(upbeat music) - Hello, my name's Kamal Grant and this is You Don't Know What You Don't Know, the latest podcast on the Hope Cast Network, where I, Kamal Grant, go talk to leaders in the consumer package goods world because I need to know more things. I'm trying to launch a new brand called Magic Middle. And I want to get it on all the grocery store shelves. So I'm talking to leaders in the industry so I can learn from them so I can learn and let the world know. (upbeat music) (upbeat music) - This is the Hope Cast Network. Stories and shows you actually want to listen to. (upbeat music) - Well, what's up, work advisors? My name is Brad, I'm your host with a little bit of the most. Oh gosh, how's your week been? Hope you have had a good week. We are now in season two of Work Advice. And I'm excited. I gotta say, I didn't know if we would make it to season two. I thought we might get canceled. But then I was like, I had to cancel myself. I don't know if I can do that and if I'm ready to cancel myself. So I'm excited to know we didn't get canceled. The suits have let us stay on. And now we have got a guest today that I have been really excited about. Because if you don't know, the Hope Cast Network has a bunch of shows that range in variety. One of those shows is movie torture. If you don't know movie torture, you can download it on iTunes, Spotify. But it's me and a bunch of my friends. We get together and we roast bad movies. And we talk about our lives. It's really like a group therapy session, but with humor. And it drops every Monday. Well, we had a movie called Santa Jaws on there, which I gotta say, epic movie. If you listen to work advice, you need to go watch Santa Jaws. It is amazing. Although the rest of the cast of movie torture would disagree with me on that. I love it. It's not movie torture. One of the stars of Santa Jaws, Evelyn Stillwell, is coming on the show. And I was so excited to get a chance to talk to her because we're gonna get to talk about Santa Jaws, which I like to watch once a year. It's a great Christmas movie. And it's a bonkers, a shark movie at Christmas time in what looks like a sunny town. So it's amazing, but with that, I want you guys to sit back right now and enjoy this conversation with Evelyn as she is going to drop some Santa Jaws knowledge on me and you the listener. But before we get to Evelyn, I have a question. Yeah, here's the question. And it's fitting because it's not Christmas, but Julie in Ontario writes Brad, what is your favorite Christmas movie? Well, I like that you wanna know my favorite Christmas movie, Julie. It's not Santa Jaws. It's Santa Jaws is up there. It's probably in the top 10. But my friend Jacob, who is watching me record this right now would disagree with me on that one. But I would say my favorite Christmas movie is either it's a wonderful life or National Impoons Christmas Vacation. Both of those amazing movies and Christmas story. They're all like three-taught. I can watch them anytime at Christmas. Listeners, do you watch Christmas movies when it's not Christmas? That's the question. I'm asking you that. So think about that. Email the show, work advice for me at gmail.com. If you have any questions, any thoughts about Christmas or this episode or any past episodes, I will answer and I will read your question on the air. Now, without further ado, let's get to Abilene Stilwell. - You never really know what I'm walking into. - No, I always feel like when I'm directing, I'm like, you know, you go in and you're as prepared as possible. And then you just, oh, also part of the preparation is like emotionally and mentally preparing that like, you don't know what's gonna happen. You gotta just like improv your way through it, you know? - Well, well, we're definitely gonna do that. And this is unique. The episode has started out and I didn't even speak first. I think this might be a first, having in work advice history where I don't even talk and you just bring us in. And I'm excited about that. But I'm gonna say what I always say and I genuinely mean it every time. I have been so excited to talk to you because there's so much I wanna unpack. And this is gonna be blast. That's how when you're hearing, who has the most unique name we've ever had on you? I love it. So where'd the name come from? I gotta ask that. - Well, thank you. And I appreciate you actually say it exactly, right? - Dua? Oh, wow. - You got it. You nailed it. You might be 'cause I hear your southern, obviously. - I am. Yes. - And so it's like nobody in Georgia where I'm from ever had to with my, like it's like, wasn't ever like, how do you say that? Like, it's just people are like, javelin. It's just, you know. But yeah, so the name came from my grandmother. It was my grandmother's middle name. And, yeah. And so my mom always really loved that name. And my mom is in our entertainment industry as well. But when I was, when she was pregnant with me, she was the president of a theater in Savannah, Georgia. - Okay. - And sorry, theatrical always has been and, you know, would go to work every day and see the marquee there, this beautiful, you know, old marquee. And she was like, oh, I see, I see my daughter who's in utero. I see her name on a marquee. It's gotta be javelin still well. And so she really, you know, and my dad really was like, is that her? People that have my dad is politician, right? So my dad's like, are people gonna be able to know how to say that? You know, it's like, of course, like, you know, with our hopeful presidential, you know, nominee now. It's like the same thing. Are people gonna know how to say her name? And my mom was like, they'll figure it out. It's a star name. So it's kind of funny, but it's like, you know, and it's sort of like, it's a little bit cringe, but also I'm kind of like, I'm very grateful for the name 'cause I feel like it is something that, you know, people can quickly kind of, there aren't a lot of javelins. So, you know, a friend of mine will text me, oh, I'm at a party, I just met blah, blah, blah, 'cause I mentioned your name in a story, like, and they're like, whoo, you know, javelins? It's kind of like a cool, I love any way that we can stay connected to each other. You know, people can connect and kind of like have a little touchstones. So, you know, having a memorable name is just like a little bit of an easier, in this life of things that are incredibly difficult, like anything that's a little easier. - Well, I mean, if you think about it, like if you're just Heather, there's a lot of Heathers, no offense to any Heathers listening right now. You're the only hablin' I've ever met in my life, and I'm gonna be 45 this year, so it's the first one. You know, so now I have a friend named Havillin. So I like that, I like that. So, you come from Georgia, I like Georgia. It is, it is taught in Georgia. - It is. - Right. - It is, yeah. I'm from Los Angeles now, so I've kind of gone like different types of heat, but Georgia to New York to LA. So, I've done the triangle of the country. - So you're from Savannah, or didn't you say that? Savannah? - Yeah, I was only Savannah, and then I moved to Atlanta. So I've kind of done both, basically both of the big cities in Georgia. - Wow, okay, so the Kindle-- - Ooh, it's you froze. - Did I freeze? It'll be fine, it'll be good. Yeah, it will be good. So Kindle, who does social media for the podcast here, she went to Skat. - Oh yeah, mm-hmm. - Down there, yeah. Savannah, what's it staying for? - I don't even, yeah, it's-- - Savannah has a lot of art and design. - Yes, thank you. I'm glad you answered that, right? 'Cause Kindle's probably mad that I didn't know that. I just know Skat, that's where she went. But yeah, Savannah, a really nice area. It's hot though, it's really hot. So, enough about Savannah, let's talk about like, you said you come from a very theatrical family, is that right? - Yes. - So, was it always in the cards for you, or did you ever just say I wanna work at Target? - You know-- - I don't wanna-- - You know, I think that it is, I mean, I have a brother as well and he's an attorney now, but I think like as kids, we just sort of gravitated towards my father was in politics, my mother was in an entertainment. So, very much like our household, in my early childhood, you know, was very much about you, there was, we were not, we were taught, you know, you're not shy, you look people in the eye, you know how to speak to people of all ages, you know, southern hospitality, you can find common ground with everyone, you know, really listen, really to be able to debate, to be able to do your research, all of those things were like really important in my household. And you know, both my parents were used to, you know, being in positions where they had to go and do fundraising, or they had to go out and speak with, you know, for my dad, for constituents, for my mother, you know, patrons of the arts and audience members and actors, and you know, this kind of thing. So, I think it was just kind of inherent that I was gonna go into something, having to do with dealing with people and being on a stage in some way. Same with my brother, you know, I think everyone always sort of felt like, I was gonna be a Broadway actress and he was gonna be a senator. And ultimately my brother was like, I wanna, I love law, but I really just wanna like also have a work-life balance, you know, that kind of thing. So, you know, but for me, I think I, you know, I was never pushed into it by any means. Like, you know, we just, it was more like those, those personality traits of like, you know, being able to speak and write and engage with people were important. But, you know, honestly, I watched a Beth Niddler movie when I was little, little little. And I was-- - Okay, what movie, what movie are we talking here, what movie? - With Lily talk. - Oh my gosh, I love big business. Okay, I'm not a huge Beth Niddler fan, huh? I know, you can, you can leave now, if you only, you can hate me. Big business is hilarious, though. It's underrated. - Big business is so genius. And it's one of those things that like, you know, I tell really young people now, I'm like, you need to go watch that movie because Lily, Tom, on a Beth Niddler, are comic geniuses. They're playing twins, separated at birth. It's like, you know, they somehow get like, you know, it's so 80s, it's so 80s. It's like, you know, these