Rough Day In Showbiz

Actor Sam Menke makes his podcast debut here! His Rough Day In Showbiz stories include: a near wig mishap in a very serious musical, and his final college show (or lack thereof) during the beginning of dark COVID times. Justin tells a Rough Day In Showbiz story about doing Summer stock and falling in love (or lack thereof). This episode will definitely bring you back to your awkward, but memorable highschool theater and college days! Follow Sam on Instagram: ⁠the.sam.menke Follow Sam on Tiktok: @thesammenke RDIS Host:⁠⁠ @JustinSorvillo⁠⁠ RDIS Tik Tok: roughdayinshowbiz

Victoria Vertuga! What a person. She told Rough Day stories of producing while dealing with extreme weather conditions, and the most dangerous element of all...a cat. A feline accidentally got stuck in a grip truck overnight, and was completely okay, but got very angry and tore up all of the film equipment inside. She also told stories of asshole talent agents judging her saying that she would never make it past playing a bimbo. Then, a story of a terribly run Atlanta film set where she had to fend for herself, and almost didn't get paid! Justin tells a Rough Day story of when he caused a Rough Day In Showbiz for someone else. Follow Victoria on Instagram: ⁠@VictoriaVertuga Host:⁠⁠ @JustinSorvillo⁠⁠

Shuttle Pod Show host Erica LaRose beamed onto the pod to rehash her RDIS stories! Her stories include playing a character named "coke girl" with a completely clueless director. Plus zany stories about messing up musical theatre auditions and working in a scene with an actor who took his improv WAY too far. Justin tells a story about when he got Taft-Hartleyed in a project that had some odd post-production surprises in store. Erica rocks! Follow her and listen to her awesome podcast. Follow Erica on Instagram: ⁠@EricaLaRose Host:⁠⁠ @JustinSorvillo⁠⁠

The actress with the coolest last name ever Jessica Debonville made her appearance! She has lived in Los Angeles for many years and seen it all. There were plenty of Rough Day In Showbiz stories to choose from. These include a frighteningly sketchy audition in the apartment of a "director, writer, filmmaker" who kept noting he had just broken up with his girlfriend. Also working on a project that started as 5 pages, and multiplied into 23 pages on the day she showed up! Justin shares a Rough Day In Showbiz story from the day he arrived SUPER late to shoot a music video. Plus, the time he caught a stalker while working background on a Robert Pattinson movie! Follow Jessica on Instagram: @Jdebonville Host:⁠ @JustinSorvillo⁠⁠

Malorie the adventurer tells us of all her adventures! Her first Rough Day In Showbiz story begins when she was in college studying theatre in a moment when her real life bizarrely paralleled the scene she was about to perform, plus a tyrant acting teacher who wouldn't hear of it. Then she fills us in on the difficulties of producing a project during the height of COVID and dealing with all the caveats that come with it. Plus another story about working with a diva host and cool details from filming her adventure travel show while road tripping. Many thanks to Malorie for her candor! Follow Mallory on Instagram: @MalorieMackey Host: @JustinSorvillo⁠⁠

Heeeeeere’s Ming!! This man has had such an eclectic career with plenty o’ rough day stories to share. From mild stories like having his hair dyed blond with several coats of painful chemicals for a villain role to a tiny speck of spinach almost blowing a scene with Oscar winners in a career-defining movie. Plus tons of actor tips, gems, and helpful showbiz advice to boot! Ming Lo was a five star guest.  Follow Doug on Instagram: ⁠@MingTeLo Host: ⁠@JustinSorvillo⁠

What a guy Doug is! From many years of acting experience under his belt he came to the podcast loaded with Rough Day In Showbiz tales. He talks about his time emceeing with the Chippendales and touring the world with them. This includes a Rough Day story about the Chippendales bus leaving him stranded in Canada with nothing. He also tells several on set stories including doing a movie in India where he overconfidently decided to do his own stunt during an explosive scene, resulting in a very scary experience. He also reminisces about his early entrepreneurial days as a teenager running a hot dog cart that got chased away by the Greek mafia. It was a hell of a time with Doug! Follow Doug on Instagram: @DougJeffery1 Host: @JustinSorvillo

