Darren Weiss chats his new movie: BREAK, acting, & being Jewish in Hollywood today!

Episode Transcript
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(00:05):
Hey, everyone, Welcome back toanother episode of Chanel in the City.
I'm your host, Shanell Amari.We are on iHeartRadio right now and I
have such a special treat for you. A fantastic guest, a dear friend
of mine. He's a talented actorand producer. He's actually one of the
stars of his lead film Break comingout this April, as well as another

(00:25):
hit movie, Bartejov, Mob Copsand Americano. This man is super busy
and super doesn't skip a beat.Okay, he's a talented actor, producer.
Please help me. Welcome Darren Weiss. Everybody, h Chanell, how
are you? Thank you so muchfor having me? How are He's like?
Listen, what was that like?Are you obsessed with me or what?

(00:45):
Oh? Listen, I gotta takeyou everywhere I go. You deserve
it. You're amazing, such ahard worker. First of all, I
want to wish you a Mazotov andcongratulations on four films that are out,
which is like not the easiest thingto do, so talented talk to us
about like, first of all,well, I have a lot of things
to talk about because last night Isaw Bartejov, Danny Abi Kazar, our

(01:08):
good friend who's an amazing film directorand actor, also acted in Bartijoe.
It's in a credit. I'm gonnalet you tell the story, but it's
based on a true story about theHolocaust, which I think everybody is a
Jew should watch, but not onlyjust as Jewish person. I think everybody
in the world should watch, especiallyfrom what we're going through today. I
cried. It's a phenomenal film.I feel like it's Oscar Winning. You

(01:33):
were phenomenal in it. When Isaw your scene, I was like,
holy shit, he's a phenomenal actorbecause I know you in real life,
so like to see you also actand be authentic is so incredible and inspiring
for me as an actress. Tellme about the film, tell me why
it's important, how it was actingwith Danny Abi Kazar and all. There's

(01:53):
a lot of talented actors. RobertDavie who's amazing in it, Omel Hazan
and you guys have acted in otherfilms together. So tell me about this
film and tell me how it wasdifferent and why it's so important. Yeah.
Absolutely, Well, first and foremost, it's probably the most important film
that I've been a part of.Just because of you know, everything going

(02:15):
on in Israel and being Jewish andyou know, growing up and having a
bar Mitzvah and all that and reallyunderstand what's going on with Israel. But
in you know, even furthermore,my great grandpa and grandma. You know,
my great grandpa died in the Holocaust. My grandma was a survivor of
the Holocaust. So when Danny calledme and said, hey, we're doing

(02:37):
this true story about this Holocaust survivor. We're shooting it in Israel and Slovakia,
I have a really good part foryou. I just I didn't even
have to read the script. Imean I read the script and it was
unbelievable. I didn't even have toread the script. I'm like, I'm
in one hundred percent. This meansa lot to me on so many different
levels. And we filmed it inIsrael last year, probably like maybe June

(02:59):
July, so just a couple monthsbefore you know, the events that took
place, you know, on Octoberseventh, and it was it was it
was really something. It's an incrediblestory about a meal fish who is a
Holocaust survivor ninety two, ninety threeyears old and basically you know, when

(03:21):
the Germans were coming to invade thecity that a Meal had lived and grew
up in. He was seven yearsold at the time. He was in
the hospital, there was maybe twohundred kids, and this doctor infected these
two hundred kids that he found outthe Germans were coming. So we infected
these two hundred kids with a faketyphus virus and basically told the Germans,
hey, they're all going to die. It's highly contagious. You don't have

(03:45):
to come here. And this doctorsaved two hundred kids. And one of
these kids turned out to be aMeal, who you know, produced a
movie and he was on set.He's ninety two to ninety three years old
now, and he's all there.He's very alert, very functional. So
just to be with him on setand just sort of hear him talk was
truly you know, when he talks, you just you listen, you know,

(04:05):
and he's so full of life andso full of wisdom and has so
many stories. So it was reallyspecial just to be part of that and
be in his presence and help tellhis story. And furthermore, you know,
Danny A, you know, that'show we know him. Danny A
dear friend of ours. I cannotsay enough good things about danny A.
I love that man. He's givenme opportunities. You know, that was

(04:29):
a second movie since then. Ijust wrapped another movie, Mob Cops on
the Warner Brothers a lot a coupleof weeks ago. But I've worked with
him a few times now. Wemet probably six seven years ago, and
he's the best. And Chanelle,I know you know him as well as
I do. He love him somuch too. I just want everyone to
also understand, like him and you, this whole crew is like I've never
met people in Hollywood in this business, so graceful, so selfless, so

(04:57):
just willing to give people opportunity andreally about the art, not about the
ego. And I love him becausehe's always believed in me and given me
opportunities the same way with you thatyou know. That's why I think everyone
loves him. And he's about thehe's about making the movie right, about
bigger. It's about bigger than him, bigger than us. You know,
he's so good at telling the storyof how he wants things. He's a
perfectionist, and he's so good tohis friends, and he's just everyone always

(05:24):
wants to be around him, andI think that's just a testament to the
kind of person you want to be. Just everyone, Oh Danny Ay,
danny A. Like everyone loves him, Everyone loves being with him, going
out with him, laughing, havingeveryone's got a Danny A story that knows
him, probably multiple right, andyou know it was cool. You know,
he he uses a lot of thesame people in his movies, right,

(05:44):
so like which, by the way, I love that and that because
you don't you don't see that powdernsince Adam Sandler, there's very few like
Judd Apatou Adam Sandler, but he'smore in a serious genre of like using
the same cast, which I love, you know, I think is really
cool. And you know what,that builds chemistry because you get to know
these people on a personal level,and it just makes it easier when you're

(06:05):
on set acting. You know,it's just when you know someone, it's
just it's so much easier and youcan relate to them and you know how
they work, you know how Dannyworks, and it really is being on
set. It's so it's just fun. You just want to be be You
don't want to leave when you're withDanny A. And the same thing.
So it's it's really, it's reallya great There's no one like him,

(06:29):
you know, there's no one likehim. He's such a special person.
I tell him all the time,and he's so humble. I was like,
you're so amazing, You're so talented, but you're such a good person.
And that's see. I want whatevery people, everybody to take aways.
Yeah, of course your career mattersand dreams matter, but it's about
the character and what kind of personyou're at the end of the day.
No matter how famous he is,no matter who he knows, he treats
you, me and everyone the sameright, with respect and equally, and

(06:53):
that's what I love about him.I mean, how is it so?
I want to know a couple ofthings. How did you guys meet?
Right? For the audience? Ithink I know, but I'm saying,
like for the audience now? Butalso, how is it getting directed by
your friend? Because I beg himall the time. I'm like, please
put me in a movie because Iwant to work with him, because how
cool is it to work with someonethat's your friend but also so amazing?

(07:13):
You know what I'm saying, Like, that's just rare it's so rare.
So how we met. So forpeople that don't know, I'm a big
basketball guy. I play a lotof basketball. I watch a lot of
basketball. I'm a basketball fanatic.I love basketball and I love film.
And Danny A is a big basketballfan. He plays basketball. He's got
a basketball court in his house inHollywood. And probably seven or eight years

(07:36):
ago, when I was like twentythree years old, I'm playing at this
gym and Beverly Hill is on aSaturday morning and in walks this dude.
He's wearing like a nineteen nineties throwback, like championship windbreaker, It's like red
and blue. He's got like asideways hat on. He's like walking in
and I'm just like, who isthis dude? And he just like walks
on the court, doesn't warm themup. He's starting to do like behind

(07:58):
the back, and I'm just itwas. It was incredible, and so
we start talking after the game andnothing comes of it. Fast forward a
few weeks later, I'm playing atthat same gym and in walks Danny,
and probably ten feet behind him walksin Lebron James and Maverick Carter, and

(08:18):
the whole gym went silent when Lebronwalked in. I knew this is a
pickup basketball game on like a Mondaynight, okay, and we're just like
why. This is when Lebron firstsign with the Lakers in twenty eighteen,
so everyone's like, why is Lebronat this random pickup game on a Monday
night? And he came with DannyCause Lebron's buddy Maverick plays in this game,

(08:39):
right, So I gotta tell you, like, I never played so
hard in a pickup game in mylife. Lebron was over there in the
corner watching. Everyone said what upto him? And after the game,
like Danny and I were sort oftalking. He's like, yo, I
got a house in the hills,I have my boys over every Saturday.
Why don't you come and hoop?And I'm just like, I didn't know
who Danny was at the time,or he did, or what his background

(09:01):
was. It was just purely basketballand I just wanted to hoop hoop.
And I think he realized I justI just love the game, so he
invited me over. We started hoopingevery Saturday. And for people that don't
know, Saturdays at danny A's isa hell of you never know who's gonna
show up. We're just playing backbasketball for hours. We jump in the
pool in between games, we're tanning. You know. He loves to tan

(09:24):
and everyone from like Tracy McGrady tomeetians that just come and watch too.
So that's how we originally met.And then we just started playing basketball together
and then like one thing led toanother and it's turned into a beautiful friendship
over the last seven years. Andyou know, working on set with him,
it's so funny as a friend,Like it's so funny because he knows

(09:48):
what he wants, so he sendsyou the scenes or you know, you
get ready and I come on setand I know what I want to do,
and like, you know, likefor instance, like he's big on
improv, right, So like wehad a scene that was supposed to take
place in the back of a car. He goes, no, no,
no, no, I'm scratching that. Here's what we want to do.
He's like, you know your lines. I'm like yeah, He's like,
all right, I'm gonna walk up, I'm gonna say some stuff. You
go with it, sort of sayyour lines. But I just need it

(10:09):
in real time. I need tohear it as if we're hearing it for
the first time. See, Ilove that. Sorry, I love that
because people don't do that anymore.I'm big on improv, and there's a
big dispute in the comedy world aboutthat too, because it's so regimen.
Right, No, you got todo a punch and a joke or and
no, whether acting or comedy,I believe improv is a very important skill
s right. That's what I loveabout him to go. Let's you play,

(10:31):
you know, like your and youryour character is reacting as if he's
hearing it for the first time.You know, you can rehearse the same
scene and wait for you know,your scene partner to say something and know
your beat. But it really makesyou listen and the camera picks up more
on you listening than you talking,you know what I mean. It's more
important as an actor to listen thanit is to say your line. So

