Hollywood Unscripted

Actor/Producer Joe Manganiello joins host Jenny Curtis for a conversation about his career path, process and new film, ARCHENEMY. 

TIMESTAMPS:

0:46 - When Joe first knew he wanted to be an actor

3:08 - Joe’s experience at Carnegie Mellon in a cut-program. 

3:55 - Shooting a movie in secret while at school

5:08 - The exhaustion of making it through his acting training

6:43 - Lessons in school that clicked while filming MAGIC MIKE XXL and TRUE BLOOD

9:06 - Graduating and moving to LA following his NY showcase

9:40 - Not wanting to do TV 

10:30 - Auditioning for SPIDER-MAN

12:29 - The 8 year path from SPIDER-MAN to TRUE BLOOD and moving from character actor to leading man. 

14:55 - The experience of being part of a highly skilled team of creatives on TRUE BLOOD while performing outlandish storylines. 

17:31 - The concern of his work being marginalized and joining MAGIC MIKE. 

20:20 - The Twilight routine in MAGIC MIKE XXL

21:20 - Working and training with a partially torn bicep throughout MAGIC MIKE XXL

23:34 - Creating his production company 3:59 with his brother and making BOTTOM OF THE 9TH

25:37 - The story behind the name of his production company and the story of Roger Bannister

27:55 - Joe’s love for the film MANDY and how that led to ARCHENEMY

28:33 - Having the same vision as the ARCHENEMY director, Adam Egypt Mortimer

30:17 - The character work that Joe did to prep for the role of Max Fist and learning about the homeless lifestyle. 

32:03 - Having a “meth coach” on set

32:21 - The tight schedule of a 17 day shoot and the challenges that entails. 

34:24 - Having a split-brain during precise fight choreography 

35:17 - What ‘acting’ is to him. 

36:00 - The fulfillment that comes with producing your own work

37:04 - Having a life in storytelling. 

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Hosted and Produced by: Jenny Curtis

Edited by: J Whiting

Executive Producer: Stuart Halperin

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Writer/Director David E. Talbert joins host Jenny Curtis and guest co-host Nik Walker to discuss his spectacular new holiday film, JINGLE JANGLE: A CHRISTMAS JOURNEY. 

0:30 - Nik Walker’s introduction, discussion of HAMILTON, his podcasts THE CHAOS TWINS & LITTLE JUSTICE, the experience of playwriting, and who he is as an artist. 

4:37 - David E Talbert joins the conversation

5:22 - Nik and Jenny’s impressions of JINGLE JANGLE

6:04 - The initial idea of JINGLE JANGLE being thought of for theater and how it became a film. 

7:22 - David’s son’s seeing himself in JINGLE JANGLE, representation, and creating a universal story. 

9:45 - The movies that inspired the innovation aspect of the film

10:20 - Creating beautiful songs that move the plot with Philip Lawrence and John Legend

12:33 - The 11 o’clock hour song, ‘Make It Work’ and how that number broke the form. 

15:55 - Deciding to cast Phylicia Rashad

16:48 - Meeting Forest Whitaker at a vegan restaurant to discuss the film and casting him as someone he could trust to be a strong #1 on the call-sheet

18:33 - The professionalism of Madalen Mills and her ability to light up the camera. 

19:58 - The amazing experience of Forest Whitaker singing live on set. 

21:24 - Keegan-Michael Key nailing his challenging song. 

22:30 - Discovery on set, costuming and detailing in the design. 

24:13 - Inspiration pulled from HUGO. 

24:59 - Nik’s impression of the imagery in Journey’s song and David’s decision to put her (safely) on the roof. 

27:29 - The choreography in the film

28:27 - the animation for Ricky Martin’s role

28:45 - Doing pre-records of the song and being able to break the rules by not knowing them

29:47 - Changing the first song a week before shooting. 

30:40 - Adding to the shoot while filming. 

32:26 - What the concept was when JINGLE JANGLE was going to be a piece of theater and bringing it back to the stage in the future. 

