Explore every episode of the podcast Darektor's Cut
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Episode 580: "Hell or High Water, 3:10 to Yuma and Better Call Saul | Ben Foster, Michael Mando and James Badge Dale.
"Hell or High Water, 3:10 to Yuma and Better Call Saul
Ben Foster, Michael Mando and James Badge Dale.
A very talented trio joins me to talk about their newest film, "King Ivory".
Ben Foster (Hell or High Water, 3:10 to Yuma, Lone Survivor), Michael Mando (Better Call Saul, Spiderman; Brand New Day) and James Badge Dale (The Departed, World War: Z)
We discuss Ben's powerful and moving performances, Michael Mando's terrific performance in Better Call Saul and the uniqueness of James's character in "King Ivory".
In addition we discuss the war on drugs, if there is optimism, King Ivory's brutal honesty and more.
Director Ben Leonberg (and Indy) drop by to talk about the most unique and original film this year, "Good Boy".
"Good Boy" is about a man that moves into a new home that has supernatural forces lurking in the shadows. As dark entities start to threaten him, his brave dog comes to the rescue. Make no mistake, this is a horror movie but it is also most certainly about the beauty of dogs and unmatched loyalty.
Ben and I talk about dogs, making this amazing movie, the fact this is Indy's love story, whether dogs should be nominated for academy awards, why people are so protective of dogs and so much more.
Episode 572 "The Last Frontier" Actors: Dominic Cooper and Hayley Bennett.
You might know Dominic from "Preacher", and "Captain America" and Hayley from "Swallow" and "Girl on the Train" amongst other things.
Dominic and Hayley join me to talk about their promising new show "The Last Frontier". We discuss that banger of a first episode, Con Air, that grand entrance, halloween costumes, Hannibal Lecter and biting two year olds.
Peter Ellis is a immensely popular for many of his viral moments as a member of the King's Guard.
Peter and I discuss his adoption at 4 years old, his immense popularity, his many viral moments of kindness, what the King's Guard is and why he left. His affinity for animals and horses, working with Autistic children, meeting Princess Anne and Liam Neeson, people that are disrespectful and have no boundaries with The King's Guard, his partner Olivia and so much more.
The regiments that make up the Royal Guard are some of the oldest and most prestigious infantry regiments in the British Army. The Grenadier Guards specialize in light infantry provision and may also serve in operational roles overseas. In these duties, they wear the popular red ceremonial uniform and bearskin hats that the Royal Guard are famous for. In this role, their primary function is the protection duty for the royal residence. They stand guard outside the palace in order to protect the royal residents from any harm.
Episode 480 "Quantum of Solace", "Narcos" and "Midnight Family" Actor: Joaquín Cosío
Joaquín Cosío is one of the best actors on the planet. His work in Narcos alone is some of the best acting you will ever see on screen. It still gives me chills.
Joaquin Cosío was born in Nayarit, Mexico. His training as an actor began in 1983 and has continued growing and developing ever since. In 1994, Cosío wrote his first stage play, titled Tomochic: Or the day the world ended, which was awarded the National Literature Prize. Performing in over 50 plays and over 600 live performances, his stage career reached a new milestone in 1999 when he was hand selected to join the National Theater Company. This led Cosío to make the decision to move to Mexico City permanently and focus on becoming a full-time actor. He has been working non-stop ever since as one of Mexico's most respected actors of stage and screen.
He made his film debut in 2001 in the film The Blue Room and he has since participated in over 30 feature films and several shorts. Cosío played a multi-episode role in the HBO comedy Eastbound & Down. He played General Medrano, one of the main villains in the James Bond film Quantum of Solace, and acted alongside Benicio del Toro in Oliver Stone's gritty thriller, Savages. Cosío appeared in Robert Duvall's A Night in Old Mexico, and in Disney's 2013 filmThe Lone Ranger, starring Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer.
He is absolutely unnerving and terrifying as Don Neto in Narcos. Role after Role he is truly a treasure on screen.
We talk about his newest role as Ramon in Apple TV+ "Midnight Family" dropping September 25th.
Episode 479 "Midnight Family", "Babylon" and "Saw X" Actors: Renata Vaca and Diego Calva
Renata Vaca is a very talented actress who was just terrific in Saw X. Diego Calva is also a phenomenal actor stealing the show in "Babylon" along side Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt and Tobey Maguire.
Both star in the intense and extremely watchable "Midnight Family" premiering September 25th on Apple TV.
Inspired by the award-winning documentary of the same name, “Midnight Family” follows Marigaby Tamayo, an ambitious and gifted medical student by day, who spends her nights saving lives throughout a sprawling, contrasted and fascinating Mexico City aboard her family’s privately owned ambulance. Along with her father Ramón and her siblings Marcus and Julito, Marigaby serves a population of millions by tackling extreme medical emergencies to make a living.
Two wonderful actors who I enjoyed speaking with. Great show.
Episode 478 "The Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot" Actor: Nika King.