(10:52):
when he wants you to improv,I think you get way better reaction,
you get way better performances because it'sit's like real in life time. I
mean, you have to like bevery alert rather than oh, I'm just
waiting for him to say his line. Then I'm gonna say my line.
So it's so funny. He comesin, He's like, here's what I
want to do. Da da dada da. Go with it. You
know you're upset, you know,say some of your lines and you know,

(11:13):
I'll just go off what you're saying, and then you go off with
what I'm saying. I'm like,right, let's do it. And it's
so fun because you know we're friends. But like when he's got it's so
Danny's such affectionist and he's got thisswitch. So like when we're on set
and he's shooting, you know,right before there's action, we're joking around,
we're fucking around. Thirty seconds beforethe take, he goes in director
mode and it's a whole new personand it's like this switch and it's pretty

(11:35):
incredible how fast it goes on andoff from being friends to him directing you
know, his friends in a seat, you know what I mean, Chanel,
Yeah, of course. And that'sthat to me. I feel like
that is a skill because a lotof times, you know, I talk
to him about it and I'm like, how can you be that? You
know, it's important to be thisperson where you can be sociable and fun
with your friends and but also youkind of have to be a boss and

(11:56):
a leader, you know, onset. And but he that's why he's
smart because he trusts and picks theright people like yourself, like other people
you know, like me in general, like we all work together, where
he picks people he can trust relyon, and that's why he can probably
be the director, the phenomenal directorhe is. And you guys trust him,
meaning there's nothing personal to take becauseyou know that you can trust the

(12:18):
driver in the seat. You knowthat he's going to be an incredible scene.
You know. You know he's watchingout for you too, like for
the bigger one hundred percent you knowhe I just that's what you're one hundred
percent right. It comes down tojust trusting each other. And like he
knows what he wants and I trustthat because I've seen seen I've seen it
done. I've seen the work,and it's like, great, whatever you
want, let's do it, youknow. And and I think there's a

(12:39):
sign of like you know, workinga few times out, he trusts me,
and the fact that like anyone thathas worked with him more than once
that like he knows you know,will get what he wants out of you,
you know exactly, And I lovethat, and we'll go We're gonna
go back to Bartejov because there's ascene, the scene that you're in.
Tell us a little bit about thatscene, because it's actually one of the

(13:00):
most powerful scenes in the movie inmy opinion, I think, because that's
when some of the younger kids,that's when the Holocaust starts beginning. And
the head of Bargejoe, which isplayed by Robert Dobbi, who's phenomenal.
I want to know how it wasacting with him. But there's a scene
where he comes to the Nazis andthey want to hide them in the barrel
where you're working at, right,it's a what is it called the wine

(13:22):
Is it a wine barrel? Winecellar? Actually, I was in a
few scenes. There was one whereI want Dovey plays like the lead Rabbi
of artist jobs. Right, Sothe scene that you're referring to, we're
in the the wine cellar, andI work for Dove's character. My character
works for Dobby's character, and Dobby'ssort of like I don't play a Jewish

(13:46):
a Jewish character character, which iseven more interesting and phenomenal to me.
I just want to tell you that, Yeah, it was awesome, thank
you. But what what. SoWe're in the wine cellar, and basically
Davy's character I I bring Dobby thenews, Oh the Germans are coming here.
And I'm not Jewish, but Ihave so much respect for Dobby's character.
Everyone in the town of Bardajov knowswho Robert Dabby. You know who

(14:11):
he is, how much he meansto the town. So basically, even
my character not being Jewish and puttingmy life on the line, basically in
the scene, I'm telling him,look, the Germans are coming, you
have to leave. I have aplace for you, just outside these walls.
It's my father's place. That's whatI say to him. Like I
basically my character is saying I wantto hide you. I want to keep

(14:31):
you safe, which is you know, if the Germans found that out,
they would have came for me,even though my character wasn't Jewish. Right.
So it was a really powerful scenebecause Dobby says, you know,
I'm not going anywhere. This ismy city. But what I am doing
is I think highly of you.I'm gonna make you in charge of the
wine cellary. You know, thisis yours now, and it was sort

(14:52):
of like a passing to the torch. And it was really an emotional moment
because you know, he was likea father figure to my ca character and
for him to like be giving methe reins of his operation, it was
just and and say no. Likemy character was like I want to hide
you, I want to protect you, and he was like, no,
you know here I am, comeget me. You know. It was

(15:16):
it was, it was, itwas definitely we were very in the moment.
And you know, working with RobertDobby, he's been you know,
he's been around for fifty plus years. He's worked with Sinatra, he's worked
with de Niro, He's worked withthe biggest actors there are, you know.
And I got to spend a fewdays with him. This was the
second movie I did with him.He was an inside man and we got
to know each other and inside man, and then we went to Danny A's

(15:37):
wedding and he performed Sinatra at Danny'swedding. He's got to pla lot of
people know that. Yeah, he'sincredible. So when we went back to
Israel for a second time, wehad a few days off and him and
I would rehearse, and we spenta lot of time together on the beach
or at his hotel, and wejust talk about like acting life, like

(15:58):
he would just I would just pickhis brain about anything, and he was
just he was so he just hewould help me. He was like almost
like he was like playing his character. Like he was like almost a father
figure to me in the sense thatlike he just I don't even know,
he was like a mentor, youknow. Yeah, how did you guys
prepare together like you would rehearse?So there's I mean, actors rehearse together.

(16:22):
Obviously there's a thing called rehearsing beforebecause some actors don't. They prefer
to do it like in real time, like you said, or but how
did you guys kind of get tothat? Because to me, I cried
during that scene, and I'm surea lot of people would ask why because
it was so powerful, and Ithink once you got to watch the movie
coming out by the way, Marchnineteenth, these guys, it's very important
to all of us. It shouldbe important not only for again the Jewish

(16:44):
community, but for the world,especially parallel to what we're going through now
since October seventh and with all theanti Semitism, I think that what you
guys are doing is a movement,and so I think that's what it was
so powerful, right. I feellike I can relate, and so can
non Jews right now literally saying wouldI hide you or not? And so
that's a parallel to what happened,and so I think, you know,

(17:06):
so, so did you rehearse?Like how did you guys prepare? Yeah?
You know, everyone every actor isdifferent in how they rehearsed, just
like you said. But you know, I got to know Dabby a little
bit before, so I had hisnumber and we got really close in Israel,
and we still talk probably once everycouple of weeks now, but I
just I saw him. We haddinner the first night I got to Israel.
Is me Danny a Julian brass whowas in the movie shout out Julian,

(17:30):
Bobby and Danny's wife, and Dobby'slike, hey, it's like,
do you want to rehearse? I'mlike, yeah, absolutely, whatever you
want. So we really I cameto his hotel. He's like he's like
listen, schmug. He's like,I'm old. He's like, you got
to come to me and I'm like, no problem. So we rehearsed,
had launch, we went on thebeach and just we were just like hanging

(17:51):
out on the beach rehearsing, andthen he's like listening. He's like,
it's it's so much more than justlike the words on the page. He's
like, this scene is so it'sso powerful and what's happening. And we
really dove into that. And whenwe were it's funny like when you think
rehearse you just think of two actorslike going back and forth on their on
their lines. But when I rehearsedwith Dobby, he's like, let's build

(18:11):
some background, Let's build some deathnessto this, Like what's really going on.
He's like, the words don't matter. It's like the meaning behind the
words that really matters. And thatmade me totally you know, every from
that conversation on and I did thatbefore, but like I sort of tackle
every role I have with you know, the deeper meaning, like the words
on the page, sure they matter, but they really don't matter. It's

(18:33):
what's really going on behind the words, you know, and making that believable
that's so beautifully said, and thefact that like you can change characters in
different movies, because we're gonna nowswitch gears because you did Mob Cops right
around the same time that bartajoev isairing. I mean, how does that
feels as an actor emotionally when youhave to you know, kind of go

(18:56):
in and out of it. That'swhy, you know, there's method acting,
which I love, and I mean, I like, like what you
like improv in real time because thenyou can get in and out of character
without losing your mind. I mean, so how is it for you,
Like, how do you prepare?How did you prepare for Mob Cops?
And tell us a little bit aboutit. I'm just so excited for all
these movies, you guys. Yeah, Mob Cops is awesome. It's a
true story about the most corrupt copsin New York City in the eighties or

(19:18):
nineties. You know, I wastrained as a Meisner actor, you know,
and that's very like in the momentsort of it has a little bit
with improp just hearing it for thefirst time, and you know, Mob
Cops it was great, you know, like you just you got to switch
gears. You just I read ita few times and then I just said,
Okay, what what's what is mycharacter's objective here? And I just

(19:41):
sort of went from that, Andobviously it was an incredible cast. Our
Cat and David our kits on it. David ur Kat's on it. There's
a lot of big ones, right, Uh yeah, ansars on it.
Anya obviously directed it and is starringin it. Jeremy Luke, who's fantastic.
My boy Nate, who's unbelievable.I don't know how to pronounce his

(20:04):
last name. You know how topronounce his last yes, yes, yes,
he's a huge Also social media,he's been advocating for Israel and the
Jewish people, which shout out toNate. We love him because for that
too, and that's amazing. Howwas he playing in that? He's been
an actor. Oh yeah, he'sbeen an actor. See, people don't
know this, you guys. Wedon't just come out of nowhere like magical
elves, like, hey, wejust decided to do this early. And

(20:27):
he's been in the game a longtime. And he was on a popular
I'm trying to think what show mighthave been, like teen Wolf or something.
Yeah, one of those shows.Yeah, he got very popular on
that. And then obviously, youknow, Lorenzo Antonucci, who you know
was in it, who's great.And Joe Russo from the Offer, and
oh and our friend Mike Young.Mike Young, who you know, I

(20:47):
just saw you in his comedy showin New York a few weeks so I'm
like Young was awesome. For JohnDraCos was great, like Rick Solomon.
It's just a very very colorful castand it's so funny. You could have
shot a comedy if you had thecameras rolling. It could have been a
comedy. At the lunch table,okay, I could tell. I could
tell with all the photos. Iwas like, this is good fellas on

(21:11):
comedy steroids. I don't know whythey don't be behind the scenes because it's
you know, they had boded allthe famous investigator out of New York who
was in it. So it wasjust it was really it was really great.
It was really fun and you justlove being on set with everyone,
and you know, it was justanother you know, we shot on Warner

(21:32):
Brothers, which was an awesome bucketlist you know experience for me seven eight
years ago, when I moved toLA I used to drive by Warner Brothers
every single day on the way toacting class and I tell myself, I'm
like, you'll be on that lotworking there one day and sure enough,
you know, here we are manifesting. Baby. It's so powerful. I
always tell my audience that's what youhave to do. Sometimes I'm a nerd
and I literally will stay home anddraw a vision board and post things on