35:25 - Being ‘The Christmas Movie’ guy by accident

36:31 - Remembering the dichotomy of the holidays 

38:47 - David’s connection to Jeronicus Jangle and his parallels to JINGLE JANGLE

40:39 - The creation of Ms. Johnston’s background trio. 

43:30 - A life in storytelling

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Learn More: Hollywood Unscripted

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Hosted and Produced by: Jenny Curtis

Guest Co-Host: Nik Walker

Edited by: J Whiting

Executive Producer: Stuart Halperin

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Writer/director Alan Ball and actor Stephen Root join host Jenny Curtis to talk about their processes, career paths and new film, UNCLE FRANK. Through the conversation they discuss: 

1:02 - their experiences in quarantine

1:42 - Alan’s history and how it inspired Uncle Frank

3:29 - Stephen being drawn in by the script

4:40 - Why now was the time to make this film

5:05 - Casting Alan’s wishlist of actors

6:00 - Stephen’s take on Alan’s directing style

6:34 - Alan’s take on working with Stephen as an actor

7:57 - The cast’s fun off-set

8:28 - Alan’s memories from set

9:20 - Starting in theater in each of their careers and making the switch to film/tv

11:50 - Alan’s Oscar win with AMERICAN BEAUTY

12:58 - Being drawn to dark comedy

13:55 - Stephen’s experiences on the set of BARRY

15:42 - BARRY episode 5’s unique character and storyline 

17:23 - TRUE BLOOD and the scene that Alan could not believe they made. 

18:30 - Stephen’s time on TRUE BLOOD

19:11 - The best death scene Stephen has had. 

19:37 - Alan’s writing process in TV versus Film

20:49 - Sounding boards Alan has for writing

21:35 - Alan writing direction into the script

22:32 - Stephen working with directors who have written the script (including the Coen Brothers, Mike Judge, and Ben Stiller)

23:42 - One of the most memorable direction Stephen has received

24:19 - How Alan figures out communication with each actor

25:03 - Stephen’s process in creating a character, but in live action and in voice work

27:39 - Finding inspiration 

28:39 - Alan’s reviewing of his scripts

29:30 - Working with Paul Bettany

30:44 - Alan seeing his scripts come to life

31:26 - Stephen learning on set every day

31:53 - Challenges Alan faces

32:32 - Reinforced lessons from UNCLE FRANK

33:26 - Meditating for Alan to deal with stress

34:00 - The inspirations that they steal from in their crafts

35:20 - Their need to have a life in storytelling

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Learn More: Hollywood Unscripted

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Hosted and Produced by: Jenny Curtis

Edited by: J Whiting

Executive Producer: Stuart Halperin

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actor Jake McDorman joins host Jenny Curtis to talk about the Disney+ series THE RIGHT STUFF, the lessons he’s learned throughout his career, and behind the scenes stories from his many projects. Throughout the conversation they discuss: 

0:36 - the impending election at the time of the recording

1:15 - his experience of quarantine and being back in Los Angeles

3:03 - getting to live through the fantasy of being an astronaut and learning about the history of the space race in THE RIGHT STUFF

5:22 - finding inspiration in unique ways per projects

5:55 - Getting to learn about the real life Alan Shepard from conversations with astronauts who’d met him. 

7:34 - Taking a road trip to Florida in order to have time to absorb his research

8:50 - Getting to do some astronaut training, including what Jenny calls ‘the spinny thing’

10:25 - The casting process and feeling like he bombed his initial audition.

14:34 - Having the role of Alan be offered to him without reading and how that changed his process of approaching the role. 

16:38 - The cast’s united effort to prepare without having much rehearsal

17:23 - The big confrontation scene with John Glenn and Alan Shepard

18:38 - The episode shoot order

19:46 - Always finding the character on the last day and watching his work in post. 

22:41 - What makes a hero in the face of public image versus human flaws

24:23 - What the feeling of being strapped to a rocket and being blasted into space could be like. 

