his breakout at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival: the critically acclaimed “Dear White People,” now also developed into the ongoing hit series on Netflix. Justin’s new film from Neon and Hulu, “Bad Hair,” is a horror comedy about an evil weave featuring an all-star cast. Check out his podcast, “Don’t @ Me,” here: www.justinsimien.com/podcast For tips on creatin

We’re dedicating this week’s episode to the 2021 awards and festival season—perhaps the strangest one in Hollywood history! Jack is joined once again by Backstage’s executive director of media Kasey Howe to discuss how COVID-19 has shifted film and guilds awards’ schedules, what the 2020 Emmys can teach us about advertising trends and remote campaigning, and whether virtual film festivals will affect what we consider an Oscar contender this year. Casting insider Christine McKenna-Tirella then provides thoughts on networking amid a pandemic, tips for optimizing social media communication, and her favorite current casting opportunities for Backstage users. Check out casting director Melanie Forchetti’s YouTube Live on marketing yourself during these uncertain times here: https://bit.ly/3mPjOFd --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theate

Actor, producer, podcaster, comedian, and activist Caldwell Tidicue is best known as his drag persona Bob the Drag Queen, winner of reality competition “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 8. The heightened gender expression of drag, which encompasses many different skills and performance styles, has proved Bob’s gateway into the entertainment industry. “No one is going to cheer for you harder than you have to cheer for yourself,” he tells fellow artists. Born in Georgia and trained as a theater artist, Bob set off to pursue acting and comedy in New York City and was inspired to join the queer nightlife community after seeing “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” the show that launched him into the mainstreamin 2016. He’s acted on HBO’s “High Maintenance” and “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” Netflix’s “The Tales of the City,” appeared in films “Rough Night” and “A Queen for the People,” and in Berkeley Rep’s “Angels in America,” and produces music videos, podcasts, and stand-up specials. In 2020 he was co-host and consulting producer on

Julie Taymor is a legendary multidisciplinary artist, with inspirations so varied it becomes difficult to classify her. Identifying primarily as a director, she’s also written, produced, composed music, and designed her celebrated stage and screen productions. Her advice for fellow storytellers: embrace limitations, combine mediums, travel the world, and “find something that you’re really, really passionate about.” Julie won directing and costuming Tony Awards for her screen-to-Broadway adaptation of Disney’s “The Lion King” (the highest-grossing entertainment title in box office history), and earned acclaim for film adaptations of “Titus” and “The Tempest,” “Across the Universe,” and “Frida,” which earned her an original song Oscar nomination. The Massachusetts native began as the youngest member of the Boston Children’s Theatre, the first of many companies and education programs, including mime studies in Paris, filmmaking in New York City, mythology and folklore at Oberlin College, and dance, mask work, a

Continuing our commitment to spotlighting the voiceover industry today, this week’s episode is throwing it back. Hear advice-filled excerpts from the “In the Envelope” archive featuring legendary voice artists Hank Azaria, Pamela Adlon, and Maya Rudolph—all winners of the voiceover performance Emmy Award—plus insights into recent trends from VO expert Jamie Muffett and Backstage casting insider Christine McKenna-Tirella. All this craft and career advice may inspire you to get involved in the industry! Check out the links below to channel that inspiration into a voiceover career. Read Backstage’s 101 guide to all things voiceover: https://bit.ly/315UQJh Last month was a record-breaking month for voiceover casting calls on Backstage: https://bit.ly/3lQUBcV And check out Sound Stories, our new competition challenging you to write, cast, record, edit, and submit a story fully told through sound: https://bit.ly/2FCpdj2 --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Enve

Everyone has a different path to success in the biz. Eva Noblezada was launched to musical theater superstardom at age 17 when her performance at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, a.k.a. the Jimmys, earned her the lead role in the West End revival of “Miss Saigon.” Before she could finish high school in North Carolina, Eva was navigating the joys—and high-pressure demands—of pursuing a childhood dream at the highest level. This candid interview includes plenty of advice for young and early-career artists: “I am very grateful to have had that inner voice that I listened to...I did know how to say no.” Eva has received Tony Award nominations for leading actress in a musical for both her Broadway appearances: 2017’s “Miss Saigon” and 2019’s Grammy Award-winning “Hadestown.” She now stars, and sings, in writer-director Diane Paragas’ hit Sony Pictures film “Yellow Rose,” the story of an undocumented Filipina teen turning trauma into country music. This episode is brought to you by The UNC School o

