Today we’d like to introduce you to Cayleigh Pine and Benjamin Bernard. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Cayleigh Pine and Ben Bernard attended Emerson College’s prestigious film program together. While taking an acting class, Cayleigh was assigned to create a two-person scene as her final project. As most of these students were theater majors who had not worked behind the camera before, many students did not have the skillset and technical wherewithal to create a production at this scale. But with the education and network Cayleigh developed in Emerson’s film program, she found herself at an advantage.
Ben, who owned much of his own film equipment, would frequently produce short films and freelance videography, so Cayleigh enlisted his help on her final acting project. Once completed, her professor was impressed with the professional quality of the final product and other students in these classes began to reach out to Ben for support on their own assignments.
As these requests continued even after his graduation, Ben and Cayleigh realized the demand young actors have for footage showcasing their talent. As Cayleigh developed her enlarging circle of acting contacts, she proposed combining her strengths with Ben’s. The two founded CB Studios to help the many aspiring actors in Los Angeles develop professional scenes for their demo reels.
CB Studio’s goal is to give actors agency in how they are portrayed and the talents they showcase. By producing a scene specifically created to elevate and play off of the performer’s strengths, they can regain autonomy over their image and what they present to casting directors, agents, and creative collaborators as they establish their handprint on the entertainment industry.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Cayleigh and Ben knew they had the talent and resources to launch their company, but the biggest challenge was translating that vision into reality. While Ben had minored in business, the two had to adjust to a learning curve in forming their LLC. Starting from scratch was daunting, especially for first-time business owners like them. However, they didn’t rush the process. Instead, they took their time to develop the company’s structure and offerings until they felt confident, they would hit the ground running when they launched. Now that their doors are open, they’re happy to put forward their experienced creative skillset and continue working with the many performers living in Los Angeles.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about CB Studios?
At CB Studios, our mission is to empower actors by providing professional, high-quality narrative scenes for their demo reels at rates that are 50% less than most demo reel companies, making it accessible to the everyday actor. As multi-hyphenate performers/creators, we have a deep empathy for actors entering the industry and are committed to offering affordable solutions to those who may not have the tools or resources to showcase their talent.
Our process begins by identifying a 2-page scene the client wants to perform, whether it’s from our catalog of original scripts, a preexisting movie or show the client’s own screenplay, or a concept we develop together. Next, we workshop and develop the scene to target the client’s goals, crafting an action plan tailored to their needs. Our dedicated team, comprised of professional scene partners and crew members, then leads a one-day shoot to complete production on the selected screenplay. Finally, in collaboration with the client, we execute all stages of post-production and deliver the final product.
We offer three packages—Monologue Package ($250), Standard Package ($450), and Premium Package ($850)- including discounted group packages and student/recent graduate discounts. At CB Studios, we take pride in our ability to provide exceptional value and service to actors of all levels, ensuring that their demo reels stand out in the competitive industry landscape.
How do you think about luck?
Luck, both good and bad, has certainly played a role in shaping our journey. We’ve been fortunate to encounter opportunities that have helped propel our business forward, such as connecting with many talented actors and securing partnerships that have expanded our reach. However, we’ve also faced our fair share of challenges that anyone who has been on a film set before knows are bound to pop up. Despite any setbacks, we are lucky to have a team of skilled and dedicated people who always help us overcome and grow from any hardships that come our way. Luck has an interesting role to play in people’s success in this industry, but all of the chances life has had in store for CB Studios have brought us to the point where we are today: a production company that continues to provide valuable services to actors in need.
Pricing:
- Monologue Package $250 ($200 per actor if you include a friend for their own same-day monologues)
- Standard Package $450 ($350 per actor if you include a friend. Our student discount for standard package only $100 off for current student students or graduates within last six months. Client can only pick one discount to apply, cannot have both group and student discounts combined.
- Premium Package $850 ($750 per actor if you include a friend.)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hellocbstudios.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hellocbstudios?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hellocbstudios/?show_switched_toast=0&show_invite_to_follow=0&show_switched_tooltip=0&show_podcast_settings=0&show_community_review_changes=0&show_community_rollback=0&show_follower_visibility_disclosure=0
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cbstudiosdemoreels/?viewAsMember=true