26:35 - Taking classes when he was young and his experience of moving to LA for pilot season

29:10 - Booking Quintuplets and gushing over Andy Richter

30:48 - Having a tight-knit ensemble on GREEK and staying close

31:40 - Actively deciding with his reps to pursue projects on a more mature level, beginning with SHAMELESS

35:15 - Lessons learned from Bradley Cooper in working with him on AMERICAN SNIPER and LIMITLESS. 

38:05 - Dealing with the anxiety in wanting to get it right

39:02 - AMERICAN SNIPER’s quick process

39:53 - Moving quickly on LIMITLESS

42:15 - Having LIMITLESS being a different kind of procedural

45:08 - Thinking about where Brian Finch might be had the show continued

46:00 - Loving LADY BIRD and connecting to the script immediately with a unique connection to St. Francis

47:53 - Knowing that when production asks you to prepare something “just in case”, you’ll definitely need it, and brushing up on algebra for LADY BIRD

49:09 - Using GREEK to learn all the lessons from set

50:07 - Getting cast in the series, WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS, the surprising scene on his first day on set, and Taika Waititi having some fun. 

54:27 - his upcoming holiday film, HAPPIEST SEASON. 

55:30 - The consummate actors he’s worked with setting the tone on set and getting to apply that when leading LIMITLESS. 

58:03 - What ‘The Right Stuff’ is to be in the entertainment industry

58:42 - Getting sappy and loving this medium of telling stories.

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Hosted & Produced by: Jenny Curtis

Co-Produced and edited by: J Whiting

Executive Producer: Stuart Halperin

Theme Music by: Celleste & Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

https://www.curtco.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a previously unheard part of host Jenny Curtis’ conversation with Director Harry Bradbeer - Harry reveals how the final (and his favorite) scene of ENOLA HOLMES was a late addition to the film. 

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Learn More: Hollywood Unscripted

Follow Us: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Hosted and Produced by: Jenny Curtis

Co-Produced and Edited by: J Whiting

Executive Producer: Stuart Halperin

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actress/Writer/Director/Producer Zoe Lister-Jones joins host Jenny Curtis to talk about her career and life as a creative. Through the conversation they discuss: 

0:56 - The rollercoaster of her career ambitions and the struggle to decide on a creative path. 

2:39 - The core of Zoe’s parents teaching her to be an artist. 

4:09 - Going from the world of theater into the world of film. 

5:20 - Being on WHITNEY, learning from Whitney Cummings, and her favorite memory of that time. 

6:28 - How she made her first film with her partner, Daryl Wein - BREAKING UPWARDS. 

10:14 - The ease of embodying a character based on herself. 

11:40 - LOLA VERSUS and working on her first studio film. 

13:44 - LIFE IN PIECES and working on an ensemble show. 

15:42 - Creating a supportive environment with an all female crew and a cast of friends on her directorial debut, BAND AID. 

17:56 - Playing the music live on set. 

18:10 - Getting the idea for a couple that turns their fights into song for BAND AID. 

19:28 - Deciding to direct and facing her fear. 

20:57 - The path to THE CRAFT: LEGACY and determining the story she wanted to tell in it. 

23:00 - Walking the line of paying homage to the original and creating a new story for THE CRAFT: LEGACY

23:39 - Working with VFX for the first time. 

25:42 - Directing without acting in the film. 

27:04 - A scene in the film that portrays genuine kindness and creating a narrative where women support each other. 

29:01 - Always being aware of the representation of women in media 

30:11 - Giving objects meaning when creating a good energy on set and having an intention setting ceremony before the shoot. 

32:02 - Starting a shoot with an activity in community. 

33:34 - Overcoming self doubt. 

35:29 - Her Halloween plans. 

35:46 - The responsibility in having a life in storytelling. 

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Learn More: Hollywood Unscripted

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Hosted and Produced by: Jenny Curtis

Co-Produced and Edited by: J Whiting

Executive Producer: Stuart Halperin

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Showrunner Mary Laws joins host Jenny Curtis to discuss her career, writing, and her new anthology series on Hulu, MONSTERLAND. Throughout the conversation they discuss: 

0:37 - Finding her way to the arts as a young child. 

