DreamPath Podcast

Tommy Avallone is an LA-based director, producer, and actor, whose documentaries include I Am Santa Claus (2014), The Bill Murray Stories: Life Lessons Learned from a Mythical Madman (2018)(available on Netflix), and Waldo on Weed (2019) which was co-produced by Whoopi Goldberg (available on Amazon Prime and for rent on all streaming platforms).

What you will learn:

• The origins of the Waldo on Weed story and the film's efforts to tell a universally compelling story, regardless of viewers' opinions on marijuana. The unique challenges of combing found-footage from home movies with present-day interviews. [00:00-09:45]
• Tommy's experience at the Tribeca Film Festival, and the story behind his early run for mayor at the age of 20. [09:45-16:18]
• What a day in the life of Tommy Avallone looks like. The importance of playing within the Hollywood system as a filmmaker, while also maintaining your independence and autonomy. [16:18-24:38]
• Tommy's approach to filming the Bill Murray Stories without Bill Murray's involvement, and how not having him in the film added to the mystique and mystery surrounding Murray. How the fair use doctrine allowed him to use footage from Murray's films in the documentary. How Tommy feels about appearing in his own documentaries. [24:38-32:41]
• Life lessons from Bill Murray and Tommy's insightful encounter with an audience member in Austin at the South By Southwest Film Festival. Also, how Tommy deconstructs the concept of charisma. [32:41-38:07]
• Why Tommy gravitated towards documentary filmmaking vs narrative films, but still aspires to make narrative films. [38:07-46:11].
• What projects Tommy is currently working on, including the upcoming film This is GWAR starring Thomas Lennon. Also, how Tommy navigates the unique business and financial challenges facing documentary filmmakers. [46:11-52:49]

Resources:

• Tommy Avallone's: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and IMDb
• Double Windsor Films

In this "Encore Episode," we are replaying Bryan's interview with director Jeff Orlowski to commemorate the September 9, 2020 Netflix premiere of his documentary The Social Dilemma. The interview was recorded in February at the Sundance Film Festival before the film had a distribution deal with Netflix. We are pleased to re-release Jeff's interview so listeners can hear what went into the filmmaking process before they watch the film. The original show notes from the interview are below.

Jeff Orlowski is a documentary filmmaker whose latest film, The Social Dilemma, premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. The film weaves interviews with tech founders into dramatically portrayed scenes with Hollywood actors to reveal disturbing information about how technology shapes and manipulates society. Jeff won an Emmy for his debut documentary, Chasing Ice, which follows one man's mission to change the tide of history by gathering undeniable evidence of our changing planet. His second documentary, Chasing Coral, documents the vanishing coral reefs around the world.

What you will learn:

• How his experience at camp as a child shaped his world view.
• How the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which occurred four blocks from his high school, influenced his education and career trajectory as a journalist.
• How his friendship with anthropologist and primatologist Jane Goodall influenced his educational choices, as well as his approach to storytelling.
• How listening to Jane Goodall's lectures numerous times taught him the importance of giving audiences hope when telling a story of crisis.
• How his math and science background helped him on location as a documentarian in remote parts of the world.
• How the connections he made as a student at Stanford University allowed him unique access into the tech world for purposes of interviewing the subjects of his latest film, The Social Dilemma.
• Why he doesn't label himself a documentary filmmaker, even though he has directed four documentaries.
• The funding challenges facing documentary filmmakers.

Resources:

• http://www.jefforlowski.com
• https://www.exposurelabs.com
• https://www.thesocialdilemma.com
• https://chasingice.com
• https://www.chasingcoral.com
• https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2341611/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

In this recap, Bryan and Jason:

• Discuss key takeaways from the interview with Grammy Hall of Fame Inductee BJ Thomas;
• Talk about the filmography and legacy of Chadwick Boseman (who recently passed away after a battle with colon cancer);
• Address critique from a listener about our discussion of the Joan Jett documentary; and
• Discuss Bryan's new favorite series on Netflix, Love on the Spectrum.

With over 70 million records sold, BJ Thomas is the artist behind classic hits like "Hooked on a Feeling", Oscar-winner "Raindrops (Keep Falling on My Head)", and (Hey Won't You Play Another) Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song. With a total of Eight #1 hits, 26 top 10 singles, and 5 Grammy Awards, BJ was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014. He has also been ranked by Billboard as one of the top 50 most played artists over the last 50 years.

