083 It's Oscars time again !

If you watched this year's Superbowl, chances are you (and 123 million people) saw my guest Tony Robinette in the Dunkin Donuts commerical starring Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez, and a slew of other cameos. That high profile spot capped off an incredible year of work for Tony, who has defied all odds to become one of the busiest actors in Hollywood (who you may not have heard of...yet). Despite two entertainment industry strikes, in 2023 Tony booked several TV shows including Ryan Murphy's Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, NCIS, Tacoma FD, Waco: The Aftermath and Nightcourt. In those projects, Tony toggled between boisterous comic performances to heart breaking dramatic characters. How did he do it? Join our conversation to find out how Tony got his start, how he stays so busy, how he keeps a positive mindset and how he juggles not one but five (?) agents! Tony also takes us behind the scenes of that crazy DD commercial!    Want more Tony? You can watch his work here https://www.tonyrobinette.com Follow him here https://www.instagram.com/thetonyrobinette/ And get coached by Tony here: https://www.workingactorscoach.com  

📍Well look who took time out of his busy schedule coaching A-List actors like🤩 Bradley Cooper, Michelle Williams, Kerry Washington, Brad Pitt, Salma Hayek and Austin Butler to sit down with Lisa and talk about the craft of acting, 🎭 the Oscars 🏆and also the new edition of his book 📖 “Fine on Acting: A Vision of the Craft”, none other than legendary acting teacher Howard Fine!  Howard and Lisa gab about all kinds of things that are on their minds these days about process, technique, and elements that help make actors better at their art. Howard gives all kinds of nuggets of wisdom and shares stories about working with A-list actors on their award-winning performances. You can get a copy of Howard’s book here. It is truly a must have resource for any actor or any acting teacher. https://amzn.to/4a2xOUN Want to study with Howard or his master teachers? Check out his programs here: https://www.howardfine.com #acting #actors #actingclass #actingcoach #oscarwinningperformance #hollywood #craftofacting #actingtechnique 

Sometimes Lisa needs to remind herself why she ever wanted to do casting in the first place and it is because of incredible casting directors like her mentor Emily Schweber 💕who exposed her to artists like the filmmaker Andrea Pallaoro. Both Emily and Andrea are her guests today to talk about a very special project. Lisa assisted Emily on casting Andrea’s first film the evocative award-winning “Medeas” starring Catalina Sandino Moreno…and now years later comes Andrea’s third film, also cast by Emily that is getting all kinds of acclaim, “Monica” starring Trace Lysette, Patricia Clarkson, (both giving 🏆Oscar worthy performances) Emily Browning, Josh Close and Adriana Barraza.  🌸“Monica” is an intimate story of a woman who returns home to care for her dying mother. A mother who due to a terminal illness, the passage of time, and other factors, doesn’t recognize her own child. Or does she? It is a film so universal that many people can relate to it — the fractures that split up a family, abandonment, healing old wounds, coping with the end of life, finding your way back to your past…and yet the film also is a very very unique look of the journey of a very particular woman.  Andrea’s filming style is extremely distinct in its nuance, pacing, and framing. You are not going to see a standard two-shot, or easy transitions between scenes. He lets the audience sit with the people in this world, in their silent thoughts, in their private moments, uninterrupted.  Emily and Andrea tell Lisa about the challenges of casting “Monica” and how they want the audience to experience the film, its revelations and ultimately the redemption of the characters.  You can find “Monica” on Hulu, AMC, and many other streaming platforms. 

Lisa woke up this morning realizing she is WAY behind on her Oscar nomination watching! Like, she has only seen “Barbie”. So to psych herself up to watch all the rest of these performances for all the Best Acting awards at least, Lisa sits down with Oscar savant Paul Sullivan, who has seen EVERY best picture nominee since 1943, to discuss the task she has ahead of her. Paul gives Lisa a little preview on what he thinks of all the films this year, and weighs in on all the performances (and he may or may not do a few impressions)…Paul also takes us down the rabbit hole of past Academy Award winners and compares them to this year’s hopefuls . (btw, humble brag, Lisa cast nominee Colman Domingo in a film years ago, so she is already rooting for him without seeing him in “Rustin” yet, is that wrong?). Will Lisa be able to set aside her existential angst about these award shows in general before the big ceremony? Tune in to our pre-game chat to find out. (Note, yes, you will hear the moment that their dog Eleanor knocks over a big flower pot in the yard and gets a snootful of mud, we didn’t have the energy to edit that out).      

