Interview with Janie Haddad Tompkins!

Hey guys! This is a much delayed interview, but here is Janie Haddad Tompkins telling us about what it's really like being an actress in the US!


Me: Which city in the US is best to start an acting career? Like NYC or LA? 
Janie: It really depends on if you want to do tv or stage. LA is great for a screen career, but NYC has a lot of theatre. You should go where you think you can live happily...the two cities are very different!

Me: What are the organizations/unions that an actress has to be a part of to work in the US? 

Janie: SAG, AFTRA and AEA


Me: What do these unions do for you? Like does that give you insurance, etc? 
Janie: They are not unions but rather "guilds". That means they protect you once you have a job. Whereas a union may help you get work...unfortunately, an actor is on her own in that department. You have to qualify for health insurance coverage once you join. For instance, SAG says you have to make a certain amount every year just to qualify to buy the insurance for that year. Then the next year you start over again.

Me: Do you have to make a certain amount of money or book a certain amount of jobs to be a part of the union? How is the membership regulated? 

Janie: Each union has its own rules. There are several ways into them, and the eligibility requirements change from year to year...good to check the website of each union to learn the membership requirements.

Me: Can you make a reasonable living by being just a theatre actress? 
Janie: Most likely, you'll have to wait tables in between gigs! Or teach or temp in an office! Haha!


Me: Is a film/acting degree important? 
Janie: Not at all. It's great to have one, but you can also learn by doing and take classes from great teachers. 

Me: An agent/manager/publicist - who is the most important to have and can an actress get work without them? 

Janie: I would say an agent is the most important. An agent is imperative to getting you auditions. Getting an agent is hard, I'm still shopping for one after ten years. 

Me: Auditions - are they easy to come by if you are an up and coming actress or easier if you are a "name"? 

Janie: Name actors tend to get offers or choice auditions before the struggling actors. Auditions in tv or film are hard to come by.  

Me: Explain pilot season? What is the timeline for each process - audition, filming the pilot and a network pick up. 

Janie: Pilot season is the time of year that the major networks in Hollywood cast their pilot shows that they will pick new series from. It's usually in the spring. However, cable channels cast all year long. 

Me: What is a mid season pick up? 

Janie: That is when a show is introduced to the public after all the new shows have been out already. 

Me: What do you think are the popular misconceptions about Hollywood? 

Janie: One big myth is when people get a big break, people think it happened over night. Usually it happens after an actor has struggled for a long time trying to get opportunities. Another one is that "the suits" know what they are doing. It's all a gamble, no one knows what will resonate or flop ahead of time. That's why taste is so important for executives to have. Good taste prevails.  

Me: What do you think are the key personality traits an actress needs to work in Hollywood? 

Janie: An ability to handle constant rejection. Patience. And tenacity. A strong center - be grounded. 

Me: Do you prefer to work in theatre, TV or movies? 

Janie: TV its my favorite thing that exists!

Me: What are the struggles and triumphs that you've faced as an actress? 

Janie: The biggest struggle is battling your own ego. The less ego you have, the better actor you are. My triumphs have to do with giving a completely ego-less audition or meeting or performance...in those moments, I am an artist instead of me.

Me: Have you ever been stereotyped? 

Janie: I'm sure I have. There is a lot of sexism in this biz. Men treat women as brainless sometimes in this town. It's exhausting. 

Me: What made you decide to vlog? 

Janie: I decided to start that when my husband was given a small Flip camera as a wrap gift on a show he did. I was more excited about the camera than he was, and I'm the only person around me most of the time, so I had to film my life for a vlog!

Me: The ever popular question - when did you decide to become an actress? Are there actors/actresses in your family? 

Janie: I'm the only actress and I decided when I was in high school that I wanted to pursue it (I always did it as a hobby, starting in grade school, plays and stuff)

Me: Does the casting couch exist? And if yes, how does an actress combat it? 

Janie: I've never encountered it. But you could combat it by kneeing someone in the crotch then tweeting about that unscrupulous person! There is work to be done and no time for such hijinks!

Me: What is a big no-no for you? Like what are the clauses in your contract? 

Janie: Well, I don't see an instance where I'd do nudity. But, never say never....it could be important to the story or something. 

Me: What do you think about Bollywood? Have you ever seen a Bollywood movie? 

Janie: I would love to know more about Bollywood! It sounds really fantastic!

Janie vlogs about her adventures in Hollywood, with her quirky and fun friends! She is married to the comedian Paul F.Tompkins and you can also find her on Twitter! She currently does the voice of Margret on The Regular Show on Cartoon Network.

Twinterview with Neil Jackson!

