Director Episodes

Marc Preston sits down with Actor Danay Garcia from AMC's "Fear the Walking Dead" and NBC / Peacock's "M.I.A." to discuss her new project, career, and personal stories. We talk about her journey arriving in Los Angeles from Havana, Cuba, and the reality of navigating the industry while tackling a profound language barrier. Danay shares memories from her early days, including the thrill of getting her first major break shooting Super Bowl commercials alongside Snoop Dogg and Guy Ritchie. She a...

Marc Preston sits down with Writer and Director Thom Harp from "The Donor Party" and "Home Delivery" to discuss his new project, career, and personal stories. Thom brings a fantastic energy to the conversation, sharing how his background as a cinematographer in Seattle eventually shaped his approach to humane comedy. We talk about the importance of giving actors the space to just play and trust their instincts on set. It’s always fun getting to hear about the process behind creating those incre...

On this episode of “Story and Craft”, Marc sits down with actor and writer Johnny Ray Gill (“Cross” Season 2 on Prime Video) for a wide-ranging conversation about Gill’s Portland roots in an all-Black Northeast community, his working-class family, and early artistic start in spoken-word poetry inspired by the film “Slam.” Gill shares how a rites-of-passage program shaped his cultural awareness, how an internship with writer Mike Rich opened doors, and how his path led from USC film school to Tem...

On this episode of Story & Craft, we sit down with actor/director/writer/producer Kevin Kane. Kevin talks about growing up around Philly (and a stint in Myrtle Beach), catching the acting bug early thanks to a school report on Jimmy Cagney, and eventually moving to New York to chase theater and serious training. He breaks down studying Meisner at the William Esper Studio, how that tight-knit class bond turned into real creative momentum, and how he and Amy Schumer started working together - even...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with actor,Thomas Jane from the Amazon Prime Video film “Play DIrty”, as well as projects such as The Expanse and Boogie Nights. We cover Jane's impressive body of work, as well as his journey from modest beginnings in Maryland to becoming a notable actor in Hollywood. We discuss Thomas’ passion for storytelling, the joys and challenges of being an actor, and the importance of authentic human experiences in film. Thomas also reveals his g...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with producer,Danny O’Malley. Danny is a Grammy and James Beard award nominee. He just picked up an Emmy nomination for theNetflix series “Chef's Table”. Danny takes us on a culinary journey through his experiences. They also talk about everything from the impact of Anthony Bourdain, Chicago-style pizza preferences, memorable dining experiences, to the global influence of food and its power to bridge cultures. Danny also shares insights i...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with actor,Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine from theApple TV Series “Smoke”, as well as upcoming projects such as “Dexter: Resurrection” and “Washington Black.” We discuss Ntare's extensive career, including his roles in popular TV shows like “The Chi” and “Treme.” Ntare also opens up about his Ugandan heritage, and his own journey into acting. We also chat about his and his long-term documentary project “Memories of Love Returned.” It’s a great ch...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with director,Laura Murphy from thefilm “F Marry Kill, which features Lucy Hale and Virginia Gardner. We delve into Laura’s career journey from writing and directing at MTV to her work with high-profile talent like Awkwafina, Eliza Schlesinger, and John Oliver. The episode covers Murphy's experiences in the film industry, her filmmaking approach, and her love for comedy. We also touch on her personal life, including balancing motherhood w...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with director,Ash Avildsen who directed the new film “Queen of The Ring!” We discuss the film’s thematic roots in pro wrestling history, particularly the story of Mildred Burke, an influential female wrestler from the 1930s to the 1950s. Ash shares his filmmaking process, including the challenges of casting and the collaborative nature of movie production. The discussion covers aspects of music in film and the evolution of the music indus...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with actor, writer, producer & director,Delaney Buffet & Katie Corwin from thefilm “Adult Best Friends!” We delve into Delaney and Katie’s long-term friendship, creative partnership, and the challenges of shooting a film on a low budget. Additionally, we touch on Delaney's experience growing up as the daughter of the late Jimmy Buffett, the influence of comedy in their work, and their love for creating meaningful stories. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with showrunner, executive producer, writer and director, Stuart Zicherman from theFX Network series “American Sports Story, which is now available on Hulu!” We discuss Stuart’s extensive work in the film and television industry, including his projects like “The Shrink Next Door”, “The Americans”, and his latest project “American Sports Story” about football player, Aaron Hernandez. Stuart shares insights into his career, the creative pro...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with Actor & Director, Jennifer Morrison. We chat about her journey from the theater stage in Chicago, to the dynamic world of television…both in front of and behind the camera. Jennifer shares her early experiences in directing community theater and how her acting roles, especially on hit shows like "House", served as an education for her work as a director. Jennifer discusses the often overlooked aspects of filmmaking, from the deman...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with comedian, musician, actor, writer, director, entrepreneur and cannabis advocate, Tommy Chong. It’s a great chat where we touch on his career on stage and screen, his comedy partnership with Cheech Marin and the ups and downs of being a cannabis advocate. It’s an insightful look into how Tommy crafted a career as a backing man, but has always tried to lead by example. We also take a few detours to chat about George Carlin, Tommy’s phi...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with Hollywood legend, George Stevens, Jr. He has enjoyed a seventy year career as a writer, producer and director. He also founded the American Film Institute (AFI) and co-created the Kennedy Center Honors. He has been friends with and consulted presidents from John F. Kennedy, through President Obama, who appointed him as Co-Chairman of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. He has received numerous Emmy, Writers Guild an...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with Rupert Evans. This talented actor from the UK has co-starred in a number of television and film projects, such as Amazon Prime’s The Man in The High Castle, the CW’s Charmed, Netflix’s Bridgerton and Ewan McGregor’s directorial debut, American Pastoral. It was a pleasure to sit down and talk story with Rupert. We covered a lot of ground - touching on acting, working with Jean Reno, shooting projects on both sides of the Atlantic and the Zen of a Land Rover. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS0:02:09 - Filming and Living in Various Locations0:13:14 - Experience of Being on a Popular Show0:14:42 - Period Shows and Bridgerton Analysis0:16:00 - Popular Shows on Netflix and Amazon0:21:42 - Longevity and Love for Acting0:25:18 - Fathers Trade and Inherited Interests0:29:40 - Odd Jobs and Freezing Warehouse Work0:34:32 - Wisdom From Older Actors and Voices0:39:31 - Choose Three Figures for Conversation0:42:42 - Seven QuestionsListen and sub…

