Dec. 8, 2024

Chris Diamantopoulos | A Sweet Toast to Dionysus

Chris Diamantopoulos | A Sweet Toast to Dionysus
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Chris Diamantopoulos | A Sweet Toast to Dionysus

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with actor, Chris Diamantopoulos from the Prime Video show “The Sticky”, where he co-stars alongside Margo Martindale.  Chris is known for roles in films such as “Red Notice”, “The Three Stooges”, and as the voice of Mickey Mouse.  We chat about Chris’ career trajectory, his role in the Prime Video series “The Sticky”, and personal anecdotes about his family, his Greek heritage, and being able to be around his kids while doing voiceover work from his home studio.  Additionally, he shares insights from working with George Clooney, his approach to acting, and his future aspirations as a performer.SHOW HIGHLIGHTS01:53 Chris's Role in Red Notice05:59 Voice Acting During COVID11:12 The Sticky: A Unique Show14:20 Greek Heritage and Family19:05 Early Acting Career22:13 Inspiration from Film and TV24:14 Landing the Role in The Three Stooges27:06 Reflecting on Career Shifts27:38 Voicing Mickey Mouse: A Dream Role29:49 Working with George Clooney32:51 Audition Insights and Mentorship39:56 Directorial Aspirations41:44 The Seven QuestionsListen and subscribe on your favorite podcast app.  Also, check out the show and sign up for the newsletter at  www.storyandcraftpod.com...#podcast #ChrisDiamantopolous #Acting #AmazonPrime #PrimeVideo #Blumhouse #MargoMartindale #GeorgeClooney #JamieLeeCurtis #Greek #GreekActor #CanadianActor #Canada #MickeyMouse #Actor #Voiceover #storyandcraft

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Chris Diamantopoulos:

And so I watched him as he talked and then the journalist

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asked him, would you do it, Mr.

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Disney?

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Would you, would you do

a little of the voice?

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And he went,

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oh boy.

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And I watched what he did

with his, with his body.

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I watched what he did with his face.

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I thought, oh gosh, maybe I could do that.

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Announcer: Welcome to Story and Craft.

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Now, here's your host, Marc Preston.

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Marc Preston: All right, here we go.

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Back again.

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Welcome.

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Thank you so much for stopping back by.

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Uh, if this is your

first episode, welcome.

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My name is Marc Preston.

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And, uh, today we are sitting down with.

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Actor Chris Diamantopoulos, you might

know him from movies like George

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Clooney's The Boys in the Boat.

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He was also the bad guy in Red Notice

with Ryan Reynolds and Dwayne Johnson.

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He's been in The Three Stooges.

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Heck, he's even been the

voice of Mickey Mouse.

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And of course, we talk about that

as well as his new show, The Sticky.

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He co stars with Margo Martindale.

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It is on Prime Video.

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Watched a few episodes over the weekend.

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Very cool show.

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Chris is such a talented guy, uh, both

on stage and with a TV film, uh, also

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voiceover, he's done tons of animation.

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He is a great chat and

I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

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Uh, Hey, by the way, if you would do me

a favor, pop on over to storyandcraftpod.

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com slash rate.

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Hey, do me a favor, drop a review, if

you will, on your favorite podcast app.

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It helps folks to find the show.

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So, you know, leave some stars, a

review, but make sure to follow the show.

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That way you get notified every

time there is a new episode.

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And, of course, the website.

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We got everything up there from

past episodes to all of our guests.

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You want to find out more about them.

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Uh, and it's just a cool way to reach out.

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Drop me a note.

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You can even leave me a voicemail.

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So, let's go and jump right on into it.

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I really enjoyed this chat.

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Very talented actor.

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Is Chris Diamantopoulos day

right here on story and craft.

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Hey man.

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So good to connect with you.

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I just.

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Watched you the other night.

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I was watching a red notice.

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Love, love your character.

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You had this, uh, sexy Euro

forest Whitaker thing going on,

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which I just like that sound.

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Yeah.

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I love,

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Chris Diamantopoulos: you know,

where that voice comes from.

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Actually, that's a, it's the ultimate,

uh, this is a great actor story.

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Uh, when I auditioned for the

role, um, the character was okay.

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So originally the character was

supposed to be Antonio Banderas,

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but, uh, something happened from a

budgetary and schedule standpoint.

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He couldn't do it.

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So.

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When the audition came in, they wanted

a Spanish or a Latin American bad guy.

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And, uh, I didn't feel comfortable.

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They want to put some boots.

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Well, I didn't feel comfortable doing

that only because I knew that, you know,

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there are great Latin actors out there.

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And for me to go in and impersonate

that just didn't feel right.

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So I am Greek.

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I speak Greek fluently.

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It's my first language.

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So I went in and I made them Greek.

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And I changed all of the Spanish

stuff to Greek and director loved it.

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Ross and, Marshall Thurber

absolutely loved it.

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And so when we talked about when I got the

role, he was like, look, let's make this

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guy kind of portly and he'll make him kind

of a, you know, bloated Greek billionaire.

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And I love that idea.

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And then about two weeks in before

production started, I got a call

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from him saying flag on the play.

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And I think we're going to

have to find another actor.

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And I said, why?

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He said, well, Ryan just did a

movie and the main bad guy in

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his movie was a portly Greek guy.

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And when we went through the

script recently, and he just saw

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that change, he said, I it's, it's

just too close to something I did.

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So he said, I'm really sorry, Chris,

we're gonna have to find someone else.

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I said, no, no, no, no,

no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

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I was actually going to call you because I

thought, ah, the bloated Greek billionaire

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that's been done a million times.

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Let's make this guy a Viper.

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Let's make him of, uh, he said,

yeah, but what, where's he from?

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What's his voice?

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I said, well, he's of

indeterminate European origin.

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No one knows.

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He just popped on Interpol when he was 18.

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He goes, what does he sound like?

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I said, well, his vocal cords were cut.

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Paralyzed because his father tried

to strangle him when he was a boy.

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Marc Preston: Oh, that's right.

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Yeah.

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And

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Chris Diamantopoulos: so it was, it was

me trying to save my job and finding a

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way to make a non, non specific European

voice that, uh, uh, created that.

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So necessity breeds invention, Marc.

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Marc Preston: Well, the other

thing is I kind of dislike you

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because we're about the same age.

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I think I got like one or two years older.

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That was more than 73.

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Okay.

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75.

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Um, you, you're in way too good of shape.

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You're like the gym, man.

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I'm like, you're sort of like the totem

of where I'm trying to get to right now.

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You know, both.

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You're there,

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Chris Diamantopoulos: man.

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You look good to me.

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You look very good

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Marc Preston: to me.

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You eat well, you exercise.

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You know, it's funny, my youngest was,

went off to college, so now I'm an empty

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nester and I moved down to a little

Island in South Texas called South Padre.

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I'm kind of going for the

Jimmy Buffett lifestyle.

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I love it.

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And one of the reasons why I moved

down here is to be more active,

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literally walks on the beach every day.

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And I think that's really kind of

where I'm trying to get back to is just

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walking more and then get easing into it.

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And, uh, my kids are in way better shape.

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They're all looking.

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They're more athletic than me.

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So like, um, I was talking to my cousin,

like, I'm sorry, I've got, I got three,

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got a 21 year old daughter, uh, who's

about to graduate from, uh, uh, Loyola,

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New Orleans, going to be a teacher.

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My son's there.

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And I think he's moving and want to be

a psychologist and my, uh, baby diva, my

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18 year old daughter, Emma is going to

small university and, uh, Uh, Boca Raton.

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Oh, wait, wait a minute.

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Oh God.

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She's going to be 19 in a couple of weeks.

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When I'm thinking I'm staying the

same age, they keep getting old.

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I know you feel like a reverse.

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Uh, yeah, but, uh, but

no, I really enjoyed it.

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That's one of the things to me, you are,

I don't like to use the phrase chameleon.

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I don't think that's.

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But you really have a nice, to say

you have range would be a gross

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understatement, you know, going

from, uh, you know, three stooges

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to, to that, um, was that a, is

that like a Neumann you got there?

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It's a Neumann.

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Chris Diamantopoulos: Yeah.

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Yeah.

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So I have a Neumann.

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I also have a Sennheiser,

uh, 416 next to it.

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Just depends on what I'm recording.

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I like the Neumann because And

I've got it on this sort of Omni,

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so that if I'm moving around,

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Marc Preston: that's, that's the

same thing I got in my booth.

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Actually, I've got a booth right here.

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Uh, I got a four 16 cause I do

mostly promo and actually it's funny

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cause I know you, uh, I saw you were

in, uh, the Kennedy's, you played

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Sinatra and I was actually the

voice of reels channel at the time.

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And that was like a really

big deal for the network.

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It kind of put them, it was over the edge.

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It was a big show for them.

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Yeah.

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And, uh, you have

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Chris Diamantopoulos: a great promo voice.

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I did promo all through.

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I mean, basically from:

to 2008, I was, I did a ton

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of promo in New York City.

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That was my, my bread and butter.

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Marc Preston: During Covid, were

you doing a lot of the animation

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from home, you know, when you

couldn't go in, or did you have that

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set up and, uh, kind of a screen?

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Yeah, so

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Chris Diamantopoulos: yeah, I, um, I

did a lot of animation before Covid.

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Uh, we lived, you know, I

started doing animation.

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Quite regularly in about 2004 is

when it really sort of began for me.

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Uh, and I lived between New York and

LA and, uh, you know, between 2004 and

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2020, you really weren't doing stuff from

home booth, even if you had a studio,

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you were always going into studio.

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Um, because the producers were all

of a little bit different generation.

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They were still used

to wanting to see you.

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That's right.

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They wanted you, they wanted you there.

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Um, which was great.

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You know, there was a

great sense of community.

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Um, I was living in New York.

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And I had a few series going a few

animated series going at the time and

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COVID hit and I didn't have a booth

in my apartment in New York City and,

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um, I lost, I lost a bunch of work

because they needed to, to pivot to,

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uh, uh, a way where they had talent

that had, you know, studio space.

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So we moved.

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Not for this reason, but we

moved back to Los Angeles.

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And one of the first things

that I did was I took the risk

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of building a proper studio.

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I have a proper studio.

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Oh yeah.

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Yeah.

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You didn't,

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Marc Preston: you didn't

get a pre made booth.

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You actually kind of, uh,

retrofitted a space in your home.

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I took an

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Chris Diamantopoulos: actual building.

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And, and, and, you know, it was, I

guess, uh, I don't know, a guest house

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or something, but I turned the whole

thing into a proper studio, a recording

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studio, and also, um, a taping studio

for me to be able to make, you know,

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self tapes, you know, I'm an actor and I

have to get work and when George Clooney

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wants to see an audition and it's COVID

and you can't Go and do that someplace.

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You gotta, you know, I have speakers here.

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So I hire someone to be a reader and

it sounds like they're in the room

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and it looks like I'm doing a scene.

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So yeah, I and I and by virtue of

building this space, I was able to record.

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You know, probably 14 or 15

series over the last few years.

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Marc Preston: That is so awesome.

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The kids, when they were young, I just

wanted to be home with the kids and,

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uh, so, so my daughter, she is not

phased at all about the thing I do.

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She's not the least bit impressed,

you know, so I have four

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Chris Diamantopoulos: kids.

222

00:08:08,365 --> 00:08:10,704

I know, I know the drill

and being home is important.

223

00:08:11,105 --> 00:08:14,085

That's one of the reasons that the

studio was super important as well was,

224

00:08:14,195 --> 00:08:17,215

you know, making sure that if I'm going

to be, you know, doing recordings for

225

00:08:17,215 --> 00:08:20,665

six, seven hours, eight hours a day

that, you know, I could pop out and.

226

00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:23,120

Give them a squeeze, make them a

quick sandwich or whatever it is.

227

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Isn't that the greatest though?

228

00:08:23,969 --> 00:08:24,210

Isn't that

229

00:08:24,210 --> 00:08:25,690

Marc Preston: the greatest thing

where you can actually be doing your

230

00:08:25,690 --> 00:08:28,500

thing, but it's all kind of there,

you know, and it kind of gets.

231

00:08:28,630 --> 00:08:28,979

It's

232

00:08:29,030 --> 00:08:30,969

Chris Diamantopoulos: a, it's,

it's beyond a blessing, man.

233

00:08:30,969 --> 00:08:32,009

I mean, it's, it really is.

234

00:08:32,020 --> 00:08:34,559

It's a, it's a pinch me kind

of thing because it really

235

00:08:34,560 --> 00:08:35,620

doesn't, doesn't get much better.

236

00:08:35,620 --> 00:08:39,810

Although I will say that after doing

that for, A long time, you know,

237

00:08:39,810 --> 00:08:43,110

for a couple of years, you don't

mind going to a set occasionally.

238

00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:45,030

Oh, no, no, no, not in the least bit.

239

00:08:45,069 --> 00:08:45,640

No, no, no.

240

00:08:45,650 --> 00:08:46,770

Let's, uh, let's go.

241

00:08:46,830 --> 00:08:48,519

Let's, uh, how old are your kids?

242

00:08:48,650 --> 00:08:51,530

Uh, 14, 11, five and two.

243

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Oh, okay.

244

00:08:52,260 --> 00:08:52,949

So you've got a good spectrum.

245

00:08:52,949 --> 00:08:54,479

Mine is all kind of packed in there.

246

00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:57,990

We, we were, we had a, we had a couple of

couple, a couple of false starts there.

247

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And, uh, But, uh, yeah, no, it's lovely.

248

00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:01,480

There's sort of an act one and an act two.

249

00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:04,120

The older two are good pals and

the younger two are good pals.

250

00:09:04,130 --> 00:09:04,810

So yeah,

251

00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:06,900

Marc Preston: my, my, my

oldest two get along famously.

252

00:09:06,900 --> 00:09:11,109

The youngest one is just, she is,

she is a, uh, she is a man out.

253

00:09:11,750 --> 00:09:12,729

She does her thing.

254

00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:15,089

That's the best way to put it

in, but you're in LA right now.

255

00:09:15,089 --> 00:09:15,549

Correct.

256

00:09:15,599 --> 00:09:16,319

That's where you live in.

257

00:09:16,370 --> 00:09:16,630

Yep.

