“The residents of the colonial town of Marseilles are under the thumb of police oppression and only the young rebels known as the FiveFingers are willing to stand up to them. Their battle is just, until Tau kills two policemen and flees the scene. The remaining rebels disband while the banished Tau resorts to a life of crime. Twenty years later, now known as feared outlaw The Lion of Marseilles, he is released from prison. He returns home, desiring only peace and to reconnect with those he left behind. The battle for South Africa’s freedom has been won, and former comrades-in-arms are in prominent positions as mayor, police chief, and pastor. But it quickly becomes clear to Tau that Marseilles is caught in the grip of a vicious new threat — and he must reconstitute the FiveFingers to fight frontier justice. Standing against former allies and new enemies, the re-formed FiveFingers saddle up and ride out, and put their lives at risk to save their beloved Marseilles.” – October Coast PR
I am torn on whether I should truly express just how much “fun” I had watching this incredible film. While at its core, Five Fingers For Marseilles is indeed a brilliant western film with a similar story that has been played time and time again in the world of western films, there is something very different about this tale. Maybe it’s the modernization of it all. Maybe it’s simply being old enough to remember that South Africa was not free from oppression even within my own relatively short lifespan. Or, probably most likely, it’s that this film is so damn gripping and visually stimulating that you are left with that “so awesome” feeling and then go back to recapture what exactly it was that you just saw portrayed on the screen in front of you. Very much like, and I hate to make a comparison but, like the Academy Award winning western, Unforgiven. While technically classified by its setting as a “western”, this film is a dramatic thrill ride that hits so hard with a terrific story and amazing cinematography.
Five Fingers For Marseilles is available now on Video On Demand. Check out the trailer for this incredible thrill ride, here:
Hello Everyone! I hope this Black Friday finds you well and preferably not in a commercialism hells cape. But, if you do find yourself in such a space, I’m happy you have turned to our digital pages while you are in line awaiting to purchase that $100 HP laptop. And we have some wonderful words from one of the funniest stand up comedians who has been killing it on stage and on screen for over 30 years. It’s Chip Chinery!
Chip has been a figure that I have recognized from so many different projects, specials, etc. since I was but a young boy. Most recently I truly loved his role in the hit comedy The Battle of the Sexes in which he truly brought his A game. I was truly excited to talk to Chip about his work on this film, his history in the world of stand up, and even one specific project that we always seem to have to bring up here at Trainwreck’d Society. The man has really put in the work to be considered a legend, and we truly believe he is one.
So with that, please enjoy some wonderful words from the legendary comedian himself, Mr. Chip Chinery!
When did you first discover you were a hilarious person and wanted to make people laugh for a living? What initially drew you into the world of stand up comedy and other methods of performance and creating art?
I was funny in grade school. Some people were gifted academically or athletically, My thing was a good sense of humor. I found a “What I want to be when I grow up” essay from grade school. I wanted to be Rich Little or Johnny Carson. Speaking of whom, every weekday night when I was in grade school, my mom would watch Johnny Carson’s monologue. I used to sneak out of bed and sit just outside my door, where I got a clear shot of the TV down the hallway in my parents’ bedroom. It was then, at nine years old, sitting silently on the rug in my Six Million Dollar Man pajamas, that I knew what I wanted to do: Be a guy on TV, being funny. I had no idea how I was going to accomplish this. But I knew Johnny did it, and he was from a much smaller town than Cincinnati.
At 13, I started writing down ideas for jokes. My gems: “I was so fat all I had do was look at a gas station hose and the bell would ring.” “Can dogs do sit ups?” “Do birds come from birdseed?” C’mon, I was 13!
At 16, I answered a classified ad and started doing stand-up at a University of Cincinnati area bar named “d.w.eye”. This was back in 1981, only six months after Jimmy Carter left The Oval Office. It was a less politically correct era when a watering hole had no problem calling itself “d.w.eye” and was even less concerned about employing someone who had yet to become acquainted with a razor. My big closer was an impression of Richard Nixon doing a commercial for Maxell cassette tapes: “Back in the early 1970s. I needed a tape I could rely on.” C’mon, I was 16!
I put stand-up mostly on the back burner to finish high school and college. It wasn’t until a year out of college while I was working at a TV station as a cameraman, that I got back into doing stand-up at open mic nights. After a year of open mics, I hit the road full-time in 1988. From 1988 to 1994, I worked 50 weeks a year on 475 stages, in 296 cities, over 42 states, making my way up to comedy club headliner.
In 1994, at 29, I decided to take my chances in Hollywood. It would be 160 auditions over 3½ years before I booked my first commercial, and almost four years before I booked my first TV show: 3rd Rock From the Sun, playing the inept maintenance man in several episodes from 1997-1999. Good News: That is where I had my first onscreen kiss. Bad News: It was with John Lithgow. But it was official: I was now a real working actor in Hollywood.
After all of your years on the road as a stand up, what would you consider to be some of your favorite cities to perform in, that others may not realize are amazing places for comedy?
I loved Chicago, especially Zanies and The Improv. I always had a great time in Baltimore at Slapstix and Garvin’s in Washington D.C. (where 16 year old Dave Chappelle opened for me). Des Moines Spaghetti Works was a fun room and The Funny Bone in Columbus, Ohio. I had some great shows in my hometown of Cincinnati but also some of my worst ones as. You are never a prophet in your homeland! Best kept secret: Ogden, Utah.
Last year you appeared in the absolutely brilliant film Battle of the Sexes. What was it like to work on such a unique and brilliant story? Where you already well versed in that infamous match?
I am old enough to have seen the Battle of The Sexes match live on TV as a young’n. In the movie, I played Roone Arledge but was actually ten years older than the ABC Sports President was when the match took place. I owe it all to Oil of Olay.
I had a cool experience on set. I was chatting with Emma Stone on a break between scenes.
Me: Where are you from?
Emma: Scottsdale. You?
Me: Cincinnati.
Emma: My parents grew up in Columbus. They went to Miami.
Me: I went to Miami. What year did your folks graduate?
Emma: 1982.
Me: I graduated in 1986. Were they in a fraternity or sorority?
Emma: My mom was a DG.
I texted my buddy whose wife Margaret was a DG. We came back from lunch an hour later.
Me: Emma, the world just got smaller. I went to school with your Aunt Karin. She was housemates with my friends Margaret and Katy. She dated my friend Roger.
Emma: No way!! How do you spell your name? (As she pulled out her phone to text Karin).