(21:55):
my vision board and manifest and reallyI feel like that's when people ask me,
how did you get all these?It's like that's what I had to
do, you know, I mean, how else do you or pray?
Of course whatever your manifestation, whateverit is, But it's you're so right.
It's it's do it because it works. But you got to believe in
what you're saying, you know,and you really got to see it,
and you can't just manifest. You'vegot to work hard, you got to
put the work in. You reallygot to dedicate yourself. But you know

(22:22):
that with manifestation, of being clearon like what you see for yourself is
so important. I think in anythingyou do, yeah, I agree,
you have to really know what youwant. And I think it's okay to
know what you want and ask forit in a nice way, or you
know, believe in it. Iwant to get to that topic because believing
in yourself, I'm sure that's beenhard in Hollywood. Like, do you

(22:42):
want to share some obstacles where youwere like I don't know if I'm going
to make it, and like youknow, or people told you you weren't
going to make it, or Igot a story for you. This is
when I first moved out to LA. The first thing I ever booked as
an actor in La was a playHollywood. It was like this little thirty
forty person play ran for eight weeksevery Friday, every Friday night, and

(23:08):
you know, it was a greatshow. I had a lot of friends
come. So the director of theshow after, he's like, listen,
I want you to do another showhere. And I'm like, you know
what, Like I appreciate it.I'm going to take an acting class.
I want to meet people. Andhe said he sort of I won't mention
his name, but he said somethingto me. He says, listen.
He goes, you're never gonna makeit. He goes, you're just you're

(23:29):
not. He goes, if youlike acting, He's like, I'll always
give you a role in this theaterbecause it's fun. But he's like,
there's just too many people out here. You're just it's too generic. He's
like, you're not gonna make it. He's like, and it's okay,
but he's like, if you wantto act, you can always come here.
He's like, do this show,forget the class, just stay here.
He's like, but you're never gonnamake it. And the second he
said that, there were so manythings I wanted to say to him,

(23:52):
but I didn't say anything, andI just walked out and I said,
you'll see. That's all I said. And this was like three four months
in when I first came to LAAnd yeah, basically it was crazy.
But that's incredible. How that's thekind of stuff that like fuels me.
That's like the Kobe shit, youknow, or like that keeps me up
at night, Like you know,like so many people have believed in me

(24:15):
and supported me, but it's likethe people that like they're saying, like
what are you doing? Or likeyou're never gonna make it. That's like
what fuels me inside. Were like, you know, like why I get
up at five thirty am to goto the gym or like that's the stuff
I think of, and it likejust like sets a flame off in me,
and I'm just like fuck them,you know, same, I really
I'm the same way as you,Like, I just can't believe you don't
say anything back. That's what I'mlearning in therapy. It's like sometimes it's

(24:37):
okay to keep it inside and thenlike you said, you say it to
yourself like you'll see or you proveit through action. And I think that's
what like handicaps us a lot insociety as people, and a lot of
people want to make their dreams happen, like as actors. But then or
they'll like hate on people like usand be like, well, this person's
not this way or that person notthat way because they're projecting right because they
don't feel right. And I feelbad for him in that sense, you

(25:02):
know. But you know that wasin Hollywood and as an actor, you
know, you audition fifty one hundredtimes, you maybe get one out of
one hundred, so you have tohave really thick skin. And here,
you know, be okay hearing theword you know no, or you know
they could be looking for someone taller, longer, hair blue. It's it's

(25:23):
crazy, you know. So it'sthere's definitely you can't let the lows get
too low, and you can't letthe highs get too high, and you
have to like just trust in likewhat you're doing. And you know,
if you really believe in it,and if you really have a dream,
you just got to keep going.And you know, that's sort of what's
kept me in it, you know, for so long. And now that
I'm you know, starting to youknow, work a lot more consistently over

(25:45):
the last few years, and I'vehad some really great roles. And I've
been to Grease to shoot a filmwith you know, Brad Furman that's coming
out later this year, which I'mreally excited about, with de Niro and
Jamie Fox and Wow. I justlast year I produced and played the lead
in a movie called Break that I'mreally really excited about that comes out in
April. Garavatas just picked that upfor distribution, and it's getting a hundred

(26:08):
theater theatrical release. Like I'm reallythat's wow. Probably like other than Bart
a job that's equally like what I'mas proud and excited about, you know.
I love that What's and tell usa little bit about what breaks about
and what your character and break whatinspired you also to make the film.
So it was over COVID and youknow, I said, you know,
what can I do? You know, there's nothing going on? What can

(26:33):
I do to sort of be readywhen when we come out of this?
And I was sort of like tiredof like just always auditioning for like a
role that like sort of suited me. I'm like, what's something that I
really want to play that I cancraft towards me? And I came up
with this idea. I had someguys write at Spencer and Deck were my
writers on this. I collaborated withthem. I got this really great.

(26:56):
It's it's about a pool haul inDetroit, and it's about this kid that
sort of has the weight of theworld on his shoulders. His name is
Eli. His mom's an alcoholic,his dad was a pool haul legend in
Detroit who walked out in the family. His sister has special needs. He
sort of works two jobs. He'sout, he's out of high school,
he didn't go to college. Allhis friends have moved on, and he's
uncomfortable in his own skin. Andit's not until he comes upon this pool

(27:17):
hall and in Detroit where his dadused to play, where he finally feels
like he can be who he isand through these misfit toys at the pool
Hall and it's sort of like alike an eight mile meets like Goodwill Hunting
meets the Hustler, you know.And we had a really great cast,
my producers Bo Youngblood and John Ialready My director Will Wernick really believed in

(27:41):
me and trusted me. And youknow, I got to give a big
shout out to Victor Rasuk who youknow. Victor For anyone that doesn't know,
he's been in the business twenty twentyfive years. You know, he's
been lead on Netflix shows. Hewas in Lords of Dogtown with Keith Ledgerd
and Emil Hirsh. He was inHow to Make It in America. Wow.
And you know I met Victor throughDanny A at a basketball at his

(28:04):
back at his house at a basketballgame, and it was funny. I
knew Victor for about a year andone day after basketball, Victors like,
yo, Like, He's like,do you want to come to my premiere
tonight? And I'm like, whatare you talking about? He's like,
Oh, the show that I'm inon Netflix the premieres tonight. And I'm
thinking, like, what did youhave like a, I didn't know who
he was. I just go thereto basketball, right. So he's like,

(28:26):
bro, he's like, I'm playingthe lead of this Netflix show The
Butcher and the Baker or whatever.That's one of my favorite. Yeah.
So so it's been like a year, like we found out looked him up,
and then I'm like all right,So I went home and I looked
him up, like damn, likethis dude's this dude's the real deal.
And we have been And I thinkthat's why he liked me so much,

(28:48):
because I had no idea who hewas. It was just strict to like
basketball, hanging out the boys,and like that's what happens at danny A.
We just go there, we havea good time, no one cares
about anything else, like and Victor'slike, bro, that's like why,
Like I love you because like youjust like you, just like you are
who you are, Like you hadno idea who I was. So when
we started casting for for Break,Jeff Gaffner, my amazing casting director,

(29:11):
I'm like, yo, I havea buddy that said he would come play
for the day just as a favorto me. He's like, oh,
who's that. He's like oh,Victor Resuke. He's like, you can
get Victor Rasuk for a day,just as the favorites. Like, it's
like, dude, he's like heshould be playing like opposite you the lead.
He's like, he would never doa movie of this magnitude. Like,
so I called Victor and Victor waslike totally. Victor at first was

(29:33):
helping me, like try to findother people that he knew, Like he
was just like being like a goodfriend. Yeah, I'm like vic I'm
like, dude, I'm like,you're perfect for this role. Like I
didn't even think of it, andit was I learned so much from him
on set. It was a greatcast. You know, we had Jeff
Kober and Caleb Emery and Wendy Brownwho's amazing who played my mom, and

(29:56):
Braden Brunner who's coming onto the scenethat played my love interest, and you
know, Victor knowing him, itwas just so comfortable being with him on
set. He's so good. Everylittle thing he does has such conviction,
you know, how he opens hiscigarette box in the movie, or how
we everything. And I learned somuch from him and he was so helpful

(30:18):
and we've become so close since andhe's like one of my closest people and
I will forever be indebted to himfor taking a chance on me. And
he gives an unbelievable performance, asdoes everyone in this film. And I'm
really excited for it to come out, and I love it. Yeah,
it looks so excited and I'm soexcited for you. It's also amazing to

(30:38):
see you in a lead role andlike it's your baby, and you know,
I just love that. I lovehearing these stories. They're very inspiring
to me and to everybody. Youknow, I think we need to keep
inspiring each other. You know.Yeah, I just think if you start
to cut you off. But Iwas just hey, like if you if
you want to do something like myit's just like now is the time.

