Pretend Worlds Real People

“Keep a low overhead.”   Have you ever thought about leaving your corporate job to finally pursue that artistic dream? Well, this week’s guest took the leap and built an incredible career from it! Monika Mitchell is a celebrated Director, Writer, and Producer, who left the world of investments behind to direct her first film. Since then, her hard work and passion for filmmaking has produced incred...

“Make stuff and get it out there.”   “Be a little weird.”   Christmas season is officially here, and this week’s guests are delivering the bloody goods with Violent Night! Screenwriting duo, Pat Casey and Josh Miller, combined their creative forces in high school. After tearing through public access, independent short films, and a stack of screenplays; their talents would hit the main stream with...

“Take classes.”   Horror fans rejoice! PWRP is joined by Horror’s newest Scream Queen and all around badass, Lauren LaVera. This Philly native has spent over 20+ years in the martial arts world, prior to taking on Terrifier 2’s Art The Clown. Having grown up admiring the talents of Bruce Lee, she always knew she wanted to act. But a revelatory experience on an M. Night Shyamalan set would push her...

“Learn how to be level headed and see things clearly.”   For some, Halloween season ends on October 31st. But for the rest of us, horror is year round. PWRP is joined by the genre’s newest star, Actor, Writer, and Producer; Melanie Stone! An early love for The Fellowship of the Ring and theater performance would kickstart her pursuit of acting. In recent years, she’s stolen the screen with her per...

“Find ways to satiate yourself.”   It is my great pleasure to welcome, Writer and Director, Erica Tremblay! Through her family’s dinner table stories, creating homemade short films, and watching VCR recordings of MTV; she has always sought after any form of storytelling. Her hard work, talent, and love for the craft would lead her to the Sundance Indigenous Program. There, she would find mentorshi...

“Get your reps in.”   This week, PWRP is joined by Actor, Improviser, and Writer, Nikolai Witschl! In his youth, Nikolai honed his fantastic performative abilities through local theater and Edmonton’s own Rapid Fire Theatre. After his terrifying performance in The Strain, he soon found himself performing in front of a camera lens; instead of a crowded audience. Catch him now in Riverdale and Uploa...

“Don’t write off the trades that go into making a film.”   Denver Film Festival is now in sight, and this week PWRP is joined by visionary filmmaker, Geoff Marslett! Though a physicist and mathematician previously, Geoff reconnected with his love of cinema through film school. Teaching himself how to animate in the process. Here, Marslett highlights his earlier career, the fundamentals of independ...

“Persist, have faith, and believe in what you’re doing.”   Happy Halloween folks! We have a special episode in store for you today with Actor and Creature Performer; Kevin Keppy! Kevin cut his teeth on theater for years before making the move to Los Angeles; with endless stories to share. You can catch his terrifying performances now in Smile, and Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities. Kevin...

“Make sure your bases are covered.”   This week’s guest is on a meteoric rise in the film industry. Natasha Kermani is a Director and Screenwriter, known for Imitation Girl, Shattered, Lucky, and the upcoming, V/H/S 85. In this special episode, Natasha discusses finding her love for film, moving from NYC to LA, and navigating the writing process! Listen if you dare!   SHOUTOUTS & PROMOTIONS - Luck...

“Do things that enrich your life.”   Unless you’ve been hiding under a haunted house or refraining from the fall theatrical experience, you’ll recognize this week’s guest from the box office juggernaut, Smile. Caitlin Stasey is an Australian Actor who has terrified audiences this fall with one of the most haunting scenes in film. In this episode she talks about her early work, finding a career in...

“Fun has to be the top priority.”   “You’re more than the business.”   Watching horror movies by yourself is alright, but I think we can all agree it’s a hell of a lot more fun with your friends! As we continue this amazing spooky season, PWRP is joined by killer podcast hosts, Kim Burns and Ketryn Porter of Kim + Ket Stay Alive… Maybe. After bonding in college, these two artists would make the co...

“Make sure you understand why.”     We’re kicking off this Halloween season with the incredibly talented, Phi Vu! He’s a New Orleans-based Actor who literally danced his way into the entertainment industry. After taking a theater class in college, Phi would pivot his focus away from medical school and towards the arts. Since then, he has quickly built a career with roles in Logan, Pitch Perfect 2,...