I know it was only one episode, on one of the many television programs you have been on, but I always ask every guest we have had on here who even remotely appeared in one of my favorite television shows of all time how their experience was…..that show is Becker! In 2002 you appeared in this brilliant Ted Danson vehicle that I still consider one of the greats. So, what do you recollect about when it comes to working on this damn fine program?
Ted Danson is really down to earth. He’s just another actor on the set. One of the things I really liked about Ted: He wanted to change the order of my line and his at the beginning of our second scene. He asked me if that it be okay. I said, “Sure.” He asked the director Gail Mancuso who said yes. Then he came back and told me we were going to do it the new way.
I asked him if it was difficult to do a new show every week after 20 years of it. He said that Becker is harder because that’s much different than how he usually speaks. Becker talks much faster.
We taped in front of an audience on Wednesday night. My scene was second up. After Ted finished the first scene, he came over and sat in our doctor office set and said, “Do you want to run lines?” I said, “Yeah, sure!”. That was so cool and helped focusing me.
My mom was a big fan of the show. During the week, I got a photo with Ted. He had his arm around my shoulder. I had it blown up into an 8×10 and asked him to autograph it for my mom for her birthday. He wrote, “It was nice to work with your son. Happy Birthday, Ted Danson” That was very thoughtful of him. My mom had it hanging on her wall in the nursing home until she passed away.
When you look back on your illustrious career as an entertainer, what would you say you are most proud of?
I’m glad that I created several hours of stand-up and sketch comedy that didn’t exist before I thought of it. I like that comedy lightens peoples’ loads. I remember doing a sketch show here in LA at The Acme Comedy Theatre the weekend after 9/11. People needed a laugh and we had a great show. It’s a blessing to be able to make people laugh.
When you are not appearing on just about every damn show on television, or working on something else in the creative world, what would we find you doing to enjoy a little bit of “me time”?
I enjoy playing poker in several competitive leagues around town. Some of us make the annual trek to Las Vegas in the summer for the World Series of Poker. My best finish was in 2015 when I made it into Day Three of The Colossus event. There were 22,374 entrants. I placed 369th.
What does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to plug to our readers?
I keep creating content on my personal finance website ChipsMoneyTips.com. That’s where I give money tips a candy-coated shell. It’s free to subscribe!
Showbiz-wise, I just shot an episode of ABC’s new sitcom The Kids Are Alright in which I play Bob Parson the town pharmacist. I also did an episode of the new CBS sitcom FAM in which I had a fun part as a race track announcer. I also lend my pear-shaped dulcet tones to the animated Dragon’s Rescue Rangers.
What was the last thing that made you smile?
Norm MacDonald has a show on Netflix. He’s very funny. I also went on a YouTube bender with Norm as well as Bill Burr while I was doing stuff at my desk. Those guys are funny!
Hello Folks! We have a very exciting interview to share with you all on this wonderful Wednesday. Today we have some words from a man who was once a part of one of the most special cinematic experiences the world has ever known. That man is actor & so many more things, Paris Themmen. You may remember him as one Mike Teevee, one of the “lucky” kids who found the well sought after golden ticketing the legendary film Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory.
Themmen has had a wonderful career beyond the world of Wonka, and also has done a fantastic job at keeping the wonder and excitement of this almost 5 year old treasure of a film alive and well with all of us. Regular readers here at Trainwreck’d Society, just by all means be regular listeners to one of our affiliated podcasts, Super Geeky Play Date, and should know that some great questions are coming up for Paris. SGPD has been notorious for diving hard into the theory that Grandpa Joe is actually the most evil character of the film. So with that, we were curious to see what a person who was actually there during the making of the Roald Dahl adaptation. Also Paris is renowned traveller in his own right, and we were equally as excited to ask him about that.
So, please enjoy some wonderful words from the brilliant Paris Themmen!
You got into the world of acting at a very young age. What compelled you to do so? And how was your experience as a child actor during the 60’s and 70’s? And what was the very first gig you remember getting? How old were you, and was there anything from that early experience that you learned from that experience that as continued to bleed into the rest of your work?
My parents were both classical musicians: my dad was a conductor and a clarinetist for many years at American ballet Theatre and my mom was a composer and a pianist. She was honored at the Kennedy Center one year. At times they would play Broadway shows. My mother brought my older sister into a talent agent one day and I went just along for the ride but the agent asked if I wanted to try acting as well, I was six years old. I booked the first commercial I went up for, Jiff peanut butter. I kept booking commercials, eventually doing about two dozen of them. When I was eight I was on Broadway in Mame with Ann Miller. My mom would travel around the city with me for auditions and work on lines with me. I would show up at these big office buildings with my portfolio, I think the ad guys were surprised to see me acting so professional at such a young age.
I built up a reputation around the city and when the auditions occurred for Willy Wonka I was one of the few kids in town called in. After Willy Wonka I was on Broadway in the Rothschilds. I was attending the Professional Children’s School and had to leave early on Wednesdays to go to a matinee. I would ride the buses and subways for eight shows a week. It made me very independent.
And as I am sure you are asked regularly and maybe getting tired of it, but it behooves us to ask about your experience on the set of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. My specific question is what catering would be like on a set based around candy? Also how was your experience overall?
We shot Willy Wonka in Munich Germany in late 1970. Oktoberfest occurred around that time where I saw a baby drinking beer from a bottle. Also they were setting up the ‘72 Olympics. There was definitely candy on set. One of the sponsors for the film was Quaker Oats. Although there was beautiful European chocolate nearby, the chocolate bars were made by Hershey and flown in from the states. There were food stylists on set to turn candy into interesting concoctions; my favorite was the “gum” that Violet ate, it was actually a rather tasty toffee. Our actual meals were eaten at a canteen at the Bavarian Filmworks studios where the movie was shot. Other movies shot there include Cabaret, Das boot, Never ending story, etc. I remember particularly liking Wienerschnitzel. Overall the experience was excellent, if you are ever going to be an 11-year-old in a film, I recommend that it be Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
As an obvious expert, I was hoping you may be able to help me out with this: My friends at the podcast Super Geeky Play Date are obsessed with the online theory that Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory is a sort of whimsical take on the 7 Deadly Sins. Now, I know you were but a child working on the film, but was this ever discussed? Is this real?
Certainly I have heard this theory along with endless other theories that the Internet hive mind presents. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a cautionary tale, the children each have a tragic flaw and they pay a price directly related to that flaw. I recently read an online article about Dante’s Inferno and Willy Wonka recently, that one seems closer to the mark than seven deadly sins. But it’s all the same stuff, from slightly different angles. Scratch the surface and you will find online references to Grandpa Joe as the villain and his alleged coke nails. People come up with these theories and then run with them. It’s a blessing and a curse: see covfefe.
