Act One Podcast

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Director/Producer Arthur Anderson May 03, 2022

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Act One Podcast - Episode 30 - Interview with Director/Producer, Arthur Anderson.
Arthur Anderson began his film career while attending the University of South Carolina. Because of his background in live radio comedy sketches, local advertising agencies hired him to develop comedic radio and television commercials to promote their clients’ products. In his junior year at USC, Arthur opened a successful commercial production company, Riaan Productions, to meet the increasing demand for commercials from the agencies. For two years he served as Producer/Writer/Director of radio and television commercials. After graduating, Arthur sold his interest in the company and began working on feature films in New York. He became a member of the Directors Guild of America, moved to Los Angeles, and worked on numerous television shows and feature films as an Assistant Director.
THE NEW LASSIE tv series was his first venue as a television Writer/Director. In 1996 he joined John Woo as his 1st Assistant Director on FACE/OFF. On MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 2, Action Writing was added to his duties. Since then, Arthur has been John Woo’s Co-Producer and Action Writer on WINDTALKERS, THE HOSTAGE and PAYCHECK. In addition, Arthur has also served as a 2nd Unit Director on several of the above films as well as on Woo’s Fox TV Pilot, LOST IN SPACE.
Arthur Co-produced MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 3 for Paramount Pictures, as well as directed the East Coast 2nd Unit of the film. He also Directed the 2nd Unit on the "Starship Kelvin" in the 2009 feature film, STAR TREK.
More recently, Arthur directed a TV comedy pilot presentation, STUDIO CITY, and has directed numerous episodes of the hit TV series PRETTY LITTLE LIARS. He is currently in pre-production with John Woo on his next film.
Arthur's prayer ministry website is https://www.myprayerwarrior.com.
The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective.

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Screenwriter Quinton Peeples Apr 09, 2022

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Act One Podcast - Episode 29 - Interview with Screenwriter, Quinton Peeples.
Quinton Peeples was born in San Angelo, Texas, raised in nearby Abilene and remained there until 1984. His vision of pursuing a career as a painter was quickly falling apart and he found himself answering a different call – the entertainment business. He arrived in Los Angeles immediately following the summer Olympics and set his sight on film school, resulting in his graduating with an MFA from the American Film Institute. The two projects written there for his graduate thesis became “AN AMBUSH OF GHOSTS”, a Sundance Award winner in 1993, and “A HEART FULL OF RAIN”, a television movie for CBS.
Moving easily between the world of indie film and television, Quinton wrote multiple features for all the major networks and studios including Fox, NBC, ABC, Disney, Lionsgate and many others. He found his way to directing in 1995 when he shot his original screenplay “JOYRIDE” starring Tobey Maguire and Benicio DelToro. He continued to direct indie features, commercials, and web series, in addition to his writing work.
And then the WGA strike happened in 2008. While on the picket line Quinton realized everyone else had friends there and he didn’t. That’s when he discovered that television writers work as a team and the lure of that idea was irresistible. He wrote his first television spec pilot which resulted in his staffing on “FLASHFORWARD” at ABC. Transitioning to hour long drama, Quinton has worked on multiple shows as varied as “UNFORGETTABLE”, “THE LAST SHIP”, “11/22/63”, and Marvel’s “RUNAWAYS”. Most recently he ran the limited series “ECHOES” for Netflix.
Quinton is also a published author, with essays appearing in “CUT TO THE CHASE: WRITING FEATURE FILMS WITH THE PROS”, “ETERNAL LIVING: REFLECTIONS ON FAITH AND FORMATION”, and the graphic novel, “THE BIG COUNTRY”. His screenplay with Billy Crystal, “HAVE A NICE DAY” was performed live on stage at the Minetta Theater in New York City and is available on Audible as part of their Audible Originals program.
The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective.

