Meet Your Host
Hi, I’m DaJuan!
I’m a working actor, certified life coach, and the founder of Think Bigger Coaching, where I help actors book their first or next big TV and film role. You might know me from my seven-season run as Detective Rondell Pierce on Amazon’s Bosch and Bosch: Legacy. Right now, I’m recurring on NCIS: Origins as Detective Noah Oakley and Disney’s How We Became the Biggest Band in the World.
With credits in Grey’s Anatomy, 9-1-1, Narcos, Suits, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, NCIS (Hawaii and Origins), and Agent Carter, I bring real-world experience to my coaching. My mission is to help actors #SKIPTHELINE and #SeeYouOnSet by mastering self-tapes and building audition confidence. I’ve helped hundreds of actors break through and book roles—and I’m ready to help you do the same. #TrainWithCoachesThatWork
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Meet the Speakers
DAY 1: Take Control – Creating, Producing & Standing Out
Become a Booking Magnet
Known to many as “The Booking Magnet ®”, Christine Horn is a Broadway, film and television actress, a career coach for actors and the author of “Playing Small: The Actor’s Guide To Becoming A Booking Magnet.”
With over 25+ years of experience and over 73+ Film/TV credits, you’ve seen Christine in Snowfall as “Black Diamond”, BMF as “Mabel”, Grey’s Anatomy, Black-ish, Stomp the Yard, Good Girls, S.W.A.T, Terminator: Dark Fate, The Good Doctor, Tyler Perry’s The Haves and the Have Nots and Boo! A Madea Halloween just to name a few.
She has helped thousands of actors from around the world get closer to their acting dreams through her online community and podcast, Hollywood Bound Actors and in her game changing online course, Book More TV ®.
Christine believes that most actors play small. Their thoughts sabotage their success. And she’s on a mission to help other actors master their mindset, acting, marketing and auditions. That way, they can have the career they desire and deserve.
Making Agents Want You
Brian helps actors get what they want without all the struggle. He’s helped 724 actors find representation and is even known as “The Representation Whisperer”.
Through his wildly popular online courses (Audition Magnet® and #agentgoals®) and entertaining podcast, Brian teaches actors how to market themselves authentically, use gratitude to open doors, and book the roles they were born to play.
His coaching clients include Tony Award-winners, Broadway stars, Series Regulars, filmmakers, writers, and stand-up comedians. He proves that when they follow their purpose instead of playing by a tired set of industry rules (read: limiting beliefs), they can skip the drama, generate momentum, and build excitement around who they are and what they love to do the mostest.
Brian is a graduate of Northwestern University, CTI’s Co-Active Coach Training Program, Marianne Willamson’s Teaching the Teachers – and on top of the training you’d expect a coach to have – Brian brings a spiritual and grounding approach to the bizniz rooted in his training as a non-denominational Reverend. Not only does he promise the how-to’s, he has zero doubt that acting is your divine birthright.
Creating a Reel That Gets You Seen
Guy Chachkes, CEO of Reelarc, has helped countless actors shape their careers with customized demo reels and brand strategies.
Reelarc is the #1 demo reel production company in the U.S., partnering with top acting schools like Lee Strasberg institute and The Actors Studio, among others, to provide invaluable support to emerging talent. With over a decade of experience and 12,000 of successful scene productions, Guy’s insights into what captivates talent seekers have helped countless actors secure representation and established Reelarc as a leader in actor career development.
Pitch. Package. Produce. How to Get Your Project Off the Ground
Kaia Alexander is the CEO/founder of the Entertainment Business School, and host of the Hollywood Wolfpack podcast. Her work focuses on uncovering hidden dynamics in human systems, and she leads with a unique blend of storytelling and sharp analysis. As a queer neurodivergent woman she is a passionate advocate for inclusion in entertainment, business and education. She is a former development executive on major motion pictures including JUST FRIENDS (with Ryan Reynolds), PEACEFUL WARRIOR (with Nick Nolte), THE GOOD NIGHT (with Gwyneth Paltrow & Penelope Cruz), and HACHI: A DOG’S TALE (with Richard Gere). Her mentors were comedian Garry Shandling and novelist Tom Robbins. Her storytelling brand is badass, adventurous women. If you ever corner her at a party, be sure to ask her about her passions for surfing.
Stop Being a Broke Actor – Fix Your Money Mindset NOW!
Katy Chen Mazzara is a certified trauma-informed master financial wellness coach who empowers creative freelancers and entrepreneurs to make more, worry less and achieve true financial freedom, so they can create the life of their dreams!
