This week, Max and Kelley talk about their creative journey through writing, with Max's being mostly in poetry and writing a blog for a year and Kelley's journey with writing scripts, short stories, and novels. Max also talks about a time in the early 90s when a short film that he wrote and produced called The Red and the Black was banned in New Ze…

This week, Kelley and Max discuss the documentary series Quiet on the Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV from the perspective of acting coaches and people who have also faced sexual assault. They discuss how important it is to listen to your gut instinct and how their experiences have helped them help others. Please note that this episode discusses sexu…

Max and Kelley discuss the importance of creativity and how it affects your brain when you do or try something new. They also discuss some of the scientific findings and a podcast by Dr. David Eagleman called The Inner Cosmos. Max also talks about different problem-solving approaches, such as the SWOT analysis, Business War Games, and Brain Stormin…

Join Max and Kelley as they discuss why someone like Max might need to step away from acting for a few decades. In the interim, he found a new love of writing poetry, cooking as a chef, and expanding his painting ability. Kelley talks about leaving an improv company after some bad experiences and finding the love of her life (spoiler alert - it's M…

This week, Kelley and Max explore how to act like a private detective when you're creating or playing a character. They explore the process of researching a character's motivation by pretending that you were hired to follow the character around. They delve into various aspects, such as how the character would cross the street, how they would perfor…

This week, Max and Kelley discuss the importance of meditating and reflecting on your art and what creativity you can accomplish. We discuss different meditation techniques, including Yoga Nidra it is considered sleep yoga, non-sleep deep rest,, and it's meant to reset your nervous system. If you want to check out some of the practitioners, here ar…

This week, Kelley and Max look at the person who has influenced Kelley's acting journey the most: Viola Spolin. Viola Spolin was an actress, educator, director, author, and the creator of theater games, a system of actor training that uses games she devised to teach the formal rules of the Theater organically. Her groundbreaking book Improvisation …

Join Max and Kelley as we look at iconic character descriptions in screenplays from Rick Blaine in Casablanca to Annie Wilkes in Misery to Apollo Creed in Rocky and Rose Maxson in Fences, and many other characters in between. We discuss the impact these characters had in their films and why writing good descriptions is vital for both the actor and …

Max and Kelley discuss the importance of Set Etiquette whether you're on stage or on a TV or Movie set. They use personal examples of the do's and dont's such as: Do be kind and show good manners. Don't ask for a selfie with a lead. Do be on time. Don't try to manifest by telling a lead you will be their co-star one day. (Yes, we saw that happen) W…

This week, Max and Kelley interview fellow podcaster and the person who gave us great advice on starting our own show, Hersh from HERshyt Show. She's a retired combat veteran and also a FEMA hero who helps people and families get the help they need during a disaster. One huge suggestion, keep an inventory of what you have in your home and put speci…

Max is flying solo in this episode as he talks about doing something he's always wanted to do - voice-over work. He'll take you through his journey and even cold read a few scripts from Edge Studio, which specializes in voice-overs and has a library of over 6,500 free voice-over commercial scripts, narration, and animation. It's a great place to pr…

This week, Kelley and Max interview their student, Brandon Winget and talk about the acting and writing process. Brandon recently played Keith the Ghost on When a Bell Rings as well as also doing work with Brett Newton of LA Reels for a short film as well. We also put Brandon in the Hot seat and ask him probing question like his favorite sandwich, …

Kelley is flying solo this week and talks about how to make a resolution to allow yourself to be more creative and not block ideas that might some when you're working on another project. It's those creative detours that can often produce amazing results because you didn't plan them. We're also looking at having guests on to discuss their creative p…

This is our homage to It's a Wonderful Life. A ghost hunter whose life seems to be in decline learns what the world would be like without him with the help of a fallen angel and a ghost on a fateful Christmas Eve. We have a wonderful cast of voice actors, including: Mezi Mulugeta as Em Dean Atkinson as Jack Bronson Brandon Winget as Keith the Ghost…

This week's special guest is Queen Evi who talks about a wide range of subjects from first loves, how to govern, and favorite sandwiches. She talks about her kingdom and how to teach her daughters how to stand in their power. It's also a good way to explore any characters by asking them questions and then answering as that character. The questions …

Max and Kelley discuss a long-lost performance piece Max wrote over twenty-five years ago when we first moved to Atlanta. The piece examines our inner voice and how important it is to give grace to ourselves even if things are not going as well as we hoped. He found it recently and wanted to perform it for our podcast audience for the first time. W…