King’s talents as a comedian and actor are versatile and dynamic. She is best known for her comedic abilities but in her new breakout role playing Leslie, on the Emmy winning HBO series Euphoria opposite Zendaya and Storm Reid, King showcases a much more dramatic side of herself. In this role, King pulls from her early life watching family members battle addiction and triumphantly overcoming. It is from that resolve and resilience that King offers a dramatic perspective and newfound depth in this character. Nika has recently starred and executive produced her first feature film, Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot being released in theaters nationwide on July 4th. Inspired by the powerful true story, this film follows Donna and Reverend Martin as they ignite a fire in the hearts of their rural church to embrace kids in the foster system that nobody else would take. By doing the impossible--adopting 77 children--this East Texas community proved that, with real, determined love, the battle for America's most vulnerable can be won.King’s comedy has landed her roles on Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black, the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal, Canada and hosting Nika King & Friends, a monthly show at the Improv Lab in Hollywood CA. She has also act, wrote and produced on award winning webseries Funny Married Stuff, which is currently streaming on KweliTV. While King has a passion for acting and producing, her talents do not end there.
Uwe Boll is a polarizing figure when it comes to filmmaking. Some fans find his work enjoyable, others believe the opposite. One thing is for sure, he is passionate about making movies.
As a youth, he produced a number of short films on Super 8 and video. After short stints as guest auditor at Filmacademy Vienna and Filmhochschule Munich, Boll studied literature and economics in Cologne and Siegen. He graduated from university in 1995 with a doctorate in literature. From 1995-2000, he was a producer and director with Taunus Film-Produktions GmbH. Boll was Chief Executive Officer of Bolu Filmproduction and Distribution GmbH which he founded in 1992. He continued to direct, write and produce feature films until 2016. His main companies are Event Films in Vancouver and Bolu Film in Germany. A longtime resident of Canada, Boll owned the restaurant "Bauhaus" in Vancouver from 2015 to 2020. Returned to Germany and resumed filming in 2020.
Uwe's newest film (First Shift) is now available On Demand and in theaters.
Episode 476 "1408", "Escape Plan" and "Slingshot" Director: Mikael Håfström
Jan Mikael Hafstrom is a Swedish filmmaker and screenwriter. He is widely recognized for making the 2003 film Evil, which earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Primarily a horror film director, he directed 1408 (2007) which is based on a Stephen King novel and the Anthony Hopkins starrer The Rite (2011). He has worked with popular Hollywood actors including John Cusack, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone.
Michael's latest movie "Slingshot" is a hidden gem and one of the best movies I have seen all year. Casey Affleck is amazing.
Aedin joins the podcast for a second time to talk Cobra Kai, Mitch's heel turn and redemption, what he will miss most about Cobra Kai. We also talk about his experiences with Ralph, William and other cast members.. Aedin also has an interest and love for Stand up comedy and we hit on that and so much more. Aedin is really a wonderful kid and actor. Always enjoy speaking with him.
Dallas joins me for a second time to talk all things "Cobra Kai" and Kenny.
We break down how Kenny was done dirty in the first part of Season 6 by many people (including the writers), the infuriating Anthony LaRusso, Kenny's Arc, Kenny potentially joining Tori in Cobra Kai, the lack of respect he was shown by every sensei (except Silver and Kreese) and why isn't Robby getting some much deserved forgiveness.
We touch on just about everything in addition to Dallas's college plans, charity's he's a part of and so much more.
Welcome my absolute favorite character from Cobra Kai, Dallas Young.
The best part of Season 6 has been the emergence of "Kwon" who is sure to have a profound impact the rest of the way in Parts II and III of Cobra Kai.
Kwon is portrayed by the very talented Brandon H. Lee.
Brandon and I cover a lot of ground in this interview.
We discuss his legendary name (no relation), his amazing on screen presence that is shared with some of the all time great actors, the fact that his ability might be "too good", Shang Chi and his stunt work, his commitment to the craft and an amazing amount of Cobra Kai.
His future is immensely bright but more importantly he is a wonderful human being.
Episode 472 Stranger Things and Orange is The New Black Actor: Catherine Curtin.
Catherine Curtin is best known for her role as Claudia Henderson in Stranger Things and correctional officer Wanda Bell in the Netflix comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black.
Catherine joins me to talk about her amazing career, her time on Stranger Things, not being in the final season of Stranger Things, Orange is The New Black, her amazing character development and we end the discussion talking about our dogs!
Ben portrays "Sam" in HBO's hit new show "Task". Simply put, Ben has been terrific.
Ben and I talk about a multitude of things. We discuss acting in his first major role. We talk about being 10 years old and being in one of the best shows of the year. Ben and I breakdown how "Sam" truly is the light in a very dark show. We touch upon his rapport with Tom Pelphrey and Emilia Jones. We discuss Chickens, the heart of his character and more.
I am honored to be Ben's first interview, but better than that I really enjoyed meeting and talking to Ben!
Damon Herriman is supremely talented actor known for his iconic portrayals of Charles Manson in both "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" and "Mindhunter". He is also known for his Portrayal of "Dewey" in "Justified". Damon's most recent work "The Bikeriders" is one of the best movies of 2024.
Damon and I talk about being an underrated actor, his portrayal of Charles Manson on two separate projects, Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Justified, and so much more.
I really like Damon as an actor and a human being.
Three time Emmy winning Cinematographer David Mullen stops by @mondaymorningcritic to talk about his career, projects and his journey.
M. DAVID MULLEN, ASC studied filmmaking and cinematography at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), where he received his Master’s Degree. Since then, he has photographed almost forty independent feature films, plus several television series and pilots.
He was nominated for the IFP Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography in 2000 for Twin Falls Idaho and again in 2004 for Northfork, both films by Michael and Mark Polish. He won the Dublin Film Critics Circle Award for Best Feature Cinematography in 2017 for The Love Witch.