(30:59):
Like wait, Like it might soundhard, and it was the hardest thing
I've ever done. It was themost challenging thing I've ever done. It
is the most rewarding and the mostfulfilling all the above. But like,
if there's something you want to do, like there's someone out there that wants
to do the same thing, andif you wait or if you don't take
like advantage, if you don't try, somebody else will do that, you
know. So, like, Iknow it all sounds hard, but Rome

(31:19):
wasn't built in one day. Neitheris anything you do. So it's like
taking the small steps and like justtaking that leap of faith. It could
be scary, Schanel, you know, you know how it is. You
do a lot, You create alot of your own things. I mean,
look at like the show that youcreated, you know, I mean,
look, I mean I'm I knowa lot of people don't know I'm
an actress, and I feel likeI have to say it more or like

(31:41):
I feel like I'm always having tosay I'm an actress, I'm a comedian,
I'm a producer, I'm a writer, right, I have background that,
but it's always like or I'm ahost, but I have to create
as as a woman, as aJewish woman, I feel, and you
can relate as I don't know ifit's a Jewish thing or not, but
sometimes lately I feel as Jews,we have to create ourselves, right,
we can't rely on others. That'skind of our formula, that's kind of
our survival, I would say,our survival of formula of like how to

(32:05):
get through things. And I've lately, I've learned to ask. We had
this talk like ask for what youwant, because it's better than not yeah,
you don't know. And even ifyou have to, like not brag
about yourself, but tell remind people, hey, here's what I do here,
here's my value. Maybe I canbring value to the table, right,
I mean, what would you suggestfor people to go about it in
that way? If they want todo something but people don't know who they

(32:27):
are or people shut them down.Right, there's a lot of times where
they're like, you're not an actress, you're not a producer, you're not
a host. Which is why Icreated Channel in the City so that I'm
giving people opportunities to myself to showour artistry if if that makes any sense,
a hundred you know what, onehundred percent it does. And you
know the biggest thing for me,you know, I was very like insecure
about other people's opinions, especially likewhen you start acting, because acting is

(32:50):
and art and artists you know,like in anything, they're going to be
judged on what they do, right, And I was always very insecure about
like what other people would think ofme. This is when I was younger,
and you know, I still there'sstill some issues. I'm totally so
comfortable with who I am today andit's got a lot of work to get
there. But you know, whenI started, I was like very insecure,

(33:12):
and you know, like people aregonna judge you no matter what you
do, so just like fuck it, you know, like and right,
but if you really want something done, you got to do it yourself.
And like who cares what other peoplethink? Like, I just think life's
so short, you know, younever know, Tomorrow's never guaranteed. Like
you just got to do what youtruly believe in and like what you love

(33:34):
and enjoy, like and it's okay, it's not about what you say,
but more about how you say it, right, So, like you want
to try to relate to people andyou don't want to you know, you
don't want to go up to someone, you know, a director if you're
just like, hey, I'm anactor, Like there's different ways to do
that where it doesn't sound like it'sso like hey, hey hey, you
know, like yeah, like youI mean, like the way you even

(33:54):
showed us, you know, withjust playing basketball sometimes just bonding over and
like talking about things, you know, like one hundred percent. And by
the way, I a couple ofweeks ago with the Net. For people
that don't know, Chanelle is avery, very funny comedian. She hosted
the Net Wednesday night, Mike Youngand Richie Keieba's show every Wednesday. It's

(34:14):
a very private, intimate show.That was my first time hearing you do
stand up and you were so funny. So keep doing it, keep putting
people know. And I think youknow. And we had to talk to
you. You really inspired me andwe went and we hung out. And
by the way, the Net isfull of models and not the easiest room.
And Darren did it. He wasso gracious and so supportive. One

(34:36):
day you have to come to anothershow that like you see the full fifteen
minute set of jokes, jokes,jokes. I'm coming. But I love
that you gave me freedom to like, even afterwards, I was a little
harder myself. You gave me freedomto be like, no, dude,
you're good, and like, thisis your freedom of expression. What are
you gonna do? You can't bethat hard on yourself. You know,
you had like ten minutes to pumpup a crowd and there's different ways,
but you got it. I thinkthat's where I want to collaborate with people

(34:58):
who just get it and understand itand like know my value and know that
like, oh my god, youcan get stuff done, you know,
and you're right. I think it'sreally important going off that who you surround
yourself with, you know, youwant to Somebody once said, if you're
the smartest person in the room,you're in the wrong room, you know.
I just think it's it's a testamentto who you hang out with,
who you spend your time with.You want people that are sort of chasing

(35:22):
and hustling the same way you are, that sort of you know, just
have the same goals, the samework ethic, the same values, and
the right people will recognize that.You know. I never say you never
want to force like who you areor change who you are, like being
like your true self and like acceptingyou know, because and that's hard because
everyone is really popular. You wantto be accepting whatever that is. You

(35:45):
know, you want to be likeyou want to you know, be invited
d D like truly Like over thelast five or six years, me saying
like the mindset of like this iswho I am. Like if you like
it, great, If not,like great too, you know, like
you just feel so much better insideand out, and people like gravitate towards
that energy, you know what Imean. And you're the same way.

(36:07):
Like I've got to know you alittle bit over the last year year and
a half, like Fashion Week lastyear in New York and yeah, you
know, with the net and seeingyou a few times in LA, Like
you just got to be who youare in this world, you know,
and like that's what holds people toyou more than anything else. And the
people that are going to be pulledto you are the people you want to
be around. You don't want tolike be around someone you don't enjoy being

(36:30):
around. You know. That's whyI love talking to you, because I
did talk to you for hours.It's because it's inspiring to hear those stories,
right Like, and by the way, you're super humble too, which
is what I love because like,literally you have five movies out literally five,
there's more we have another one totalk about just that f why I
but like and not only five outnow, but you've done so many and

(36:50):
still you're willing to share your knowledge. You're willing to talk to artists,
You're willing to you know, justbe humble and do the job instead of
like coming from ego. And Ijust think that's really important. By the
way, it's called Americano, we'regoing to get into that, so yeah,
listen, Like I just looked atit when I came out here at
twenty two, twenty three years old, and I didn't really like know anyone.

(37:13):
I remember the people that were goodto me, and like, that's
what I want to be two people. You know. I feel like you
just you got to pay it back, you know. And I got to
give a huge shout out to mycousin Sam Silverstein, who I want to
connect you wishingel. He's an amazinghe runs a production company. He's an
amazing comedy director, producer. Youknow, you just got to have a
support group that holds you accountable,that isn't afraid to say things like yo,

(37:36):
like get your shit together, orlike, yo, you're doing fucking
great, you know, and it'svery important. You know, you'd rather
have four quarters and one hundred penniesin that sense and make sure you have
a support group that like is willingthat like just to tell you how it
is, you know. And Ithink that's been the biggest thing to hold
me accountable. And you know,like I said, you know Bo Young
bulld John and I already on breakmy producers. I couldn't have done it

(37:59):
without them, you know, myamazing director Will Wernick, who's gone above
and beyond it. It truly takesa village. You can't get anything done
yourself, but it starts from withinwith you personally, you know, and
like once you have that, thenyou know, it's like off to the
races. I love that. Talkto us a little bit about what got
you into acting in the first place, Like what made you want to be
an actor? Okay, so thisis crazy story. I went to Michigan

(38:22):
State University and I played on thewomen's basketball scout team. So for wait,
I love this so much right now, this is amazing. Hello,
this is so cool that you're admittingthis. What a feminist movement go on?
Is that even possible? It wasthe best thing ever. So basically,
for people that don't know, loveyou, college women basketball teams like

(38:45):
Big ten or like ucla USC thewomen practice against men, okay, and
it's called the scout team and youhave to try out, and basically what
you do is let's say Michigan State'splaying UCLA tomorrow. We watch film with
the girls UCLA. The coach islike, okay, you're the point guard
for UCLA. This is what shedoes. We learn UCLA's plays and then

(39:06):
we practice against the girls to getthem ready. So you know, and
guys they have walk ons, theycan practice against girls. The rosters aren't
as big, and you know,they want to get better at what they
do, so they practice against guys. So basically, I was considered a
student athlete, and being a studentathlete, you could'en roll in any
class you wanted. So when youwent to you know, you your person

(39:29):
in college whatever it's called, toplan your classes. They see on your
on your accountants. A student athletedoesn't say if you're on the football team,
the basketball team. I was onthe women's scout team. Okay,
it wasn't it was It wasn't evenlike a real student athlete. But my
university Stenters, I was considered astudent athlete. So long story short,
you couldn't roll in any class youwant as a student athlete. So my

(39:50):
counselor that's what it's called, shewas like, She's like, okay,
you have three options. You cantake acting, one, marine biology or
quantum physics. And I'm like acting, you know. And it was through
I was a journalism and business majortruly, and I can say this,
you know, I worked for mydad every summer, and I was just
going to work for him out ofcollege, truly. Going to this class.

(40:14):
It was the first time in mylife, this acting class, that
I looked forward to going to classand doing work. I never skipped class.
I never, you know, Ialways did the work, but it
was just sort of like, youknow, like t yeah, you didn't
want to do it, Like,yeah, I get that, going through
the motions, you know, likegoing through the motions. I took this
acting class and it was the firsttime in my life that I looked forward

(40:35):
to going to class. So Istarted en rowing and acting classes, and
long story short, I moved toLA. You know, my dad's like,
listen, you can you can workfor me from LA. Why don't
you go out and you know,take an acting school for a year or
two see if you really like it. I went out join this conservatory in
Santa Monica for two years. Thedean of the school, Michelle Danner,

(40:57):
she gave me my first opportunity.She's like, listen, over the last
two years, you've been doing alot of good work. I want you
to audition for my film Fast Forward. I've been in four of her films.
I loved her so dearly. Shegave me my first opportunity in Hollywood
to act in a film called BadImpulse with Paul Cervino from Good Fellas.
And you know, I was justin another movie of hers that came out

(41:20):
Miranda's Victim, about the Miranda Rights. She's all right, yes, where
can we watch that movie? Bythe way, I wanted to ask her,
I want to watch it, butwe can, we can, we
can. We'll put a chiron onwhere people in I personally want to watch
it tonight. Yeah. Well,it's a great movie about the true story
about the Miranda Rights. And youknow when your Maranda Rights are read to
you. It was an amazing cast. But anyway, quick shout out Michell

(41:42):
dan Or. She gave me myfirst opportunity in Hollywood. I've been in
four of her movies. I havea lot of love for her. She's
a fantastic director. Still talk toher to this day. I hope she's
doing another movie that I have anopportunity for. But I just think it's
a testament to like working with thesame people, working with Danny A three
or four times, working with MichelleDanner, and then just building relationships,
and you know, that's that's thebiggest thing. So yeah, that's how

(42:04):
I got into acting. I becamevery good friends with Ariel Powers, who
played at Michigan State, who's nowin the WNBA. I love to get
her on the show, So nowI'll have to please you know that I
love anybody on our send anybody myway. In Olympic Bold Medalist plays in
the WNBA. It was, youknow, a top five pick in the
league. She came to my set. You know, whenever she comes and
plays against LA I always go andsee her. And then she was in

(42:27):
town when I was shooting break andshe came to set. You know,
I have a lot of love forAriel. We were still friends of this
day. So yeah, that's howI got into acting. I was a
student athlete. I said, allright, acting one sounds better than marine
biology or quantum physics. And that'show And you're phenomenal. Really, you're
one of my favorite actors. YouDanny A Mike Young. I'm not even
just saying it because we're friends.I'm saying it for real, Like I

(42:51):
really, I feel like I becamewe became even closer because I respect the
art, got your guys art somuch, and like also not to mention
your phenomenal human beings in real life. And I just love you guys so
much. But Mike's great too.Yeah, how is it so you guys?
Is this you've acted in a coupleof movies together, right? Or
Yeah? So I was in hismovie Coming Out Stealing Jokes last year that

