Category: Actor Feature

Meet Zoe Georgaras, she is an actress based in Toronto and represented by The Meus Agency in Ottawa, Ontario.  i had the opportunity to discuss her acting career recently.

As a child, did you want to be an actress, or did it fall into place through other activities?

 My mother is extremely flamboyant and is always the life of any party, so when I popped out and began doing impressions of British Butlers and Truck Drivers at the ripe age of 3, my mother began showing me off at dinner parties. She would say “Do that cute one about the tea being served again!” and I would gladly perform on command for whoever in the room. And then I started Musical Theatre and Dance classes.

Who inspired you to follow your dream to pursue acting?

I really had to decide on my own that this is what I wanted to do. It took years of travelling and life chapters in my late teen’s and early 20’s to make me realize that I wanted nothing more than to take my rightful place on the professional screen and stage. I salute the young women who possess that confidence from a young age, but I was a late bloomer. Once it hit me to pursue acting though, it was a huge epiphany.

What challenges have you faced in the entertainment industry?  What has been your most rewarding experience?

Everyday I am faced with challenges in this industry. The job of an actor, regardless of having an agent or not, is to seek out work and make connections. With that comes a lot of rejection and you need to be willing to keep walking with confidence. An acting coach of mine once said you have to do your auditions and then immediately forget about them.

One of my most rewarding experiences was going on a trip to Hollywood because one of the short films I co-star (Project G.O.D), was selected to screen at a festival at the Director’s Guild of America. As I sat in my seat during the awards ceremony when all of a sudden I saw myself on the big screen being one of 5 women nominated for Best Lead Actress. I was thrilled to be recognized for my talents and especially in such a powerful role.

What is your favourite type of character to play?

I enjoy playing dark, athletic and outspoken women who drive the protagonist into psychological insanity. Haha, maybe that seems a little cynical to admit to enjoying being the villain, but I also like to be the protagonist with a bit of an edge of darkness. Like Katniss from The Hunger Games or The Bride from Kill Bill.

What market do you currently work in? Where would you like to see yourself?

I am currently a Toronto based Actor and my representation is Lisa Meuser from The Meus Productions (themeusproductions.ca). For a full bio please refer to my website www.zoegeorgaras.com. I have performed on-screen and on stage in Ottawa and Montreal as well. As I mentioned, I travelled to Los Angeles earlier this year, and would like the opportunity to obtain a visa to work there someday.

What advice would you give to someone new trying to make it in the acting industry?

Go to Theatre School and act on stage. Stage is where acting comes alive and you tap into the legacy of Actors from thousands of years of performing. Whether you believe in Spirits or not, you can choose to feel powerful connecting to the original actors of some of Shakespeare’s fine work like Cleopatra or Romeo & Juliet.

Why, What fuels your passion?

The spontaneity of it all. The understanding that the world is changing and film has the power to guide the consciousness of the people in a positive way.

What is something about you that most people would never guess?

I spent the majority of my early twenties immersed in the world of environmental activism.

Spearheaded by the Idle no More movement, I was moved by the plight of the indigenous communities across Canada, and feel lucky to have had the opportunity to travel the country, learn from the Grandmothers and Medicine Men and stand beside everyone who continues to stand up in solidarity for land protectors.

If you were to do it all over again, would you do things exactly the same?  Do you have any regrets?  Successes that make you proud?

When I was 16, I was sought out because of my unique voice and was placed in a video game with John Cleese called Time Troopers. I went on to doing a couple small gigs but I lacked the knowledge and ability to create and maintain a place for me in the industry. If I knew then what I knew now maybe my career would have taken off sooner. On the other hand, I am grateful for the many experiences I have had since and couldn’t imagine life without them. And it’s never too late to go for it.

Please meet Michael, he is an actor residing in Toronto.  I had a chance to chat with him recently.  Check out our interview below:

As a child, did you want to be an actor, or did it fall into place through other activities?