In 2000, he photographed Jackpot, the first 24P HD feature to be released theatrically in North America.
In 2004, he became a member of the American Society of Cinematographers; in 2007, he joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Projects released theatrically in the past few years include The Love Witch (2016) and 90 Minutes in Heaven (2015). Recent television work includes The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Get Shorty, and the pilot episode of Designated Survivor.
Many of his features have played at major film festivals over the years. Twin Falls Idaho, Northfork, Two Brothers & A Bride, Assassination of a High School President, Manure, and Big Sur were shown at the Sundance Film Festival. Stay Cool played at the Tribeca Film Festival and Jennifer's Body at the Toronto International Film Festival. The Love Witch was shown in many festivals worldwide in 2016.
He also updated the classic textbook Cinematography with original author Kris Malkiewicz, and has written a number of articles about his own work for various filmmaking magazines.
Episode 469 "Sugar" Cinematographer: Richard Rutkowski.
An active cinematographer whose work encompasses indie features, documentary, commercials, and major streaming productions, Richard is based in New York and also works extensively overseas. His photography on the first seasons of FX’s Cold War spy drama The Americans drew widespread critical acclaim. Likewise his camerawork on the wartime drama Manhattan, set in Los Alamos during the top secret creation of the atom bomb, earned glowing mentions and two ASC Award Nominations for Best Cinematography. Recent projects include Apple’s Sugar, starring Colin Farrell and James Cromwell, and the WW II epic Masters of the Air, produced by Gary Goetzman, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. Additional credits include the pilot and three seasons of Amazon’s international action hit Jack Ryan, USA Network’s surrealist drama Falling Water, produced by Gale Ann Hurd, and Hulu’s Castle Rock for producers Sam Shaw and Dustin Thomason. Most recently Richard filmed the pilot block of The Hunting Wives, a new series produced by Lionsgate for the Starz Network.
Growing up in Provincetown, Massachusetts; Fort Smith, Arkansas; and Water Mill, New York - disparate locations that traced the career of his late father, landscape painter Casimir Rutkowski - Richard developed an appreciation of context, diversity, and the examined details of individual environments. His early ambition was to become an architect.
While attending Harvard College, Richard began making 16mm short films mixing live action, stop animation, and electronic sound composition. One such project was Sunshine Superman, created with the artist Christopher Knowles and screened in festivals and in art gallery exhibition ever since. While working as first assistant to extraordinary cinematographers such as Ed Lachman ASC; Eric Edwards; David Stockton ASC; and the late Freddie Francis BSC, Rutkowski continued lensing short films and indie features for emerging directors. After earning a Grand Jury Prize at Slamdance for Kevin Asher Green's minimalist mini-DV film Homework, Rutkowski shot director Neil Burger’s debut feature, Interview with the Assassin, nominated for Independent Spirit Awards in Best First Feature and Best Cinematography categories.
Working with a legendary mentor, theater maestro Robert Wilson, over 20 years led to Richard filming the artist's initial HD Video Portraits. Meticulously staged, slow-moving images of Mikhail Baryshnikov, Winona Ryder, Brad Pitt, Steve Buscemi, and Robert Downey Jr. sparked a growing collection that has been exhibited internationally ever since. Over a three year period Rutkowski produced, shot and directed The Space in Back of You in homage to Japanese dancer Suzushi Hanayagi, a mesmerizing, eclectic talent whose approach to stage movement deeply influenced Wilson and other avant-guard luminaries. This film premiered at New York’s Lincoln Center and has screened on Arte Channel, the Baryshnikov Center for Dance, and at the Pompidou Center in Paris. Filming groups of workers and individual laborers in painterly long takes, Richard collaborated with artist Sharon Lockhart on Double Tide, Lunchbreak and Exit, projects since screened at MoMA in New York, LA’s Hammer Museum and other major gallery and museum installations over the last twelve years.
Episode 468. "A Tribe Called Quest" Ali Shaheed Muhammad.
DJ/Producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad is a hip-hop icon. As one-third of legendary hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest, his influence and impact on the musical landscape is still felt today.
In April of 2024, "A Tribe Called Quest" was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The soft-spoken and contemplative Brooklyn native began a life of music at an early age, spending years DJing parties in his Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood before co-founding Tribe in 1985. The group’s socially conscious lyrics and unique production style is as innovative today as it was two decades ago.
Muhammad carried that classic sound into the production unit The Ummah with Jay Dilla and Q-Tip, and continued working with artists including Faith Evans, Mos Def, and D’Angelo. In 1999, he co-founded the Grammy nominated all-star trio Lucy Pearl with Dawn Robinson, formerly of En Vogue, and Raphael Saadiq, of Tony! Toni! Toné!
After Lucy Pearl, Muhammad focused his attention on his production company and developing new talent. In 2004, he released the very personal and adventurous solo debut LP Shaheedulah and Stereotypes, featuring some of his new proteges. Working on material for a follow-up, Muhammad set up a studio with Martin “Doc” McKinney of Esthero and Weeknd fame, and continued writing and collaborating with other artists as well.
In 2017, Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest) formed the band, The Midnight Hour. In addition to musical releases and touring, they’ve teamed to score a myriad of television and film projects: Marvel’s Luke Cage (Netflix), Raising Kanan (Starz), The Equalizer (CBS), Reasonable Doubt (Hulu), Run This Town (2019), Washington Black (2023), Boogie (2021), and Bitchin’, The Sound and Fury of Rick James (2021).
