Meet Matthew Barry | Acting Teacher, Casting Director, Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Matthew Barry and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matthew, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Being a successful actor is one of the most difficult occupations to accomplish. Timing and luck play a major part, but first and foremost, talent is key. My job, for the past 25 years is to find that talent and give them the opportunities to succeed. As a top Hollywood casting director, and for the past decade, as a teacher. Training students how to maneuver the business side of Hollywood, showing them the proper ways to audition and now, how to manage a self-tape that will get them noticed. Eliminating bad habits and strenghting their strengths. All in all, giving them the right tools to push forward in their careers. All in a nurturing environment with movie theatre style leather chairs. Many working actors have come from Matthew Barry Teaches and nothing makes me happier than to watch actors grow and live out their dreams.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started as an actor in New York. My dad is a Broadway playwright and at an early age was on stage. This led to a short lived CBS series which nabbed a starring role in Academy Award winning director Bernardo Bertolucci’s “Luna” – After moving to Los Angeles, appearing in several films and television shows, I was aching for something new. At age 30, I started from scratch. I begged a producer I knew for a job on the set. Sweeping floors, getting coffee, you name it. He assigned me to help out in the casting department and tht turned into a 25 year career. Working with the best directors (Tim Burton, Tony Scott, Nick Cassavetes). Nearing the century mark of my life I was looking for other challenges. I opened Matthew Barry Teaches in 2009 and have helped guide actors to many sucessful ventures. Now, the biggest challenge of my career is producing. Putting script, cast and financing together is the hardest venture so far. No money, lots of hard work and hoping for the big reward. Might as well play the slot machines. I’d have better odds! I ask each of my students one very simple question: “What do you want?” Be realistic. Be simple. Answer that question and put your energy into achieving that goal. Then set another, and another. They don’t always work. I tried being a talent manager for 5 years. Didn’t work. I tried. I had some success, but not enough to sustain a living. But we have to take risks in life.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Malibu… and the food! So many incredible places to eat. Celebrity hangouts like Dan Tana’s. Joshua Tree/Palm Springs. A trip up the coast to Santa Barbara. Hiking in the mountains. I take all of my guests to Staples Center when the Kings are playing. Nothing like live hockey. Lots of great bars (when there’s no covid), I mean, LOTS of great bars.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My former partner Nancy Green-Keyes. For nearly 20 years we cast some of the greatest films of all time and had a blast doing it. My current partner Ron Wells who has taught me patience.

Website: www.matthewbarryteaches.com

Instagram: matthewbarryteaches

Image Credits
David Zaugh www.zaughphotography.com