villainies and then these like corporate people up that like literally in the plaza, like three-fourths of the film takes place in the plaza in New York. It's completely ridiculous and I love it so much. And I loved in it, I was like, so taken with Beth Niddler. And I was just like, wow, she's, you know, not, like she's not sort of, I was never really as a kid. I was never really into like the actresses that were just sort of, you know, kind of just considered beautiful and considered just, it was like, this was somebody who was like, she was funny and brassy and sexy and interesting and playing two completely different roles. And she got to sing in it. And all of this stuff, I was like, I want to do that. I want to, I want to, I need to do that. That's, it wasn't even like, it was like, that's what I do. Does that make sense? Like, nobody's like, oh, I want to be that when I grew up. I was like, what she's doing, that's what I do. Even before I did it, you know, I just knew that that's like what I did. I don't know if that sense, but it's like, when you kind of know, when you see something and you're like, oh yeah, okay, that's, my instincts are like glowing bright. - Yeah, that's what you do and that's what you're gonna do. That's what you're looking at, right? - Right. - Lili Tomlin, I find her funny. All of me is, I love that movie. You've seen that, right? - Yes. - Yeah, that's an underrated Steve Martin movie. It's so funny, man. - I mean, genius. Like these, I mean, there's also obviously every 80s, every 80s comedy is problematic for all of them. You know, it was a different, but of many of the 80s films, I feel like big business is like the least amount of like, offensive, you know what I mean? Like, you know, I'm like, okay. - Okay, so I also host a movie podcast with my buddies and we've gotten to this debate. We did She Double. - Okay, love me too. - Okay, okay. Thank you, Admiral. I need you to say that because we had it on the pod and I was the only, I think it's the best movie we've ever talked about on the podcast called Movie Torture. We're gonna get into that a little bit more with you in a little bit, but we had She Double and She Double is amazing. Meryl Streep is so good in She Double. Roseanne, outside of what she does now, people, she's very polarizing now. But back then, she was good in this movie. Underrated movie, how underrated, but it came out in the big business time, right? It's about that same area. I gotta go back and rewatch Big Business. I gotta refresh my, you know, refresh it. Yeah, it is good. - Matt Miller, I was thinking you were gonna say you're the wind beneath my wings. What was that? - Beaches. - Beaches, yes. - Well, beaches, great too. And, you know, also two very strong female leads, very different actors, that kind of thing, but also very dramatic. And I was always, you know, I always like, I like, or I like rangey things. And I liked in Big Business. I like, you know, I like when I see actors getting to do a lot of different things, or at least a couple of different things. It's like, that's so, that's just so attractive to me about, you know, an artist is like, oh, you're really good at this, and also this. And also just, I think I'm always gonna be, I'm always drawn to camp, like just really well done camp. And, you know, Matt Miller and really Tomlin, those ladies can do camp. They are, they are queens of-- - They are, did you like Lily Tomlin in '80 for Brady? - You know what, I didn't see it. And I need to, 'cause I also mostly love Jane Fonda. I have like, Jane, I have literally like multiple pieces of Jane Fonda art on my, I, Barbara, Barbara is one of my favorite movies, it's so sweet. - It is good. - It's almost moved, but I love it. - It is so dumb, but I remember watching it on HBO as a kid back in the '80s, and I was so attracted to Jane Fonda. - I was like, oh, she's so beautiful. - Yeah, and also you can just tell that she has an awareness of like, this is so dumb, and I'm so much smarter than this, you know. - I think I read, Hamlin, they're remaking that movie in Hollywood right now. - With Sidney Sweeney. And I, and I, and I-- - Okay, you're a big fan of Sidney Sweeney. - Oh, yeah. - Okay, see, we disagree. I bring you on here so we can just debate this because to me-- - I feel free off topic, by the way, of this talk. Ask about it, we should be on the other side. - Hamlin, this. - Okay. - But she's so good, have you seen you? - Have you seen-- - I've never seen you for you, so maybe that's the, I've just never seen that. - You can't say anything about her until you watch her performance on Euphoria because she's so, you know, that's, I think somebody like her is so, you know, obviously she's incredibly attractive. She's so beautiful, she's so sexy. She knows how to, you know, I mean, just in terms of like, kind of Hollywood glam, young kind of like, stereotype, like she's got the body, the hair, the look, she's got a cool, hot girl, right? But like, beyond that, I think, you know, when you kind of see her and you're like, okay, this girl's gonna be whatever, she's pretty, and you know, and then you get through that. I mean, you really should watch the show just 'cause honestly, it's a fantastic, just piece of art, like just every single department on that show is just so spectacular. But you know, Zendaya, I mean, every actor on the show is incredible that her performance, she just hooks into something that I feel like her vulnerability is so easily accessible for her as an actor. I just, you know, I know what that's like of doing those scenes where it's like, okay, you've got to literally, you know, go from point, you know, what's gonna be a two minute scene, but we're gonna shoot it for six hours and people are gonna be, you know, on their phones and doing this and that. You're gonna be having hair and makeup people in your face and, you know, there's so much is going on and she's so, it's such a great performance to watch like how she pulled that off. And just, to me, it just feels like she's very accessible and she has a really incredible access to her emotional life. So it's like, we're talking about two, you know, high camp, comedy, you know, awareness and then this other total side of like vulnerability. But I think it's related because both are, you know, types of acting and facets of acting that require a lot of awareness and also a lot of trust and kind of abandoning any sense of embarrassment or, you know, you know, you just have to be really confident in yourself to just feel like I'm gonna completely throw myself into this thing. And I am gonna try not to, you know, be vain about it or be, you know, self-conscious. I'm gonna be conscious of just being this character and delivering, you know, this style and this story. And that's kind of always my goal as an actor. I always just want to like honor the writer. I'm so respect writers and honor the writer, honor the director's vision, you know, and, you know, show up and do all the things that the producers are paying you to do, you know, and be there and do the thing and collaborate and be awesome. But ultimately, I always hope that what ends up after it goes through post-production is going to be performance. What happened? - No, you're good. You said you were talking. You froze for a second, but you're good. - Okay. - I can hear you good now. - Good goal. - Yeah, I mean, ultimately, just wrapping that up, just ultimately, like, you know, after all of that, as an actor, I always just hope what ends up, you know, in the final cut on screen is something that, you know, hopefully is reflective of me being, you know, open and accessible. - Okay, so I do want to bring this back to you 'cause I don't, we don't have to talk about Sydney Sweeney. Although I will say, I've only seen one Sydney Sweeney movie and it's the one that just came out with... - Oh, well that was, yeah, the rom-com. I mean, that was a silly movie. - That was silly. - rom-com, you know. - And I do feel like Hollywood is warning us to embrace what's his name from Top Gun. He's a great guy. Seemed like a great actor. - He's a looker. - Yeah, I guess. But I want to bring this back to you because I got to say you are one of my favorite actresses. I'll go and throw that out there. Only like bringing actresses and actors on here that I enjoy watching. And you are my favorite part of Santa Jaws. - Yes! - So when you said you would come on and chat with me, I had to let all my buddies know behind the scenes that I was gonna chat with someone from Santa Jaws. Now, my history with Santa Jaws is a couple years ago, my wife's uncle was at our house. He's like, "You got to watch Santa Jaws." It's amazing. And I'm like, "This sounds so dumb." And we turned it on. And I was like, "This has to be a must watch "every year for me at Christmas." Like, it's like, every December you got to watch it. - So we old movie torture did Santa Jaws in July. And I loved it again. It is amazing. It's underrated, havin'. I wanna know the history of you in Santa Jaws, because I think you're Snapsagramming in on there, right? Is that what it's called, "Snapsagram"? - Oh my god. - It's all unsnapped. - Like, your whole character. Like, you're just the social media expert in this. - Yeah. It's like, you know, okay, so I'll tell you. So first of all, thank you so much. That means a lot to me. The movie is so silly, but again, we talked about camp. So I'm glad you, you know, this is, it's like my two favorite things to do as an artist are, you know, as a performing artist. One, love it, do it all day long. I'd love to do a whole series that was just camp. And four, camp would be like even more fun. And two, I love singing like deeply emotional soprano ballads that just absolutely rip people's hearts out, make them cry. And I feel like those are my two specialties. - Wait, what's a soprano, what's a ballad that you would like to sing that rips people's heart out? - I mean, you know, anything that's like, you know, usually Broadway is like, you know, that's my background. So it's like kind of like those songs that are just, those are the things I can access easily. Like I can go, it's easier for me to access like, really intense emotions. I mean, except for anger, I feel like I can play like angry like that. But like, but I have no problem. - Do you have a short fees? Havilland, do you have a short fees? - No, I don't actually