DreamPath Podcast

RECAP: Bryan and Jason discuss takeaways from the Rob Paulsen Episode, feature a recent listener review, talk about the new Spike Lee film, Da 5 Bloods, and preview next week's interview with actor and casting director Matthew Barry.

Rob Paulsen is an Emmy Award-winning voice actor, singer, and writer. Notable characters he has voiced throughout his extensive career include Raphael on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Yakko on Animaniacs, Pinky from Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain, Carl Wheezer from Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, and Spike in The Land Before Time films and television series. In 2019 Rob, with the help of co-writer Michael Fleeman, published an autobiography Voice Lessons. It details his career as well as his recent battle with throat cancer, and how his diagnosis, treatment, and recovery affected his career and his outlook on life. This year Rob will be appearing in the Steven Spielberg-produced Animaniacs reboot, releasing on Hulu in the Fall.

What you will learn:

• Why Rob decided to leave Detroit and move to Los Angeles as a young man.
• How he landed his first film roles.
• How his film acting career transitioned into voice acting.
• The perks of being a voice actor vs. an on-screen actor.
• What is was like being the voice behind one of the most iconic animated series in the history of television and film: Raphael from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
• How his ability to play iconic characters provided him opportunities to play Carl Wheezer on Jimmy Neutron, Yakko on Animaniacs, and Pinky on Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain.
• What Rob's co-writer Michael Fleeman taught him about the writing process and how he hopes his story (Voice Lessons) resonates with others who have, or may still be struggling with cancer.
• The never-ending hustle involved with working in the film industry, how Rob learned to enjoy it, and what that looks like for him today.
• The mindset he went into his career with, and how it still benefits him to this day.
• Working with new technology such as YouTube and Zoom, and how Rob respects the hustle no matter what medium it comes from.
• What his thoughts are on aspiring artists moving to LA, and the finances involved in doing so.
• Rob's experience joining the Screen Actor's Guild and his thoughts on unions in general.
• The evolution of animation, how The Simpsons series was instrumental in that shift, and the limitless potential animation provides to working actors.
• How vital passion is to success, as well as being authentic and respectful.
• What is was like meeting his childhood hero Gordie Howe, who only continued to inspire Rob further as they spent time together.
• How his first meeting with Steven Spielberg while shooting E.T. in 1982 resulted in a nearly 40-year working relationship which culminated recently with Spielberg hiring Rob to work on the Animaniacs Reboot this fall on Hulu.

Resources:

• Rob Paulsen's: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Official Fan Site, IMDb Page
• Head and Neck Cancer Alliance
• Voice Lessons: How a Couple of Ninja Turtles, Pinky, and an Animaniac Saved My Life

Screenwriter Bettina Gilois, who was interviewed on the show in July of last year, passed away on July 5 at the age of 58. She was an immensely talented screenwriter, as well as a professor of screenwriting at Chapman University. She was also the mother of two brilliant children. As a tribute to Bettina, we are replaying her episode from last July. The show notes from that episode are below:

Bettina Gilois is an award-winning screenwriter and author, whose awards and nominations include the Humanitas Prize, the Black Reelz Award, the Movieguide Award, an ESPY Award, and a nomination for an Emmy. After acquiring an art history degree from Columbia University and working at Andy Warhol's Factory, she began her writing career with Joel Silver and Warner Brothers, and has since collaborated with such notable artists and producers as Jerry Bruckheimer, Michael Mann, William Friedkin, Queen Latifah, James Coburn, Kevin Costner, Christian Bale, and many others. Her films include Jerry Bruckheimer's GLORY ROAD for which she was nominated for the Humanitas Prize, MCFARLAND, USA starring Kevin Costner, as well as BESSIE for HBO, starring Queen Latifah, for which Bettina was nominated for an Emmy for Best Screenwriting. Her other produced projects include uncredited work on THE HURRICANE for which Denzel Washington won the Golden Globe, and THE MISTS OF AVALON with Anjelica Huston. In addition to writing screenplays, Gilois has authored several books, MI VIDA LOCA: THE CRAZY LIFE OF JOHNNY TAPIA and BILLION DOLLAR PAINTER: THE TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY OF THOMAS KINKADE, both of which are being made into movies. She writes about Arts and Culture for the Huffington Post. Her current active projects include her writing and creating the series MUSCLE SHOALS with Johnny Depp producing at ABC and Nancy Wilson as the music composer.

What you'll learn about in this episode:

• Bettina's experience working in a variety of creative endeavors, including alongside the likes of Andy Warhol and other famous people
• Bettina's interesting perspective on stories, the life trajectories of humans, and the energy that ties it all together
• Bettina's tips to aspiring screenwriters and the story of how she broke into the industry
• Bettina's approach to storytelling and character development, supported by evidence from her own body of work
• Important skills for all creatives to have if they want to ascend to the top of the field
• Why you need to be thinking about your brand as a young writer
• The risks and rewards of sticking to genres and how to carry your brand through your characters
• How Bettina cooperates with the other members of film or TV production teams to construct coherent and meaningful stories

Additional resources:

• Bettina's recommended resources: www.scriptcity.com
• Bettina's Website: www.bettinagilois.com
• Bettina's IMDB

RECAP:

• Bryan and Jason discuss takeaways from last week's chat with Meredith O'Connor.
• Bryan hits Jason with an MTV trivia question.
• Bryan talks about his latest read (Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert) and how that may influence his selection of future guests.
• Bryan and Jason preview next week's interview with voice actor Rob Paulsen.

