Hellblazerbiz: Conversations with the Stars

Summary Courtney Kocak, a writer, producer, and comedian, discusses her multifaceted career, transition from acting to writing, and the evolution of her podcast, Private Parts Unknown. She shares impactful conversations from her podcast, the significance of her memoir 'Girl Gone Wild,' and reflections on her experiences during the Girls Gone Wild tour. The conversation covers a range of topics, in...

The conversation covers Amanda Christine's experience of joining the Stephen King "IT" universe, the portrayal of Ronnie Grogan as a strong and fierce character, the process of creating backstories and character development, the impact of Derry on shaping Ronnie's character, the themes and impact of the show, working on the show and cast dynamics, and connecting with Ronnie's story and the horror...

Summary This conversation explores the life and legacy of Ed Iskenderian, a pivotal figure in automotive history known for his innovations in camshaft technology and his influence on hot rod culture. Cheyanne Kane, the creator of the documentary 'Isky', shares insights into Ed's journey, the challenges of documenting his extensive career, and the importance of mentorship and curiosity in the autom...

I am joined by Iryna Hordiienko, a Ukrainian immigrant, who shares her story of growing up in poverty and facing abuse in her family. She left Ukraine to escape the war and came to the UK in search of a better life. Iryna discusses the challenges she faced in getting to the UK and the anxiety she still feels about the war in her home country. Despite her difficult past, Iryna is determined to make...

Producer, Screenwriter and award winning actor, Scott Hamm Duenas who has a long resume including Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Cobra Kai, General Hospital and more,  joined me to discuss his latest film, Final Wager, and his experience as an actor and producer. He talks about the natural progression from acting to producing and the challenges and rewards of both roles. The conversation also touches...

I welcomed back Ashton Solecki to discusses her role as Medora in the TV show Elkhorn and the character's complex motivations. She talks about the chemistry between the cast members and the strong bond they have. Ashton also shares her personal connection to the setting of the show, as she grew up near the real town of Medora. She highlights the importance of portraying historical characters with...

I am joined by actor Elijha Mahar who discusses his character William Sewell in the TV show 'Roosevelt', as well as the dynamics between Sewell and Roosevelt. We talk about the importance of Sewell's stabilizing presence in Roosevelt's life and how Sewell guides him without telling him what to do. We also discuss the close-knit cast and the authenticity of the costumes and makeup. Elijha shares hi...

In this conversation, I chat with actor and singer Matt Wiggins as he discusses his role as William Merrifield in the TV show Elkhorn. He describes his character as wise, patient, and driven, and compares him to a big brother figure for Teddy Roosevelt. Matt talks about the strengths of his character, including his patience, experience, and leadership qualities. He also mentions a potential weakne...

In this conversation, I chat with actress Tori Griffith who discusses her role as Rosie Maddox in the TV show Elkhorn. She talks about her character's traits and motivations, as well as her preparation for the role. Tori mentions that Rosie is scrappy, ambitious, and kind-hearted. She wants to have her own life and follow her dreams, which were not common for women in that time period. Tori resear...

Mason Beals discusses his role as Theodore Roosevelt in the show Elkhorn and the challenges of portraying the character. He talks about the character's origin story and his journey in the show. Mason also highlights the flaws and complexities of Roosevelt, including his abandonment of his daughter and his desire to be a cowboy. He discusses the dynamics between Roosevelt, Medora, and the Marquis d...

I sat down to chat with Jeff DuJardin who discusses his role as the Marquis de Mores in the TV show Elkhorn. We discuss the character's motivations, his relationship with Theodore Roosevelt, and the dynamics of the show. Jeff describes the Marquis as ambitious, loyal, and cultured. Jeff.talks about the challenges of portraying a character with a believable French accent and the research he did to...

In this episode, join us as we delve into Kylee Levien’s journey portraying a traumatized yet resilient character in the film. From challenging hospital scenes to the emotional impact of the story, we explore the highs and lows of filmmaking. Plus, Kylee shares insights from her experience on set, including moments of improvisation and the art of vulnerability. Remember, every emotion has a story,...

Arielle Bodenhausen joins me to chat and discusses her background and multiple roles, including teaching dance and yoga. She shares her transition into acting and her experience working on the film Roswell Delirium. The conversation explores the character of Wendy and her journey as a mother in a post-apocalyptic world. The emotional scenes and subtle references in the film are highlighted, along...