258

00:09:16,849 --> 00:09:17,159

Okay.

259

00:09:17,220 --> 00:09:17,449

Yep.

260

00:09:17,490 --> 00:09:18,140

In Los Angeles.

261

00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:18,410

Yep.

262

00:09:18,660 --> 00:09:22,030

I also saw, and I, this was not a

deep dive in your resume, but I did

263

00:09:22,030 --> 00:09:24,670

see, uh, my kids loved watching 24.

264

00:09:24,670 --> 00:09:28,770

I cannot for the life of me, why

I can't lock in and remember.

265

00:09:29,410 --> 00:09:30,610

What you did on 24,

266

00:09:30,660 --> 00:09:32,150

Chris Diamantopoulos: I was

the chief of staff to, uh,

267

00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:33,860

Cherry Jones's, uh, president.

268

00:09:33,870 --> 00:09:36,060

It was, it was in the last season of 24.

269

00:09:36,060 --> 00:09:39,899

And I, uh, I mean, I was, uh,

instrumental in trying to basically

270

00:09:39,900 --> 00:09:41,479

trying to bring it all down.

271

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I was a pretty, pretty hateful guy.

272

00:09:43,810 --> 00:09:44,050

Fun.

273

00:09:44,060 --> 00:09:44,909

That was a lot of fun to do.

274

00:09:44,910 --> 00:09:45,340

Actually

275

00:09:45,410 --> 00:09:49,780

Marc Preston: seemed like a fun show to

shoot, you know, because we had a ball.

276

00:09:50,225 --> 00:09:54,585

So as far as what you're doing right

now, uh, what's kind of the mix kind of

277

00:09:54,615 --> 00:09:59,435

compared to on camera, uh, film and TV

to VO stuff you're doing for animation.

278

00:09:59,435 --> 00:10:01,324

Or do you, do you all, by the

way, do you also do video games?

279

00:10:01,324 --> 00:10:02,574

Have you found yourself in that realm?

280

00:10:02,684 --> 00:10:04,754

Chris Diamantopoulos: Yeah, I

just did a star Wars video game.

281

00:10:04,755 --> 00:10:06,895

Uh, I, I do a little of everything.

282

00:10:06,925 --> 00:10:13,485

I, I, you know, Broadway and, uh,

you know, um, feature films and

283

00:10:13,525 --> 00:10:18,535

television and streaming and animation

and commercials and endorsement and

284

00:10:18,545 --> 00:10:20,495

promos and the whole nine yards.

285

00:10:20,504 --> 00:10:20,874

If.

286

00:10:20,935 --> 00:10:25,575

If I can add value and I have time,

then I'll find a way to do it.

287

00:10:25,625 --> 00:10:27,625

Um, yeah, I agree with looking at it.

288

00:10:27,725 --> 00:10:28,045

Marc Preston: Yeah.

289

00:10:28,125 --> 00:10:28,405

Chris Diamantopoulos: Yeah.

290

00:10:28,455 --> 00:10:29,345

Yeah, no, truly.

291

00:10:29,345 --> 00:10:34,134

And, and, and it's, uh, it's just a matter

of, uh, it's really sort of what's out

292

00:10:34,135 --> 00:10:37,675

there and it all sort of shifts, you

know, sometimes it's very animation heavy.

293

00:10:37,675 --> 00:10:42,115

Sometimes, uh, it's, you know,

time is more spent doing work

294

00:10:42,115 --> 00:10:43,555

as a series regular on a show.

295

00:10:43,955 --> 00:10:45,315

Sometimes it all sort of.

296

00:10:45,930 --> 00:10:49,089

Takes a beat and there's not much

happening and it's time to sort of

297

00:10:49,089 --> 00:10:51,699

reflect on what I really want to be doing.

298

00:10:51,699 --> 00:10:56,030

I mean, I think in all facets

of life control is an illusion.

299

00:10:56,030 --> 00:11:01,210

So the notion that I can control

what comes to me in this chaotic

300

00:11:01,690 --> 00:11:06,050

and amorphous business is

that's a very special illusion.

301

00:11:06,060 --> 00:11:09,980

So I try to just not take

myself too seriously and I try

302

00:11:09,980 --> 00:11:11,850

to allow myself to be open.

303

00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:16,005

Um, And, uh, you know,

oftentimes, you know, the sticky

304

00:11:16,005 --> 00:11:17,035

is a really great example.

305

00:11:17,375 --> 00:11:19,315

When I first saw the script,

I thought it was great, but

306

00:11:19,355 --> 00:11:20,445

there was nothing in it for me.

307

00:11:20,695 --> 00:11:24,835

The character that I ended up playing

was written just slightly differently, a

308

00:11:24,835 --> 00:11:27,524

little older, and I didn't see him as me.

309

00:11:27,955 --> 00:11:32,085

When I read a second draft, I thought,

Oh, You know, this is interesting.

310

00:11:32,085 --> 00:11:34,865

I want to be a part of this world and

maybe there's a world where that character

311

00:11:34,865 --> 00:11:36,535

adapts a little bit and I could play him.

312

00:11:37,065 --> 00:11:39,575

But then I realized they didn't,

they weren't interested in seeing

313

00:11:39,585 --> 00:11:42,165

me because they had, they had an

idea that was completely different.

314

00:11:42,535 --> 00:11:45,414

And so it took like a year and a

half for me to finally say, Hey, you

315

00:11:45,415 --> 00:11:46,844

guys really need to meet me on this.

316

00:11:46,845 --> 00:11:47,574

All right, we'll meet you.

317

00:11:47,585 --> 00:11:47,964

We'll meet you.

318

00:11:47,964 --> 00:11:51,035

And, and they met me and we

all sort of clicked and it was

319

00:11:51,045 --> 00:11:52,565

like, Oh my gosh, this is right.

320

00:11:52,620 --> 00:11:54,149

Blumhouse,

321

00:11:54,329 --> 00:11:56,579

Marc Preston: this, this is

more of the horror genre.

322

00:11:56,579 --> 00:11:57,130

Am I right?

323

00:11:57,510 --> 00:11:58,349

I'm looking at Blumhouse.

324

00:11:58,359 --> 00:11:58,620

Chris Diamantopoulos: Yeah.

325

00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:04,309

So Blumhouse, uh, definitely made their

name in the horror genre, but they, you

326

00:12:04,309 --> 00:12:09,149

know, they go from horror into intriguing

into dramatic and, you know, they, they've

327

00:12:09,150 --> 00:12:13,459

got, they've, I think, look, Blumhouse is

a, is a fascinating and innovative studio

328

00:12:13,709 --> 00:12:19,020

and it's Blumhouse through Jamie Lee

Curtis, um, which, which is also just this

329

00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:21,850

extra beautiful little spice on this show.

330

00:12:22,090 --> 00:12:26,600

Not only is she in the show and she's

terrific, but as a producer and as a voice

331

00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:31,179

on the show, um, she was instrumental

in making sure that the vibe of this

332

00:12:31,630 --> 00:12:36,279

world that we haven't seen before this

criminal underbelly in Northern Canada,

333

00:12:36,289 --> 00:12:41,130

this notion of maple syrup, these ne'er

do wells, these buffoons, this insanity,

334

00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:42,780

that it all sort of comes together.

335

00:12:42,780 --> 00:12:45,750

And I think there's something really

special about a show like this in

336

00:12:45,750 --> 00:12:48,700

a 30 minute format in six episodes.

337

00:12:49,145 --> 00:12:51,655

It gives us everything we want

without feeling like we have to commit

338

00:12:51,655 --> 00:12:53,795

to something that's just going to

take weeks and weeks and weeks to

339

00:12:53,795 --> 00:12:54,275

Marc Preston: watch.

340

00:12:54,475 --> 00:12:56,855

Did you tap into your Canadian

roots with a little bit of

341

00:12:56,895 --> 00:12:59,064

Canadian dialect as a character?

342

00:12:59,385 --> 00:13:00,204

Chris Diamantopoulos: No, no, no.

343

00:13:00,205 --> 00:13:03,115

If you see the show, you'll realize I'm

actually playing an American on the show.

344

00:13:03,365 --> 00:13:06,295

Uh, so yeah, not playing

a Canadian on the show.

345

00:13:06,535 --> 00:13:10,535

Um, I play a low level.

346

00:13:11,425 --> 00:13:13,125

mobster esque guy.

347

00:13:13,135 --> 00:13:17,695

Who's, you know, uh, finds himself in

the, from the Boston area, up in Northern

348

00:13:17,695 --> 00:13:21,405

Canada, collecting, uh, you know,

the, uh, milk money for his employer.

349

00:13:21,735 --> 00:13:27,594

And, um, Margo Martindale plays

a local maple syrup farmer.

350

00:13:27,825 --> 00:13:33,384

And we realize in the show and from

this show that in, in fact, in reality,

351

00:13:33,664 --> 00:13:37,775

there is an association, a maple syrup

association that controls the global

352

00:13:38,275 --> 00:13:45,215

Supply and demand of maple syrup,

and they store these giant vats and

353

00:13:45,225 --> 00:13:49,905

giant oil drums of maple syrup that

are priced at thousands of dollars

354

00:13:49,905 --> 00:13:54,365

a drum, uh, in, in this, in these

warehouses that are largely unguarded.

355

00:13:54,734 --> 00:14:01,205

And so, uh, through desperation,

greed, and, you know, just a general

356

00:14:01,245 --> 00:14:05,335

feeling of larceny, our characters

get involved in the scheme to steal.

357

00:14:05,725 --> 00:14:07,635

Millions and millions of

dollars worth of maple syrup

358

00:14:07,635 --> 00:14:08,705

and sell it on the black Marcet.

359

00:14:08,985 --> 00:14:10,535

Marc Preston: You mentioned

something that they come up with

360

00:14:10,715 --> 00:14:12,285

a Blumhouse, like different ideas.

361

00:14:12,285 --> 00:14:14,955

And yeah, that's, I like being pleasantly

surprised by something like that.

362

00:14:14,965 --> 00:14:16,255

I haven't seen something like this before.

363

00:14:16,255 --> 00:14:17,405

That's always fun.

364

00:14:17,405 --> 00:14:17,735

Yeah.

365

00:14:18,175 --> 00:14:18,475

Yeah.

366

00:14:18,475 --> 00:14:19,195

That'll be, it'll be fun.

367

00:14:19,195 --> 00:14:20,085

You, I think you'll enjoy it.

368

00:14:20,305 --> 00:14:23,424

As far as, uh, the Greek heritage, which

of course, me being a Jewish kid from

369

00:14:23,425 --> 00:14:27,785

Texas, for whatever reason, in my family,

uh, for everybody's birthdays and events,

370

00:14:27,785 --> 00:14:29,095

we always went to Greek restaurants.

371

00:14:29,095 --> 00:14:29,375

So.

372

00:14:29,820 --> 00:14:29,960

Great.

373

00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:32,300

When I think of my comfort food

as a kid, it's always Greek food.

374

00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:32,840

I love that.

375

00:14:33,060 --> 00:14:33,620

I love that.

376

00:14:33,630 --> 00:14:33,920

I think,

377

00:14:34,070 --> 00:14:35,820

Chris Diamantopoulos: I think the

Greeks by and large would feel

378

00:14:35,940 --> 00:14:38,930

happy to hear that statement because

the Greeks all over the world

379

00:14:38,940 --> 00:14:41,529

Marc Preston: just want to

feed people pure comfort.

380

00:14:41,529 --> 00:14:44,900

And I remember the guys that, uh, and

Dallas's Costas cafe, the brothers,

381

00:14:44,970 --> 00:14:49,970

uh, there was a guy Zissy and they

owned it, but it's all one big family.

382

00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:52,620

So every Greek restaurant in the Dallas

area in one way or another, they're

383

00:14:52,620 --> 00:14:54,140

all related from what I understand.

384

00:14:54,405 --> 00:14:54,635

Yeah.

385

00:14:54,635 --> 00:14:58,194

Now are your folks, uh, kind of

first generation in Canada or?

386

00:14:58,194 --> 00:14:58,454

Yeah.

387

00:14:58,454 --> 00:14:59,824

I spoke, I spoke Greek

388

00:14:59,824 --> 00:15:00,295

Chris Diamantopoulos: in the house.

389

00:15:00,295 --> 00:15:01,225

It's my first language.

390

00:15:01,565 --> 00:15:07,095

Um, my mother and father emigrated

from Athens in the, uh, early 1970s.

391

00:15:07,465 --> 00:15:14,005

My dad, uh, went to Toronto, Canada

to, um, to, uh, study business

392

00:15:14,005 --> 00:15:15,334

and get his master's in business.

393

00:15:15,714 --> 00:15:21,745

Um, and my folks were sticklers

for us learning proper.

394

00:15:22,725 --> 00:15:26,465

grammatically accurate Greek,

both modern and ancient, actually.

395

00:15:29,175 --> 00:15:34,705

It was very, very important to them

that we, um, identified culturally as

396

00:15:34,715 --> 00:15:39,065

Greek, as well as embrace, you know,

living in Canada and being Canadian.

397

00:15:39,394 --> 00:15:46,275

Um, and it was, I think, by virtue

of speaking Greek first, that my ear,

398

00:15:46,275 --> 00:15:54,015

um, Was given the opportunity to train

itself to recognizing different sounds,

399

00:15:54,365 --> 00:15:57,155

different timbres, different textures.

400

00:15:57,435 --> 00:16:01,765

And I think that's sort of where

my mimicry and my understanding of

401

00:16:01,775 --> 00:16:05,009

tone and pitch and voice came from.

402

00:16:05,270 --> 00:16:07,210

Uh, manipulation really sort of began.

403

00:16:07,510 --> 00:16:10,430

Marc Preston: I don't know any Greek

at all, except for what's on the menu.

404

00:16:10,530 --> 00:16:14,750

It was always great hearing the guys talk

to one another, you know, it always felt

405

00:16:14,750 --> 00:16:18,800

like, uh, even if they were arguing, it

always felt, that's just the way it hit

406

00:16:18,809 --> 00:16:21,769

my ear, you know, but I got it, but I

got to know, I ended up talking food at

407

00:16:21,770 --> 00:16:23,409

least once or twice, but I got to know.

