All posts by "Ilana Rapp"

Senior Writer
Ilana Rapp is a media-savvy Generation Xer with instinctive wit, quick humor and a taste for deep human emotions. As a former (child) actress with Broadway, film and television credits, she is adept at, well, lots of things. She currently blogs on The Huffington Post and writes entertainment pieces for NYCastings. She is a huge fan of the television show V. Ask her why her favorite number is 22. Follow Ilana on Twitter @LizardLadyNJ.
Running-a-Theater-Business

Running a theater business is an exciting but daunting task. It requires immense dedication and hard work to make sure the show is successful, especially if you have kids in ...
Youthful-Stardom-Pros-and-Cons

Youthful stardom can be a dream come true for some, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. From the outside looking in, it may seem glamorous and ...
Lucille Ball in I Love Lucy

Capturing the audience’s attention is a challenge all actors face. Whether it’s delivering a monologue, performing a scene, or even telling an anecdote on stage, the actor must be able ...
Jennifer-Babiak-of-Fiddler-on-the-Roof-Discusses-Her-Pre-Show-Rituals

Every actor has their own unique pre-show rituals that help them prepare for a performance. Whether it’s an intense warm up or just a few moments of meditation, these rituals ...
3-Keys-to-Building-Trust-and-Rapport-with-Kids-on-Set

Working with children on set can be both incredibly rewarding, and incredibly difficult. With so many people involved in the production, it’s important that actors are able to build trust ...
Harry Styles and Florence Pugh in Don't Worry Darling, directed by Olivia Wilde

Acting has been a staple of the entertainment industry for centuries and its influence on society cannot be denied. There has been an increasing concern that acting may be linked ...
How-Acting-Promotes-Negative-Values

Acting is an art form that has been around for centuries, and it has the power to both entertain and educate audiences. However, when executed poorly or without proper consideration, ...
The-Impact-of-Film-and-Television-on-Society

Now more than ever, society is being exposed to the influence of film and television – both in our personal lives and in the public discourse. While film and television ...
Steven-Skybell-Fiddler-on-the-Roof-On-Anti-Semitism

Anti-Semitism is creeping back up. Or perhaps it never went away but is more prevalent in our lives due to instant news and social media. What does anti-Semitism have to ...
Actors-with-Dyslexia-Overcoming-the-Odds

Dyslexia is a common learning disability (a neurological disorder) that can affect reading, writing and spelling abilities. Although it’s most often diagnosed in children, it can also affect and/or continue ...
Even Peters as Jeffrey Dahmer

There are many different aspects that go into creating a believable character — there’s more to it than just memorizing and delivering lines. One important element is the physicality of ...
How-Murdered-and-Abused-Women-Finally-Got-their-Due-on-TV.jpg

Yes, TV has come a long way since the days of Leave it to Beaver and The Brady Bunch. There are now entire networks devoted to crime and violence, and ...
Tatiana Maslany as Alison Hendrix in Orphan Black

What is it about a bad performance that is so alluring? Is it the *schadenfreude of seeing someone who is usually so polished and perfect stumble? Or is it something ...
Margot Robbie and Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street

In today’s society, we’re seeing an influx of different cultures in the entertainment field. With this comes a new wave of actors who are auditioning with different accents. This can ...
Henry Cavill in The Witcher

Some of the world’s greatest actors have a few secrets up their sleeves that help them to become the amazing performers they are. These secrets, while they may be different ...
Tom Cruise and Miles Teller

Denise Chamian, CSA, is one of entertainment’s top Casting Directors. She has worked on some of the biggest movies and TV shows over the past three decades, including Top Gun: ...
NYCastings-Tourettes Syndrome

When singer Billie Eilish opened up in interviews with David Letterman and Ellen Degeneres about how her Tourette Syndrome, a tic disorder, has affected her life and career, she probably ...
5 Reasons Why Acting Is the Best Exercise for Seniors

Acting may seem like an unusual form of exercise for seniors, but it actually has a lot of benefits. There really is no age limit when it comes to acting. ...
Don't Worry Darling

How do actors deal with the challenge of changing behaviors on set? I’ve never started an article out with the title in the first paragraph, but I want it to ...
pic1

New York is the city of opportunity and there is no better place to start your child’s career than with a New York City talent agent. But before you start ...