May 23, 2025 • 29 mins
(00:00:00) Introduction & Welcome
(00:02:11) Max Talisman and Joey Pollari talk 'Things Like This'
(00:19:04) David Dastmalchian talks Muderbot
In this episode of Pop Culture Weekly with Kyle McMahon, actor / writer / director Max Talisman takes center stage as he invites us into the world of his new rom-com, "Things Like This." This heartfelt conversation uncovers Max's motivations behind creating a film that authentically represents queer experiences. With co-star Joey Pollari by his side, Max opens up about navigating the New York City dating scene as a plus-size gay man and his deep love for the 90s rom-com classics that inspired him. Their camaraderie and shared vision infuse the project with a unique energy, promising a love story that is both universally relatable and refreshingly genuine.
As if that weren't enough, we also share the spotlight with the multi-talented David Dastmalchian, who talks about his new series, "Murderbot," on Apple TV+. David's enthusiasm for genre storytelling and his journey through iconic roles in films like "Dune", "Late Night With The Devil" and "The Suicide Squad" reveal his dedication to pushing creative boundaries. From memorable filming locations in New York to exploring the transformative power of acting and storytelling, this episode is a celebration of creativity, connection, and the joy of storytelling in both film and television.
--------------------------
Kyle McMahon's Death, Grief & Other Sh*t We Don't Discuss is now streaming. Listen here!
--------------------------
Get all the Pop Culture Weekly podcast info you could want including extra content, uncut interviews, photos, videos & transcripts at Podcast.PopCultureWeekly.com
Watch celebrity interviews at Pop Culture Weekly's YouTube!
Read the latest at PopCultureWeekly.com
Get Social with Kyle on:
Kyle McMahon Facebook
Kyle McMahon Instagram
Kyle McMahon TikTok
Pop Culture Weekly YouTube
Kyle McMahon Website
(00:02:11) Max Talisman and Joey Pollari talk 'Things Like This'
(00:19:04) David Dastmalchian talks Muderbot
In this episode of Pop Culture Weekly with Kyle McMahon, actor / writer / director Max Talisman takes center stage as he invites us into the world of his new rom-com, "Things Like This." This heartfelt conversation uncovers Max's motivations behind creating a film that authentically represents queer experiences. With co-star Joey Pollari by his side, Max opens up about navigating the New York City dating scene as a plus-size gay man and his deep love for the 90s rom-com classics that inspired him. Their camaraderie and shared vision infuse the project with a unique energy, promising a love story that is both universally relatable and refreshingly genuine.
As if that weren't enough, we also share the spotlight with the multi-talented David Dastmalchian, who talks about his new series, "Murderbot," on Apple TV+. David's enthusiasm for genre storytelling and his journey through iconic roles in films like "Dune", "Late Night With The Devil" and "The Suicide Squad" reveal his dedication to pushing creative boundaries. From memorable filming locations in New York to exploring the transformative power of acting and storytelling, this episode is a celebration of creativity, connection, and the joy of storytelling in both film and television.
--------------------------
Kyle McMahon's Death, Grief & Other Sh*t We Don't Discuss is now streaming. Listen here!
--------------------------
Get all the Pop Culture Weekly podcast info you could want including extra content, uncut interviews, photos, videos & transcripts at Podcast.PopCultureWeekly.com
Watch celebrity interviews at Pop Culture Weekly's YouTube!
Read the latest at PopCultureWeekly.com
Get Social with Kyle on:
Kyle McMahon Facebook
Kyle McMahon Instagram
Kyle McMahon TikTok
Pop Culture Weekly YouTube
Kyle McMahon Website
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
In this episode of pop Culture Weekly, I talk with
the one to know Lyad David dest Mauchin all about
the brand new Apple TV Plus series Murder Bot, and
Max Talisman and Joey Polari joined to discuss their movie
Things Like This.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Let's go Welcome to pop Culture Weekly with Kyle McMahon
from my Heart Radio your pop culture news, views, reviews
and celebrity interviews on all the movies, TV, music and
pop culture u CRABE Weekly. Here's Kyle McMahon.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
No No, no NTT, Hello and welcome to the pop
Culture Weekly with Kyle McMahon. I of course am Kyle McMahon.
I thank you as always for joining me for another
episode of pop Culture Weekly. You know the drill. We've
got your all access passed to the stars and biggest
stories and buzziest releases in entertainment, and today's episode is
(00:56):
no different. It is stacked with talent. First up, we're
going to be joined by Max Talisman and Joey Polari,
the dynamic duo behind the new rom com Things Like This.
They will be dishing on everything from the making of
the film to the importance of authentic queer storytelling and
(01:18):
what it was like bringing their on screen chemistry to life.
Max has a very interesting story behind his reason for,
you know, writing and directing and starring in this film.
I think it's a pretty important story to tell, and
I'm glad that he's telling it on Pop Culture Weekly.
Then the one and only David des Maushin stops by
(01:41):
to talk about his killer new Apple TV Plus series
Murder Bot. Yes it's sci fi, Yes it's crazy, and
yes David brings that same unforgettable intensity we've seen in
Dune and The Suicide Squad and Oppenheimer and my favorite
film of his, Late Night with the Devil exclusively from Shutter,
(02:02):
but this time with a sarcastic, emotionally complex robot involved two. Yeah,
it's crazy, but I love it. So let's dive right in.
We'll start with the heart and soul behind a brand
new romantic comedy that's been already turning heads and winning
(02:23):
hearts from the reviews alone. We've got actor, writer, director
Max Talisman, who not only stars in the film but
also wrote and directed it, so definitely a triple threat there.
And joining him is the incredibly talented Joey Polari, who
you may know from Love Simon the Away Looking for Alaska. Together,
(02:46):
they bring a fresh, authentic energy to things like this
film that explores love, connection and self discovery in a
way that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable. Really
really did enjoy this movie, and I wasn't, you know,
wasn't sure that it was going to be my cup
of tea, and it is just universal. It's such a
(03:08):
great film. It's charming, it's funny, it's emotional, and you know,
most importantly, it's a huge step forward for inclusive storytelling
in film. So please welcome to Pop Culture Weekly, Max
Talisman and Joey PILARI thank you Max and Joey for
(03:28):
joining me. I really appreciate it. Yeah, thank you, Thank
you so much of course. So first of all, Max,
how did this, How did things like this come up?
For you? Writer? Director, producer? Where did this come from?