408

00:16:23,469 --> 00:16:26,800

Did you inherit the recipes

and the cooking vibe, or,

409

00:16:26,819 --> 00:16:28,060

you know, Oh, my, my parents

410

00:16:28,060 --> 00:16:28,900

Chris Diamantopoulos:

are both great cooks.

411

00:16:28,900 --> 00:16:30,420

Now we weren't in the restaurant business.

412

00:16:30,420 --> 00:16:32,850

My dad actually ran a Greek radio station.

413

00:16:33,100 --> 00:16:35,849

He advertised for all the local

companies and he did a radio show.

414

00:16:36,169 --> 00:16:38,010

Beautiful voice, Malifluous voice.

415

00:16:38,390 --> 00:16:41,859

Um, it's really where I, I probably

got a lot of my, my vocal talent from.

416

00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:46,939

Um, but my mother and father are great

cooks, very simple, what they call spitiko

417

00:16:46,940 --> 00:16:51,970

fajito, which means, uh, like home cooked

stuff, nothing fancy, but, uh, Oh, yeah.

418

00:16:51,970 --> 00:16:52,670

Everything delicious.

419

00:16:52,670 --> 00:16:56,670

I mean, look, simple hand cut French

fries and olive oil, a little bit of

420

00:16:56,710 --> 00:17:02,099

oregano and thick, uh, coarse sea salt,

um, lamb chops with just a squeeze

421

00:17:02,099 --> 00:17:04,829

of lemon, uh, coarse black pepper.

422

00:17:05,060 --> 00:17:10,010

Um, a perfect, uh, horiyaki salata, the

village salad, which is just, you know,

423

00:17:10,349 --> 00:17:17,339

vine ripe tomatoes, a nice healthy dose of

olive oil, um, uh, cucumbers, big kalamata

424

00:17:17,349 --> 00:17:20,470

olives, feta cheese, uh, red onion.

425

00:17:21,045 --> 00:17:21,595

Marc Preston: Fantastic.

426

00:17:21,974 --> 00:17:24,545

They talked about the Mediterranean

diet as being really good for you.

427

00:17:24,545 --> 00:17:27,145

But I used to, uh, I still, I,

I'm trying to pick it back up down

428

00:17:27,145 --> 00:17:28,835

here, but grew all of my own herbs.

429

00:17:28,845 --> 00:17:29,254

That's one thing.

430

00:17:29,274 --> 00:17:30,905

I got that from Greek cooking.

431

00:17:30,905 --> 00:17:31,955

Cause there's always freshers.

432

00:17:32,384 --> 00:17:33,965

And that's really the kind

of thing that set it off.

433

00:17:34,395 --> 00:17:35,615

And my favorite, one

of my favorite things,

434

00:17:35,615 --> 00:17:36,944

Chris Diamantopoulos: Avogadro Lemona.

435

00:17:36,944 --> 00:17:40,749

That means it's, it's a, it's an, it's

an egg lemon basically where they beat

436

00:17:40,750 --> 00:17:42,890

The egg white, the lemon is delicious.

437

00:17:43,130 --> 00:17:44,590

We would have that when we were sick.

438

00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:46,570

It was the kind of thing that would,

you know, nurse you back to health.

439

00:17:46,570 --> 00:17:48,450

It's sort of the Greek,

you know, chicken soup.

440

00:17:55,610 --> 00:17:57,209

Marc Preston: What about

your wife's heritage?

441

00:17:57,210 --> 00:17:58,900

Is she by any chance Greek as well?

442

00:17:58,970 --> 00:18:01,789

Chris Diamantopoulos: Well, she is

now, but she was, she was born and

443

00:18:01,789 --> 00:18:03,470

raised in Guilford, Connecticut.

444

00:18:03,500 --> 00:18:05,900

We met, um, 22 years ago.

445

00:18:05,900 --> 00:18:09,010

Um, Uh, she, uh, she's a polyglot.

446

00:18:09,090 --> 00:18:12,970

She studied, uh, European history

at Penn and she, so she speaks

447

00:18:12,990 --> 00:18:14,500

fluent Spanish and fluent German.

448

00:18:14,819 --> 00:18:18,620

Uh, and she took a course of, uh,

modern Greek at Columbia while we were

449

00:18:18,620 --> 00:18:20,509

dating and now she speaks fluent Greek.

450

00:18:20,530 --> 00:18:20,919

Really?

451

00:18:20,970 --> 00:18:28,865

Um, Yeah, I married up Marc . Um, uh, she

is, um, she converted to Greek Orthodoxy

452

00:18:28,865 --> 00:18:32,435

when we got married, and so we could

raise our kids in, in the faith as well.

453

00:18:32,795 --> 00:18:35,885

And, um, but she's, no, she's

as American as Apple pie.

454

00:18:35,885 --> 00:18:38,885

Becky Newton, you know, she's on a

show right now called the Lincoln

455

00:18:38,885 --> 00:18:40,175

Lawyer, and she's about as good as

456

00:18:40,175 --> 00:18:41,285

Marc Preston: someone

can be on television.

457

00:18:41,315 --> 00:18:43,235

That's one of the shows that's

on the list, you know, there's

458

00:18:43,235 --> 00:18:44,195

so much stuff out there now.

459

00:18:44,195 --> 00:18:46,745

I got my little list of things

I, uh, that I, that I wanna see.

460

00:18:46,745 --> 00:18:46,835

Sure.

461

00:18:46,835 --> 00:18:47,945

And it's, it is definitely one of them.

462

00:18:48,215 --> 00:18:51,044

And, uh, I think, yeah, my kids

always loved going in new Orleans,

463

00:18:51,054 --> 00:18:53,695

uh, the, every year they'd have the

Greek food festival at the church.

464

00:18:54,044 --> 00:18:58,444

And my daughter, uh, loved the,

the ice cream and the, uh, uh, the,

465

00:18:58,504 --> 00:19:01,714

with the baklava, you know, they

kind of, so you can tell I haven't

466

00:19:01,714 --> 00:19:02,684

had anything to eat today yet.

467

00:19:02,684 --> 00:19:05,414

So, you know, you're killing me

over here, but, um, all right.

468

00:19:05,434 --> 00:19:09,444

So, so when did the acting thing, when did

all the creative stuff kick off for you?

469

00:19:09,444 --> 00:19:12,975

Was that kind of in high school, was

that all on already on the agenda

470

00:19:12,975 --> 00:19:14,284

or did that come a little later?

471

00:19:14,284 --> 00:19:14,344

Yeah.

472

00:19:14,575 --> 00:19:15,055

No, Marc,

473

00:19:15,055 --> 00:19:16,125

Chris Diamantopoulos: I started acting.

474

00:19:16,215 --> 00:19:18,265

I've been acting for 40

years professionally.

475

00:19:18,265 --> 00:19:19,935

I started acting when

I was nine years old.

476

00:19:19,945 --> 00:19:24,964

Uh, I displayed, uh, an affinity

and a proficiency with regard

477

00:19:24,965 --> 00:19:26,695

to performance and entertaining.

478

00:19:26,695 --> 00:19:31,505

And so my parents, uh, despite their

lack of knowledge of within the field

479

00:19:31,824 --> 00:19:34,924

decided that, you know, they should

try and help nurture that talent.

480

00:19:34,924 --> 00:19:38,324

So they signed me up for a

kid's acting class on weekends

481

00:19:38,324 --> 00:19:39,815

and an agent found me there.

482

00:19:39,815 --> 00:19:42,605

And I started doing some, uh,

television work in Toronto.

483

00:19:42,605 --> 00:19:47,605

And, uh, shortly thereafter, I, uh,

really started getting involved in

484

00:19:47,615 --> 00:19:49,635

music and singing and stage performing.

485

00:19:50,055 --> 00:19:54,215

Um, and so I started, um, auditioning

for professional productions in Toronto

486

00:19:54,215 --> 00:19:57,805

and then quickly started doing some

big national tours in the States.

487

00:19:57,824 --> 00:20:01,294

And I landed on Broadway, uh,

worked on Broadway for several

488

00:20:01,294 --> 00:20:05,344

years and I met my wife, uh, while

I was working on Broadway, but.

489

00:20:05,539 --> 00:20:07,600

She was not working on Broadway.

490

00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:09,389

We met on the subway in

the middle of rush hour.

491

00:20:09,579 --> 00:20:09,899

Really?

492

00:20:09,909 --> 00:20:14,090

And then, um, Well, when you met on the

subway, did you both know what each other

493

00:20:14,090 --> 00:20:15,929

Marc Preston: did or was it

just, you had no clue about what,

494

00:20:16,249 --> 00:20:17,239

Chris Diamantopoulos: Oh, we were kids.

495

00:20:17,289 --> 00:20:19,009

I was, I was 25.

496

00:20:19,019 --> 00:20:20,679

She was 21 straight out of college.

497

00:20:20,679 --> 00:20:25,264

And we just started chatting and, uh,

And, and then we ended up moving to Los

498

00:20:25,264 --> 00:20:27,225

Angeles together and pursuing this career.

499

00:20:27,624 --> 00:20:28,274

Marc Preston: That is awesome.

500

00:20:28,274 --> 00:20:29,044

It's very symbiotic.

501

00:20:29,054 --> 00:20:33,064

You know, that thing where she, you know,

y'all both could do your thing together.

502

00:20:33,064 --> 00:20:34,305

That's, that's really wonderful.

503

00:20:34,305 --> 00:20:37,884

I mean, the fact that especially you

being able to work at home and she,

504

00:20:37,885 --> 00:20:40,914

she understands your workflow and if

you've had a not great day, you know,

505

00:20:40,915 --> 00:20:44,284

creatively or so, you know, so it's

probably like a lot of unspoken stuff.

506

00:20:44,305 --> 00:20:47,784

You can kind of read each other as

creatives, you know, are your, any

507

00:20:47,784 --> 00:20:50,534

of your kids kind of aiming in this

direction you think, uh, or are

508

00:20:50,534 --> 00:20:52,345

they like, no, It's hard to tell.

509

00:20:52,355 --> 00:20:52,815

You know, they

510

00:20:52,815 --> 00:20:57,405

Chris Diamantopoulos: definitely, uh,

the great thing about kids is every day

511

00:20:57,534 --> 00:21:00,794

they discover something new and then

they allow you to discover something new

512

00:21:00,794 --> 00:21:02,564

about them, particularly at these ages.

513

00:21:02,984 --> 00:21:10,194

Um, they're showing, uh, uh, desire

and skill in so many different facets.

514

00:21:10,194 --> 00:21:10,879

So it's, it's hard to tell.

515

00:21:11,020 --> 00:21:12,380

It's really hard to say.

516

00:21:12,380 --> 00:21:15,780

I think, you know, Becky and I

will sort of nurture whatever

517

00:21:15,780 --> 00:21:17,090

direction they end up going.

518

00:21:17,360 --> 00:21:22,010

Um, you know, we have both of us having

been in this business as long as we have

519

00:21:22,010 --> 00:21:25,450

been, have a healthy understanding of

how challenging this can be, but you

520

00:21:25,450 --> 00:21:27,309

know, every business has its challenges.

521

00:21:27,309 --> 00:21:29,359

Every endeavor has its challenges.

522

00:21:29,359 --> 00:21:33,779

So as long as their heart's in it for the

right reasons and, uh, they, you know,

523

00:21:34,180 --> 00:21:36,510

They go into it with, with a clear mind.

524

00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:36,820

I'm,

525

00:21:37,010 --> 00:21:37,900

Marc Preston: I'm open to it.

526

00:21:38,340 --> 00:21:41,490

A lot of luck in that your folks

were at the outset, very, uh, they're

527

00:21:41,490 --> 00:21:44,030

encouraging out of the gate, you know,

a lot of, you know, a lot of folks have

528

00:21:44,030 --> 00:21:45,460

parents like, why are you doing this?

529

00:21:45,460 --> 00:21:47,110

You know, very rare, very

530

00:21:47,110 --> 00:21:48,500

Chris Diamantopoulos: rare

for Greek immigrants to, to,

531

00:21:48,549 --> 00:21:50,260

to feel that way as well.

532

00:21:50,269 --> 00:21:53,700

They, you know, they would have wanted

me to be a doctor or a lawyer or an

533

00:21:53,700 --> 00:21:59,900

accountant, but they were, uh, to their

credit, they were very, very, um, uh,

534

00:22:00,535 --> 00:22:02,195

Marc Preston: They were very

open, which was terrific.

535

00:22:02,205 --> 00:22:05,645

So how did you make that

segue on stage to on camera?

536

00:22:05,645 --> 00:22:08,414

Was that something that was

a seamless thing or was, was

537

00:22:08,414 --> 00:22:09,595

that kind of your North star?

538

00:22:09,615 --> 00:22:13,475

Was that ultimately where you were wanting

to go or just kind of ended up that way?

539

00:22:13,645 --> 00:22:19,649

Chris Diamantopoulos: So I always

knew, uh, that I wanted I knew I

540

00:22:19,649 --> 00:22:20,879

wanted to perform and entertain.

541

00:22:20,879 --> 00:22:22,540

I mean, when I was a kid, I

wanted to be a movie star.

542

00:22:22,540 --> 00:22:23,459

I didn't know what that meant.

543

00:22:23,509 --> 00:22:25,469

I just watched movies and I

knew how they made me feel.

544

00:22:25,469 --> 00:22:27,530

I'd go to the movies with my

father and I felt something.

545

00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:31,489

You know, when you watch TV at home,

it's just kind of, but when you go to

546

00:22:31,490 --> 00:22:33,730

the movie, there's something special.

547

00:22:33,730 --> 00:22:34,609

We're all in that room.

548

00:22:34,609 --> 00:22:38,719

It goes dark and it's, it's loud and,

and you're in the world and you're

549

00:22:38,739 --> 00:22:41,820

in the story and then you, the movie

finishes and, and it's just There's so

550

00:22:41,820 --> 00:22:43,920

much to talk about and how you felt.

551

00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:47,130

And, and then for weeks I'm

play acting at what I saw.

552

00:22:47,130 --> 00:22:48,330

And I'm now that person.

553

00:22:48,330 --> 00:22:51,790

And that experience is just,

that's, that's a holy experience.