“In the Envelope” listeners are in for a treat this week, as Jack is joined by Christine McKenna-Tirella, Backstage’s casting specialist, to give an update from the jobs market on Backstage: virtual auditions, profile-building options, and other insider tips that prospective subscribers may not know about casting, particularly amid an unpredictable 2020. “I want you to feel prepared, I want you to feel like you can put your best foot forward and that you can really launch your career—even in a pandemic,” says Christine, who has nine years of experience in the casting industry and used Backstage during her early acting days in New York City. She will be updating listeners every week going forward, with a “Backstage casting insider” segment covering everything from what’s currently casting to how to harness the inspiration “In the Envelope” provides and turn that into success. If you’re a working artist with questions, reach out to Backstage via our social media or email at igotcast@backstage.com! Haven’t sign

For a very special discussion of the 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards, Backstage is joining forces with Gold Derby! Following the Sept. 20 Jimmy Kimmel–hosted telecast, Jack asks Chris Beachum and Tom O’Neil, both experts from the awards prediction and news site, for their candid analysis of both results and the ceremony itself. Chris Beachum is the Managing Editor of Gold Derby, where he’s hosted thousands of interviews with contenders and advised studios and networks on award campaign strategy. Tom O’Neil is Gold Derby’s Editor, Founder, and President, creating the site in 2000 to give film, TV, theater, and music fanatics a platform to make their own predictions in award races. Chris and Tom join “In the Envelope” to offer insights into the 2020 Emmy Awards’ telling trends: why “Schitt’s Creek” could pull off a historic comedy sweep, how “Succession” compares with other winning drama series, the vote-splitting effect or lack thereof, and more. Plus, all three experts weigh in on their favorite moment from the u

What does a TV showrunner do? More to the point, how many other tasks does a TV showrunner tend to take on? What is their relationship to actors? In today’s deep dive episode, Ben Sinclair of “High Maintenance” and Prentice Penny of “Insecure” reveal the creative and logistical processes of keeping a hit show...running! Writer-director-editor-actor Ben Sinclair became a pioneer of short form content alongside Katja Blichfeld by developing a community of filmmakers around “High Maintenance.” First a hit Vimeo web series, then as of 2016 a half-hour anthology series on HBO, “High Maintenance” features snapshots of modern New York City life, each episode featuring Ben as a cannabis courier known only as The Guy. Ben’s critically acclaimed work has earned him a Writers Guild of America Award. Multihyphenate Prentice Penny got his start in Hollywood writing on the hit sitcom “Girlfriends,” before contributing to the writers’ rooms on, and often producing episodes of, “Scrubs,” “Happy Endings,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nin

Nicole Byer just made history. The actor, writer, comedian, and podcaster is the first Black woman Emmy-nominated for outstanding host of a reality program, for her hilarious work on the Netflix baking competition “Nailed It!” Trained at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and Upright Citizens Brigade, Nicole knows a thing or two about pounding the pavement in the biz. “Everybody starts at zero,” she reminds her fellow performers. “Just know that you earned it. If you didn’t earn it, it would have gone to somebody else.” Born in New Jersey with dreams of achieving superstardom, Nicole broke into the comedy scene as one of the most popular commentators on MTV’s “Girl Code.” She’s since written on UCB sketches and series and acted on “Pursuit of Sexiness,” “Party Over Here,” “Loosely Exactly Nicole,” and in guest and voiceover TV roles, including recently “The Good Place” and “Tuca & Bertie.” This year she released her book, “#VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE: The Fat Girl’s Guide to Being #Brave and Not a Dejected, M

Actor-writer-comedian Aidy Bryant’s philosophy when it comes to her industry is to create the work she likes—even if no such work exists yet. Born in Phoenix and trained in comedy at Chicago’s The Second City, she has turned her uniqueness into both a guiding light and, against all odds, a thriving career. “If you’re not getting the parts that you want,” she advises, “it’s up to you to make it.” Since 2012 Aidy has been stealing the show every week as a cast member on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” which has earned her two Primetime Emmy Award nominations. She’s also made appearances on “Girls,” “Portlandia,” “Horace and Pete,” “I Feel Pretty,” and the animated “Danger & Eggs,” and now writes, executive produces, and stars on the groundbreaking Hulu comedy “Shrill,” adapted from Lindy West’s book of the same name. To read more, check out Aidy’s Meet the Maker feature: https://bit.ly/32ScCQ5 --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast,

Casting directors have a special position within the entertainment industry, matching talent and roles on dozens of projects at once. Actors, of course, want to understand those on the other side of the audition table: What are casting directors looking for, and what exactly do they do? Three Emmy Award nominees for casting, and Senior Editor Elyse Roth, join the podcast to answer those questions and more. Cindy Tolan is the winner of five Artios Awards and an Emmy for her work in casting. Her career spans New York theater, TV, and film, from “Avenue Q” and “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” to “Flight of the Conchords” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” to “Straight Outta Compton,” “If Beale Street Could Talk,” and the forthcoming “West Side Story” movie. Cindy is currently Emmy-nominated again for Amy Sherman-Palladino’s Amazon Prime Video comedy “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” Season 3. Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas are celebrating a 20-year partnership at their award-winning casting company

