Ep. 56 - Matt Williams on Glimpses, Roseanne and Tim Allen

November 9, 2024

Matt Williams utilizes a character-centric approach in creating and developing iconic television series, including Roseanne and Home Improvement. The Humanitas Prize and 6-time Emmy nominated Evansville native received graduate degrees in directing and acting, and embarked on a host of television commercials, as an actor, before realizing his talent and bliss as the driving force behind impactful, relatable film and television projects. After cutting his teeth as an actor (and de facto writer and re-writer) on the CBN soap, Another Life, Matt produced and joined the writing staff of The Cosby Show during its premiere season. It was there where he learned the relevance of inviting the audience to the family table — a concept that bore fruit with regard to the development of Roseanne. In the years which followed, Matt co-created and executive produced a number of television shows under the umbrella of Wind Dancer, the production company he founded with Carmen Finestra and David McFadzean, the latter whom Matt first met at University of Evansville, which include Home Improvement, Buddies, Thunder Alley and Soul Man. He directed and produced the films Where the Heart Is, starring Natalie Portman and Ashley Judd, about a young woman who delivers a baby in a Wal Mart after being abandoned by the latter’s father in the parking lot, and her journey of growth and self-discovery which follows; and Walker Payne, which he also co-wrote, and starred Jason Patric, Bruce Dern, Drea de Matteo and the legendary Sam Shepard and premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Additional producing efforts include What Women Want, Bernie, As Cool as I Am and Wild Hearts Can’t be Broken. The focus of our discussion was his latest book, Glimpses: A Comedy Writer's Take on Life, Love and All That Spiritual Stuff.

Opening Credits: Lobo Loco - Room of Longing B (ID 2240) I CC BY-NC-SA 4.0; Anitek - Bricolage I CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US. Closing Credits: Útidúr - Grasping for Thoughts I CC BY-NC-SA 3.0.

Ep. 55 - Stephen Suettinger on A Year and Change, Waiting and James Cameron

October 20, 2024

Stephen Suettinger directs and writes projects which address complicated themes, such as substance use, depression and unrequited love. His unique portrayals have a tendency to delve deeper into their most intimate desires, which occasionally blur the line between fiction and reality and makes for interesting storytelling. Following his debut short film, Writing Wrongs, the Maryland native attended the film MFA program at USC and cut his teeth in experiences surrounding the world of film on projects like Contact, Avatar and Beowulf. At USC, Steve directed his next short, Wentworth, which PBS picked up as part of its Imagemakers series. The film explored idealism and longing among two contemplative lovers, who are already in a state of love and comfort. He directed his first feature, A Year and Change, which was released in 2014 and starred an ensemble cast including Bryan Greenberg, T.R. Knight, Jamie Chung and Jamie Hector and was shot in his home state. In 2020, he directed the period short film, Waiting, which surveyed the patience of love in the wake of the Pandemic. In the midst of several more corporate endeavors, Steve describes the latest projects he is currently developing in our conversation, as well as his early-film experiences, the generation of Maryland filmmakers he is indefinitely part of, and working with some excellent actors and directors.

Opening Credits: Jangwa - two beats I CC BY 4.0; Anitek - SuperNatural I CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Closing Credits: human gazpacho - pigeons at my window I CC BY-NC 4.0

Ep. 54 - Wade Allain-Marcus on Eric, French Dirty and Insecure

August 5, 2024

Actor and filmmaker Wade Allain-Marcus has a unique approach toward his involvement in a variety of films and television projects. It derives from factors like his mixed background, training in the Experimental Theatre Wing (ETW) at NYU, and growing up with parents in the business. The approach is one thing, but the result speaks for itself and is shaped by the ensembles he finds himself immersed into, such as the regular casts of HBO’s Insecure or Netflix’s Eric, the latter opposite Benedict Cumberbatch. From Lucy Forbes to Antoine Fuqua to John Singleton, Wade has worked with a variety of interesting directors who have affected his own approach to the craft. After making his directorial debut with Una y Otra y Otra vez, starring NYU classmate Gina Rodriguez, he directed the acclaimed French Dirty which premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival in 2015, and dealt with topics including male-friendships and infidelity in the context of a love triangle. He shot the film with close friends and NYU classmates including Arjun Gupta and his spouse Melina Lizette. Following a host of acting projects, he joined the writer’s room of Grownish, which he also directed an episode of, and recently directed Academy Award Nominee June Squibb in the BET remake of Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. in our conversation, we discussed parental relationships and influence; the musicality of filmmaking; and why it’s so difficult to trivialize his acting and directing credits.