like, I'm actually like a really, you know, again, I'm a lawyer's daughter. I'm very like, let's reason this out. Let's, I'm a Capricorn, I'm very logical. So I'm like, okay, I'm gonna just be very calm about this. But I think it's what makes it more easy for me to play villains because I just like, immediately like, oh, there I can, I can channel the rage into this character. And I'm like, well, I think if I was at an actor, I wouldn't want to play a villain over, over the good guy. Did you get to have so much fun? - They're more fun for me, honestly. And they're, they're, to me, I mean, yes, they're always easier and they, you're not easier. Just more like, I don't know, it's, it's for me like, there's less stuff you have to sort of find to me. You know, it's like, it's all right there. It's like, oh, here's the clear dilemma. Here's what they're pissed about, or here's what they want, or here's what they're not getting that they need to get. You know, here's why they feel like they've been done wrong. You know, all of that is kind of just already in there. Anyway, so okay, Santa Josh. - Come back to the job. - Georgia, my character in Santa Josh is not a villain. - No, she's not. I was about to say she's not a villain. - She's, she's just ridiculous. Okay, so the history of new Santa Josh is, so this was like back in 2018, early 2018. So did I freeze again? - Yeah, you said the history of you in Santa Josh is. - Okay, so early 2018, you know, it's always a little bit slow in January in, you know, in our business, like things are just kind of getting going for the year, like unless you're already like on a movie or on something, like the first couple weeks are just slow. So my birthday is January 19th. So January 19th, on my birthday, I bought an a straight offer to do this movie, which, you know, as an actor, you know, I am not often at that level where people just like, unless I super know somebody, if I'm like, worked with them a million times, or they already are like, we definitely, we wrote this for you, you know, of course that happens, but I had never worked with any of these people, and they were just like, sent me an offer, and my agent was like, take a look at this. It, you know, films next month. It looks, you know, looks fun. So just, you know, take a look and let us know. And I'm like, first of all, I'm just like, it's my birthday, and I got an offer, and that's so fun. And I didn't have to like, you know, like work so hard to get a job, which is usually for an actor, what we do every day. We're always literally interviewing for jobs all day, every day. So I opened it, and I literally just looked at the title, and I was like, Santa Jaws, and I was like, I mean, unless there's something super offensive, like I literally am on the phone with my agent. I'm like, honestly, unless there's something really offensive, or like, there's a nudity issue, or like something that I really don't wanna do, I'm like, I'm pretty confident this is gonna be a yes, because just based on the title alone, and he's like, I know, right? It's pretty great. So I read it that day, and it was just like, I just laughed out loud so many times, and I'm like, I completely understand how to play this character, and I love that there's a sense of humor about, you know, it's a horror movie, and et cetera, et cetera, but also there's such an awareness that it's silly, but the way that camp works, I think, is when everybody plays it like dead-ass serious, like it's, you know, and the audience is like, oh my God, like, literally there's a shark going around with a Santa hat on, like, and everyone is just absolutely losing their mind, and like, you know, there's a scene where I'm like, floating in a reindeer float, and I'm like, taking selfies, and I'm freaking out, 'cause like, I think I have a zit or something, and like, literally in my selfie, you can see the shark in the back, but I'm like, so absorbed with myself, but I'm like, man, they're here, you know? I just think that that's so, like, now we've seen, you know, in the past five years, we've seen so many influencer characters and people making fun of them. Now it's kind of like, we've seen that done a lot, but at the time, there really, there weren't, to my knowledge, any characters, really, that were like, it was kind of the beginning of like, let's, you know, make fun of influencers, and which I think is great, because my favorite influencers are, you know, the ones that kind of are like, okay, I'm gonna, you know, like, they kind of make fun of the title of their job or whatever, you know? So yeah, so it was so much fun, and we shot it in Louisiana, and you know, the director, Misty Talley is amazing, and you know, called me before we went down there, and we had a really good, like, kind of first meeting, and, you know, talked about like, listen, I'm gonna have you in a bikini, like, half the movie, and it's just, it's, you know, Christmas, and obviously that's ridiculous, but she's like, you know, that's part of the humor, but I wanna like, let you know, like, obviously I'm a female, I'm not looking to like, exploit, like, we're, we're more making a, we're making a statement more about how ridiculous this is, but there's always like, a blonde girl running around in a bikini, like in the wind, you know? And heels, like bikini and heels, you know? It's just so stupid, and, you know, and I'm like, oh, I'm completely all in on, on, on that. So, I mean, I think it's kind of like, the movie kind of works and has become like, kind of a weird cult classic in a way. Like, the people like you who love it, there are so many people like you who are like, really like, listen, I know this movie is so stupid, but like, my family and I watch it every year. And I'm like, yes, and that's, when we were shooting it, we were all like, this movie is so silly, and yet it could be, it could be like this, like big hit, because everyone's just like, it's so silly, you know? - Okay, so you and I think a lot of like, because one of my funny, the funniest scenes for me in this movie is, for one, the comic bookshop guy is so creepy, like, he, I don't understand, I feel like he drives a van. If I had an altered universe, he drives a van and he puts people in there. The scene where you're in the comic bookshop in your bikini, I'm thinking to myself, this is hilarious, because in what world would you not be like, hey, throw me a t-shirt, we gotta go figure this out. - Little of, it's December, it's the week of Christmas, like, nobody has like a jacket or like a flamper. - It's so funny. - No, and we talked about that on set, and it was like, I don't know what that happened, but it's almost like we were like, no, it's funnier if I'm just in my bikini and heel. Again, just like short shorts, bikini top and heel is so stupid that it just makes the scene funnier, you know? - That's one of my favorite scenes, not because you're in the bikini, but just because it's so out of the, you just can't, it doesn't, you can't relate that, it's hilarious, 'cause you're thinking in your mind, she could have gotten a t-shirt and put like a pair of Nike's on. - Yeah, and also like, don't wanna give a spoiler alert 'cause something really tragic has just happened to her, and it's gonna impact like her whole life and future, and yeah, she's just like, okay, well, we're in a comic book store now. It's very like the best, like there's a Scooby-Doo vibe to it. Like, hey, kids, let's all like solve the crime, you know? - I try to imagine the backstory, did they say this in the movie, maybe I missed it? How did they even meet, how would this guy even get you? Like, it doesn't even, that's even more funny to me, because you don't even go with him ever. Like, you're looking like, there's no way he's pulling this influencer. - You know, I think, I mean, it wasn't discussed in the movie, but what we kinda talked about is we're like, okay, we've presumably come from like New York, and it seems like he's like the like rich brother that's gone off to New York. So maybe he's like working in a hedge fund, or like some, I mean, it's gotta be money related, right? Like, because they're not really, you know, they're not being like emotional connections, you know, and they're also honestly, like, I mean, it's not, even when we have like a little, I'm like, he's taking pictures of me for my profile, or my whatever, and it's like, I'm directing him how to take the photos, which is also like, it was also so fun, 'cause I kept my life-- - Well, nice one. - A fire, a fire, just like, it's like, you know, I mean, also, if you think back to like, this is five years ago, it was like, still, there was no TikTok yet, you know, this is sort of still like, Instagram was the ruling, you know, social, and it's like that beginning of like, everyone face tuning, every picture, and like, you know, where they blur out, and like, people would like, make their bodies this big, and like, look like lollipop. So I'm like, it was just so stupid, what was going on at that time, and now I think people are kind of more like, you know, Gen Z is a little bit more like, can we just see it without a feel, like I think they're a little more like annoyed about that, millennials, like they are more like, blur out everything, just make me like a complete, you know, blank page with eyes, you know? So yeah, I mean, I think Georgia, and you know, like, I think the two of them are just, you know, I think she's just like, she's armed candy to him, and it's like fun that he gets to parade around with her, and she's, you know, that's like, she's not, I like that they didn't write her like, as a bitch, like, she's not, you know, and also honestly, successful influencers make lots of money. So it's not like, you know, if you're an influencer, it's like, you don't have any money, and you're not, you know, you're just like, some leech or something, like, so I mean, I think it's more about like, he's convenient, and it's like, yeah, we're gonna go down and have Christmas, and it's, you know, I mean, ultimately Brad, it's not that key. - It's not, which it makes this fun, but we really start reading into Santa Jals. - I think my character development, which is you? - Haven't, so I make a habit of doing this. My mind never shuts off, and we were talking about this all fair, so I wanna get back to this. My mind never shuts off. Like, I'm constantly thinking