Writer Episodes

On this episode of Story & Craft, we sit down to chat with writer and director Lee Kirk from "The Giant Mechanical Man" and "Nimrod" to discuss his career and personal stories. The conversation explores Lee's nomadic childhood moving to a new school every single year, and how that constant search for footing shaped the emotionally grounded, slightly melancholic characters he creates today. Host Marc Preston and Lee also reflect on three decades in the entertainment industry, tracing the path ...

On this episode of Story & Craft, we sit down to chat with Writer, Director and Producer Owen Dennis from "Infinity Train" and Paramount+'s "Among Us" to discuss his career and personal stories. Owen discusses his unexpected path to animation, detailing his time teaching English in China and the early motivation that pushed him to pursue art outside his hometown. He shares the hands-on process of creating a fully hand-drawn, 2D animated series and the practical challenges of pitching adult an...

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 and Craft,” Marc sits down with actor and voiceover veteran DB Sweeney (“The Cutting Edge,” “Eight Men Out,” “Memphis Belle”) to talk career pivots, creative choices, and the long game of working in entertainment. DB shares what it was like training for “Memphis Belle” with retired SAS guys, flying in real B-17s. He opens up about growing up on Long Island, chasing baseball dreams at Tulane, discovering acting through theater, and getting launched by Francis Ford Coppol...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, Marc Preston goes behind the curtain with producer/writer Joel Church-Cooper (“Going Dutch”, “Brockmire”, “Future Man”, “Undateable”) to talk about how TV comedy really gets made and how the business has changed. Joel shares his Northern California upbringing, film-nerd roots in the video store era, and the comedy influences that shaped him (“Kids in the Hall”, “Mr. Show”). They dig into big studio comedies, as well as how algorithms and “second-scre...

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 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 author, writer, producer and director,Larry Charles , who has a new memoir out called “Comedy Samurai: Forty Years of Blood, Guts, and Laughter”. He’s known for a constellation of projects, such as Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, Mad About You, Borat, The Dictator and The Comedians. We dive into Larry's journey from Brooklyn to Hollywood, discussing his work on iconic shows, as well as collaborations with the likes of Jerr...

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 and producer,Katie O'Brien from theTubi series “The Z-Suite!” We explore Katie's career journey from Omaha to L.A., through the world of improv and her successful stint with the comedy group “The Katie Dids.” Katie shares her experiences working on “Teachers”, advice and anecdotes about navigating Hollywood, and her approach to storytelling that bridges generational gaps. Additionally, we dive into comedic inspirations ...

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 comedic actor, Matt Walsh. We chatted about his Emmy-nominated role as Mike McClintock on Veep, as well as his work as a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB). We also discussed Matt’s new Hulu movie, Flamin' Hot. Matt reflects on his time growing up in Chicago, his work on The Daily Show, Saturday Night Live and a number of his other memorable roles in TV and film. We also touch on Matt's podcast Second in Command...

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 Asha Michelle Wilson. Asha is an actor, screenwriter and showrunner. She’s written for shows such as FX’s Archer and American Horror Story, as well as Netflix’s upcoming series, Agent King. She’s currently developing a project for Paramount+ and will be writing a series based on the movie Soap Dish. What’s it like to develop, write and run a TV show? We’ll talk about that and more, as we sit down to talk story with Asha Michelle Wils...

This week on The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with the epic talented and versatile actor, Billy Magnussen. He’s been working for years in film, TV and is a Tony nominated stage actor. We chat about his new HBO film, The Survivor, where he co-stars alongside Ben Foster in this film directed by Barry Levinson. He’s also kicking off season 2 of the HBO Max series, Made For Love with co-star Cristin Milioti. Billy’s been staying busy, having recently co-starred alongside Daniel Craig and Jeffr...

This week on The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with actor and writer, Chris Baker. He has made a name for himself on YouTube. Now, he’s beginning to break out with his first feature length film, The Estate. He wrote and starred in this film, which is currently available on Hulu. We talk about making movies, inspiration and how to carve out your own creative space. Chris was a great guest and I’m happy to share his story. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 0:00:02 - Interview With Filmmaker Chris Baker 0:04...

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...

This week on Story & Craft, we launch our debut episode with one of the funniest guys I know. Craig Shoemaker is a comedian, actor, writer, producer, author and entrepreneur. He’s known by many as “The Lovemaster”, and has garnered a large following through his decades as a touring act, as well as through his specials on Comedy Central, Showtime, Netflix and Amazon Prime. He has received high praise and recognition throughout his career, including a couple of Emmys and an American Comedy Award. He’s now bringing the funny to offer up laughter as medicine. We celebrate the lives of Bob Saget and Louie Anderson, chat about the healing powers of “the funny”...and much more!SHOW HIGHLIGHTS03:48 Navigating Comedy During COVID05:24 The Impact of Cancel Culture08:51 The Role of Laughter in Healing13:36 The Evolution of Comedy and Society29:01 The Distraction of Technology40:45 Passing Down Values and Loyalty41:22 Legacy and Remembering Loved Ones43:45 The Joy of Storytelling and Wri…