Judy Reyes is best known for playing Carla on the TV series “Scrubs,” but her nearly three-decades-long career is packed with roles on long-running shows like “Devious Maids,” and in movies like “Birth/Rebirth,” for which she was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Actress. Her latest is Hannah Marx’s highly anticipated screen version of John Green’s celebrated novel “Turtles All The Way Down” (coming to MAX on May 2nd). On this episode, she takes us back to the beginning—her “dra...
Apr 30, 2024•34 min•Ep. 289
As a working actor, Ryan Czerwonko’s credits include “The Endgame,” “Chicago Med,” “Chicago Fire,” “Cherry,” “Paint,” and “Watchmen,” to name a few. He’s also the artistic director of Adult Film , an exciting Brooklyn theater and film group where he acts, directs, and teaches. His latest project is a year-long exploration of Chekhov’s “Sea Gull” that will culminate in a limited engagement in Manhattan in May and a documentary on the whole process. On this episode, he explains why Chekhov is so i...
Apr 23, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 288
Dylan Baker is the definition of a consummate actor. For over three decades he has delivered so many incredible performances in series like “The Good Wife,” “Damages,” “Hunters,” films like “Happiness,” “Selma,” “Spider-Man 2”, and his latest, “LaRoy, Texas”, where he plays a professional killer. He talks about his approach toward playing despicable people, some who other actor’s wouldn’t touch. He takes us back to his beginnings, and the acting instruction that changed his work and which he sti...
Apr 16, 2024•50 min•Ep. 287
His work in series like “Grey’s Anatomy,” “13 Reasons Why,” and “This Is Us,” has established Brandon Scott as a captivatingly talented actor. His latest is the new MAX series “The Girls on the Bus,” where he plays the jilted ex-lover of Melissa Benoist’s journalist character, who now needs his help because he's the new press secretary to the leading Presidential candidate. He talks about the process of building connection between two people that are supposed to have a past, and how sometimes th...
Apr 09, 2024•53 min•Ep. 286
Colin Burgess and Anthony Oberbeck star in “Dad & Step-Dad,” a indie comedy film they co-wrote with director Tynan DeLong. It follows Jim and Dave, a dad and a step-dad, as they struggle with bonding during a weekend upstate with Branson, the 13 year-old son they share. It’s about family, communication, insecurity, and the fragility of the male ego. On this episode, Burgess and Oberbeck describe the development of their comedy tastes and take us back to the improvised shorts that preceded th...
Apr 02, 2024•43 min•Ep. 285
You know the gifted actor George MacKay from films like “1917” or “True History of The Kelly Gang.” Now he has given us two absolutely incredible performances in “Femme” (in select theaters now) and “The Beast” (out on April 5th). On this episode, he takes us into his process of inhabiting these two extremely different characters. He explains why context is becoming more and more important to him in his preparation, talks about the actor as storyteller, the secret to appearing truly menacing, th...
Mar 26, 2024•50 min•Ep. 284
Lukas Gage is on a roll. In shows like “The White Lotus,” “Euphoria,” “You,” and the latest season of “Fargo,” films like “How to Blow Up a Pipeline,” “Down Low” (which he also co-wrote), and now the eagerly anticipated “Road House” reboot, he’s been able to display his immense talent and range. He’s even played himself in “Gossip Girl” and “The Other Two.” On this episode, he explains how sometimes doing the opposite of what’s described is beneficial in an audition, why over-directing doesn’t w...
Mar 19, 2024•40 min•Ep. 283
The Brooklyn-based actor Anastasia Olowin stars in Shaun Seneviratne’s “Ben and Suzanne, A Reunion in 4 Parts,” which just had its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival. She has such a command of the screen and brings so much life to her character, it’s hard to believe this is her first feature film. On this episode, she takes us back to her training at NYU’s Experimental Theater Wing, her 8 years producing and acting in new work for the stage, and the 10 year journey to bring “Ben and Suzann...
Mar 12, 2024•45 min•Ep. 282
As an actor, Hugo De Sousa had breakout leading roles in “We Used to Know Each Other,” “Mister Limbo,” and “Everything in The End.” I was introduced to his work as an actor/filmmaker, with the celebrated shorts he made in collaboration with Frank Mosley—“The Event” and “Good Condition.” On this episode he talks extensively about the making of those films, and his latest, which might be of particular, cathartic interest to listeners of this podcast, the absurdist short “Je Ne Suis Pas Une Star De...
Mar 05, 2024•44 min•Ep. 281
“Heartbreak Ridge” put him on the map as an actor, “New Jack City” as a director, and with “Posse,” the 1993 hit Western he directed and stars in, Mario Van Peebles secured his place as a celebrated actor/director with countless credits, over the next 30 years, on the big and small screen. His latest is another star-filled, super fun western called “Outlaw Posse.” On this episode, he talks about the importance of discovering the tone of the project, how his love of learning leads to his desire t...