554

00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:54,450

Marc Preston: Well, that, well, at

that age, no, when you were young and

555

00:22:54,470 --> 00:22:57,810

when you were, you were, your juices

were flowing, what were you watching?

556

00:22:57,810 --> 00:23:01,039

What were the things that were like

grabbing you actors or films or directors?

557

00:23:01,089 --> 00:23:01,709

Yeah, I was.

558

00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:04,389

Chris Diamantopoulos: Greatly

inspired by the works of Danny

559

00:23:04,399 --> 00:23:07,980

Kaye, the court jester, the secret

life of Walter Mitty, five pennies.

560

00:23:08,350 --> 00:23:11,760

I love Darryl Flynn, uh, the

adventures of Robin Hood.

561

00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:14,790

Uh, obviously, you know,

anything Harrison Ford did.

562

00:23:14,790 --> 00:23:18,989

I remember seeing, uh, Roger Moore

and Moonraker and thinking, wow,

563

00:23:19,579 --> 00:23:21,030

I want to, I want to do that.

564

00:23:21,370 --> 00:23:25,350

Um, but then I remember my father

coming home with a, a beta.

565

00:23:25,605 --> 00:23:28,795

Uh, tape of Amadeus and he said, you

know, this isn't really a kid's movie

566

00:23:28,815 --> 00:23:31,895

and he left it there and the next

night my brother and I watched Amadeus

567

00:23:31,895 --> 00:23:33,734

and I remember just thinking that F.

568

00:23:33,735 --> 00:23:37,345

Marie Abraham's performance was

marvelous, One of the greatest, most

569

00:23:37,355 --> 00:23:38,825

terrifying things I'd ever seen.

570

00:23:39,205 --> 00:23:44,925

So my inspirations were as varied as

the roles that I've ended up playing.

571

00:23:44,975 --> 00:23:46,115

It's why I've never,

572

00:23:46,514 --> 00:23:48,264

Marc Preston: Abraham was the

first to kind of get you feeling

573

00:23:48,264 --> 00:23:51,414

something like it, like there was

a, there was a visceral reaction.

574

00:23:51,425 --> 00:23:54,195

Chris Diamantopoulos: I mean, it

was certainly from a, from a, uh,

575

00:23:54,225 --> 00:23:56,054

massively dramatic standpoint.

576

00:23:56,125 --> 00:23:57,054

Uh, sure.

577

00:23:57,074 --> 00:24:00,245

But there, I mean, the inspirations

came from so many different

578

00:24:00,245 --> 00:24:02,485

places and so many odd places.

579

00:24:02,485 --> 00:24:06,234

I mean, one of my biggest

influences were the three stooges.

580

00:24:06,424 --> 00:24:09,654

Their level of humor, their

level of timing and commitment

581

00:24:09,664 --> 00:24:11,534

to the bit, it was fantastic.

582

00:24:11,804 --> 00:24:14,784

Marc Preston: Um, well, that's a

full arc of experience for you.

583

00:24:14,784 --> 00:24:17,794

I mean, did you have to chase

that role to be, you know, uh,

584

00:24:17,804 --> 00:24:19,524

mo, uh, did you, did you chase it?

585

00:24:19,534 --> 00:24:21,884

Or did they look at you going,

you're the guy, you're the guy.

586

00:24:22,294 --> 00:24:22,974

What do you think, Marc?

587

00:24:22,975 --> 00:24:23,924

You think I walked in and they

588

00:24:23,924 --> 00:24:25,099

Chris Diamantopoulos: looked

at me and said, you're the guy.

589

00:24:25,260 --> 00:24:26,500

I think you're talented enough.

590

00:24:26,500 --> 00:24:30,290

They might've been, took me about,

took me about six months and about 14

591

00:24:30,290 --> 00:24:32,159

auditions, a lot of begging and pleading.

592

00:24:32,159 --> 00:24:35,069

And there was, there was really,

there was no way that that was going

593

00:24:35,069 --> 00:24:36,829

to happen, but, but somehow it did.

594

00:24:37,090 --> 00:24:38,949

I was an unknown actor at that point.

595

00:24:38,949 --> 00:24:40,689

The biggest thing I'd ever done was 24.

596

00:24:41,090 --> 00:24:42,909

And I certainly wasn't the lead of 24.

597

00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:44,340

I'd never done anything comedic.

598

00:24:44,699 --> 00:24:48,885

Uh, Although I knew that I was, you know,

I could, I could work as a comedy actor.

599

00:24:48,885 --> 00:24:50,255

It just hadn't happened at that point.

600

00:24:50,265 --> 00:24:53,695

So it was a big leap of faith on

the fairly brother's part, huge

601

00:24:53,695 --> 00:24:55,925

leap of faith on the studio part.

602

00:24:56,255 --> 00:24:58,015

That was when Tom Rothman was running Fox.

603

00:24:58,544 --> 00:25:03,265

Uh, and it was a confluence of my

strange history with the Stooges,

604

00:25:03,284 --> 00:25:12,905

my, um, encyclopedic knowledge of

their Uh, shorts and, um, and then my

605

00:25:13,305 --> 00:25:19,705

lack of guile and naivete to believe

that they would allow me to pull a

606

00:25:19,705 --> 00:25:23,164

face and morph to play this role.

607

00:25:23,194 --> 00:25:24,779

And it just, it ended up being me.

608

00:25:24,780 --> 00:25:27,260

It ended up happening and two

other actors were offered the role.

609

00:25:27,260 --> 00:25:30,730

They fell out one of them because

he couldn't do the, the impression

610

00:25:30,730 --> 00:25:32,899

of Mo and the other one, because

he wanted too much money.

611

00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:34,730

Marc Preston: I got to say, I remember

growing up, like you said, the

612

00:25:34,730 --> 00:25:37,210

shorts, the ones that were just kind

of in and out is just a few minutes.

613

00:25:37,410 --> 00:25:37,819

I like that.

614

00:25:37,820 --> 00:25:39,700

I thought there was something

kind of cool about that.

615

00:25:40,249 --> 00:25:42,970

But I remember this kind of the rhythm,

the physicality, the physicality.

616

00:25:43,850 --> 00:25:44,270

Really?

617

00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:45,139

And you nailed it.

618

00:25:45,139 --> 00:25:45,969

I mean, that was just like

619

00:25:45,970 --> 00:25:46,250

Chris Diamantopoulos: that.

620

00:25:46,370 --> 00:25:46,720

Thanks.

621

00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:50,100

No, I mean, the thing about the Stooges

that was fascinating was that they, they

622

00:25:50,100 --> 00:25:53,340

perfected their craft on the vaudeville

circuit and the borscht belt too.

623

00:25:53,360 --> 00:25:56,810

You know, I mean, they, they did

live performances for years and years

624

00:25:56,810 --> 00:25:59,599

and years and years and years before

they ever put anything on celluloid.

625

00:25:59,850 --> 00:26:01,384

So the daunting task for, for me.

626

00:26:01,385 --> 00:26:05,785

Us, but when we made the movie was

we had five days of prep, there

627

00:26:05,785 --> 00:26:07,275

was no, there was no rehearsal.

628

00:26:07,275 --> 00:26:12,304

There was no, Oh yeah, it was, it

was, we were shot out of a cannon.

629

00:26:12,335 --> 00:26:17,935

And so, um, I, again, through my

own naivete, not knowing that this

630

00:26:17,944 --> 00:26:19,584

is what I wasn't supposed to do.

631

00:26:19,875 --> 00:26:23,995

I just, uh, uh, uh, uh, took the

bull by the horns and, and, and,

632

00:26:23,995 --> 00:26:25,495

and Sean and will, and I would meet.

633

00:26:25,690 --> 00:26:29,290

The morning before a shoot and talk

about what we might do in a physical

634

00:26:29,290 --> 00:26:32,170

standpoint to supplement what it

says in the script, the Stooges

635

00:26:32,180 --> 00:26:34,659

fight, you know, what does that mean?

636

00:26:34,670 --> 00:26:35,520

What does that look like?

637

00:26:35,530 --> 00:26:38,470

And so we would create these bits

and then show up on set ready to go.

638

00:26:38,799 --> 00:26:41,030

It was really, it was, um, a reMarcable

639

00:26:41,030 --> 00:26:41,650

Marc Preston: experience.

640

00:26:47,045 --> 00:26:48,175

Uh, great actor.

641

00:26:48,205 --> 00:26:48,815

Good guy.

642

00:26:48,905 --> 00:26:49,205

Yeah.

643

00:26:49,205 --> 00:26:49,894

Yeah.

644

00:26:49,895 --> 00:26:51,735

It was interesting

watching the physicality.

645

00:26:51,735 --> 00:26:52,975

Cause that's what I remember as a kid.

646

00:26:52,975 --> 00:26:55,035

I don't really remember

plot lines as much.

647

00:26:55,035 --> 00:26:58,414

I just remember the seeming absurdity,

but the heart in it, you know, but I

648

00:26:58,415 --> 00:27:02,004

know some people are really, really,

really into the three stooges.

649

00:27:02,004 --> 00:27:04,664

It was an inspiration, but to be able

to be in a movie that had to be a

650

00:27:04,665 --> 00:27:06,645

cool full, a full circle thing for you

651

00:27:06,655 --> 00:27:07,175

Chris Diamantopoulos: beyond.

652

00:27:07,445 --> 00:27:08,175

It really was.

653

00:27:08,175 --> 00:27:10,705

It was, it was on an earnest.

654

00:27:11,020 --> 00:27:12,520

Marc Preston: Uh, literal dream come true.

655

00:27:12,620 --> 00:27:13,870

You'd been on 24.

656

00:27:13,870 --> 00:27:17,810

So this is kind of like 180 degree

shift, but that's, did you kind of feel

657

00:27:17,810 --> 00:27:20,220

that was when the momentum just started

kind of picking up for you, do you

658

00:27:20,220 --> 00:27:21,760

think, did you use that kind of win?

659

00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:21,990

I don't

660

00:27:21,990 --> 00:27:22,429

Chris Diamantopoulos: think so.

661

00:27:22,430 --> 00:27:22,709

No.

662

00:27:22,709 --> 00:27:23,439

And you know, it was funny.

663

00:27:23,450 --> 00:27:24,899

It was hard to bill me after that.

664

00:27:24,919 --> 00:27:28,039

You know, my, I did a, you know,

it was a 50 million movie for

665

00:27:28,040 --> 00:27:29,534

Fox and I was the lead of it.

666

00:27:30,305 --> 00:27:32,425

I looked like Mo, I didn't look like this.

667

00:27:32,425 --> 00:27:34,595

And if you look at the posters

or any of the trailers or any of

668

00:27:34,595 --> 00:27:36,385

it, you just, it's not this guy.

669

00:27:36,405 --> 00:27:37,945

So how do they sell that?

670

00:27:37,955 --> 00:27:38,245

Right.

671

00:27:38,245 --> 00:27:42,915

So, uh, no, it wasn't necessarily the,

I mean, one thing that it did do was

672

00:27:43,014 --> 00:27:45,975

it caught the attention of someone at

Disney when they were looking to start

673

00:27:46,964 --> 00:27:52,185

a new show based on the original Walt

Disney Mickey mouse, where they wanted

674

00:27:52,185 --> 00:27:56,305

to go back to the root of what Mickey

sounded like, which was Walt himself.

675

00:27:56,345 --> 00:27:59,425

And, um, someone had seen me do.

676

00:27:59,675 --> 00:28:03,845

The Stooges and the Stooges

had that intrinsic thirties era

677

00:28:05,065 --> 00:28:08,105

cadence to it, just by virtue of

the ways that the Stooges talk.

678

00:28:09,285 --> 00:28:11,394

And so they wanted to bring

me in to voice Mickey.

679

00:28:11,464 --> 00:28:16,424

And, um, I was reticent at first because

I have a deeper voice and I, I, you

680

00:28:16,424 --> 00:28:17,865

don't mess with an icon like Mickey.

681

00:28:18,895 --> 00:28:23,065

By sheer luck, um, Tom Hanks had

been promoting his, uh, Finding Mr.

682

00:28:23,065 --> 00:28:25,095

Banks, uh, movie.

683

00:28:25,385 --> 00:28:29,225

And they had all of these, um, Walt Disney

documentaries on television at the time.

684

00:28:29,285 --> 00:28:29,965

And I watched.

685

00:28:30,429 --> 00:28:33,310

A particular documentary where it

showed Disney talking to a journalist

686

00:28:34,159 --> 00:28:36,550

and his voice was very similar to mine.

687

00:28:36,560 --> 00:28:39,969

Very, he had a, there was a base

to his voice, but where his voice

688

00:28:39,969 --> 00:28:44,850

resonated, um, aside from his

regionalism was, was similar.

689

00:28:44,850 --> 00:28:48,150

And I found that intriguing and so

I watched him as he talked and then

690

00:28:48,150 --> 00:28:50,184

the journalist asked him, would

you do it, Mr Disney, would you?

691

00:28:50,495 --> 00:28:51,525

Would you do a little of the voice?

692

00:28:51,525 --> 00:28:53,115

And he went, Oh boy.

693

00:28:53,355 --> 00:28:56,245

And he sort of, and I watched what

he did with his, with his body.

694

00:28:56,245 --> 00:28:59,395

I watched what he did with his face and

I saw what, what, where his larynx went.

695

00:28:59,395 --> 00:29:01,535

And I thought, Oh gosh,

maybe I can do that.

696

00:29:01,624 --> 00:29:07,205

And so, you know, uh, I went in and I

gave it, I gave it the old college try.

697

00:29:07,215 --> 00:29:13,545

And, uh, I mean, that really was, that

was a shift in my life that I would never

698

00:29:13,545 --> 00:29:16,965

have expected that, uh, that is really

just a beautiful blessing in my life.

699

00:29:16,995 --> 00:29:17,965

Uh, You know,

700

00:29:17,975 --> 00:29:19,845

Marc Preston: voicing Mickey

Mouse, you mentioned the

701

00:29:19,855 --> 00:29:20,875

thing about like the thirties.

702

00:29:20,905 --> 00:29:25,015

I always wondered as a VO guy, how

much of that was affected or how much

703

00:29:25,015 --> 00:29:26,655

of that's the way people spoke back

704

00:29:26,655 --> 00:29:26,935

Chris Diamantopoulos: then?