Speaker 3 (03:42):
It came from the feeling that I wasn't seeing roles
that I wanted reflected in the landscape, and also stories
that I felt represented myself as part of what I
was seeing on screen, and my acting coach, Amelia Campbell,
had suggested that I just sit down and I write
and see what comes out. And I know that there's
(04:02):
a lot of you know, acting coaches, a lot of
professors who give that advice. And I would also say
that if that advice is given, give it a shot,
because you never know what could have happened. But that's
really where it came from. And it started mostly with
writing what I know, which is, you know, at the time,
dating in New York, dating as a plus sized gay man.
Like that's really where it started, and it just grew
(04:26):
from there. More and more, you know, parts of the
story came in, and I grew as a writer. I
developed it for years with Buzz Kane, my producer, and
then you know, eight years later, here we.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Are, Wow and Joey, how did you get involved?
Speaker 4 (04:41):
I got a call out of the blue, like something
that you just dream of. Yeah, and Max called or
sent an email, you know, the euphemism of call, and
I just like got thrown to me. It was in
the middle of the pandemic. Then the script came and
I started reading the script, and I hopped on a
call with Max. I mean, had toscussion about like what
would actually look like, and once we got on set,
(05:04):
it was off to the races. We just had an
absolute blast.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Max for you. You know, you mentioned this that you
didn't see exactly you know, what you wanted to see
representation wise on screen. What are some of the films
that you know inspired you, although they might not have
been exactly what you were looking for?
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Absolutely, I think the films that inspired me most are
you know, straight roum comms of like the nineties, like
movies like You've Got Mail, Nodding Hell, When Harry Met Sally,
like sort of the quintessential rom com. And also movies
from a little bit later when I was in like
high school, like The Proposal or I just movies like
(05:49):
that that sort of you know, I, as a queer kid,
would have to see myself reflected in these straight stories
and find sort of, you know, how I could relate
to them. And so, you know, I felt like what
I wanted to create was a queer romance where street
people could relate to it, just sort of tell a
love story that was funny and had a lot of
(06:10):
heart to it. And that's that's where it came from,
was this feeling of what I got from those movies.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
And did you find as you were writing it is
you know, you're obviously being in any I feel as
an artist that whenever you are creating art, there's a
real vulnerability a lot of times. Did you feel that
especially you know, not only are you creating it and
writing it and producing it and all, but you're in it. Yeah,
(06:40):
and so you know, so it's it's even I think,
more exposing yourself. So like, Okay, I'm going to write
all this and then I have somebody else do it,
so I can kind of, I don't want to say,
hide behind that and negative, but when you're writing it
and then you're also being it, it's even more exposure.
(07:01):
You know. Did you did you find that?
Speaker 3 (07:03):
I didn't necessarily only because yeah, I ever saw him
break a sweat once exactly what you're talking about.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
You would think that someone would had that level of
just fear, but Max's no.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
I was going to say, like, as a as a writer,
what's sort of comforting is that, like, I think all
of the characters are elements of me, you know, in
a way, so they're all sort of like parts of
you know, my brain, you know, personified. So I'm only
playing an element of myself, Like I think that, you know,
obviously to be like, if I'm being frank, the character
(07:36):
my Zach is probably the closest in the film to myself.
But that being said, we soill have a lot of differences,
and so it wasn't It didn't feel as vulnerable, to
be honest, probably the most vulnerable was the writing of
it itself, but just on set in general, I just
felt like, you know, so blessed to get to do
this and like so just happy to be there. So yeah, no,
(07:58):
there was no sweat, There was no everything had a solution,
Everything sort of you know, had somewhere to go. So
it didn't feel like I was ever under a lot
of stress. It was always just sort of a great
situation to be in. And the vulnerability you're speaking of
was I think really sort of explored in the first
part of it when I was just writing it. And
you know, I what's interesting is now that it's being released,
(08:21):
maybe that will be something, you know, that will start
I think it's no, it's interesting.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
You should be very afraid.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
Good.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
I'm all good. I'll call my therapist later.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
But we're good. Okay, And Joey, you know to that,
do you feel a responsibility? You know, I mean Max
is right there, he's on set, you're you know, you're
talking to him in your scenes. Did that it ever
occur to you that, like, I am you know a
(08:53):
part of I am that I'm reflecting back to any
I just kind of felt like the only thing.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
That were really vulnerable are these moments where like the
characters really going through it really is trying to confront
why they're drawn towards each other away from each other.
That's the stuff is vulnerable. When you have a cast
and a crew that's so supportive, eventually you feel all right.
You know what the scariest part was is that one
of our most dramatic scenes was shot maybe day two.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
It's day three year us. It was absolutely right, and.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
I remember getting the call she yeah, oh okay. I
thought I have time to work up to this. But
it taught me a valuable lesson, which is just you
always have to dive in. And it really helped. Once
that scene was over, you just felt like you could
breathe this big breath of fresh air. So that was
a real it felt like a curse and it turned
into a real blessing.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
I was worried about that too. I kept trying to
fight the schedule to be like, why are we here
on that you know, but locations independent film, you really
don't have a say on where you are when. So
it worked out in the end, I think to me,
it did sort of force us into the fire, you know,
dive into the deep end type thing.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Yes, well, and it came out beautifully. So thanks mission
accomplished for you, Joey. When you're doing a role like this,
are you able to or how do you separate or
not separate yourself into zach yours? Zach.
Speaker 4 (10:21):
I think at any time with this, something like this
or things like this, you're you're it's so much trying
to replicate that chemistry and that sparks as relatable as possible.
So you're not trying to just build this entire character
or build all these walls to try and construct something.
You're just trying to relate as much as possible. So
(10:41):
I'm trying to bring as much of myself as there
is in trying to find out where those moments are
that I can relate like any artist, you know, trying
to find your way in That was the real gift
of playing a rom com. You know, comedy relies your instinct,
relies on your instincts. Drama relies on your instincts with
different degree, but it's it's you've have to be in
(11:02):
that moment.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
So that was just a pleasure. And did you ever
pick Max's brain about you know, I think it's almost
like a blessing and a curse. I would think that
Max is there as the writer because you can almost
end director, because you could almost get in well literally
you can pick his brain about Well, what did you
(11:23):
mean when you said this for me? You know what
I mean?
Speaker 4 (11:26):
Yeah, that was a real I was nice, Yeah, I
was nice. I mean Max is right there. There's no
and Max doesn't have any sort of ego about Okay
I'm here and I'm doing this or that. There's not
this hierarchy where you're trying to talk to someone through something.