Feb 27, 2024•40 min•Ep. 280
John Magaro has been delivering consistently stellar performances in films like “Not Fade Away,” “The Big Short,” “Carol,” “First Cow,” and “Showing Up,” to name a few. This past year he played Arthur, husband of Greta Lee’s character Nora, in “Past Lives.” On this episode he talks, spoiler-free, about the last scene of that film, and why it makes people emotional. He explains how receiving books, music, photos from directors helps in his preparation. He makes the case for experience over academ...
Feb 20, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 279
Leah McKendrick wrote, directed, and stars in the hilarious, super smart, and intensely personal new film “Scrambled.” It’s about a perpetual bridesmaid who, realizing she isn’t quite willing or able to settle down, decides to freeze her eggs. McKendrick doesn’t shy away from depicting her character’s sex life, the frustrations involving family and friends, and the true loneliness that enveloped her when she decided to do the same procedure in real life. It’s that rare film that will have you be...
Feb 13, 2024•38 min•Ep. 278
Mia McKenna-Bruce is an English actress. Her performance in the film “How To Have Sex” is, rightfully, being spoken about with many superlatives. Subtle, controlled, thoroughly alive, deeply impacting, it is a star-making turn. There’s a scene where her character, Tara, is simply walking down the street, and it’s something of a revelation. It won her the BIFA for Best Lead Performance. On this episode, she breaks down the ingredients that helped her deliver this work—an extensive audition proces...
Feb 06, 2024•28 min•Ep. 277
Sallieu Sesay is a Sierra Leonean-American actor who has had recurring roles on CBS’ “Seal Team” and HBO’s “Barry,” and, in his latest, delivers an incredible supporting performance in John Trengove's nihilistic thriller “Manodrome,” alongside Jesse Eisenberg. On this episode he talks about doing tons of research before taking on that part, having so little in common with the character, and facing the pressure of being at the center of a movie’s most pivotal scene. He gives us a glimpse at his d...
Jan 30, 2024•34 min•Ep. 276
Jack Huston has worked with Scorsese, Ridley Scott, David O’ Russell, The Coens, had meaty roles on series like “Mayfair Witches,” “Fargo,” and, maybe most notably, “Boardwalk Empire,” where he played Richard Harrow. His latest project is Lulu Wang’s Amazon series “Expats.” On this episode he talks about gaining 30 pounds for that part (which wasn’t as much fun as it sounds), why it all starts with the voice for him, writing and directing his passion project “The Day of The Fight” for Michael Pi...
Jan 23, 2024•46 min•Ep. 275
You know Spenser Granese from memorable roles on “Better Call Saul,” “Fear of the Walking Dead,” “Pam & Tommy,” and, perhaps most memorably, the character of Bevel in the final season of “Barry.” On this episode, he talks about landing that role after trying hard to get on the show for 3 seasons, and the incredible working environment he found on set. He opens up about his unique approach to the craft having no formal training, why he keeps the lines barely memorized, avoids expectations, op...
Dec 26, 2023•42 min•Ep. 274
Discovering Michelle Monaghan in “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” was like finding evidence that the old school Hollywood comedy actress gene, long thought extinct, was alive and well. She did more than hold her own opposite Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer, she stole the movie. I’ve been rooting for her ever since. A few “Mission Impossibles,” “Gone Baby Gone,” “True Detective” followed, as well as some significant work in small indies like “Trucker,” “Fort Bliss,” and “Nanny.” She returns to comedy with ...
Dec 19, 2023•40 min•Ep. 273
Melora Hardin is best known for playing Jan on the American version of “The Office.” She was nominated for an Emmy for her work on the series “Transparent.” Recently she stepped back into the role of Trudy Monk for “Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie,” which is streaming now on Peacock. On this episode, she talks about bringing the character Mabel Montgomery-Mayflower to life in the new independent film “Golden Vanity,” and how the perfect combination of director’s vision and true collaboration ...
Dec 12, 2023•53 min•Ep. 272
You might know Robbie Tann from “Preacher,” “The Deuce,” or when he played Billy on “Mare of Easttown,” or Whitty in the “Mazey Day” episode of the latest season of “Black Mirror.” Currently he plays Shipley in this year’s most exciting and original sci-fi film, “The Creator.” On this episode, he tells how the run-and-gun style of shooting on that production, combined with the cast and crew’s infectious passion for the project, helped with all aspects of his work. He explains why he now bypasses...
Dec 05, 2023•34 min•Ep. 271
You know Olli Haaskivi from his work in series such as “Winning Time”, “Manifest”, and “The Sinner,” and films like “Motherless Brooklyn”, “Nancy” and of course, this Summer’s blockbuster “Oppenheimer,” where he played scientist Edward Condon. On this episode he shares his experience of working with Christopher Nolan on that film (which he says seemed less sprawling than some student films he’s worked on!), why he felt the freedom to bring his ideas and “all of himself” (spoiler: Nolan is not af...