(43:14):
comes out this year. Yeah,it comes out. Who's in that movie?
If you don't mind? It's abash of Maleconno, I keep right,
y, I always Jeff Die playsthe lead. Who's a comedian who
that's amazing, A bunch of comedians. It's a comedy of comedians on the
road and sort of like his story. But Mike's another great guy, you

(43:34):
know, same sort of style asDanny. Just like a lot of improv.
Mike is so fucking funny. Idon't know if I'm a lot of
funny. Yeah, of course,you can't tell you it's it's hilarious.
I tell him one liners or likehatch phrases in a rap song or on
a merch shirt. He's like,yeah, you're right, by the way,
he can but he is. Heis so funny. That's what I

(44:00):
love USO about you guys. CanI tell you that you guys like are
okay with doing it all? Likeit's not like, oh, you're just
an actor. Oh you can't bea rapper if you're an actor. All
these rules that everybody has, orlike comedians it's like you can only do
comedy. It's like, relax,you can. I always tell the comedians
that tell me you can only docomedy. I'm like, maybe that's because
you only can do comedy. Leta girl or a guy live if you

(44:21):
can do acting too, or hostingor even if you wanted to come out
Darren with a podcast tomorrow, whichI have a good idea for you guys.
I think you guys as a castshould have like a podcast to bring
it back to the movies, likekind of like talk about behind the scenes
once a month, even once amonth if you Danny A and Mike Young
like the people that always you guysare like always are shit, Robert Dobby

(44:42):
sharing like similar parts and movies.Why not. That's kind of like a
cool Oh you get some you getso many funny stories. But yeah,
so that's I wanted to say.Yeah, but yeah, shout out Mike
Young to try out, Mike Young, we love you. You know,
go check out a show every oneat the Net in New York. It's
the hottest comedy show. It's toughto get in, but numbers only,

(45:05):
I'll get you in. It's fun. We had a great time when I
saw you there a few weeks agoand we ended up at the Box,
the Box and and everyone. Foreveryone who doesn't know the Box, that's
also a very exclusive How would youexplain the Box? I guess it's a
club with the sex show aspect toit. You you had to see Darren's
face during whole thing. He's like, you know, this is not real,

(45:27):
right, like what the heck areyou doing here? Next thing?
You know, you got like yougot like people on stage like sticking plunders
up. The rest is I'm like, that was that was my first time
at the Box, and I'm youknow, we're all in like two boosts.
There's like ten of us in twoBoosts. You know from the Net.
You know, Mike Young there,Richie's there like some other you know,
I'm just like where am I like? I did not? That was

(45:51):
my first time there. That wassomething that it was your first time.
Oh so that's that was an experience. Okay, Now that was a real
experience. Yeah, for everybody.I would say, check it. But
it is a little hard to getin. But well we'll let you know.
I shall in the city, youknow, come to the ned.
Mike Young will get you in somehow, and he's the plug, right,
we have the plug here and thenwe'll just roll and then we'll just roll.

(46:12):
Well, let's talk a little bitabout Americano, which is in another
movie you're in. I love thename. Talk to us a little bit
about what that's about and like yourcharacter in that. So this was great
Americano come in of age sort oflike a breakfast club feel. It's about
this guy, Jack Armstrong. Iplay the lead. He played college basketball.
He has a knee injury. Hecomes back to run his family's coffee

(46:36):
shop, and he sees his friendsthat he hasn't seen in a long time
from like high school. They gettogether every day morning at the coffee shop.
Jack sort of is reheaving his knee. He has planned you know,
he wants to play professionally. Hismom, you know, his dad had
died a few years ago. Hismom wants him to run the coffee shop.
And it's just sort of like acoming to age story. All these
characters are sort of dealing with somethingdifferent and they're helping each other with their

(46:58):
struggles and they meet it coffee shopevery morning. Denny Gallagher, who wrote
it, directed it, you know, gave me an opportunity. Actually another
danny A connection, Ben Lyons,who might know good friend of mine,
actually recommended me for the role andconnected me through Denny to Denny the director.
So shout out danny A because Imet Ben Lyons through danny A.

(47:19):
So it's amazing, it really great. It was at the beginning of January
for three weeks in New York,and then I had like four days off,
flew back to LA and I wason the set of Mob Cops,
which is I can't it's amazing.No, that's just so amazing. And
then like right back to back movies. People think when you you know,
make a film and it airs likeyou're on set for like months, sometimes
happy and sometimes it could be likefive days and then the next one.

(47:42):
How was that transition from Americano tomob cops for you? It was great,
you know, mop Americano. Iprobably worked like fourteen of sixteen days,
like yeah, thirteen hours a day, so like it was great.
I loved it. I was justlike very tired. And then you know,
you have the time change, youfly back to LA and I mean

(48:04):
it's tough, but like, justlike anything, you just got to like
that's what we do, right,Like you just you signed up for and
it's just like okay, Like Americanolike was amazing and it's funny. I
got the role in Danny's film,and I'm like, you know what,
Like I read it a few timesjust to sort of massage it in my
brain. But I'm like, Idon't want to start breaking this down until
I'm done with Americana, because Iwant to give my all to this and
then I'll fight. And I putin a lot of work on the plane

(48:28):
from New York back to LA likefive hours, and like after that plane,
I was like, all right,like I know what this character wants.
I know what Danny's looking for.I had like two or three days
I rehearsed with my acting coach,Chase Fine. Shout out Chase, Fine,
this is important like that, Ilove that you shot. You.
Guys should love to the people thatyou know. Like I said, it's
a team. And Chase really helpedme and break. He really helped me

(48:50):
with any audition Chases. I loveChase. He's like, we connect so
well. You got to find someonethat like you, just like working with
shoutout AJ Troop. My boy AJhelps me a lot too. Like I
just sorry, I want to notto interrrect, but I want to take
a moment for the audience to payattention and other artists that listen into this
show and other celebrities we've had onwhy it's so important what Darren's saying and
crucial because it's not it's okay.So in the comedy world, I've I'm

(49:14):
sorry, I'm keep bringing the comedyexample. But in comedy a lot of
people are shamed or embarrassed to admitthat they work with co writers. It
kind of like I think the gameof comedy, you feel like solo on
stage and you feel like it theart has to come from within. But
what I love about you, DannyA and Mike Young. It's like,
you guys know how to how doI articulate this? Like it's bigger than

(49:37):
you in a way, and youknow that, so like you're cool with
sharing and shouting out people who youknow. It takes a team of talented
people to make the movie, butthat doesn't take away from you as an
artist or as an actor, right, how important it is to give I
think it's so important, Chanel,like you like you know, like aj

(49:57):
true my body, very good actor. He holds me accountable. He's like,
you got to be better than this. You gotta do this. Chase
Fine, who I work with inacting, he knows like you can't,
like you can't do anything alone,you know, and like I'm totally good
with like you know, like whowe are. And it's like, you
know, like it's not a oneman show, you know what I mean?
Right, it's not and it neveris in life, right, I

(50:19):
mean, I want to listen.You have to show appreciation, Chanel,
because if you don't, like Imean, I don't have to say yeah,
I love that about you. Ireally And this is what I always
tell to everybody, to the audience. When you're investing in actors or comics.
Make sure you're investing the right peoplethat are good people on and off
stage, like my friend Darren Weiss, who's amazing. Like literally, I
know you're like this off stage,like off camera. That's what I freaking

(50:40):
love about you. Like literally,we'll get off the cat like when we
get off this podcast, we're gonnastill talk the way the same way.
We're gonna party the same way.That's what's long lasting. And that that
exactly you said, that's what's longlasting. Just find people that like like
you for you when that like aren'tafraid to tell you things and like that
push to stride, like that pushyou to want to be better and like

(51:04):
push you to new heights. Youknow. That's like that's the biggest thing.
Like you have to have like asupport group or like people that do
all that. You know, youcan't it's impossible to do it on your
own, you know. Yeah,how was by the way, with your
with your part in Mob Cops,talk to us about your part, like
what you and how it was toact with David Arquette because that's pretty cool

(51:24):
too. Yeah, I mean DavidArqett's a legend. So my part I
played like this sort of like greasy. This greaseball character that's sort of been
like in and out of jail haslike you know, like warrants for arrest.
You know, I'm out right now, and I sort of work at
this used car lot that Jeremy Luke'scharacter comes. You know, I'm working

(51:51):
for Jeremy Luke, who you knowis a cop that really is working for
the mob. And he comes topick up like a lot of cash for
me, and the cops are arespine on us, and basically Jeremy Luke
comes up and I give him themoney. You know, I'm helping some
folks out like buy a used car. Jeremy Luke leaves, and then Danny
A and Nate buzz or the copssay come up and they're like listen,

(52:13):
like we know what just happened.You got to give us information on this
guy. And you know, mycharacter is like being pulled because it's like
I'm not a snitch. I don'twant to go back to jail. I
don't want to go back to jail, but I don't want to snitch on
on Jeremy Luke's character because Jeremy Luke'scharacter will kill me right, you know,
but it's like, I ain't fuckinggoing back to jail. I just
had a kid, I got awife. I finally I just made five

(52:34):
grand sell in this car like I'mgood, you know so, and it's
funny. Danny A another testament tojust the improv stuff. Danny A added
a whole other scene, an extrascene. He's like, yo, like
listen, we need to add alittle bit more bad character. He's like,
you and Jeremy Luke are gonna dothis money exchange. We're gonna be
watching in the corner. We're gonnapull up. I'm gonna tell you,
like what I just saw that wasnever planned. He told me about that

(52:55):
five minutes before, and it wasall improv. He came up to Jeremy
Luke and I Jeremy's fantastic actor,and he's like, listen, He's like,
you know, Jeremy, you're comingto get money from Darren. Darren,
you got money in the in theglovebox. Walk over there. Tell
the people that you know that you'rehelping buy the car. You know this
old woman, Tell her, youknow it would be a beautiful car for
her nephew. Tell Jeremy you knowthat you got the money and you can't

(53:16):
go with him to go drop themoney off. Da da da da da.
He's like, all right, goodfigure it out. And I'm just
like okay. And that was literallyfive minutes before our scene, right.
That was literally it was just itwas so funny and then like cool,
like I love that. So Ihad a whole nother scene totally improv.
We did that, and then wedid the scene that I had rehearsed for

(53:37):
like two weeks. It was justso fun like when everyone's just down for
the cause, you know, like, yeah, it makes it so much
easier to collaborate. When when everyone'slike on the same page and isn't given
pushback, you know, it's likeand from then from your improv world,
it's like yes, and you know, it's like yes, and what else