As a former TV producer and award-winning documentary filmmaker, Katy understands the balance between dreaming and doing. She’s a proud graduate of New York University, the trauma-informed Elementum Coaching Institute and UC Berkeley’s Personal Financial Planning program.
Through practical tools and spiritual practices, she empowers you with knowledge, helps you clear out money blocks, release generational trauma, and without sacrificing your life or “budgeting,” she teaches an easy system to pay down your debts and build up your reserves.
Katy’s mission to help people make decisions (without basing it on money) stems from knowing three women in her life who stayed in abusive situations because of the lack of money and resources to take care of themselves and their young children. Because of this mission, Katy has volunteered at the Violence Intervention Program and as a financial wellness mentor at ImagineLA, an organization dedicated to ending the cycle of homelessness and chronic poverty in L.A.
Producing Your Own Projects -Step by Step - How I Did It!
Writer, Producer and Director Melissa Blue has over 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry.
As an actor, she graduated from Ball State University with a degree in musical theatre, and performed in dozens of plays and musicals, and on shows and films such as “John Adams” and “A Haunting”.
As a writer, producer, DP and director, she was the Showrunner for two award winning web series (“Life Group” and “Don’t Judge Me”) ,as well as running Rock Your Reel (a demo reel company who has produced well over 1000 custom scenes for actors) and Bluelit Studios (a production partner for those actors/writers/directors who want to make their own projects).
She’s worked with a myriad of actors and creatives to help them produce their own work, as well as in the corporate space producing content that helped those businesses to gain over $50M in funding. But most importantly, she is wife to writer Jonathan and dog mom to Lucy, and lives in Los Angeles, CA.
Stephanie creates bold, character-driven stories with heart, wit, and high stakes. Her storytelling journey began (ironically) as a Catholic Youth Liturgical Minister, but it led to her teaching English abroad and earning her MFA at London’s East15 Acting School, where she trained at Shakespeare’s Globe and the Russian Institute of Theatrical Arts.
Specializing in complex, witty women navigating dystopian futures, deep vulnerabilities, and redemption arcs, Stephanie thrives in the intersection of sci-fi, drama, and emotional storytelling. Her latest project, Rewind To Her, is an LGTBQ+ sci-fi drama with a tech-infused twist. As a queer artist, she’s passionate about amplifying unheard stories and tackling big ideas.
A firm believer in mindset, and with firsthand experience of the challenges of turning ideas into reality while juggling multiple hats, Stephanie also helps multi-hyphenate artists stay grounded through meditation, a practice that has been instrumental in her own journey.
When not crafting worlds on screen, she’s mixing cocktails, running a temporary housing business, devouring books and plotting her next adventure.
Commercial Agent Tells All: What Successful Actors Are Doing Differently to Stand Out and Get Hired
As a Talent Agent with the Alexander White Agency, Stephany Burns works with some of the most talented actors and writers in Hollywood today. Her clients have booked numerous network commercials with companies like Coca Cola, Snickers, Pepsi, Ford, BMW, Nissan, Kay Jewelers, Allstate, Apple, Samsung, Verizon, AT & T, UPS, Progressive, Wendy’s, State Farm, Applebee’s, Toyota, Clorox, Ameriprise, Go Daddy, Acura, Hyundai, Target, Dodge, Nationwide, Best Buy, McDonald’s and many more. Her actors have appeared in Super Bowl commercials for the past 4 consecutive years.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, and a former child commercial actor herself, Stephany has seen every side of the business. Previously working at a few of the top commercial casting agencies in Los Angeles, she found that her ability to understand the needs of actors made her a natural fit to be their biggest champion. She prides herself on her dedication to her clients and her determination to advance their career. She has developed strong relationships with some of the biggest names in commercial casting, who have all come to trust her and her talented roster.
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DAY 2: Book the Job – Insider Strategies for Landing Roles in 2025 & Beyond
What 14 Years of HBO Casting Revealed About Real Success In Acting
Amy Jo Berman is a highly sought-after acting mentor, speaker, and former Vice President of Casting at HBO, where she spent 14 years overseeing the casting of more than 150 films and projects. With a career spanning over two decades in the entertainment industry, Amy Jo has worked with some of the most acclaimed directors, producers, and actors in Hollywood, giving her an unparalleled insider perspective on what truly makes an actor stand out and book roles.
As the founder of the UnstoppableActor® program and a trusted mentor to thousands of actors worldwide, Amy Jo has dedicated her career to empowering actors with the tools, techniques, and strategies they need to master their auditions, book more roles, and build long, lasting careers in film and television. She’s known for her unique ability to demystify the casting process, giving actors a clear, step-by-step path to success. By blending insights from both a Casting Director and a Studio Executive perspective, she equips actors with the insider knowledge they need to navigate the industry with confidence and control.