I was a kid so I wouldn’t have been a party to those conversations but Mel Stuart, Gene Wilder and Jack Albertson were very bright guys so I’m sure the theme of sin and retribution was not lost on them.
One other argument you may be able to settle: Is Grandpa Joe the real antagonist of the film? Was it odd that he was lying in bed eating cabbage soup all day, and suddenly he walks just fine when there is something to be gained?
I just covered this a bit but in my opinion the theory is over wrought. I think he’s a good man, although more flawed than Charlie due to his being an adult. That’s why Wonka needed a child.
You have worked in just about every aspect of the world of film, television, and the theatre, both in front of the camera/audience and behind the scenes. With that in mind, which aspect of the world of entertainment have you enjoy the most?
I’ve had the most fun acting, but I wish I had spent more time writing or directing.
I understand you are quite the renowned traveler, even working in the world of travel agencies for a while. I’ve been living outside the states for the last 6 years as well, and try to travel as much as I can. One thing I am always curious to know is this: What was one place that you were completely surprised to have enjoyed visiting? Maybe somewhere you were sort of indifferent about going to, and it turned out to be one of your favorite destinations?
Interesting question. I have had a ton of amazing experiences on the road but almost all of them were in a sense, expected by me. I’m a planner. Lonely planet guide was always there to help me decide where to go. I also find that almost every country has some amazing things to offer. Here are two tidbits that might qualify: I was traveling to New Zealand once and while at a youth hostel, I signed up for some horseback riding on a ranch. As it turned out, I was the only person that signed up so I got to spend a week with a herd of horses, and the two lovely people that run the ranch. Every morning we would ride, then break for lunch, then would ride again until sunset. I had the whole place to myself. In 2006 and 07 I traveled for an entire year. I was in Zanzabar and torn as to whether I should continue down towards South America or head north and begin a swing up through Europe and eventually home. I’ll always wonder what I missed by not turning south but one unexpected benefit of turning north was a visit to a place called Jinja, Ethiopia. It was by far the most culturally primitive place I’ve ever been. Completely tribal. It took me days and days to get there but so worth it.
What does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to plug to our readers?
Today we are featuring an amazing talented and very intriguing filmmaker who not only has done some amazing work in the past, but has some very exciting work coming to the world in the near future. It’s Andrea Shreeman, Everyone!
I was very excited to ask Andrea about her work on some older projects like The Nanny and Tree’s Lounge, but ended up learning even more about her incredible musical short film Candle, as well as a very interesting documentary she worked on entitled Half the Picture that I am most definitely going to check out as soon as possible. Andrea and all her infinite wisdom within the world of film has made her become a part of so many amazing projects and has created some of the finest visual art to date.
So, please enjoy some pretty amazing words from one of the finest minds out there creating cinematic masterminds to date, the wonderful Andrea Shreeman!
When did you first discover your passion for the world of storytelling, whether it be on screen or behind the camera? When did you first realize that this was the world you wanted to live in?
As a young child, I wrote a lot of poetry. I even put together a poetry book of all my work in primary school and gave it to about thirty adults I knew (I figured only they would truly appreciate it). I think the moment I fell hard was in high school, when I auditioned for West Side Story at Mill Mountain Playhouse, a regional theater in my small southern hometown. That was the first of five shows I would do at Mill Mountain. Being submerged in the process of building a story captivated me, but I was equally enchanted with the tellers of those stories. They were vagabond dancers and actors, mostly from Manhattan, who relished the work, and celebrated life through community and creative expression. There was a real sense of belonging. Also, it was the most I’ve ever been paid to work in the theater, and the longest, most luxurious rehearsal process I have ever had.
Scrolling through your IMDb page, I can’t help but notice that you worked in your early days on The Nanny, a program featuring a friend of this site Charles Shaughnessy. This seems light and well attuned to your work with the comedy group No Time. How was your experience on set and working on this project?
Amazing! Working in network television was, and continues to be, the holy grail (though the definition of “network” has changed to include things like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon). The energy around that set was always positive, collegial and light-hearted. Network television meant respectable hours, a cozy dressing room, and endless craft services. In an interesting note, I ran into Fran Drescher at an event last week, literally LAST WEEK, after not seeing her for decades. I shared with her that I’m about to direct my first feature film, and she asked me to send her the script. It would be a real blessing if she somehow got involved. Readers, light a candle for me!
I see you were also a production assistant on one of my all time favorite films, which would be Tree’s Lounge, featuring our old pal Michael Buscemi, and directed by Michael’s brother, Steve. It’s surprising that at a young age, you had the opportunity to work on a such a dark, and highly provocative project during the height of independent cinema – if you don’t mind sharing, how did you land that job?
I had just moved from LA to NY permanently after working as Assistant to the Directors on a film that was put together in LA, and shot in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn (Love Is All There Is). Before I moved, I called up everyone I knew to see if they had any leads on work in NY. Brad Wyman, an established producer and the uncle of a little girl I’d been nannying in LA, happened to be one of the producers on Tree’s and got me in as a post-production assistant. During the time I came up in Hollywood, generosity was at a premium. I’m noticing changes now, especially among women, but Brad has always stood out to me as someone uniquely supportive. I never met Michael, but I did have one interaction with Steve that I think is pretty funny. I was asked to deliver something to the editing room, which like every room in NY was the size of a bread box. When I opened the door to the editing room, practically on top of him, I was taken aback to see Steve Buscemi with full head of white hair. I fancied this new knowledge an insider Hollywood secret – Steve Buscemi dyes his hair!
Your 2017 musical short film Candle may very well be one the most inspiring works I have ever seen. I’m continuously telling everyone I know to check it out. I am curious to know where your inspiration came from to make something surround such subject matter?
Thank you – I appreciate you sharing that musical film. I worked with Jamee Mae, the singer/songwriter to establish the world in which the story for Candle would have the greatest impact. We knew that the visual story for the song could go in any direction, that ultimately it was about solidarity and inner strength in tough times. Once we chose domestic violence as our story container, a lot of really magical things opened up to us; like working with Christopher Hicks and America Young on the self-defense training and choreography. And of course the Women’s March was still fresh in everyone’s consciousness, and we had some excellent donated footage to work with. My personal inspiration for the story came from Jamee’s lyrics, the intention behind her music, and this little thing that I have explored in some other pieces – the pain and real world impact of how people can be cruel to each other.
And while I hate that this question even has to be asked, I feel like if we don’t keep the conversation going, the problem will never cease. So with that: What are you thoughts on the current climate for women in the world of filmmaking? Is the staggering low amount of women being hired changing at all? Has there been any sort of progress over the last couple of years?