Max is just always available. So having those times where
you do have a question or not. But I mean, honestly,
(11:46):
most of the time we just laughed our way through
this thing.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
We did.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
I would like to, you know, portray some story like
I was really going back there and trying to figure
out callus therapists behind his back something like this, but no,
it was just pleasurable so much.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
But we would also I mean, there were times where
you know, we would change words on the fly type thing,
like it's not precious about the writing to be honest,
Like if if Joey felt like something should sound differently,
I would be like, let's go with that. Like there's no.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
That's so rare.
Speaker 5 (12:15):
I mean, it was just great collaborative experience, you know,
that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
And and Max, I got to ask you, it's so
beautifully shot, you know, there are so so many gorgeous shots,
especially of New York. How did you decide, you know,
did you have like a list of things that you
know you wanted to hit shot wise in regards to
this city.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
Absolutely, yeah, No, I knew that, you know, you have
limited times sort of you know, being able to showcase
the city, and I wanted to highlight, you know, what
makes New York that's sort of the most romantic city,
not just to me but clearly to a lot of
filmmakers and people in general. So it was important to
me to highlight the places that I felt, you know,
(13:01):
felt the most sort of magical, like in this elevated
not elevated, but you know, a lifted place of mystical realism,
like just the next level. And so we did sort
of have the places you know, we needed to hit
and what was important to us. And it was also
important to me that we got a stonewall in there
for a moment, just to make sure, you know, to
(13:22):
you know, recognize that we wouldn't even be able to
make this film if not for what happened there years ago.
And it was just you know, important to just make
sure that we were highlighting the parts of the city
that really you know, allowed us to make the movie
at the.
Speaker 6 (13:36):
In the end.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
But yeah, also, you know, you speak to the shots,
and that's a lot my collaboration with Matt Clegg, the DP,
and really just my associate director, Michael mctuzek, And we
just spent you know, days sort of creating a shot
list and going through it. And I knew that for
a lot of things, I wouldn't you know, end up
being behind the camera because I was on screen. So
(14:00):
we had to make sure that everything was really planned
and you know, looked the way it was supposed to
when it was time, and that I could quickly look
at a monitor and be like, yeah, that's a shot
we planned, Let's go for it.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
And that actually brings up a great point because you
are wearing so many hats in that did you find
it difficult at all to uh, to kind of juggle
all these balls or whatever the saying is, Did I
just mess up? That's say.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
No, that's all what I was laughing at to me, honest,
it was just fir, I think it is.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
No, The truth is that I know I didn't. I think,
like in the same way that I think every job
you know has its stresses, and it's you know, it's
moments of can I do this, like the imposter syndrome
comes in. But that was all sort of before to
be honest, once you know, we're speaking about being on set,
like I was surrounded by such an amazing crew and
(14:55):
such a just wonderful cast that like, once I was there,
it was just your support for everything I was doing.
And I never felt like I was out there alone.
And it never felt like it was all on my shoulders.
So even if you know a lot of it was,
it doesn't it didn't matter because I didn't.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
Feel that way.
Speaker 3 (15:14):
I felt completely supported, and I always, you know, I feel,
even when I was wearing so many hats, that I
was just part of the crew and part of the cast.
So in the end, I felt more like, you know,
a team leader more than anything else, and so that
really pushed forward sort of you know, the mentality to
be able to go through it, right.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
I love that and Joey for for you, you know
during the shoot, what was the funniest, Because it is,
you know, a romantic comedy, what was the funniest for
you as an actor? You know in your shoot, whether
on screen or off.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
Oh, I mean there's too many moments to count. We
have such funny people in this movie. I've got a
couple of scenes with Taylor Trent, who plays my ex
boyfriend in the movie. He is so incredibly funny. We
had great just day players who came on. I mean
that's the fun thing, right, Like you just meet this person,
you jump right into a scene and you finally have
all this wonderful talent or this wonderful Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
So that's that's to me the most.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Yeah, No, I mean I think you know, it's it's
it's every day felt really fun. We felt like we
had did have a lot of day players come in.
We had a lot of like people who were these
incredible comedians come in for really like hours and we
would get to play around with them and then they
would leave, and so it was really special. But I
will say that watching you and Taylor was a special joy.
(16:39):
Like they are, they were able to sort of, you know,
improv and create these really hilarious bits. And we have
a lot of tailor in the bloopers because it was
just sort of like.
Speaker 4 (16:48):
It's in Gold, it's a tailor and they're not really
or just outtakes outtakes of.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
Him playing the character. Yeah, I would love for him
to play some like you know, crazy Jim carry us
characters so you can have like a liar liar blooper
real of him because he's just crazy talent aster. Yeah,
that'd be sick fire Liar the musical.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
I love that. And finally, what do you hope for
people to get from things like this? Both of you?
I hope that.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
People get that the you know, the message of this
film is that love is universal, and the fears that
we have, the anxieties that we have about falling in love,
everyone goes through those. I hope that the message that
we you know, all want to be loved and we
all feel the you know, the need to connect with
other people. I think those are the main things that
(17:40):
I'm hoping, and I also hope people just have a
good time. I hope they laugh. I hope they you know,
leave wanting to hear more of my jokes please, So
those that would be what I.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
Say, Yeah, I love that and I have the same feeling.
I mean, we have a great message here about that
universal love and that everyone's creences the same things when
they go and try and fall in love. But it's
just a gas of a movie. It's fun to seeing
a big theater. It resonates, baby music's loud. It's a
gas from start to finish.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
And it's a joy to watch. Thank you both so
much a pursuing with me things like this. Thank you
any great day? Yeah? Thanks you take care, Max Tellisman,
enjoy PILARI great, guys. It's a great film. Things like
this really is, you know, an enjoyable universal film that
(18:31):
I think is important for you know, people that aren't
necessarily always represented in film authentically. So we're gonna take
a quick break and to pay the bills. When we
come back, we're talking with David das Mauchin be back
in sixty all right. Thanks for hanging with me and
(18:57):
supporting our sponsors that help support this show so I
can bring great stuff to you. So all right, let's
get right into it. You know, our next guest from
some of the most unforgettable roles in recent film and
TV The Dark Night, ant Man, Suicide Squad, Dune, Oppenheimer,
and my favorite Late Night with the Devil. Is the
(19:20):
kind of actor who disappears into every role that he
does and he leaves a lasting impression every single time.
Now he's stepping into the world of sci fi once again,
this time as a scientist in this crazy world of
murder Bot, which is a new Apple TV Plus series
that's based on the beloved books by Martha Wells. It's
(19:43):
action packed, it's smart, it's darkly funny, and full of heart,
just like David himself. So let's get ready to dive
into rogue robots, existential questions, and some pretty cool storytelling.