Her mission is simple: to transform struggling actors into Unstoppable Actors.
Why Agents Say Yes (or No): Insider Secrets from a Major Talent Rep
Lauren Williams is a seasoned agent originally from Atlanta, Georgia. She began her career at ICM Partners in 2008, rising to Agent in the Talent department by 2010. Her roster included Oscar winner Olivia Colman, Emmy nominee Betty Gilpin, Oscar nominee Aunjanue Ellis and Lana Condor from “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before,” and many more highly talented individuals.
Williams later transitioned to roles at Echo Lake Entertainment and Link Entertainment, where she guided clients’ careers and she produced projects, partnering with studios like Apple and Lionsgate.
Williams is currently the SVP of Talent at Formation Talent Agency fka People Store based in Atlanta, GA. She has a diverse roster of clients including Steve Coulter, Diany Rodriguez, French Stewart, Jodi Benson and more.
Williams has served on the boards of Women In Film and Much Love Animal Rescue. She holds a B.A. in Directing for the Theatre from UC Santa Barbara, reflecting her deep-rooted passion for the arts.
Actor & Social Media Influencer: How To Grow Your Influencer Brand
Ulysses “Uly” Morazan is a Los Angeles based actor, comedian, and social media content creator known for his relatable humor, engaging storytelling, and coining the phrase “current husband.” Uly has over one million followers across all social platforms and, in 2023, gained significant attention for his “Gay Math” and “Football for Swifties” videos, which led to an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show. He has also appeared on Hacks, This is Us, 9-1-1 and recurred as Jeremy on Not Dead Yet. This Spring, he’ll be touring across the country with his hit show “I Love Uly” which he says is “kinda like the Eras Tour but not.” Follow Uly and his ability to combine authenticity and toxic behavior on Instagram and TikTok at @ulyandernesto.
The Actor’s Guide to Breaking Into Voiceover
After a 36-year career in radio, David H. Lawrence XVII moved to television, and has been seen on Apple TV’s The Afterparty, FX’s The People vs. OJ, ABC’s epic series LOST, CBS’ legendary CSI, The Mentalist, The Bold and the Beautiful, and the military thriller The Unit, NBC’s spy comedy Chuck, Good Luck Charlie and ANT Farm on Disney, Touch and The Finder on FOX, AppleTV’s The Afterparty, and is best known as the creepy evil puppet master Eric Doyle on NBC’s smash hit Heroes. His film career includes on-camera and VO work on Cars 3, Straight Outta Compton, Men in Black III, Pizza Man, The Changeling, The Hulk, Iron Man, Percy Jackson, Unstoppable, Too Big to Fail, A Special Relationship and countless others. His acting site is https://davidhlawrencexvii.com
Lawrence helps actors create their own voiceover careers with his award winning VOHeroes.com training program, and has been BACKSTAGE’s Readers’ Choice for Favorite VO Teacher and Favorite VO Demo Producer for four years in a row. He teaches in Los Angeles and online via https://voheroes.com.
Lawrence has voiced over 200 audiobooks, and teaches specialized courses in audiobook production, with a concentration on ACX and Audible work, and teaches the ACX Master Class at http://acxmasterclass.com/ and teaches the same audiobook production skills to authors at NarrateYoueOwnBook.com. To aid narrators in mastering their audio to Audible’s exacting standards, he also created AudioCupcake for Mac users.
Lawrence created the best-selling industry standard Rehearsal® Pro app for actors and VO talent, giving them a digital rehearsal studio right in their pocket. Details are at https://rehearsal.pro/
On radio, the Emmy-award winning and Clio-nominated Lawrence hosted The David Lawrence Show, Online Tonight, was a morning show talent for ABC Radio, Clear Channel and CNET, and anchored The Net Music Countdown, heard on over 300 radio stations and both XM and Sirius Satellite Radio. Lawrence was at the forefront of the podcasting revolution, having delivered daily RealAudio and MP3 “podcasts” via email from early 1995.
Live Where You Want & Work Where You Want: Audiobook Narration
Elise Arsenault, Award-Winning Actor + Narrator, Coach, Founder of The Global Actor™ and host of The Global Actor™ podcast is known for bringing focus + direction to actors and multi-hyphenate creatives by helping them “live where they want + work when they want”. Through her signature online course, THE GREAT AUDIOBOOK ADVENTURE™, Elise and her partner, Justin Marra have helped hundreds of narrators break into and level-up within the audiobook industry. Graduates of their program narrate audiobooks for every major publisher, direct for the Big 5, have won almost every award type available in the audiobook industry and emerge as leaders in this medium.