In 2019, Younge, Muhammad, Andrew Lojero and Adam Block created Jazz Is Dead (JID): a multimedia company specializing in the production of live concerts, studio albums, television and film. JID concerts have earned an ever-growing fanbase through national and international tours. Under the label, Younge and Muhammad have produced albums with their musical heroes including luminaires such as Roy Ayers, Lonnie Liston Smith, Gary Bartz, Jean Carne, João Donato and Marcos Valle.
Episode 467 "Sweet Tooth" Actors: Christian Convery and Nonso Anozie.
Christian Convery (Gus) joins me for a second time and Nonso Anozie also (Thomas) joins me to talk about the third and final Season of Sweet Tooth. They talk about what they will miss in the final season, the influence they've had on each other and Nonso's mentorship throughout the course of the show. Nonso talks about not having a father present in his life growing up, which makes his portrayl of Thomas that much more special. They share some honest thoughts and I really enjoyed speaking with them both.
In a recent interview, I had the chance to speak to the very talented Tom Blyth.
Tom and I talk "Billy the Kid", Tom and Billy both having UK roots, Billy the Kid is much deeper than meets the eye, how Tom would end the show and the temptation for a Shawshank Redemption ending.
Tom Keir Blyth is an English actor. His films include Scott and Sid (2018), Benediction (2021), The Hunger Games, Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023). He stars as the titular character of the MGM+ series Billy the Kid (2022) and a supporting role in the HBO series The Gilded Age (2022). Blyth was born in Birmingham and grew up in Woodthorpe, a suburb of Nottingham. He is the son of soap opera producer Gavin Blyth, who passed away when he was 14. Blyth attended Arnold Hill Academy and Bilborough College. His mother Charlotte, a careers counselor, signed him up for drama classes at the Television Workshop. He also joined the National Youth Theatre. He went on to train at the Juilliard School in New York City, as had been his dream, graduating in 2020.
Jason Hill is a multi-talented artist who has made a name for himself as an award-winning film composer, platinum-selling recording artist, record producer and mixer. Hill’s upcoming projects include; Apple TV+'s drama series Dark Matter, which premieres May 8th; and season 4 of Showtime’s Couples Therapy, which premieres May 31st. Hill is also a music producer on theforthcoming Robbie Williams’ biopic, Better Man. Notable film and television credits include David Fincher's psychological thriller film, Gone Girl; the Emmy-winning series, Mindhunter; Voir; Videosyncrasy; and his only animated short film, Bad Travelling (part of the Emmy-winning series Love, Death, and Robots); Elijah Bynum’s drama film, Magazine Dreams; Apple TV+'s Extrapolations; and City On Fire; Netflix’s Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened; The Confession Killer; and This Is A Robbery; and Philip O'leary's film, The Buffalo Hunt. In addition to his work in film/television scoring and production, Hill is also the lead singer, guitarist, and producer for the band LOUIS XIV along with the band Vicky Cryer (which contained members of bands The Killers, Muse, Julian Casablancas and the Voids, Jet, and Jamiroquai). In 2011, he also joined The New York Dolls and played bass on several tours after producing the album Dancing Backward in High Heels, their final Dolls album. He has produced, written records or otherwise worked with such artists as The Killers, David Bowie, Robbie Williams, Jet, Sky Ferreira, Brandon Flowers, Ariel Pink, The Virgins, Macy Gray, Neon Trees, The Bronx, Nick Littlemore/Luke Steele (Empire of the Sun, Pnau ), IDKHBTFM (I Don't Know How But They Found Me), and more. Hill was also part of the seminal alt country band, Convoy in his early years. In 2015 Hill bought a building in Glendale that was originally built as a music studio in the mid-1970s and reimagined it into one of the world’s premier modern recording facilities, Department of Recording and Power. This iconic complex was once the birthplace of massive hits from The Beach Boys, James Brown, Barbra Streisand, Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, Joe Cocker, and many more, and is now reborn for the next generation of influential artists.
Composer Brandon Roberts joins me to talk about his work, (Thanksgiving, Land of Bad) Thomas Newman, composing music, John Williams, Awards and so much more.
Emmy Award winning composer Brandon Roberts’ music can be heard all over the scoring world today. From the Academy Award winning documentary Free Solo, to the pulsing action of World War Z and Logan, to the surreal reimagining of Jordan Peele’s Twilight Zone and the horror of Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving.
Upon graduating from the USC Scoring for Motion Pictures & Television program, Brandon began composing for films, television and albums in a wide range of styles. Projects include such large-scale feature films as A Quiet Place (I and II), Logan, Chaos Walking, and World War Z. In addition, he has composed for several independent features including: The Woman In Black (I and II), Warm Bodies, The Giver, and Unbroken: Path To Redemption.
Brandon’s music can be found in acclaimed television shows as well, including Battlestar Galactica, V, AMC’s Revolutionary War spy drama, TURN: Washington’s Spies, and Freeform’s Motherland: Fort Salem. Brandon’s recent co-scores with frequent collaborator Marco Beltrami include Jordan Peele’s CBS All Access reboot of The Twilight Zone, the Fox horror feature Underwater starring Kristen Stewart, and the Focus Features political documentary The Way I See It which earned a People’s Choice Award for best documentary score. The popular summer Netflix horror trilogy, Fear Street, featured a co-score with Beltrami (Fear Street: Part 2) as well as additional music in Pt1 and Pt3. Brandon’s other recent scores include additional music on the Paramount feature Tom Clancy’s: Without Remorse, starring Michael B. Jordan and New Line Cinema’s, The Nun II.