about things I can do, I can create in my mind what needs to work, what doesn't, and one, I'm disappointed that I never came up with a title, Santa Jals. Why did it take 'til 2018 for this to happen? Because it's such an easy title to come up with, but it never happened. - I know. - Classic title. Now they do shark movies all the time. There's cocaine shark, there's sharkula. This is so many, I'm sorry. That are well beneath the special effects that were in sci-fi's original Santa Jals. So I do this a good bit. I have a pitch, I have a great pitch for you. - Okay. - You feel free to steal it, but I think you could start in this movie. Okay, so let's imagine the '80s. We're back in this big business time, '80s. There's this pompous guy. Like, he is the one who runs everything, and he expects his wife to have dinner for him when he comes home. She's taking care of the kids. Like, she is basically subservant to him. It's a comedy. And, you know, it doesn't sound funny right now, but it's done in a comical, happy way. - Okay. - He has a car crash. He crashes his beamer. You know, when they used to have their really big beamer's back in the '80s, crashes the beamer, hits his head, boom. Wakes up, alternate universe. Now, the men are subservant to the women. So he has to be the one, he comes home, and she's like, "Why haven't you got my dinner made?" Like, all of a sudden, he gets to feel the wrath. It's switched in a way where, you know, and now he's gotta figure out how to get back, but he's learning the lessons on when he does finally figure out how to come back to reality. He just, he was like in a sleep. He has to, he respects and appreciates the people around him in his life for taking care of him and his children, and he doesn't wanna work as much, but it's pure comedy the whole time. Like, he's having to, in this movie, girls ask the men out. - Right. - Reverse. You know what I'm saying? Like, he's not, you don't have that. So everything is different. What do you think? Would this be funny? Would this be a good sci-fi original? - But have you any sci-fi? - Well, I guess it could be, well, it wouldn't be sci-fi, ugh. - I think it more be like, like, classic rom-com. Like, or like, not rom-com really, but classic like, screwball comedy. You know, I think that's really needed, honestly. Like, I've been talking with some of my comic friends and, you know, just about how there's, there's a need for just like, feel-good comedy. It's just funny, and it's like, you can just hook into it and you may, maybe you don't, you know, I mean, it's kind of astonishing to me how, like, honestly, like, kids, like teenagers and like, young 20-somethings, like, they know all of these stand-up comics. Like, they'll be like, oh, you heard of, well, and it's like, these obscure stand-up comics. And I'm like, how would you, and they're like, TikTok? Like, you know, we watched, you watched their like, one joke or two jokes or something, you know? And I'm like, I think that's really cool. And I think it just shows, you know, the need for, there's just been so much, really since, like, the pandemic. There's just been so much, like, really heaviness that I think people are in, in so much, in, in a need. There is a need for comedy, and a need for, you know, stand-up comedy, there's a need for, like, situational comedy, sketch comedy, you know? So, I mean, I love, I love doing it. And I just really, I just, I just wanna keep doing it. I wanna keep doing more, you know? And I'm happy to be, you know, in like, in Santa Jaws, I'm off in the butt of the joke, you know? It's almost just like, you know, when I'm happy to be that. I'm like, you know what, it's fine. I can make fun of myself. And, you know, I can, I can, like, I can humble myself in that way, you know? - But you were great without your character. Santa Jaws is not as great. I gotta say it. But, but I'm biased 'cause you're on here and you're, you're talking to me. So, I mean, it is. - And that, if one of the other actors was on here, he might be like, I mean. - Yeah, I'd be like, have one, so. No, I wouldn't say that. No, I mean, again, it goes back to-- - I was just keep an actress, but like, only 'cause she was on my podcast. - Oh, yeah, she hadn't have done that. But no, again, you just had this horrifying accident happen and you're running around in a bikini. So, it's just, it's just fun. - Right. - Imagine having for a moment you could have that pad and you could draw whatever you wanted. I mean, the power that this kid had in this movie. - No. - Amazing. Again, I don't wanna spoil it. I guess we can't spoil it. We can't, we could, but let's not. I want people to go watch it 'cause it's amazing. You can watch it on Tubi. - You guys are fine now. Like, it's on a lot of different streaming services now. - Yeah, Tubi. I think I watched it on Tubi. - Yeah, I mean, that's kind of what I just heard this week that a movie I did like, several years ago, is now on like Tubi and Prime. And it was, I was like, actually like one of the other actors posted about it. And then I texted the star of the film who also is a producer on it. And I was like, hey, it's this movie. Also really funny movie called Freelancer. It's called Freelancer's Anonymous. - Okay, I'm looking it up while we're talking. I'm not being rude. - No, no, it's fine. Really funny. I also play like a ridiculous character. She's a spoiler alert, she's silly. But it's, the movie is about this woman that basically quits her job like weeks before her wedding. And she's the primary, you know, breadwinner. And, you know, basically doesn't tell her fiancee and decides she's going to go start a startup tech company with a bunch of other women who all are similarly frustrated and like wanna get, you know, and they're all really different and have different skills. But of course they have like no money, no one, like it's ridiculous. They have like, why are they doing this with like nothing? Right? But at the same time, she's like having to show up for, you know, wedding planning things. So I played the wedding planner. I'm with her and her fiancee, it's a gay wedding. And her fiancee just has like no idea why she's being so like scattered and so all over the place. But I'm basically like probably the worst wedding planner ever. I just like made the decision with the writer and director. I was like, so it's just a way you've written her. It seems like it's sort of like she dresses and she has the look of like, oh, I really know what I'm doing. Kind of like a real estate agent. Like I really super know what I'm doing. But when you get into the weeds, she's like an absolute disaster. So, you know, that's basically what happens. And of course like, you know, drama ensues between like the startup and the wedding. And of course, everything's happening on the same day. And, you know, everything falls apart and it's hilarious. And we're all running around the wedding than you. And, you know, at one point, again, I have like a dress and heels on. And I've got like a, you know, Bluetooth thing. And I'm like screaming into it, you know, it's just very silly. So I recommend, but yeah. So anyway, yeah, so that just came out now on all these different streaming platforms. So just really exciting now to see like the accessibility of movies that I've done in the past that, you know, were only available in one place or they went away or whatever. And now it's like, oh, we can actually, you know, new things now. - Okay. So I want to ask you, I want to talk about this. 'Cause I love to ask this question. One, how many auditions do you do? Like, do you ever just get, do you ever wake up and go, I'm so tired of doing auditions. Like I just ate it. Or are they, is everyone an adventure for you in a different way to be a different character? - It depends. I was far as on camera auditions, you know, most of them I do enjoy. Anytime I can be in person or on Zoom with a casting director, a director, a producer, anybody who's like looking for their actor, you know, love that. I will take, I'll do that all day. I love that because it's actually like, it's similar to what we're doing right here. It's two people conversing, being collaborative, you know, I'm doing, you know, my interpretation of something. They are hopefully seeing what I'm doing and making tweaks to it or being like, okay, try it this way or can we, you know, giving direction that I'm doing it again. So it's like, it is in and of itself a collaboration. However, you know, now 95% of auditions are just self-tapes, meaning, you know, I've just got my little home studio that I've set up and it's, you know, me and usually my wife or, you know, if my wife's working or something, it's my next door neighbor is also a TV actress. And so we kind of switch off doing auditions with each other. And, you know, it's just different 'cause it's like you're really, you're losing that, you know, like when I was in college, you know, and my mother was an acting teacher as well. And everybody always said, you know, this is like 15, 20 years ago, everyone was like, you know, really, you could book the job before you even start, you know, doing the scene. Or you could lose the job before, just because, you know, the way you walk into a room, the way you interact with, you know, the people who are hiring you, you know, they could just immediately be like, I like her. I just, I know she's gonna be cool on set. You know, now let's see if she can play the character, but I like her and, you know, I'm rooting for her, I'm wanting her to get it now because we just have a good vibe. And, you know, that's similar to like any job interview, you know, if you're gonna be spending a lot of time with somebody, especially, you know, if it's more than just a day or two on set, if you're gonna be doing a long theatrical run, or, you know, you're gonna be doing a, you know, you're gonna be on set for a month, you know, and you're doing 12, 14 hour days. And, you know, in the middle of the night, sometimes or by the starting your day, whatever, like you kind of wanna know, like, I mean, I do anyway when I'm on like the other side of the camera that the people you're working with are gonna be like, cool, you know, they're gonna be professional and great and do their jobs, but like, it's almost like that's a given. You need to know that the personalities are gonna fit. So, so I would say as far as