When I was a child, I absolutely loved putting on shows for my parents and aunt and uncle, dressing in outrageous costumes and giving concerts, and so on. My uncle is an actor and got me on stage at a dinner-theatre once as one of a team of Pirate-children at Treasure Island, and it was one of my crowning childhood moments. I also spent a lot of time living in other realities – playing with imaginary friends, making up stories and living in them – so basically acting.  

So, yes – but then I had a baby in highschool and thought I needed a real job, and did Environmental Studies, and it wasn’t until years later that I was able to go back to what I wanted.

Who inspired you to follow your dream to pursue acting?

Probably my Uncle Patrick Masurkevitch, and his ex-wife Charlotte Moore, who are actors and I loved to watch them on stage. Although I also loved movies, and I also had a supportive family (parents, grandparents, other aunts and uncles).  Actor-wise, Jim Carrey and Mike Meyers were pretty instrumental to me as a teen, being both funny, big deals, and also Canadian.

What challenges have you faced in the entertainment industry?  What has been your most rewarding experience?

I mean the challenges – whew! Ha ha its so much work, its even just so much work just to get good enough to be competitive for anything, let alone to be competitive for Union gigs. And that’s not enough, you need representation, networking, you need to get known – the amount of work that goes into getting on set for one day is just ridiculous, and the rejection and self-doubt can get crippling.  

Rewarding wise though – when I am on set, and I am living in another reality, and feeling things in a real way – that’s amazing to me. And when people watch my work and feel something from my feelings, that’s even more amazing.

What is your favourite type of character to play?

So don’t get me wrong, I love playing weird characters that are all zany, because I like the work it takes to make them real.  I also love playing real villains – real as in, complex ones that are doing evil things based on layers of self-hatred or disillusionment and stuff. Lots of nice emotional grit to get into there.

But my favourite is actually the sort of “Existentialist Lead” – a normal, relatable dude who is going through tough things and has to deal with them and be changed by them and comes out as a different human. For me it just gives the most scope for being changed by the imaginary world of the scene/project, and that’s what I love. 

What market do you currently work in?  Are there other areas you would like to work?

So currently, I have been in a couple of non-union commercials (great times) and am more or less at the level of “decent indie stuff, sometimes with a budget.”  What I love about indie stuff is that I often get to play that ‘existentialist-lead’ role that I like, like in a recent short “Anxiety Stroke,” a heavy metal music video series called “The Crucible of Sin,” or a feature titled “Beyond the Veil” coming out soon, or in a web series I am shooting in Kitchener right now called “Pirate Mike” (so we’ve come full circle to the Pirate-Moment of my childhood haha.) 

Ideally, I would love to do the same kind of work but for productions with more production value and money (I mean it would be great to be able to make enough from acting to not do anything else) but I am also aware that its a gradual process to get there.

What advice would you give to someone new trying to make it in the actingindustry?

If you are doing this to be rich and famous – get out before you’ve lost too much money on headshots and classes. Not that that’s not ever going to happen, who knows – but being an actor is a grind. It’s casting calls, it’s auditions, it’s convincing your friends to film a web series on their phone starring you, it’s self tapes, it’s delving deep inside of your darkest personality traits through expensive classes, its rejection and self doubt – and you have to enjoy that stuff. If you can find a way to enjoy that stuff, you will get better, and then eventually you may even make money.  But you have to be doing it for the love of the process, not the results.

What fuels your passion?

I have tried a lot of different things – I’ve been a tree-counter, I’ve run events and workshops, I’ve taught workshops in schools… and I’ve enjoyed different things to varying degrees. But when I am living in another reality on set, or when I am watching people watch my work and have an emotional reaction to my work – it just feels so right, it’s kind of like a drug because of how badly I want it.  I take unpaid stuff probably more often than I should, just so I can get that feeling.

What is something about you that most people would never guess?

Oh man… I mentioned that I have a 12 year old child? That’s something people wouldn’t usually guess of me. I am also an amateur Bee-Keeper, I have a hive on a friend’s rural property, and I’ve started brewing mead from my honey.  What else… I actually have deep insecurities like everyone else, despite my love of being on camera and confidence in social situations? … I probably drink too much, but my favorite drink is literally hot water and baileys, like an old man.  I go to parties in a bathrobe, I do tai chi on side streets between auditions. Sometimes I pee into a used tim hortons cup as I drive between KW and Toronto if I have one handy and don’t have time to stop. 

