Dear Readers,
I have been a part of the Back Stage West family for more than nine years. Many of you have read my articles or seen my cover photography over the years. Some of you have attended our acclaimed "Evening With" screening series, which I organize and help moderate. Recently, I was named editor of Back Stage West, a title that I am incredibly honored and excited to fill. I have watched our publication grow tremendously, and nothing brings me greater pride in my job than watching actors, whom I've come to know and admire, succeed in this business.
I look forward to coming up with improved ways to reach you and to provide you with the information, resources, guidance, and inspiration you have come to expect. But I need your help. Please tell us know how Back Stage West can better serve you. I hope that you consider Back Stage West to be your paper, and I encourage you to participate. Our advice columnist, Jack Apodaca, is eager to answer your questions and to reprint your "Rants & Raves," a relatively new forum for our readers to directly express their frustrations as well as their positive experiences. Likewise, if you have a compelling story, suggestion, or concern you wish to share, you can reach us at (323) 525-2356 or by e-mail at bsweditorial@backstage.com.
I also encourage you to attend our 10th annual ActorFest, Back Stage West's annual trade show for actors, to be held this Saturday, May 8, at the Los Angeles Hilton/Universal City. Our staff has worked very hard to assemble a group of top-notch industry professionals—from casting directors of hit shows like ER, Six Feet Under, and Alias to experienced working actors to Screen Actors Guild representatives to television directors—all eager to share their knowledge and advice with you. I am thrilled to have James Cromwell, this week's cover subject and one of my favorite actors, introduce our first ActorFest seminar of the day, "Ready on Cue: A Sit-Down With SAG." Some of my other favorite actors will be also be in attendance: Stephen Root (Office Space), Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle), and Grace Zabriskie (Twin Peaks), to name a few. I'm equally excited to have Yvette Nicole Brown speaking at our event. Just a few years ago, Yvette was an unknown actor attending ActorFest. Now she's one of this year's panelists and eager to share her success story with you. So please join us.
I love what actors bring to their art, and I respect the struggle most every actor goes through. I hope Back Stage West will be there for you every step of the way, and when you do succeed, I hope that you will return to the paper to share some of what you've learned along the way.
Sincerely,
Jamie Painter Young
Editor