What can’t Candace do?? Highly accomplished and experienced actress Candace Kita joins the pod and tells a plethora of Rough Day In Showbiz stories. She opens with a story of getting slammed with a hefty rewrite of ALL her dialogue the morning of a shoot for a big network show…then messing it all up…A LOT. She tells another Rough Day In Showbiz story about her character’s dialect being changed from English to Chinese to French ALL IN THE SAME DAY. She had to skip lunch. Then another Rough Day In Showbiz story when she was told by the producer of a big network show that her Chinese accent “doesn’t sound Chinese enough”. Justin tells a Rough Day In Showbiz story about a strange acting class that turned out to be a sex cult. Candace rules!! Follow Candace on Instagram: @CandaceKita1 Host: @JustinSorvillo 

First episode of 2023 woo hoo! Kicking it off with the kindest actor Albert Lew! He tells a hilarious Rough Day In Showbiz story about a web series disaster which includes a bed made out of cardboard boxes, acting to a pile of clothes with a wig on it, and the WORST CRAFTY OF ALL TIME. Justin also tells a Rough Day In Showbiz story about an overnight film shoot that was pretty raw (pun)…his story really is the meat of the episode (pun)…very high stakes (pun). Couldn’t have been happier to have Albert as the starting guest for the new year!  Follow Albert on Instagram: @TheAlbertLew Follow Albert on Twitter: @TheAlbertLew Host: @JustinSorvillo

Radio killed the video star! The delightful Jaz came to the podcast and told soooo many radio-Rough Days In Showbiz stories. One of them detailed her early days working at KISS FM as an intern when she had to dawn a terrible-smelling reindeer costume for a Christmas event to pay her dues. Then another, where she took a very nasty fall and sustained a very unaesthetically-pleasing injury, during a VERY public parade. Plus one more, where a swarm of angry bees terrorized a charity event for cancer. Justin also tells Rough Day In Showbiz story about getting injured on stage right before a scene started...with only moments before having to enter another scene. Jaz is the first radio host to dawn the Rough Day In Showbiz podcast and is the coolest person! Follow Jaz on Twitter: @JazzerFierce Follow Jaz on Instagram: @JazzerSoFierce_ Host: @JustinSorvillo

It's tea with Renata! She tells a Rough Day In Showbiz story about working on a film with a promising director who turned out to be a complete sham! Also a Rough Day In Showbiz about a very difficult swimming shoot on a cold, windy beach doing take-after-take in the freezing water. Plus, she recounts a Rough Day In Showbiz acting on Bobby Flay's first cooking show, headed by a tremendously creepy producer. Renata rocks the house!  Follow Renata on IG: @RenataHin101  Host: @JustinSorvillo 

Thea Rodgers is astounding! She tells a Rough Day In Showbiz about having to learn an entire play just 4 days before the show started. Plus, other Rough Day In Showbiz stories about a tyrannical, toxically-masculine boss, and a Romeo and Juliet death-scene mishap. Justin also recants a Rough Day In Showbiz about a commercial audition that felt more like being a third-wheel on a date.  Follow Thea on IG: @ItsTheaRodgers Host: @JustinSorvillo 

Corrie is in the building! Armed with many talents and seasoned with much experience Corrie is ready to crack into some Rough Day In Showbiz stories! Her first story involves a theater production doomed by two emotionally volatile baby boomers who wreaked havoc, and nearly cost the entire show. She also tells another theater story about a play destined for greatness with a perfect cast, only to be taken over by a tyrant director who mercilessly fired and recast all of the actors. Her final story takes place in world of audio books where she encountered a client who rejected her from a job after putting her on hold for many, many months. They then proceeded to gaslight her, threaten legal action, and blame Corrie's pregnancy for the whole situation...all because Corrie simply asked to be paid what she was owed. As far as this podcast knows, what's fair, is fair. Corrie inspires! Follow Corrie on IG: @CreatingWithCorrie Host: @JustinSorvillo 

Get your Dunkin' Donuts ready because Katies' got some wicked crazy Rough Day In Showbiz stories to tell. In her first story, she learns she got a callback for an audition via a napkin, written by an eccentric director, who didn't even bother to write what time to show up. Her second story is about signing with a seemingly good talent agent who appeared to have his ducks in a row, but then a mere week later dropped her as a client for reasons that were beyond psychotic. Thirdly, she tells the episode title story, "Cabaret Crook" about a pay-to-play performance run by a man who was more of a bully than a director, and more of a scumbag than a show producer. Also, Justin tells a story about attending an industry workshop that abruptly became marred by right-wing politics. Katie is a wicked cool guest, and this episode definitely gets a standing ovation!  Follow Katie on IG: @KatieHardenOfficial Follow Katie's Magazine: @MagazineLorette Follow Katie on Twitter: @KHardenOfficial Host: @JustinSorvillo