Brandon resides in Tarzana, CA and is a dual-citizen of United States and Canada.
Episode 463. "You Can't Run Forever" Actor: Isabelle Anaya.
Isabelle Anaya stops by to talk her newest movie "You Can't Run Forever." She stars along side Academy Award winner J.K. Simmons.
Isabelle plays Miranda.
Miranda, a young woman already suffering from acute anxiety due to a past tragedy, faces a new terror when a serial killer chooses her as his new target. In a harrowing hunt through the woods, Miranda finds strength she never knew she had as she tries to elude her murderous tracker. Academy Award® winner J.K. Simmons stars in a spine-chilling thriller about the strength of family and the astonishing power of the human spirit.
We also talk her love of music, Guns N Roses, Game of Thrones, the Guitar and more.
Episode 462 "Heat" | "The Last of the Mohicans" | "Manhunter" Cinematographer: Dante Spinotti.
Dante Spinotti was born in Tolmezzo, Udine, in the northeastern Italian Region of Friuli. He began his career at RAI (Italian TV), before that he spent lot of time in Kenia as cinematographer for his uncle. In 1985, producer Dino De Laurentiis offered him a chance to work in USA for the first time with Michael Mann for the feature Manhunter (1986). From that experience, Spinotti became one of the most appreciated cinematographer in Hollywood. His particular vision gives a movie a great sense of reality.
Among his works are: The Last of the Mohicans (1992) (Academy Nomination), Heat (1995), L.A. Confidential (1997) (Academy Nomination), The Insider (1999) (Academy Nomination), and Wonder Boys (2000).
Episode 570 "Revenge of the Nerds" Actor: Robert Carradine
Robert joins me to talk about his new podcast "The Party Nerds Pop-Cast"
We also dive into his filmography, talking about some of the more underrated entries.
We conclude the interview with a deep dive of "Revenge of the Nerds"
The topics we touch on are:
1. Why Revenge of the Nerds divides so many people (I believe its generational)
2. The fact that Siskel and Ebert loved it.
3. What seems to get lost is that this is not a perfect movie, but it has a big heart. It's a movie about standing up for yourself, confronting bullies and be ok in your own skin. It is absolutely a feel good story.
Episode 461. "Joker" | "The Dark Knight Rises" | "The Long Game" Actor: Brett Cullen.
You can currently find Brett Cullen in "The Long Game". In 1955, five young Mexican-American caddies, out of the love for the game, were determined to learn how to play, so they created their own golf course in the middle of the South Texas desert.
Brett is simply superb as Thomas Wayne in "Joker" in one of the more iconic scenes in the movie. He is also in Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight Rises", "Ghost Rider" "42" and so many more.
Brett and I talk about Fatherhood, "Joker", playing the best version of Thomas Wayne I have ever seen, working with Christopher Nolan and more.
Chelsea Muir portrays Yan Mi in the Max Original "Warrior".
Chelsea was so much fun to speak with. She's refreshingly honest, funny, kind and a wonderful actor to boot.
Chelsea Muirhead is a Filipino-Scottish actor from Toronto. After discovering her love of acting in high school, performing as Columbia in "Rocky Horror picture show", Chelsea soon found herself diving into her passion and attending the Ryerson Theatre School (now known as the Ryerson School of Performance). It was here at Ryerson were Chelsea trained for 4 years studying acting for both film and theatre. Whilst in her studies in theatre school Chelsea has stared in several plays such as Regan in Shakespeare's tragedy "King Lear", to more comedic contemporary rolls, such as Loretta in George F. Walker's "Featuring Loretta" to name a few. On top of being an accomplished theatre actress, Chelsea has broken into the film industry with gusto. Upon graduating the highly renowned school of performance in 2016 Chelsea has had tremendous commercial success on the circuit, including landing her first break out roll as Jill in the horror/ thriller "Spare parts" directed by Andrew Hunt.
Episode 459. The Gentleman, The Covenant and Wrath of Man. Composer: Chris Benstead.
Chris Benstead and Guy Ritchie have made one hell of a team the last few years. Academy and BAFTA award winner Chris Benstead, is a British composer with a distinct and captivating voice. His remarkable career spans a multitude of noteworthy projects. Collaborating extensively with director Guy Ritchie, Chris composed the score for the upcoming feature The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare starring Henry Cavil, and recently finished the much anticipated NETFLIX series The Gentlemen, a follow up to the 2019 film that Chris also scored. His music for Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant (starring Jake Gyllenhaal) and the Jason Statham thrillers Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre and Wrath of Man were received to much critical acclaim. His work on Disney’s blockbuster hits Aladdin and Beauty and The Beast showcases his versatility. In collaboration with Alan Menken, Chris not only composed additional music for these iconic films but also played a pivotal role in producing and arranging the songs for a modern audience. Recent additions to his impressive portfolio include scoring the action thrillers Jericho Ridge and Rupture directed by Hamzah Jamjoom. Chris received OSCAR and BAFTA awards for his work as re-recording mixer on Alfonso Cuaron’s masterpiece Gravity, starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. Chris’ unique skillset allowed him to mix and sculpt the music in an extremely immersive way, pushing the limits of surround sound and exploiting the new ‘Dolby Atmos’ standard. Previously, as an in-demand music editor Chris worked on over 40 films including the latest James Bond film No Time to Die, Wonder Woman, Black Swan, Brave, Thor and Cinderella and has worked with some of the most high-profile directors in the industry including Paul Greengrass and Sir Kenneth Branagh. Chris is a versatile multi-instrumentalist and achieved a First-Class honours in music and sound recording from the University of Surrey. He was also named as Alumni of the year for his ground-breaking achievement in music mixing on ‘Gravity’.