What you will learn:

• What the music scene was like in Houston in the 1950s and 60s, what BJ's first musical influences were, how BJ found his way into the pop and soul music scene, performing with acts like Jame Brown. [00:00-08:45]
• Why BJ focused on songs he connected with, what the collaborative process was like early in BJ's career, and how he got his start musically in a high school band. [08:45-15:50]
• How BJ achieved his first big break as a performer, how he overcame stage-fright, and how he found a renewed sense of health and fulfillment by learning to balance family and work life. [15:50-26:34]
• What is was like performing at the Oscars, working with the iconic Burt Bacharach, coping with the talk-show circuit as an addict (including a shocking admission to Johnny Carson on a Tonight Show appearance), and why he took a break from interviews until he achieved sobriety. [26:34-36:52]
• How BJ looks to inspirational performers like Tony Bennett while striving to live a life of longevity and maintain relevance after decades in the spotlight. [36:52-45:17]
• What business mistakes he made, what he would do differently if he could do it all over again, and what BJ has learned from his mistakes; also, the drawback of digital music recording and streaming vs. traditional studio recording and record sales when it comes to artist collaboration and artist royalties. [45:17-58:20]

Resources:

• BJ Thomas' Website, YouTube, Twitter, & Facebook

Bryan and Jason discuss key takeaways from the interview with actress and drama therapist Andrea Sooch, marvel at the lasting power of In The Air Tonight, by Phil Collins, review The Last Dance documentary about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, and discuss next week's episode with the Grammy/Oscar-winning singer BJ Thomas.

Andrea Sooch is a successful actress, licensed drama therapist, and social worker. A native Hungarian, Andrea came to the US after receiving a scholarship from the American Musical and Dramatic Arts Academy. Many fans know Andrea from her recurring role as Russian mob boss Riva on the TNT series Claws. She has also appeared in hit shows such as The Blacklist, Broad City, Gotham, and Boardwalk Empire, as well as in films like John Wick 3, with Keanu Reeves.

What you will learn:

• How Andrea is coping with the pandemic in the Jersey Shore, and how she focuses on hope and living in the moment. [0:00-14:45]
• The importance of mindfulness during the time of coronavirus, from both an actor's and therapist's perspective. [14:45-23:36]
• The impact that Broadway and Hollywood shutting down has had on the entertainment industry, and why it's important to remain hopeful about our future. [23:36-32:59]
• How everyone has their own part to play in the world, and why it's important not to pile expectations onto others. Also, how she relates (and doesn't relate) personally to the characters she plays (like Riva, on Claws). [32:59-46:59]
• Her perspective on the concept of "learned hopefulness" and how she found acting as a profession after modeling. [46:59-57:15]
• How a midlife crisis, which included losing her father, her husband, and watching the Twin Towers fall on 9/11 helped her realize she needed a sense of control, leading her to grad school and through a period of significant "post-traumatic growth" (as opposed to post-traumatic stress). [57:15-1:03:08]
• Advice Andrea would give to young people interested in acting - doing it, "for the right reason." [1:03:08-1:09:03]
• What's on the professional horizon for Andrea and what her ideal job would look like. [1:09:03-1:18:07]

Resources

• Andrea's Website: andreasooch.net
• Andrea Sooch's: Instagram, LinkedIn, IMDb

Bryan and Jason discuss key takeaways from last week's interview with Washington D.C.-based artist Stephanie Mercedes, wax nostalgic about Joan Jett after watching her documentary on Hulu, and finish with some blues riffs on Bryan's new amp.

In response to the Pulse Night Club Mass Shooting in Orlando, Florida, Argentinian-American artist Stephanie Mercedes melted a Sig Sauer MCX rifle (the exact model used during the shooting) to cast 49 "liberty bells" for the 49 individuals who lost their lives. Mercedes went on to melt guns and bullet casings into other musical instruments and sculptures such as harp strings, books, and gongs. She hopes this will open a dialogue about guns and violence in America. Mercedes also incorporates music and history into her art to tackle subjects like "The Disappeared" from the Argentine Dictatorship (1976-1983).