Please welcome to Pop Culture Weekly, the incredibly talented, always
fastating David. That's Mouchin. Thank you so much for speaking
(20:06):
with me, David, I appreciate it's how you doing. I'm great, man,
How are you I'm doing well? Thank you. Congratulations on
murder Bot and this will lead into that. But you
have been in so many of my favorite projects, from
Weird to you know, uh, Late Night with the Devil
is one of my all time favorite things ever. I
(20:29):
love it so awesome.
Speaker 5 (20:32):
So much, thank you, of course.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
And then Twin Peaks, I mean, so many of your
projects have been some of my absolute favorites. Last Voyage,
I mean, anyway, I could go on about your entire career,
but is this and then now murder Bot is so cool.
You have obviously the best agent in the world. That's
but like, how are you drawn to these kinds of projects?
(20:55):
Like is that a conscious choice that you know?
Speaker 5 (20:59):
Is there's some that's conscious than conscious. I'm energetically drawn
to the material, and maybe the material energetically magnetizes me.
But since I was a little boy in Kansas sneaking
downstairs to watch the you know, Cremation Moortem Friday Fright Night,
and I would watch all the classic old horror movies,
and then I, you know, became completely engrossed in the
(21:20):
world of comic books. And I've been collecting comic books
since I was nine years old. I love science fiction.
So all of that being a fan myself and having
been someone that's found so much joy in those spaces
now as a professional actor, storyteller, perhaps there is some
kind of invisible thread that is drawing me towards all
(21:42):
of this, but honestly, I give it up. You know,
it's God, It's a miracle. It's incredible. I I'm someone
who's shouldn't even be sitting here today, but thanks to
you know, the miracle of like mental health, mental wellness recovery.
I'm going to be celebrating twenty three years clean and
sober in May and the back congratulations, I thank you.
I get to tell stories for a living, especially in
(22:07):
the genre space, and how that's all taken shape is
in many regards just beyond my ability to comprehend. Sometimes
I show up to work and I look around myself
and I go, how is this even real? A friend
of mine once said to me, you know, you're living
in nerdvana.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
And I completely agree. A state of nerdvana. That's a
perfect way to put it, because you know, as your career,
I've obviously myself been a lifelong pop culture fan, and
you know, two thousand and eight or whatever, you know,
as your career really started picking up in film and TV,
and I'm like, okay, David and then it's the next
(22:47):
cool project that I'm looking for, and I'm like, oh,
he's in this too, And then the next cool project
that I'm excited about, I'm like, Wow, he's like He's
like in all these cool things, you know that I'm
drawn to as a as a genre nerd.
Speaker 5 (22:59):
You know, I'm so lucky. And one of the things
I'm so grateful for is my history and my background
in the stage and working in the theater, and this
deep love of text and bringing characters to life. Because
whether I'm you know, trying to manifest you know, Frank
Herbert's pytrate degrees in Denny Villaneu's Dune film adaptation, or
(23:19):
bringing James Gunn's Polka Dot Man to life in The
Suicide Squad, or portraying Goarath and a character from the
mind of Martha wells Now in this show from Paul
and Chris Whites, I will approach these opportunities the same
way that I would if I was getting to manifest
Iago in Othello, if I was getting to play Tom
Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie. I don't think there's any
(23:42):
difference in the approach no matter the genre, and I
take it just as seriously. I mean, it's incredibly silly
when you look at it from the outside and here
I am battling giant spaceworms and I'm shooting polka dots
out of my fingers, and to many people you could go, wow,
that's ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
Sure it is. But I love it and we love
watching it. And you know, for something like murder Bot,
as you are, you know, getting this script, you know,
and looking at reading it over and stuff, do you
kind of nerd out too, like as I do watching it.
I do.
Speaker 5 (24:17):
As soon as I was given the opportunity to get
to be grath and in murder Bot, and I started
really getting into and diving into the scripts and the
stories and the characters in the worlds that we were
going to be bringing to life, I get twelve again.
I get that feeling, that tingly feeling that I get
the same feeling I get when I'm because I write
(24:39):
a lot of comic books. I'm writing for many years
a series called Count Crowley for dark Horse. I've write,
I've been, I created and write Nights Versus Samurai Image.
I just did a run of Creature Commandos at d C.
I've got a new Venom story in Marvel and many
more to come. Whenever I get you know, an email
with layouts or you know, inks or pen from my artist,
(25:01):
I jump up in my seat. And when I get
a script with a character like Giratham that I get
to play, jump up out of my seat and I
just I feel twelve, man. When I'm on set and playing,
I feel twelve. And that's a beautiful way to feel.
Not the twelve that was terrified or insecure, or afraid
or self loathing. The twelve that would walk into Clint's
Comics in Kansas City and you know, open the latest
(25:22):
issue of you know, Detective Comics or West Coast Avengers
or X Men or whatever I was reading at the
time and get so nerdily excited and transported to another world.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
I live for it.
Speaker 5 (25:32):
It's it's a dream.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
It's it's awesome to watch. And then you know, and
like you said, then you go on set and you
are literally in the murder about Diaries, you know what
I mean?
Speaker 5 (25:43):
Yes, yes, And that world that Martha imagined is so
you know, full, and it's so powerful. So I'm excited
for audiences to get to see this world because it's
like Yeah, it's science fiction. Yeah, it's comedy. Yeah, it's
all these things that you think, you know, what that's
supposed to look, can move and feel like. And I
feel so blessed and grateful that here on this show
(26:04):
and Apple's support it and give us an opportunity to
create something that I genuinely feel like is so outside
of the box of what people are used to and
it's gonna be utterly surprising in my humble.
Speaker 1 (26:18):
Opinion, I hope for people who tune in.
Speaker 5 (26:20):
I don't know if you've gotten to watch episodes yet,
but to me, I've been given a chance now to
sit down with them, and I'm so proud and I
feel like this, this this experience pushed me in the
best way possible and made me a much better actor
than I've ever gotten to be before.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
And I'm really grateful for it. Yeah, and I'm grateful
to watch it. I can't wait for everybody to see it.