705

00:29:27,105 --> 00:29:29,445

Marc Preston: I've, you know, I can't

get it at a time machine and go hear it.

706

00:29:29,485 --> 00:29:31,735

They're kind of like, uh, those people,

they talk like, you know, the, the,

707

00:29:31,745 --> 00:29:35,005

that if there's that an, an affected

thing that they did, or if that was

708

00:29:35,005 --> 00:29:36,345

just part, it's a great question, right?

709

00:29:36,345 --> 00:29:36,355

I

710

00:29:36,395 --> 00:29:38,615

Chris Diamantopoulos: mean, it's all,

it's like, uh, how, how much of what

711

00:29:38,615 --> 00:29:41,489

they showed us of anything was affected,

you know, how many people spoke?

712

00:29:41,630 --> 00:29:44,680

Slept in twin beds and full

nighties and buttoned up pajamas.

713

00:29:44,690 --> 00:29:45,400

Do you know what I mean?

714

00:29:47,380 --> 00:29:49,260

Who knows what it was

really like back then?

715

00:29:49,520 --> 00:29:53,280

I did, I did, uh, the boys in the

boat with George Clooney last year.

716

00:29:53,340 --> 00:29:59,315

And, um, that was a thirties, uh,

period piece and threading that Needle.

717

00:29:59,315 --> 00:30:02,445

And I played a journalist actually,

uh, and a radio announcer and the

718

00:30:02,455 --> 00:30:03,895

fellow who was announcing the races.

719

00:30:04,185 --> 00:30:08,945

So finding the right balance of what

would have been reasonable back then.

720

00:30:08,965 --> 00:30:11,165

And also what would work

cinematically for today.

721

00:30:11,195 --> 00:30:11,855

That was fun.

722

00:30:12,105 --> 00:30:14,775

Finding that with George, you

know, how far do you want to go

723

00:30:14,775 --> 00:30:17,280

into You know, the year was 1935.

724

00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:17,760

You know what I mean?

725

00:30:17,770 --> 00:30:20,050

How far do you want to go into that, uh,

726

00:30:20,830 --> 00:30:21,420

Marc Preston: to, to thread

727

00:30:21,420 --> 00:30:22,070

Chris Diamantopoulos: that balance?

728

00:30:22,340 --> 00:30:23,540

Marc Preston: He directed it, correct?

729

00:30:23,550 --> 00:30:23,900

He did.

730

00:30:23,970 --> 00:30:24,810

Thank you for reminding me.

731

00:30:24,810 --> 00:30:25,820

Cause I wanted to ask you about that.

732

00:30:25,980 --> 00:30:27,310

That is a, it's a true story.

733

00:30:27,340 --> 00:30:27,640

Correct?

734

00:30:27,650 --> 00:30:27,980

It is.

735

00:30:27,980 --> 00:30:30,140

It's a beautiful, if you haven't

read the book, I would say

736

00:30:30,550 --> 00:30:32,610

Chris Diamantopoulos: that's, that's a,

that's, you should put that on your list.

737

00:30:32,610 --> 00:30:33,600

It's a beautifully written book.

738

00:30:33,610 --> 00:30:33,770

Okay.

739

00:30:33,790 --> 00:30:35,170

Read the book first before singing.

740

00:30:35,170 --> 00:30:37,100

I mean, it's not necessary,

it's not necessary, but it's

741

00:30:37,100 --> 00:30:38,660

such an homage to America.

742

00:30:38,660 --> 00:30:45,530

It's such a, a love letter to what

this country really about to, to the.

743

00:30:45,890 --> 00:30:54,740

The, um, the pain and struggle resulting

in an exaltation of the American spirit.

744

00:30:54,900 --> 00:31:01,190

It's a, it's a really beautiful homage

to what it means to be American.

745

00:31:01,270 --> 00:31:02,070

It's it's lovely.

746

00:31:02,870 --> 00:31:07,000

Marc Preston: It'd be nice if something

old was new again right now, you

747

00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:11,000

know, bring, bring some of that vibe

back would be glorious right now.

748

00:31:11,690 --> 00:31:12,790

So the, you know, so.

749

00:31:13,100 --> 00:31:16,519

As you're progressing, were you thinking,

okay, I'm doing this, uh, you know,

750

00:31:16,520 --> 00:31:19,290

you work at George Clooney and I hear,

you know, I love everything he does.

751

00:31:19,290 --> 00:31:21,870

In fact, when I, when I coached

voiceover students, I always mentioned

752

00:31:22,250 --> 00:31:25,690

thing I love about him is we talk about

brand and who you are, your signature.

753

00:31:25,690 --> 00:31:29,000

We think of Danny Ocean, swab, Devin

air, modern day, Cary Grant, you

754

00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:32,740

know, but the things he's really

notable for, he's a total dolt like

755

00:31:32,770 --> 00:31:37,120

the Coen brothers movies, or when he

steps outside of being a handsome,

756

00:31:37,335 --> 00:31:39,225

Charismatic dude, you know, absolutely.

757

00:31:39,645 --> 00:31:40,695

That had been a great

758

00:31:40,695 --> 00:31:41,405

Chris Diamantopoulos: experience.

759

00:31:41,435 --> 00:31:42,565

Uh, it was reMarcable.

760

00:31:42,605 --> 00:31:45,465

It was reMarcable watching him

work, listening to him, seeing how

761

00:31:45,485 --> 00:31:50,885

confident he was with regard to having

already, uh, sort of seen how he

762

00:31:50,885 --> 00:31:52,585

wants the story to unfold on screen.

763

00:31:52,915 --> 00:31:56,585

It gave the actors a tremendous

sense of peace showing up on set,

764

00:31:56,585 --> 00:31:57,665

knowing that he's got the reins.

765

00:31:58,025 --> 00:31:59,965

Um, and just a lovely guy.

766

00:32:01,105 --> 00:32:01,915

Marc Preston: How does he direct?

767

00:32:01,925 --> 00:32:05,855

Cause I know like a Clint Eastwood's very,

as I say, kind of directs in the camera,

768

00:32:05,865 --> 00:32:08,045

he's like, he gets a scene done moving on.

769

00:32:08,045 --> 00:32:10,215

You know, what, what's

George Clooney as far as, I

770

00:32:10,215 --> 00:32:10,475

Chris Diamantopoulos: mean,

771

00:32:10,485 --> 00:32:10,835

Marc Preston: he's

772

00:32:10,835 --> 00:32:14,635

Chris Diamantopoulos: very casual, uh,

uh, very much in favor of the actors.

773

00:32:14,635 --> 00:32:18,145

Uh, you know, he loves actors

and he, he is an actor.

774

00:32:18,475 --> 00:32:20,875

Um, I never felt like we were.

775

00:32:21,245 --> 00:32:23,965

Chasing the clock like we

were in trouble for time.

776

00:32:24,225 --> 00:32:26,705

It never felt like we were belaboring

something and doing multiple

777

00:32:26,705 --> 00:32:28,235

takes when they were unnecessary.

778

00:32:28,625 --> 00:32:33,745

You know, it also didn't feel like he

was doing prototypical wide medium close.

779

00:32:33,895 --> 00:32:36,815

He knew how a scene was going

to play if the whole thing was

780

00:32:36,815 --> 00:32:37,825

going to play in the close.

781

00:32:38,265 --> 00:32:40,025

He would eschew the wide

and say, I don't need it.

782

00:32:40,025 --> 00:32:41,295

I know I'm going to come right in here.

783

00:32:41,585 --> 00:32:45,715

So there's a, there was something

really beautiful about that.

784

00:32:45,715 --> 00:32:50,905

He, you know, he was really a mentor to

me during those several weeks in London.

785

00:32:51,295 --> 00:32:54,665

Um, and I asked him a lot of just,

you know, business questions and

786

00:32:54,665 --> 00:32:56,715

he was always ready with a story.

787

00:32:57,065 --> 00:32:59,465

Um, but one of the things that stuck

with me, one of the things that

788

00:32:59,465 --> 00:33:03,915

he said to me that I found very

profound and very liberating was

789

00:33:03,915 --> 00:33:08,905

that when you're an actor and you're

auditioning, playing with house money.

790

00:33:09,765 --> 00:33:12,645

The casino has given you 10, 000 and

they say, do with it what you will.

791

00:33:13,195 --> 00:33:15,175

Now you may lose it, but

you're not losing anything.

792

00:33:15,535 --> 00:33:17,875

They gave you the 10, 000, who cares?

793

00:33:18,735 --> 00:33:21,775

You may turn it into 20 and you

could turn it into a million.

794

00:33:21,805 --> 00:33:23,185

And that's what an audition is.

795

00:33:23,565 --> 00:33:24,885

You've got nothing to lose.

796

00:33:25,055 --> 00:33:25,755

So go for it.

797

00:33:26,465 --> 00:33:29,675

And, and I, I thought that that

was very simple, but very profound.

798

00:33:29,945 --> 00:33:35,785

And it's definitely indicative

of his casual, but you know,

799

00:33:35,795 --> 00:33:37,275

Marc Preston: hardworking nature, right?

800

00:33:37,760 --> 00:33:39,700

Yeah, I think that's the

hard thing to do as an actor.

801

00:33:39,700 --> 00:33:44,460

And like I say, I work in voiceover folks

and I'm like, go in there, do your thing.

802

00:33:44,920 --> 00:33:45,950

You don't know what they're looking for.

803

00:33:45,950 --> 00:33:48,730

And it's a fool's errand to kind

of assume, you know, but you do,

804

00:33:48,740 --> 00:33:51,500

you try to get down in the middle,

but did you audition for George

805

00:33:51,500 --> 00:33:53,520

or is it like, okay, it was just

kind of like, okay, you're the guy.

806

00:33:53,530 --> 00:33:54,940

I That that works.

807

00:33:54,940 --> 00:33:55,000

No,

808

00:33:55,000 --> 00:33:55,240

Chris Diamantopoulos: Marc.

809

00:33:55,240 --> 00:33:58,420

I, I love, I love the notion that

you think that it ever happens

810

00:33:58,420 --> 00:34:00,970

where someone says, you're

the guy, you know, I, I'm sure

811

00:34:00,970 --> 00:34:01,475

Marc Preston: that a lot of actors,

812

00:34:01,595 --> 00:34:03,250

Chris Diamantopoulos: I think you

were, I think you were that talented.

813

00:34:03,250 --> 00:34:06,040

I've seen you do your thing and I saw

he is like, I know he can do that thing.

814

00:34:06,045 --> 00:34:08,770

I want him, you know, I don't think

it's ever happened for me in life

815

00:34:08,770 --> 00:34:10,470

that someone went, you're the guy.

816

00:34:10,500 --> 00:34:15,200

No, I, I made a tape actually in

this studio, um, for that role.

817

00:34:15,260 --> 00:34:18,665

And look to his credit,

uh, he watched the tape.

818

00:34:19,475 --> 00:34:21,745

And then he gave me the role.

819

00:34:21,935 --> 00:34:24,635

Uh, there wasn't anything

fussy about George.

820

00:34:25,055 --> 00:34:27,995

A lot of directors will see a tape and

then decide that they want to meet with

821

00:34:28,005 --> 00:34:32,405

you or meet with you on zoom or read

again or give you notes for George.

822

00:34:32,405 --> 00:34:36,125

I think I would venture to say that

every aspect of his life is this way.

823

00:34:36,585 --> 00:34:37,495

He's decisive.

824

00:34:38,120 --> 00:34:38,840

That's the guy.

825

00:34:38,990 --> 00:34:39,890

Call him, tell him he got the

826

00:34:39,890 --> 00:34:40,190

Marc Preston: part.

827

00:34:40,340 --> 00:34:44,090

Now is his directing style verbose

giving you lots of exp explanations

828

00:34:44,090 --> 00:34:46,760

or is he very pithy with just a

few words just to get you there?

829

00:34:46,760 --> 00:34:47,720

It's interesting, I found him,

830

00:34:48,050 --> 00:34:52,040

Chris Diamantopoulos: um, you mentioned

the word chameleon early on in this, in,

831

00:34:52,040 --> 00:34:55,250

in this interview, and I think George

is a chameleon in some ways as well.

832

00:34:55,250 --> 00:34:59,590

And his directorial style I think has

a chameleonic essence to it because

833

00:34:59,590 --> 00:35:02,170

there would be some big boisterous

scenes where there are hundreds and

834

00:35:02,170 --> 00:35:06,040

hundreds of extras outside and he

would use his megaphone and use humor.

835

00:35:06,495 --> 00:35:07,855

to motivate and direct.

836

00:35:08,395 --> 00:35:12,965

And then there were some really intimate

sequences where he would ask the crew to

837

00:35:13,275 --> 00:35:17,405

be politely, pleasantly, almost not even

have to, but the crew would recognize

838

00:35:17,405 --> 00:35:19,525

that they would need to sort of bring

it all down as they were setting up.

839

00:35:19,855 --> 00:35:23,665

And he would sort of come

quietly next to the actor.

840

00:35:23,665 --> 00:35:29,145

And I remember them doing this with me and

sitting and sort of sitting with me you

841

00:35:29,145 --> 00:35:30,985

know, just like What do you think, Chris?

842

00:35:31,005 --> 00:35:35,095

You want to, you want to sort of just like

jump into it or, you know, just very like

843

00:35:35,095 --> 00:35:37,865

a paternal, like, take your time, pal.

844

00:35:37,885 --> 00:35:41,715

We, we can do this any way you want, like

almost an arm around the shoulder and,

845

00:35:42,115 --> 00:35:46,605

and I believe in you sort of thing that

just, it just took all insecurity and

846

00:35:46,605 --> 00:35:50,795

evaporated and just allowed me to just be.

847

00:35:51,180 --> 00:35:53,500

I joked with my wife, I was

like, she's like, how was it?

848

00:35:53,500 --> 00:35:57,820

I was like, I just wanted him to, to put

his arm around me and say, I got your son.

849

00:35:58,750 --> 00:36:00,580

Just, just a really, really look, man.

850

00:36:00,600 --> 00:36:02,020

You know, they say,

don't meet your heroes.

851

00:36:02,020 --> 00:36:04,650

Well, if you're heroes, George

Clooney, meet him because he's

852

00:36:04,650 --> 00:36:05,410

not going to let you down.