David can be seen as Chef Derek Finway in "Pig," opposite Nicolas Cage, answering the question, "Who has my pig?" Best known for his roles as a goofy, callow youth in films like Spring Break, Splash, Total Recall, and Turner and Hooch, David is a veteran in the industry with a career that spans over four decades. He appeared on Broadway in his teens in Liz Swados' "Runaways" before making his screen debut in "Life on The Mississippi," playing the young Mark Twain. Over the years David has performed in countless television series and commercials, in regional theatre around the country, and often works behind the scenes as an editor, camera operator, and assistant director. David is a long time member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, as well as SAG-AFTRA and Actors Equity.
Episode 457 "American Rust" Showrunners: Dan Futterman and Adam Rapp.
Dan Futterman is a two time Academy Award nominated writer. Having been nominated in 2006 for #capote and again in 2015 for #foxcatcher As an actor he has appeared along side #robinwilliams in #thebirdcage and #angelinajolie as Daniel Pearl in "A Might Heart"
Adam Rapp is an excellent writer who is a big part of American Rust in both as a writer and Executive Producer. Both Adam and Dan make for a wonderful team. They are both gifted storytellers who are very good at what they do.
Episode 456. Jeff Daniels and Maura Tierney. "American Rust"
Jeff Daniels and Maura Tierney stop by to talk about the gritty, intense world of "American Rust" (Prime Video).
I think Maura Tierney offered me a job as a writer on "American Rust" for Season 3. I might take her up on it.
Maura also talks about her work in The Iron Claw, Jeff touches on Dumb and Dumber and Newsroom and we all talk about why American Rust works so well. Jeff and Maura are at the top of their profession and what they do. Both have built incredible filmographies, in all genres. Each has a lifetime of iconic performances. They both bring their "A" Game to "American Rust".
Emily and I talk about the impact of Toy Story 3, Playing Bonnie, Why Toy Story 3 hits hard and so much more.
Get ready to dive into the magical world of Disney with actress Emily Ricks in this exclusive interview discussing Toy Story 3! 🌟 Watch as she reveals her passion for acting, unforgettable moments on set, and the secrets behind the Pixar masterpiece. From behind-the-scenes stories to her experience working on this iconic movie, this is a must-watch for all Disney and movie lovers. Join us as we explore the enchanting universe of Toy Story 3 through the eyes of the talented Emily Ricks. Don't miss out on this fun and exciting journey into the world of animated brilliance! 🎬
I like Emily alot. Super talented, kind. Loved this interview.
Episode 454. "5lbs of Pressure" Director: Phil Allocco.
Filmmaker Phil Allocco is a feature film and commercial writer/director. His work has garnered over 60 awards and nominations. He was one of the short-listed directors picked by Steven Spielberg from a world-wide search of over 12,000 directors for his US TV series ‘On the Lot’ for FOX TV. His feature film ‘The Truth About Lies,’ was released theatrically in 2017 and won 14 awards at festivals including "The Best Of Fest" at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
In this action-thriller, Adam (Luke Evans), an ex-con back in his old neighborhood after serving a 16-year stretch for murder, walks a rocky path of forgiveness toward the son who grew up without him, while the bitter, volatile brother of the youth he killed looms in the background. Meanwhile, Mike (Rory Culkin), sick of doing the bidding of his drug-dealing uncle (Alex Pettyfer), is desperate to leave his sordid life behind. When Adam and Mike’s paths converge, inescapable destiny will give way to violence…and a final, fleeting shot at redemption.
Taking a look at the 96th Academy Awards, Al Pacino having no time for nominees, Why is the Academy continuously forgetting people during In memoriam, Jimmy Kimmel's obsession with Donald Trump, Danny Devito, Arnold, John Cena, Lily Gladstone was completely ripped off, Why would anyone want to host an awards show, the biggest snubs in Oscar history, why Adam Sandler and Jim Carrey have been penalized for being comedic actors, and so much more.
The immensely talented Jamie McShane joins me to talk about his career his role in 1923 (Marshall Kent), Wednesday (Sheriff Donovan Galpin), Sons of Anarchy (Cameron Hayes) and finally, his most current project "Task" as the absolutely frightening Perry Dorazo).
Jamie is humble, kind and such a gifted actor.
Task is arguably the best show on television right now and he's a big reason why.
Episode 452. Father and Son: Mario and Mandela Van Peebles.
Legend Mario Van Peebles joins me to talk about his newest film "Outlaw Posse", New Jack City, his father and legend Melvin Van Peebles.
We also joined by Mario's son, Mandela who is a wonderful actor in his own right who co-stars with his dad in "Outlaw Posse" Mario talks about how #whoopigoldberg casting herself, making a western, working with his son and so much more.
I have always been a huge fan of Mario's work and getting a chance to speak with him was immensely enjoyable.
John Carroll Lynch is simply put, one of the best actors on the planet. His work as Twisty the Clown in #americanhorrorstory#ahs#fargo#thefounder and my personal favorite as Eastman in #thewalkingdead#twd put him in a catagory not occupied by many.