She IS awake ! ... and so are we!  Well folks it is time for all one-eyed polar bears to make their way off to that ice cave for a big long snooze, because Issa, Jodie, Kali, Finn and team … including Fiona ( I gut coyotes and polish my rifles on New Year’s Eve for fun) Shaw are delivering us from the darkness of our wildest conspiracy theories, into the light (see what I did there?) of clarity. Well, maybe ...did this most watched season of True Detective of all time tie up all the loose ends flapping around the Ennis permafrost? Almost! Listen to Lisa and Dean break it all down for you.  But wait !  This week we are joined by fellow podcasters Sarah Callen and Jennifer Han. Like Lisa and Dean, Sarah and Jen have been recapping this series on THEIR fantastic podcast titled ‘TV & Us. Check them out here https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/tv-us/id1681955735 or wherever you get your pods. Your Dynamic Duo (squared) will dig into the finale like one of Qavvik's pups eating their reindeer kibble .. and reassemble it in one easy to digest TV dinner of explanatory goodness. I could go on here with the Shownotes (sez Dean) but why not just ‘go on’ on the pod ! Holy rolling oranges Batman ... to the Ice Cave ! 🎶 Nah nah nah nah  nah nah nah nah naaaaah ... LINKS TV &Us The podcast created by today’s guests Jennifer Han and Sarah Callen https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/tv-us/id1681955735 https://open.spotify.com/show/0dTz1JYqqoQ8S8UbcVFOVO?si=61329f4da3934c97 “Lawless,” a ProPublica Local Reporting Network project by the Anchorage Daily News that reveals how indigenous people in Alaska are denied public safety services, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting and Public Service https://www.propublica.org/series/lawless Is this Navarro ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3srZfRSUf0 Joel Montgrand’s own podcast on First Nations talent in tv and film  is called ‘Actors and Ancestors’  check it out here https://www.actorsandancestors.com/ Issa deconstructs the Finale episode https://slate.com/culture/2024/02/true-detective-season-4-night-country-finale-ending-explained.html?fbclid=IwAR1pc5s7SE-js62VcK1aLr2IUWKjTtCOXRL5gGp-w0BK6BtEEqmsXvHgXrg#lsthmfese5rflf1a92e Screenrant ask: Is Wind River better than True Detective ? 😱 https://screenrant.com/true-detective-night-country-wind-river-movie-taylor-sheridan/ RECAPS https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a46820836/true-detective-season-4-ending-explained/ https://www.vulture.com/article/true-detective-night-country-recap-season-4-episode-6-part-6-finale.html https://screenrant.com/true-detective-night-country-episode-6-finale-recap/#navarro-leaves-but-keeps-her-promise-to-danvers https://www.slashfilm.com/1519971/true-detective-night-country-finale-spiral-reveal/ https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/true-detective-season-4-episode-6-finale-release-time-and-recap/ https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-recaps/true-detective-night-country-episode-4-recap-otis-heiss-jodie-foster-john-hawkes-1234959256/ https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/18/arts/television/true-detective-season-4-episode-6-recap-stories-are-stories.html https://www.theringer.com/2024/2/18/24076909/true-detective-night-country-season-4-episode-6-finale-recap

Well that was unexpected ! Issa and crew certainly delivered a shock ending. Farewell Hank ... thanks for the cool tune on the way out. Lisa and Dean cover off on all the aspects you'd imagine ... and some you wont expect. Peter and Liz have worst New Year’s Eve ever (though it must be said, it was even worse for Hank and Heiss. We're still being kept in the dark (see what I did there?) about whether there truly is supernatural stuff going or are the visions just trauma associated with tke case and the unnatural eternal darkness.  Hank showed his true colours, but so did Kate and Connolly. Will they get their just deserts  Will Issa give us closure on the whole Holden/Jake backstory? All will be revealed ! Links Great interview with John Hawkes. https://www.gq.com/story/true-detective-night-country-episode-5-john-hawkes-interview Recap away  https://www.vulture.com/article/true-detective-recap-season-4-episode-5-part-5.html https://screenrant.com/true-detective-night-country-story-recap-whats-going-on/ https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a46686629/true-detective-season-4-episode-5-recap/ https://collider.com/true-detective-season-4-episode-5-recap/ https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/09/arts/television/true-detective-season-4-episode-5-recap.html https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a46686629/true-detective-season-4-episode-5-recap/ https://www.avclub.com/true-detective-review-season-4-episode-5-part-5-1851235960  

QUESTIONS: Are Rose, Liz and Eve actually seeing these ghosts or is it a mental illness ? Is it Danvers or Navarro that executes William Wheeler ? Has Hank accepted his inner Catfish? Will Liz and Ted find an even MORE uncomfortable ways to have sex ? Where do all these tropical oranges come from in the Arctic tundra ? Can Peter find even more ways to toast his marriage to the exceedingly patient Kayla? Why is Ted’s motel room painted like a green screen ready for the next Avatar film ? Since we are now at Christmas Day, can we officially rank Night Country alongside Die Hard as a Xmas movie ? ANSWERS: You want the truth ?  YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH ! Okay, well, the truth is: How the hell do we know ? That’s why it’s called a ‘mystery’. We’ll all have to keep watching for two more hours peoples. Seeya later alligator for Episodes 5 and 6. L+D