Opening Credits: Jangwa - V I CC BY 4.0; LaFaena - Car Drive I CC BY 4.0. Closing Credits: reed blue - INTROMATU_2006 I CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US.

Ep. 53 - Idan Ravin on Winning Time, The Hoops Whisperer and Kevin Hart

May 12, 2024

Idan Ravin is the elite NBA trainer who has individually worked with over 100 NBA players, including LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant. When an NBA player realizes a flaw in their game is keeping them from being able to operate at their full potential, they call Idan for assistance. He is known for his unorthodox (no pun intended) training sessions, which tend to prioritize dynamic movement over traditional, stationary drills. Idan’s thumbprint on the league can be seen in so many players, and has affected the culture and style of the league. He describes his notable transition from miserable California attorney to sought-after basketball trainer in The Hoops Whisperer (2015), his best-setting novel, which uses his upbringing and life history to outlay the meticulousness, candid nature and patience which is required to deliver athletic wisdom at the highest level of sport. He is also the author of It Takes Patience and Harmonica, which were both published in 2021. Since then, he has ventured into the world of cinema. He was a producer on the second season of HBO's Winning Time, and has been a creative consultant for sports-inspired national commercials for Nike, Right Guard, Sprite, Samsung, Gatorade, Degree, State Farm, NBA, Wells Fargo, Beats and Door Dash. He has collaborated with brands such as Nike, Degree, Dove Men, Acuvue and HBO to build and execute experiential activations anchored in training and brand messaging, and his unique approach towards training has been featured in several publications including the Wall Street Journal, the New Yorker, Sports Illustrated, Men's Health, and the Hollywood Reporter. In our conversation, we discussed his latest transition into film; the parallels between training NBA players and treating psychiatric conditions; spending an Israeli summer with Amar’e Stoudemire; and the 2024 NBA playoffs.

Opening Credits: pretochines - Dark Fall I CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 DEED; Jangwa - Frumento I CC BY 4.0 DEED. Closing Credits: Trans Atlantic Rage - A REALM IN A OPEN INTERPRETATION I CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 DEED.

Ep. 52 - Max Azulay on 5 Doctors, Carmen and Moony, and Mel Brooks

April 2, 2024

Actor, writer and director Max Azulay leveraged his obsession with filmmaking to create unique, irreverent films armed with his comedic sensibility. The influence of the legendary Mel Brooks seeped in early on in his Suburban upbringing, which happened to take place 40 minutes from New York City, and helped inspire his young creativity. Finding his community of like-minded comedic cinephiles led to several short films which channelled his interests. He moved to Los Angeles to attend Occidental College, after transferring from Sarah Lawrence, his parents’ alma mater, and made a number of short films which led to 5 Doctors, his first feature film. Robert Altman would be proud of the film’s tone, which captured fundamental aspects of Max’s own life, including his high school, a thematic undertone of anxiety, and members of his family. He co-directed the film with frequent collaborator, Matt Porter. In addition to starring in the film, the pair wrote the screenplay alongside Phil Primason for an ensemble cast, including Bobby Moynihan, Jeremy Shamos, Peter Friedman and Eddie Pepitone among several others. In addition, Max has directed and written several short films with his collaborators, including Xander; Lenny; One Mutual Friend; and Carmen & Moony, the latter starring his partner Kate Adams, with whom he is developing his next feature. In our conversation, we discussed growing up near the big city; the influence of Borscht Belt comedy; the path towards his first feature; kleptomania; WiFi; and the through-line of family which runs through his catalogue.

Opening Credits: John Lopker - Embryo Murder I CC BY 4.0 DEED; Caleb Lemon - A Road in the Country I CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED; Jangwa - Jupiter Czar I CC BY 4.0 DEED; Closing Credits: Piki - Clear Blue I CC BY 4.0 DEED.

Ep. 51 - Elisha Lawson on Syncing Ink, Chicago Improv and Marlon Brando

March 26, 2024

Elisha Lawson has acted in a number of projects through the years, including Boardwalk Empire, Shades of Blue, NCIS: New Orleans, and Group. In addition to his work on television, he has worked on several plays such as productions of A Raisin in the Sun and To Kill A Mockingbird, where he first met fellow Group cast-member, Ezra Barnes. His latest play, Syncing Ink, was created by playwright NSangou Njikam and will begin performances May 7, with an official opening set for May 19, at the Apollo Theater in New York City. In our conversation, we discussed his German upbringing; the importance of faith in his life’s journey; his improvisational roots as part of Chicago City Limits; the influences of Denzel Washington and Marlon Brando; working with Kara Young on his latest project; and exploring the naturalism of his performances facilitated by meticulous preparation.