While the focus and feeling has improved, the numbers have not. I personally believe that a lot of power in this area lies with the agencies. The pathway problems for women in Entertainment remain dismal; meaning that lots of women start out in the programs at a young age and the numbers fall off dramatically as careers progress. Most women who make it through are kept in cycles of low paying product. Initiatives and pledges are nice, but only mandates work; like the Academy’s commitment to double its minority numbers by 2020. They’ve taken bold action toward that. But the Academy doesn’t hire directors and DP’s. I worked in the camera department on a stunning documentary that premiered at Sundance this year called Half the Picture. It features Lena Dunham, Ava DuVurney, Catherine Hardwick, Jill Soloway, Miranda July and other notable female directors. One of my favorite moments in the film is from Jill Soloway. She says, “A lot of the art that is getting made in the world, isn’t getting made by people who have had children. And whoever she’s become from being a mother, whatever she might know about humanity from having mothered, isn’t getting reflected into our culture… So that becomes a problem on the planet for empathy.”
What does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to plug to our readers?
Since my mother had her first stroke almost ten years ago, I’ve been very interested in what it means to “die well”. This curiosity prompted me to co-write a narrative feature comedy with touring author Gregor Collins called Best. Death. Ever. I’ll be directing that film in early 2019. You are invited to join the discussion and follow the film’s progress at www.facebook.com/bestdeathever and www.instagram.com/best_death_ever.
What was the last thing that made you smile?
One of the codes I strive to live by is to love, laugh and exercise every day. So as a mid-day break, sometimes I’ll head to YouTube for a laugh. Today, I watched Tiffany Haddish tell Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show about her dream date which included things like, “he’s not currently in jail” and “he can survive the apocalypse”. #shefunny
“Hacktivist and blockchain expert Lauri Love fights extradition in TRUST MACHINE‹his computer skills a threat to the US government. Tech innovators strike a raw nerve as banks and network pundits rush to condemn volatile cryptocurrencies and their underlying blockchain technology. Why are banks terrified while UNICEF Ventures embraces it to help refugee children? Award winning filmmaker Alex Winter reveals that proponents of blockchain‹a verified digital ledger‹are already using the technology to change the world; fighting income inequality, the refugee crisis and world hunger.” – Big Time PR
I’m going to need to preface this coverage by attempting to set a lot of minds at ease: I didn’t understand bitcoin before watching this film, and I am still not entirely sure if I do after watching this stunning documentary. But, that is a personal problem. I will say that after watching Alex Winter’s amazing documentary, I understand that it is an absolutely incredible advancement in technology that is receiving a far too negative reaction, for exactly all the wrong reasons. Old heads of our expiring democracy see this type of technology as a threat, and something that needs to stop. Thankfully there are folks out there like legendary cult favorite actor turned documentarian Alex Winter out there to set the god damn record straight.
As I stated before, I am not entirely knowledgable on what bitcoin truly is. But, this is truly just my self-realization that there is so much excellence in the simplicity of it all that it makes it hard for my simple mind to comprehend. Or maybe I understand it entirely. Cryptocurrency makes about as much sense as a monetary world that is solely based around numbers and figures placed into a digital bank. Why wouldn’t it work? Well, the real answer is that there is no reason. It can work. It should work. But, will the powers that be allow it to be a thing? I mean, “no” is their answer. But, can they really stop it? I believe that time will truly tell. And in watching Trust Machine, I find the the future to be very bright in knowing that the old fogies like myself are just going to have to deal with the changes for the better by just stepping the fuck aside, and keeping our god damn mouths closed. Of course, I am not a person of power, so I could never understand the level of narcissism that it takes to be one of these psychopaths, but I’m not here to brag. I’m simply here to support the likes of Laurie Love and everyone else out there who is desperately trying to make the future so bright that we will all be wearing designer aviators out of necessity.
What I am basically trying to say here is that if you have ever wondered what exactly cryptocurrency and blockchain truly is, and want to set your mind at ease about something that is so scary and different than what you are used to, you absolutely MUST see Trust Machine. And also, I may be biased as a fan, but I would believe just about any and every thing that Rosario Dawson told me. Thank goodness she’s not a flat-earther, as I really wouldn’t know what to do.
All jokes aside, Alex Winter has created something magical here. This is the type of documentary that has the ability to not only change minds, but history. Please watch this!
Trust Machine: The Story of Blockchain recently premiered in L.A. on November 16th. Additional cities are to follow. Keep up with how you can check out the film at the film’s WEBSITE. And check out the trailer for the film right here:
Today’s guest is an absolute gem of a human being, and a wonderful addition to the ever-growing roster of brilliant comedians we have had the great fortune of showcasing on our digital pages. It’s Christi Chiello!
I discovered Christi whilst enjoying our dear friend Amy Miller’s podcast, Who’s Your God, and happened to find Christi to be absolutely hilarious and seemed to be just a delightful person to listen to. And then I checked out some of her standup that was available on line, and I was completely hooked. She is poignant, she is clever, and must importantly….she is funny as hell! I knew after just a few minutes into watching one of her sets that I would really love to have her on the site.
And as luck would have it, she was willing to share a few words with us. Damn you are some lucky readers, if I could say so myself. She is an absolute delightful human being and has a pretty amazing story to tell. We learn about how she got into the world of performance and eventually standup comedy. How God plays an important role in her life (yes, not something we’d normally discuss in this heathen-centric atmosphere, but trust me, this is SO good!), and so much more. So let’s get into it Folks! Please enjoy some wonderful words from the brilliant Christi Chielo!
When did you first realize that you were a hilarious human being and you wanted to make people laugh for a living?
Oh wow, thank you!! I’m a middle child so I had to compete for attention a lot growing up. I’d copy my big sister who was very funny. My whole family is crazy funny, I’m not even the funniest daughter? They just for some reason didn’t want to make a career out of being funny (smart). In school I loved doing plays and because I have this weird-ass voice, I played a lot of comedic roles. I’ve wanted to be a performer forever. It think it’s in my DNA.
Can you tell us a bit about your first time getting up on stage? Did you do okay? And was there anything that you took from that experience that still affects your work today?
My very first time on stage was at a dance recital. I took dance classes with my older sister. She was amazing and I was… there. I was dressed up as a chicken for a tap routine. I was probably 6? And I was crying, hysterically backstage, just terrified to go out and perform. But somehow my teacher got me onstage for the big show. I stood there, paralyzed while the other girls tapped around me. At the very end of the song I did one shuffle step. And that was it! SO- I’d say I nailed it! I don’t remember a moment when I got over my stage fright but a few years later I was doing plays and more dance recitals (where I actually danced). And within a few years the stage became the place I felt the most comfortable.