In this episode, Max and Kelley discuss the importance of having consent from your acting partner before doing a romantic scene or a fight sequence. Too often actors might feel pushed into doing something that they are not comfortable in doing. If you don't have the experience to see if something doesn't pass the smell test, it can be daunting and …

Join Max and Kelley as they explore different interpretations of a monologue from the catalog of The Screenwriter's Grimm. Max offers to coach Kelley on different interpretations of Hey There, Neighbor, in which Detective Angela Johnson confronts her neighbor Kurt, who has been abusing his wife and family. She convinces the wife, Gail, to leave wit…

Join Max and Kelley as we coach on a Shakespearean Sonnet 116 entitled Let Me Not to the Marriage of True Minds. Max is launching a series of The Bard's work on TikTok and would like to work on some sonnets. We look at the poem from different vantage points: as a sermon, a proposal, with different emotions, and from the POV of a wolf. This sonnet w…

Join Max and Kelley as we discuss more ghost experiences with Paranormal Investigator and fellow actor Dean Atkinson. They first met Dean while doing coaching for Acting Out Studios (now 541 Productions) and learned about his fascination with ghosts and otherworldly experiences. Dean talks about how his wife has been so supportive and even purchase…

Max and Kelley talk about their experiences with ghosts in a Miami theater, Underground Atlanta, and seeing holiday lights at a park in Tallahassee, where we actually got photo evidence two years in a row of a ghost with a tri-corner hat and his friends. What we learned from those experiences is that respecting the spirits is crucial, and when you …

Join Kelley and Max as we explore a few well-known and not-so-well-known acting superstitions. We explore what they are and offer logical explanations for why they came to be and include: Whistling backstage Ghost lights No blue costumes on stage No mirrors on stage Bad dress rehearsals No peacock feathers We also discuss the origin of wishing some…

In this episode, Max and Kelley welcome their special guest, Amber Grimm, a fellow writer and one of the sweetest people on the planet. We discuss her children's book, Polly the Polite Possum, and the importance of manners in a world that seems to value rudeness. We explore how being kind helps you feel better and that sometimes rude people might h…

Max and Kelley discuss the importance of taking care of yourself mentally, whether you're an actor or a creative dealing with rejection (creatives do get a lot of rejection) or someone in the business sphere. We talk about our experiences dealing with people and places that were less than kind and how important it is to reach out if you are feeling…

In this episode, Max and Kelley explore the world of auditions, the ups and downs, and how it's changed from being in person to doing demo reels. We also look at some of the not-great experiences we've both had. We talk about our own mistakes auditioning and how to beware of scams, i.e., if someone wants you to audition at their home or apartment, …

This week, Max and Kelley discuss three books that have helped shape their lives as creatives and actors. The first is An Acrobat of the Heart by Stephan Wangh, a physical approach to acting. This is a link to Stephan Wangh's website, which includes more on his most recent projects. The second is Games for Actors and Non-Actors by Augusto Boal, whi…

In this episode, Kelley and Max discuss one of the most famous true crimes that took place in a theater: the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. We discuss the infamous John Wilkes Booth and his world renowned brother Edwin who were both actors. In fact, the brothers actually did a benefit performance of Julius Caesar to put a statue of Shakespeare i…

In this week's episode, Kelley and Max look at more tools in the creativity toolbox including the use of Lateral thinking which is a manner of solving problems using an indirect and creative approach via reasoning that is not immediately obvious. It involves ideas that may not be obtainable using only traditional step-by-step logic. The term was fi…

In this week's episode, Max and Kelley look at different techniques of using creativity for problem solving from using randomization like bibliomancy (opening a random text and pointing to a word or sentence for inspiration) to techniques use by Carl Jung and Salvadore Dali for dream interpretation. Max explains the difference between intuition and…

In this episode, Max and Kelley look at Commedia dell'arte stock characters and how an Italian improvisational art form from the 1600s still influences what we watch today, from sitcoms like The Office, Friends, and Brooklyn 99 to cartoons like Sponge Bob Squarepants to shows like Succession. We also look at how Commedia was the first theatrical ar…

Join Max and Kelley as we discuss the Improv and Teambuilding Game - Yes And... It's a technique that keeps you in the affirmative and is something we've used in both acting as well as in our business training. It's so easy to go negative, which takes less energy on the front end but robs you of energy on the back end. Yes And... teaches you how to…

In this episode, Max and Kelley talk about doing a play and script writer's festival and how they actually met at the Florida International University Playwright's Festival doing a play ironically called Whoredogs. As the Fates would have it, they kept on meeting randomly in other productions, including a children's theater version of A Midsummer's…

