Last week on Saturday October 6th, I was lucky enough to go see Casting Director Twinkie Byrd’s 2013 Monologue Slam. It was an exciting, TV star studded event, and was part of the Hollywood Black Film Festival hosted by the W Hotel. Celebrity Casting Director Tracy “Twinkie” Byrd is a Brooklyn-born and raised casting director with more than 20 years of experience in the industry. Her fabulous flair, warm energy, and work on films such as Fruitvale Station, Stomp the Yard, The Blind Side, Notorious, Jumping the Broom and Sparkle have made her an industry staple.

Hundreds of actors submitted monologues via the Hollywood Black Film Festival’s YouTube Channel on Twinkie Byrd’s Monologue Slam Playlist. Twinkie Byrd and her team then reviewed all the entries and selected 10 finalists to perform their monologue live at the HBFF in front of a panel of celebrity judges. The variety of pieces, comic to dramatic, held the audience captive. Some actors chose monologues from well known films such as Jerry Maguire, while others opted for lesser known gems.

And the panel of judges shared some wonderful insider tips with the actors and audience that are begging to be shared! Here are a handful of my favorites…

1. The room should be yours from the very first moment you walk into it. So whether you choose to enter in character or not, come in with confidence and own your space!

2. Don’t ask for permission! It is your audition, so claim it. Stop worrying about pleasing casting, getting it “right” for the director, or keeping the actors after you waiting. This is your moment to shine.

3. Make your second take your first take! Because you may never get the chance to do it again. In other words, don’t warm up on stage. Make your strongest, boldest choices first!

4. Directors want boogers, sweat, and blood. In other words, don’t play it safe. Be willing to get real, to get ugly, to get vulnerable. A lot of people can get up and give a well rehearsed speech. It is our job to dig deeper and get messy in human emotions.

5. Actors want to show, people want to hide. When you catch yourself pushing and emoting, remember this. The dynamic tension between what a person is feeling on the inside and what they’re willing to let out is what keeps an audience at the edge of their seats.

Each performer gave his/her all to the crowd, but one performer stood out from the crowd, Miss Kyla Garcia. The young Latina wowed us with her rendition of a ditzy stripper character, full of surprising wisdom and heart. Then Garcia seamlessly transformed into a fiery Shakespearean Juliet, with the audience hanging on her every classically trained word. She went on to win the competition and the crowd

When asked how she found out about the competition, Kyla said she simply found out about it through an email from the BHFF. Garcia stayed abreast of all the festival’s happenings and jumped at the chance to self tape and show her stuff. A perfect example of what we always say at the studio, you’ve got to be in it to win it. So let Kyla’s story inspire you to get connected to the people and events you want to be a part of this week. And don’t be surprised if through those connections an opportunity arises for you to take a risk of your own!

Break legs,
Megan