Ep. 58 - Arizona O'Neill on CBC's Creator Network, Organ Donation and Patrick Watson

Arizona O’Neill’s art delves into topics derived from her Montreal upbringing and French-Quebec culture, and include the ramifications of gentrification, the vibrancy of music, and the origins of revolt. She has contributed several pieces to The CBC Creator Network, which include Hockey Riots, Period Pieces, and History of Jazz. Her novel, Est-ce qu’un artiste peut être heureux? (or “Can an Artist be Happy?”) was published in November 2022. And her impressive catalogue of illustrations, for publications like National Geographic Canada, includes the 2024 edition of "L'enfant dans le miroir" by Nelly Arcan which features a feminist perspective on the late-author’s legacy. Her latest book will be published by Drawn & Quarterly, and is inspired by her own experience donating her late-father’s organs, and surveys themes which include grief and addiction. In our conversation, we discussed her experience growing up in Montreal; her take on the legacy of the Montreal Canadiens; her collaborations with Patrick Watson, as a music video director; and the challenging territory she explored in authoring her latest work.

Opening Credits: HoliznaPATREON - Relic 1 ( LoFi , Dark ) I CC BY-NC-ND 4.0; Anitek - NeedleLess To Say I CC BY-NC-SA. Closing Credits: Christophe Frémiot - l-ind-pendante I CC BY-NC-SA.

Ep. 57 - Bernardo Cubria on Acapulco, The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote and Gene Wilder

Cultural incongruence and its consequences is a theme which has shaped Bernardo Cubria’s work in several different ways. As an actor, in television shows like Group, his work explores what it means to be misunderstood, and delves into the epiphany which often arises when one realizes his peers’ criticisms and insights, which they initially may have dismissed, may, in fact, lead to realizations about self that may significantly affect their perspective. As a playwright, it has laid the backdrop that surrounds his stories about typecasting, politics, cultural appropriation, and the trivialization of minorities in America that can be seen in works like Crabs in a Bucket, which won the 2024 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Writing; The Giant Void In My Soul, a satirical journey into fulfillment (and the lack thereof); Neighbors: A Fair Trade Agreement; and the timely portrait of electoral pregnancy in The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote. His work has been awarded the Smith Prize for Political Theater and has been nominated for Stage Raw and Ovation awards. As a screenwriter, he wrote Like It Used to Be and Guerrero which Gina Rodriguez is attached to direct and star in, and he was a 2023 Sundance Screenwriters Lab fellow for the screenplay Kill Yr Idols which he cowrote. In our conversation, we discussed the interplay of the notable themes in Bernardo’s projects, including Loop Group: Or Shia Lebeouf's Version, as well as being part of the writer’s staff on Seasons 3 and 4 on the Apple + series, Acapulco.

Opening Credits: AvapXia - Do You Still Think About Me? I CC BY 4.0; Anitek - 09 Lola I CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Closing Credits: Útidúr - Fisherman's Friend I CC BY-NC-SA 3.0.

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

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

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

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 dealth 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

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

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

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

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

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.