What does it really take to build a lasting career in acting, and what are talent agents looking for today?

In this episode of Next Act, host Jeff Ornstein sits down with Beverly Brock, President and Owner of The Brock Agency, Inc., to explore the realities of talent representation, the changing entertainment industry, and what separates successful actors from those who struggle to break through.

With more than 35 years of experience representing actors and screenwriters, Beverly shares an insider's perspective on how casting has evolved, why authenticity matters more than ever, and how aspiring performers can stand out in a competitive industry.

From the shift to virtual auditions and self-tapes to building relationships with casting directors, Beverly offers practical advice for actors at every stage of their careers. She also discusses launching Eagles Wings Entertainment to champion screenwriters and bring compelling stories to the screen.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What talent agents look for when signing new actors.
• How virtual auditions have changed the casting process.
• Why professionalism, responsiveness, and authenticity matter.
• How aspiring actors can build experience before seeking representation.
• What makes a screenplay stand out to producers.
• Why resilience and staying true to yourself are essential for career longevity.

Whether you're entering the entertainment industry for the first time, transitioning from another career, or looking to take your acting journey further, Beverly's insights offer a valuable look at what it takes to succeed behind and in front of the camera.

What happens when you achieve everything you thought you wanted, only to realize you're not happy?

On this episode of Next Act with Jeff Ornstein, Jeff sits down with Ash T, a former physician and medical researcher who walked away from a successful career at MD Anderson Cancer Center to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming an actor.

After years of dedication to medicine, Ash had the career, salary, and stability most people dream of. But something was missing. At the height of his medical career, he made the bold decision to start over in Hollywood, trading financial security for a life driven by passion and creativity.

Since making that leap, Ash has appeared in acclaimed television series including Better Call Saul, Euphoria, Dead to Me, and The Pitt. He has also expanded into writing and producing, co-creating the award-winning pilot Son of a Bikram, which received a Special Jury Award at SXSW.

Throughout their conversation, Jeff and Ash explore the realities of reinventing yourself, overcoming fear, navigating rejection, and finding fulfillment beyond traditional measures of success. Ash shares how his medical background unexpectedly helped his acting career, why he believes actors should create their own opportunities, and how persistence has carried him through Hollywood's unpredictable highs and lows.

From selling his house to finance a passion project to facing silent audiences as a stand-up comedian, Ash's journey is a reminder that meaningful success often requires taking risks, embracing uncertainty, and refusing to give up on what you love.

Whether you're considering a career change, pursuing a creative dream, or wondering if it's too late to start over, this conversation offers an inspiring perspective on courage, resilience, and building a life without regrets.

What does it take to leave behind a traditional career and bet on yourself as a filmmaker?

On this episode of Next Act with Jeff Ornstein, Jeff sits down with Adnan Amir, an award-winning British actor, filmmaker, author, and Founder and CEO of Colossal Films.

Adnan shares his unconventional journey from studying law to building a career in film and creating Back 2 Forward, an independent romantic thriller he wrote, produced, directed, and starred in. What began as an idea for a novel ultimately became an award-winning film and expanded into the larger Back 2 Forward Universe through a series of companion novels.

Adnan opens up about making an ambitious independent film with extremely limited resources, wearing multiple hats behind and in front of the camera, and why passion and persistence can sometimes matter more than having the perfect budget.

He also shares the personal challenges behind the project, including losing his mother and his home during the filmmaking journey, and how those experiences strengthened his belief in resilience, mindset, and continuing forward through adversity.

Jeff and Adnan also discuss the importance of film festivals for independent filmmakers, maintaining creative control, overcoming fear, building confidence, and what audiences can expect next from Colossal Films.

For anyone considering their own next act, Adnan's story is a reminder that changing direction can be difficult, but sometimes the biggest opportunities begin when you're willing to take the leap.

On this episode of Next Act with Jeff Ornstein, Jeff sits down with Judi Beecher, a multi-award-winning actress, filmmaker, producer, singer-songwriter, and author whose career has taken her from New York and Los Angeles to Paris and Cannes. Her credits include Taken 3, Forbidden Tango (formerly Tango Shalom), and the acclaimed video game Heavy Rain.

Judi shares the unconventional path that led her from banking to a life in the arts, the perseverance required to build an international acting career, and what she learned working alongside talents like Liam Neeson. She also takes us behind the scenes of Heavy Rain, which she describes as one of the most challenging acting experiences of her career.