Having performed on stages all across North America, I am curious to know what have been some of the more unique places you have perform in? What are some cities that you found to be great places for comedy, that most people may not even think about ?
My favorite places to perform at are smaller, more intimate settings. I like my audiences to be on my lap, the entire show. I love doing crowd work and truly engaging with everyone and that’s harder to do in huge venues. I truly love Union Hall in Brooklyn, it has so much character and the people there are amazing. Ars Nova is my favorite theatre for sure. Hmm… once I performed on an elevator in Brooklyn, that was pretty crazy. Shea Stadium is a super special place, too. Brooklyn has a lot of really bizarre venues. And to be totally honest- I haven’t performed outside the city as much as I’d like to! I’ve been to venues on the East and West Coasts but I’d love to travel to Austin, Portsmouth, Denver & Chicago and check out their comedy! Montreal is amazing in the summer because of JFL, there’s nothing like it.
I was watching some of your sets on YouTube recently, and I happened to notice that your growth as a comedian has been quite substantial over the last couple of years. I watched a video from 5 years ago, and it seems quite different than your recent work (both still very funny, BTW). Is this something that has just come from experience? Or have you had some sort of proverbial awakening over the last couple of years?
Thank God I am improving! I look at some of my old videos and want to jump off the Queensboro, I’ve really gotta take some of those down. I learned early on that I could get away with saying a lot of fucked up shit because of my voice & overall demeanor. So I went for shock value… all the time. It was pretty cheap! As I continue to grow I’m learning to talk about the stuff I truly want to talk about. Even if I’m not sure if people will understand or be on board. A perfect example is my being a Christian! Wow… transitions into your next question seamlessly and I did NOT even plan this!
I loved your appearance on our friend and past interviewee Amy Miller’s podcast Who’s Your God. It was so insightful and inspiring. I am curious to know though, has the fact that you are an outspoken Christian in your own right, had any affect on your career as a comedian? You’re obviously doing very well for yourself, but has anything been lost due to having faith in a business that seems to be more association with atheism or agnosticism? Or am I just making a bland assumption about a world in which I obviously know nothing about?
Thank you so much, I’m a big fan and I was so thrilled when they asked me to do it! I love your last question so much, it’s so honest, lolol. You’re not making bland assumptions at all, I think it’s a totally great question! For starters I think most people think I’m joking when I talk about Jesus. I think they assume that because I approach the topic so lightheartedly, that I can’t possibly be serious. But I am! My faith is super important to me but I don’t get preachy about it. Most of my friends are atheists and that’s fine by me- to each their own! There’s a mutual respect which I think is important. To many Christians- I am NOT a Christian. Because I sin like, all the time. But I have a relationship with God that is so powerful and unique to me. And God loves my fucked up jokes. He’s ROCL (Rolling on the Cloud Laughing). I’ll see myself out…
My God is everything I want him to be. He’s love. And your God could be Sinbad? I mean, I don’t give a fuck. Whatever makes people happy.
And I pray for the day that I don’t have to ask this question, but I feel like the conversation needs to continue: How do you feel about the currently climate for women in comedy specifically? With the events that have occurred within the last year alone, are things getting any better? Have you noticed any difference in people’s attitudes towards women in the world of comedy?
I think things are for sure getting better because there’s so much more awareness. I also think there’s a lot more to be done! I’m just always rooting for women. A win for one is a win for us all. There’s so much room at the table. I’m proud to be a woman in comedy and I’m proud to support other women in comedy!
I understand you have a one-woman show entitled “It’s Christi, Bitch!” that will be coming to Ars Nova in NYC that sounds very intriguing. For those who haven’t seen it yet, what can folks plan to experience whilst viewing your brilliantly titled opus of a show?
Lolol that’s right. Me and Britney Spears, the 2 biggest genuises of our generation! Audiences can expect a RANGE of emotions. It’s an hour of vulnerable storytelling, ACTING, heavy audience interaction aka CONNECTION, jokes, songs, laughter, pain…. I’m living and dying on the God damn stage. It’s everything to me. It’s my story- that of a holy and horny girl just doing her god damn best.
What else does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to plug to our readers?
Everything’s always on my site christichiello.com & I’ll share on social media @christichiello.
Also look out for some fun developments with Battle of the Divas – the amazing long-running show I co-host with Matteo Lane at Union Hall in Brooklyn!
What was the last thing that made you smile?
YOU, wanting to interview ME. Thank you. ❤
Find more information about Christi at christichiello.com, and check her out live shows coming soon!
Check out Christi at the following shows:
November 21st @ Comedy Connection, Providence, Rhode Island 8:00 p.m.
December 2nd @ Union Hall, Brooklyn, New York. 8:00 p.m. (It’s Christi, Bitch! show)
Today we are sharing some amazing words from an even more amazing actress. It’s Christina Cole, Everyone! Christina has had some absolutely wonderful roles in the world of film, theatre, and television. In fact, it’s in the world of television that we here at Trainwreck’d Society came to know and love her work. Christina is a star on the truly funny and poignant new series The Indian Detective, which also features acclaimed stand up comedian Russell Peters. It is an absolutely brilliant and she is absolutely brilliant in it.
We are beyond excited that Christina has graced out digital pages and was willing to share a few great words with us here today. So without further ado, please enjoy some wonderful words from the great Christina Cole!
When did you first discover your passion for the world of acting?
It was always something I really enjoyed at school and I was very fortunate to have a fantastic drama teacher at school who pushed me along.
Was it something you just always knew you were going to do?
At the time no. I don’t come from a back ground of people in the arts, so I didn’t perceive it as a tangible thing.
Or did you sort of stumble your way into this world?
Yes, I kind of did. When I was at college, I had a teacher who said that I should try to get into drama school… Again, I thought Uni was the only way into the work place. Anyway, I auditioned at two drama schools to see what it was all about. Got into one. Won a scholarship and that was the turning point… I focused everything into those 3 years.
Of the many genres you have done some amazing work in, you have had some great roles in one of our favorite genres which is the world of horror. So in your obvious professional opinion, I’d love to know what you like about working in the world of horror?
The human imagination is limitless and everybody loves a good play on their own fears and senses. Well, those who enjoy a horror, anyway. They are all so different to work on. Doghouse, a more comedy type horror, was such good fun to work on. Getting to play with supernatural roles in prosthetic make up is just the best!. But something like Rosemary’s Baby was completely different. I love working on psychological thrillers. Developing a role that leaves people guessing as to your own involvement in the protagonists dilemma, is a very exciting process..