Elise’s Dream Big, Plan Smart framework has helped actors attract up to six figures of consistent income each year from their creative careers and breakthrough limiting beliefs so they experience more fun and flow in their lives.
Elise’s acting roles range from stage to screen. She most recently won an Earphones Award and SOVAS Voice Arts Award nomination for her narration of the definitive biography of Madonna: A Rebel Life.
Her voice can be heard on dozens of voiceover spots including national commercials, industrials and video games. The narrator of over 175 audiobooks, Elise is drawn to stories of empowerment, optimism and overcoming challenges. She writes for Backstage as a Backstage Expert.
The Smart Actor’s Guide to Booking
JB started his career as a lawyer in NY, then decided to shift to representing actors, and became a talent agent at the Gersh Agency in LA.
He transitioned to being a personal manager, and from there moved on to run the LA office of Casting Workbook. JB is passionate about helping actors build and develop their careers.
Using Current Technology & Self Taping To The Fullest
Natalie Roy is an actress of stage and screen, a published author and acting coach and career mentor. She’s performed and taught all over North America and commercially hit Viral success working with Ryan Reynolds and Maximum Effort starring in a series of commercials for Match.com which won a prestigious Webby award and boasts over 6.6 million views and 4 billion impressions. She has appeared on the Equalizer, FBI, Blacklist, Blindspot, The Affair, Law and Order: SVU, Bull, The Loudest Voice, The Detour, Power, The Following, Being Erica, Murdoch Mysteries (and more) and in two films directed by award-winning director Sidney Furie. She also voices the english dubbing for hit Netflix series The Innocent as the lead role.
She authored a book: “30 Years, 30 Lessons” and has since collaborated on The “I’mPossible Project” and the CREATE Book: “Let’s Play!” She’s a 500 hour certified Yoga Teacher and a meditation/mindfulness guide specializing in Visualization, positive psychology, peak performance quantum, biology and optimizing mindset for actors and performers. She Co-Founded C.R.E.A.T.E with Tony nominated director Kristin Hanggi and created the acting technique The Activated Actor and the Booking Method with which she coaches many professional working actors in New York City and around the world. She has recently co-created the world’s first ever Audition Script Analysis APP for actors and is the mom of the most wonderful kiddo on earth.
Commercial Auditions Decoded: What It Takes to Get the Job
I have over 10 years as a commercial casting director in one of the busiest offices in town. I see thousands and thousands of pictures on any given job, and I know the trends in headshots and the qualities that make them effective.
People ask me all the time why I still shoot since I have this whole other career, and the truth of it is, I just love it. I love the opportunity to connect with people, to capture something beautiful and true. I don’t want to rush our time together, so I don’t ever shoot more than one person in a day. I love that when I’m shooting, I’m not focused on anything but you. And I love that I have the ability to bring my years of experience on both sides of the camera to each shoot.
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DAY 3: Longevity & Resilience – Thriving in a Changing Industry
Inside the Director’s Mind: What TV Directors Need from Actors
Mary Lou Belli was recently nominated for her 3rd Primetime Emmy for Comedy Directing for The Ms Pat Show where she also serves as Executive Producer. Belli set up her first pilot at NBC last year based on an Edgar Award winning book series. She has been directing television for over 30 years in many genres from sitcoms to procedurals to documentaries. The latter garnered her two LA Local Emmys. She currently is one of the Governors at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
Through her teaching and dedication to advocacy, she supports many of the vibrant diversity programs including the DGA Director’s Initiative and First-Time Directors Seminar, ABC/Disney, CBS, Sony, AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women, NBC Launch, and Warner Bros Directing Workshop mentoring the next generation of directors. She is the co-author of four books: “The NEW Sitcom Career Book,” “Acting for Young Actors,” “PERFORM: Acting for the Screen” and “Directors Tell the Story.” She is an Icon member of the Alliance of Women Directors and Advisory Board member of Women in Media, Advisory Board of Film Fatales and a long time member of Women In Film.
Amongst the hundreds of shows she has directed or produced are Elsbeth, Monk, NCIS New Orleans, Bull, Sweet Magnolias, Sister Sister, and Girlfriends. She has served as judge and/or guest speaker for film festivals in the US, Canada, and Japan. She is married with two children.
From Breadcrumbs to Breakthroughs: Healing the Actor’s Relationship with the Industry
Janelle Ault is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (license #90564) and actor. In her private practice, she specializes in adolescent and family, young adult, and entertainment industry counseling services.