The conversation also explores her deeply personal documentary, Run Ronya: The Kindness of Strangers, inspired by her mother’s childhood escape from Nazi-occupied France. Judi discusses how storytelling can preserve memory, encourage compassion, and inspire people to pursue work that matters.

From acting and filmmaking to spirituality, resilience, and taking the first step toward a new chapter, Judi’s story is a reminder to follow what makes your heart sing and keep going despite the inevitable rejection along the way.

What happens when you walk away from one creative path and unexpectedly discover the one that defines your career?

On this episode of Next Act, Jeff Ornstein sits down with Jonathan Geffner, writer, executive producer, lead actor, and creator of The Dummy Detective. Jonathan shares his unconventional journey from studying classical piano to discovering ventriloquism and eventually building a decades-long career as a performer, writer, and filmmaker.

Jonathan discusses the creation of his award-winning Trillo & Suede series, his love of film noir, the challenges of independently producing a feature film, and how he brought The Dummy Detective to life. He also shares the story behind casting Sean Young, why writing and performing remain his favorite parts of the creative process, and what he hopes comes next for the characters he has spent years developing.

It’s a conversation about creative reinvention, persistence, following an unlikely passion, and turning an original idea into something entirely your own.

What happens when the career you were trained for no longer feels like the life you want?

On this episode of Next Act with Jeff Ornstein, Jeff sits down with British-French actor, performance capture artist, and certified Chubbuck coach Eric Geynes to explore his unconventional journey from competitive swimming to an international acting career.

Eric shares why he walked away from the security of a traditional career to pursue acting at 30, how his background as an athlete shaped his discipline as a performer, and what he has learned working across the U.S. and European entertainment industries.

They also dive into the Chubbuck acting technique, Eric's experience on Emily in Paris, the realities of auditions and rejection, maintaining your identity when you're not on set, and why mentoring the next generation of performers has become an important part of his career.

Eric also discusses The Constant Actor, his upcoming practical book designed to help actors continuously develop their craft, mindset, and relationship with the industry through short daily exercises.

For anyone navigating a career transition, pursuing a creative life, or wondering whether it's ever too late to follow the path you've always wanted, this conversation offers an inside look at what it takes to make the leap.

What does it take to build a creative career without limiting yourself to one lane?

On this episode of Next Act with Jeff Ornstein, Jeff sits down with award-winning producer, writer, host, performer, and storyteller Mary Darcy to explore a career that has stretched across public radio, television, theater, podcasting, voice work, and stand-up comedy.

Mary shares how storytelling has remained the common thread throughout her life, from producing the award-winning PBS documentary No Ordinary Lives to hosting nationally syndicated radio and interviewing legendary composer Stephen Sondheim.

She and Jeff discuss the importance of following creative instincts, why empathy sits at the heart of both comedy and storytelling, and what Mary learned from Sondheim about failure. Mary also reflects on why failure and rejection are unavoidable parts of creating meaningful work and shares one particularly memorable professional mistake that eventually became one of her favorite stories.

The conversation also explores the future of storytelling in the age of AI and why Mary believes that while the platforms we use may change, our fundamental need for human connection through stories will not.

It’s a conversation about creativity, resilience, failure, reinvention, and having the courage to keep telling the stories that matter.

What happens when the roles you’re given don’t fully satisfy the artist you want to become?

On this episode of Next Act with Jeff Ornstein, Jeff sits down with actors, filmmakers, and Dirty Coffee Pictures co-founders Luke Tennie and Noam Shapiro for a conversation about acting, filmmaking, collaboration, and the power of creating your own opportunities.

Luke and Noam share how their friendship at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy evolved into a creative partnership and eventually Dirty Coffee Pictures. They discuss making their award-winning short film Jade, learning filmmaking on the fly, and why surrounding yourself with talented collaborators can be just as important as mastering every part of the process.

They also explore the realities of being typecast, what makes a performance feel authentic, and why actors can’t always depend on someone else to provide artistic fulfillment. For Luke, creating his own work allows him to explore characters outside the roles Hollywood typically offers him. For Noam, writing has become another powerful extension of his passion for storytelling.

From acting and writing to producing and directing, this conversation is a reminder that a creative career doesn’t have to follow one path. Sometimes the next act begins when you stop waiting for permission and start making the work you want to see.