853

00:36:06,050 --> 00:36:07,780

Marc Preston: I can imagine being

in a room with him and Brad Pitt.

854

00:36:07,780 --> 00:36:08,970

I think that, I don't

think you can go in there.

855

00:36:08,970 --> 00:36:09,820

There's too much charisma.

856

00:36:09,830 --> 00:36:10,900

Oh, it's insane.

857

00:36:11,060 --> 00:36:11,710

Chris Diamantopoulos: Yeah, no.

858

00:36:11,710 --> 00:36:14,110

And, and, and they also,

I haven't met Brad, but.

859

00:36:14,305 --> 00:36:15,825

They seem like good dudes too.

860

00:36:15,845 --> 00:36:16,505

That's the other part.

861

00:36:16,505 --> 00:36:17,435

So there's all that charisma.

862

00:36:17,435 --> 00:36:18,805

There's all that handsomeness.

863

00:36:18,815 --> 00:36:21,105

There's all the talent experience.

864

00:36:21,105 --> 00:36:24,945

And, but, but then add to that, that

they, they seem like good natured fellows.

865

00:36:24,945 --> 00:36:27,155

Yeah, it would be, uh, it'd be too much,

866

00:36:27,395 --> 00:36:32,205

Marc Preston: too much for a mere, well,

I think you Hold your own very well and

867

00:36:32,205 --> 00:36:33,635

the stuff I've seen you without a doubt.

868

00:36:33,645 --> 00:36:39,605

I mean, I mean you and in the red notice

Are in red notice without you that the

869

00:36:39,605 --> 00:36:42,235

scene would have been as electric, you

know Cuz you've got Ryan Reynolds who's

870

00:36:42,325 --> 00:36:46,885

I mean, he's an okay looking guy, I guess

and You've got the physicality of Dwayne

871

00:36:46,895 --> 00:36:52,244

Johnson, but it without you it didn't

really have that tension, you know And

872

00:36:52,245 --> 00:36:56,205

it's I love watching people Who don't

have dialogue, but you'd love watch it.

873

00:36:56,205 --> 00:36:57,835

You just like, okay, you kind of lean in.

874

00:36:57,835 --> 00:36:58,965

Okay, what's going to happen?

875

00:36:59,015 --> 00:37:02,235

And that's, I think they did a really

wonderful thing shooting you from

876

00:37:02,235 --> 00:37:05,225

behind without even showing your

face for a good moment to moment.

877

00:37:05,225 --> 00:37:07,045

It's like, okay, what's going on?

878

00:37:07,045 --> 00:37:08,445

And it kind of built up the tension.

879

00:37:08,445 --> 00:37:10,754

So I'm glad you enjoyed it, man.

880

00:37:10,755 --> 00:37:11,525

I really appreciate it.

881

00:37:11,525 --> 00:37:13,075

I love making that now.

882

00:37:13,505 --> 00:37:18,085

You talk about George Clooney talked

about on the, on the menu of guys

883

00:37:18,085 --> 00:37:19,375

and gals you'd like to work with.

884

00:37:19,395 --> 00:37:24,035

Is there, is, is there a director, is

there a type of film, a type of project

885

00:37:24,035 --> 00:37:26,945

that's been itching and you know,

like, okay, this is where I need to

886

00:37:26,955 --> 00:37:29,155

add this to the recipe of my career.

887

00:37:29,615 --> 00:37:30,495

That's a great question.

888

00:37:30,495 --> 00:37:31,025

I mean, look, I

889

00:37:31,025 --> 00:37:32,925

Chris Diamantopoulos: love all

of Paul Thomas Anderson's films.

890

00:37:32,935 --> 00:37:36,595

So, uh, a chance to work with

Paul Thomas Anderson would be a

891

00:37:36,595 --> 00:37:39,755

real, um, a real dream come true.

892

00:37:40,475 --> 00:37:41,845

You know who his dad is, right?

893

00:37:42,430 --> 00:37:43,280

I know who his dad is.

894

00:37:43,280 --> 00:37:43,630

Yeah.

895

00:37:43,660 --> 00:37:43,930

Yeah.

896

00:37:43,930 --> 00:37:44,570

I know his dad.

897

00:37:44,670 --> 00:37:47,190

And I know his wife is, you know, I've

worked with his wife on a few projects.

898

00:37:47,190 --> 00:37:49,620

Uh, Maya and I have done

a few things together.

899

00:37:49,940 --> 00:37:51,180

No, I know all about him.

900

00:37:51,180 --> 00:37:56,270

I've been a, you know, uh, uh, a

distant student of his, if you will.

901

00:37:56,280 --> 00:37:56,810

You know what I mean?

902

00:37:57,250 --> 00:37:57,980

Um,

903

00:37:58,690 --> 00:38:00,740

Marc Preston: His dad has

the greatest outtake reel.

904

00:38:00,800 --> 00:38:02,680

It's 11 minutes of, uh, Yes.

905

00:38:02,780 --> 00:38:03,100

Chris Diamantopoulos: Yes.

906

00:38:03,950 --> 00:38:04,480

I know what you're

907

00:38:04,490 --> 00:38:05,050

Marc Preston: talking about.

908

00:38:05,050 --> 00:38:05,560

Actually.

909

00:38:05,610 --> 00:38:07,050

I, I, I have seen this.

910

00:38:07,370 --> 00:38:07,730

Yeah.

911

00:38:07,810 --> 00:38:08,910

Well, I remember hearing it.

912

00:38:08,920 --> 00:38:11,510

My voice of record back

in 1990, it was our 92.

913

00:38:11,510 --> 00:38:14,309

He said, uh, just go listen

to this as 11 minutes.

914

00:38:14,310 --> 00:38:16,430

He was the voice of, uh,

some different TV stations.

915

00:38:16,450 --> 00:38:19,880

Just the video he did when he was

the voice of America's funniest

916

00:38:19,880 --> 00:38:24,760

home and ABC, uh, he, he used

the Sennheiser four 16 because he

917

00:38:24,760 --> 00:38:26,470

wanted to sit in the booth with.

918

00:38:26,820 --> 00:38:30,210

And this, the, the, the, the banter,

it's like anybody who does voice

919

00:38:30,240 --> 00:38:31,710

or any kind of creative thing.

920

00:38:32,400 --> 00:38:35,650

I remember hearing a story that one time

for Paul, uh, Paul Thomas Sanders for

921

00:38:35,650 --> 00:38:40,560

this, I think he had other kids, um, for

Christmas, he wanted them to have snow.

922

00:38:40,630 --> 00:38:43,230

Cause he was, I would think originally

from Cleveland or something and

923

00:38:43,250 --> 00:38:45,930

being in Hollywood, he actually

paid to have snow machines brought

924

00:38:45,960 --> 00:38:47,290

an overnight cranking out snow.

925

00:38:47,290 --> 00:38:50,100

So the kids woke up Christmas morning,

they had snow on their front yard,

926

00:38:50,100 --> 00:38:51,930

courtesy of a movie studio snow machine.

927

00:38:51,930 --> 00:38:52,910

That's pretty cool.

928

00:38:52,910 --> 00:38:53,563

That's lore.

929

00:38:53,563 --> 00:38:54,543

That's pretty cool.

930

00:38:54,543 --> 00:38:55,100

That's Yeah.

931

00:38:55,100 --> 00:38:55,440

I like that.

932

00:38:55,440 --> 00:38:56,000

I like that a lot.

933

00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:58,630

Besides Paul Thomas Anderson,

who else is kind of on your

934

00:38:58,640 --> 00:38:59,730

Mount Rushmore, if you will?

935

00:38:59,740 --> 00:39:03,300

Chris Diamantopoulos: You know, did

you watch, um, did you watch Shogun?

936

00:39:03,370 --> 00:39:05,690

It was really, really beautifully done.

937

00:39:05,740 --> 00:39:10,030

And um, there's a director that

won the Emmy this year for his work

938

00:39:10,030 --> 00:39:11,810

on that show called Frederick E.

939

00:39:11,810 --> 00:39:11,940

O.

940

00:39:11,940 --> 00:39:12,410

Toy.

941

00:39:12,860 --> 00:39:15,130

And he and I have actually worked

together before on a couple of

942

00:39:15,140 --> 00:39:20,300

things, but he's the kind of guy that

I love on a TV set as a director.

943

00:39:20,640 --> 00:39:23,810

Um, this is a guy with a

specific vision and such a.

944

00:39:24,410 --> 00:39:27,640

Um, calm and quiet.

945

00:39:28,380 --> 00:39:31,470

Way of leading with that vision.

946

00:39:31,830 --> 00:39:34,690

Um, it's guys like that, that

I, that I want to work with.

947

00:39:34,690 --> 00:39:37,940

There's a show, uh, if you watch the

show, slow horses with Gary Oldman

948

00:39:37,950 --> 00:39:39,660

Marc Preston: recently,

that's an Apple TV show.

949

00:39:39,690 --> 00:39:41,480

You know, it's one of

those, you know, yes or no.

950

00:39:41,480 --> 00:39:43,390

I started watching and I

was working on the computer.

951

00:39:43,390 --> 00:39:45,240

I was sitting on my sofa and

I was like, this is one of the

952

00:39:45,240 --> 00:39:46,230

shows I need to pay attention to.

953

00:39:46,230 --> 00:39:46,760

Totally.

954

00:39:46,880 --> 00:39:48,030

I can't like half pay attention.

955

00:39:48,410 --> 00:39:48,710

Yeah.

956

00:39:48,860 --> 00:39:48,980

Chris Diamantopoulos: Yeah.

957

00:39:49,070 --> 00:39:49,790

You got to pay attention.

958

00:39:49,850 --> 00:39:51,630

You got to pay attention

to that one for sure.

959

00:39:52,060 --> 00:39:54,600

But it's, it's a brilliant show

and that's the kind of material

960

00:39:54,600 --> 00:39:56,100

that I would absolutely love

961

00:39:56,100 --> 00:39:58,050

Marc Preston: to, You talk

about George Clooney directing,

962

00:39:58,050 --> 00:39:59,020

but what about you directing?

963

00:39:59,030 --> 00:40:02,160

Have you thought about, okay, this, this

is a muscle I haven't flexed yet that I

964

00:40:02,160 --> 00:40:03,840

want to try it out and see how it works.

965

00:40:03,950 --> 00:40:05,330

Chris Diamantopoulos:

Yeah, I have definitely.

966

00:40:05,330 --> 00:40:08,920

And Stooges was sort of the first

time that that came onto my radar.

967

00:40:09,200 --> 00:40:15,510

Um, my involvement in that movie was

much more than just acting as Moe.

968

00:40:15,800 --> 00:40:20,885

Um, because of my Knowledge of the

Stooges in my understanding intrinsically

969

00:40:20,885 --> 00:40:29,015

of what the task was, um, I got my

first taste of what it might be like

970

00:40:29,025 --> 00:40:32,435

if I were to, uh, direct something

that I, that I really believed in.

971

00:40:32,435 --> 00:40:33,885

And I think that's really

what it's going to take.

972

00:40:33,885 --> 00:40:38,945

I think it's going to, I'm going to need

to find a story that I think is the most

973

00:40:38,955 --> 00:40:40,475

compelling story that needs to be told.

974

00:40:40,475 --> 00:40:43,465

And then I'm going to have to tell

it, um, you, you, you had your wife.

975

00:40:43,675 --> 00:40:44,925

Is she right at all?

976

00:40:45,045 --> 00:40:45,745

We both do.

977

00:40:45,755 --> 00:40:47,305

Yeah, we both, we both right.

978

00:40:47,325 --> 00:40:49,305

And, and it's one of those things where.

979

00:40:49,825 --> 00:40:54,595

We're not in any rush, you know, we're

still so, uh, beautifully motivated

980

00:40:54,595 --> 00:40:57,625

by the work that comes to us by

virtue of other, you know, gifted

981

00:40:57,625 --> 00:41:01,625

screenwriters and producers that

were happy doing that work right now.

982

00:41:01,655 --> 00:41:05,295

And I feel like in every aspect of my

life, like when I transitioned from the

983

00:41:05,295 --> 00:41:09,615

theater into television and then when

film found me and then when animation

984

00:41:09,615 --> 00:41:11,155

found me, it was all rather organic.

985

00:41:11,375 --> 00:41:15,345

So I feel like, um, the next step,

uh, with directing will, will

986

00:41:15,345 --> 00:41:17,005

probably also follow in that path.

987

00:41:17,085 --> 00:41:18,385

Marc Preston: Cause it sounds

like you're kind of been more.

988

00:41:18,510 --> 00:41:22,050

Surfing kind of taking it as is the wave

moves and you can't, you kind of have

989

00:41:22,050 --> 00:41:26,780

done a reMarcably wonderful job writing

it because I didn't realize how deep your

990

00:41:26,780 --> 00:41:28,570

resume was and the diversity of stuff.

991

00:41:28,570 --> 00:41:30,790

And you can't, you know, you

gotta be one hell of a talented

992

00:41:30,790 --> 00:41:32,220

guy to, to, to ride that wave.

993

00:41:32,230 --> 00:41:33,540

So good on you, my friend.

994

00:41:40,690 --> 00:41:43,360

Now, as we kind of wrap up here,

I throw my, Seven questions out,

995

00:41:43,400 --> 00:41:44,540

always a little bit extra fun.

996

00:41:44,930 --> 00:41:48,470

First one, one of my favorite, I'm a food

nerd and we discussed it, but I got to

997

00:41:48,470 --> 00:41:51,190

know what is your favorite comfort food?

998

00:41:51,540 --> 00:41:52,370

Being a Greek guy.

999

00:41:52,440 --> 00:41:54,170

Chris Diamantopoulos: Yeah,

it might surprise you.

Speaker:

00:41:54,170 --> 00:41:59,840

My favorite comfort food is a

two inch thick bone in ribeye.

Speaker:

00:42:00,105 --> 00:42:01,725

A grass fed bone in ribeye.

Speaker:

00:42:01,725 --> 00:42:03,645

Yeah, I would reverse sear it.