This week on Story & Craft, I sit down with movie director, Ariel Vromen. Ariel is an intriguing guy with a great story. He has directed movies such as Criminal, The Iceman and The Angel. He has directed some of Hollywood’s biggest names, such as Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot, Chris Evans, Wynona Ryder and Gary Oldman. Beyond his work as a director, he has also established a name for himself as a DJ, and regularly plays for audiences around the world. We cover everything, from his time as a soldier in the Israeli Defense Forces, to the time he took Kevin Costner to an techno concert, to his thoughts on the craft of directing movies, and how movie making will evolve in the coming years. It’s a great chat with a creative and cool guy with an intriguing story to tell.SHOW HIGHLIGHTS0:09:22 - Taking a Creative Path in Life0:18:57 - Challenges of Filmmaking and Changing Landscape0:24:53 - The Changing Landscape of Content Creation0:34:43 - Streaming's Role in the Film I…

This week on Story & Craft, we sit down with Academy Award and Golden Globe winner, Billy Bob Thornton. Billy needs no introduction, as he’s been on the scene for quite a while. His body of work is extensive, and includes big and small screen projects, such as Slingblade, Bad Santa, The Man Who Wasn’t There, The Alamo, Fargo, Goliath and most recently, the Paramount+ show, 1883. Billy is also a talented and accomplished musician. In 2007, Billy connected with JD Andrew to form the group, The Box...