LEAH MCKENDRICK - WRITER, DIRECTOR AND STAR OF THE NEW LIONSGATE MOVIE “SCRAMBLED”.  One day you are an actress in Los Angeles, grinding away, trying to get that first TV co-star credit, fast forward through some bloody, sweaty and tearful years and BOOM you are STARRING in a feature film for Lionsgate that you WROTE and also DIRECTED. Please welcome my guest actor/director/writer Leah McKendrick whose new feature film “Scrambled” hits theaters this week. This movie is based on Leah’s true personal story of her journey freezing her eggs, a process that turned out to be scary and painful, but also wildly funny and full of absurd ironies as she (in her character of Nelly) faced some major milestones in her life. Leah shares what it took to get her script on the screen, the twists and turns she’s had as a Hollywood studio writer and how she has finally found artistic freedom.  "Scrambled" also stars Andrew Santino (I’m Dying Up Here), Ego Nwodim (Saturday Night Live), Laura Ceron (ER), and Clancy Brown (The Shawshank Redemption) as well as other very special cameos. Get out there, take your gal pals, you guy pals, your gramma, your mamma and your sisters and go see this wonderful film.  Check out the trailer here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ3T3Yr6B54

Lisa and Dean delve into the depths and profundity ofTrue Detective: Night Episode 3. How is Kali Reis in her third only role SMASHING it, up against the legend that is Jodie Foster ? Peter wants to know ‘Who is Mrs. Robinson ?” (Snicker) WT ACTUAL  F is going on with Liz and Eve at William Wheeler's crummy, homicidal shack ? When Navarro slips on the ice and has a vision of Liz’s son Holden, why is he reversed/flipped horizontally ?  Why …. Oh FMD … too many questions and not enough answers! Tune in to get our take on what we think so far. Credit to the following; BrainPilot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyb8SPoZHFU https://www.vulture.com/article/true-detective-recap-season-4-episode-3-part-3.html https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-recaps/true-detective-night-country-episode-3-recap-jodie-foster-kali-reis-issa-lopez-1234953858/ https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a46553371/true-detective-season-4-episode-3-recap/ Pete Peppers YT recap (the best !)  https://youtu.be/5yeyJ4jT6wM?si=ixXDk5ObhFMpsskf Think Story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0vU8pOU1AI https://collider.com/true-detective-season-4-episode-3-recap/ Sedna Mythology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedna_(mythology) Oranges in The Godfather as a harbinger of death https://movies.stackexchange.com/questions/67749/were-oranges-an-intentional-use-of-symbolism-by-filmmakers/67756#67756     

We all know how much Dean likes to run his mouth and be a smarty pants, especially with all the minutiae that he jazzes on joining dots hither and yon. There was SO much to unpack in Episode 2 that even though we spent an hour with the legend Joel Montgrand, we still couldn’t cover all the twists and turns in that episode.  So if you don’t dig the digging deep, give this one a miss. But of you like getting down and dirty (or frosty) with all the easy-to-miss connections and fan theories looking ahead … then dive in ! Let us know what you think and ask Dean followup questions on our True Detective: Night Country Fan page on the Book of Faces here https://www.facebook.com/groups/3518353335092244 Episode 3 Preview/Trailer  https://youtu.be/st_dixIqonc?si=Wz0Ow4kEH_yt92YQ  REPEAT OF LINKS FROM PREVIOUS EPISODE Joel’s own podcast on First Nations talent in tv and film  is called ‘Actors and Ancestors’  check it out here https://www.actorsandancestors.com/ Here’s a terrific interview with Jodie Foster and Showrunner Issa Lopez https://www.gamesradar.com/true-dectective-night-country-interview-exclusive-jodie-foster/  All about Kali Reis the astounding actress playing Evangeline Navarro https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kali_Reis A wonderfully readable article on the locations used in this seasonhttps://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/entertainment/a46439515/true-detective-night-country-filming-locations/ Here’s a Buch of RECAPS from the likes of vulture, NYT, Variety and more … https://www.vulture.com/article/true-detective-recap-season-4-episode-2.html https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/21/arts/television/true-detective-recap-episode-2.html https://www.theringer.com/2024/1/21/24046238/true-detective-night-country-season-4-episode-2-recap https://screenrant.com/true-detective-night-country-episode-2-recap-story-reveals/#the-researchers-have-spirals-on-their-foreheads https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a46410144/true-detective-premiere-recap-season-4-episode-2/ https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/true-detective-night-country-episode-2-recap-spoilers-questions-theories-1235880441/ A brilliant resource called TuneFind which lists all the music used in tv and film and most importantly WHERE it occurs in the show !  https://www.tunefind.com/show/true-detective/season-4/246030   All about The Tuttle Cult as er Season 1 … and now introduced to this Season 4 https://true-detective.fandom.com/wiki/Tuttle_Cult Horrific true life inspiration for the ‘Corpsicle’ of scientists from Tsalal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyatlov_Pass_incident And finally the IMDB page for Night Country with the complete cast list for this season, in case you need to remind yourself who is who … lord knows we do ! https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29314270/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_cl_sm