What is it about this genre of film that sets itself apart from other genres you have worked on?
I don’t know … suspense…the race against time….blood and gore… depends on which one. Lol.
We also thoroughly enjoy the world of comedy, and you starred alongside Russell Peters in the series The Indian Detective, that is absolutely hilarious. How has your experience been working on a zany and hilarious program like this? Is it as much fun to work on as it is for us to watch?
It absolutely was. Russell is a laugh a minute to be around, and just a lovely guy. We shot most of the series in South Africa, in and around Cape Town, which was beautiful. The crux for us all was trying to get the right balance of comedy and drama…
And I imagine you are not at liberty to speak on anything about the future of The Indian Detective, but if we were to speak hypothetically and strictly opinion based…What would you like to see the future look like for Robyn Gerner? Is there any sort of character growth you would like to bring to her character, should you continue to bring her character to life?
I’d like to see more emotional tension between Robin and Doug’s character. The kind of ‘will they, won’t they’ tension that you often see in male and female partner cop type dramas, really works. That type of character development is interesting to watch.
You have had some great success in the world of film, television, and the theatre. With that being said, I am curious to know which form of performance is your favorite? If you were destined to only work in one field for the rest of your career, which would you choose?
That’s a toughy, as the best part of it all, is that I get to do it all. And never get bored. I really enjoy getting to hop between film, TV, and Theatre. They require slightly varying tools and I enjoy the challenge of that. Sorry, thats a boring answer, I know, but I really couldn’t choose.
What does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to plug to our readers?
Well, I’ve just had my 2nd child (and last..lol), so I’m currently having fun working out the new normal in our family.
What was the last thing that made you smile?
Watching my eldest entertain her little sister by doing a silly dance while I had a quick shower this morning.
Season One of The Indian Detective is available now on Netflix.
Holy Shit Folks! We have an absolutely wonderful interview to share with you all today. I know I say this a lot, and I always do mean it. But today is very special! Today we are featuring one of my favorite stand up comedians working today. It’s Liza Treyger Everyone! I have been following Liza’s work for quite a few years now. Well, honestly, I’ve just managed to hear her on probably dozens of podcasts, which may not be truly considered “work” (as Liza will discuss below) but it is undeniable that Liza is downright hilarious, and a rabbit hole of Treyger related YouTube videos is probably one of the most delightful ones you can go down. She is raw, honest, and has brilliantly honest takes on a mirage of different topics. She can make you feel uncomfortable with her honesty and forthrightness, which is truly a sign of a damn great comic.
As previously mentioned, I have been following Liza for years, and have watched her grow as a comic and begin to receive the popularity I felt she deserved so many years ago. Most recently notable, Liza can be found the latest stand up special that Netflix has put out entitled The Degenerates. The special features some other amazing comics, but the stand out of them all was obviously Treyger. I watched them all in one binge, and all biases aside, I found this special to be one of her best sets to date. Go watch this Folks! If you call yourself a fan of comedy, and haven’t delved into the world of Liza Treyger, I truly won’t believe you.
So Folks, please enjoy some words from one of the best in the game, the great Liza Treyger!
When did you first discover that you were a damned funny person, and that comedy was a natural gift that you could use to earn a living?
Being funny might be a natural gift, but doing stand up is a skill that you get better doing with experience and when I decided to do comedy it was never to earn a living. That was a great perk, but I didn’t realize it until years after doing it. But, yeah just being a funny person doesn’t mean you’re going to be good at stand up and some good stand ups are boring people that I want away from me. But, if someone’s goal is just to make money I would suggest not getting into stand up comedy.
Having been in the game for a while, and traveled all over the place doing stand up, I am always curious to find out what are some hidden gems of cities out there in regards to comedy? What are some places that most people wouldn’t think of as great comedy towns?
I love the crowds and shows and comics in DC! Cleveland is a good time! Lots of good local shows at sweet venues with great food and there’s a lot to do there. Cleveland has a great art museum, fun sports, Great Lakes Brewery, and cheap ass drinks.
I loved your appearance on the podcast Stand By Your Band that is hosted by former TWS guest Tom Thakkar and Tommy McNamara, in which you so brilliantly defended the genius of Aqua. I actually happen to catch you on ALOT of podcasts, which is probably how I know of you the most! As a huge podcast fan, I am curious to know how podcasts affect your work as a comedian? Do you get people showing up in random cities saying, “I heard you on Race Wars/SBYB/etc.”? Is there any ultimate payout for doing podcasts?
I like doing podcasts because I love to talk and chat and hang with friends, so I’ll do almost any podcast but i don’t do anything for payouts. What I get from it I just like to have fun and I find them enjoyable. I do get people at my shows from podcasts more than anythings else. we will see what happens after Netflix but, I get a lot of Crab Feast fans come out to my shows and i almost always at least one day a weekend see someone in a Legion of Skanks t shirt. being able to be on podcasts also gives me something to do in the daytime or I might never leave my house so that’s great too. Oh and this is a radio show but people come out from Bennington!
I really loved your appearances on the brilliant series Horace & Pete. What was it like to work on this truly unique project? And to keep it a secret the whole time? That had to have been tough!
I mean I told my friends, so I didn’t really keep the secret but, I loved not telling people outside my friend group and then it just dropping out of nowhere. Loved that and felt super cool. working on this show was one of the best moments of my life and I’m very grateful and just still can’t believe it. I mean Steve Buscemi, Alan Alda, Edie Falco, Jessica Lange, and then just chilling with Steven Wright, like OMG! it was magic to be around such talented people and watching them work.
Liza Treyger on The Degenerates available on Netflix NOW!
Your Netflix Special that was on Netflix’s The Degenerates was definitely the biggest highlight of that showcase for me. Part of it was that I was a big fan of yours before it came out, but also it was so fucking funny! So, what is life like post-Netflix special? Have you noticed the Netflix-bumped life been going for you?
it just came out [two weeks ago] so it’s mostly attention on the internet which isn’t real. Oh but people are texting me, so that’s nice but, I hope people come see me live. The biggest thing honestly was the paycheck too, that was great and now I have my own place and bought a bunch of stuff and threw a party. I also got a bunch of leather harnesses, omg and got to see Celine Dion since we taped in Vegas, which was a true gift!
When you look back on your career in the world of comedy in say 50 years or so, what would you like to be able to look back and say to yourself about the legacy you will leave behind?
I just hope to always be working and thinking forward and making cool things that I believe in. I just hope I always stand up for myself and others and stay true to myself and treat people well and always pushing myself creatively. I would love to have some specials and projects that people can watch for years to come.