(53:57):
do you want me to do?Not like well, you know what about
this? Or you know what Imean, it's not like yeah, let's
stick to Sometimes like yes, stickingto the story and the script is great
and if you can do it,great, but sometimes like going off script
is also beautiful. Like that's whatI want all artists to feel empowered by.
I know, I'm really passionate aboutthat. I don't be afraid to
take the lead to do that.Yes, yeah, it's don't be Oh

(54:20):
yeah it's not. It's not theaterlike if you mess up, if if
you take a big swing, it'slike all good, the director will either
be great or Okay, that didn'twork. Doing it like this exactly four
more takes at it. You know, how did you cope with not taking
things personal? So with let's sayyou were so, you were casting for
one role, and let's say thatdirector's like, you know, Darren,
I don't like it. I don'tlike the way that was shot or the

(54:43):
way that was set. Do itagain? Do you ever take that personal?
Honestly? Like no, I reallyit's just like I take that more
as like me telling myself just becauseI'm so in my head, I'm just
like, yo, like that fuckingsock. The director clearly didn't like it.
Listen and do what he or shewants you to do, you know,
right, But it's more like that'sright, it's not personal. It

(55:06):
just feedback. They just it's constructivefeedback. And you in our business of
entertainment, schan now like that's whatit is. You have to be open
to constructive feedback or if you're not, then they might not hire you to
work again on their next movie ortheir next show, or recommend you to
someone you know. So like youhave to know at the same time,
like if you're an actor, thedirector is the boss and has ultimate say,

(55:27):
and it's like you might have agreat idea, but if they don't
like it, just be like,Okay, go away. I I talked
to Danny A about it on myon the podcast on the show when he
came on to talk about the engineerand Barbajoe, and we spoke about how
like I told him, I'm like, the reason why I love you so
much too is because I can behonest with you and talk to you and
tell you, hey, what doyou think If I you know about this,

(55:50):
I might not have a script.What do you think about this idea?
And He'll be open to it andjust tell me, hey, this
might not work or this might work. I think it's important to be so
direct and honest, you know,and in order to work work with people.
And I don't know, I'm justa person like you. I'm willing
to always fix it. I don'ttake it personal. I'm willing to hey,
what can I bring How can Ibring more value to this? And
I just think that's really crucial.And by the way, Chanel like we're

(56:13):
you know this improv scene that wewere doing, you know, like I
was selling cars to this older womanand like her grandson and Danny like I
was sort of like like all overthe place yelling, and after the scene,
Danny Kembery was like, listen,He's like relaxed. He's like,
you're not yelling at him. You'retrying to sell a car. Just be
like, hey, your your nephewwill look great in this car. Tell
her, tell her you got acincluded, or you'll redo the rims or

(56:34):
something. And it was like totallydifferent than when I was saying, I'm
like, you know what a hundredYou're right, one hundred percent, Like
you know, it's just boom andyou do it and you move on.
And that's what makes an amazing directorand actor and a chemist cast this first
of all, I'm like obsessed withthis cast. I can't It's like the
good Fellas on I always say goodFellows on steroids. It's going to be
a phenomenal movie. It's going tobe like a great is it. It's

(56:54):
like a mob movie basically mob Cops. It's about Yeah, that's cool.
Okay, let's talk about a littlebit about this being a lead as opposed
to being a sporting character. Whenit comes to casting, how does that
work for you? Usually when you'reeither casting your own movie, like what
do you look for? And yeah, does it matter to you when you're

(57:15):
a lead? Or of course westrive to be the lead, but like
does that matter as an actor?You know what? I think just what
matters to me is doing meaningful work, you know, yeah, challenging work,
you know, and having putting yourall in or having the conviction.
Obviously, everyone always wants to bethe lead. And I've been fortunate enough

(57:38):
to play a lead in two moviesnow, and I'd say the the biggest
thing as a lead. And Victorrassu On Brake told me this before.
He called me the night before Dayone to break because he's been leads and
he was playing, you know,supporting this. He goes, everyone gravitates
around the energy of the lead,and he's like, make it a point.

(57:59):
He's like, when you get toset every day, make sure you
learn everyone's names from hair to makeup, to wardrobe, to the first a
d to the gaffer. He's like, you know, he's like your energy,
how you come to set and himsaying this because I've been on other
sets, I won't say names orlike the lead like would be rude to
the to the makeup person, orwould be very short on set, and

(58:22):
it's just like you feel that energy. So like you have to come in
with energy. You're like the captainof like a sports team, and like
people are gonna like gravitate off howyou give off your energy, right,
So the biggest thing with the leadis like you have to set the tone
each and every day and people arefeeding off you and being supporting. Obviously

(58:43):
you're not there every day the lead, you're there every day, but look
a supporting role I'll do like I'mjust happy to work, you know.
And like I was a supporting rolein Bob Cops. And you know,
I had seen with Jeremyluke who's thelead, Danny A and Nate and you
know, you just have to knowyour role. You have to know like
okay, you're moving, you know, and this my my character was important,

(59:05):
but I was moving the story forward. I was gonna say yeah,
you're supporting, right, and alsothe lead actors to move the story forward
or you know without you you know, yeah, yeah, And that's the
truth. That's teamwork, right,work makes the dream work. I never
understood. Also football and I lovebasketball, just so you know, I
never I'm also like a basketball fan. As a woman, I never really

(59:27):
liked sports. That's part of mycomic bit, like how women don't give
a shit about sports, right,we don't give it about Super Bowl or
football except for like that vitamin D. Except for when you guys tell us
like I want the Jets to win. I'm like, are you gonna get
me late tonight? Then I'll votefor the Jets. Are you wait?
What's your favorite sports team? Speakingabout that? Oh? Man, Like,
I'm a big just Detroit fan,Like, so the Lion you know

(59:49):
they lost last week. That wasdepressing. Love the Lions, love the
right Wings, the Pistons. That'sfootball, right, I'm a huge Yeah,
okay, basketball, Lions is football. Well, I'm a huge Lebron
fan. Danny and I go backand forth on this all the time.
I think Lebron's the best efter hethinks Jordan's the best. Ever, I
will die on the Lebron hill.I don't know. That's that's tough.

(01:00:10):
I know, Michael or Lebron,that's tough. I also feel like Michael
because he's original, you know.Lebron is so good. Yeah. So
I'm a huge sports guy. Butyeah, I think it just goes back
to, like, you know,I grew up playing sports. I didn't
grow up really in the theater.So like, I'm sort of used to

(01:00:32):
being around like different people and youknow, the team and you know,
like having that sort of team camaraderie. And I think that I see it
like when you're on a movie,if you're there for more than one day,
it's sort of they have They're veryvery similar, you know. Yeah,
I love that teamwork. It's Ilove acting. It's just movies are

(01:00:52):
I grew up on movies, andI just think it's telling stories is so
important. Let me let me askyou this too, like and and this
is ging gears as a Jewish actor, I mean, even though you're Jewish
American, did you ever feel likeyou faced anti semitism at all throughout the
industry? And I mean or haveseen it? And it's so, how
did you deal with it. Youknow, it's I've definitely seen it to

(01:01:16):
say it, Like, I can'tsay like I've dealt with it like head
on whor someone's like I'm not hiringyou because you're Jewish, right, but
like subtle thing. I feel likethat happens to me too, but like
it's almost like subtly like I knowthey're not high. I've sort of taken
some mental notes, like you know, I'll you know, repostings on Instagram
or post something and I you know, I see some people that might unfollow

(01:01:40):
me or like and you know,what it is, what it is.
I think everyone's entitled to their opinion, you know, every you know,
I'm very strongly opinionated, and especiallywhen it comes to stuff with Israel,
I think it's very important, youknow, like yeah, ever again is
now you know, yeah, youknow, And I just think, you

(01:02:01):
know, I just want people tounderstand from all angles and be educated.
And I think, you know,sometimes there's a lot of misinformation spread.
Yeah, And I can't say thatI've directly like if it's directed, if
it's affected me in Hollywood, Ihaven't. I don't know that. I

(01:02:22):
don't know that it does. Youchoose, right, because you choose people
that are similar to you. Thatalso how you've also worked with a lot
of Jewish is really actors, whichis smart, which that's been so fortunate.
You know, That's what I'm goingto start Furman, Mike Young.
You know, yeah, like Isaid, minded individuals and Danny and I
have talked at lengths about, youknow, the situation in Israel and facing

(01:02:45):
anti Semitism in the industry and sortof how he deals with it. You
know, he deals with it alot more as a director and producer.
He's showed me some crazy d msand yeah, I just think I know
he's helped me through it too.Like you know, Chanelle, sometimes you
don't have to over explain yourself,and I've because I felt, I feel
sometimes I have to over explain myself, especially since what happened since October seventh,

(01:03:09):
Like as a woman right now,as Israeli woman, it's like people
not believing us, that's already aproblem, and now what happened after those
horrific acts, the world going againstus, and then you're trying to over
explain yourself for your people is justit's beyond me, you know. That's
why it's it's good to have goodsports team, and I hope it gets

(01:03:30):
better this situation. I mean,what do you think needs to change for
the hatred in this world to goaway from you know, against us,
because it's I just I can't evenbelieve it. Yeah, I think a
lot's gotta change, But I thinkit starts. You know. I do
think that one person can positively impactyou know, they say no, one

(01:03:52):
can, not one person can changethe world, But I disagree. I
think one person can positively, positivelyor negatively affect a lot of people.
Right, So I just think,like just really like taking a stand for
like what you believe in being educatedand like if you can change, if

(01:04:14):
you can open I don't want tosay change someone's mind, but if you
can just educate someone. Yeah,you never know what the power of one
person can do. You know wherethe effect or you know, your actions
or like being in Bartage Off whichis such a huge movement, or like
any of that. You know,I I what do you think, Like,
what would you think? I thinkthat, Like, you're right,

(01:04:36):
I think we have to have moreof these uncomfortable conversations, unfortunately and fortunately
and talk about it and let ouraudiences know, like, you know,
this is important to us. Weare Jews. We are here to stay,
you know, never again is now. That's why I'm so proud of
you guys doing the movie. Bartajovesis such an important film because it's so
powerallel to what's happening. I mean, looking at the scenes of that film,

(01:04:57):
when from the moment when they toldthe Nazis that the girls are going
to go in that town, youknow, working for shoe factories and just
manipulating them into gas chambers is similarlyto what pro Hamas protesters are doing now,
scaring us with psychological warfare. We'renot knowing what's happening. Should the
Jews even walk out of their apartmentin New York City or should they stay
in So there's a lot that hasto change. I think speaking up,

(01:05:18):
I think speaking up, I thinktelling stories like Bartajoev. I think you
guys not being scared to talk aboutIsrael. And by the way, it's
not about being political or religious atall. It's about the fact that Israel's
a Jewish state. We needed tomake it a jew state for our safety.
I don't think a lot of peoplerealize how much is how unsafe Jewish
people feel sometimes, you know,it's not even in America anywhere. Now.