“Don’t lose the joy in the process.”   We’re back! And we’re coming in hot with this week’s guest, Matthew Kevin Anderson. Having grown up performing for both family and stage, Matthew would set his sights on Vancouver Film School in his teens. His career would take off after graduation hosting for Canada’s MTV Select! Since then, Matthew has worked on amazing projects like: Supernatural, Impastor...

“If you’re gonna do it, you have to go full steam ahead.”   This week PWRP is joined by Actor, Stunt Performer, Writer, and Professional Wrestler, Justin Mane! His passion for performance led him directly into the world of professional wrestling, where he would make his WWE SMACKDOWN debut in 2012. Since then, he’s built an incredible career in both film and television. Justin reflects on his adve...

“You have to have this resilience of knowing who you are.”   You may recognize this week’s guest as one of the most influential character actors of the last twenty five years. Michael Weston grew up in an industry family but set his sights on sports rather than the arts at a young age. This would change once he attended Northwestern and dove headfirst into the theater program. Since then, he’s liv...

“Write something you are passionate about.”   Cue the coffee machine and cozy blankets, we’re headed to the U.K. for a late night interview with Bob Schultz! Since 2001, Bob has built a career as a screenwriter following his departure from the I.T. industry. With a great love for the craft and film itself, he quickly began networking with industry giants; even developing a career on the lecture ci...

  “Don’t forget that it’s fun.”   Katy Breier is a Canadian Actress and Screenwriter known for her roles in Murdoch Mysteries, FANatic, Moonfall, and The Boys! Having developed a fascination with performance after watching the Harry Potter films as a kid, Katy quickly realized she wanted to be a wizard…or an actress. Since then, she’s built a fantastic career on both sides of the lens. She talks a...

"Can we get some more bread?"   This week, the marvelous cast of Resident Alien reunited for a special PWRP Livestream! Sara Tomko, Meredith Garretson, Elizabeth Bowen, and Alice Wetterlund catch us up on their summer vacations, filming the second half of season 2, and the hype for season 3. Both heartfelt moments and laughs are abound in this episode, so smash that play button! ...And don't forge...

“You have to really believe in it, believe in yourself, believe in your ability.”   For our 100th interview, PWRP is joined by the incredibly talented, Kiowa Gordon. Having skyrocketed to global fame in 2009 with the release of Twilight: New Moon, he suddenly found himself traversing an accelerated actor’s journey. Since then, he’s carved an amazing career with projects like: Reservation Dogs, Blo...

“Stay the course.”   PWRP is (spiritually) heading back to the east coast as Tyler sits down with Director, Producer, and Screenwriter; Marc Meyers. Having found his knack for writing while studying abroad in the U.K., Marc would produce his first short film while simultaneously writing ads and waiting tables after returning to New York. As the years went on, he would dive into the world of indepe...

“It’s all about expanding your network.”   This week’s guest found an insatiable love for filmmaking at eleven years old, while watching Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange. Since then, Alan Trezza has built a prolific career as a studio executive, producer, and screenwriter. Having penned fantastic horror-comedies like Burying The Ex and We Summon The Darkness. Alan talks about his humble beginn...

“Be in your own life.”   If you’re a fan of both independent and mainstream horror then you definitely recognize this week’s guest. Katie Parker is a Los Angeles-based Actress known for projects like: Absentia, Oculus, The Haunting of Hill House, Doctor Sleep, and The Haunting of Bly Manor. She sits down with Tyler to talk about her journey to LA, finding confidence in her career, and the importan...

“Remember that this is a lifestyle.”   Lauren Phillips began dancing in high school, eventually graduating Rutgers University with her degree. For a while, she worked as a dance teacher and a nanny, until a friend referred her to webcam modeling. By 2013, Lauren made a leap into the adult film industry and quickly took it by storm. Since then, she has built her own online empire through several bu...

Gear up for a zany and fun livestream recording with past guests: Katie McElhenney (Mythic Quest, It's Always Sunny) and Cait Duffy (Reacher, Scorpion). We dive into the differences in writer's rooms post-pandemic, decompressing from work, and what they've been watching this summer!    

“Be your true self.”   This week, Tyler is joined by Content Creator, Powerlifter, and Adult Film Star, Siri Dahl. Siri joined the industry after college and quickly found success in the 2010s. Since her retirement in 2015, she has built a thriving catalogue of online content through various channels in addition to her powerlifting career. She fills PWRP in on what helps her decompress, Star Wars...