And I love that you can continue to elevate. You know,
I say our genre as this collective, that's what is.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
Special about it, though man it is ours, it is not,
it's the it's the least exclusionary of the storytelling. Sometimes
things can feel inaccessible, even they shouldn't. You want to
see Shakespeare, you want to go to the opera, you
want to see you know, a hardcore drama syntomes, those
can feel exclusionary even and with genre work and the
science fiction in the nerd space, everyone is welcome. All
(27:13):
of us belong and it is ours. It's ours to
share and celebrate. And that's why a story like this
is so important too, because look at the characters. There's
so many weirdos and people outside of norms, and we're
living in a time that can be dangerous for people
who live outside of the norms, who aren't fitting into
the binary structure, the way that people are told they're
supposed to look, present themselves, behave. We're all safe, we
(27:37):
all belong. So thank you for saying our it is
our genre, and I'm just grateful and honored that I
get the chance to come in and sometimes, you know,
contribute to it.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
Thank you, David. I can't wait for everybody to see
murder Bot. It's a pleasure to talk to you. Thank you,
Thanks man, Thank you so much. Have a good.
Speaker 6 (27:55):
Day, David dest moushit in love him, Love murder Bot,
Love Late Night with The Devil, one of my favorite
movies ever, Love the Dark, Night, Love ant Man, Love Oppenheimer.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
He's just such a great actor. He you know, I
would really say he's like a character actor. He really
just brings a whole thing to everything he does, you know,
and that's why I find him so enjoyable. So all right,
that's our show for this episode. The next episode is
our annual National Memorial Day Concert Special. I'll be live
(28:30):
in Washington, d C. At the West Lawn of the
US Capitol, talking with the performers, including Gary Sonise and
the gospel legend Yolanda Adams, all about you know, celebrating
and remembering what Memorial Day is all about. National Memorial
Day Concert will air live on PBS on Sunday, May
(28:51):
twenty fifth at eight pm Eastern, with an encore following
at nine thirty pm Eastern. So all right, I will
see you next time. I love you well.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
Thank you for listening to pop Culture Weekly. Here all
the latest at Popcultureweekly dot com.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
Murder Bout Murder Bot, I Love to murder, murder about,
murder bout, I Love the Kill
In this episode of pop Culture Weekly, I talk with
the one to know Lyad David dest Mauchin all about
the brand new Apple TV Plus series Murder Bot, and
Max Talisman and Joey Polari joined to discuss their movie
Things Like This.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Let's go Welcome to pop Culture Weekly with Kyle McMahon
from my Heart Radio your pop culture news, views, reviews
and celebrity interviews on all the movies, TV, music and
pop culture u CRABE Weekly. Here's Kyle McMahon.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
No No, no NTT, Hello and welcome to the pop
Culture Weekly with Kyle McMahon. I of course am Kyle McMahon.
I thank you as always for joining me for another
episode of pop Culture Weekly. You know the drill. We've
got your all access passed to the stars and biggest
stories and buzziest releases in entertainment, and today's episode is
(00:56):
no different. It is stacked with talent. First up, we're
going to be joined by Max Talisman and Joey Polari,
the dynamic duo behind the new rom com Things Like This.
They will be dishing on everything from the making of
the film to the importance of authentic queer storytelling and
(01:18):
what it was like bringing their on screen chemistry to life.
Max has a very interesting story behind his reason for,
you know, writing and directing and starring in this film.
I think it's a pretty important story to tell, and
I'm glad that he's telling it on Pop Culture Weekly.
Then the one and only David des Maushin stops by
(01:41):
to talk about his killer new Apple TV Plus series
Murder Bot. Yes it's sci fi, Yes it's crazy, and
yes David brings that same unforgettable intensity we've seen in
Dune and The Suicide Squad and Oppenheimer and my favorite
film of his, Late Night with the Devil exclusively from Shutter,
(02:02):
but this time with a sarcastic, emotionally complex robot involved two. Yeah,
it's crazy, but I love it. So let's dive right in.
We'll start with the heart and soul behind a brand
new romantic comedy that's been already turning heads and winning
(02:23):
hearts from the reviews alone. We've got actor, writer, director
Max Talisman, who not only stars in the film but
also wrote and directed it, so definitely a triple threat there.
And joining him is the incredibly talented Joey Polari, who
you may know from Love Simon the Away Looking for Alaska. Together,
(02:46):
they bring a fresh, authentic energy to things like this
film that explores love, connection and self discovery in a
way that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable. Really
really did enjoy this movie, and I wasn't, you know,
wasn't sure that it was going to be my cup
of tea, and it is just universal. It's such a
(03:08):
great film. It's charming, it's funny, it's emotional, and you know,
most importantly, it's a huge step forward for inclusive storytelling
in film. So please welcome to Pop Culture Weekly, Max
Talisman and Joey PILARI thank you Max and Joey for
(03:28):
joining me. I really appreciate it. Yeah, thank you, Thank
you so much of course. So first of all, Max,
how did this, How did things like this come up?
For you? Writer? Director, producer? Where did this come from?
Speaker 3 (03:42):
It came from the feeling that I wasn't seeing roles
that I wanted reflected in the landscape, and also stories
that I felt represented myself as part of what I
was seeing on screen, and my acting coach, Amelia Campbell,
had suggested that I just sit down and I write
and see what comes out. And I know that there's
(04:02):
a lot of you know, acting coaches, a lot of
professors who give that advice. And I would also say
that if that advice is given, give it a shot,
because you never know what could have happened. But that's
really where it came from. And it started mostly with
writing what I know, which is, you know, at the time,
dating in New York, dating as a plus sized gay man.
Like that's really where it started, and it just grew
(04:26):
from there. More and more, you know, parts of the
story came in, and I grew as a writer. I
developed it for years with Buzz Kane, my producer, and
then you know, eight years later, here we.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Are, Wow and Joey, how did you get involved?
Speaker 4 (04:41):
I got a call out of the blue, like something
that you just dream of. Yeah, and Max called or
sent an email, you know, the euphemism of call, and
I just like got thrown to me. It was in
the middle of the pandemic. Then the script came and
I started reading the script, and I hopped on a
call with Max. I mean, had toscussion about like what
would actually look like, and once we got on set,
(05:04):
it was off to the races. We just had an
absolute blast.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Max for you. You know, you mentioned this that you
didn't see exactly you know, what you wanted to see
representation wise on screen. What are some of the films
that you know inspired you, although they might not have
been exactly what you were looking for?