I got to interview Neil Jackson from Make It or Break It over a series of direct messages on Twitter. He plays the very awesome coach Sasha Belov. MIOBI just finished it's Season Two here in India and we're all waiting with bated breath and fingers crossed to see if it will get a third season. You can vote for the show and actress Josie Loren for the Teen Choice Awards. Here is the twinterview!

Me: Is it hard doing an American show in American English while you're British?

Neil jackson: I studied hard to nail an American accent. It's like tongue gymnastics. The accents use very different muscles.

Me: Make it or break it - is that a mantra you would follow/follow? Do you believe in the all or nothing philosophy?

NJ: All or nothing is a losers philosophy I believe, as success come in many forms. Life is never that black and white.

Me: If someone did to you what Lauren did to Sasha, would you be as forgiving?

NJ: I personally would find it hard to forgive someone such as Lauren. But Sasha takes the higher road.

Me: Do you watch the Olympics? If yes, what is your favourite sport? What has the show taught you?

NJ: Not much of a sports spectator apart from boxing. The show has taught me that I like being employed.

Me: Who is the funniest person on set?

NJ: Anthony Starke (who plays Steve Tanner) is a very funny guy on set.

Me: I LOVED how Sasha handled Payson's crush on him. Did you discuss that with Holly and what is your take on it?

NJ: I think the way the writers dealt with the whole Payson crush was brilliant. Sensitive and caring. Was a pleasure to act.

Me: Do you think Sasha is the ideal man? Almost every girl who watches the show has a crush on him (The british accent helps!).

NJ: I can't say whether Sasha is the ideal man, but it's very flattering so many people appreciate the character and my portrayal of him.

Thank you Neil for being awesome and for the interview! :)

Rachel Nichols on "Lauren"

Rachel was SUPER nice and gave me an interview about "Lauren"! Thank you so much Rachel!

Me: When you guys did the table read, did you guys expect how it would
end? Were there any theories you guys came up with before you got the
script?

Rachel: We wanted everything to be fresh...there was no discussion prior to the table read...or at least not on my part!

Me: What was it like with Gubler as a director? Did you start seeing
him differently after the episode was filmed?

Rachel: Gubler was a fantastic director. I was super impressed. I didn't start seeing him differently, but my respect for him grew exponentially. He did a great job and I applaud him. Wow.

Me: As a relatively new person, what was your reaction to Paget
leaving? What is it like without her now?

Rachel: I adore Paget, as did the rest of the cast. She is lovely, funny, and kind. I wish for her to return, but if she finds other projects that thrill her, then I want her to pursue them and be happy. She is fantastic.

Me: What do you think Seaver must have been thinking when Rossi forced
her to profile?

Rachel: I know what Seaver was thinking: she wanted to perform, but she was scared. She was unsure of her place, but knew she had a profiler inside of her. She's special, but she's new and young. She was insecure, but desperate to be bold. She wanted to say the right thing.

Me: Is it weird for you to play Seaver after playing Rebecca Locke on
The Inside?

Rachel: Rebecca was a kick ass character and she provided vital
information, while Seaver is still learning the ropes. I love both characters. I love both shows. I consider myself very lucky to be a part of both of them. Seaver will find her footing, gradually...she has the insight, she just needs the confidence...and the team will be an integral part of her metamorphosis.

Me: What was the atmosphere on set like during the filming of Lauren?
Was it a little more sombre or were there still a lot of jokes?

Rachel: I wasn't shooting every day...but I do believe that it was sombre, yet fun at the same time.

Me: What was it like working with AJ? A lot of Twitter people have been
up in arms about this, but was there any tension on set?

Rachel: AJ is lovely - exactly the person that every CM fan would think her to be. And she was so kind to me that I couldn't help wanting to hug her. She is stunning and sweet, honest and friendly. Working with her was fantastic. She's a cool chick.

Me: What was your favourite moment in the episode?

Rachel: Impossible question to answer!

Me: Describe each member of the cast in one sentence! :)

Rachel: In real life or on the show?

Me: Did you watch the episode when it aired and do you watch things
that you've been in?

Rachel: I did watch the episode. I don't have a TV, but I do get every CM episode on dvd before it airs. Some of the work I've done, I've never seen, but I tend to enjoy watching the episodes of TV that I'm involved in. I have seen every episode of "The Inside", "Alias", and "Criminal Minds"...

Disclaimer: This interview is the property of The Romy Skye Interview Blog and Romy Skye's World. Do not quote or reproduce this interview without my permission or providing the source.

Interview with rachel Nichols from Criminal Minds

I got an ALL EXCLUSIVE interview with RACHEL NICHOLS, from CRIMINAL MINDS, who is simply made of sugar and spice and everything awesome!!!! My questions are in bold, her answers in regular font! Enjoy!