What does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to plug to our readers?
I would just love for them to watch my special and follow me on Instagram. I’m working on [some]things but there’s really no guarantee that anything will actually come out but, hopefully there’ll be some fun things in the future.
What was the last thing that made you smile?
OMG, today I got to go to a college sociology classroom to talk and do stand up and answer questions and I really loved the students and teacher and they made me smile. They were cool ass city kids and chatty and confident and I just had such good feelings and that made me smile! Before that I put a new shelf thing in my living room and decorated it so freaking cute and I keep smiling every time i see it.
Check out Liza’s special featured on The Degenerates available now on Netflix.
“Sacred Heart chronicles the journey of a religious man, who rejects God and his faith, after the tragic death of his pregnant wife and then challenges the Devil. He receives a visit from his priest, who pushes him to question his own beliefs.” – October Coast PR
I have to preface this by stating that I am of the opinion that referring to a psychological thriller as “extremely fucked up” is a high compliment. These types of films are meant to toy with your emotions and tear down your sense of right and wrong.
With that being said….Sacred Heart is extremely fucked up.
It is a story that weaves in and out of reality like a national leader on Twitter. It creates false realities, but it is on a deeper level than the previously mentioned example. At its core, this is a film about dealing with not only loss and pain, but guilt and self-hatred. With a plot that is simply two men having a conversation about God and relationships, the creators of this fantastic film manage to create a story so in depth and in touch with the human psyche that it was not only frightening to watch, but also pretty damn uncomfortable. Which is a sign of most good art. If you’re uncomfortable watching a film, you’re probably relating it to it on a psychological level that you may not truly understand.
It should probably go without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway, that the reason this film was so impactful is clearly based around the work of both David Field and Kipan Rothbury. While clearly well-written characters developed by writer/director Kosta Nikas, these two really hit it out of the proverbial ball park when it comes to making you truly believe in the madness that is raging within both of them. Their point/counterpoint and delivery were spot on. Their reactions were rapid fire or a slow burn, and in either case they absolutely destroyed their time on the screen.
Although Kosta Nikas’s brilliant feature film debut was released almost two years ago, it is finally seen its light of day with a DVD and VoD release this past summer. And if you watch this film and feel as though you need to take something away from your time viewing it, please let it be that Kosta Nika is a filmmaker to lookout for in the future. I am so excited to see what else can come from the mind that would bring us a film like Sacred Heart. Again, brilliant performances. A wonderfully written story. Shot fantastically. This is what great cinema is all about!
Check out the trailer for Sacred Heart, and find the film wherever you get them on DVD and VoD, available now:
Hello Folks! We have an absolutely wonderful interview to share with you fine folks today! And I know we say this a lot, but this man is one of the most versatile and hardworking people in the world of art and entertainment. And when I say that Daniel Roebuck has done just about everything there is to do, I mean that with absolute sincerity. The man grow up as an actual clown in the circus. That’s right, he developed his performance chops in the circus. He has a journey into this world that is so profound and exciting and we are beyond excited that he is here to tell us all about it.
Beyond just being a phenomenal character actor, Daniel is also an acclaimed producer, writer, and filmmaker. One of his latest films, Getting Grace is available now on DVD and VoD, and is an absolute delight that you have to see. From his performance as Jay Leno, to his work on our friend Penelope Spheeris’s cult classic film Dudes alongside the lovely Jon Cryer, to another dig into the world of the television series Becker that we bring up on every occasion possible here at Trainwreck’d Society.
The man is a damned delight. And we are so excited that he was willing to grace our digital pages today. So please enjoy some wonderful words from the brilliant Daniel Roebuck!
When did you first discover your passion for the world of performance? Was it something you had wanted to do from a very young age?
I can pinpoint a moment at about first grade where I tried to write my own script. The problem was I didn’t know how to write yet because I was only in first grade, so I decided to draw the script instead. I ended up showing it to Sister Kathleen who insisted we perform my play. And just about that same time I started talking about “when I’m on TV…”, to the point where my parents got me a cardboard television to pretend I was on TV. So from the cardboard television, I moved to to actually performing in front of people. I tried to be a ventriloquist first, then I was an impressionist like Rich Little. And then at 12, I became a clown in a circus. I swear to god that’s the truth… other kids would run away to the circus but my mom drove me back and forth for every show.
I read in your bio that you were once a full fledged professional clown in the circus! That is beyond intriguing! I don’t believe we have ever had a true clown on the site before. So what was that experience like? And were there any sort of lessons from that experience that you may still incorporate into your work today?
Well, I like to be the first in any instance, so I am glad to be your first clown turned actor. The greatest thing I remember about that time in my life, was that the adults in the show taught me a valuable lesson because they never treated me like a kid. As far as they were concerned, if I was hired as a clown, I was a clown. So the other side of that great lesson is that because they didn’t treat me like a kid, I never acted like a kid. I went to every rehearsal. I learned every gag. They were all much more experienced than I was obviously. And I learned a lot about physical comedy. And yes, all those things I still utilize in my work. An amazing side note, that although many of the clowns have passed on because they were older when I was only 12, the next oldest clown and my first mentor, Neil Fehnel, is actually in the movie I just directed, Getting Grace, as a clown.
Copyright Daniel Robuck.
You have become a sort of staple in one genre of film specifically, which is the one we love and adore the most around here, and that is the world of horror! So, as a professional who has worked in so many different genres of film and television, I am curious to know what it is that you enjoy about working on horror films? What sets them apart from all of the other types of films and shows you have worked on?
So it’s beyond ironic that I am in so many horror films because as you may, or may not know, I was a huge fan of the Gothic Universal Horrors of the 30’s & 40’s. Such a fan, that I bought a museum to hold artifacts and collectibles of that time frame. People can still view it, at the original www.DanielRoebuck.com site, if they look under the tab marked “Dr. Shocker’s House of Horror.”
What I love best about being in horror movies is this ridiculous opportunity that people dont generally get in the world of acting in which I have actually entered into the same stories horror wise that I used to watch as a kid. Like imagine that I said in the Boyd theater in Bethlehem PA in the 1970’s and watched Jamie Lee Curtis running from Michael Myers. And then 35 years later, in another movie, so was I. The same goes for being killed by one of the Phantasm Orbs. If you would of told me when I saw that original movie so many years ago, that I would of been dodging, unsuccessfully dodging, one of those orbs, I would of never believed it. One of my favorite things about working in the genre is wearing the SPFX makeup. That is a big deal for me, having grown up on all those great Jack Peirce make ups in the Universal stories. So I do love that. Also any time I spend with horror mistro, Rob Zombie, makes me happy. It’s kind of become a joke, the brevity of my roles in his films, but I definitely enjoy working with him. He really is a visionary filmmaker.
