John Reoli/Actor, Writer

03/29/2024

Gay people and their allies are equivalent to ISIS in Russia.

The Moscow concert hall attack a week ago that left more than 140 people dead was a major blunder for Russia’s law enforcement agencies.

02/06/2024

Exceptional Merit for our film Same Time Tomorrow and a Silver for my feature-length screenplay In the Shadow of the Night.

11/11/2023

Saturday night is the big night! Get your tickets here. Block 5

http://www.newyorkshort.com/2023-festival/

11/08/2023

In the Mediterranean's olive-growing countries, the extreme weather caused by climate change is taking a toll.

11/07/2023

11/07/2023

This Saturday, 8pm.

10/31/2023

Here’s the ticket link to our film Same Time Tomorrow on November 11, 8pm at the top of Block 5. Hope to see you there!

http://www.newyorkshort.com/2023-festival/

06/13/2023

05/02/2023

My most recent screenplay, In the Shadow of the Night received an honorable mention in the BAFF.

https://filmfreeway.com/BigAppleFilmFestival?fbclid=IwAR1Q6JGSrVs5O60gD36gKhDCq-6FWSAH7hiwwlUVWvZqiPRgujVySyvIYtE&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

Big Apple Film Festival is currently accepting film and screenplay entries for Fall 2023. SPRING 2023 ENTRIES HAVE CLOSED, and selections will be announced A...

03/13/2023

His Oscar, not mine. Not yet, anyway!

11/21/2022

From a pharma print job this past spring.

06/16/2022

"The real truth is those people are idiots...

06/16/2022

Pride decor was set ablaze at two homes on the same street in Baltimore early Wednesday morning, leading to four homes going up in flames and three people in serious need of hospitalization...

03/31/2022

A self-driving forklift may be the next wave of warehouse and factory innovations, saving companies on labor and, ideally, making industrial settings safer for everyone.

03/27/2022

Rehearsal for a short film I wrote went so well today.

03/12/2022

Any recommendations on a dramatic contemporary monologue?

03/10/2022

A popular restaurant in Manhattan, did a good deed donating all their sales to help raise money for people in Ukraine, only to be matched by the generosity of one customer.

03/05/2022

Let me be clear: I cannot tell you with any certainty that this letter actually came from an “ordinary Russian gay guy.” What I can tell you is that it was emailed to me today (Friday, March 4) at 4:33 p.m. central time. I can tell you there is a name attached to the email […]

02/15/2022

Me on Inventing Anna.

02/06/2022

https://www.facebook.com/reel/259804319533861?fs=e&s=cl

02/05/2022

In her new book "South to America," author Imani Perry seeks to change how people view the American South and, thus, the country’s history as a whole. Jeffrey Brown spoke with Perry, who traveled through the southern regions of the U.S. and explored the complexities and misperceptions she found al...

02/04/2022

www.johnreoli.com
I recorded a self-tape this morning for the lead in a student film. I used the guy I usually use to record self-tapes when I need a reader. The audition was two scenes and a slate all on separate files. There were other filming instructions, too. The first scene was 1:40 the second was 3.43. I'm posting this with regard to Insight #1 about Self Tapes for those of you who follow me here. I had three days to submit my audition but did it in one because of the availability of the guy who tapes my auditions. I hope this helps the working actors out there who may not have much experience with self tapes. Till next time.

Head shots, show reel, video, CV and biography. Also has performance history and contact information.

02/03/2022

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/solid-gold-cube-central-park-2067281

The German artist Niclas Castello is launching a cryptocurrency alongside his conceptual gold cube sculpture installed in Central Park.

02/01/2022

The 4,500km journey cost just $76.82 in electricity from the charging stations

01/30/2022

www.johnreoli.com

Sharing this for the screenwriters out there or anybody interested in reading a current screenplay. You can download this screenplay and others for this awards season from this link. Kudos to Deadline for putting this all together.

I'm in the process of adapting my novelette into a screenplay and chose to read this one as it's an adaptation, as well, to get some guidance apart from my readers. I hope this helps.

https://deadline.com/2022/01/the-power-of-the-dog-script-jane-campion-read-the-screenplay-1234917739/

Head shots, show reel, video, CV and biography. Also has performance history and contact information.

01/23/2022

www.johnreoli.com

So, in order to drive traffic to this page and to generally have something relevant to post with regard to acting and writing I've decided to create posts titled, Insights. Insights will be my observations and such on my experiences as a working actor/writer in NYC. Generally geared toward other actors and writers, I'll try to make Insights interesting to non show biz types, too. Here it goes.

