October 9, 2019 ~ Marco Perella

Marco Perella

Marco Perella

 

Many of our attendees are actors, so we will be inviting more highly-credited actors and acting coaches as our guest speakers, continuing with the amazing actor, author, acting teacher, and musician Marco Perella on Wednesday October 9th @ Opal Divine’s Austin Grill! Known well in our industry as a prolific working actor with credits spanning 3 decades, and highly admired and respected, Marco may be best known for his role playing an abusive alcoholic second husband, Professor Bill Welbrock, in Boyhood (2014), as well as for penning his bestselling book, Adventures of A No Name Actor (2001), a humorous autobiography recounting his struggles in the acting arena.

Marco studied at Stanford University, then worked as a construction worker, firefighter, and musician before auditioning for a role in West Side Story. He’s been working steadily in film and television, adding to his professionalism, popularity, and numerous credits, since the mid-1980s.

Marco lives in Onion Creek with his wife, Diane. Besides acting themselves, they offer on-camera acting classes and audition workshops here in Austin at Marco Perella’s Film Actor Workshop. Many actors hire Marco to video their auditions and benefit from his expertise at delivery, covering everything from comedy to intense drama.

The Veteran’s Teddy Bear Project kicks off at this month’s mixer, too, so if you have a stuffed lovie to donate, we’ll be collecting them this night!

 

Last Month

We want to extend our sincerest thanks to the panelists from Austin Film Festival (AFF) for guest speakering in September. The iconic annual Austin Film Festival & Conference known ’round the world transpires here in Austin later this month, and we are extremely grateful that the panel so clearly explained many aspects of AFF, the panels, the films, the screenwriting competition, volunteering, and more. So thanks to all of you!

The annual Austin Film Festival & Conference takes place October 24 – October 31, 2019. Use our special promo code for a $25 discount off any badge:
NAM25

See photos here, and more mixer photos here.

 

Come on the 9th and bring a friend to network and enjoy the show. While there enjoy Opal Divine’s Happy Hour which lasts until 7, then $3 “Three for Texas” beers the rest of the evening. And don’t cook or go anywhere else for a meal or snacks because Opal’s offers a tasty and largely locally-sourced menu of goodies.

Beware both rush hour traffic and any current construction!

Pass along our website and check it for details about each month’s speaker(s)!
Find this month’s mixer on Facebook and invite your friends.
Get on our mailing list and keep up with us on social media:
Like our page & join our group on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Mixing & Networking @ 6:00PM, Announcements @ 6:30, Program @ 6:45
Followed by More Mixing & Mingling and Networking

August 14, 2019 ~ Bill Kirchenbauer

Bill Kirchenbauer
Entertainer Extraordinaire

Bill Kirchenbauer

Our guest speaker at August’s #NAMixer will be the one and only Bill Kirchenbauer, an intensely talented and insanely creative actor, comedian, producer, writer, host, and much sought-after entertainer. Bill has appeared in film flicks you may have seen, including Airplane, National Lampoon, and Stoogemania, as well as starring and regular roles on television series, including Mork & Mindy, Fernwood Tonight & America 2 Night, Night Court, and Totally Hidden Video.

Bill’s been tickling people’s funny bones since early childhood. Later, while his peers studied marketing strategy, he pursued mime, ventriloquism, and improvisation, leading up to his winning the first Stand Up Competition in Los Angeles in 1978. Soon after that victory, he appeared on Late Night With David Letterman and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Carson liked Bill so much that he booked him for 10 more appearances.

ABC executives knew a good thing when they saw his popularity spiral in the role of the irascible, but lovable, “Coach Lubbock” in the hit series Growing Pains, leading to starring in a spinoff in the same role that also proved to be a ratings hit, Just the Ten of Us, which continues to air in many countries, including the United States on the USA Network.

Bill’s true love has always been the stage, and he’ll be on ours this month! So don’t miss an evening with him to learn what drives him, how he manifested his dreams, and his successes. Mark you calendars and join us on Wednesday, August 14 @ Opal Divine’s for a fun-filled, inspirational, and unique experience with stories from our industry’s foxhole.

Last Month

We extend our deepest appreciation to those brave and highly successful casting directors who graced our stage in July: Brad & Kimberly Burton, both CSAs of Burton Casting, Michael Druck of Michael Druck Casting, and our own amazing Donise Hardy, CSA, of A Casting Place.

These outstanding professionals shared their insights and experiences with our huge crowd, and answered all kinds of questions from our attendees. Thank you all so much for your time and passion!

See photos here, and more mixer photos here.

Come on the 14th and bring a friend to network and enjoy the show. While there enjoy Opal Divine’s Happy Hour which lasts until 7, then $3 “Three for Texas” beers the rest of the evening. And don’t cook or go anywhere else for a meal or snacks because Opal’s offers a tasty and largely locally-sourced menu of goodies.

Beware both rush hour traffic and current construction! From IH35,

heading south, slight right with construction cones veers off the frontage road to get to the businesses just north of Oltorf, including Opal Divine’s at the Best Western Plus Hotel

heading north, turn left onto Oltorf, then turn right immediately after crossing over the southbound frontage road of IH35 onto East Live Oak Street, and turn right into the Best Western Plus Hotel parking lot where Opal Divine’s is situated

Pass along our website and check it for details about each month’s speaker(s)!
Find this month’s mixer on Facebook and invite your friends.
Get on our mailing list and keep up with us on social media:
Like our page & join our group on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Mixing & Networking @ 6:00PM, Announcements @ 6:30, Program @ 6:45
Followed by More Mixing & Mingling and Networking