auditions, you know, sometimes it's just, it's just hard 'cause you kind of like, you know, you'll get a script and you give it a shot, you know, but it's kind of like, I don't know, you know, my acting friends and I talk about it, my managers and I talk about this all the time. And, you know, they read a slate of, you know, very well known actors who are just legendary actors. And they're like, I mean, yeah, we watched everybody's self tapes and everyone's kicking ass, you know, but it's like, you don't know if it's like, oh, she's, you know, Havlin did a great audition. She made this really bold choice, you know, but is it, are they gonna be like, no, we don't want her because, you know, she's playing it this way. When, if it were just in an audition, they could be like, oh, could you try it like this? Make a small adjustment and then they're like, got it. Okay, yeah, she's, she's great. So it's just, I think it's to like sending auditions out into the void and like, not really even knowing is anybody watching them, you don't know that part. I think is, has gotten a little frustrating and like kind of discouraging sometimes for artists because at the end of the day, like performing artists want to collaborate. You know, we want to, we want to get notes. We want to be, we want constructive criticism. You know, so just kind of sending something out, you're like, I don't know, that was good. So you kind of have to have a different sense of like, you know, of being like, okay, how am I gonna measure, you have to measure success differently. You know, you can't measure it on, did I get a call that or did I book the job or did I do well in the room based on what they said to me or something? All of those things are obviously great, you know, obviously wonderful, but ultimately you kind of have to go, did I do my best, did I learn anything, did I improve, you know, as an actor, did I, you know, all of these things are kind of like different measures. Does that make sense? - Yeah, and I feel that way a lot when it's podcast, right? Like for me, when I first started out over a year ago, I was just telling my wife before we got on, I'm like, you know, I've been doing this for a year now, which is a long time in my mind. When I first started out, I was all audio, right? So I didn't do video. So I would be talking to you on the phone, it was harder 'cause I can't see your reactions. When I say something stupid that I'm joking, you may not read me as joking over the phone, but you can see it on here, right? So I do feel like when you say zooming is way, you can 100%, I can vibe off of you by seeing what we're talking about now. Whereas if I'm sending you a tape of me, well, I have tape, I have podcasts you can listen, right? I get it, it's the same thing and it gets exhausting 'cause I wanna have people on that I find interesting and they may not find me interesting. So I may not get results back, right? Like, and if I measure-- - I'll not find you interesting, bro. - That's what I'm, yeah, thank you. You have to say that 'cause you're on here. But, you know, I get this, a lot of times I get this email back havin'. And it's always like, I wanna know all your numbers and all this stuff. And when I get that, I just delete 'em. I'm like, I don't really wanna talk to you 'cause if you're all about the numbers of listeners, I mean, I guess that's huge 'cause you're spending your time talking with me. But, I don't, just listen to a podcast. And if you like me, come on, if you don't, don't. That's, and I feel like that's how you feel. Like, if you want me to be in your movie, great. If you don't, I'll find, there'll be somebody that likes me, right? - That is how I feel. And I have, I was just thinking about this the other day because a friend of mine was talking about something they have upcoming and they're, you know, raising money for it right now and it's a low budget project. And she said, I really, you know, there's a role I would just like, really love for you to do, but I just, I don't think, you know, we're not gonna have enough money, you know, to pay your rate or whatever. I was like, you know what though, like, don't assume? Like, when you guys are ready, you know, I love working with this person. So I'm like, I love working with you. I love being on set with you. And, you know, that's awesome that you thought of me and that you're hoping, you know, that means something to me, you know? So, you know, when it comes up, I mean, I'm not gonna not do something just because, you know, like you said, like, oh, the numbers are the blah, blah, I mean, sometimes, sure, I mean, it's like, you know, if I'm working on like a Marvel show or something, you know, and it's like, but that's not about my ego, that's just business, you know, that's just gonna be like, obviously, you're just busy and you can't do the others. I mean, I've always been that type of person and I'm like, I would rather love working so much that I would rather be like, you know, my dream scenario, honestly, Brad would be to be like, working on a series, you know, Monday through Friday and like fitting in voiceovers, like at lunch, you know, or like at late or whatever when I'm not shooting. And then, you know, when we're on hiatus shooting a movie, you know, we're shooting a, you know, like that's what I like. That gets me going, you know. - Well, you know, it's funny, like, I have a day job, but this is like what, this is my outlet, right? So for me, I get to, I get to, what fills my cup is getting to meet people and hear their stories. And it just, talk about dumb stuff, 'cause I do talk about a lot of dumb stuff on here that doesn't really resonate or, you know, but I've seen, just for me, and this, I didn't bring you on so I could brag on myself. Although that is a power move, by the way. I just bring you on, all I wanna talk about is me. I don't want you to hear about me having one. - Go ahead. - Yeah, you just sit back and grab a bag of Cheetos and listen, but I will say, when I started this out, it was just me. And now, you know, now I get to host one with Heidi from Survivor. I've got Lee from Hell's Kitchen coming on. I've got to stand up comedians. It's gonna be doing a comedy show on here. So like, it's growing. - Yeah. - Because what you said, people like you having, when you walk in, you're very nice, you're very relaxed, you're chill. And I feel like you and I have the same kind of vibe with people where I'm not judging anybody. I'm just gonna have some fun. We're gonna talk. And hopefully when we hang up, we can stay in touch, but if not, I will follow you or follow whoever's on. - But the thing is, we or you and I are genuinely, and I think authentically just interested in people, you know? - Yes, relational. - Yeah, I mean, I'm enthusiastic. Like, you know, my wife always started jokes. Like, when we meet a new person, you know, she'll be like, okay, like pull up a chair, you're gonna get interviewed, you know? 'Cause I'm like, okay, so, and I just start like, especially, I'll find like, if I'm at a party, I will find like, the shy reserved person who's like, oh my God, this is a lot, you know? And I'll just go up and I'm like, I'm humbling, like, what's so, how do you know whoever's throwing the party? Because I'm just like, I wanna, well, first, I feel like I just empathically want to make people feel comfortable. It's like a blessing and a curse. But also, I think I'm just genuinely interested in people. It's like, I'm not trying to get something from it other than just, I'm genuinely a curious person. And I also, like I said, at the beginning of when we were talking, I like finding things we can connect on and people who connect other people and ideas and feelings. And I think that's where, kind of like, one of the highlights of life, honestly. - It's a rush, right? To get to know, here's someone's story, 'cause everyone has a unique, different story. - Yeah. - Nobody's story is the same. And it's fun to hear that and then to, and also, you know, grow your friends, your friend network, right? Like, you're like, I know that person, that person's sweet, that person, not so much. You know, I've had a few people come on and I'm just like, man, this is a hard conversation. Like, you're not giving me much here. - Same with me, it's like some people I work with, obviously, I like better than others, you know? - Yeah. - You know, some people, you're just like, and a lot of people will be like, I really like working with this person, but like, realistically, I've been in this business long enough to know now, like, we're probably not gonna stay friends, like, you know, we'll stay, like, you know, Instagram, and like, we'll keep in touch, kind of vaguely, but like, you know, we didn't have like a super hard connection, you know? But also, I think that's what's sort of weird about life now, is that I think a lot of us have so many connections online that aren't necessarily connections in person or in, you know, and when I say in person, I don't necessarily mean like in the same room together, just, I mean, ideally, but even like off just like, they're, you know, their comments section and they're in a post or something, you know? And so I think there's this idea where people are kind of like, oh, well, I don't ever talk to that person much, but I really like them and, you know, I see their posts, so I kind of know what's going on. And I think about all the things that are going on in my life right now that I've said nothing about online. And I'm like, oh, boy, like, if I do talk about any of this on my profile, people will be like, what? You know, just because there's so many things going on in all of our personal lives or things that are just professional life that we just can't talk about or that we don't want to talk about yet, we don't want to jinx something, you know? And so it's this weird thing of like, kind of feeling like you're in touch with people, but like also... - But I think that's the technology world we're in, right? And it's kind of sad. I mean, it's not, it's a double-edged sword 'cause without it, you and I would never have connected. - Yeah. - We're never gonna cross-pass. - You wrote me, you wrote through my website. Hey, I actually do respond to messaging. - I was talking, by the way, I was like, oh my gosh, she got back to me. - Yeah, I'm like, you, unless it goes to spam or it goes to like sometimes on Instagram, sometimes that's happened where I'm like a year later, I'll find a message and I'm like, "Oh my God, I really wish I had seen this." And I'll write back and be like, "I am so sorry, like this is what happened and it's legitimately the truth." But until I'm so busy and so famous that I'm getting 3000 DMs a day or something like that, like I'm, you know, for the most, I like communicating with people, you know? I mean, I like, it also is how creativity happens. It's how work happens. It's, you know, you brat or somebody like, you genuinely like work that I've done and I feel like you watch things that I do and listen to things that I do. And, you know, that holds value to me. So why would I ignore that? You know what I mean? - Well, the number one, 100%, the number one question I always get is how do you get these people to wanna come home? That's the number one, I get that from everyone I know. And I'm always like, you just email them. - Yeah. - And they don't check, most people do not check their Instagram DMs. I've noticed that, they'll stay unread. - Because they filter them weird. So there's a lot of people that, especially if it's something around like an Annenberg, like it's funny because, you know, you're a Santa Jaws person and I always kind of wonder, like if somebody is having me on a show, you know, and they're like, oh, I'm a big fan or something like in the message. And I'm like, what are they gonna be a big fan of? You know what I mean? 