Brent Huff on The Rookie, AI’s Threat & the Actor’s Fight to Survive
In this exclusive Stream Panther episode, actor Brent Huff, best known as Smitty on ABC’s The Rookie, shares an unfiltered look at Hollywood’s uncertain future. From unexpected AI disruption (“the genie is out of the bottle”) to union struggles and the collapse of reliable commercial work, Brent gets brutally honest about what it really takes to survive as a working actor today.We dive into The Rookie’s journey (now top 10 on Netflix), how Smitty evolved from a one-day part to a fan favorite, and what makes the character so fun to play. Brent takes us behind the scenes of The Rookie, Mad Men, NCIS, Shameless, and more, sharing the lessons he learned navigating between network TV and the rise of streaming platforms. He digs deep into the real impact of the streaming model on creators and whether it truly helps filmmakers or leaves them more vulnerable.We unpack the lasting effects of the SAG-AFTRA strikes, the looming threats and promises of AI, and Brent's candid take on protecting actors' digital likeness and performance rights. Brent also shares his views on Trump’s Hollywood tariffs, film tax credit bills, and what he would do differently if he were running the industry.From union struggles to the ethical future of AI in film, this is an essential conversation for anyone passionate about storytelling, creative freedom, and the future of performance.💬 "Art can’t be automated. We can’t lose that connection to an audience."If you care about the soul of Hollywood, creative freedom, and what it means to make audiences laugh and cry in a digital-first era, this is a must-listen.Time Stamp00:00 Coming Up02:55 Brent Huff’s 202504:15 Quigley Smiitty - The Rookie06:55 Madmen, NCIS, Shameless08:05 Streaming VS Network Tv09:40 Is Streaming Model Helping Filmmakers?12:10 Lasting Changes in SAG STRIKES14:46 AI Protections, Threats & Survival17:42 If Brent Huff was the Decision Maker of the Industry20:41 Trump’s Hollywood Tariffs24:20 Film & Tv Tax Credits Bills25:43 What’s Going on in SAG ?27:50 Future of Actors 30:15 Rapid Fire36:40 Thank You Brent Huff33:57 Digital likeness and AI-generated performancestags - [Brent Huff, The Rookie, Smitty character, Hollywood AI future, SAG-AFTRA strike, actor struggles 2025, acting career advice, future of filmmaking, AI in entertainment, Netflix The Rookie, union versus non union work, acting industry tariffs, creative purpose acting, Stream Panther podcast, surviving Hollywood]
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