Life in the Credits

Dan Dome, Associate Director and Lead Video Editor, joins Susan and Ben to discuss Drive, a 2011 action movie. Dan shares what it’s like having a career in late night television on SNL, Conan, and Late Night with Seth Meyers. He discusses launching his career in 1994 as a tape operator in a NYC post house alongside his father, the difference between editing a pre-recorded show versus a live show,...

Michael Uslan, Originator and Executive Producer of the Batman movie franchise, joins Susan and Ben to discuss Batman (1989). Michael shares the history of his career as an Executive Producer in the movie and tv industry. He discusses approaching DC to buy the film rights to Batman, how Tim Burton convinced him to cast Michael Keaton, and the joys of teaching at his alma mater, Indiana University....

Ruthie Wyatt, Producer, joins Susan and Ben to discuss Desperately Seeking Susan, a 1985 comedy. Ruthie shares what it’s like having a career as a producer for Team Coco’s social media and live events. She discusses getting her foot in the door at NBC, creating Team Coco House at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con, and winning an Emmy for Conan Without Borders. We also learn the connection between Despe...

Ben Milliken, Actor and Executive Producer, joins Susan and Ben to discuss Run & Gun, a 2022 action thriller. Ben shares what it’s like having a career as an actor and EP in television and movies. He discusses getting cast in his first role in “Newcastle” which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, balancing his lead actor and executive producer roles on the set of Run & Gun, the differe...

Olivia Aguilar, Executive Producer, joins Susan and Ben to discuss Hook, a 1991 adventure comedy. Olivia shares what it’s like having a career as an Executive Producer at Will Ferrell and iHeartRadio’s Big Money Players Network. She discusses her start as a Production Assistant on the movie Her, working in Funny or Die's accounting department before transitioning to digital production at College H...

Moriah Atlas, Literary Manager’s Assistant, joins Susan and Ben to discuss Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, a 1953 musical comedy. Moriah shares what it’s like having a career as an assistant at Epicenter , a literary management and production company. She discusses tapping into Hollywood’s alumni networks to get hired, shifting her career path from writing to script development, running the Hollywood Ho...

Brian Stack, Writer and Performer, joins Susan and Ben to discuss A Thousand Clowns, a 1965 comedy. Brian shares what it’s like having a career as a writer and performer in late night TV. He discusses working for Conan O’Brien and Stephen Colbert, getting into improv after meeting Mick Napier at Indiana University, performing with Chris Farley at the Arc in Madison, WI, how a sketch moves and chan...

LP, Director, joins Susan and Ben to discuss Old School, a 2003 comedy. LP shares the differences between guest directing a tv show like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia versus directing a movie like Desperados, working with Will Ferrell and Adam McKay at Funny or Die, and getting Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas star in a sketch about a spelling bee. LP plays our “Going old school with Old School...

Emily Winter, Writer and Comedian, joins Susan and Ben to discuss Malignant, a 2021 horror movie. Emily shares what it’s like having a career in tv writing and stand up comedy. She discusses being a writer on Nickelodeon’s “That Girl Lay Lay”, releasing her own book “One Day Smarter”, breaking into the world of late night while living in the Midwest, and how having a great stand-up performance is...

Jen Landon, Actor, joins Susan and Ben to discuss Harold and Maude, a 1971 romantic comedy. Jen shares what it’s like having a career as an actor on soap operas, procedurals, and dramas. She discusses nailing her very first audition for As The World Turns , playing the rebellious ranch hand Teeter on Yellowstone , singing her go-to karaoke songs, and working with Hugh Jackman, Jason Reitman, and o...

Liv Senghor, Graphic Designer and Animator, joins Susan and Ben to discuss Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse, a 2018 animated film. Liv shares what it’s like having a career as a graphic designer on late night tv with Seth Meyers, Amber Ruffin, and Hasan Minhaj. She also describes helping build The Amber Ruffin Show from the ground up, working on daily versus weekly shows, and becoming extremely f...

Liz Toonkel, Production Designer and Director, joins Susan and Ben to discuss Welcome to the Dollhouse, a 1995 comedy. Liz shares what it’s like having a career as a production designer for tv, independent films, and commercials. She explains what it’s like to build a world on a set, the difference between a union and non-union project, the importance of developing interests outside of your entert...

Ryan Svendsen, Music Supervisor, joins Susan and Ben to discuss Catch Me If You Can, a 2002 drama. Ryan shares what it’s like having a career as a music supervisor at Lionsgate and Millennium Media, working on the music for the Hunger Games franchise featuring Taylor Swift, Coldplay, and Lorde, and adding trumpet to Lil Nas X’s Billboard #1 song Industry Baby. Ryan plays our “Hum That Theme” game....