Did you watch Criminal Minds before coming on the show? Who is your favourite character?

I did watch CM prior to joining the show, but I never really had a favorite character. Actually, that's what I think makes the show great; there's something to like in every member of the cast.

Did you have to read the FBI manual or go through any training for the role?

As far as training is concerned, I was pretty well-equipped... Given my time on "The Inside" and "Alias" and "GI Joe", I had spent some serious time in physical training... but I'd love to see a manual!

Have you met or talked to the actual profilers who help out with the show?

CM has an unbelievable team of experienced individuals that helps the show be as accurate as possible. There is always someone on hand to help out and make our words and actions authentic. I'm extremely grateful for all of them.

Is there something from the stuff you guys deal with on CM that stays with you? Are you more wary now?

I'm so new to the show that I have not yet had the experience of something specific "sticking with me" although I'm sure it will happen. I've had dreams about certain episodes, but nothing that I haven't been able to recover from come sunrise.

What has been the most exciting scene for you to film on Criminal Minds?

It's impossible to talk about my favorite scenes without giving away crucial parts about future shows. The good news is that there are many great pieces to come... There is a lot happening this season and that, in itself, is exciting for me and, hopefully, the fans. Sorry for being vague... I just don't want to give away any sacred secrets!

Do the cast or crew play any pranks on you? If yes, could you tell us something they've done?

We do laugh a lot, but not necessarily due to pranks. If I get "punked" anytime soon, I'll let you know. I'm sure it has happened in the past!

What has your biggest blooper moment been so far?

I tripped. Nearly fell. It was awkward. Enough said. :)

From your tweets, we can gather that there are some klutzy moments in your life. What has been your biggest klutz adventure?

I am such a klutz. Unavoidably so. Guess I was born with that specific gene. As far as "biggest klutz adventures" are concerned... I once was a waitress on the coast of Maine during the summer and, one day, carrying a large tray filled with food I ran smack into the patio door... Guess it was so clean that I thought it was open! I smashed my head on the glass and dropped all the entrees and then I did the only thing fitting for such a situation; I took a bow, cleaned up the mess... and went to the bathroom for fear that I'd die of embarrassment! Not my best moment. Funny now. Horrific then. I never lived that down!

I can see that you've graduated with a double major in economics and maths from Columbia. With that background, what drove you to get into acting?

I was in the right place at the right time. Education always came first, but I had extremely supportive parents that wanted me to experience everything this world had to offer. Without their love and guidance, I never would've taken the chances that I did... and I wouldn't be where I am today. Their support enabled me to breathe and, in turn, discover a career that makes me happy. They always told me I could be anything I wanted to be (except a singer because I'm tone deaf) and that allowed me to trust my instincts and follow my heart. Yeah, sounds cheesy, I know, but it is the truth. I can only hope to be half as good a parent to my own children someday. They left some pretty big shoes for me to fill!

This is a list of favourites

a) Downtime snack on set: I should probably say something healthy, but, the truth is, I love Cheetos... because there's not always a barrel of cheese-balls handy!

b) Colour: When people ask me this question I always ask: "to wear or to look at"? My favorite color to wear is white. My favorite color to look at is soft, sunshine yellow... It is happiness defined by color.

c) Movie and TV Show: I couldn't possible choose a favorite movie, so here are a few: Silence of the Lambs, Withnail and I, The Sweetest Thing, Casablanca, It's a Wonderful Life, Despicable Me, The Little Mermaid, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, V for Vendetta, Beautiful Girls, Closer, To Kill A Mockingbird, and so many more. As for TV shows, the same goes, so here are a few; 30 Rock, The United States of Tara, Californication, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Alias, Law & Order, 60 Minutes... Good golly, I could go on and on...

d) Place you'd like to visit or have visited: Paris Paris Paris. All the time. Any time. Forever.

e) Award show: Impossible question to answer... :)

Disclaimer: This interview is the property of The Romy Skye Interview Blog and Romy Skye's World. Do not reproduce or quote this interview without our permission or providing the source.

Interview with Aaron Ginsburg from The Good Guys

Aaron Ginsburg, who is a writer on The Good Guys was very kind and let me interview him! Since I am in Bangalore, and he is in Bogota, Colombia filming the Burn Notice prequel, this was obviously an email interview! Hope you guys enjoy reading it as much as I do! Remember, The Good Guys premieres tonight on Star World at 9pm!!!

Me: How did you get involved with the show?

Aaron Ginsburg: Wade McIntyre and I were developing an original series with Matt Nix when he sold THE GOOD GUYS -- At that point, we stuffed that other idea in a drawer and jumped on board with the adventures of Jack and Dan. We were hired to write one of the first two episodes before the show was officially picked up by FOX. That episode ultimately became "SMALL ROOMS".