Opening Credits: Masteredit - Contemplation I CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED; Masteredit - Reverie I CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED; Closing Credits: Nangdo - Intro I CC BY 4.0 DEED

Ep. 50 - Andromeda Turre on From the Earth, Growing up Jazz and Charlie Parker

March 8, 2024

Jazz is not only a second language for vocalist, composer and SiriusXM radio personality, Andromeda Turre — it’s her mother tongue. She grew up in a world raised by two of the finest Jazz OGs, world-renowned cellist Akua Dixon and legendary trombonist Steve Turre, and formed formative relationships with Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach and Wynton Marsalis (a.k.a. the Jazz Pilgrims). Formal piano instruction with the phenomenal Sonelius Smith began at age four. Next emerged Andromeda’s training as a dancer in the cultural renaissance of Harlem (or Washington Heights), before she shifted to the medium of theater (The Boston Conservatory) and later, vocal performance, at Berklee College of Music. While at Berklee, Andromeda performed at the 2003 commencement concert with Dianne Reeves and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, and recorded on Michael Justiz’s film Cafe and Tobacco." Soonafter, Ray Charles hired Andromeda to be the last Raelette, and she toured with him until his untimely passing. In 2007, Andromeda starred in the acclaimed Off-Broadway musical based on Woody Allen vignettes, “Murder Mystery Blues." She reigned as the "Queen of the Blues," at Tokyo Disney and headlined a plethora of music festivals before releasing her debut album, Introducing Andromeda Turre, in 2008, which featured an array of jazz standards, latin flavors, Japanese tributes and originals “Let Me” and “Lonely Holiday.” Shine followed in 2018 which opened with her cover of the seminal Monk standard, ‘Round Midnight. She started Growing Up Jazz, a powerful keynote that teaches Black history through the lens of Jazz, for which she was awarded the 2022 Women of Distinction Award from New York State Senate. Andromeda latest album, “From The Earth,” will be released on July 19, 2024 and aims to shed light on the disproportionate impact of climate change on BIPOC and connect communities. Andromeda hosts her own show on SiriusXM on Real Jazz every Saturday and Sunday from 12pm-5pm EST. In our conversation, we discussed the chaotic underpinnings of Shine; Billie Holiday; her SNL daycare; and the recent trip to Iceland which inspired her latest work.

Opening Credits: Thomas Paul - The Name Of The Star I CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED; Jangwa - Wigs I CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED. Closing Credits: Giacomo Forte - Country fields (Ispiration, Emotional, Sentimental, Folk, Acustic, Soft, Calm) I CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED.

Ep. 49 - Todd Louiso on Hello I Must Be Going, Love Liza and High Fidelity

November 13, 2023

Todd Louiso has acted in several notable projects over the years, such as films which include Scent of a Woman, Apollo 13, The Rock, Jerry Maguire, and Thank You for Smoking. He has made guest appearances on television shows like Fraiser, Silicon Valley, House, Angie Tribeca and Married. While his presence on-screen has always made sense, Todd’s freedom of expression behind the camera can be felt through his palpable, strong character-driven films. Love Liza, starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman, is among them — a gripping, subtle portrait of grief through the eyes of an emotionally vulnerable man — which won the Waldo Salt Best Screenplay Award at the Sundance Film Festival. After writing and directing the high school singing-themed satire, The Marc Pease Experience, starring Ben Stiller, Jason Schwartzman and Anna Kendrick, he explored the effect of depression, the complications of connection and being understood in Hello I Must Be Going, which his wife, Sarah Koskoff wrote, and starred Melanie Lynskey in what ended up being one of her most pivotal roles as a leading woman. For his directorial efforts, Todd was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. He co-wrote the film adaptation of Macbeth, which starred Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard, and recently acted in the dramatic film, Raymond & Ray, with Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke. In our conversation, we discussed the origins of The Fifteen Minute Hamlet, which he adapted through a chance encounter with Tom Stoppard; how Martin Breast and Stephen Frears informed his approach toward acting and directing; a unique meeting with Chris Farley when Todd was interning at Saturday Night Live; and collaboratively building emotionally-raw character pieces from the ground up.