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Absolutely, I think the films that inspired me most are
you know, straight roum comms of like the nineties, like
movies like You've Got Mail, Nodding Hell, When Harry Met Sally,
like sort of the quintessential rom com. And also movies
from a little bit later when I was in like
high school, like The Proposal or I just movies like
(05:49):
that that sort of you know, I, as a queer kid,
would have to see myself reflected in these straight stories
and find sort of, you know, how I could relate
to them. And so, you know, I felt like what
I wanted to create was a queer romance where street
people could relate to it, just sort of tell a
love story that was funny and had a lot of
(06:10):
heart to it. And that's that's where it came from,
was this feeling of what I got from those movies.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
And did you find as you were writing it is
you know, you're obviously being in any I feel as
an artist that whenever you are creating art, there's a
real vulnerability a lot of times. Did you feel that
especially you know, not only are you creating it and
writing it and producing it and all, but you're in it. Yeah,
(06:40):
and so you know, so it's it's even I think,
more exposing yourself. So like, Okay, I'm going to write
all this and then I have somebody else do it,
so I can kind of, I don't want to say,
hide behind that and negative, but when you're writing it
and then you're also being it, it's even more exposure.
(07:01):
You know. Did you did you find that?
Speaker 3 (07:03):
I didn't necessarily only because yeah, I ever saw him
break a sweat once exactly what you're talking about.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
You would think that someone would had that level of
just fear, but Max's no.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
I was going to say, like, as a as a writer,
what's sort of comforting is that, like, I think all
of the characters are elements of me, you know, in
a way, so they're all sort of like parts of
you know, my brain, you know, personified. So I'm only
playing an element of myself, Like I think that, you know,
obviously to be like, if I'm being frank, the character
(07:36):
my Zach is probably the closest in the film to myself.
But that being said, we soill have a lot of differences,
and so it wasn't It didn't feel as vulnerable, to
be honest, probably the most vulnerable was the writing of
it itself, but just on set in general, I just
felt like, you know, so blessed to get to do
this and like so just happy to be there. So yeah, no,
(07:58):
there was no sweat, There was no everything had a solution,
Everything sort of you know, had somewhere to go. So
it didn't feel like I was ever under a lot
of stress. It was always just sort of a great
situation to be in. And the vulnerability you're speaking of
was I think really sort of explored in the first
part of it when I was just writing it. And
you know, I what's interesting is now that it's being released,
(08:21):
maybe that will be something, you know, that will start
I think it's no, it's interesting.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
You should be very afraid.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
Good.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
I'm all good. I'll call my therapist later.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
But we're good. Okay, And Joey, you know to that,
do you feel a responsibility? You know, I mean Max
is right there, he's on set, you're you know, you're
talking to him in your scenes. Did that it ever
occur to you that, like, I am you know a
(08:53):
part of I am that I'm reflecting back to any
I just kind of felt like the only thing.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
That were really vulnerable are these moments where like the
characters really going through it really is trying to confront
why they're drawn towards each other away from each other.
That's the stuff is vulnerable. When you have a cast
and a crew that's so supportive, eventually you feel all right.
You know what the scariest part was is that one
of our most dramatic scenes was shot maybe day two.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
It's day three year us. It was absolutely right, and.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
I remember getting the call she yeah, oh okay. I
thought I have time to work up to this. But
it taught me a valuable lesson, which is just you
always have to dive in. And it really helped. Once
that scene was over, you just felt like you could
breathe this big breath of fresh air. So that was
a real it felt like a curse and it turned
into a real blessing.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
I was worried about that too. I kept trying to
fight the schedule to be like, why are we here
on that you know, but locations independent film, you really
don't have a say on where you are when. So
it worked out in the end, I think to me,
it did sort of force us into the fire, you know,
dive into the deep end type thing.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Yes, well, and it came out beautifully. So thanks mission
accomplished for you, Joey. When you're doing a role like this,
are you able to or how do you separate or
not separate yourself into zach yours? Zach.
Speaker 4 (10:21):
I think at any time with this, something like this
or things like this, you're you're it's so much trying
to replicate that chemistry and that sparks as relatable as possible.
So you're not trying to just build this entire character
or build all these walls to try and construct something.
You're just trying to relate as much as possible. So
(10:41):
I'm trying to bring as much of myself as there
is in trying to find out where those moments are
that I can relate like any artist, you know, trying
to find your way in That was the real gift
of playing a rom com. You know, comedy relies your instinct,
relies on your instincts. Drama relies on your instincts with
different degree, but it's it's you've have to be in
(11:02):
that moment.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
So that was just a pleasure. And did you ever
pick Max's brain about you know, I think it's almost
like a blessing and a curse. I would think that
Max is there as the writer because you can almost
end director, because you could almost get in well literally
you can pick his brain about Well, what did you
(11:23):
mean when you said this for me? You know what
I mean?
Speaker 4 (11:26):
Yeah, that was a real I was nice, Yeah, I
was nice. I mean Max is right there. There's no
and Max doesn't have any sort of ego about Okay
I'm here and I'm doing this or that. There's not
this hierarchy where you're trying to talk to someone through something.
Max is just always available. So having those times where
you do have a question or not. But I mean, honestly,
(11:46):
most of the time we just laughed our way through
this thing.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
We did.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
I would like to, you know, portray some story like
I was really going back there and trying to figure
out callus therapists behind his back something like this, but no,
it was just pleasurable so much.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
But we would also I mean, there were times where
you know, we would change words on the fly type thing,
like it's not precious about the writing to be honest,
Like if if Joey felt like something should sound differently,
I would be like, let's go with that. Like there's no.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
That's so rare.
Speaker 5 (12:15):
I mean, it was just great collaborative experience, you know,
that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
And and Max, I got to ask you, it's so
beautifully shot, you know, there are so so many gorgeous shots,
especially of New York. How did you decide, you know,
did you have like a list of things that you
know you wanted to hit shot wise in regards to
this city.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
Absolutely, yeah, No, I knew that, you know, you have
limited times sort of you know, being able to showcase
the city, and I wanted to highlight, you know, what
makes New York that's sort of the most romantic city,
not just to me but clearly to a lot of
filmmakers and people in general. So it was important to
me to highlight the places that I felt, you know,
(13:01):
felt the most sort of magical, like in this elevated
not elevated, but you know, a lifted place of mystical realism,
like just the next level. And so we did sort
of have the places you know, we needed to hit
and what was important to us. And it was also
important to me that we got a stonewall in there
for a moment, just to make sure, you know, to
(13:22):
you know, recognize that we wouldn't even be able to
make this film if not for what happened there years ago.
And it was just you know, important to just make
sure that we were highlighting the parts of the city
that really you know, allowed us to make the movie
at the.