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Producer Karen Covell and Composer James Covell Feb 08, 2022

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Act One Podcast - Episode 28 - Interview with Producer Karen Covell and Composer James Covell.
James Covell is an award winning composer who writes music for Film, Television, Theatre and the Concert Hall. Karen Covell is an independent producer of film and television, as well as the founding Director of the Hollywood Prayer Network. The Covells have co-authored three books: How To Talk About Jesus Without Freaking Out, The Day I Met God, and The J Bomb.
The Hollywood Prayer Network (HPN) seeks to identify, connect and empower Christians who are working in Hollywood and throughout the entertainment industry, uniting and encouraging them with prayer and community and equipping them to live lives that demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ. HPN encourages and mobilizes Christians around the world to pray for the people who work in Hollywood and seeks to have every Christian who is working in the entertainment industry prayed for by individual Christians outside of the industry. HPN also coordinates prayer for the whole of the entertainment industry and the content being produced, as well as for the entire Hollywood community – that they would understand their value as children of God and seek to know Him completely.
The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective.

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Writer/Director Brian Baugh Feb 01, 2022

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Act One Podcast - Episode 27 - Interview with Screenwriter and Director, Brian Baugh.
Brian Baugh is a director, screenwriter, and producer known for creating socially relevant and inspiring human stories that cross genres. He has spent the majority of his time working in feature films, but also has extensive experience in television, commercials, documentaries, and web content. He had an eclectic upbringing from being born in New Jersey, spending his youth in South Florida, and growing up in Seattle. His creative endeavors began as a flannel clad high schooler in the Northwest directing theater, making comedic videos, and producing grunge music in basement studios.
Brian started his filmmaking journey in earnest at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts, where he wrote and directed many films. His achievements earned him the USC School of Cinema Distinguished Scholar Award, and he was a member of the Order of Troy, Mortar Board, and Phi Beta Kappa. After graduating, he decided to pursue cinematography, and spent time on several studio films interning under world class cinematographers. Then he was awarded a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship which took him to Cape Town, South Africa for a year of additional education in the liberal arts...and African township life. Shortly after returning from Africa, the budding Director of Photography shot his first feature film at the young age of twenty five. He spent the next ten years shooting over twenty films (THE ULTIMATE GIFT, JACK & THE BEANSTALK, AN AMERICAN CAROL), and shooting and directing dozens of commercials (Ford, NHL).
Brian transitioned into feature directing with a high school drama, TO SAVE A LIFE. The film was released in theaters nationwide and earned an 'A' cinema score. The independent film's strong performance in the box office surprised many in Hollywood. Since then, he has written over twenty screenplays, several of which he is attached to direct. His film, I'M NOT ASHAMED, was nominated for a Dove Award for Most Inspirational Film. He directed the award winning comedic television pilot THE COMEBACK KIDS. Next, THE WORLD WE MAKE, a young adult interracial romance he wrote, produced, and directed, got picked up by Universal and Netflix and was released in 2019. His latest feature, FINDING YOU, was released theatrically in 2021 and also received very positive audience reviews. It was distributed by Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate, and Amazon domestically, and Universal internationally. The film is a spirited, upbeat, romantic dramedy shot in Ireland starring Jedidiah Goodacre, Katherine McNamara, Tom Everett Scott, and Vanessa Redgrave. Brian's desire is to be a part of telling stories that inspire audiences, foster justice and healing, or expand imagination and wonder in the world.
The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective.

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Screenwriter Zena Dell Lowe Jan 24, 2022

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Act One Podcast - Episode 26 - Interview with Screenwriter, Zena Dell Lowe.
Zena has worked professionally in the entertainment industry for over 20 years as a writer, producer, director, actress, and story consultant. Zena also teaches advanced classes on writing at conferences all over the country, and as an adjunct professor at Covenant College in Georgia, Regent University in Virginia Beach, and at the acclaimed Act One: Writing for Hollywood program, where she recently came on board as the new Curriculum Director for the summer intensive writing program.
Zena’s independent film production company, Mission Ranch Films, is currently in development on three feature thrillers, which will all take place in the same story universe located in Montana. Through the help of a small, select creative team, including Hollywood Super Story guru, Houston Howard, Zena and her team have developed a story world mythology that is at once entertaining, poignant, and profound.
As a writer herself, Zena has written award-winning screenplays, plays, and a number of articles on writing, religion, and trauma recovery. She’s also written comic books, most recently, Strawberry Shortcake, by IDW Publishing, and is currently writing her very first novel. Zena has won numerous awards for her work, including "Best International Short Film Director" for Rag Doll at the 2015 Louisiana International Film Festival, two "Grand Prize" wins for her full-length feature script, "Trial by Fire," at both the 2016 New York Screenplay Competition, and ISA's highly acclaimed 2016 Emerging Screenwriter's competition, as well as many others.
In addition to her work as a filmmaker, Zena is also passionate about supporting other artists and storytellers on their journeys towards success. In March of 2020, Zena launched her podcast, The Storyteller’s Mission with Zena Dell Lowe, which is designed to serve the whole artist, not just address “how-to” questions. This in turn lead to the launch of The Storyteller’s Mission online platform, where she offers advanced classes on writing as well as a variety of other services to storytellers. Zena’s passion is to equip and support all artists so that they will have everything they need to truly change the world for the better through story.
The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective.

