In this inaugural episode of Big Break Pod, host and creator Thomas M Copeland introduces you in broad strokes to the show, why it exists, and what you can expect to get out of listening and engaging with each episode! PLUS, we introduce our friend of the show Kris Eber, Emmy-award winning half-hour comedy series producer behind The Mayor, The Kids Are Alright, Dave, and most recently, Muppets Mayhem for Disney+. Why would a producer with such accomplished accolades be willing to join such a scrappy little outfit? Because Kris thinks Thomas is really handsome. Just kidding! It's because Kris is Thomas' older brother, and the two love to talk business. Thomas wraps the episode with four things he learned in four years as a ambitious, learning, and now, finally, working actor.

You'll find more information on each episode at BigBreakPod.com. Find video of this show on YouTube (@bigbreakpod) and on IG (@bigbreakpod). Thomas' personal website is castingtom.com (IG: @castingtom). To reach the show, please email bigbreakpod@gmail.com. This show is sponsored by ShowCoach - a community of actors making their self-tapes better. Learn more at http://showcoach.app or download the app now from App Store/Android Play.

About Kris: Kris Eber is an Emmy-award winning short-format television producer with a stream of impressive credits over nearly 25 years in Hollywood, including most recently executive producing Dave for FX, The Muppets Mayhem for Apple TV, The Kids are Alright, The Mayor, and many more. Kris is a graduate of The Film School at Florida State University, after which he began his career with Industrial Light & Magic in 2000. Kris also happens to be the big brother of Big Break Pod host and creator, Thomas M. Copeland.

Kicking off our first season with a WHIZ BANG is Bill Barretta, Emmy-award winning actor, puppeteer, and ineffable and effectual creator! Thomas and Bill talk about what to expect from professional conservatory theatre training, as Thomas enters The Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City with the Fall 2024 cohort, Bill's alma mater; how to create lively characters from our instincts and observations of the world around us; and why The Muppets continue to hold staying power in American culture and entertainment. If nothing else, you don't want to miss Bill's impression of Sanford Meisner, the story of how he created Pepe the King Prawn, and so many other little quips and whips throughout this hilarious roller-coaster ride through Bill's beautiful, untamable brain. If you love creativity, you'll absolutely love Bill and Thomas' exchanges throughout this episode! For more "Bill" in your life, subscribe to his podcast, The Baretta Brothers, available on all major platforms, and find even more content at https://www.thebarrettabrothers.com.

About Bill: Bill Barretta is an Emmy-award actor and long-time Muppets puppeteer. He began performing with The Jim Henson Company in 1991, landing the lead character of Earl Sinclair on the ABC hit television series Dinosaurs and would soon become one of the leading Core Muppet performers. His characters include Pepe the King Prawn, Johnny Fiama, Big Mean Carl and Bobo the Bear, to name a few. In addition, Barretta is honored to carry on several of Jim Henson's iconic and beloved creations: Rowlf the Dog, The Swedish Chef and Dr. Teeth.

Over the last thirty years Barretta has also directed, executive produced, written and coordinated for many Muppet projects to name a few; Muppet Treasure Island, Muppets Tonight, Muppets From Space, The Muppets 2011 feature, The Muppets 2015 ABC series, the 2021 Disney+ Halloween special Muppets Haunted Mansion and countless appearances, talk shows, commercials, social media content and live shows including Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, James Corden, Long John Silvers, Pizza Hut,

Subway, Lipton, Toyota, PAM, Adidas, Geico, MuppetFest’s Muppet Show Live, The Muppets Take the Hollywood Bowl, The Muppets Take the O2.

Most recently for Disney+, Bill served as a Co-creator, Writer, Director, Muppet Performer and Executive Producer of The Muppets Mayhem.…Oh, and he’s a nice Italian boy.