Meredith O'Connor is a pop star, anti-bullying activist, and international spokesperson on mental health awareness. Her hit song Celebrity went viral on YouTube in 2013, with more than 2 million views, followed up by The Game, about bullying. This led to a world tour, being featured on Radio Disney and Teen Nick, and eventually an invitation to the United Nations to speak on the topic of bullying.

What you will learn:

• How Meredith defied critics early in her career and proved that there is a sizable audience for songs with positive messages.
• How her own struggles with OCD inspired her to become the role model she wished she had growing up.
• Her thoughts on how widespread COVID anxieties could lead to the destigmatization of mental illness.
• The significance of empathy and education about mental illness, especially for the parents of struggling kids.
• How international success helped show her that no one is alone in their suffering, and made her resolve to help those feeling isolated even stronger.
• How she handles the pressures of being in the public spotlight while managing pre-existing mental health issues.
• The influence Broadway had on her vocal style growing up and how she transitioned to pop music.
• How she collaborates in the songwriting process with her co-writer Heather Holly.
• What it was like learning to play the guitar after receiving a record contract.
• The advice she would give young people who wish to pursue music professionally.
• Why she chooses to embrace social media instead of viewing it as toxic.

Resources:

• http://meredithoconnormusic.com
• Meredith O'Connor's IMDb page
• Meredith O'Connor's Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube

Bryan and Jason recap last week's interview with IndieFlix CEO Scilla Andreen, express their support for the Black Lives Matter protesters, and discuss the new Jeffrey Epstein documentary. Bryan talks about a Bob Dylan song that he's attempting to deconstruct - Simple Twist of Fate by Bob Dylan. Jason and Bryan preview next week's interview with pop singer and anti-bullying activist Meredith O'Connor.

Scilla Andreen is an award-winning filmmaker, producer, director, and Emmy-nominated costume designer (The Wonder Years). She is also the CEO and Co-Founder of Indieflix, a global entertainment screening and subscription streaming service based in Seattle. IndieFlix produces and distributes social impact films and series to create positive change in the world.

What you will learn:

• How Scilla went from NYU with aspirations to become a litigator, to answering the call of Hollywood, telling stories through film.
• How Scilla's passion and boldness got her a job working as a Hollywood costume designer.
• How a jarring experience as a costume designer caused her to seek something more fulfilling in the film industry.
• Why she co-founded IndieFlix and how it became more successful after the controversial decision to remove 7,000 titles from its catalog.
• How IndieFlix opens opportunities for dialogue, engagement, and catharsis that mainstream competitors don't.
• How her documentaries Like, Angst and Upstanders fit within IndieFlix's ethos as "content for a purpose."
• Why Scilla plans to circle back into narrative films.
• Why she believes that it is mentally healthier to consume media through streaming as opposed to network television.
• How she learned to embrace IndieFlix's inevitable comparisons to Netflix and use them to her advantage.
• Why she turned down an offer to produce HBO's Six Feet Under to work on a sitcom.
• Why she enjoys working with millennials, and what unique assets they bring to an organization.
• How young people tell stories every day through social media, and how those skills can cross over into filmmaking.
• Why marketing and storytelling abilities are critical skills to develop as a filmmaker.
• What advice she would give to a graduating senior who is interested in storytelling through film.
• What film festivals like Sundance, SIFF, and Cannes, offer to audiences and filmmakers, and the importance of film in general.

Resources:

• IndieFlix
• IndieFlix Foundation
• Scilla Andreen's Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter
• Scilla Andreen IMDb

In light of recent events in Minneapolis and throughout the country, and out of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, our regularly-scheduled interview has been postponed until next week. This week we plan to pause, listen, reflect on how we can unify as a nation, and elevate black voices. One such voice is that of Michael Santiago Render (Killer Mike), a rapper, songwriter, actor, and activist. His 8-minute call to action can be seen here. We have posted this speech on our website as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rapfJYfPU38

Bryan and Jason discuss takeaways from the Bob Sáenz interview, gush over Bryan's new guitar amp, pay tribute to indie film genius Lynn Shelton, and preview next week's episode with filmmaker and Indieflix CEO Scilla Andreen.

Bob Sáenz is an actor and screenwriter known for Extracurricular Activities (2019)(now streaming on Amazon Prime), The Right Girl (2015), and Help for the Holidays (2012). He is also the author of the 2019 book That's Not The Way It Works: A no-nonsense guide to the craft and business of screenwriting.

What you will learn:

• How Bob broke into television and screenwriting at the age of 40.
• What he learned as an extra and actor on Nash Bridges that helped him as a screenwriter.
• How he navigated his way through a creative dry spell.
• What it was like seeing his screenplay Extracurricular Activities finally get made into a film 18 years after he wrote it.
• How to endure an industry of "complete rejection."
• Why the idea of "Hollywood" is a myth.
• How there are no hard and fast rules or formulas when writing a screenplay, as long as the story is great.
• The importance of writing to budget and being flexible with screenplay changes.
• What it's like writing for television and how American television has transformed in recent years.
• The necessity of taking assigned writing jobs, and the rarity of a successful original spec script.
• How accessible writing for television is now that streaming services are producing more content than ever.
• Why Bob considers it a miracle that any film gets made, and the reason he would never want to be a director.
• Advice he would give young people aspiring to work in the film industry.

Resources:

• Bob Saenz IMDB