If you were to do it all over again, would you do things exactly the same?  Do you have any regrets?  Successes that make you proud?

Regrets is tough. I mean… I had a baby in highschool, and my fear about needing a real job made me do Environmental Studies instead of going travelling and then doing acting, and it took me years and a call centre job that I hated to clue me in to the fact that I needed to get back to it.  But do I regret that? I mean some of my best friends are from UW Env., some of my best experiences too, and I learned so much – and let alone that I now have a child who is a beautiful, complex individual that I have a relationship with.

Also I can look back on almost every audition I’ve ever done and find something that I wish I had done differently. In fact I sometimes do look back and think those thoughts, and then queue several days of mild-depression before I try to isolate the takeaways I learned and move on with life.  But they were all part of the process of where I am now, and in some way or another they were probably unavoidable, because I needed to learn those lessons… sometimes multiple times…

I guess I am proud of where I have gotten in terms of how I have grown in skill and self knowledge, and for continuing to put in the risk – the financial instability, the time commitment, the lack-of-money  – towards something that I love enough to make it worthwhile.  And when people watch my work and feel something, or when they reach out to me and say “Hey I saw your Lion Tamer commercial and it was great” that always brings a smile to my face.

Who are you represented by?

Fulcher Agency, specifically John Hamilton who is a solid dude.

Where have you done training?

I did some pro-actors lab with Marvin Hinz, great guy, does classes in Stratford which is closer to me. I just started training with LB Studios, just finished doing the Second City Improv for Actors program, have done workshops with Jules Fitzsimmons, Ron Leach and Gloria Mann, and did a two-week-intensive with the director of the Tunisian National Theatre, Fadhel Jaibi, a fantastic man.

Meet Jaden Oehr!  I had the opportunity to catch up with Jaden Oehr who is an 8-year-old actor in Vancouver, Canada. Jaden has done some National commercials as well as some film.

WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER, DID YOU WANT TO BE AN ACTOR, OR DID IT FALL INTO PLACE THROUGH OTHER ACTIVITIES?
When I was in preschool, I participated in a class play of “Snow White” where I played the Huntsman, but they made the character a Knight because I was really into knights at the time. I took the role really seriously and memorized the entire 10-page script. That actually helped when we performed the play because some of my friends forgot their lines and I was able to help them out. It was a really fun experience and from that point on, I asked my parents if I could do more acting.

WHO INSPIRED YOU TO FOLLOW YOUR DREAM TO PURSUE ACTING?
My cousin* who is a film and theatre actor. Ever since I saw him on TV, I wanted to be on TV too. I’ve been to all of his theatre performances and cheered him on. He recently played the title role in a school theatre production of Peter Pan and he did awesome.

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WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU FACED IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY? WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCE?
The most challenging thing has been all the waiting! There is a lot of waiting in this industry.

The most rewarding experience I’ve had is having the opportunity to have a character in a movie and be able to bring him to life.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TYPE OF CHARACTER TO PLAY?
I like to play a nice, happy, energetic boy because that’s what I am! It makes getting into character easier. But I also like having characters that challenge me or teach me something new.

WHAT MARKET DO YOU CURRENTLY WORK IN? ARE THERE OTHER AREAS YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK?
I’ve been lucky to be cast in a bunch of short films and commercials. I would love to be part of a TV series because I haven’t had that opportunity before!

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE NEW TRYING TO MAKE IT IN THE ACTING INDUSTRY?
Always be positive and never doubt yourself. Just keep smiling and show them what you can do!

WHAT FUELS YOUR PASSION?
Having the opportunity to explore new characters and try out another person’s life.

WHAT IS SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD NEVER GUESS?
That I love origami!