Alex Konowitz, Key Grip, joins Susan and Ben to discuss The Princess Bride, a 1987 action fantasy. Alex shares what it’s like having a career as a key grip, dolly grip, and rigging grip, watching a majestic sunset from the pool he built on the Jungle Book set, and the challenges of moving a camera inside the 4-foot-tall tunnels underneath a Los Angeles correctional facility. Alex and Ben Konowitz...

Eleanor Winkler, Producer, joins Susan and Ben to discuss The Big Sick, a 2017 comedy-drama. Eleanor shares what it’s like working as a producer in comedy television at places like Funny or Die and how she got her start in film by volunteering at her local theater company in Sydney, Australia. She also co-founded Bus Stop Films, a nonprofit that gives people with intellectual disabilities an oppor...

Jason Cherubini, CFO, joins Susan and Ben to discuss The November Man, a 2014 action-thriller. Jason shares what it’s like having a career as the CFO and an executive producer with Dawn’s Light Media, how he fell into creating the action movies he loves, and working on set with WWE’s Adam “Edge” Copeland, Thomas Jane, and all three Lawrence brothers.  Jason plays our “I Spy the Spy in Films G...

Tyler Mathews, Former Executive TV Lit Assistant and Political Operative, joins Susan and Ben to discuss Moneyball, a 2011 sports drama. Tyler shares what it’s like having a career working as an assistant in the TV Lit department at Paradigm and A3 Artist Agency, how the skills he learned in Hollywood helped him transition into working on Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign, and how cool it is...

Liz Allen, Improv Coach, joins Susan and Ben to discuss Moonstruck, a 1987 romantic comedy. Liz shares what it’s like having a career as an improv coach specializing in ensembles and groupmind, falling in love with improv through her classes at Second City and iO Chicago, and her experience coaching on set and with the cast of Mike Birbiglia's Don’t Think Twice. Liz plays our “Cher Pair Cage Match...

Ellen Tremeti, Screenwriter, Script, and Story Supervisor, joins Susan and Ben to discuss Jaws, a 1975 thriller. Ellen shares what it’s like having a career as a story supervisor on animated films like Lego Ninjago and Spirit Untamed, creating an animated film during 2020 when no one could be in the same room, her short story being featured in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, as well as fun fa...

Julie Levitsky, Producer, joins Susan and Ben to discuss Midsommar, a 2019 horror film. Julie shares what it’s like having a career at a small production company, trying to keep up with Billy Eichner as he runs down the street, making a new ice cream flavor with Samantha Bee and Ben Cohen from Ben & Jerry’s, and how important her early connections were to getting jobs she loves. Julie plays ou...

Rachel McDermott, Actor and Stunt Performer, joins Susan and Ben to discuss Atomic Blonde, a 2017 action-thriller. Rachel shares what it’s like having a career as a stunt performer and action actor, how to train for getting hit by a car, her time on the set of The Mandalorian, and being a part of Flame On Stunts, an all-female stunt team that specializes in getting set on fire.  Rachel plays...

Josh Gondelman, Comedian and Writer, joins Susan and Ben to discuss Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?, a 2000 comedy-drama. Josh shares what it’s like having an Emmy winning career writing for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and producing Desus & Mero, opening for John Oliver on New Year’s Eve, and his early days crowdsourcing stand up material from his preschool students, “traveling the classic...

Skylar Fleck, Wardrobe Stylist, joins Susan and Ben to discuss HBO’s Game of Thrones, a fantasy drama television series. Skylar shares what it’s like having a career styling zombies and cowboys in commercials, one of her early career experiences while working on the indie film The Tribes of Palos Verdes, and the skills needed to dress an actor in a full suit of armor in less than 45 minutes. Skyla...

Aaron Waltke, Screenwriter and Executive Producer, joins Susan and Ben to discuss Back to the Future, a 1985 adventure sci-fi comedy. Aaron shares what it’s like navigating the tv pitch process, getting started in LA with National Lampoon, washing down an Emmy win with Gatorade, and growing up making movies with his parents’ camcorder in Greenwood, IN.  Aaron plays our “Back in Time” game. Fo...

Kathy Yamamoto, Writers’ Coordinator, joins Susan and Ben to discuss Shall We Dance, 1996 Japanese romantic comedy-drama. Kathy shares what it’s like having a career working in the Conan writers’ room in late night television, acting in commercials on her days off, and the benefits of being a seat filler at awards shows. She watched Beyoncé perform! Kathy plays our “Dance Dance Attribution” game....