Me: What is the easiest part about writing the show, like did all the banter come easily?

AG: Don't be fooled by breezy, funny banter - it is handcrafted, each joke over-analyzed to within an inch of its life... The show was always fun to write - but creating the complicated chain-of-events that intersect in each episode took careful planning and many days where we wanted to smash our faces against the dry erase boards... That's writing!

Me: What was your favourite episode that you've written?

AG: I love all of the episodes, including the ones Wade and I wrote. We had a great staff and a show that we all loved. As for my own work... I am very proud of VACATION - which was an idea we had wanted to write for months... and it turned out exactly as I imagined. And our final episode, COP KILLER, was incredibly fulfilling to bring to life.

Me: How long does it take for you to write an episode?

AG: Trick question... As a dear writer friend of mine always says: writing is like a gas, it can fill any space. If we have a month to write a script, it will take us exactly a month... however, if we have only two days... we somehow manage to get it done in two days... On THE GOOD GUYS, both occasions occurred...

Me: How long does it take for you to shoot an episode?

AG: Each episode of THE GOOD GUYS was shot in seven days.

Me: What is the character you relate to the most?

AG: It should be no surprise that I relate to Jack. We have many similar qualities...

Me: Have you ever written something and then someone says, no it cannot be done?

AG: Sure. That is the process. Sometimes, things can't be done because of budget. For instance, once we wrote an opening for one of our episodes where Dan intercepts a slow-speed chase on the freeway (a bad guy going only 5 miles per hour, followed by a trail of cop cars)... Turns out, a slow-speed chase is incredibly difficult to shoot, and incredibly time consuming... So we re-wrote the scene and I love what we came up with... You'll just have to guess what episode that bit was originally attached to.

Me: Have you ever changed lines on the set, last minute?

AG: Absolutely. Art is collaborative, and when the actors get on set and work with the director, the scene often grows and changes - new ideas or jokes develop in the process. I am constantly on set (as were all the writers) to improve each and every moment. If a joke falls flat, we would be there to replace it with a better one.

Me: Is it verbatim or can the actors change the lines a little, so that it sounds more natural to them?

AG: We try to write the lines so that they are natural to the actors... That said, the actors certainly make the lines their own, changing words here or there. If they change them to the point of changing the meaning, or disrupting a recurring joke that plays in later scenes, I would occasionally work with them to keep the line's intention while making the actors happy with the words themselves.

Me: Is it challenging to work with other writers, and keep the dialogue and the feel of the show consistent?

AG: Not at all - in fact, I love working with other writers. The staff of THE GOOD GUYS was packed with smart, funny, talented writers - and when we put our heads together, it was endlessly fulfilling (and hilarious).

Me: Were you involved in the naming of the series? Some of the other titles were "Jack and Dan" and "Code 58", were there any others before "The Good Guys"?

AG: The show began as JACK AND DAN, and we originally switched it to CODE 58 (which is the Dallas Police Code for "routine investigation."). Then when we realized we needed a better title, we had a contest in the writer's room and everyone pitched their best titles... I believe it was our Co-Exec Producer who won with THE GOOD GUYS...

Me: Do you prefer writing movies, plays or TV serials?

AG: TV. I love creating characters and then watching them grow and change over time. With TV, you can constantly put your creations in new and challenging situations.

Me: Tell us a little about IN SIGHT, the movie you wrote with Wade McIntyre? It's out later this year right?

AG: IN SIGHT is a psychological thriller that Wade and I wrote a few years ago. The log line is: After the grisly murder of a young woman, the ER nurse who tried to save her begins to experience the victim's chilling memories of the attack. She desperately tries to avenge the terrifying homicide before the visions of it drive her insane.
Here is a link to the trailer. We are hoping it gets out into the world this year... details to come.

Me: Tell us a bit about the Thrilling Adventure Hour and how you got involved with that show?

AG: The Thrilling Adventure Hour is a monthly staged show performed in the style of old-time radio. I was brought in to direct the madness over five years ago, and we have finally figured out how to podcast the sucker... Check it out on iTunes. I could go on and on about this amazing show, but alas, I must rest - another day of shooting tomorrow.

Again, THE GOOD GUYS, starring Colin Hanks, Bradley Whitford, Jenny Wade and Diana Maria Riva premieres tonight, Feb 12th on STAR WORLD at 9pm! Aaron and some of the cast have Twitters and you can follow them too!

Aaron Ginsburg - DrLawyerCop
Colin Hanks - Colin_Hanks
Jenny Wade - Jenny_Wade
Diana Maria Riva - DianaMariaRiva