director

April 15 2024

Michael Lukk Litwak – Writer / Director (Molli and Max in the Future)

Steve Owens podcast aristotle athari, director, Easter Eggs, fantasy, feature, feature film, filmmaker, green screen, greenscreen, litwak, michael litwak, Michael Lukk Litwak, miniatures, Molli and Max, Molli and Max in the Future, nyu tisch, paul feig, romcom, scifi, short films, space, sxsw, Zosia Mamet

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Michael Lukk Litwak
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Michael Lukk Litwak. Michael is the writer & director of the new science fiction romantic comedy (sci-fi-rom-com); Molli and Max in the Future. This film stars Zosia Mamet and Aristotle Athari, and debuted at the SXSW film festival. In this episode, we chat about shat made Michael want to become a filmmaker, and why he chose to study at NYU Tisch. Then we get into his film making career. He started with several short films before his first feature film, Molli and Max in the Future. Michael shares some of his behind the scenes process with regard to some of the practical effects used in this fantasy space love story. Michael also lets us in on a little secret about putting the final touches on the film just days before its SXSW debut. Of course I ask him how Zosia and Aristotle came to be in the picture, and what he hopes this inventive film will do for his career going forward.
Be sure to check out Molli and Max in the Future, streaming everywhere!

January 15 2024

Raffaello Degruttola Returns! – Filmmaker (To Love A Narcissist)

Steve Owens podcast Controvento, Controvento films, director, divorce, filmmaker, Free movies, Independent film, Indie film, Lindsay Marshall, love, love story, Narcissist, Psychological thriller, Raffaello Degruttola, Scoop, Socially relevant film festival, spotify, story teller, sxsw, The Killers Game, thriller, To Love a Narcissist, transferrence, Trauma bond, youtube

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Take a walk with me down Fascination Street, as l get to know even more about Raffaello Degruttola, in this RETURN visit! Raffaello was last on the show in June of 2019. This time, we don’t do the ‘get to know you’ thing; so go back and check that out.
In this episode, we catch up on how Raff spent his Covid lockdown, and how well his previous film performed. It’s called Transference, and it did gangbusters on YouTube.
I ask him about one of his early projects called “The Other Side of My Sleep, as well as a television series he is working on.
We also discuss his new film project called ‘To Love a Narcissist’, and stars Lindsay Marshall alongside him, and others. Toward the end, we chat about the disposable nature of the current culture, and how we can learn to focus on the things that are important to us.
Of course, we touch on an upcoming film he is acting in, where he got to work with the great David Bautista called ‘The Killer’s Game’s and a Netflix movie called ‘Scoop’ that when worked on too!
Stay tuned for ‘To Love a Narcissist’ to come out midway through the year, and check out Controvento Films for other great independent projects!

July 24 2023

Dale Peterson – Writer / Director (In Through The Out Door / Hello, My Name is Frank)

Steve Owens Author Interviews, podcast creator, dale peterson, detroit, director, documentarian, documentary, documentary filmmaker, dyslexia, filmmaker, H. H. Holmes, hello my name is frank, henry howard holmes, herman mudgett, HH Holmes, homelessness, horror, In Through the Out Door, Magic TP films, music video director, serial killer, skid row, time travel, wolves, writer, yellowstone

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Dale Peterson
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Dale Peterson.
Dale is the writer / director of the upcoming television series ‘In Through the Out Door’.
In this episode, we chat about his career. Starting as a music video director in the Detroit area, Dale made a name for himself in the music scene and quickly became a ‘go to’ for music videos. We touch on Dale’s early struggles with dyslexia, and how he overcame some of those obstacles. Then we talk about a couple of documentaries that Dale made a few years ago; one was about the homeless population on Skid Row in Los Angeles, and the other was for National geographic about the return of wolves into Yellowstone national park. Of course, I ask him all about his feature film Hello, My Name Is Frank, which is a road trip comedy about a man with Tourette Syndrome. Then we move onto his newest project: In Through the Out Door, which is In Through the Out Door stars: Garrett M. Brown, Martin Copping, Christine Kilmer, and Jesse C. Boyd. Dale is very frank, open, and honest about his struggles with dyslexia. I applaud him and appreciate his generosity and candor. Thank you, Dale.

