In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast

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Christina Ricci Jun 16, 2022

Show notes

Christina Ricci has been the face of on-screen oddballs and outsiders for the past 30 years—but her fight to keep playing those characters has been an uphill struggle. "I think we're at the point...generally as an audience, where we can find characters interesting that we don't see ourselves in, at all," Ricci says. "You don't have to see yourself in somebody to be fascinated, interested, or root for someone. I'm really happy we're at that place, because I really spent years arguing that point." In this episode of "In the Envelope: The Actor's Podcast," Ricci takes us through the twists and turns of her career, all the way up to Showtime's dark drama, "Yellowjackets," for which she's earning Emmys buzz for the role of unhinged show tunes enthusiast, Misty. Brought to you by HBO Max. --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Vinnie Mancuso, senior editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e Check out our community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Vinnie Mancuso - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social media: Katie Minard, Karen Jenkins - Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins - Additional support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis

Rupert Grint Jun 09, 2022

Show notes

Rupert Grint was unsure who he was as an actor and artist after the seven-film “Harry Potter” series came to an end. “I started realizing that somewhere along the line there was a huge sacrifice I'd made. I'd lost something,” he says. Then he remembered a piece of advice from fellow “Potter” alum, the late, great Alan Rickman: Go and do theater. “I think it's really important, when you've been from where I'd come from—this huge machine that started to define me—to feel the fear [of theater],” Grint says. “I felt very human again.” In this episode of “In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast,” Grint walks us through the twists and turns of his magical, unlikely career—from the marathon auditions that landed him his “Harry Potter” role, to the uncertainty of his post-franchise life, to the artistic resurgence that led him to M. Night Shyamalan’s eerie Apple TV+ drama, “Servant.” Check out the episode, and watch all episodes of M. Night Shyamalan’s drama series “Servant” on Apple TV+. --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Vinnie Mancuso, senior editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e Check out our community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Vinnie Mancuso - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social media: Katie Minard, Karen Jenkins - Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins - Additional support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis

Adam Scott Jun 02, 2022

Show notes

Adam Scott is one of the funniest screen presences of the past decade. But the road to becoming the sitcom stand-out we know and love was anything but an overnight success. ""I had friends in school who I graduated with who, from the very start, said 'oh, no, I don't want to do this or that.' Kind of turning their nose up at certain things,” Scott says. “And I was always of the mind of, 'I'm going to do anything and everything. I just want to get in front of the camera or get on stage and do anything.' And I did, for a long time."" In this episode of “In the Envelope,” Scott walks us through the highs and lows of his entire career, from early roles in movies like “Hellraiser: Bloodline,” to comedic breakouts “Party Down,” “Step Brothers,” and “Parks & Recreations,” all the way up to his dynamic dual-sided turn in Apple TV+’s “Severance.” Brought to you by UCLA's Professional Programs at the School of Theater, Film & Television. --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Vinnie Mancuso, senior editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e Check out our community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Vinnie Mancuso - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social media: Katie Minard, Karen Jenkins - Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins - Additional support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis

Hugh Jackman + Sutton Foster May 19, 2022

Show notes

Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster are two of the biggest names in Broadway history, currently starring in one of the most beloved musicals ever, “The Music Man.” For the Tony nominated duo, keeping each performance fresh means ignoring their own icon status and focusing on the present. “Sometimes, it's easier to fall back on things you know work,” Jackman says. “It's a fine balance. At times you're like, 'ah, I don't know what's happening with this scene.' Then you find it, then you lose it. It's excruciatingly beautiful, and I love that about the process.” In this episode of “In the Envelope,” Jackman and Foster break down their secrets to Broadway success, from finding small character moments to building a community backstage. “That's the gift of doing a show for an extended period of time—you get this opportunity to grow with it,” says Foster. Brought to you by UCLA's Professional Programs at the School of Theater, Film & Television. --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Vinnie Mancuso, senior editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e Check out our community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Vinnie Mancuso - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social media: Katie Minard, Karen Jenkins - Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins - Additional support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis

John Cena May 05, 2022

Show notes

John Cena already knows what you’re thinking—he’s heard it in every audition and meeting for the past 25 years. “You can’t deny a first impression,” he says. “That’s why it’s been very difficult for me to try and seek out new levels of performance. You walk into a room, even if you’re in a suit, at 230 pounds everybody’s like: ‘Nope.’ You can only fit so many lanes.” In this episode of ""In the Envelope,"" the pro wrestler turned movie star walks us through every step of navigating those narrow lanes on his way to blockbuster franchise success. From selling out arenas in the WWE to the on-screen failures that motivated him in the lead-up to joining the DC Universe and ""Fast & Furious"" franchise, Cena breaks down how he always tries to find—and subvert—the motivations of any persona he plays. ""“If the ‘why’ is simply, I need you to be big, that’s OK. That’s cut and dry,"" he says. ""But if you’re willing to peel off more, and we can get to the core of why [the character] is so physically fit, then you can have some substructure. Then you can really wow people.” --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Vinnie Mancuso, senior editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e Check out our community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Vinnie Mancuso - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social media: Katie Minard, Karen Jenkins - Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins - Additional support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis

Sebastian Stan Apr 21, 2022

Show notes

Sebastian Stan still remembers the piece of acting school advice that fueled him through his early career all the way up to where he is today. “Bring the day with you to work, or to the audition, or to the meeting,” he says in this episode of “In the Envelope.” “You're on the subway, you're running late, you're trying to get to the audition, and then someone bumps into you and you spill coffee, and you're pissed off…you might as well just own it. Then you're starting from an honest place.” One of the most versatile performers working today, Stan has made a career out of balancing blockbusters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with ferocious smaller-scale character work. The actor followed up an appearance in the biggest box office success in history, “Avengers: Endgame,” with an admirable streak of electric—and occasionally stomach-churning—roles in dark dramas and thrillers like the cannibal potboiler “Fresh” and Hulu’s pitch-black true-story comedy “Pam & Tommy.” --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Vinnie Mancuso, senior editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e Check out our community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Vinnie Mancuso - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social media: Katie Minard, Karen Jenkins - Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins - Additional support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis

Joseph Gordon Levitt Apr 07, 2022

Show notes

Joseph Gordon-Levitt really, really wants you to understand how little you need Hollywood to be an artist. “If you want to pursue a career, that’s great. Do, that too,” he says. “But don’t let that interfere with the real pursuit. The real pursuit is your creative pursuit, and it’s one that happens inside of yourself.” The Emmy-winning actor/creator digs deep into the artistic process in this episode of “In the Envelope,” which touches on everything from the joys of editing to the complex lessons you can learn from your IMDB page. A consistent creative force for three decades and counting, Gordon-Levitt got his start in Robert Redford’s “A River Runs Through It,” followed shortly afterward by six seasons of the sitcom “Third Rock from the Sun.” Since then, he’s appeared in blockbusters like “Inception” and “The Dark Knight Rises,” game-changing rom-coms like “500 Days of Summer,” and TV dramas like his latest project, Showtime’s “Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber.” --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Vinnie Mancuso, senior editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e Check out our community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Vinnie Mancuso - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social media: Katie Minard, Karen Jenkins - Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins - Additional support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis

94th Academy Awards Special Mar 24, 2022

Show notes

"In the Envelope" returns to its awards season roots with a special episode devoted to the 94th Academy Awards. Host Vinnie Mancuso and Backstage Managing Editor Ben Lindsay break down their hopes, wishes, and predictions for this year's biggest categories. Can Jane Campion take home best director and best picture for "Power of the Dog?" Is "The Lost Daughter" the best film of 2021? Why was Nicolas Cage's performance in "Pig" not nominated? We dive into all these questions, as well as looking back at our favorite Oscar-nominated "In the Envelope" guests over the years. Listen in for anecdotes + acting advice from Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jessica Chastain, Rebecca Ferguson, and more. Brought to you by UCLA's Professional Programs at the School of Theater, Film & Television. --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Vinnie Mancuso, senior editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e Check out our community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Vinnie Mancuso - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social media: Katie Minard, Karen Jenkins - Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins - Additional support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis

Troy Kotsur Mar 10, 2022

Show notes

Troy Kotsur is a study in perseverance. The Arizona native spent years honing his craft on stage at the National Theatre of the Deaf and the Deaf West Theatre in Los Angeles—all the while wondering if Hollywood could ever fully embrace a deaf actor. “It's almost like a hair in my beard, just this one hair, and that represents the opportunities that I was given,” he says. But that drive—or “stubbornness,” as he himself puts it—has finally paid off on a historic level. For his role in writer/director Sian Heder’s “CODA,” Kotsur has been the one constant of this year’s awards season, snagging wins at the Gotham Awards, the SAG Awards, and Independent Spirit Awards on the road to the 94th Academy Awards, where he is nominated for best supporting actor. A win would mark the first for a deaf male actor, and just the second for a deaf actor ever behind the trailblazing footsteps of Kotsur’s “CODA” co-star, Marlee Matlin. In this “In the Envelope” episode, Kotsur walks Backstage through every stage of his winding journey, from the lessons learned from live theater, to a brief pitstop in the “Star Wars” galaxy, to the significance of his belated “CODA” breakthrough. Along the way, he offers invaluable advice to all actors—deaf or hearing—on the power of on-screen silence, scene partner eye contact, and never giving up. Read Backstage’s cover story Matlin, here: https://bit.ly/35Lhhcb This interview was conducted with the help of ASL interpreter, Justin Maurer. --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e Check out our community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social media: Katie Minard, Karen Jenkins - Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins - Additional support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis

Nicole Kidman Feb 22, 2022

Show notes

Nicole Kidman has delivered decades of riveting work on stage and screen. The actor and producer takes Backstage behind the thoughts and emotions that have characterized her meteoric career, from losing herself in books as a child to understanding the sacrifices required of hardworking artists as an adult. Her advice to fellow creators is to stay in touch with “that young mind,” as she says. “Don’t let that older experience of life take that away. That would be the thing that I carry. And I have no idea why! I still get the goosebumps, I get the adrenaline, I get the nervousness, I get the elation, I get the waiting for the call.... That is still such a huge part of who I am.” An Emmy, BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild, and Academy Award winner, Nicole first became a Hollywood mainstay with “Dead Calm” and “Days of Thunder” before starring in modern classics like “Eyes Wide Shut,” “Moulin Rouge!” and “The Hours.” Among the projects of her production company, Blossom Films, are TV hits “Big Little Lies,” “The Undoing,” and “Nine Perfect Strangers.” She’ll next star in Robert Eggers’ “The Northman,” and is now Oscar– and SAG Award–nominated for her work as Lucille Ball in Aaron Sorkin’s biopic “Being the Ricardos.” Read Backstage’s cover story with her co-star, Javier Bardem, here: https://bit.ly/3IorvNX This episode is brought to you by Amazon Studios’ “Being the Ricardos. --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e Check out our community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social media: Katie Minard, Karen Jenkins - Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins - Additional support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis

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