'Cause I'm like, it's gonna be Broadway or it's gonna be like a video game that I did or it's gonna be, you know, Barbie or it's gonna be, there are a lot of Santa Jaws people, you know, or it's gonna be this one that I did called Gabriel's Inferno that's like based on like a romance novel. And I play this like Dominatrix, like Badass, whatever. So there's that whole crew, which is like a crazy fandom. So, you know, it's like if there's any of those time periods that, you know, like it's like on anniversary of something coming out and like just so many people are like posting memories or, you know, whatever, then you just kind of things get lost in the shuffle. But other than that, like I'm just, I don't, honestly, most actors are not the way we're stereotyped. Like most actors are very down to earth and very like communicative. And, you know, we want people to respond to our work just like everybody. Everybody wants to know that whatever they're doing in life is like good and is being appreciated. You know, everybody wants to be loved, you know what I mean? - And you and I have to be natural promoters, right? So like, we gotta promote what we're doing. So people want to see it because if you're not promoting it and I'm following you on Instagram, I'll never know what you're in unless I go on IMDB and then I search you, right? And I think on my, I don't even think I say to people I'm a fan of yours because I was not letting you know that I want to talk about "Santa Jaws" purposely because I would just drop it in. Like "Santa Jaws" is amazing. It's one of my favorite all-time movies. So, you know, it's great. Is there people that, you know, like, has there been people in your business that you're just like, "I don't want to work with that guy" or like, "I'm tired of working with their D-bags and I just don't even care to be around them?" But you have to, like, is it an actress? Is it not hard for you to pretend to really dig something when you know that person's kind of jerky? - So, you mean, like, working, like, if I've worked with them before and it's like working with them on something else? - Or just meeting them and just, you're sad. I mean, you're sad with them. Well, let's say you and I were in a scene together and you're like, "I gotta be Brad's sister." But I don't like Brad. I've seen his life. He's a jerk. But I gotta, is it hard to compartmentalize and be like, "Yeah." - I mean, I don't, I'm, I'm an excellent. I'm, my parents are divorced. If you're a kid of divorce, your compartmentalization skills are top-notch, right? Anybody listening who's like a kid of divorce is like, "Yes, that's true. I do compartmentalize well." No, I compartmentalize very well. The only thing that I think has been difficult, you know, I've worked with, I worked with a director that was really difficult and was really, would get, you know, it happens sometimes on set where, you know, you're right, the schedule is running behind, people are getting stressed. It's, you know, really cold or really hot, or, you know, you're just running out of time and time is money after you go over a certain hour and people go into overtime. It starts to get very extensive for producers. So, you know, they're panicking, you know, and it's, it really is, I think, part of, and I've started directing now and this is like one of the things that I really, you know, try for and I think I'm, hopefully, you know, hopefully, good at is like not panicking and not panicking the casting crew when, you know, internally, you're feeling a little panicked, you know, because ultimately, you've got to be like, "Okay, if I'm panicking about timing "or about, you know, the light we're losing light "or something is going wrong, "it's actually going to make the, "it's going to make everything worse "if everyone else is panicked, too." You know, so if I am cool and professional and supportive, then this is just going to happen better. And I've been in one situation in particular, where it was just a director that hadn't directed very much and, you know, had really, really, really great actors in this movie and, you know, she was running out of time and she just was panicking and she was, started kind of yelling at people and, you know, everyone got really tense and then it was just like, it just, it was getting, it was worse because, you know, things were getting like, people were making stupid mistakes because I think the environment became so stressful. That, I didn't like, I don't like in front of my face, you know, people after seeing crew members being disrespected from anybody, from anybody on any level, I don't like it. And, you know, if I'm in a position of any kind of power, I will usually quietly say something, but, you know, oftentimes I'm usually not, you know, I'm usually just an actor or I'm, you know, or something. So it's usually kind of like, I have to stay in my lane, but I really dislike that. As far as like, you know, I just personally don't super like another actor or whatever. I mean, depending on what, if it's another actor, usually try to use some of that in my feelings as they care about their character. So for instance, your example was like, you playing my brother, okay, well, I would ask myself if I'm like, okay, I really don't like Brad. He's acting as my brother and, you know, we're having this scene. Then I would use it because like, you know, siblings have things that irritate them about each, right? Like, you know, I'm sure if you have siblings, like you love your siblings, but also it's like, you know, there are things that you can't stand about them sometimes. And vice versa, right? So, you know, I would just, I would just be like, okay, that's the thing. But then I would try to find something about you that I did like, or that was like endearing. I'd be like, all right, you know? But yeah, really like the line is really only drawn with me when it's like straight up, bald based disrespect, any kind of harassment, like, you know, just I really can't with that. And I will, I will sometimes be that person who's like, hi, please don't do that. And I will like get, I will be, I will like my like maternal energy like kicks in there. And I'm like, I will protect everyone, you know? So that's my thing. That was a very long answer to just like... - Oh, it's okay. - You probably were looking for it. Yeah, if somebody's a bitch, I don't want to work with that. Period. - No, no, I'd rather prefer your answer. But, okay, so what's a dream role for you? Like, what's a role you would be like, I would love to be that? Is it Marvel? 'Cause if you get into that Marvel universe, you're set for life. Like, Havillah's never coming to talk to Brad again if she's in the Marvel universe. She's like, I'm going to go on the Marvel geeks and talk to them, whatever. - Who are you? - Time for everyone. - Yeah, yeah. But that Marvel money, it's like, what's her name? Robin from one of my favorite sitcoms. How I met your mother? - Oh, uh-huh. - Yeah, she's got that Marvel money. Like, she's in Marvel and she's Marvel for life. Like, Robert Downey Jr. getting out of Marvel is shocking to me. - You know. - They just backed that Brinks truck up, right? - Well, you know, yes. Obviously, getting into the Marvel universe would be amazing. You know, playing a Marvel villain would be incredible. I would love to do that. I mean, I think it would be, I think it would be really cool to, and you know, unlike the action sci-fi side, I really like action and sci-fi. And I, you know, I love doing stunts. I love working with like stunt coordinators and stunt, I love all of that. So, you know, something that was like, that was like, you know, CEO by day, villain by night. - Ooh. - You know what I mean? Like, I'd love to be, I love, and I'm getting to that point in my, in my, you know, age group or whatever, where I can start playing. I've always kind of auditioned for like lawyers and, you know, detectives and things like that. But I'm starting to audition more now for like, executives and, you know, bosses and like, you know, that's really fun for me. I love like running a boardroom and, you know, that sort of thing. So if it could be like running a boardroom, but also, you know, causing chaos in the city, you know? - My dream, my dream is to like be, would be a, would be in a movie where I could be the bored guy like you. Like the head of the, and you're coming into my office and I'll look at you and go, that is all. And you're, okay, I guess, and I go, you basically leave. Like, I don't even want to talk to you anymore. You just walk out. - Yeah. - You and I should play mean, we should play really nice CEOs, but then really bad villains at night. That's the thing. Like, we go around and rehab it in the city. - Well, I also like because my energy as a person, as you now know after knowing me for an hour, is so I'm very bubbly, you know? I'm very talkative and bubbly. So, you know, I