April 3 2023

Griff Furst – Producer / Screenwriter / Director / Actor (Devil’s Peak / 57 Seconds / Half Baked 2)

Steve Owens podcast 57 seconds, actor, animal house, billy bob thornton, devil's peak, director, furst, griff furst, half baked 2, harland williams, hopper penn, horror, Indie film, jackie earl haley, jeff ross, paramount, producer, robin wright, scott siggler, screenwriter, slingblade, stephen king

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Griff Furst
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Griff Furst. Griff is: an actor, a producer, a screenwriter, and a director. In this episode we get his origin story. He shares stories from acting class, and how in a ‘domino effect’ sort of way, his career got kicked off from those classes. We chat about being a producer in that role’s various incarnations, where he finds his inspirations for screenwriting, the difficulties managing a film set as it’s director, and what he loves about acting. We cover quite a lot here, but it is all in the name if FUN! We touch a little bit on what it was like growing up on different sets with parents in the business, and lastly, we discuss his newest T-H-R-E-E projects!
Available now on VOD everywhere is Devil’s Peak, starring Billy Bob Thornton, Robin Wright, and Jackie Earle Haley.
Available September (ish) is 57 Seconds, starring Morgan Freeman and Josh Hutcherson.
Keep your eyes peeled later this year is the long awaited sequel Half Baked 2, starring Jeff Ross and Harland Williams!

February 6 2023

Marilyn Ghigliotti – Actress (Clerks / Clerks 3)

Steve Owens podcast a mother's love, Brian O'Halloran, Clerks, clerks 3, director, film festival, film maker, filmmaker, galaxy con, Ghigliotti, interview, Kevin smith, marilyn ghigliotti, New jersey, producer, sctress, Shooting clerks, smodcastle film festival, streetwalker, thatclerksgirl, Thatkevinsmith, veronica from clerks

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Marilyn Ghigliotti
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Marilyn Ghigliotti. Most of you will recognize Marilyn as Veronica from Clerks and Clerks 3. In this episode, we chat about where she grew up and how her upbringing led her to become an actress. We also talk about how she came to be involved in Kevin Smith’s first film; Clerks. Marilyn shares some of her stage acting stories, and how she met Brian O’Halloran. I ask her about her experience acting in a film about a film that she starred in called Shooting Clerks, what a surreal moment that was, and where that project is now. Finally, we discuss her newest directing endeavor, a short film called A Mother’s love; some of the obstacles, and hurdles it took to get it made, and its premiere at the most appropriate film festival on the planet: Kevin Smith’s Smodcastle Film Festival in New Jersey!

November 14 2022

Jonathan Schmock – Actor / Director / Producer / Political Cartoonist

Steve Owens podcast aaron spelling, actor, brotherly love, cartoonist, comedian, director, eddie gorodetsky, ferris bueller, ferris bueller's day off, jay leno, john hughes, johnny carson, jonathan schmock, maitre d', nyu tisch, political cartoonist, sabrina the teenage witch, sam and victor's day off, schmock, shameless, stella adler, the funny boys, the new love boat, the tonight show, tisch

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Jonathan Schmock
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Jonathan Schmock. While we all know him best as the snarky maitre d’ from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off; he has brought us so much more! In this episode we chat about his comedy duo (The Funny Boys) being on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson TWICE and subsequently banned FOR LIFE from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno! We also talk about some of his other acting roles, his transition into directing, producing, and developing shows for television. Jonathan is responsible for developing Sabrina the Teenage Witch, for television, among other shows. Jonathan shares some stories of his experiences working with the legendary Stella Adler, working on Blossom, developing Brotherly Love for Joey Lawrence, working with Aaron Spelling on The New Love Boat, his arc on the US version of Showtime’s Shameless, and OF COURSE we get into what his experience was with John Hughes and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Finally, we chat about why he became a political cartoonist, and how some presidents are less fun to make cartoons about. Jonathan was a delight to speak with, and kinder than I could ever have imagined. Thank you so much Jonathan.
Follow Jonathan on social media:
Twit: @JonathanSchmock
FB: Jonathan Schmock
Website: www.JonathanSchmock.com

Special thanks to this episode’s sponsors:
*Law Offices of Phillips & Hunt
*Chapline Distillery
*DNASolves.com

September 19 2022

Nick Leisure – Director (A Clear Shot / Last The Night)

Steve Owens podcast a clear shot, brian austin green, chinatown, director, ghee kung tong, good guys, ho wap to, hostage, interview, last the night, leisure films, mario van peebles, nick leisure, raymond "shrimp boy" chow, raymond chow, sacramento, school shooting, shrimp boy, the hop sing boys, triad, van peebles