She is passionate about moving entertainment industry professionals from emotionally surviving to thriving, empowering the positive management of the challenges and stressors associated with pursuing a career in the entertainment industry.
Janelle taught at the graduate level and has partnered as a speaker and consultant for a variety of schools, organizations, and mental health events. She currently meets via Telehealth with CA residents and entertainment industry professionals across the state.
Janelle completed her dual Masters in 2010, obtaining a Master of Science in Marital and Family Therapy from Fuller Graduate School of Psychology and a Master of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts and Broadcast Journalism from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA.
How Actors Build Financial Resilience
Road to Series Regular
Ali just wrapped shooting season 3 of Netflix’s The Diplomat. Born and raised in LA, she is a recovering classical pianist who now resides in New York and has worked in film, tv, theater and recorded numerous audiobooks.
Some of her credits include: Broadway: The Heidi Chronicles. Off-Broadway: Letters of Suresh (Second Stage), The Great Leap (Atlantic). Television: “Agatha All Along,” “The Other Two,” “Raising Dion,” “NeXt,” “The Path,” “Orange is the New Black,” “Billions,” “Social Distance,” “The Breaks,” “Supernatural.” Film: Lucky Grandma, Landline, Girl in the Book, Liberal Arts.
Mastering the Audition Game: Insider Secrets from a Studio Director
Born in Las Vegas, Brett moved to LA in 2007. After years of struggling to find his way, he decided to open a Casting Director workshop studio to better understand the industry and better navigate the journey actors face…well, at least try to!
His first studio opened in 2012, but he created his own in 2016, ACE Studios. Though there have been a myriad of challenges and obstacles, they have survived to become one of the biggest studios in the country. Starting in 2020, the studio became 100% online, but the goal was always to re-open. After closing their main space in Burbank, they waited until the timing was right and began renting a new space in 2024 – this space is now their own and is continuing to find new ways to innovate or provide unique learning opportunities for actors.
The studio currently offers self-tape services, a VO booth, as well as workshops with industry professionals, both in person and on zoom. They started the year by merging with Talent House Academy, and finally offering kids/youth classes. The goal is to continue to provide amazing services and events, while treating the actors fairly and keeping prices below industry standard.
Breaking In & Standing Out: What Today's Managers are Really Looking for
Joe’s entertainment career began in Worcester, MA, where he grew up and started his journey in radio broadcasting. His career took him to on-air roles in markets such as Modesto, Sacramento, Greenville, and Charleston, SC. Over the course of 10+ years, Joe worked alongside some of the most prominent Top 40 brands and music labels in the country before relocating to Los Angeles.
Having been involved in a range of television and film productions, as well as managing the day-to-day responsibilities of one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, Joe is deeply committed to bringing that same level of personal focus and attention to every client at MGMT Artists. With his extensive experience and direct connections to top-tier talent in Hollywood, Joe provides his actors with exclusive access and exceptional opportunities to enhance their brand recognition and navigate today’s ever-evolving and competitive marketplace with confidence.
The Casting Director’s POV: What Actors Need to Know Right Now
Jessica Sherman is an award-winning Casting Director who has left her mark on some of film and television’s most iconic projects. A proud Los Angeles native, Jessica discovered her passion for casting while studying at UC Riverside and has since built an impressive career fueled by her love for storytelling and talent discovery.
Jessica got her start under the mentorship of April Webster, working on unforgettable Bad Robot/JJ Abrams projects like Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Trek Into Darkness, Super 8, and CBS’ Person of Interest. She later teamed up with Carlton Cuse to cast the critically acclaimed series Bates Motel for A&E and FX’s The Strain.
In 2017, Jessica launched her own casting company, where she has championed fresh voices and diverse talent in projects like Sundance darling Sleight, Tribeca favorite Thumper, Amazon’s gripping limited series Tell Me Your Secrets, and Disney+’s epic series Willow. Her work on the Oscar-winning short film Skin earned her an Artios Award, cementing her reputation as a leader in the industry.
Jessica also co-hosts the buzzworthy podcast Tipsy Casting, now in its third season. With candid conversations, industry insights, and plenty of laughs, Jessica and her co-host, Jenn Presser, give listeners a front-row seat to the fascinating world of casting.
Beyond her work in entertainment, Jessica is the heart behind A Cause for Entertainment, a nonprofit she founded to support women and families affected by breast cancer. The organization recently celebrated its milestone 10th anniversary, continuing its impactful mission to raise awareness and provide critical support to those in need.
Jessica’s passion for creativity, connection, and giving back defines her as not just a casting director, but a force for change in the industry and beyond.