Story and Craft with Marc Preston

On this episode of Story and Craft, we sit down with actor Ken Leung. Known for his roles in “Rush Hour”, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, “The Sopranos”, and notably “Lost”, Ken shares his experiences across stage, TV, and film, as well as his role in the new season of HBO’s “Industry”. We dive deep into Ken's diverse career, discussing his induction into the acting world, his memorable roles, and the nuances of playing distinct characters in different genres. They also chat about the impact of “Lost”, working on “Industry”, and Ken's upcoming film, “Project Hail Mary” with Ryan Gosling and Milana Vayntrub. Tune in for an insightful conversation that will inspire!

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:32 Guest Introduction: Ken Leung
01:15 Substack and Listener Engagement
02:45 Interview Begins: Ken's Background
06:16 Growing Up in New York
09:43 Acting Journey and Family Dynamics
12:37 Learning Through Acting
20:39 Working with Sidney Lumet
23:10 Landing the Role in Lost
26:26 Experiencing Hawaii and Settling In
27:28 The Evolution of Lost
27:46 The Impact of Streaming on TV Shows
31:17 Transition to Industry
35:52 Project Hail Mary and Future Projects
38:12 The Seven Questions

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with actor,Thomas Jane from the Amazon Prime Video film “Play DIrty”, as well as projects such as The Expanse and Boogie Nights.  We cover Jane's impressive body of work, as well as his journey from modest beginnings in Maryland to becoming a notable actor in Hollywood. We discuss Thomas’ passion for storytelling, the joys and challenges of being an actor, and the importance of authentic human experiences in film. Thomas also reveals his graphic novel projects and his deep dive into writing a book about visiting aliens. Tune in for an enlightening conversation that covers everything from chocolate to extraterrestrials!
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
03:26 Thomas Jane's Early Life and Career Beginnings
13:54 Playing Mickey Mantle
08:48 The Expanse and Sci-Fi Genre
18:34 High School and Early Acting
27:47 Reflections on Education and Society
36:32 Independent Films and Future Projects
43:17 Sci-Fi and Authentic Stories
44:26 Advice to Aspiring Actors
46:00 Family and Personal Life
48:38 Memories of Paul Reubens
53:31 Working with Talented Directors
55:38 The Seven Questions
Listen and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Also, check out the show and sign up for the newsletter at www.storyandcraftpod.com
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#podcast #PodcastInterview #Storytelling #ActorInterview #HollywoodInterview #FilmNerd #ThomasJane #PlayDirty #TheExpanse #Troppo #PrimeVideo #MarkWahlberg #Actor #Acting #StoryAndCraft #GraphicNovels #SyFy #Aliens #IndieFilm

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with producer,Danny O’Malley. Danny is a Grammy and James Beard award nominee. He just picked up an Emmy nomination for theNetflix series “Chef's Table”. Danny takes us on a culinary journey through his experiences. They also talk about everything from the impact of Anthony Bourdain, Chicago-style pizza preferences, memorable dining experiences, to the global influence of food and its power to bridge cultures. Danny also shares insights into his Greek heritage, his obsession with Chinese cuisine, and the making of compelling food stories. Tune in for an exciting conversation filled with delicious tidbits and behind-the-scenes stories that food lovers won't want to miss!
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
01:34 Chicago Roots and Pizza Preferences
04:10 Journey into Food Television
07:19 Food and Cultural Connections
08:58 Anthony Bourdain’s Impact
17:03 Memorable Culinary Experiences
20:34 A Culinary Journey Through History
25:18 Exploring Food Cultures and Personal Favorites
27:47 The Uncharted Territory of African Cuisine
29:19 The Evolution of Food Programming
33:03 The Seven Questions
Listen and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Also, check out the show and sign up for the newsletter at www.storyandcraftpod.com
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#podcast #DannyOMalley #ChefsTable #Netflix #Alinea #GrantAchatz #AnthonyBourdain #JamesBeard #Proudcer #Producing #storyandcraft #Cooking #Restaurants #Chefs #FoodNetwork #FoodTV

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with author, writer, producer and director,Larry Charles , who has a new memoir out called “Comedy Samurai: Forty Years of Blood, Guts, and Laughter”. He’s known for a constellation of projects, such as Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, Mad About You, Borat, The Dictator and The Comedians.  We dive into Larry's journey from Brooklyn to Hollywood, discussing his work on iconic shows, as well as collaborations with the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David, Sacha Baron Cohen, Bob Dylan and Bill Maher. We cover Larry's inspirations, his experiences in the industry, and his new memoir. This is a great bit of insight into the crafts of comedy and storytelling from one of the best in the business.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
02:43 Larry Charles' Personal Story
02:58 Impact of Losing a Home
07:34 Comedy in Tragedy
08:37 The Influence of George Carlin
13:32 Creating Content in the Digital Age
18:50 Larry Charles' Early Life and Family
29:08 Jewish Influence in Comedy
34:15 Comedy Inspirations and Influences
40:17 Exploring Comedy Preferences
42:24 The Pressure of Producing Sitcoms
43:42 The Evolution of Comedy
44:37 Behind the Scenes of Entourage
49:32 Directing Borat
52:05 The Joys and Challenges of Directing
55:58 The Seven Questions
58:50 Dream Dinner Guests
01:01:07 Religulous and Satirizing Religion
01:05:08 Celebrity Crushes and Desert Island Picks
01:12:10 Advice to My Younger Self
Listen and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Also, check out the show and sign up for the newsletter at www.storyandcraftpod.com
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#podcast #LarryCharles #Seinfeld #CurbYourEnthusiam #Borat #Comedy #JerrySeinfeld #SachaBaronCohen #LarryDavid #BillyCrystal #PaulReiser #BillMaher #BobDylan #MelBrooks #Author #Writer #Producer #Director #ComedySamurai #storyandcraft #HBO #Author #Bruno #TheDictator #Jewish #Religulous

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with actor,Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine from theApple TV Series “Smoke”, as well as upcoming projects such as “Dexter: Resurrection” and “Washington Black.”  We discuss Ntare's extensive career, including his roles in popular TV shows like “The Chi” and “Treme.” Ntare also opens up about his Ugandan heritage, and his own journey into acting. We also chat about his and his long-term documentary project “Memories of Love Returned.” It’s a great chat about a unique journey!
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
02:20 Ntare's Background and Family
03:27 Journey into Acting
10:12 Life in New York and Los Angeles
12:52 Cultural Connections and Cuisine
16:07 Colonial History and Family Lineage
18:49 Acting Career Highlights
21:04 Landing the Role in “Smoke”
24:49 Unexpected Career Paths
27:25 Family and Acting
29:26 Cultural Connections and Cooking
31:24 Upcoming Projects
37:05 The Seven Questions
Listen and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Also, check out the show and sign up for the newsletter at www.storyandcraftpod.com
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#podcast #NtareGumaMbahoMwine #Smoke #Dexter #WashingtonBlack #AppleTV # TaronEgerton # JurneeSmollett #GregKinnear # JohnLeguizamo #Actor #Acting #storyandcraft #Uganda #Photography