Speaker 6 (13:36):
In the end.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
But yeah, also, you know, you speak to the shots,
and that's a lot my collaboration with Matt Clegg, the DP,
and really just my associate director, Michael mctuzek, And we
just spent you know, days sort of creating a shot
list and going through it. And I knew that for
a lot of things, I wouldn't you know, end up
being behind the camera because I was on screen. So
(14:00):
we had to make sure that everything was really planned
and you know, looked the way it was supposed to
when it was time, and that I could quickly look
at a monitor and be like, yeah, that's a shot
we planned, Let's go for it.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
And that actually brings up a great point because you
are wearing so many hats in that did you find
it difficult at all to uh, to kind of juggle
all these balls or whatever the saying is, Did I
just mess up? That's say.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
No, that's all what I was laughing at to me, honest,
it was just fir, I think it is.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
No, The truth is that I know I didn't. I think,
like in the same way that I think every job
you know has its stresses, and it's you know, it's
moments of can I do this, like the imposter syndrome
comes in. But that was all sort of before to
be honest, once you know, we're speaking about being on set,
like I was surrounded by such an amazing crew and
(14:55):
such a just wonderful cast that like, once I was there,
it was just your support for everything I was doing.
And I never felt like I was out there alone.
And it never felt like it was all on my shoulders.
So even if you know a lot of it was,
it doesn't it didn't matter because I didn't.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
Feel that way.
Speaker 3 (15:14):
I felt completely supported, and I always, you know, I feel,
even when I was wearing so many hats, that I
was just part of the crew and part of the cast.
So in the end, I felt more like, you know,
a team leader more than anything else, and so that
really pushed forward sort of you know, the mentality to
be able to go through it, right.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
I love that and Joey for for you, you know
during the shoot, what was the funniest, Because it is,
you know, a romantic comedy, what was the funniest for
you as an actor? You know in your shoot, whether
on screen or off.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
Oh, I mean there's too many moments to count. We
have such funny people in this movie. I've got a
couple of scenes with Taylor Trent, who plays my ex
boyfriend in the movie. He is so incredibly funny. We
had great just day players who came on. I mean
that's the fun thing, right, Like you just meet this person,
you jump right into a scene and you finally have
all this wonderful talent or this wonderful Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
So that's that's to me the most.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Yeah, No, I mean I think you know, it's it's
it's every day felt really fun. We felt like we
had did have a lot of day players come in.
We had a lot of like people who were these
incredible comedians come in for really like hours and we
would get to play around with them and then they
would leave, and so it was really special. But I
will say that watching you and Taylor was a special joy.
(16:39):
Like they are, they were able to sort of, you know,
improv and create these really hilarious bits. And we have
a lot of tailor in the bloopers because it was
just sort of like.
Speaker 4 (16:48):
It's in Gold, it's a tailor and they're not really
or just outtakes outtakes of.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
Him playing the character. Yeah, I would love for him
to play some like you know, crazy Jim carry us
characters so you can have like a liar liar blooper
real of him because he's just crazy talent aster. Yeah,
that'd be sick fire Liar the musical.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
I love that. And finally, what do you hope for
people to get from things like this? Both of you?
I hope that.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
People get that the you know, the message of this
film is that love is universal, and the fears that
we have, the anxieties that we have about falling in love,
everyone goes through those. I hope that the message that
we you know, all want to be loved and we
all feel the you know, the need to connect with
other people. I think those are the main things that
(17:40):
I'm hoping, and I also hope people just have a
good time. I hope they laugh. I hope they you know,
leave wanting to hear more of my jokes please, So
those that would be what I.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
Say, Yeah, I love that and I have the same feeling.
I mean, we have a great message here about that
universal love and that everyone's creences the same things when
they go and try and fall in love. But it's
just a gas of a movie. It's fun to seeing
a big theater. It resonates, baby music's loud. It's a
gas from start to finish.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
And it's a joy to watch. Thank you both so
much a pursuing with me things like this. Thank you
any great day? Yeah? Thanks you take care, Max Tellisman,
enjoy PILARI great, guys. It's a great film. Things like
this really is, you know, an enjoyable universal film that
(18:31):
I think is important for you know, people that aren't
necessarily always represented in film authentically. So we're gonna take
a quick break and to pay the bills. When we
come back, we're talking with David das Mauchin be back
in sixty all right. Thanks for hanging with me and
(18:57):
supporting our sponsors that help support this show so I
can bring great stuff to you. So all right, let's
get right into it. You know, our next guest from
some of the most unforgettable roles in recent film and
TV The Dark Night, ant Man, Suicide Squad, Dune, Oppenheimer,
and my favorite Late Night with the Devil. Is the
(19:20):
kind of actor who disappears into every role that he
does and he leaves a lasting impression every single time.
Now he's stepping into the world of sci fi once again,
this time as a scientist in this crazy world of
murder Bot, which is a new Apple TV Plus series
that's based on the beloved books by Martha Wells. It's
(19:43):
action packed, it's smart, it's darkly funny, and full of heart,
just like David himself. So let's get ready to dive
into rogue robots, existential questions, and some pretty cool storytelling.
Please welcome to Pop Culture Weekly, the incredibly talented, always
fastating David. That's Mouchin. Thank you so much for speaking
(20:06):
with me, David, I appreciate it's how you doing. I'm great, man,
How are you I'm doing well? Thank you. Congratulations on
murder Bot and this will lead into that. But you
have been in so many of my favorite projects, from
Weird to you know, uh, Late Night with the Devil
is one of my all time favorite things ever. I
(20:29):
love it so awesome.
Speaker 5 (20:32):
So much, thank you, of course.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
And then Twin Peaks, I mean, so many of your
projects have been some of my absolute favorites. Last Voyage,
I mean, anyway, I could go on about your entire career,
but is this and then now murder Bot is so cool.
You have obviously the best agent in the world. That's
but like, how are you drawn to these kinds of projects?
(20:55):
Like is that a conscious choice that you know?
Speaker 5 (20:59):
Is there's some that's conscious than conscious. I'm energetically drawn
to the material, and maybe the material energetically magnetizes me.
But since I was a little boy in Kansas sneaking
downstairs to watch the you know, Cremation Moortem Friday Fright Night,
and I would watch all the classic old horror movies,
and then I, you know, became completely engrossed in the
(21:20):
world of comic books. And I've been collecting comic books
since I was nine years old. I love science fiction.
So all of that being a fan myself and having
been someone that's found so much joy in those spaces
now as a professional actor, storyteller, perhaps there is some
kind of invisible thread that is drawing me towards all
(21:42):
of this, but honestly, I give it up. You know,
it's God, It's a miracle. It's incredible. I I'm someone
who's shouldn't even be sitting here today, but thanks to
you know, the miracle of like mental health, mental wellness recovery.