This episode came up roses with producer, director, writer, Rosie Grace! The Rough Day In Showbiz stories start with her humble beginnings moving to LA and working at a cupcake shop. Then travel all the way to the present, where she produces directs, and writes her own projects, and owns own production company. And of course, there are a bunch of Rough Days In Showbiz in between! Including, working early production jobs in Beverly Hills...where they fancily towed her car. Also getting laid off from an animation studio the second she stepped on a plane to go visit family. She also told stories about producing! Including the time her business partner, Nate Hapke, got stuck and stranded...with all of their film equipment...on the side of a cliff. Plus, the brave feats of dealing with an unhinged neighborhood Karen while trying to finish an indie film shoot. Buckle up, this episode bumps! Follow Rosie on IG: @Rosemare_Mary Follow Rosie’s Production Company on IG: @SmallTallProd Host: @JustinSorvillo 

Nate is the man behind the Hollywood magic! With years of experience on the set of General Hospital and steering his own production company, Nate is certainly akin to the Rough Days In Showbiz. He tells a story about a lengthy trek from a leisurely weekend trip back to Los Angeles full of missed flights, cancelled boats and rent-a-cars running on lots of gas station grub. All for one thing: to get back to his production job by Monday on time. He tells another story about shooting a feature film in a small town in the mountains having organized and planned the whole shoot to a “T” with the exception of one unforeseen diva…the heat. Then for the finale, he recounts an early job working on Zack Snyder’s set as a PA where a studious coffee run turned into a tiny car crash resulting in the whole set’s coffee exploding everywhere. This episode is certainly one for the Rough Day In Showbiz books! Follow Nate on IG: @N8hapke Follow Nate on Twitter: YourFaveN8Hapke Follow Small/Tall Productions on IG: @Smalltallprod

Happy 2022 from Rough Day In Showbiz! We are kicking this year off with some hot gossip from Jake Iorio. He tells us a Rough Day In Showbiz story about a stern talent agent who wanted abnormally high percentages without delivering any auditions. Then another about a casual date with a so-called “producer” that turned into a twisted harassment nightmare. Follow Jake on IG: @JakeIorio  Host: @JustinSorvillo 

Holiday cheer is at full volume in this episode as we are joined by versatile actor Peter Xifo. He’s played an assortment of different roles including “ho, ho, ho” Santa himself, many times! Peter tells two Rough Day In Showbiz stories about doing a painstaking amount of work on projects only to find out later he wasn't in them anymore. He also tells exclusive, distinctive Rough Day In Showbiz stories about playing, the man in the red hat himself, Santa Clause! Keeping his beard white for such an iconic role requires sometimes painful experiences in the post-make-up chair, and filming holiday commercials during the scorching Summer months, dawning a full decked-out Santa costume, certainly takes the cookies.  Follow Peter on IG: @PeteXifo www.xifo.net Host: @JustinSorvillo

Caslin does a double-triple-flip onto the pod! She provides a treasure trove of phenomenal and unique Rough Day In Showbiz stories that have never been told before! She tells a story about a supposed audition for a “tech” hosting gig that turned out to be a haywire cattle call for...a dating app? She also shares a collection of Rough Day In Showbiz stories about working as a dancer and dealing with unexpectedly unfortunate wardrobe malfunctions and pushy clients asking her to do dangerous stunts. We also get to hear her experiences working hosting gigs and earnestly presenting to audiences who ignored her completely. Caslin’s episode is big Rough Day In Showbiz energy!  Follow Caslin on IG: @CaslinRose  Follow Caslin on Twitter: @CaslinRose www.CaslinRose.com  Host: @JustinSorvillo

Mellinda brings the charm and the stories in this tremendous episode! From her humble beginnings moving to LA from Indiana and starting out doing background work and PA work to becoming an associate head writer on "The Young and the Restless", to being a free agent and self-producing her own work, Mellinda's got a lot to talk about. She tells a Rough Day In Showbiz story about meeting her idol, the creator of "Bob's Burger's" and accidentally saying a little too much thus mortifying her, another about her early days working as an office PA for commercials candidly revealing the odd, silly demands of the folks at the top, and a final story about a weird/fun twitter account she made celebrating basketball athlete Duncan Robinson's arms. If you're trying to break into screenwriting, Mellinda is the person to listen to for having thrived in such prestigious environments, and for paving her own path to success.  Follow Mellinda on Twitter: @MellindaK  Follow Mellinda on IG: Mellindah Host: @JustinSorvillo