really like playing characters that are like very still, because it's so different from my vibe. And I found that, you know, it's a challenge for me. It's like always something I have to remind myself of in auditions too, 'cause like every little movement on camera is like, you know, just moving like a half inch is like, you know, everything looks more exaggerated on camera. Which coming from stage is like, it's just two very different mediums. But yeah, so I think that that's, you know, the Miranda from Devil Wears product kind of vibe, where you're like very, you know, still and sharp, and, you know, I can wreak a lot of havoc with my left eyebrow. - Okay, that's your evil power, is your left eyebrow. - Yes, I can be left eyebrow and like, an explosion goes off or something. - That could be your villain name, left eyebrow. - Yes. - I like it, we gotta find the left eyebrow, boys. She's over here on the stock y'all, she's killing people. - On the move, eyebrows on the move. She's got her hench money, it's a little guy with glasses. - So really like, we just did a short film, like we just shot it last week, we finished where we kind of go through, I play this character who's like, basically I wanna grant for redoing, you know, it's like a diversity initiative, and we're doing like this like queer movie or whatever. And so I'm getting to the final stage in like the process. And it's this, you know, this white guy who's like, you know, I'm thinking it's just like, oh, we're just, he's just like giving the sign off and we're good, but like I get through my pitch, which is like, you're also at the same time seeing me and an actress like doing the thing I'm pitching. So we're kind of going back and forth to like me pitching the thing in the boardroom. And then like, cross cutting it with like me, the character with this other actress like doing it. So we go through like sci-fi, dystopian, and then he's like, I don't like that. And so I have to start pitching like multiple other things. And so we do like film noir, and we do like high jinx comedy at one point where like tap dancing nuns, like it's just totally crazy. So and I always find like I do really like period pieces as well. So I'm not kind of like, you know, training in musical theater, it's primarily what I trained in. Musical theater wise, it's like, I was always wearing a frickin' corset and, you know, boop skirts and, you know, hats with lace coming down in front and wigs and the whole thing. So I think, you know, I've gotten to do it a few times on camera, of course I did Selma and, you know, which is an incredible experience, but you know, a little different from Santa Jaws. - That's more, that's more hybrid. I like more camp, I'm with you. Now I gotta ask you, you talk about the stage. So I had a million mile alone, I don't know if you know her. She plays, who's the lead in Phantom of the Opera? What's the name? Christine, she plays Christine in Phantom of the Opera. So I was excited to have her on. Now she is on stage for three solid hours. Like Christine carries the show. So I pitched this to her and she laughed, but I feel like it's a good pitch. You're on the stage, you're wearing the core stage. She said people have to help her take her clothes off. - Oh yeah. - It's heavy. - Oh yeah. - But having, I pee a lot. I'm a peer, like I gotta pee a lot. What do you do when you're out? And I ask her this, I'm like, I'm like a million. Let's say you're out there on the stage. You gotta go one or you gotta go two. What are you, what's the, what are you doing? You gotta, I pitched the opera diaper to her. She was, this is the kind of show you're on, have 'em. I said, you gotta, she goes, Brad, I feel like that would stink. And I'm like, yeah, but you could continue belting out your songs while using said bathroom, because me, I probably, I gotta pee like three, four times a night. I hate it. It's old man stuff, I'm dealing with here. - Oh, I drink a lot of water. - Me too. You see this, like. - I'll tell you, you do get used with all of those layers of clothes. You do get used to figuring it out. You always, I think this is, this is like a real insider stupid thing, like, but you know, usually you're, we're always might, right? Actors on stage. - Oh my gosh, that would be awful. - So in theater, you have your, your mic is usually here, which I have a permanent, you can kind of see it, permanent indention in the very, from my wig in, did learn on the roof. Like it's absolutely indented into my forehead because my wig, I was growing out my hair and my wig got tighter and tighter and it just pressed into my head. So it's, it's like a, it's like a battle scar. - Okay. - The weirdest thing about it is you kind of get used to like pulling up all of your, your clothes and everything, but you always, you often have your mic pack is like somewhere here. Like there's usually like a little clip it's like an ace bandage kind of thing. And it's like flipped around your like waist or your lower waist, like under all your clothes. So you always have to watch that you're not like letting the wire or something fall when you're going. - In your toilet. - Right. So in film, your, your mic is usually clipped somewhere on your chest. You know, it's like usually like right under your lapel or like if you're wearing a dress, it's like right here or, you know, and you know, the mic pack is, it could be anywhere. They put it up under my hair before. It's just kind of, it's really anybody's guess. - Wait, let me ask you. I don't, so when you're in a movie, you're wearing a mic? - All the time. - See, all you had like the boom mic over you. - Yeah, there's also a boom, but the boom is kind of a backup. - Wow, you mean to tell me in Santa Jaws. - You froze it. Okay, wait, you say that again. - So you're telling me in Santa Jaws, you had a mic on in the bikini. - Yeah. - Oh my gosh, was it under your hair? - It was here. He taped it here. My hair was long, man. I can do it now, I'm growing it out again. But yeah, he taped it and it was like stuck with really hardcore tape because, yeah, I mean, now I fall, I go in the water. So obviously like when I went in the water, we didn't, we didn't do that because, you know, for obvious reasons, but yeah, it's so, it's funny because I, I always, almost always now, especially if I've been shooting a bunch and it's just, 'cause you're so used to just watching for the mic, that like when I'm just at home and I go to the bathroom, I'm like, I'm like checking for my mic, what? Oh my God, I'm not tired right now. I'm at my house. - The only one that's gonna hear this is my wife. It's what you're saying. Okay. - What are you thinking about hearing it? - It's about like literally, I don't wanna like, let the mic pack fall into the toilet and like I've ruined thousands of dollars of machinery. - Oh my gosh, yes. So one of my favorite movies is The Naked Gun. Have you seen it? - Yeah, it's been a minute, but I've seen it. - Okay, every time my father-in-law visits, he wants us to watch The Naked Gun. So we pull it up, we watch it. One of my favorite scenes when Frank Dravin goes to the bathroom, when the queen at the beginning, he's got the mic, he's still mic'd up, and he's in there in the whole-- - That would be my fear in Hollywood, is now that I would be like, you know, what if you gotta, you gotta go to the bathroom? You're like, let's have one, geez. - I always make friends with, there's key people. I make friends with one of every project. If there's a driver, you know, if you're on a bigger show, and they're the drivers, the teamsters, they've got your back. If you're, if you've got their back, they've got your back. Hair and makeup, you better make friends with them, 'cause they get just, they really get put through it a lot, and so you need to be nice to them. And also, again, you're nice to them, they're nice to you, and they're making it, right? Sound, sound guy, they're all up under your, you know, or girl, sound person. They're all up under your clothes and that kind of thing, and you're like, you wanna be cool with them, and then obviously the director, and then DP and camera operator, because like camera operator, they're in the scene with you. You know, you've got you and whoever you're in the scene with, and the camera is another person you're in the scene with. So like, you've gotta be like, cool with them too. Obviously the whole rest, every, I try, if I'm on a show for a long time, I'm like, try to be friends with everybody, 'cause like, I do truly respect the work everyone's doing, like everyone there is highly skilled. So, you know, you wanna respect them, but like, you know, there's people that it's just like, you gotta be friends with, and the sound is like, what, an apple to sound, and I've seen it happen, where like, I've seen an actor just be rude, or be like, oh my night pack or whatever, and like, I've seen sound just be like, I don't have any, I don't have, you know, and they just won't stop being helpful, you know, 'cause it's just like, they don't go the extra mile to be nice, or you know, they just are like, cold, not necessarily, but it's like, there's always things on every set, in every theater, that you know, probably in every job, it's like this, but it's like, you can just do your job, just show up, do your job, that's it, or you can like kind of go the extra mile to like, make everybody else's job a little easier, or their day bed, or whatever, but you don't have to do that, you know. Well, it's like, when I call people, when I call a customer service, I'm always like, hey, like, you'll say, hey, everyone, how's your day going? Oh, it's doing good, 'cause I feel like you're setting, you know, if I call in, I'm mad, I'm obviously calling 'cause I don't wanna, I gotta figure out something. I can be like, you know, my phone, you know, AT&T's the worst, and you, oh my gosh, like, I can't stand to call AT&T. Like, I would rather you take a ball bat, and just whack me with it, than make me spend time with AT&T, 'cause they're horrible, so. No, my wife and I actually sort of like trade off on like, on like, okay, I'll call the insurance company into, well, trade off, 'cause it's just like, God, I'm gonna be, this call is gonna take three hours, I'm gonna be on hold, okay, you call the airline, and I'll call AT&T, you know, well, I've found this out. If you fly a sun country, you've heard