In 1987 you starred in a film directed by our dear friend Penelope Spheeris called Dudes, that is an absolute cult classic, at least in my mind. I’d love to know what it was like to work on this amazing & a little dark (but not too much) film? Is this one of those films that you get recognized for often?
Let me tell you this about Dudes. I get recognized from that movie so much more than I ever thought would be possible, considering it only played in three theaters, 31 years ago. I think what was the thing about it that makes people go back to it is the relationships. I think Jon and I really appear to be friends in the film, and are actually real friends still 31 years later. Penelope was great, an innovator by the way, because there weren’t a lot of female directors. She definitely knew what she wanted and I think we had a good time giving it to her.
By the way, I saw Katherine Mary Stuart a few weeks ago, and she doesn’t look like she aged a day. And yet Jon and I, look like we could be the fathers of the guys from Dudes. I have really enjoyed the resurgence of the movie lately (the Shout Factory Bluray) and Penelope is finally getting the credit she deserves for the amazing work she has done. She is a great lady, and when ever I say nice things about her, she acts like I am insincere, so I hope she reads this and learns once more how grateful I was for the opportunity to be in the movie. I am also a huge fan of J. Randall Gahnson, he’s the greatest guy ever and a very excellent writer.
Jon Cryer & Daniel Robuck on the set of “Dudes”, directed by Penelope Spheeris. Copyright Daniel Roebuck
We also love us some stand up comedy around here, and you happened to have portrayed one of the absolute legends in the comedy world, one Mr. Jay Leno, in the HBO fim The Late Shift. So what was it like to channel in on Mr. Leno to pull off the performance that you did? Did you manage to shadow him at all?
Not only did I not shadow him, I was a nervous wreck about not wanting to annoy the pour guy. But here is an astounding tale, the very first day I was working on the movie was the first day I went to my fitting for my blue contact lenses. By the way my eyes are already blue, but his are much bluer. Anyway, I was driving down Franklin Avenue in Hollywood toward the optometrist and I stopped at the stop sign, and across from me was Jay Leno in a vintage car. We passed each other in that intersection, and I thought all was right in the world. After I wrapped filming, I called him at his office and he came to the phone immediately and couldn’t of been move gracious. He was very curious to know how it went and very congratulatory. Since then, I have seen him a number of times and even cast him to narrate an animated film I produced (“Christmas is Here Again.”)
And I have always felt grateful, that I got to play the nice guy and poor John Michael Higgins, who is truly a terrific actor, and has proven so for the last three decades, got stuck playing Letterman. And now that I’m an older guy and older people are aloud to speak what is in their heart, I can say that I was appalled by how Letterman treated Jay as he proved himself to be as neurotic, as despicable as any famous person I have ever heard of. I know there was camps of people who clearly love Letterman, and to them I say, look at the man’s character. There is nothing funny about that.
I know this is very specific, but I really have to ask: In 2003 you appeared on episode of one of my personal favorite sitcoms of all time, known as Becker. One of our first interviews was actually with Hattie Winston. So whenever I get someone on here, I have to ask about Becker. How was your experience working on this highly underrated program?
Well lets begin where we have to begin. Ted Danson is a god. Like the guy is really the greatest guy. Ive gotten to work with him a few times and hope to do so many more. He is gracious and talented and funny. He always kept his good humor up the entire time I was there on Becker.
Now here is an interesting side note about that episode, it was directed named Randy Carter, making his television directorial debut. Randy Carter, you may recall, played Randy Carter the first AD on the Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld reunion episode, because he was the actually first AD on “Seinfeld” for many years. You know, as a guest star, which I have been hundreds of times, you never know what you are walking into. Sometimes you think, “Oh this show is funny, its going to be amazing and we’re going to laugh all week…” and you get there, and everyone is a douche. Other times, you think, “Oh, this show is serious, we’re going to be serious all week.” And you get there, and everyone is laughing the entire time. And it’s like Christmas morning, you don’t know which package you’re going to unwrap, or what is going to be inside.
But I would say Becker, based on Ted Danson’s leadership, was a happy set. And I’d like to speak to that for a minute if you don’t mind. I’ve learned from literally the best people that part of your job as the series lead is to keep the set moving forward because its very easy to get bogged down in drama. Anytime creative forces meet, there is the possibility of any kind of explosion. And even a minor explosion can throw all the schedule. With only 8 days to shoot an episode, every moment is precious. So when I am the lead, or a regular on a TV show, believe me, I keep everybody laughing the entire day even if it means insulting myself or tripping over things. What ever it takes, I’ll do it to make people’s work day pleasant.
I am very intrigued by the 2017 film that you not only starred in, but also directed and co-wrote as well, entitled Getting Grace. Can you tell us a bit about it? Where did the concept for the film come from?
Getting Grace is the story of a teenage girl who is dying of Cancer. She goes into a funeral home to find out what is going to happen after she dies and ends up teaching the funeral director how to celebrate life. Although I’ve had a great interest in the funeral business in my teenage years when I briefly considered it as a career, I was surprised at the simple elegance of a script I read called Bending Spoons. It was written by a Michigan writer named Jeff Lewis. I found that script 9 years ago and it took 7 years to get it made. We rewrote it together and turned it into Getting Grace. So I am excited to say that our little movie has been making great waves. We’ve ran in 85 theaters and played for eleven weeks around the United States. The movie has not started moving into international markets, and became available on November 6, 2018, and Netflix a few months later. It’s been an extraordinary journey, extremely fulfilling, I would invite your readers to go to gettinggracethemovie.com to see the trailer.
What does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to plug to our readers?
As usual, I have such a wide swaff of films coming out that are all different. There’s a crazy horror movie called Wild Boar by Barney Burman, the Academy Award winning make up man. A lovely faith based film called Palau: The movie about the South American Tel-evangelist Louis Palau, and a comedy by Tom Callaway called Give Til It Hurts,” in which I play a despicable preacher. But first out of the gate, will be a lovely Alzheimer’s drama called A Timeless Love, which I also produced.
What was the last thing that made you smile?
The first answer is this question. The second, kinda grosser answer is that I got this amazing copy of a Herman Munster head today… but really if you want to know what makes me smile is knowing that God loves me and lets me experience like sitting in the theater in Edmonton Alberta, Canada, and watching 200+ people laugh exactly where I thought they would while they were watching a movie I made two years earlier.
Check out the trailer for Getting Grace right here:
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