I love this man and his work has meant so much to me. I am so very lucky to have had John on to talk about those projects and his newest, "Outlaw Posse".
Talking Points:
1. If one more reporter or journalist says "You might know the face but not the name" I am going to scream. I ask John about that.
2. John might be the best actor at making the most of every second he has on screen.
3. His work in my favorite episode of any show ever, "Here's Not Here" (The Walking Dead).
4. His character Eastman, who in one episode for many, was one of The Walking Dead fan's favorite characters.
5. John's newest project "Outlaw Posse" and working with Mario Van Peebles.
Actor Ted Chrest joins me to talk "Stranger Things" and some of his other amazing credits.
Ted is a United States Veteran (Air Force), Marshall University Graduate (BFA) and an LSU Graduate (MFA).
Some of the things we discuss...
1. Filming Season 5 and did I guess a plot point? Vecna has plans for Nancy.
2. The fact that Stranger Things fans are the absolute best fan base.
3. Why Ted Wheeler is so polarizing. Either fans love him or hate him.
4. Ted Wheeler is a better Dad than people give him credit for.
5. Ted definitely married out of his league with Karen Wheeler.
6. Ted's parenting style.
7. Ted loves Chicken, his newspaper and sleep.
8. How Ted came so close to having his marriage fall apart (Billy Hargrove).
9. Nancy missing, Mike missing, Will Byers missing, "I'm sure everyone's fine"
10. Ted is every 80's dad.
11. Joe gets emotional talking about his favorite Stranger Things moment.
12. The Duffer Brothers.
This and so much more. Joe's career goes so much deeper than Stranger Things, but he is so grateful and appreciative to be a part of Stranger Things. Joe is a great actor and solid human being.
Director Jon Gunn (American Underdog, Jesus Revolution, I Still Believe, The Case for Christ) talks his newest project "Ordinary Angels"
Based on a remarkable true story, ORDINARY ANGELS centers on Sharon (Hilary Swank), a fierce but struggling hairdresser in small-town Kentucky who discovers a renewed sense of purpose when she meets Ed (Alan Ritchson), a widower working hard to make ends meet for his two daughters. With his youngest daughter waiting for a liver transplant, Sharon sets her mind to helping the family and will move mountains to do it. What unfolds is the inspiring tale of faith, everyday miracles, and ordinary angels.
Jon and I have a fun discussion about movies, life, faith and family.
Episode 448. "The Dynasty: The New England Patriots. Director Matt Hamachek.
Matt Hamachek is a talented director who has also directed "Tiger" (2021). The Dynasty: New England Patriots takes us inside the franchise’s 20-year journey, from the unique chemistry that fueled six Super Bowl wins to the internal strife that sparked a turf war. Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft, and key players reveal the road to—and cost of—greatness.
I bring up some key talking points with Matt which include...
1. Why was Spygate held to a different standard than what Conor Stalions did at Michigan?
2. The Boston Media.
3. If he is surprised Bill Belichick does not have a job for the 2024 season.
4. Brady's roots and what fueled him.
5. Roger Goodell's lack of leadership and consistency.
6. The lazy narrative of "See, it was all Brady"
7. The two people Matt found to be most interesting.
8. Earl Woods and Tom Brady Sr. similarities.
9. Deshaun Watson and Tom Brady basically getting the same punishments. Brady was accused of deflating footballs.
This and more. This is a GREAT documentary that is about football but also about storytelling. I loved it.
Episode 447. Welcome Home, Franklin. Craig Schulz (Charles's Son) , Robb Armstrong and Raymond Persi.
Sparked by the assassination of Martin Luther King, Franklin Armstrong was born in the Peanuts Universe on July 31, 1968. With the hope of promoting tolerance- Harriet Glickman a teacher contacted Peanuts creator Charles Schulz.
The origin story for one of Peanuts’ most beloved characters, Franklin, follows how he approaches making new friends. Franklin’s family is always on the move with his dad’s military job, and everywhere he goes Franklin finds support in a notebook filled with his grandfather’s advice on friendship. But when Franklin tries his usual strategies with the Peanuts gang, he has trouble fitting in. That’s until he learns about the neighborhood Soap Box Derby race. According to his grandfather, everyone loves a winner! He’s sure that winning the race will also mean winning over some new friends. All he needs is a partner, which he finds in Charlie Brown. Franklin and Charlie Brown work together to build a car and in the process become good buddies. But as the race nears, the pressure mounts — can their car and their newfound friendship make it to the finish line?
Episode 446. "The Shawshank Redemption" Actor: Don McManus.
Don and I talk Seinfeld (Duncan Meyer), Dexter, The Shawshank Redemption, Vice and his most recent film Joker: Folie à Deux.
A veteran character actor on some of TV's most quirky series, Don McManus got his first recurring role playing Erick Reese Hillman, the first gay character to marry his boyfriend on television, on the critically acclaimed CBS dramedy "Northern Exposure." Next up for McManus was a change of pace, playing dynamic manager Lee Michaelson in Steven Bochco's searing courtroom drama "Murder One" and a recurring role as a recovering alcoholic on the gripping family drama "Party of Five." McManus continued to work steadily, with guest roles in such high-profile series as the political drama "The West Wing," the crime series "Cold Case," and the refreshingly original sitcom "Malcolm in the Middle." His next big recurring role was as Assistant District Attorney John Lennox on David E. Kelley's off-kilter law series "Boston Legal," where he appeared as an attorney who battles Crane, Poole, & Schmidt. In between his busy television schedule, McManus also found the time to appear in several films, including the critically acclaimed prison drama "The Shawshank Redemption," Paul Thomas Anderson's absurdist "Punch-Drunk Love," and the big-budget Nicolas Cage adventure "National Treasure."