2:20 - Receiving some harsh but beneficial advice from a teacher in undergrad. 

3:36 - Starting out as a playwright and the first play she wrote, FINGAL’S CAVE. 

4:50 - Tina Howe’s observation of Mary

5:35 - Going to NY and working at Rattlestick Playwright’s Theater

6:21 - Not giving up on getting into Yale

7:39 - Studying with Paula Vogel and taking lessons from her to MONSTERLAND. 

8:51 - Going from playwriting to writing NEON DEMON with Nicolas Winding Refn. 

11:55 - Writing with other people and creating now for a visual medium in film & TV. 

15:36 - The experience of being a first-time showrunner. 

16:43 - Adapting from Nathan Ballingrud’s book NORTH AMERICAN LAKE MONSTERS. 

19:34 - The choice in naming the episodes after the locations they were set in. 

21:07 - Staffing the writers room and creating an open environment. 

24:24 - The first day on MONSTERLAND and challenges with wind. 

25:33 - Creating one world that the anthology series exists in. 

26:20 - The monster Mary is the most proud of and using practical effects. 

29:11 - Wrap day on MONSTERLAND and the challenges of doing an anthology series

32:24 - The exciting opportunities of working in television. 

34:55 - What storytelling has done for Mary on a personal level. 

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Learn More: Hollywood Unscripted

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Hosted and Produced by: Jenny Curtis

Co-Produced and Edited by: J Whiting

Executive Producer: Stuart Halperin

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Executive Producer Jessica Rhoades joins host Jenny Curtis to talk about the new Amazon Original series UTOPIA, her career, supporting the writer’s vision, mentoring, and advice for creatives. Through the conversation they discuss:

0:59 - The experience of putting two series out during quarantine, DIRTY JOHN: THE BETTY BRODERICK STORY and UTOPIA. 

2:54 - The title of ‘non-writing executive producer’ and what Jessica does in production. 

4:34 - Discovering that she could be a producer when seeing Marti Noxon’s name in the BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER credits

5:52 - Jessica’s fan-girl moment when beginning to work with Marti Noxon. 

7:29 - The friction on the set of SHARP OBJECTS making the project better. 

8:26 - Working with first time showrunners and supporting Gillian Flynn in her first experience as showrunner. 

10:39 - Having Dennis Kelly, the creator of the British UTOPIA, involved in this version. 

11:45 - How UTOPIA began and Jessica’s first impression of the scripts. 

13:58 - Hiding the violence of the show while working from home with children. 

14:56 - The fun of making the show and the experience of creating ‘FringeCon’. 

16:28 - Getting John Cusack on board, when he doesn’t normally work on series. 

17:13 - Casting the rest of the actors, including Sasha Lane. 

18:01 - Sharing a name with the main character. 

19:08 - Sasha’s fight training. 

19:29 - The actors’ knowledge of who makes it through the show and who doesn’t. 

20:04 - Growing up through her career, from Disney to Blumhouse to Pacesetter Productions

23:29 - What Jason Blum saw in Jessica to know that she would be a good fit for the Head of Television. 

24:47 - Her upcoming series STATION ELEVEN being another project about a virus. 

27:21 - The UTOPIA team’s reaction when the pandemic first hit. 

27:57 - The mentorship program #StartWith8Hollywood and advice that can be given to upcoming creatives. 

30:06 - Why to shoot an independent feature rather than a spec pilot. 

31:22 - Joining an established show

31:53 - Taking new lessons, even personal ones, from each set. 

32:30 - Not having official mentors of her own, but what she has instead. 

33:07 - Advice would be to her young self.  

34:00 - A life in storytelling

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Learn More: Hollywood Unscripted

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Hosted and Produced by: Jenny Curtis

Co-Produced and Edited by: J Whiting

Executive Producer: Stuart Halperin

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Director Julie Taymor joins host Jenny Curtis to talk about her amazing career in the arts, from Lion King on Broadway to her new film THE GLORIAS. Through the conversation they discuss: 

1:07 - Julie’s experience during quarantine. 