(01:05:41):
Yeah, Well, but I hopeit ends, you know, and
I'm I just hope, and Ihope we have more actors like you and
filmmakers that can continue telling stories andyou know, that can hopefully end us
anti Semitism in this world. Youknow, our heart goes out to the
hostages, obviously, the innocent civilians. You know, that's heartbreaking. How
was it though you were filming?Did you film in Israel around that time?

(01:06:02):
Yeah, it was it was probablysix weeks before. It was late
July, so maybe it was intoAugust early, it was early August.
How did I mean, isn't thatcrazy that that happened right after and you
were filming. That's what I toldDanny, like crazy. Look, I

(01:06:23):
tell people all the time like thatcould have been me, Like if the
movie went six weeks later, thatwould have been me. And who knows
what would have happened. I couldhave I could have been killed, I
could have been trapped there. Soit was very nice to just be you
know, that was my third timein Israel. It was just very nice
to be connected. Spent shabat therebeautiful is Israel, right, like the

(01:06:45):
experience being on the beach in TelAviv. There's really no place like it,
Chanelle. It's like there's like somethingin the air. I can't explain
it unless you You can't explain itunless you've been there. It's just it's
a very magical and special. Youknow, aren't Jewish say that? You
know, I had a buddy thatjust went to Israel who's not Jewish,

(01:07:08):
and he's like, Wow, He'slike, I have a whole different outlook
up everything. You know. Well, I was going to say, like
that's why I always I think Iget a little more emotional and passionate about
it because the IDF is not therejust to protect the Israeli citizens and the
Jewish people, but like other citizensthat are Muslims and Christians, like they're
there to protect the state against terrorism. But we won't get too much into
it. We just hope, youknow, terrorism ends and war ends,

(01:07:30):
and our people are safe, andI hope I pray for a better day,
you know, and I hope everybodysees Barna job because you guys need
to be educated on how this started. You know, Emil, when I
saw him at the premiere who thestory is based on. He said,
you know, he said something soimportant. He said, if you don't
watch it, if you don't continuetelling these stories when it happened from the

(01:07:51):
Holocaust, then you're never going tosee change. It's always going to repeat
itself. History is always going torepeat itself, is my point exactly.
So you have to speak up.If you have the opportunity and the platform,
then it's almost like you have toyou know. Yeah, And it's
hard to speak up sometimes, andI have a possibility, yes as it.

(01:08:14):
Yeah, and especially you being adescent from you said your grandparents or
your grandmother was a survivor. Sothat's incredible that like you are literally a
generation that survived from the Holocaust.That's incredible to me, you know.
And I'm so thankful. And youknow, I won't be here obviously if
they didn't. Yeah, I lovethat. I know it's a little depressing.
We're praying for a better tomorrow.And my dad's Israeli, so of

(01:08:36):
course guys like I have to vouchfor my family. Okay, he gave
birth to me. Hello. Ilove how some people are like I just
can't believe you're on this I'm likeon interial side, I'm like, first
of all, there's no side.Second of all, I'm Israeli, so
it'd be really crazy if I tooka terrorist side. But anyway, you
know, I just pray for Israel. We love Israel. We love you,

(01:08:56):
guys and Bartijov March nineteenth, checkout Darren Weiss in such a phenomenal
film. I guarantee you, guys, if I'm wrong, which I I'm
never really wrong rarely, thank youfor never, actually never, But I'm
kidding, no, I could bewrong. I have a good feeling this
is going to be Oscar. Ithought it was Oscar worthy to me,

(01:09:18):
and I've seen films and I hadchills when I watched it. I'm telling
you, I cried and it wasemotional and it was powerful. So well
jobbed, A good job done,Mazalto. Of anything else that we can
expect from you that you're working onthat you want to share with us a
little bit, you know, justwrapped Americano and Tin Soldiers slated to come

(01:09:40):
out this year. That's the movieI did with Bread Firman in Greece,
right, a movie with Jamie Foxand de Niro, and that should be
out later this year. And howis it to work with Jamie Fox?
I mean great, Like he's anotherlegend, you know, he's really a
cool guy. And again, wewere in northern Greece, Tesslinki, Greece.

(01:10:02):
It wasn't like we were in SANTORINII, you know, Mikinos, you
know, so like it was alot of like it was very hot in
the summer and we were just alot of everyone spending time together because that's
really there was really not much elseto do, you know, So like
that was really great. Obviously Breakis coming out April twenty six, that'll
be in theaters and then a littlevod on iTunes and Amazon, and so

(01:10:26):
I'm really looking forward to that.And yeah, we'll see what else comes
here. I love it. Let'salso I know we're gonna wrap up in
a few minutes, but talk tous a little bit about you know,
making films in general. Are youinto directing, are you into producing?
When you do do that, whenyou come up with a film besides auditioning
for something someone else's film, whatdo you look for, like what are

(01:10:48):
you looking to tell? Like whatkind of stories are you looking to tell?
First? And foremost. I thinkstory is the most important thing.
I do love producing and acting andbeing able to act, and something i'm
producing, I'm not. I don'tthink directing maybe one day, not now.
I have a lot of appreciation forthe Danny as the Will Warnick and

(01:11:12):
Michelle Danners, the Brad Furman's ofthe world, because like if holy fuck,
I just look for stories that peoplewant to hear. I want to
tell a story that affects someone ina positive way, or you know what
I always tell people, I wantsome I want somebody to come up to

(01:11:35):
me at the gas station and belike, listen, like that role you
played and break I could relate tothat. That's something that I went through
as a child, you know,like that's that's what does it for me,
you know, like I want tobe able to relate to people and
the stories or the characters I play. And that's the biggest thing with producing.
I mean, obviously I love comedy. I think you know, laughter

(01:11:56):
is the cure to a lot ofthings. But you know, if it's
not comedy, I want to dosomething that people can relate to and people
can feel, and people can understandand you know, take take a liking
to you know, So it's notabout the same exactly. That's that's what
I'm That's what I look to do, those kind of projects, and I
just want to do it with peoplethat I enjoy working with, you know,

(01:12:18):
Like, so you know, we'llsee. I'm I'm hoping to do
a produce a comedy later this summerwith my cousin Sam Silver seeing it's a
really great script. We'll talk toyou about after. Please please have me
in mind. I love that andI also think of you too, of
like that's the thing I'm going togo to you. The funny thing is
because you, yeah, actors,you don't have to be a comedian per

(01:12:40):
se, like a stand up I'msaying, like, I'll think about my
actor friends first for the movies likethat I'm you know, working on or
other things. So yeah, weshould definitely talk about. That's amazing that
that's coming out. I think you'dbe amazing in commony. I'm really excited.
It's a really good script. Soyeah, I just think producing you
got to wear a lot of hats. You gotta be, you got to
answer and you know, there's alot of things on your plate and you've

(01:13:01):
just got to be ready for itall. And I like it because you're
sort of more in control of likecasting and locations and and everything, you
know. And for me, likeI'm such a perfectionist that like I sort
of like having the saying a lotof things. And so that's what I
like about producing. I don't likeall the paperwork that goes with it and
all that. So shout out boyoung Blood. Could not have done Break

(01:13:24):
without you, like you're a beast. Yeah, But I like the other
side of the producer, not thepaperwork side of it. Yeah, I
neither know the paperwork that can thatcan be left for somebody who does love
the paper It's the creative side really, right, right, both that there's
creative and paperwork, and you know, I was lucky enough that my producers

(01:13:45):
were both of that. But I'mjust on the creative side. So you
know, it's great, and Ijust you know, I love in control.
I love watching one hundred different auditiontapes for fourteen different characters. I
love talking to after my casting directorevery day about who he thinks would be
great people that I've never heard ofbecause I've never heard of anyone, you

(01:14:08):
know, And just being in theloop of at all seeming you know,
getting quotes for different locations and beingin charge of everything from like what's for
launch to call time to this tothat. So yeah, it's well at
that part of the bus. Yeah, it's acting is the passion. But
you have to you can't put allyour eggs in one basket and you have

(01:14:29):
to be able to do You haveto be you have to offer more than
just one thing if you want tosucceed. You know, I mean,
look at you, comedian, actor, podcast direct you know everything, but
you have well you have to.I feel like I had to, especially
when people weren't giving me opportunities andI was going on so many auditions and
I was like, I got youknow, I'm a very wonderfuss two equals
three kind of person. I'm like, what can I do other than if

(01:14:53):
if if these movie worlds aren't working, let's say right now, where the
stories aren't being told that I wantto tell, what can I do other
than that? And yeah, Imean should be able to create your own
opportunities. Exactly what we're doing andthe people that we surround ourselves are really
and that's why I'm excited to collaboratewith you guys more and I'm so proud
of you guys. I'm so congratulations. And oh we're gonna talk a little

(01:15:15):
bit about mental health, like howdo you cope with your or tips that
you can give us the audience ofmental health, Like what do you do
for yourself? I know you mentionedyou go to the gym at five am?
Does it take all that stuff tobecome successful too? Right? Like
we can't be sitting here smoking,I mean, not that smoking. I
mean it can't be a drug addictand and alcoholic and be like, hey,
let me be a movie starr.Listen. I'm a big advocate.