Take a journey with Thomas and Miami-based independent filmmaker Michael Ruiz-Unger as they discuss in detail what it takes to write, direct, and produce your own short film! Michael would know a thing or two about it. Michael wrote, and Thomas performed in, "Save the Flea" a short film that first premiered at the Miami Film Festival in 2023, taking the Audience Award in the short film category. The film has since gone on to make the festival rounds across the U.S. Thomas and Michael discuss how to conceptualize and nurture an idea for a film, the (sometimes grueling) writing process, financing your project, casting, shooting, editing, and making festival debuts - not to mention what you do with your film after the festival rounds go cold. Don't miss this unique opportunity to peer into the minds of a filmmaker who wrote a character that an actor he hired brought to life on the big screen. Michael can be found on IG (@skywalkerhand) and on his website at https://michaelruizunger.com. You can stream Save The Flea on the PBS website here: https://www.pbs.org/video/save-the-flea-and-ladyfinger-avzk9x/

About Michael: Michael Ruiz-Unger is a Cuban-American filmmaker who grew up around Miami's underground punk scene, filming short films and music videos. In college, he interned at Oscilloscope Laboratories which solidified his love of filmmaking, specifically directing and editing. In 2016, he ventured into the world of comic book writing. His graphic novel Dark Beach, a sci-fi noir thriller, was published by Simon and Schuster and is now optioned at Fabula. In 2022, he was given funding by Oolite Arts and The Miami Film Festival to create his short film Save The Flea, which took place inside of an active flea market. The short went on to win the audience award at the Miami Film Festival as well as selections into Fantasia Film Festival, the New York Latino Film Festival and comic-con international Independent film festival (San Diego Comic Con).

We all remember the iconic film that defined the early 2000s rom-com genre: the popular jock can’t date the girl next door until her offbeat sister finds her own date, leading him to hire a rugged bad boy to charm her. Loosely based on William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, it was also Heath Ledger’s major film debut. You know it as 10 Things I Hate About You, but for director Gil Junger, It's just one of the many impactful projects he has led over his forty-year Hollywood career.

In today's episode, Gil joins Thomas to discuss what he looks for in an extraordinary audition, his advice on how actors should approach cold reads, and the craft of filmmaking from a director’s perspective. But that's only part of the conversation. The heart of this interview is a deep, hour-long dive into the unexpected and often unexplored corners of the creative psyche. Gil opens up about the extreme highs and lows of his career, sharing why—despite our best efforts to manage it—anxiety, doubt, and insecurity are experiences all humans (and especially actors) grapple with. Should we continue to combat these feelings or embrace them? This thought-provoking discussion exemplifies Gil’s out-of-the-box thinking and his unique approach to creativity.

And of course, they also touch on Heath Ledger’s first American audition with Gil—a story that’s unforgettable on its own. Don’t miss this one!

To learn more about Gil’s actor workshops, visit https://thebreakthruco.com/.

About Gil: Director, writer, and producer Gil Junger is a creative powerhouse, perhaps best known for his debut film 10 Things I Hate About You, which became a defining moment for a generation. He received Emmy and DGA award nominations for directing Ellen DeGeneres’s groundbreaking “coming out” episode on ELLEN. Drawing on his vast experience, Gil founded the Breakthru Company to revolutionize the industry’s approach to nurturing talent, helping actors overcome self-limiting beliefs and trust their authentic voices, building a direct, unfiltered connection to their creative gifts.

In this episode, Thomas engages in a personal and insightful conversation with Bianka Krausch, founder of Talent Direct Agency (TDA). As Thomas's representative agency in the Southeast regions, including Miami and Atlanta, TDA holds a special place in his professional journey. Together, they delve into:

• The Genesis of TDA: Bianka shares the story behind the establishment of Talent Direct Agency, highlighting its evolution and mission in the entertainment industry.

• Spotting Talent: Insights into what catches Bianka's eye in talent submissions, offering valuable advice for aspiring actors, performers, and models aiming to stand out.

• Florida's Film Landscape: A discussion on the past, present, and future of filmmaking in Florida, exploring the state's unique opportunities and challenges.

And don't miss Thomas' telling of how he captured the attention of TDA talent rep Sabine Dibbern, a clever and simple little strategy that led to his representation by TDA nearly four years ago.

For more information about Talent Direct Agency and their work, visit their website at talentdirectagency.com. Be sure to subscribe to their newsletter, which is FREE, and full of little golden nuggets for actors, and follow them on IG @talentdirectagency.