Speaker:

00:42:03,655 --> 00:42:10,835

I'd probably, I'd put it in, in a small

oven for at maybe 300 for eight minutes

Speaker:

00:42:10,905 --> 00:42:18,415

and then, uh, iron skillet, big pad of

raw butter, uh, and just sear a minute,

Speaker:

00:42:18,515 --> 00:42:23,210

minute, And then maybe 30 seconds, 30

seconds, rosemary on top or something.

Speaker:

00:42:23,450 --> 00:42:23,700

Yeah.

Speaker:

00:42:23,700 --> 00:42:25,160

Depending on how I'm going to do it.

Speaker:

00:42:25,160 --> 00:42:25,390

Right.

Speaker:

00:42:25,390 --> 00:42:28,590

It's not, I'm not sure if I would, but

the actual comfort food would be just

Speaker:

00:42:28,600 --> 00:42:32,790

that if I was going to have it with

some of my hand cut fries, then I might.

Speaker:

00:42:33,145 --> 00:42:36,825

Do rosemary might actually do a little

oregano to take it into the Greek place.

Speaker:

00:42:37,215 --> 00:42:40,105

If I was going to eat it later,

I would slice it up, squeeze some

Speaker:

00:42:40,105 --> 00:42:43,705

lemon, a drizzle of olive oil,

and that gives it a different sort

Speaker:

00:42:43,705 --> 00:42:46,655

of a vibe, but that's, yeah, that

would be my comfort food for sure.

Speaker:

00:42:46,825 --> 00:42:48,995

Marc Preston: I have to ask you,

you're Greek, you know, your food,

Speaker:

00:42:49,045 --> 00:42:52,635

you, you come from a place of a

family that knows up from down.

Speaker:

00:42:52,635 --> 00:42:54,985

I got to know what are

your feeling on Dolmas?

Speaker:

00:42:54,985 --> 00:42:58,775

Cause when I, when I grew up,

they were the big warm, you

Speaker:

00:42:58,775 --> 00:43:00,205

know, they're just delicious.

Speaker:

00:43:00,205 --> 00:43:04,260

But when I moved to new Orleans, uh,

whereas For about 20 years, they had

Speaker:

00:43:04,260 --> 00:43:06,850

the small little oily ones, you know,

the little tiny little oily ones.

Speaker:

00:43:07,120 --> 00:43:07,480

Yeah.

Speaker:

00:43:07,480 --> 00:43:09,610

I like, what is your preference?

Speaker:

00:43:09,610 --> 00:43:11,310

What is considered authentic?

Speaker:

00:43:11,885 --> 00:43:15,815

Chris Diamantopoulos: I mean, look,

do del change the size and whether

Speaker:

00:43:15,815 --> 00:43:20,765

they're served cold or served warm

room temp based on the region, right?

Speaker:

00:43:20,765 --> 00:43:24,965

So in the north where my mother's

family is from, they tend to be

Speaker:

00:43:24,965 --> 00:43:26,495

more in the way that you like them.

Speaker:

00:43:26,795 --> 00:43:30,515

Um, I was never the biggest Dolma fan.

Speaker:

00:43:30,755 --> 00:43:34,265

I think when I was a kid, the idea of the

stuffed grape leaf was just not my thing.

Speaker:

00:43:34,445 --> 00:43:35,675

, I like the stuffed peppers.

Speaker:

00:43:35,675 --> 00:43:39,695

They're called, um, yata, where where

you take a pepper, you hollow it out.

Speaker:

00:43:40,625 --> 00:43:45,405

And you put the rice and the really,

Oh yeah, you have to have that next

Speaker:

00:43:45,445 --> 00:43:48,945

time you go to a Greek restaurant,

you ask them for yemi stuff, stuffed

Speaker:

00:43:48,945 --> 00:43:49,345

Marc Preston: peppers.

Speaker:

00:43:49,345 --> 00:43:50,105

They're delicious.

Speaker:

00:43:50,175 --> 00:43:51,255

That in Indian food.

Speaker:

00:43:51,255 --> 00:43:54,625

I've never mastered the seasoning ratios.

Speaker:

00:43:54,625 --> 00:43:57,985

I, it's one of the few foods I really

have to look at a recipe to get it.

Speaker:

00:43:57,995 --> 00:44:00,635

You know, it's just, but it's the

grandmothers that make it a little

Speaker:

00:44:00,635 --> 00:44:03,165

this, a little of that, you know,

but I haven't quite mastered that.

Speaker:

00:44:03,215 --> 00:44:03,555

Chris Diamantopoulos: Yeah.

Speaker:

00:44:03,555 --> 00:44:03,895

I think.

Speaker:

00:44:03,895 --> 00:44:04,034

Yeah.

Speaker:

00:44:04,075 --> 00:44:07,435

I think for you to enjoy it best,

you go to a restaurant, Marc.

Speaker:

00:44:07,435 --> 00:44:08,305

I don't, I don't want you cooking.

Speaker:

00:44:10,085 --> 00:44:10,455

I do.

Speaker:

00:44:10,455 --> 00:44:13,835

Like I tell you, you're not giving

me the confidence of someone that's

Speaker:

00:44:13,835 --> 00:44:15,315

going to deliver an authentic,

Speaker:

00:44:16,035 --> 00:44:18,745

Marc Preston: I will say

all mastered lamb bar none.

Speaker:

00:44:19,095 --> 00:44:21,445

Um, now the next question I got

for you, uh, three people, let's

Speaker:

00:44:21,445 --> 00:44:24,015

say you're going to sit down with,

you have a few hours, talk story.

Speaker:

00:44:24,155 --> 00:44:25,055

Living or not.

Speaker:

00:44:25,055 --> 00:44:25,965

Who are those three people be?

Speaker:

00:44:25,965 --> 00:44:32,005

You would love to sit down with

Marcus Aurelius, Frank Sinatra.

Speaker:

00:44:32,535 --> 00:44:34,670

And, um, And Jesus Christ.

Speaker:

00:44:34,670 --> 00:44:35,030

Very cool.

Speaker:

00:44:35,130 --> 00:44:36,590

Jesus has come up a few times.

Speaker:

00:44:36,630 --> 00:44:37,590

Uh, never Sinatra.

Speaker:

00:44:37,620 --> 00:44:42,029

Uh, Marcus Aurelius actually I was

watching, um, Paul Giamatti and, uh, in

Speaker:

00:44:42,030 --> 00:44:45,110

the film he was in, he played a college

professor, came out last couple of years.

Speaker:

00:44:45,600 --> 00:44:45,750

Yeah.

Speaker:

00:44:45,750 --> 00:44:45,830

Yeah.

Speaker:

00:44:45,860 --> 00:44:50,580

And he talked about, uh, uh, the book

meditations and love all the quotes.

Speaker:

00:44:50,580 --> 00:44:52,800

I actually just ordered the

book sitting on my nightstand.

Speaker:

00:44:52,800 --> 00:44:53,560

I need to read that.

Speaker:

00:44:53,620 --> 00:44:55,360

Chris Diamantopoulos: And you know, it's

funny, it's sitting on your nightstand,

Speaker:

00:44:55,370 --> 00:44:57,260

but that's what it was intended to be.

Speaker:

00:44:57,260 --> 00:44:58,720

You know, it was never meant to be a book.

Speaker:

00:44:58,790 --> 00:45:00,880

That was Marcus Aurelius.

Speaker:

00:45:00,880 --> 00:45:00,899

Jesus.

Speaker:

00:45:00,970 --> 00:45:02,690

Night stand journal.

Speaker:

00:45:02,930 --> 00:45:04,820

He wrote his ideas and thoughts.

Speaker:

00:45:04,820 --> 00:45:07,440

It was literally a got to

get apples tomorrow morning.

Speaker:

00:45:07,670 --> 00:45:09,950

Remember not to be rude to the shopkeeper.

Speaker:

00:45:10,210 --> 00:45:13,250

You know, it was like

little things to himself.

Speaker:

00:45:13,250 --> 00:45:17,900

Now they get more involved as you go

through and you realize this is the,

Speaker:

00:45:17,950 --> 00:45:19,710

this is a brilliant mind at work.

Speaker:

00:45:19,720 --> 00:45:23,060

This is a mind that That really, you

know, had something to say, but he

Speaker:

00:45:23,060 --> 00:45:25,900

never did you have a quote that sticks

out in your mind that is sort of a,

Speaker:

00:45:25,900 --> 00:45:28,360

uh, resonates that you hold on to.

Speaker:

00:45:28,510 --> 00:45:32,870

Um, well, I mean, it's, it's, you

know, I'm, I'm diverging from it and,

Speaker:

00:45:32,870 --> 00:45:35,660

and, you know, Churchill certainly

used a version of it as well, but

Speaker:

00:45:35,670 --> 00:45:37,190

the obstacle is the way, right.

Speaker:

00:45:37,190 --> 00:45:37,590

You know what I mean?

Speaker:

00:45:37,590 --> 00:45:41,460

Whatever the obstruction is actually

ends up being, ends up being the way that

Speaker:

00:45:41,470 --> 00:45:45,210

that's, that's the very definition of,

of, uh, for me of being an actor, right.

Speaker:

00:45:45,210 --> 00:45:46,600

It's like, here's this thing.

Speaker:

00:45:46,610 --> 00:45:48,090

Oh no, this isn't going to happen.

Speaker:

00:45:48,090 --> 00:45:50,270

Or they, they need this

and you can't do that.

Speaker:

00:45:50,270 --> 00:45:50,619

Yeah.

Speaker:

00:45:50,690 --> 00:45:54,450

All right, well, it's, it's really,

it's, you know, it's the art of living a

Speaker:

00:45:54,450 --> 00:45:58,090

judo lifestyle where you take the thing

that's not working and you just sort of

Speaker:

00:45:58,440 --> 00:46:00,410

Marc Preston: make it not only

use the energy to your advantage.

Speaker:

00:46:00,410 --> 00:46:00,530

Yeah.

Speaker:

00:46:00,530 --> 00:46:02,700

My grandfather always, that

was his nickname for me.

Speaker:

00:46:02,700 --> 00:46:03,100

Marcus really.

Speaker:

00:46:03,700 --> 00:46:06,640

So I've always been kind of

aware of quotes over the years

Speaker:

00:46:06,640 --> 00:46:07,460

since I was a little kid,

Speaker:

00:46:07,500 --> 00:46:08,360

Chris Diamantopoulos: philosophically

Speaker:

00:46:08,360 --> 00:46:08,730

Marc Preston: inclined.

Speaker:

00:46:08,730 --> 00:46:09,680

That's what I try to be.

Speaker:

00:46:09,910 --> 00:46:13,750

But as a kid, next question, who

was your first celebrity crush?

Speaker:

00:46:14,205 --> 00:46:15,135

Chris Diamantopoulos: Alyssa Milano.

Speaker:

00:46:15,135 --> 00:46:16,565

I think that sounds about right.

Speaker:

00:46:16,695 --> 00:46:17,595

She was on who's the boss.

Speaker:

00:46:17,815 --> 00:46:18,855

She was Samantha.

Speaker:

00:46:18,885 --> 00:46:20,085

She was the cutest thing I'd ever seen.

Speaker:

00:46:20,085 --> 00:46:20,255

Yeah.

Speaker:

00:46:20,255 --> 00:46:22,285

She was maybe a year older than me.

Speaker:

00:46:23,125 --> 00:46:23,765

Maybe a little more.

Speaker:

00:46:23,765 --> 00:46:24,085

I don't know.

Speaker:

00:46:24,085 --> 00:46:27,965

I don't know exactly, but I remember,

uh, so she would be my first crush,

Speaker:

00:46:27,965 --> 00:46:31,099

but I think the first time I was

ever aware of like va va voom.

Speaker:

00:46:31,280 --> 00:46:32,210

Was Moonraker.

Speaker:

00:46:32,540 --> 00:46:33,170

Oh, yeah.

Speaker:

00:46:33,170 --> 00:46:33,280

Yeah.

Speaker:

00:46:33,280 --> 00:46:33,569

Yeah.

Speaker:

00:46:33,570 --> 00:46:34,490

I forget who.

Speaker:

00:46:34,650 --> 00:46:35,040

Marc Preston: Yeah.

Speaker:

00:46:35,340 --> 00:46:38,120

I remember a kid I went to elementary

school with, you know, there was one guy

Speaker:

00:46:38,120 --> 00:46:40,210

had like gold or metal teeth or something.

Speaker:

00:46:40,620 --> 00:46:43,930

And the kid said, I don't want to brush my

teeth because I want to get all fillings

Speaker:

00:46:43,940 --> 00:46:45,220

so I can make my mouth look like him.

Speaker:

00:46:45,340 --> 00:46:46,860

So you just eat sugary stuff all the time.

Speaker:

00:46:47,120 --> 00:46:50,240

That's one thing I remember about

Moonraker for whatever reason,

Speaker:

00:46:50,260 --> 00:46:53,375

uh, things it's People I forget

about until I'm in an interview.

Speaker:

00:46:53,375 --> 00:46:55,395

I'm like, Oh yeah, that kid,

what her house teeth are doing.

Speaker:

00:46:55,685 --> 00:46:57,355

But the next question I got for

you, if you're going to be on an

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00:46:57,355 --> 00:46:59,585

exotic island, you got a year,

it's a, it's a beautiful place.

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00:46:59,585 --> 00:47:01,205

You want to be there, but

it doesn't have streaming.

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00:47:01,665 --> 00:47:05,285

Uh, but you're going to bring one

DVD, a movie you can watch over and

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00:47:05,285 --> 00:47:07,555

over and a CD, or I can say a box set.

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00:47:07,555 --> 00:47:11,505

If you'd like musically a theatrical,

you got just one thing each.

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00:47:11,505 --> 00:47:13,185

You, you got to stick with the whole year.

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00:47:13,185 --> 00:47:14,285

What would those things be?

Speaker:

00:47:15,080 --> 00:47:15,530

So the

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00:47:15,530 --> 00:47:18,790

Chris Diamantopoulos: movie would be

Casino Royale a which version of the box

Speaker:

00:47:18,790 --> 00:47:23,980

set would be the Daniel Craig version

of the original Daniel Craig Not Marc.

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00:47:23,980 --> 00:47:24,230

No one.

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00:47:24,900 --> 00:47:30,650

Come on Marc Marc get it together

man for the love of God Yeah,

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00:47:30,650 --> 00:47:32,360

no, but I heard somewhere you can

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00:47:32,360 --> 00:47:37,425

do a good Sean Connery though the quest

for the grail It's not archaeology.