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Nick Leisure
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Nick Leisure.
Born and raised in Sacramento, Ca. Nick is a screenwriter, producer, and director. In this episode, we chat about growing up in Sacramento in his stern Asian grandparents’ home, stumbling into the hip hop recording business, and breaking into the film and television industry. Nick tells us about a project that he was / is working on about Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow (a Hong Kong born felon with ties to San Francisco Chinatown street gangs: Triad Ho Wop To, The Hop Sing Boys, and Ghee Kung Tong. He also tells us about his being on the scene of “The largest hostage rescue operation in US history”, and why he wrote and directed a movie called A CLEAR SHOT in 2019 based on this event. Then we move right into his latest film called LAST THE NIGHT starring Brian Austin Green. We discuss what the film is about, why he chose to tell this story, and what makes it timelessly relevant. Lastly, I pitch Nick a film idea based on the life story of a previous guest!
Follow Nick on social media:
Insta: @NickLeisure

August 15 2022

Stephen Tobolowsky – Actor (Groundhog Day / Mississippi Burning / The Goldbergs)

Steve Owens podcast actor, alan parker, beth henley, crimes of the heart, dallas, director, ed k martin, grandfather, groundhog day, holly hunter, kathy bates, mississippi burning, ned, ned ryerson, playwright, podcaster, stephen tobolowsky, storyteller, streetwalker, strong women, the goldbergs, tobolowsky, writer

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Stephen Tobolowsky
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Stephen Tobolowsky. Stephen in an actor who has appeared in nearly 300 film& TV shows. You know him as Ned Ryerson in the cult classic film Groundhog Day, and Clayton Townley in Mississippi Burning, and can currently be seen portraying Mr. Ball on the ABC show The Goldbergs.
In this episode, we talk about almost none of that! Instead, Stephen shares stories about some of the people who have made the biggest impact on his life and career. From strong and powerful women in his childhood, to key women in his college years and beyond, to a meaningful relationship with a world-renowned director who took him under his wing. Stephen is an amazing storyteller, and you will be riveted by not only his memory for detail, but the wild stories from his life!
Follow Stephen on social media:
Twitter: @Tobolowsky
Instagram: @StephenTobo
FB: Stephen Tobolowsky

July 4 2022

Joanna Kerns – Actress / Director / Exec Prod (Growing Pains / A Million Little Things)

Steve Owens podcast a million little things, actor, Alan Thicke, AMLT, dancer, Dean Martin, director, executive producer, Gene Kelly, Gold Digger, growing pains, James Roday, jason ritter, Joanna Kerns, Kerns, Kirk Cameron, Lucy Awards, Night Court, Pamela Fryman, Psych, Santa Barbara, Three's Company, vancouver, Women's rights

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Joanna Kerns
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Joanna Kerns. Beginning her showbiz career as a dancer, Joanna worked with legends such as Gene Kelly and Dean Martin! We talk about those icons, and then discuss how she landed the historic role of Maggie Seaver on the hit TV show growing Pains. She shares stories about working with Alan Thicke, Kirk Cameron and Tracy Gold. Then we move into her directing career, where she has directed a ton of TV shows spanning sit-com’s, to drama’s, to dramedies. Finally, we talk about A Million Little Things. Joanna is co-executive producer, and director of this smash hit on ABC. We chat about what exactly her role as co-EP entails, and a little bit about working with James Roday and Jason Ritter before briefly sharing the news that she will be directing one of the episodes of the resurrected TV show Night Court! In the end we make each other a promise, and I don’t know if l can fulfill mine!
Follow Joanne on social media:
Twit: @JoannaKerns
Insta: @The.Real.joannaKerns
FB: @JoannaKerns

June 27 2022

Chrystee Pharris – Actress (Passions, Scrubs, Monogamy)

Steve Owens podcast #BlackPeopleShit, #BusinessOfActing, #MediaOnTvOne, actor, actress, AllBlk, Black People Shit, Business Of Acting, Chrystee, Chrystee Pharris, director, In Search Of O, interview, Media On TV One, Monogamy, Passions, producer, Scrubs, soap opera, Soap star, speaker, streetwalker, sydney poitier, Ted Lange

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Chrystee Pharris
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know actress Chrystee Pharris. In this episode we chat about when she decided that she wanted to be an actress, (it was younger than anyone I have ever had on the show!). We also talk about her time on the daytime soap opera Passions, she tells a great story about auditioning for Scrubs, and her show Monogamy, which recently finished it’s third season. I ask Chrystee about her one woman show, and the TWO talk shows that she is working on! Of course I had to ask her about her friend and mentor Ted Lange!
Follow Chrystee on social media:
Twit: @ChrysteePharris
Insta: @ChrysteePharris
FB: Chrystee Pharris