I'm going to be celebrating twenty three years clean and
sober in May and the back congratulations, I thank you.
I get to tell stories for a living, especially in
(22:07):
the genre space, and how that's all taken shape is
in many regards just beyond my ability to comprehend. Sometimes
I show up to work and I look around myself
and I go, how is this even real? A friend
of mine once said to me, you know, you're living
in nerdvana.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
And I completely agree. A state of nerdvana. That's a
perfect way to put it, because you know, as your career,
I've obviously myself been a lifelong pop culture fan, and
you know, two thousand and eight or whatever, you know,
as your career really started picking up in film and TV,
and I'm like, okay, David and then it's the next
(22:47):
cool project that I'm looking for, and I'm like, oh,
he's in this too, And then the next cool project
that I'm excited about, I'm like, Wow, he's like He's
like in all these cool things, you know that I'm
drawn to as a as a genre nerd.
Speaker 5 (22:59):
You know, I'm so lucky. And one of the things
I'm so grateful for is my history and my background
in the stage and working in the theater, and this
deep love of text and bringing characters to life. Because
whether I'm you know, trying to manifest you know, Frank
Herbert's pytrate degrees in Denny Villaneu's Dune film adaptation, or
(23:19):
bringing James Gunn's Polka Dot Man to life in The
Suicide Squad, or portraying Goarath and a character from the
mind of Martha wells Now in this show from Paul
and Chris Whites, I will approach these opportunities the same
way that I would if I was getting to manifest
Iago in Othello, if I was getting to play Tom
Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie. I don't think there's any
(23:42):
difference in the approach no matter the genre, and I
take it just as seriously. I mean, it's incredibly silly
when you look at it from the outside and here
I am battling giant spaceworms and I'm shooting polka dots
out of my fingers, and to many people you could go, wow,
that's ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
Sure it is. But I love it and we love
watching it. And you know, for something like murder Bot,
as you are, you know, getting this script, you know,
and looking at reading it over and stuff, do you
kind of nerd out too, like as I do watching it.
I do.
Speaker 5 (24:17):
As soon as I was given the opportunity to get
to be grath and in murder Bot, and I started
really getting into and diving into the scripts and the
stories and the characters in the worlds that we were
going to be bringing to life, I get twelve again.
I get that feeling, that tingly feeling that I get
the same feeling I get when I'm because I write
(24:39):
a lot of comic books. I'm writing for many years
a series called Count Crowley for dark Horse. I've write,
I've been, I created and write Nights Versus Samurai Image.
I just did a run of Creature Commandos at d C.
I've got a new Venom story in Marvel and many
more to come. Whenever I get you know, an email
with layouts or you know, inks or pen from my artist,
(25:01):
I jump up in my seat. And when I get
a script with a character like Giratham that I get
to play, jump up out of my seat and I
just I feel twelve, man. When I'm on set and playing,
I feel twelve. And that's a beautiful way to feel.
Not the twelve that was terrified or insecure, or afraid
or self loathing. The twelve that would walk into Clint's
Comics in Kansas City and you know, open the latest
(25:22):
issue of you know, Detective Comics or West Coast Avengers
or X Men or whatever I was reading at the
time and get so nerdily excited and transported to another world.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
I live for it.
Speaker 5 (25:32):
It's it's a dream.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
It's it's awesome to watch. And then you know, and
like you said, then you go on set and you
are literally in the murder about Diaries, you know what
I mean?
Speaker 5 (25:43):
Yes, yes, And that world that Martha imagined is so
you know, full, and it's so powerful. So I'm excited
for audiences to get to see this world because it's
like Yeah, it's science fiction. Yeah, it's comedy. Yeah, it's
all these things that you think, you know, what that's
supposed to look, can move and feel like. And I
feel so blessed and grateful that here on this show
(26:04):
and Apple's support it and give us an opportunity to
create something that I genuinely feel like is so outside
of the box of what people are used to and
it's gonna be utterly surprising in my humble.
Speaker 1 (26:18):
Opinion, I hope for people who tune in.
Speaker 5 (26:20):
I don't know if you've gotten to watch episodes yet,
but to me, I've been given a chance now to
sit down with them, and I'm so proud and I
feel like this, this this experience pushed me in the
best way possible and made me a much better actor
than I've ever gotten to be before.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
And I'm really grateful for it. Yeah, and I'm grateful
to watch it. I can't wait for everybody to see it.
And I love that you can continue to elevate. You know,
I say our genre as this collective, that's what is.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
Special about it, though man it is ours, it is not,
it's the it's the least exclusionary of the storytelling. Sometimes
things can feel inaccessible, even they shouldn't. You want to
see Shakespeare, you want to go to the opera, you
want to see you know, a hardcore drama syntomes, those
can feel exclusionary even and with genre work and the
science fiction in the nerd space, everyone is welcome. All
(27:13):
of us belong and it is ours. It's ours to
share and celebrate. And that's why a story like this
is so important too, because look at the characters. There's
so many weirdos and people outside of norms, and we're
living in a time that can be dangerous for people
who live outside of the norms, who aren't fitting into
the binary structure, the way that people are told they're
supposed to look, present themselves, behave. We're all safe, we
(27:37):
all belong. So thank you for saying our it is
our genre, and I'm just grateful and honored that I
get the chance to come in and sometimes, you know,
contribute to it.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
Thank you, David. I can't wait for everybody to see
murder Bot. It's a pleasure to talk to you. Thank you,
Thanks man, Thank you so much. Have a good.
Speaker 6 (27:55):
Day, David dest moushit in love him, Love murder Bot,
Love Late Night with The Devil, one of my favorite
movies ever, Love the Dark, Night, Love ant Man, Love Oppenheimer.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
He's just such a great actor. He you know, I
would really say he's like a character actor. He really
just brings a whole thing to everything he does, you know,
and that's why I find him so enjoyable. So all right,
that's our show for this episode. The next episode is
our annual National Memorial Day Concert Special. I'll be live
(28:30):
in Washington, d C. At the West Lawn of the
US Capitol, talking with the performers, including Gary Sonise and
the gospel legend Yolanda Adams, all about you know, celebrating
and remembering what Memorial Day is all about. National Memorial
Day Concert will air live on PBS on Sunday, May
(28:51):
twenty fifth at eight pm Eastern, with an encore following
at nine thirty pm Eastern. So all right, I will
see you next time. I love you well.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
Thank you for listening to pop Culture Weekly. Here all
the latest at Popcultureweekly dot com.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
Murder Bout Murder Bot, I Love to murder, murder about,
murder bout, I Love the Kill
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