Nov 28, 2023•59 min•Ep. 270
Brit Marling is an inspiration. The talented multi-hypenate became an indie darling in 2011 with “Another Earth” and “Sound of My Voice”—collaborations with Mike Cahill and Zal Batmanglij respectively. She avoided various vapid roles and unfulfilling career paths and instead went on to star in (and co-create with Batmanglii) the hit Netflix series “The OA,” which was bafflingly cancelled after two seasons, despite a rabid and large fan base. The two are back with another series, “A Murder At The...
Nov 21, 2023•47 min•Ep. 269
The SAG strike is over and Back To One returns in the most fitting way—with The Sixth Annual Kevin Corrigan Episode. The living patron saint of the indie actor fills us in on what’s been going on in his world over the past year, talks about playing off of Tim Blake Nelson in his latest film “Bang Bang,” takes us way back to his first time on a film set as an extra in 1987, describes a recent rewarding experience of performing his own ultra personal material, and ponders his strange case of invol...
Nov 14, 2023•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 268
“Dogleg” is one of the best films of the year. A unique and hilarious feat of cinematic inventiveness, it follows amateur director Alan, played by Al Warren, after he loses his fiancé's dog at a gender reveal party on the day of an important shoot. Warren also wrote and directed the film, which took more than half a decade to finish. On this episode, he tells us why he was in no hurry to complete the film, and why he has taken a much more intentional and meaningful approach toward bringing it to...
Oct 03, 2023•49 min•Ep. 267
Aidan Gillen returns to the podcast (first time: Episode 40 ). You know him from some of the most beloved shows of the century: “Game of Thrones,” “The Wire,” “Peaky Blinders,” to name a few. Now he stars in the Irish Neo-noir film “Barber,” where he plays a private investigator hired by a wealthy widow to find her missing granddaughter. He talks about why he doesn’t look at the lines until the day before shooting, how his latest venture on the stage affected his work, why he still doesn’t like ...
Sep 19, 2023•42 min•Ep. 266
Onur Tukel is a boldly independent writer-director-actor who, for more than a decade, has been making cutting edge comedies in New York City that sometimes land in the horror category, sometimes social satire, are often absurd, mostly hilarious, and always thoughtful—“Catfight,” “Applesauce,” “Summer of Blood,” “The Misogynists,” “Scenes From An Empty Church,” to name just a few. His latest, “Poundcake,” about a serial killer who only targets straight white men, is maybe his boldest yet, which s...
Aug 29, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 265
The great actor of the stage and screen, Ron Cephas Jones died on August 19, 2023, at the age of 66. On this episode from 2020, he details the value of a true collaborative relationship with the director, why the script never leaves his side in preproduction, talks about what it was like to slowly build “William” on “This Is Us” through many seasons of that show, and takes us back to his early days at LAByrinth theater in New York City to explain how Philip Seymour Hoffman forever changed his ap...
Aug 21, 2023•52 min•Ep. 264
Please Note: These interviews were recorded prior to the SAG/AFTRA strike, in June 2023, as part of the Tribeca Festival. On this special episode of Back To One, actors Sophia Lillis, Hannah Gross, and Michael Cera talk about their work in writer/director Dustin Guy Defa’s wonderful new film "The Adults." We get a glimpse into each of their general preparation processes before doing a deep dive into their work on this actor-centric production. They each talk about how they built the reality of t...
Aug 15, 2023•54 min•Ep. 263
On this very special episode, I visit the picket line at each of the four SAG/AFTRA strike sites in New York City, in one continuous, unbroken audio “take.” Actors Michael Gaston, Clarissa Thibeaux, and others talk to me about what’s at stake, and en route to each location I share my own thoughts on the issues at hand, make some predictions, voice concerns, and offer up my total and complete solidarity to the cause, all supported by the loud and never-ending symphony of the New York City streets...
Aug 08, 2023•52 min•Ep. 262
(This episode was recorded prior to the SAG/AFTRA strike) Dierdre Friel always finds a way to ground her characters in such a deep reality that you feel like they aren’t written at all, just simply among the living. Two examples of this can be found in “Ella” on the NBC show “New Amsterdam,” and “Greta” on “Physical,” the Apple TV+ hit that enters its third season on August 2nd. On this episode, she details the helpful exercise of laying out the similarities she shares with the character, and us...
Aug 01, 2023•38 min•Ep. 261
Chris Messina is that rare character actor leading man who is the go-to supporting actor in seemingly everything. From “The Mindy Project” and “Newsroom,” to “She Dies Tomorrow” and “I Care A Lot,” he handles ultra-serious roles (like in “Blame,” which I loved) or uproarious ones (such as this year’s hit “Air”) with what seems like effortlessness, and now he’s starring in the new series “Based on a True Story” with Kaley Cuoco. In this hour, he generously takes us on an extended tour of his proc...
Jul 03, 2023•58 min•Ep. 260