1:51 - How she connected to Gloria Steinem and began the process of THE GLORIAS

4:59 - Developing a core image to build a story around in THE LION KING, MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM, and THE GLORIAS. 

7:00 - Having the film come out at this time and how the original concept was adjusted after the 2016 election. 

11:18 - Reaching a younger audience

12:08 - The women who have raised their voices, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and the importance of voting. 

15:01 - Collaborating with playwright Sarah Ruhl on THE GLORIAS screenplay. 

15:56 - Gloria Steinem’s involvement, her trust in Julie through the process and the shared wavelength they were on. 

18:10 - Working with Alicia Vikander and Julianne Moore in their development of their individual Glorias. 

20:40 - The conversation Julie would be having with herself on Julie’s ‘bus out of time’ and finding inspiration from her younger self. 

22:44 - Having perspective on the US

23:09 - The legacy of THE LION KING and the freedom it has given her. 

25:51 - Dealing with death in THE LION KING, a family who found understanding in the show, and how art can ease pain. 

29:20 - TITUS and the experience of Julie’s first film. 

31:10 - Anthony Hopkins’ challenge in diving into the character of Titus. 

32:49 - Connecting with Salma Hayek and directing FRIDA

34:20 - How working with Harvey Weinstein did not tarnish the memory of the making of FRIDA. 

36:01 - Finding Joe Anderson and Jim Sturgess for ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, attaching the rest of the cast and rehearsals for the piece. 

38:18 - Evan Rachel Wood’s first day on set singing live. 

39:27 - The activism in ACROSS THE UNIVERSE being relevant today.

41:01 - The life of storytelling. 

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Hosted & Produced by: Jenny Curtis

Co-Produced and edited by: J Whiting

Executive Producer: Stuart Halperin

Theme Music by: Celleste & Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

https://www.curtco.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actor Lance Reddick (THE WIRE) joins host Jenny Curtis and guest co-host Dana Gourrier in a conversation about his career and craft. Through the conversation they discuss:

1:13 - Lance's experience on AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN and working with Jessica Lange

3:29 - Dana’s experience with Jessica Lange on COVEN, her friendship with Gabourey Sidibe, her recollection of Lance’s role and working with Sarah Paulson

6:01 - Dana’s take on working across actors of a certain level

7:19 - Lance’s experience working with one of his idols, Kathy Bates. 

12:03 - Lance’s beginnings in music and his path to drama school. 

15:23 - Lance’s vocal warm up

17:28 - Lance’s first role in TV, AGAINST THE LAW

18:36 - Working in theater and his transition to film & tv

20:31 - Changing lines versus being word perfect to the written script and the strict nature of FRINGE

25:07 - Dana’s experience of having to change a character while on set and her feel of creating a character for a network show. 

26:34 - Not getting time to prepare for a monologue in his audition for THE WIRE. 

28:11 - Being able to pull out an accent for JOHN WICK because of one of his early films

29:07 - The difference and similarities in maintaining a character through a series or through a franchise. 

30:27 - Ethan Peck’s memory of a line change in TENNESSEE

32:04 - Creating different characters within the same archetype 

34:07 - Choosing to play Broyles on FRINGE and Irving on BOSCH 

38:46 - Not getting CORPORATE at first and the genius of the creative crew. 

41:40 -  Working with Regina King on ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI

42:16 - Remembering some bad directions given to him. 

44:16 - A quote from Keanu Reeves about subtle acting. 

45:00 - Acting for an audio series and how voice acting is different than film & TV. 

46:08 - Dana and Lance share their experiences on THE DOMESTICS

47:24 - The importance of a life in storytelling. 

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Learn More: Hollywood Unscripted

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Hosted and Produced by: Jenny Curtis

Co-Produced and Edited by: J Whiting

Executive Producer: Stuart Halperin

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.