Acting, for Maya Rudolph, “comes with a suit of armor and allows me to protect my little, sensitive insides.” The comedian, musician, and all-around performer reflects on the childhood influences that inspired her artistry; by pretending to be other people, she empowers herself to explore different energies and vulnerabilities. When it comes to creating characters, as she’s done for years in animated roles and on “Saturday Night Live,” that empowerment is a joyful process. Maya booked her childhood dream job of “Saturday Night Live” in 2000, after working as a costume assistant and studying comedy at the Groundlings in L.A. She’s stolen the show in “Away We Go,” “Bridesmaids,” “Wine Country,” and films by her partner Paul Thomas Anderson, and produced and starred on “Maya and Marty” and “Forever.” At the upcoming Emmy Awards, Maya is nominated three times: for her voiceover work on Netflix’s “Big Mouth” as the hormone monstress Connie, and her guest appearances on NBC’s “The Good Place” as The Judge and on “

Like any good collaborators, co-writers Damon Lindelof and Cord Jefferson can find common ground despite drawing from different inspirations. One similarity they share may be familiar to artists in any field: imposter syndrome. As the two tell Backstage, great screenwriting requires overcoming such self-doubt achieving agency in one’s career by churning out first drafts. Another tip: get off Twitter. Damon is an Emmy-winning writer and showrunner, known as the creator of the hit series “Lost” and “The Leftovers,” as well the writer of films “Cowboys & Aliens,” “Prometheus,” “Tomorrowland,” and more. Cord is a journalist-turned-screenwriter with 2020 Writers Guild of America Awards for “Succession” and “The Good Place.” They are Emmy-nominated together this year in the limited series writing category for HBO’s “Watchmen,” their sequel to, and radical re-imagining of, the beloved comic book of the same name. --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Bac

When it comes to voiceover, says Nancy Cartwright, “you can’t really make any mistakes.” The television legend, best known for her longtime work as Bart Simpson, here gives listeners a crash course on breaking into the biz as a voiceover talent—plus many words of inspiration. Whether you’re curious about voice acting or an artist wondering how to navigate the ongoing industry shutdown, this interview covers it all. Born in Ohio and mentored by Daws Butler in the art of voice acting, Nancy is the voice behind Bart Simpson and other characters on the world’s longest-running sitcom, Fox’s “The Simpsons.” She’s also appeared on “The Animaniacs,” “Kim Possible,” “Rugrats,” “The Replacements,” and more, turned her autobiography, “My Life as a 10-Year-Old Boy,” into a one-woman play, and wrote and produced the film “In Search of Fellini.” For “The Simpsons,” Nancy won the voiceover performance Emmy Award in 1992, and is in contention again this year. Check out Backstage’s coverage of all things voiceover here: http

In this special discussion episode, Jack is joined by Backstage’s social media specialist Katie Minard and senior staff writer Casey Mink to chat the 2020 Emmy Award nominations: gut reactions ranging from gratifying to frustrating, Emmy trends both typical and unusual, and what the Sept. 20 ceremony might have in store for us. Will the Television Academy vote for new streamers Disney+ and Apple TV+, and how much might Netflix win? Are there categories that deserve another look, or new ones to introduce? And what about the pandemic? This lively, insightful conversation from three TV-watching experts (you can follow them on Twitter @JackSmartWrites, @KatieMinard, and @Casey_Mink) will help you brush up on all things Emmy. To read about the Emmy nominations, click here: https://bit.ly/3fu31mW --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater

Jean Smart has the kind of craft and career advice only an actor with her breadth of experience could provide. Since her early days studying theater in her home state of Washington, there’s little the three-time Emmy Award-winning actor hasn’t taken on, avoiding pigeonholing and receiving constant critical acclaim. Case in point: her recently Emmy-nominated work as Laurie Blake on HBO’s Damon Lindelof limited series “Watchmen.” As she puts it, “Who knew at this stage of the game I was going to become an action hero?” Jean’s breakout role as the naive Charlene Frazier on “Designing Women” was followed by “Overkill: The Aileen Wuornos Story” as the titular serial killer. In addition to Emmy-winning work on “Frasier” and “Samantha Who?,” she’s stolen the show on “24,” “Fargo,” “Legion,” in “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Garden State,” and “A Simple Favor,” on Broadway, earning a Tony nomination for “The Man Who Came to Dinner,” and much more. --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 y