Javier Grillo-Marxuach: The Interview

Writer, Producer and Actor Jay Duplass (Transparent, Room 104, Togetherness) discusses guerrilla filmmaking on a budget, his partnership with brother Mark Duplass (The Morning Show), why he hates writing, abhors producing, yet can't stop the creative train for the life of him. Plus, the four stages of the Duplassian Way, why he hasn't worked with assholes for a decade, and why Sylvester Stallone's Rocky remains a masterpiece of indie filmmaking that even Mr. T's Clubber Lang couldn't take away from him.

Writer/Producer Alex Blagg (@Midnight, Workaholics) joins to discuss how he went from being a ghost writer for the Kardashian's blogs and turning down a job at TMZ to writing for TV and creating a Comedy Central game show that ended up filming more than five-hundred episodes. Then, listen intently to his Almost Famous-esque story about how a random job opportunity to shadow the cast of MacGruber gave him a ringside seat to an experience that would make him a fan for life.

Writer/Producer Alex Blagg (@Midnight, Workaholics) delivers his feature length audio commentary for the 2010 comedy cult classic MacGruber. Starring Will Forte, Kristin Wiig, Maya Rudolph and directed by The Lonely Island's Jorma Taccone.

Writer/Producers Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio (Despicable Me trilogy, The Lorax, Horton Hears a Who) deliver a feature length audio commentary for the 1971 not-so-child-friendly Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Starring Gene Wilder and at least a dozen or more Oompa Loompas, this hilarious commentary is an eye opening look at how today's storytellers view a classic such as this.

Screenwriter/Producers Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio (Despicable Me trilogy, Secret Life of Pets 1 & 2, The Lorax, Horton Hears a Who) discuss the art of screenwriting for feature length animated movies, their first cult-favorite bomb Bubble Boy, their upcoming Apple TV+ series Schmigadoon and all about that Pixar vs. Illumination feud that's still currently in motion. Plus, Cinco's experience working with Sacha Baron Cohen on Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm, Ken's crappy-watch run-in with Jeffrey Katzenberg and the answer to the ultimate Mormon question, "Who broke my window?"

Writer/Director/Producer Ed Burns (The Brothers McMullen, She's the One, Sidewalks of New York) delivers his own feature-length audio commentary for the 1983 Academy Award winning Robert Duvall film, Tender Mercies. One of three movies that Burns considers to be a "Texas Trilogy" of films that inspired his own craft, it's a quiet, affecting film of standout performances.

Writer/Director/Producer Edward Burns (The Brothers McMullen, She's the One, Saving Private Ryan) does an entertaining deep dive into how he broke into Hollywood via a micro-budget indie smash, how working with Spielberg gave him insight on how to be a better Director and insight into the dozens of films and TV shows he's written, directed and acted in since then. Plus all about his new EPIX series Bridge and Tunnel, how Sarah McLachlan wrote a song just for him and why a certain cat broke down barriers for his screenwriting productivity. 

Writer and Producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach (Lost, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, The Middleman) travels through time with Director Terry Gilliam to revisit one of two movies that inspired his career in Hollywood -- Time Bandits. The 1981 film was produced by Beatle George Harrison and co-stars such legends as Sean Connery, Michael Palin, John Cleese and many more.

Writer/Producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach (Lost, The Dark Crystal: Resistance, The Middleman) talks about that Star Wars moment when he knew he wanted to write, how his first gig as an NBC Development Executive turned into his first job on Seaquest DSV, and how being at his lowest point in his career opened up the doors to land him in a Think Tank for a strange new J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof ABC show that would eventually be called Lost. Then, he'll discuss the classic 1981 film Time Bandits by Terry Gilliam, and why he chose it for the feature-length audio commentary All-Star treatment.

Writer, Producer & Actor Sarah Megan Thomas delivers her feature-length audio commentary for the 2010 David Fincher masterclass The Social Network. Written by Aaron Sorkin and starring Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Timberlake, Rashida Jones and The Side Track podcast acquaintance Max Minghella.