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Director D.J. Caruso and Producer Simon Swart Jan 14, 2022

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Act One Podcast - Episode 25 - Interview with Director D.J. Caruso and Producer Simon Swart of the new film, REDEEMING LOVE.
Based on the bestselling novel by Francine Rivers, REDEEMING LOVE is a powerful story of relentless love and perseverance as a young couple’s relationship clashes with the harsh realities of the California Gold Rush of 1850. It is a life- changing story of the power of unconditional and all-consuming love. Coming to theaters January 21, 2022, REDEEMING LOVE shows there is no brokenness that love can’t heal.
D.J. Caruso came up through the directing ranks in television by helming shows such as THE SHIELD, HIGH INCIDENT and DARK ANGEL. He then went on to helm major box office hits including XXX: THE RETURN OF XANDER CAGE (2017), I AM NUMBER FOUR (2011), EAGLE EYE (2008), DISTURBIA (2007), and TAKING LIVES (2004).
Simon Swart is a producer known for REDEEMING LOVE (2022), I AM ALL GIRLS (2021) and I CAN ONLY IMAGINE (2018). His production company, Nthibah Pictures is a global media company driving the development of superior content for all audiences. With offices in both Johannesburg and Los Angeles, they are committed to producing movies with broad audience appeal that also speak to the serious social issues of today. Prior to launching his production company, Simon was an executive at Fox with over twenty years of experience in distribution, marketing and production.
The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective.

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Director Andrew Erwin Dec 17, 2021

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Act One Podcast - Episode 24 - Interview with Director, Andrew Erwin.
Andrew and his brother Jon are the filmmaking team known by most as the Erwin Brothers. The Alabama born brothers grew up around college football and entertainment. Their father, a local news anchor introduced them to the television industry at a young age. As teenagers they began their career in sports television with ESPN as camera operators. After several years working in sports they transitioned into directing music videos and documentaries. In 2011, they released their first feature film, OCTOBER BABY, followed by MOM'S NIGHT OUT in 2014, and WOODLAWN in 2015. Their breakout film, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE, was released in 2018. Its success led to the creation of their production company, Kingdom Story Company, and an overall deal with Lionsgate to distribute their films. Their newest film, AMERICAN UNDERDOG, is the true story of NFL quarterback, Kurt Warner, who went from stocking shelves at a supermarket to becoming an NFL MVP and Hall of Famer.
The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective.

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Filmmaker Kirby Atkins Nov 30, 2021

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Act One Podcast - Episode 23 - Interview with Filmmaker, Kirby Atkins.
Kirby Atkins has written feature film scripts for Robert De Niro, MIRAMAX, and 20th CENTURY FOX. He has worked with some of the most recognizable names in cinema across animation and visual effects such as Sony Animation, Weta Digital, and Steven Spielberg. His short film "Mutt" won BEST ANIMATED SHORT at the HOLLYWOOD FILM FESTIVAL and he has directed the TV show "The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius" for NICKELODEON. In 2019 Kirby wrote and directed the first New Zealand/China Film Group co-production of MOSLEY which was nominated for “Best Animated Feature Film” at the 2019 Asia Pacific Screen Awards, The Burbank International Film Festival, The Festival of Cinema, NYC, and the 2020 Ottawa International Animation Festival. MOSLEY won the Golden Dolphin Award for Best Animated Feature Film at China's 13th Xiamen International Animation Festival. The film will be released worldwide 2021. Kirby wrote the screenplay and plays the title role, starring with the all Kiwi cast of John Rhys-Davies (LOTR), Lucy Lawless (Xena, Warrior Princess), Rhys Darby (Flight of the Conchords), and Termuera Morrison (Star Wars).
The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective.