Episode 445 "Scambled" Actor, Director and Writer: Leah McKendrick.
Leah McKendrick is a Latina American multi-hyphenate filmmaker and actress from San Francisco. Her directorial debut, SCRAMBLED, which she also wrote and stars in, premiered at SXSW 2023 and is based on Leah’s real journey through egg freezing and 30-something singledom.
McKendrick has multiple projects in various stages of development including the Paramount
romantic comedy BETTER LATE THAN NEVER which she is attached to direct, and penning the screenplay for TriStar’s reboot of the 80s cult classic, TROOP BEVERLY HILLS. Up next she’ll be writing the legacy sequel to the 90s slasher, I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER.
McKendrick also wrote the GREASE prequel SUMMER LOVIN’
Episode 444. "Ratatouille" Actor and Artist: Lou Romano.
This was Lou Romano's first podcast interview. It was a fun interview filled with Disney, Pixar and movie making talk! Lou is a multi talented actor and artist who has a very impressive filmography.
Lou Romano is an actor who has been in such iconic movies as Ratatouille (Linguini), Cars (Snot-Rod), The Incredibles (Bernie Kropp).
Lou has also been part of the Art department in such classics as #up #theirongiant #dumbo #luca and many more.
Lou's portrayal of Alfredo Linguini remains one of my all time favorites. Many consider Ratatouille to be one of the best animated movies ever made. Lou's rapport and friendship with Brad Bird has led to some pretty special storytelling.
Episode 443. "Silent Night" and "Zero Zero Zero" Actor: Harold Torres.
Harold comes back on the show (he was on in 2020) to talk Silent Night, Zero Zero Zero, his favorite movies, days where movies where hard to find, how he gets into the zone for roles and so much more. This hour interview went by very fast.
I have never seen a human being so nice that transforms into the most villainous of villains. He is a very, very gifted actor and he when he wants to be, scary as hell.
At 59, Mike Flynt may be too old to be on a college football field, but not too old to feel the weight of unfinished business. After nearly four decades, he returns to his alma mater to take the hit that changed everything. Bruised, doubted, and nearly broken, he pushes for one more game, not for glory, but for the teammates he lost, the family he fractured, and the ending he still believes is possible.
Episode 442. Actors: Wendell Pierce and Erika Woods.
***Correction. I reference an interview Wendell did with Michael K. Williams in 2021. The interview took place in 2014 and was reposted in 2021. Apologies for the error.
Wendell and Erika stop by to talk "Power Book III: Raising Kanan. I asked Wendell about the late Michael K. Williams, working together on The Wire and how this project compares to others they've done.
Wendell is a legend and I was honored to have them both on the podcast.
Episode 441. "Fury", "End of Watch" and "The Beekeeper" Director: David Ayer.
Writer and Director David Ayer has overcome some monumental adversity to become one of the best directors on the planet. David's father took his own life with a gun on Christmas Day when David was 4 years old, he bounced to over 12 different foster homes. He eventually enlisted in the Navy and sold scripts (Training Day) to get his big break. Jon Bernthal called working with David "The defining artistic experience of his life"
Talking points:
1. David and I talk about his newest film The Beekeeper.
2. Jason Statham is great in the Beekeeper. Is the rumor true he has it built into his contract that he can never lose a fight on screen?
3. We talk about the epic "Fury", it's grittiness, what actors are willing to do for David to prepare for roles and the fact that Fury Top 3 War Movie for me.
4. Is Michael Pena the most underrated actor on the planet?
5. The fact that David most assuredly should have been nominated for best screenplay for "Training Day"
Pinar Toprak is a Turkish-American Emmy-nominated composer, conductor and performer, who specializes in creating thematic scores for everything from superhero sagas and blockbuster comedies to TV series and dramas. With her work on Captain Marvel and Fortnite, Pinar is the first female composer to score both a film and video game with gross revenues of over $1 billion and $5 billion respectively.
Pinar also brings her fresh perspective and unique vision to a diversity of others musical projects, to name a few: composing the new theme for Amazon Prime Video Sports, popularly used on NFL's Thursday Night Football, composing and producing the soundtrack for Disney theme parks, including the new Epcot theme, writing and producing music for Christina Aguilera's 2019 Xperience Live Show in Las Vegas and conducting Billie Eilish's performance of "No Time To Die" at the 2022 Oscars ceremony.
2023 saw the releases of the highly anticipated Paramount animation film PAW Patrol: The Might Movie and the Netflix comedy Family Switch, starring Ed Helms and Jennifer Garner, both with a score by Pinar Toprak.
Pinar's talent for illuminating a story with her music is evident throughout her work, including scores for The Lost City (starring Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum, directed by Adam Nee and Aaron Nee), Stargirl on the CW (created by Geoff Johns and Greg Berlanti ), Syfy's Krypton (created by David S. Goyer and Damien Kindler), HBO's McMillions (directed by James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte), Slumberland (starring Jason Momoa, directed by Francis Lawrence) and Shotgun Wedding (starring Jennifer Lopez, directed by Jason Moore), among many others.