What you will learn:

• How, despite attending art school, her choice of profession and specialty within the arts was more heavily influenced by her childhood and family. (3:12-8:13)
• How, as a gay Latina, the Pulse Night Club shooting in Orlando personally affected her, how she used her skills as an artist to respond, and how that helped open up a different, more open dialogue about gun control issues. (8:13-15:42)
• Why she got involved with a programmed called Issue Voter (https://issuevoter.org) which uses art as a way to connect emotionally to those with opposing views and provide a way for all sides of the argument to have an open discussion. (15:42-21:14)
• How survivors and families of victims from the Pulse shooting have reacted to her work, and how she strives to involve all audiences in her work. (21:14-26:13)
• How she accomplishes such ambitious pieces and the precarious process of breaking down volatile objects like guns, bullets, and shell casings. Why metal and blacksmithing are a dying art and how she had to learn this craft from an unlikely source. (26:13-33:45)
• The benefit of having a team to help with her projects and the dangers involved in her work.
• How she has benefited from residencies, grants, and fellowships to help her make a living through art. (33:45-38:10)
• How she manages to effortlessly incorporate art and the law, and how she is currently opposing pending copyright legislation in an effort to preserve Argentinian history. (38:10-49:36)
• How people from opposite ends of the political spectrum react to her work and why art that approaches viewers viscerally, without making a political statement, can open pathways to dialogue that political discussions typically preclude. (49:36-57:08)
• Advice Mercedes has for young people aspiring to make a career in the arts. (57:08-1:05:56)

Resources:

• Stephanie Mercedes': Website, Instagram, YouTube channel
• IssueVoter

Bryan and Jason discuss key takeaways from last week's interview with Matthew Barry, wax philosophic about the zen of Bill Murray after watching The Bill Murray Stories (now streaming on Netflix), and preview next week's interview with Washington D.C.-based Argentinian-American artist Stephanie Mercedes, who melts guns into art.

Matthew Barry is a Los Angeles-based actor, casting director, and acting teacher. His early career involved landing roles on television shows such as Family Ties and Cagney and Lacey. He then appeared alongside Robert Redford, Demi Moore, and Woody Harrelson in Indecent Proposal, as well as Johnny Depp and Bill Murray in the Tim Burton film Ed Wood. In the 90s he became one of Hollywood's most esteemed casting directors, working on films such as Unhook the Stars, She's So Lovely, The Notebook, Alpha Dog, Con Air, Rush Hour 1 & 2, and the soon-to-be-released film All Star Weekend, directed by Jamie Fox and starring Robert Downey, Jr.

What you will learn:

• How Matthew's involvement in the New York punk scene, and growing up around famous people, influenced his decision to act. [02:51-09:33]
• How his father influenced his interest in acting, and how he got his big break at a young age on a Bernardo Bertolucci film dealing with mature storylines. [09:33-18:13]
• How the success he found in film acting at a young age was a negative influence during his adolescence; What made him realize he was on the wrong path, and how he relaunched his career after a "wakeup call." [18:13-23:46]
• The rarity of loyalty in Hollywood and how he got lucky in that regard with a close-knit group of friends he met on set in the 80s who continue to work together to this day. [23:46-27:54]
• How his decades-long friendship with A-list film director Nick Cassavetes has resulted in their collaboration on all of Nick's films.
• How and why he transitioned from acting to casting, and how his blunt honesty and candor have served him well in the industry. [27:54-36:44]
• What it was like casting The Notebook, what the casting process is like generally, and why the casting business has become more difficult in recent years. [36:44-48:56]
• What Matthew saw in young and relatively unknown actors like Amanda Seyfried and Ben Foster that made him want to cast them in Alpha Dog; his thoughts on the impressive number of well-known actors whose careers he's helped launch over the years. [48:56-55:33]
• Matthew's experience working on Alpha Dog; remembering Anton Yelchin. [55:33-1:01:29]
• How he found James Gandolfini for a role in Crimson Tide with Denzel Washington and how Gandolfini almost got fired from the film on the first day of shooting. [1:01:29-1:06:24]
• How Matthew found a new passion in teaching acting classes, and why being a successful actor with experience in the industry helps set him apart from other acting coaches. [1:06:24-1:11:26]
• Why actors shouldn't take rejection personally. [1:11:26-1:15:20]

Resources:

• Matthew Barry's: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, IMDb page
• Matthew Barry Teaches