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00:47:37,675 --> 00:47:38,955

It's a race against evil.

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00:47:39,185 --> 00:47:41,965

The Nazis will cover the Grail

and the armies of darkness will

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00:47:42,105 --> 00:47:43,565

march all over the Earth forever.

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00:47:43,795 --> 00:47:44,765

This is an obsession.

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00:47:44,905 --> 00:47:45,935

I never understood it.

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00:47:46,085 --> 00:47:46,555

Never.

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00:47:46,735 --> 00:47:47,455

Neither did Mom.

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00:47:47,465 --> 00:47:48,265

Oh, yes, she did.

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00:47:48,865 --> 00:47:49,795

Only too well.

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00:47:50,425 --> 00:47:51,775

She kept her illness from me.

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00:47:52,315 --> 00:47:53,735

And all I could do was mourn her.

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00:47:54,315 --> 00:47:56,825

Okay, uh, I gotta do the golf clap.

Speaker:

00:47:57,065 --> 00:47:58,585

You gotta get the golf clap on that, man.

Speaker:

00:47:58,615 --> 00:47:58,845

Awesome.

Speaker:

00:47:59,975 --> 00:48:00,485

That's wonderful.

Speaker:

00:48:02,025 --> 00:48:03,590

Um, Uh, let's see.

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00:48:03,610 --> 00:48:06,200

And then, uh, the record

would be a Sinatra come fly.

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00:48:06,200 --> 00:48:06,880

Very nice.

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00:48:06,880 --> 00:48:07,510

Marc Preston: Very nice.

Speaker:

00:48:07,880 --> 00:48:08,670

Um, yeah.

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00:48:08,700 --> 00:48:12,960

Now, uh, from stem to stern, beginning to

end, from the time you wake up to the time

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00:48:12,960 --> 00:48:16,590

you go to sleep at night, what are the

component parts for you of a perfect day?

Speaker:

00:48:17,250 --> 00:48:17,620

Okay.

Speaker:

00:48:17,620 --> 00:48:19,000

The component parts for

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00:48:19,010 --> 00:48:20,150

Chris Diamantopoulos: me of a perfect day.

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00:48:20,220 --> 00:48:22,770

Um, all right.

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00:48:23,280 --> 00:48:27,870

I would say waking up without

someone needing me desperately

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00:48:27,930 --> 00:48:30,170

to do something immediately.

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00:48:30,630 --> 00:48:34,970

Uh, you know, no children in any sense of.

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00:48:35,430 --> 00:48:37,450

distress needing something.

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00:48:37,580 --> 00:48:39,710

So I wake up and, well, no one needs me.

Speaker:

00:48:40,230 --> 00:48:40,930

That's pretty cool.

Speaker:

00:48:41,430 --> 00:48:45,420

Um, I get to sit out on the deck and

get a little morning sun and maybe have

Speaker:

00:48:45,420 --> 00:48:47,710

a cup of coffee peacefully and quietly.

Speaker:

00:48:47,960 --> 00:48:49,410

Then I get to come downstairs.

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00:48:49,750 --> 00:48:51,560

And make everyone

breakfast, including myself.

Speaker:

00:48:51,780 --> 00:48:52,300

That's fun.

Speaker:

00:48:52,300 --> 00:48:54,470

And the, and the chaos and

the craziness can ensue.

Speaker:

00:48:54,990 --> 00:49:04,300

Um, I'm able to take, uh, the dog and

my wife and I take the dog for a stroll.

Speaker:

00:49:04,330 --> 00:49:09,115

And we just sort of catch up on the,

uh, On what we might have missed

Speaker:

00:49:09,275 --> 00:49:11,585

over the course of the days that we

might be might have been working.

Speaker:

00:49:11,945 --> 00:49:14,775

We plan out what we're

going to make for dinner.

Speaker:

00:49:15,275 --> 00:49:19,375

I take a brief sojourn to

come to my studio and record

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00:49:19,765 --> 00:49:21,205

a fun little bit of animation.

Speaker:

00:49:21,605 --> 00:49:24,915

I have to finish up quickly

because I have to run.

Speaker:

00:49:25,120 --> 00:49:30,270

To Culver studios to do a reshoot on

one scene for a movie that I'm super

Speaker:

00:49:30,270 --> 00:49:32,900

excited about that's coming out, but

it's only going to take a couple hours

Speaker:

00:49:33,100 --> 00:49:36,320

and it's perfect because on my way home

from Culver, I can stop at the Marcet

Speaker:

00:49:36,460 --> 00:49:41,630

and pick up the perfect ribeye, uh,

and some nice, uh, little tidbits for a

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00:49:41,630 --> 00:49:43,730

little, uh, crudité and a little salad.

Speaker:

00:49:44,120 --> 00:49:45,730

Um, come home.

Speaker:

00:49:46,015 --> 00:49:47,555

Kids tell me school was great.

Speaker:

00:49:47,925 --> 00:49:49,295

The fire's roaring.

Speaker:

00:49:49,655 --> 00:49:51,745

We've just gotten the

little ones to sleep.

Speaker:

00:49:52,055 --> 00:49:53,235

I make a beautiful dinner.

Speaker:

00:49:53,235 --> 00:49:57,725

We sit, we eat, and then we all chill

out watching Survivor or Shark Tank.

Speaker:

00:49:58,155 --> 00:49:58,515

Marc Preston: There's a perfect.

Speaker:

00:49:58,515 --> 00:49:58,915

Very good.

Speaker:

00:49:58,915 --> 00:49:59,205

Very good.

Speaker:

00:49:59,205 --> 00:49:59,645

My friend.

Speaker:

00:49:59,645 --> 00:50:00,875

Last question I got for you.

Speaker:

00:50:00,875 --> 00:50:01,845

A 16 year old.

Speaker:

00:50:01,845 --> 00:50:04,675

You, you're going to go, you're going

to jump in the DeLorean and go see him.

Speaker:

00:50:04,845 --> 00:50:07,755

Piece of advice to either make

that moment a little bit better or

Speaker:

00:50:07,755 --> 00:50:09,175

put you on a different trajectory.

Speaker:

00:50:09,175 --> 00:50:12,965

What's the piece of advice

to 16 year old you stop

Speaker:

00:50:12,965 --> 00:50:14,275

Chris Diamantopoulos:

asking if they like you.

Speaker:

00:50:14,865 --> 00:50:16,335

It doesn't matter either way.

Speaker:

00:50:16,905 --> 00:50:20,145

And if you ask and get the honest

answer, you're really going to

Speaker:

00:50:20,145 --> 00:50:21,625

be disappointed with that answer.

Speaker:

00:50:21,805 --> 00:50:22,215

So just

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00:50:22,225 --> 00:50:22,715

Marc Preston: carry on.

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00:50:22,785 --> 00:50:23,295

Awesome.

Speaker:

00:50:23,295 --> 00:50:23,615

My friend.

Speaker:

00:50:23,615 --> 00:50:24,255

Thank you so much.

Speaker:

00:50:24,305 --> 00:50:26,145

Uh, you've been generous with your time.

Speaker:

00:50:26,155 --> 00:50:29,105

Um, go have a great weekend and, uh,

hopefully we'll catch up down the line.

Speaker:

00:50:29,275 --> 00:50:29,715

Appreciate it.

Speaker:

00:50:29,965 --> 00:50:31,685

Thanks for your time and your generosity.

Speaker:

00:50:33,605 --> 00:50:33,785

Okay.

Speaker:

00:50:33,785 --> 00:50:34,235

There you go.

Speaker:

00:50:34,265 --> 00:50:35,925

Chris Diamantopoulos.

Speaker:

00:50:35,975 --> 00:50:37,425

What a cool dude.

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00:50:37,705 --> 00:50:40,795

Uh, stage TV film voiceover.

Speaker:

00:50:40,795 --> 00:50:42,145

He is doing it all.

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00:50:42,325 --> 00:50:44,415

Like I mentioned, he

is kind of a chameleon.

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00:50:44,625 --> 00:50:47,445

You know, he does things from

being the bad guy in the movie

Speaker:

00:50:47,445 --> 00:50:49,685

Red Notice to being Mickey Mouse.

Speaker:

00:50:49,745 --> 00:50:52,845

I really enjoyed sitting down

with him and I appreciate you

Speaker:

00:50:52,845 --> 00:50:54,275

stopping by to check it out.

Speaker:

00:50:54,475 --> 00:50:58,225

Again, the new show on Prime

Video is called The Sticky.

Speaker:

00:50:58,455 --> 00:51:01,135

It is funny, really cool,

something kind of different.

Speaker:

00:51:01,145 --> 00:51:03,895

I enjoyed a few episodes over

the weekend and this week I'm

Speaker:

00:51:03,895 --> 00:51:05,165

going to finish up the series.

Speaker:

00:51:05,175 --> 00:51:06,245

So, check it out.

Speaker:

00:51:06,265 --> 00:51:06,925

Good stuff.

Speaker:

00:51:07,115 --> 00:51:09,155

Hey, do me a favor as I always ask you.

Speaker:

00:51:09,295 --> 00:51:10,715

If you would, a little love.

Speaker:

00:51:10,775 --> 00:51:15,725

Pop on over to story

and craft pod.com/rate.

Speaker:

00:51:16,015 --> 00:51:19,195

That's story and craft pod.com/rate.

Speaker:

00:51:19,465 --> 00:51:22,795

Uh, just go ahead and leave a

review, drop some stars, if you will.

Speaker:

00:51:22,825 --> 00:51:25,495

It's a great way for people

to find story and craft.

Speaker:

00:51:25,495 --> 00:51:28,975

And of course, uh, when you're on the

website you can find out everything

Speaker:

00:51:28,975 --> 00:51:32,665

you could possibly want to know about

the show, past guests, past episodes.

Speaker:

00:51:33,390 --> 00:51:34,240

It's all right there.

Speaker:

00:51:34,240 --> 00:51:34,662

Storyandcraftpod.

Speaker:

00:51:34,662 --> 00:51:35,085

com.

Speaker:

00:51:35,085 --> 00:51:40,156

And of course, don't forget to

like and follow Story and Craft.

Speaker:

00:51:40,156 --> 00:51:44,160

That way you get notified every

time a new episode comes out.

Speaker:

00:51:44,440 --> 00:51:44,720

Okay.

Speaker:

00:51:44,740 --> 00:51:46,840

So I'm going to jump on out of here again.

Speaker:

00:51:46,870 --> 00:51:51,290

I so appreciate you making whatever I

got going on part of what you've got

Speaker:

00:51:51,300 --> 00:51:52,870

going on, no matter what you're doing.

Speaker:

00:51:53,085 --> 00:51:56,835

Exercising, walking the dog, or

maybe, you know, kind of what I enjoy

Speaker:

00:51:56,865 --> 00:52:00,855

doing, listening to podcasts in the

car whenever I'm, uh, driving about.

Speaker:

00:52:01,015 --> 00:52:02,405

So, thank you again.

Speaker:

00:52:02,505 --> 00:52:05,655

Going to be back in a few days,

another fun episode for you,

Speaker:

00:52:05,765 --> 00:52:07,535

right here on Story Craft.

Speaker:

00:52:07,535 --> 00:52:10,095

Announcer: That's it for

this episode of Story Craft.

Speaker:

00:52:10,405 --> 00:52:14,775

Join Marc next week for more

conversation, right here on Story Craft.

Speaker:

00:52:15,225 --> 00:52:19,095

Story Craft is a presentation of

Marc Preston Productions, LLC.

Speaker:

00:52:20,080 --> 00:52:22,430

Executive producer is Marc Preston.

Speaker:

00:52:22,840 --> 00:52:25,240

Associate producer is Zachary Holden.

Speaker:

00:52:25,600 --> 00:52:28,910

Please rate and review Story

Craft on Apple Podcasts.

Speaker:

00:52:29,180 --> 00:52:33,630

Don't forget to subscribe to the

show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,

Speaker:

00:52:33,630 --> 00:52:35,290

or your favorite podcast app.

Speaker:

00:52:35,310 --> 00:52:38,250

You can subscribe to show

updates and stay in the know.

Speaker:

00:52:38,410 --> 00:52:40,680

Just head to storyandcraftpod.

Speaker:

00:52:40,710 --> 00:52:42,530

com and sign up for the newsletter.

Speaker:

00:52:43,100 --> 00:52:43,840

I'm Emma Dylan.

Speaker:

00:52:44,410 --> 00:52:45,210

See you next time.

Speaker:

00:52:45,380 --> 00:52:47,790

And remember, keep telling your story.

Chris Diamantopoulos Profile Photo

Chris Diamantopoulos

Actor

A true shapeshifter with a diverse career, actor Chris Diamantopoulos continues to find success in TV, Film, Broadway, animation, narration, and commercial work. He can be seen as JQ in Peacock’s MRS. DAVIS as well as starring in highly anticipated MGM feature THE BOYS IN THE BOAT, directed by acclaimed filmmaker George Clooney. Chris was most recently cast as the lead in THE STICKY, an upcoming Amazon show produced by Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis. He most recently starred alongside Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot, and Ryan Reynolds in the hit Netflix film RED NOTICE. The globe-trotting heist thriller is Netflix’s biggest and most watched blockbuster to date, breaking viewership records upon release. Chris is instantly recognizable from his work on the critically acclaimed HBO comedy series SILICON VALLEY, where he portrayed infamous series regular RUSS HANNEMAN, for which he also is the face of the real-life tequila TRÉS COMAS.

Ever the chameleon, Chris maintains a standout TV career, recently seen starring opposite Kevin Hart and Wesley Snipes in the acclaimed Netflix limited series TRUE STORY, which ruled Netflix’s “Top 10” charts. Prior, Chris starred in Bryan Cranston’s THE DANGEROUS BOOK FOR BOYS on Amazon, Pop TV's LET'S GET PHYSICAL opposite Jane Seymour, and the critically acclaimed period drama series GOOD GIRLS REVOLT for Amazon Studios. In addition to his noteworthy performance in SILICON VALLEY, Chris has proven himself to be an experienced comedy star, having played memorable characters on the Netflix revival of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT and the f… Read More