IF YOU WERE TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN, WOULD YOU DO THINGS EXACTLY THE SAME? DO YOU HAVE ANY REGRETS? SUCCESSES THAT MAKE YOU PROUD?
Sometimes I wish I could do some auditions from the past differently. But I’m proud of all my roles in films and commercials!

WHO ARE YOU REPRESENTED BY?
City Talent Management in Vancouver. My agent is amazing!

WHERE HAVE YOU DONE TRAINING?
I’ve been lucky to train with some amazing studios and coaches in Vancouver.

SOCIAL MEDIA:
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/jadenoehr/
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8967308/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/jadenoehr

At such a young age, Jaden is very talented and well grounded. We look forward to seeing what Jaden will do in the future.

Please meet Tarick Glancy, he is an actor based out of Toronto, Canada.   We had the chance to meet up and discuss this acting career.

As a child, did you want to be an actor, or did it fall into place through other activities?

 To be honest, I never thought about being an actor until about 3 years ago. I was training people to work the sound board at the radio station VIBE 105 at the time, and after a session one of the attendees came up to me and said, “Are you an actor?”. I said, “No” to which she replied, “Yes you are! And I want you to be in my musical!!!”…and that’s how it really all started. I said “yes” and from there I caught the acting bug. After that production (Dario Et La Diablesse), a remount of it at the Fringe and then booking a role in Sister Act, I thought, “I’m good at this…damn good at this”. I then promptly quit my job and headed into the industry full stop, no looking back.

Who inspired you to follow your dream to pursue acting?

The majority of my inspiration comes from myself and my ambition to make it (not to sound like I’m a stereotypical self-absorbed actor…at least not totally :p). I just believe that I can do it, I do the work and apply myself to the set of tasks in front of me with a disciplined conscientious attitude. I think that the conditions are perfect for me to thrive and excel in this industry, in both Film/Television & Theatre. When I’m looking to people as examples that inspire me I often look to people outside of my industry who are entrepreneurial and successful. My closest friend is one of those people. He runs a successful contracting business (far from acting I know!) but the principles for success are the same. I just apply that self-determined attitude to acting. I work on my craft and business acumen with gumption – gumption…what a great word eh?

What challenges have you faced in the entertainment industry?  What has been your most rewarding experience?

As I think any artist can attest to – surviving. Just entering the industry and to then keep on booking gigs is challenging to uphold. It can make you doubt your abilities and shake your confidence. I find that through consistency in your performances, looking for work everyday, knocking on doors and not being afraid to approach people you can steadily make your way through an industry that seems daunting at times. But I also challenge myself. I’d say that my most rewarding experience was the past year in which I made a promise to myself that I would sustain myself simply on acting alone. That was my second year of acting and through booking a string of commercials, theatre shows, feature films and web series – I did it. 

What is your favourite type of character to play?

 I’d say it’s split between comedic characters and the anti-hero. Comedy because I like to make people laugh and it is also a real intellectual art form. You have to be very witty, insightful and curious about the world and society to be a comedian, which is often why they make great commentators. Very much related to comedy, I also dig playing the anti-hero. I mean, don’t take it the wrong way…I wouldn’t say I’m inherently evil (at least I don’t think so, and I’m sure my ex’s would agree – but don’t ask them :p) but there is something satiating about exploring your dark side or your “shadow” as psychologist Carl Jung put it. In fact Jung thought it integral that the shadow be integrated properly into one’s personality. I like playing the anti-hero because it allows me to do that exploration, albeit grounded in fantasy. One of my favorite character’s I’ve played so far was “Lucky” in the upcoming indie film “Forever Gone”. He was a street smart, hustler-type reincarnation of the devil. In the story he comes in as a figure of the main character’s imagination and slyly forces him to commit a murder-suicide. He was smart (in mythology the devil is often associated with the intellect), charismatic and playing him was really exhilarating….again, please don’t judge me! Haha.

What market do you currently work in?  Are there other areas you would like to work?