INSIGHT #1 Self Taped Auditions

As many actors already know, the request for self taped auditions has exploded during the pandemic. That being said, demand had already been increasing in 2018 and 2019. Many actors are familiar with an EcoCast which is a request for a self taped audition via Actors Access, an online data base of actors. Although, self tapes can also be uploaded to Casting Networks, another online database for actors, as well as through other websites or direct email. ZOOM, while not being a self tape, is also used for remote auditions.

I've been regularly self-taping or ZOOMING since 2018, and while there are seminars or intensives anyone can pay to attend to learn the "secrets" of self taping, here are my thoughts on the self taped audition from my experience.

Self taping is not just for auditions. I recently had to submit video for background work and I've ZOOMED for previous background work so remote auditioning seems to be here to stay for many aspects of show biz.

Firstly, you don't have to self tape yourself. There are many people who will record your self tape and read with you for a fee. I have someone I use when I need a reader. They take care of the technical aspects of lighting, sound and background, too. Some will even upload it for you. SAG-AFTRA members can get self tapes done for free at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. All you need to bring is the acting.

From my experience, many self tape auditions have quite a bit of copy and require a reader. Some productions will tell you to read past the other character's lines in lieu of a reader while others will select a monologue from the play, tv show or film. I've experienced all three situations so I'd advise connecting with people in advance who will read with you for DIY or reach out to people who are doing this to get a sense of how they operate their business. You will not have much time, two to three days, which is ample unless you have a regular job, family, etc.

If you're going to DIY I'd prepare an area that can be transformed into an audition area with little effort. An audition area should have enough distance for you to take a full body shot of yourself in front of a plain background. Hang a clean, solid pale blue, gray, green or off-white sheet to create the background. Have a simple chair handy for seated auditions. A folding metal chair you can keep in your closet or a stool will work just fine. It's what they used in casting offices.

If you're living not large in NYC, I empathize. I lived in a 9 x 7 room for my first six years in NYC and couldn't self tape anywhere in the apartment which is why it's important to have a reliable outside source.

Secondly, if you're going to DIY, you're going to need to invest in lighting. I have an 18" ring light and tripod to hold my phone, my audition spot in the apartment is under a ceiling light. I also have smaller lights to fill in shadows. If you got natural light, use it, it's the best. Surprisingly, lighting equipment is not expensive! And there are videos on Youtube that will show you how to light for a self tape.

Thirdly, wardrobe. Any actor should know the roles they'll be asked to audition for; so, with that thought in mind, keep proper wardrobe pieces separate from your other clothes and only wear them for auditions. I have three garment bags with wardrobe choices that suggest the roles I audition for. Your wardrobe pieces should be in good shape, if not new and never washed. I know that sounds unclean but if you only wear them for self tapes they're not going to get soiled. Also your audition clothes should fit close to your body so your basic shape is visible.

Hair needs to be away from your face. A little make up or tinted moisturizer is generally fine but refer to the character description. MEN, get a magnifying mirror and tweezers, ears, nose, eye area and eyebrows is all I'm gonna say.

Let's not forget sound, your phone or camera mic should be enough for acting auditions. Voiceover auditions usually require a decent mic unless the production says otherwise.

Your phone will most likely be your camera and editing deck, play with its settings so you can learn how it works and what you can do with it besides taking selfies and uploading videos.

I can't emphasize enough that having this level of preparation will make the process of DIY self taping faster and less stressful, leaving you with time to focus on the acting.

Read and follow the instructions from production carefully. In my experience, everybody wants something different. Some want a slate up front, others at the end and others not at all.

If asked to submit recent photos or selfies make sure they're compressed to 250kb or less so a segment of your face doesn't fill up their screen instead of the entire photo being visible. I got that advice years ago from a successful casting director who wasn't accepting paper head shots 15 years ago.

Label your self tape and still photos, if requested, with your name and character. For example, YourName/CharacterName.mov or .jpg if it’s a photo.

If told to film in a "natural setting" like sitting on your couch or at a kitchen table, make sure the setting isn't too cluttered to distract from you but still reflects the idea of the set you've been asked to create.

As someone who has produced, I've come to look at self tapes as mini productions with a beginning, middle and end. Unless told to keep it basic, I try to infer as much as possible without creating a full set or a fully wardrobed character. No more than one hand prop unless you're comparing one object to another.

Also, I would recommend keeping your best self tapes to use for other auditions in lieu of a reel or as a compilation for a reel until you get copy from actual gigs. I do this and I have a show reel.

Lastly, I prefer to be off book. I run the lines while I'm setting up. If the copy isn't too long I give two distinct performances. Recently I've had a lot of copy with some auditions so I've given one choice.

I hope that helps. Have fun with it and let me know if I've missed anything or any of your own experiences you feel might help others.

Break a leg!

Head shots, show reel, video, CV and biography. Also has performance history and contact information.

11/21/2021

I worked on this show as background for quite a few days last year. Check it out. You might see me.