Welcome back! To kick off Season 2, host Kenya welcomes Adam Rosko, the founder of Adam and the Backgrounds in Portland, OR. Adam began his career in theater and moved on to work as a background casting director for Portlandia. Drawing from his network of interesting and eccentric individuals to find the perfect fit for the show, Adam had no previous casting experience and learned solely by trial and error. Adam talks about the importance of honest communication both on and off set, and his mission to provide a positive and fulfilling experience for each actor. He also discusses how background work can be a wonderful way to enter the industry with a low-stress job and to get a feel for production if you have aspirations of more than only background work. Fun fact: Adam was name-dropped in Episode 1 of Season 1 by Eva Shepard who was cast by Adam.

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Also Talked About:

• The Star Trek theater show Adam and his sister started, and how it caught wind with some friends that connected him to a gig with Portlandia.
• The power of clear communication and consistent etiquette when working on a production.
• Why is background work a great job?
• Adams talks about going from a more “bohemian” work background with his sister to running his own company.
• What does Adam look for in his roster of background actors?
• Sometimes you just have to move forward in your career and learn by trial and error rather than waiting for the perfect moment or tons of experience.
• Adam talks about paying it forward with actors and developing relationships with them early on in their careers.
• Adam gets to touch every part of a production, from a fresh-faced actor to a grumpy AD. He loves it all.
• How Adam develops a relationship with the community and helps show them that the guys taking over in the big vans, making all the noise aren’t so bad afterall.

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Guest:

Adam: Website