Currently I am based out of Toronto, though I have also worked in London and Montreal and am slated to do a feature film this winter in the Caribbean. It would be a pleasure to work in Vancouver which I will be in 2019, but my real sights are set on the US. I want to break into the US market as I feel I will do very well there. New York and Atlanta are top of the list, and also LA of course. But I am open to wherever this career takes me as I could never let a great opportunity pass me no matter where it is!

What advice would you give to someone new trying to make it in the acting industry?

As you might hear in the Caribbean, “Mi look like a TV? Doh watch meh, watch unuself!” – meaning: don’t watch other people, watch yourself. I think this is key. When you compare yourself to others and their progress you can be prone to losing sight of your own goals. Remain focused and persistent. Eventually you’ll get the breaks you deserve. Just ask Steven Mann about how “persistent” I was before I booked my first national commercial with him (haha – shout out to Mann Casting!).

Why , What fuels your passion?

 Entertainment and the spirit of storytelling. Great stories are so integral to how we conceptualize the world around us and help ground us in the actions we should take across time. They communicate ideas and wisdom that are hard to articulate in just words. You know that feeling you get at the end of a great movie? Or a great song? I want to use my talents to help foster that in audiences. That’s why I keep doing what I do. Plus the pay is good, haha. 

What is something about you that most people would never guess?

I am currently represented by Sheila Lopes of Choice Talent Agency. She can be reached at info@choicetalentagency.com for booking info.

Where have you trained?

Please meet Tabatha Visutskie, she is an actress, published writer, screenwriter and filmmaker. She is looking for an agent to represent her for screenwriting and filmmaking! 

Her latest short film, 5 the beginning , has been screened at a few International film festivals around the world. The film is a semi-finalist and finalist. The film has also attracted a distribution company.

The screenplay is based on Tabatha’s true story about being a twin, abuse, addiction,healing and having the gift of vision. It gives a glimpse into the world of being a twin; the telepathic language and physical sensations they feel between them. It was first produced as a short film,  for proof of concept.  Tabatha’s goal is to produce it as a feature, and is currently working with her editor on revisions.

We had the chance to ask Tabatha some questions about her career.  Please check it out:

As a child, did you want to be an actor, or did it fall into place through other activities?

As a child as early as three years old, I loved to entertain with my dancing and singing especially when my father would play the fiddle. When I moved to another town; I was introduced in grade school to theatre, I fell in love. One day, I came across a calendar with a beautiful naked woman draped on a red, silk sheet. Her porcelain skin, red lips and those beautiful big eyes. I felt a sense of freedom and confidence that she expressed through her smile and I wanted that. I found out later that the lady on the calendar was Marilyn Monroe. My twin sister Robin and I would write plays and perform with our friends in them. We played the acts out in our backyard throughout the summer break. Neighbors would come and watch us and it soon became a popular event. I was also the director. We had a brilliant idea, “lets charge for our plays” and so we did. The audience grew bigger so did my passion for the arts.

Who inspired you to follow your dream to pursue acting?

Who inspired me was seeing John Travolta and Olivia Newton John perform in the movie, Grease. I made a decision right there that I wanted to be an actor and told my twin. She responded, “Yeah, I know. You were meant to be an actor, you love it.” Robin has always been an inspiration in my acting, writing and filmmaking career.

What challenges have you faced in the entertainment industry?  What has been your most rewarding experience?

The challenges that I faced in the entertainment industry was keeping my days open for auditions and to hold a job at the same time. To pursue my acting career and to be employed was and can be very tricky.

I won a scholarship to Van Mar Academy in LA. One day, while on route to class, I got into an accident. The incident forced me to leave LA for medical reasons, my heart was broken.

The most rewarding experience is that I discovered that I loved writing and filmmaking. I wanted to express truth through story and film so I decided to tell my own journey. I produced under my production company, Twin Visutskie Films a short film, 5 the beginning.

It has been accepted to numerous film festivals around the world being both a semi-finalist and finalist four times. It has also attracted distributors. The short film is adapted from my full length screenplay; it is a calling card for investors and a proof of concept.