In this conversation, I talk with actress Ashton Solecki about her role in the film Roswell Delirium and the challenges she faced. She shares her initial impressions of the film and the attraction to the script and story. Ashton talks about the most challenging scene she had to film and the emotional intensity of the final scene. She also discusses her working relationship with Kylie Levien and Ar...

Summary In this conversation, I chat with Charlotte Campbell, who discusses her career and various aspects of her work as an actress. She talks about her early interest in performing and how she got started in the industry. Charlotte also shares her experiences with puppetry and aerial hoop, as well as her role in a play about domestic abuse. She explains her process for building a character from...

SummaryDee Wallace discusses her role in the film Roswell Delirium and the emotional connection she felt to the character. She emphasizes the importance of being present in the moment and fully immersing oneself in a role. The film raises questions about aliens, mental illness, and perception. Wallace also talks about her books, Born and Bapalapaloo, which explore the power of self-creation and ma...

Richard Bakewell discusses his film Roswell Delirium, which explores themes of trauma and childhood trauma. The film incorporates 80s references and draws parallels to real-world events like the COVID-19 pandemic and the Cold War. Bakewell shares his casting process and highlights the talented cast, including both established actors and up-and-comers. He also discusses emotional and impactful mome...

In this conversation, I interview Rhiannon Paige, a UK country music artist. We discuss her journey into country music, the impact of the internet on the music business, her songwriting process, and her future goals and aspirations. Rhiannon also shares her admiration for artists like Pink and Casey Musgraves, her favourite songs to perform, and the best advice she has received. The conversation c...

Summary Clayne Crawford discusses his recent filmmaking projects, including shooting films during COVID, the challenges of film distribution, and the emotional and powerful nature of his films. He also talks about his experience working on The Baytown Outlaws and his upcoming project, The Bloody Seahorse, which explores the use of NFTs in independent filmmaking. Crawford shares his favorite thing...

I talk with Sean Cribbin, survivor of serial killer Bruce McArthur, and Sean’s partner Steve Sauder, who also provided the music score for the documentary. Was I Next? The Sean Cribbin Story, a multiple-award winning documentary from iCogitate Productions, tells the story of Sean Cribbin, a man who lived through a shocking brush with death at the hands of Canada’s most brutal serial killer, Bruce...

I sit down with Matt Hookings of Camelot Films, who joined me to talk about his new film “Prizefighter”, which tells the fascinating story of boxer Jem Belcher, from the 17th Century. The making of this film has been monumental and very reminiscent of the story behind Rocky, with the hurdles Matt overcame to bring this story to life. The film also stars Russell Crowe, Ray Winstone, Jodhi May and J...

I m joined on this episode by Anna and Hillary Shakespeare who rejoin me, after we talked 2 years ago about their debut film Soundtrack to Sixteen. We are joined by actor Johnny Lucas who plays Benedict in their new film Much Ado. We chat about the filming process, using original Shakespeare dialogue in modern setting and much more. The film is being screened at the Genesis Cinema, Bethnal Green o...

British filmmaker Sam Plommer joins me to talk about his film “Plastic Boy”, which centres itself on the lead a character, Sam (played by Plommer) who spends his days bored at his job and has lost his way in life, with work, his love life and ambition. This is Sam’s 3rd production, having made a web series “Sorry, not interested” which is a dramedy about relationships and also film short “Seeing E...

Drew Waters is an actor whose face may be familiar as he has appeared in many of the top shows over the last 12 years or so. From roles in True Detective and Breaking Bad to Bones, all three of the NCIS brands (NCIS, NCIS LA and NCIS New Orleans). Drew is as accomplished behind the camera as he is front, having also directed and produced his own films. Drew is currently advertising the film Desper...

I am rejoined by Cara Annmarie, Matt Lewis, Kurt Yue and welcome Brian Troxell who joined the cast in season 4. We talk about season 4, the fun of being a part of the cast, funny stories, talk about their excellent colleague Keith Arthur Bolden (Darryl) who couldn’t make the chat. It’s a long one, but so much fun. I hope you enjoy! Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/hellblazerbiz)Support th...