About Bianka: Biank is a founder, owner, and agent at Talent Direct Agency (TDA), a talent agency representing the Southeastern markets for film, fashion, and television. She's deeply involved in the film and television industry, serving as the Film Florida Community Outreach Coordinator, a Board Member and South Florida Branch Co-Chair for Women in Film and TV (WIFT), and newly appointed Board Member for Subtropic Film Festival based in Palm Beach County. Bianka lives in Palm Beach County and is a mother of three wonderful children.

Lori S. Wyman, M.S., C.S.A., is dedicated to helping actors pursue their passions so they can live their dreams. If you've ever had the pleasure of being cast by her, taken one of her workshops, or read her book The Organic Actor, you know how true this is. But there's so much more to glean from her 40 years in the South Florida casting industry.

In this episode, listen in as Thomas and Lori discuss some of the biggest shows and movies she's cast—from her first job on Miami Vice in the 1980s to Bad Monkey for Apple TV in 2023—and what she seeks in an authentic, organic actor.

About Lori: Casting in South Florida since 1979, Lori has been the talent seeker behind mega-hits like the Dexter series, Bloodline, The Glades, Burn Notice, Iron Man 3, and many more. Over her career, she has earned eight Artios Award nominations, winning two for the acclaimed HBO movie Recount and the Netflix series Bloodline, as well as an Emmy nomination. Lori also completed a Master’s Degree with a concentration in Drama Therapy, and she's proud to put her clinical training to work with actors, helping them overcome one of the biggest obstacles in an actor’s career: audition anxiety. Through her work, she aims to help actors become more grounded, focused, and ultimately, more organic performers. Find her book, classes, and more information about Lori at https://theorganicactor.com.

Today's episode deviates a bit from the normal structure of the show, as Thomas dedicates an entire episode to what it means to be a professional in your craft. Let’s set some ground rules first: when we say "craft," we mean anything that requires practice, skill, or talent—something you create that brings you joy or fulfillment. It could be acting, comedy, dance, abstract performance, writing, or even quilt-making, for that matter. The point is that it’s something you’re determined to get better at, and it moves you.

Being a professional doesn’t necessarily mean you’re paid; it means you’re serious, prepared, organized, and that you give it your all every time. While Thomas speaks primarily from the perspective of an actor or performer, these insights easily apply across a variety of trades, industries, and activities. In this episode, Thomas lays out a collection of "Do’s" and "Don’ts," as well as four key lessons he’s learned in professional acting over the past four years. If you’re looking to improve your craft, this episode is not to be missed!

This show is sponsored by ShowCoach - a community of actors making their self-tapes better. Learn more at http://showcoach.app or download the app now from App Store/Android Play.

We're going to exit stage right today and welcome Ben Gabler on the show! Ben is an accomplished founder in tech and currently CEO at Rocket.net, one of the world's fastest growing Wordpress website hosting platforms. Ben is also an old friend of Thomas', having grown up together in Jupiter, Florida. As Thomas and Ben split ways after high school, their careers and life experiences diverged, but also moved in a kind of tandem. Ben founded (and sold) several companies, rising to the top of the website hosting industry, while Thomas spent that time in marketing, advertising, and legal technology. Both founded their current companies in 2020, with Ben launching Rocket.net and Thomas launching Vinetegrate. Today, both companies are continuing to grow and mature, but neither success came quickly, easily, or without trials and tribulations that had to be overcome. So it's only fitting that today's discussion is all about failure, and Thomas and Ben both have a lot of it to share with you: how to think about failure differently, how failure builds character, and how you can handle failure gracefully, both on and off the stage.

About Ben: With over 20 years of experience and extensive knowledge in WordPress, CDN, WAF, Edge, and Hosting, Ben is passionate about sharing insights and expertise. Skilled at communicating with both technical and non-technical audiences, and he enjoys exploring topics that address real-world challenges and provide practical solutions. Prior to founding Rocket.net, Ben spent the last two decades working as the COO of HostGator, Godaddy, Help.com, and HostNine, one of his earlier companies. Ben can be found on X (@ben_gabler).