Kelley and Max discuss the famous quote from Polonius in Hamlet, "Brevity is the Soul of Wit," and how it can translate to your creative projects (check out NoSweatShakespeare - Making Shakespeare Easy & Fun✔️ to find cool ways to learn about the Bard). So often, procrastination is not about being lazy; it's because you have so many ideas you don't…

In this episode, Max and Kelley explore the best way to show what you mean rather than telling. In acting or business, it's a vital skill to have. For example, if someone acts up at a wedding, rather than mention it as a line of dialogue, do the scene where the mother-in-law has a meltdown - that's much more interesting. Max also uses examples from…

Join Max and Kelley as we discuss how similar the process is for casting a play or movie to trying to find the right "actor" or employee to fill the role in your company. We also look at how important acting is when dealing with the public and keeping that drama mask in place. Of course, we discuss the Writer's, SAG-AFTRA and possible Teamster's st…

Max and Kelley talk about knowing when you're wrong. Being able to admit that you might not see all the aspects of a situation is the key to emotional intelligence and makes you a better artist and leader. Many times, we've been delighted to be wrong. We also examine the difference between a sincere apology and a non-apology that pivots to the faul…

Max and Kelley discuss how working in restaurants and the theater have overlapping premises. You have the front of the house, which functions as the actors in a restaurant; the back of the house, which is similar to the backstage, and the chefs and managers are the producers and directors. It might explain why so many actors work as servers. We als…

Max and Kelley look at why using failure as a learning tool is important. So, yeah, failure is an option. We use examples of our own life from a pilot they tried to produce in 2016, which later became a blog, a novel, and now back into an award-winning screenplay. Max talks about the time he tripped and face-planted in front of a theater audience t…

Join Max and Kelley as they talk about how to make interesting choices when creating a character or scene. It's important to know why the character does what they do, but more importantly, what are the choices that a performer can make to their character real and interesting. Kelley shares a time when a group of children in the audience taught her …

Join Max and Kelley as they explore what makes an intriguing hero. It's more than being brave in the face of danger; it's having the complexity to overcome obstacles, both physical and mental. They explore Batman, Sherlock Holmes, Scarlet Witch, Clarice Starling from The Silence of the Lambs, Mulder, and Scully from The X-Files, and Mookie from Do …

Join Max and Kelley as they discuss the psychology of villains and why it's so much fun to play them. Max discusses some of his favorites, including Scar from The Lion King, villains from DC Comics, Syndrome from The Incredibles, and Hannibal Lecter from The Silence of the Lambs. Kelley talks about her favorite villains, including Annie Wilkes from…

In this podcast, Kelley and Max talk about taming insecurities, whether it's about a stutter which Max had as a kid, presenting to a group of people, and how to develop a love and understanding of Shakespeare. They even do a key scene from The Taming of the Screw. For actors or anyone, trying your hand at Shakespeare is key to helping you tackle ot…

Max and Kelley discuss some of the pitfalls they've experienced in the early days of their careers, including choreographers and improv actors behaving badly, a bad high school production of A Midsummer's Night Dream, and some stories from the set of a TV show set in Miami. Be aware, and if your gut instinct is telling you something's not right - l…

Join Max and Kelley as they talk about the importance of cold reading and how reading children's stories out loud relieves stress and helps strengthen your acting muscles. The stories are all written by Amber Grimm and include Boo's Zoo Adventure, Rapunzel Pup, The Moon Chases Boo, and Ellie in the Closet. Each story has its unique voice but also l…

Join Max and Kelley as they discuss some of their favorite improv and acting games to help create a more dynamic performance. But these exercises are not just for actors. Anyone can use them to help them feel more comfortable talking to groups or presenting and increase their creativity. The games include Yes and..., Machines, Emotions, Nature and …

Kelley interviews Max about his creative process, the things he likes to do when coaching and directing actors. Max also offers a very passionate rendition of Shakespeare's Richard III and the best directors he's ever worked with, and how he and Kelley met at those years ago. For more on Creative Actors Lab, check our website, www.creativeactorslab…

Join Max and Kelley Grimm as we both get out of our comfort zone and do something we've never done before - interview each other. In this episode, we get to know Kelley 's background and creative process including her background doing improv and how to do Shakespeare on the spot. We also talk about our process as acting coaches and how we encourage…

Max and Kelley Grimm explain how Creative Actors Lab can help anyone incorporate creativity and imaginative problem solving into their everyday life. For more on Creative Actors Lab, check our website, www.creativeactorslab.com. You can always find us at our Instagram page, @creative_actors_lab, Facebook page, @CreativeActorsLab, Linked-In - Creati…