a sun country, right? - No. - Well, if you fly a sun country, they fly in Los Angeles, if you go to the ticket agent, and buy your ticket for your future flights, you say they knock off like 40 bucks off of your flight. - Nice. - I heard that last week, 'cause I've. - That listeners talk to me. - Yeah, I'm remembering financial tips from the financial podcast now. - Oh my gosh, that's a dumb podcast. Okay, but a few more things for me, close. We were talking about calling in and insurance, health insurance is the worst, by the way. I had to get help, I had to buy my, I had to buy health insurance for the first time two days ago. And it's like, it's like they incentivize you to be poor, and if you're not poor, you get basically hit with a ball bat. It's not fun. - They're like, you make just above the poverty line, that'll be three thousand. - Yeah, you're like, okay, if you just made a few thousand less, it would be really cheap. - See dollars and bucks? - So then you like wanna go into your employer and be like, hey, can you knock me down a little bit? What, you're asking, I'm asking for a decrease in pay, not increase. - Oh, sorry, I could chat. You know, Brad, I'm, this is a fun thought to like, wrap up with, actually, I'm thinking about starting a podcast of my own. - Oh, really? - So do that, you'll have to maybe give me some tips, some pointers, since you're a seasoned podcaster now. - What kind of, I like how we're just dealing on a lineup. People are like, okay, what kind of podcasts are you wanting to start? - You know, I just really, I mean, again, I just love talking to people and I have a lot of opinions and thought. - You, a lot of opinions, I don't know that. - And I often don't, you know, I don't necessarily share them on social, just 'cause I feel like oftentimes now, especially things are so hot that I just will kind of go, I'm gonna like share this meme from another account, and I'm not necessarily gonna like go through things as much as I'd like to. So, you know, I would get into a little bit of everything, entertainment, politics, finances, you know, things that I just feel, you know, if that I would, that I would want to hear about, you know? So like, if I was talking about, you know, obviously entertainment, you know, I would get after friends on to plug their things or, you know, what have you, you know, but just interesting things that I feel like, I listen to a lot of podcasts. I'm like, I just want to hear people that I like hearing them talk and that I like their take on things and then I feel like they have interesting guests on. - So, okay, okay, so have one. You're pretty much making my job this podcast moot because here's the thing, like now I've got a comedian that's coming on that wants to interview comedians. I have a chef that's coming on that wants to talk to chefs. Heidi talks to reality, I'm not needing anymore. We'll just bring you on and you bring in the actors and the financial people and then I can just produce these podcasts and which is what I like doing anyway and drop them on the network and we're good. There we go, boom. - I love it. - I would love to help you, I love what fills my cup is seeing other people be successful and I can go. - Same one. - I played at least one percent in having success in what she's done on podcasting. That fills my cup. So like for me, it's all fun and, you know, it's just getting to know people and talking and you obviously have way more connections than I do. So, you know. - Well, you know, whatever. I mean, now you're getting a lot more connections, right? - Well, yeah, I am. Now I can send people that I love who, you know, need to promote their things and 'cause that's the thing too. I mean-- - Because you get something that you have, well, if you're gonna be all here doing active, you don't need something to me anymore. I could just say, "Hey." - You have to have different listeners and such, you know? So, I was just talking with a musician friend who is a very successful musician but, you know, he was talking about, it's not the way it used to be where it's like everybody had these big PR machines and there were a million, you know, artists signed to different labels and they had all this, you know, financial power behind them. He's like, "I do everything myself. "I'm hiring PR myself. "You know, if I'm doing an event or a concert, "like I'm putting out all the money up front. "You know, I'm doing all the invite lists." Like, you know, and I'm like, "No, I know, I get that." Like, for the most part, you know, that's often what I'm doing as well. I mean, sometimes I, of course, have help and ask people advice and that sort of thing but like, you know, that is kind of the plight of life. After most actors, most musicians, you know, most artists, it's like we're having to not only like create and keep making, you know, keep trying to get jobs and that sort of thing and create content and crank out everything but also do all the promotion and like all of that as well. So, you know, I would love to provide another place where, you know, just to make people aware of like, hey, this person's show is awesome or like you should be, you should have this person on your radar, definitely politics, you know, definitely just, you know, I mean, I've never, financial stuff can be boring but I feel like I wanna help people, you know, have the knowledge to be able to, you know, make their money count and like be successful financially and not have money panic. And so I know, I think we have a lot of things to talk about. We would, do you know that most, we, personally, my wife and I, we had so much debt. Like we were, we were credit card poor. I've never talked about it. Most people do. I've never talked about this on the pot. So you're making, I'm sharing some, I've never shared. And we were like $36,000 in debt, which is a lot. That's my account mortgage. And we decided to go debt free. We listened to Dave Ramsey, some people like, some people don't but I appreciate getting that done. And we paid off all our debt within a year. And we don't really, we don't operate in debt, which I really like. But, you know, that's the way we are financially. So if we can't afford to buy it, we don't buy it. And that's why when it comes to podcasting, I try to do it on the cheap. But, you know, but there's financial stuff like I don't know about investing very well. So I think you could bring that, get investors to talk about what's it like to invest your money 'cause I'm terrible at investing. - Yeah, well taught, you know? So we kind of have to learn it. And everybody has like, everybody has like trauma around that. So I would just, I just think it would be cool to sort of like be part of the change where it's like, we don't, you know, I mean, when I was a kid, it was like, oh, don't ever ask anybody, you know, how much money they make or how much this or that. And I'm like, you know, there's nothing that's gained from that. You know, like it's, I don't know. And also I don't think the amount of money somebody makes, makes you more or less worthy or better or worse of a person or anything like that. It's not, we don't live in a meritocracy. You know, we don't live that way. So, and I mean, as artists, you know, you can make great money on one project and make terrible money on the next project. But it's just, that's the nature of like the world. This is a gig economy now, you know. So yeah, so I just, I just think that that's all like worthy of talking about. - But also I like to say this too, no matter how much you're making, sometimes the juice ain't worth the squeeze, right? You can be pulling in a million dollars in an acting gig and you're like, this sucks. I don't like what I'm even representing this point. You know, so I do, I do, I do agree with that. I think that's great, Evelyn, you know, we need to talk off air. Yeah, we can, we can figure something out. Evelyn, thank you. - I'll get it done. - Thank you so much. Let's connect, okay? - Thanks, Brad. Thanks everyone listening. I hope you all enjoy Santa Claus. Real quick, tell us where we can find you. - You can find me, my website is my name, javelinstilwell.com. And Graham is just my first name, javelin. TikTok, which is pure camp, pure silly, my TikTok, is javelin, javelin, so it's double the fun. javelin, javelin, javelin. And that's pretty much, those are the main places. But also my, if you go to my website, it has like links to all of those places. And you can hear my albums on there and everything. - Okay, cool. We will follow you from work advice. We will continue and let's mean you chat off one. Have a good one. Thanks, javelin. Bye now. (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) - I hate to interrupt what you're doing now, but something very important I need to let you know about. When you purchase serious coffee beans, we want you to try to enjoy each brew for two reasons. Number one, because you're a part of something bigger, making a positive impact around the world. And number two, because we did not compromise on the quality of coffee, you're drinking some of the best coffee in the world. 100% of profits are donated to nonprofits that are fighting injustice facing humans around the world, while it's powerful. Generous is best known for especially coffee, but the heartbeat of generous is their hope to use for profit business for good. In 2024, generous is hoping to provide coffee to churches around the U.S. to spread a message within congregations that churches care about people even down to the coffee. They are serving and the people they enjoy. I apologize for that extremely long run on sentence. If you have interest in hearing more about generous coffee, please reach out to their founder, Ben Higgins, at binhiggins@generousmovement.com. Thank you, and back to our scheduled podcast. Okay, I know I just interrupted a great conversation, but my name is Brad, and you may be listening to me or any of the other talent we have on this network at HopeCast. We want to thank you for listening, but also, we want you to like and subscribe to the show you're listening to. So, when you're done listening, go on the iTunes, or the Spotify, and leave a great review if you like it, and follow the show on Instagram, and any other platforms that it's on. I think we're on TikTok, so follow us on TikTok. 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