Opening Credits: Viscid - Closed Loop I CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED; Jangwa - Regola I CC BY 4.0 DEED. Closing Credits: Thomas Paul - That Thing I CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED.

Ep. 48 - Mark Pellington on The Severing, I Melt with You and Nada Surf

October 27, 2023

Mark Pellington’s pioneering influence on music videos as a modality to convey emotion, story and feeling will never be forgotten. From Leonard Cohen to Linkin Park, Michael Jackson to Public Enemy, Foo Fighters and Alice in Chains to Chelsea Wolfe and Bruce Springsteen, MP had penultimate foresight in constructing some of the most memorable portraits of love, war, loss, spirit and activism. His feature films each brought a tenet to the medium of storytelling. From 1997’s Going All The Way (Ben Affleck, Jeremy Davies, Rachel Weisz, Rose McGowan), to the Grand Prix/Saturn Award-nominated Arlington Road (Jeff Bridges, Tim Robbins, Joan Cusack, Hope Davis); to The Mothman Prophecies, an intriguing parapsychological adaptive tale starring Richard Gere and Laura Linney; the dramedy, Henry Poole is Here; a story of friendship and loyalty in I Melt With You (Jeremy Piven, Thomas Jane, Christian McKay, Rob Lowe); the subtle poetry of grief, The Last Word; Nostalgia, with Catherine Keener and Jon Hamm headlining an ensemble cast; and the dance-expanse, The Severing, in 2022. His latest book, The Visualist, is an essential memoir surveying 40 years of shape-shifting filmmaking experiences. In our conversation, we discussed his approach towards film and music videos; his journey to New York City; the significance of archive; and his recent Director’s cut release of Going All the Way.

Opening Credits: M33 Project - On y va I CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International; Jangwa - Losing Ground I CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International. Closing Credits: M33 Project - Orange Blues I CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International.

Ep. 47 - Jonathan Parker on Carol Doda Topless at the Condor, (Untitled) and The Architect

September 10, 2023

Jonathan Parker writes, directs and produces films which blend together the aspects of art he gravitates toward, including architecture, music, storytelling and intricate attention to detail. The Northern California native grew up in an artistic family, and studied English at Stanford. It was when he joined a New Wave band, and directed their first music video that he discovered film’s nature of acting as a matrix for his artistic interests. After directing several short films, Jonathan wrote and directed his first feature film — Bartleby —an adaptation of Herman Melville’s short story: Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street. The film marked the first of several feature film collaborations with Catherine DiNapoli, with whom he co-wrote the screenplay. He included a satirical bent relevant to his time and place (just as Melville did in the 1850s) in his adaptation, which starred David Paymer, Glenne Headly, and Crispin Glover playing the eponymous character. He continued this philosophy as he embarked on his next film — The Californians — an adaptation of Henry James’s The Bostonians. The film, which starred Noah Wyle, Ileana Douglas, Kate Mara and Keith Carradine, premiered on Showtime and surveyed the conflicted love-triangle between an idealistic real estate developer (Wyle); his environmentalist sister (Douglas); and the protest folk singer who comes into their lives (Mara). Jonathan’s own experience as a real estate developer informed the film’s scenic undertone, the characters’ diverse perspectives and their motivations. This theme of incorporating personal experience into narrative film carried into his next project — (Untitled) — which starred Adam Goldberg, and followed an experimental musician’s plight into the New York City art scene; and in The Architect, starring Parker Posey, Eric McCormack and James Frain, which explores the confluence of a couple who’s vision of “the perfect home” is in diametric opposition and an eager, theoretically-motivated architect as he attempts to construct their dream home. The former was scored by David Lang, who won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Music. His latest work is the documentary film Carol Doda Topless at the Condor, which premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in 2023 and navigates the rise to fame of an influential San Franciscan topless dancer in 1964. Jonathan co-directed the film with Marlo McKenzie, while Lars Ulrich serves as a producer. The film analyzes Doda’s impact on the sociocultural narrative of feminism, free speech, fashion and politics in the United States. In our conversation, we discussed Jonathan’s journey into music and film; imbuing each of his projects with his own personal experiences; and the unique story of Carol Doda’s plight in San Francisco.

Opening Credits: 1st Contact - Cavemen I Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0); The New Mystikal Troubadours - A Cinematic Influence I Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US). Closing Credits: The Agrarians - Hey, Augusta I Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US).

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