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Film Producer Howard Kazanjian Nov 18, 2021

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Act One Podcast - Episode 22 - Interview with Film Producer, Howard Kazanjian.
Over his 50 year career in Hollywood, Howard Kazanjian has made films with some of the most important filmmakers of all time such as Robert Wise, Billy Wilder, Paul Newman, Sam Peckinpah, Clint Eastwood, Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Alfred Hitchcock just to name a few. Some of the films Howard has worked on include COOL HAND LUKE, THE WILD BUNCH, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, and RETURN OF THE JEDI. Recently, a new biography was released that chronicles Howard’s illustrious film career titled, Howard Kazanjian: A Producer’s Life, written by J.W. Rinzler. The book is a fascinating look into Howard’s 50 year career as a filmmaker.
The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective.

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Actor Max McLean and Director Norman Stone Nov 12, 2021

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Act One Podcast - Episode 21 - Interview with Actor Max McLean and Director Norman Stone of the new film, THE MOST RELUCTANT CONVERT.
THE MOST RELUCTANT CONVERT features award-winning actor Max McLean as the older Lewis and Nicholas Ralph – breakout star of PBS Masterpiece’s All Creatures Great and Small – as young Lewis. Beautifully filmed in and around Oxford this engaging biopic follows the creator of The Chronicles of Narnia from the tragic death of his mother when he was just nine years old, through his strained relationship with his father, to the nightmare of the trenches of World War I to Oxford University, where friends like J.R.R. Tolkien challenge his unbelief. Written for the screen and directed by two-time Emmy and BAFTA winner Norman Stone (BBC’s Shadowlands), The Most Reluctant Convert brings to life the spiritual evolution of one the 20th century’s sharpest minds and keenest wits.
Tickets for the film can be purchased online or at participating theater box offices. Fans throughout the U.S., Canada and the UK will be able to enjoy the event in select movie theaters through Trafalgar Releasing. For a complete list of theater locations and to purchase tickets, visit www.CSLewisMovie.com (theaters are subject to change).
ABOUT MAX MCLEAN
Max McLean is an award-winning actor and founder and artistic director of New York City-based Fellowship for Performing Arts. FPA produces theatre and film from a Christian worldview meant to engage diverse audiences. Recent FPA productions in New York City include The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis Onstage: The Most Reluctant Convert. Each was either adapted for the stage or written by Max McLean. Other New York productions include Paradise Lost, Shadowlands, A Man for All Seasons and Martin Luther on Trial. Many of these productions have toured at major venues across the country and have been seen by nearly a million people.
As an actor, Max created the roles of Screwtape (New York, London, national tour), C.S. Lewis in The Most Reluctant Convert (New York, national tour) and Mark in Mark’s Gospel for which he received a Jeff Award – Chicago theatre’s highest honor. Max’s work has been cited in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, CNN, The Guardian and The Boston Globe among many others. His narration of The Listener’s Bible published by HarperCollins and Biblica has received four Audie Award nominations from the Audio Publishers Association.
ABOUT NORMAN STONE
Norman Stone is a double BAFTA and EMMY Award winning writer, producer and director known for SHADOWLANDS (1986), THE FINAL FIX (2020) and INTO THE RAINBOW (2017). He is married to Scottish broadcaster, Sally Magnusson. Norman has headed up 1A Productions since 1992. Over the years, 1A has gained a reputation for high quality and inventive productions, as well as garnering many international awards and acclaim. 1A has also worked with many of the finest names in the acting and film-making worlds, creating a slate of films and programming which run from top class television dramas, series and documentaries, to music videos and big screen movies.
The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective.

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