My goal is to produce it as a feature. Throughout it all I was asked to be an international film festival judge for, Stairway International Film Festival and Warsaw Independent Film Festival. That was a tremendous opportunity for me to grow as an actor, screenwriter and filmmaker to view other talent around the world who shared the same passion.

The second rewarding experience came to me as an actor. After the LA accident it was a while before I got back into acting. I saw this casting call for actors so I thought, “Maybe it’s time.” My audition was for a small role in the film.  As I was auditioning the director, writer, producers stopped me in mid-performance. They asked if I could do an improvisation of a new character they were creating. The film was already a heavy topic dealing with abuse and religion. The role was about a wife who battled her own demon, married to a man who abused children and murdered them. I booked the leading role on the spot in the movie, Forgive Me Father. The producers and director gave me the best actress award in the film. That inspired me to keep on, keep on.

What is your favorite type of character to play?

A role that is challenging that provokes tragedy and a possible solution and stands up for a just cause. To play a historical character, for example the movie, Passion of the Christ. The characters have depth, heart wrenching story and huge obstacles and choices to decide.

Comedy roles are exciting and one needs a quick response with perfect timing to achieving the ultimate goal, laughter. I accept both with open arms.

What market do you currently work in?  Are there other areas you would like to work?

I currently work as an actor, screenwriter and an aspiring filmmaker. As a filmmaker, I have produced five short films, five short plays. As a screenwriter, a few scripts and I am a published writer.

My creative writing partner and I are marketing our full length comedy script, Threes’ A Crowd.

We are currently looking for an agent. I work with a recording artist as a co-songwriter. The artist proposed an opportunity for me to direct his music video. It was an amazing adventure and I welcome the prospect of directing other film projects.

What advice would you give to someone new trying to make it in the acting industry?

1. Stay focus
2. Know your vision
3. Have faith in yourself
4. Surround yourself with uplifting people
5. Think of your present success, not what you don’t have
6. Gratitude
7. School/training
8. Researching/read
9. Observe people, situations, place, time, climate, listening
10. Be a student every day in life, be open to learning
11. Exercise
12. Pray/meditate

Why ,What fuels your passion?

Life fuels my passion when sometimes I find it hard to find the passion in me. Observation, listening are successful methods of building my humanness and humility to understand others as well as myself. These techniques help me as :

As an actor, I observe others and truly listen, to experience my surroundings, smells, tastes, to read between the lines of the script, that’s where the magic is, the story begins.

As a writer, I have inspirational pictures, letters, posters, vision board, many things that inspire me all over my house to help me create scripts, plays, writing.

As a filmmaker, I get involved creating with other filmmakers being a director, assistant director, casting director, whatever is needed to produce a film or stage plays. I accept work that would enhance my education, experience behind the lens and engage in artistic collaboration. Sometimes I play one of the characters in their films. A movie poster for a feature film that I plan to produce is on my cell phone and that keeps my vision alive.

What is something about you that most people would never guess?

That I am identical twin.

In high school and into my twenties, I was a lead singer in a rock band with Robin. My love for singing has called me back; I compose, write songs and in the near future will record them. It is also my intention to use my music in my films.

If you were to do it all over again, would you do things exactly the same?  Do you have any regrets?  Successes that make you proud?

I would have continued my studies to get a degree in criminology to have back up in regards to making money. However, I also knew the risks of being in the entertainment industry and not pursuing my dream was not an option. My love for acting outweighed the conventional means of realistic goals when in reality there was no guarantee with any career choice one makes.   I incorporate everything that I have studied combined with life experience into my roles, writing and filmmaking.

The greatest successes that makes me proud is that I am acting, I am writing, I am producing both films and plays. Recently someone told me that I am one of the lucky ones that no matter how big the obstacles I continue to pursue my artistic endeavors. They wish that they could have followed their dreams however due to obligations and fear of losing their security stops them from pursuing it.

I am very blessed and so grateful that I have the opportunity to live my dream.

Follow Tabatha at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tabatha.visutskie

imdb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5848762/

Teaser: https://vimeo.com/150192710