(01:15:38):
I've dealt with a lot of mentalhealth issues. You know. I started
going to therapy when I was tenyears old. I still in therapy today.
I actually just started therapy back upafter like six or seven years off.
So I'm really excited about that.I think the biggest thing is,
like you have to like find aroutine that works for you, okay,

(01:15:59):
you know, and you know Iget a lot of anxiety. I've dealt
with depression, and my outlets forthat are working out like a crazy maniac,
you know, playing basketball, talkingto someone I think it's very very
important to if you hold everything in, that's that's that's not healthy. You
know, you have to you know, I'm a big advocate in therapy just

(01:16:24):
letting it out. I'm a biglike find what works for you as an
outlet and you don't have to tellanyone. Some people, you know,
are uncomfortable sharing you know, whatthey're going through. And that's part of
what I like why I made Greatbecause like this character I played is going
through so much and he doesn't wantto like share it with anyone. And
that's things I dealt with as akid growing up. And I'm so much
more free now to to help othersand you know with the struggles that I

(01:16:48):
went through and how I can relateor how they can relate to me.
And the biggest thing is like findingthat outlet, Shanel. So like for
me, it's working out, playingbasketball, Yeah, it's finding out a
therapist, you know. But likeno one's perfect, and you know,
like everyone is dealing with something andit's okay to not be okay, you

(01:17:09):
know what I mean. I lovethat, Yes, yes it is because
no one, no one's perfect andeveryone has their shortcomings and it's like,
how can you deal with your shortcomingsand still you know, move forward,
you know, right, and onceyou figure out like and that's I mean,
look, people can help you withthat, but that's really like a
thing that you have to find outon your own because no one knows you

(01:17:30):
as well as you know yourself.That's beautifully said. I couldn't say that,
but really that's beautifully said. Andthank you for sharing that because we
need we need that inspiration. AreYou're right? And I mean because even
when you're going through you know,different roles, different movies, and you're
stressed, I'm sure, like everybody'sstressed, but you're still always so like
you're such a gentleman. You're sograceful, you're never you know, losing

(01:17:51):
it, and that's I think that'simportant. I think it's important to find
those outlets zero to one hundred likeme sometime but because you I'm zero to
one hundred a lot of times,and you know that's okay too. Isn't
that also charismatic about us just alittle bit, that's okay, that's okay,
Gully. I'm like, if youtrigger me one more time, I've

(01:18:13):
had so much patience with this specificperson, and then like, right,
you get to a point where likewe're just human too, right, you
know what, You're just human andyou've got to give people the benefit of
the doubt sometimes, and you knowyou can't. What I've learned is like
I used to be such a seriousperson, Like you can't take life all
that seriously because like it just goesby so quickly, you know, and

(01:18:35):
like just like enjoy what you youknow, what you enjoy with the people
you enjoy doing it with, youknow, and it sounds so cliche,
but it just makes life like somuch better the small things being with the
people you just like being with likechanges your mood instantly, you know,
like yeah, it's you know,so yeah, I love that. Is

(01:18:57):
there one actor that you want towork with, like a well known actor
that you haven't worked with yet thatyou'd like to I mean, like Denzel's
at the top of the list forsure. I mean Christian Beal's like another
guy that just yes, transforms everyrole he plays. I mean obviously Leo,
you know, DiCaprio is unbelievable.Those are good picks. Yeah,

(01:19:23):
Cather Zida Jones is like, youknow, there's so there's so many and
one day I will you know whenyou will. It's coming, It's happening,
It's happening. Look at this.You look at the cast of all
the movies, of all the biggestcelebrities. You're in, the talent you're
working with. I'm so proud ofyou. One tip, I mean Scarlett
Johanson. I can't leave her out. Oh oh, and she's a Jewish

(01:19:44):
woman. Wait are you single?By the way, I am you are
single. Okay, we're gonna talka little bit. We talk about on
Chanelle in the City. Just tipsfrom a man dating in Hollywood, in
the entertainment industry. Because I can'tkeep it together. So tell us,
like, well, you're also young, still on still and I don't feel
young. Jessica Chesstain is another one. I just want to throw. Yeah,

(01:20:05):
I just audition he is attached toso we'll see. I love that
dating. Okay, what do youwant to know? How to not be
single or no, how to keepa man? Tips on how to keep
a man like let them like dotheir thing. It sounds cliche. I

(01:20:31):
like this advice, yes, Likeit's nothing crazy, like like let him.
I'm not saying, like one hundredpercent like I think, like you
got to spend time with your youryour significant other, but like I think
it's important that like you each haveyour own interests outside of like the relationship,

(01:20:53):
and like you like doing this andlike, oh, go do your
thing, like go go watch footballwith with the boys on Sunday all day
or you know, like go whateverit is, like you got to,
Like, I think it's very importantthat like, while you like live your
life together, like each of youhave things that you don't depend on the

(01:21:15):
other person for totally. I lovethat. That's really great advice. I
think most people don't realize that,and if they take it, it'll be
a healthier relationship. Let me askyou this, give me an advice for
a female? Now, oh,how to keep a girl? I mean,
I'm sure a lot of women theydon't throw themselves at you all the
time. I'm sure, no,they do look at him smiling guys,

(01:21:36):
look how cute, this is,how handsome anyway, But I was gonna
say my tip is okay. Formen, I think we want the man
to take even though we pride onbeing feminists and independent and equal, we
want the man to always take thelead and kind of like fight for us.
So I think a guy should alwaysask a girl on a date,
take the restaurant, take the lead. It's okay to be like, hey,

(01:21:58):
I like you, I want itto you out, because as women,
we find that sexier. We don'tfind it as set. I think
the culture has become so normal thatyou think ghosting is sexy or like,
I'm not going to pay attention toher, I'm not gonna ask her out.
I think that's bad. I thinkyou should totally if you like a
girl, ask her out, andif she says no, all right,
you move on and you still liveon, still nice to her. That's

(01:22:21):
the whole thing. Like you said, do you still let her do her
thing? Because women come around whenyou're nice to them. When you act
like a dick, you think thatit's turning them on. That's when they're
like, I don't want to,yeah, hang out with this person anymore.
So you like like when a guytastes control, which, yeah,
and confidence obviously confidence is key,Yes, it's all like it makes you
sexier and hotter with confidence, youknow, like you're a handsome man.

(01:22:45):
But even what makes you more handsome? With all due respect, I'm not
trying to make you feel awkward,but like, I have confidence that you
have confidence, that you're you're securewith yourself and you're a beautiful person.
That to me and to most women, I think men don't realize that.
To most women, that's hot andtaking yeah, taking the lead. I
love that. Yeah, and notbeing psycho a little bit. I mean,

(01:23:06):
I can not becoming obsessive and possessive, which women can tend to do.
Can they see I've been having withmy homies, Like I think there
needs to be like a balance,and that's hot, you know, like
where you're like kind of obsessed,but not all the way obsessed. You're
just right. But guys get likethat. I've been hearing that lately,

(01:23:28):
but I don't see, No,guys, I'm not like that. I'm
I'm so like, hey, likewhatever you want to do, go,
like have a great time. LikeI'm so big. I'm like, you
know, like do whatever you wantto do. Yeah, because I think,
you know, having your freedom isimportant. But I know some guys
that are like very very like that. But I think it just comes back

(01:23:48):
to them being insecure about like themselves, you know. And why do you
think men have a hard time tocommit in general, if they like a
woman, like I feel like they'llbe obsessed with a woman and then they'll
be they can't commit. Is itfree? Is is it a freedom thing?
I think it could be a freedomthing. I think it could be
they're just like scared of like whatthat looks like because of a past relationship

(01:24:09):
or like how their upbringing. Maybe, or it could be like a whole
lot of it could be a wholebunch of different things. You know.
I think you just need to liketreat people everyone with respect and and and
realize you can end up hurting people'sfeelings regardless. So yeah, tread lightly
now. The biggest thing is communication, you know. I think so many
people are afraid to speak their mindsof like how they feel, because you

(01:24:32):
know, that's something you do intherapy, and a lot of people don't
go to therapy to talk about likehow they feel, So like talking about
how you feel if you don't evertalk about how you feel can be difficult.
That's beautifully said, that's so true. You're you're even inspiring me more
to just talk talk about how Ifeel more, you know, and again
you can it's in certain way youcan do it in a nice way.
You don't have to scream, youdon't have to like yell, let about

(01:24:54):
your approach. You know, yeah, totally take your girl to a comedy
show right exactly exactly it's you're like, exactly, that's exactly how it is.
Anything else you want to plug rightnow before we wrap anything else.
Just you never know how close youare to your goal. So I think,

(01:25:16):
like, if you have a dream, or if you like are really
serious or like committed or you know, passionate about something, like do it
because I think so many people don'tget the opportunity to chase their dreams about
what they're passionate about. So ifyou have the opportunity, like you're so

(01:25:39):
lucky, and it's never too lateto like start you know whatever it is.
And it's like small stars start withlike whatever it is, Like it's
never too late to start, youknow. I love that. We're gonna
do a couple of rapid fire questions. What okay, So tell us a
couple about your influences growing up asan actor. So what were you're like

(01:26:00):
influences in acting, Like who influencedyou the most? Well? Like remember
the times is like my favorite movieGoodwill Hunting. Honestly, like I wanted
to be an actor when I sawStar Wars. Oh wow, yeah,
I don't know, like Hayden Christensenand Natalie Portman, who Natalie Portman is
like one of the best. That'sanother one I'd love to work with.
I mean I saw her and Iwas like, that was the first time

(01:26:24):
I think I ever fell in lovewith a girl. I was like nine
years old, and I'm like,I want to be a Jedi. So
that is beautiful. Yeah, yeah, like Keith Ledger I had. I
have a huge obsession with obviously,like The Joker and you know, Rest
in Peace one of the best ever. Like h yeah, you know.

(01:26:45):
Angelina Jolie's another one. Just justso much confidence on screen, so much
presence, just so sexy like inhow she does everything, you know,
Like so like, yeah, lovethat. What's your one tip to becoming
a successful actor artists or and ifsomebody you know or how do they start
to get into the industry, whatwould you recommend? How would they just

(01:27:11):
just if you want to be justcreate on your own, take acting classes
if you want to be an actor, Like it doesn't you don't just start
off like on The Warner brother alot. I mean that's like a lottery.
You know, you got to startcreating your own stuff, start taking
classes, start doing scenes with youknow another friend, you know, like
find a movie and recreate that scene. You know anything you know that's amazing.

(01:27:36):
Yeah, I love that. That'sgreat advice. One thing for Shanel
in the City audience, We wantto know what's your favorite place in Hollywood
or LA we can check out,like restaurant or a place that you like
to go and escape or in NewYork. You can give us, you
know, two cities, so acouple of play obviously, like you can't
really escape its obviously. Other thanthat, yeah, New York, or

(01:28:14):
where do you like going in NewYork? Charles the best burger I've ever
had? For real? Oh Igot to try that. I love burgers.
Oh can you hear me? Ohyou know what you want to my
headphones? I'll go okay, sorry, could you hear me the whole time?
Yes? For Charles Prime rib wentthere for the first time when I
was in New York. Best burgerI've ever had. It's very hard to

(01:28:34):
get in there. Shout out myboy. Kolby Tucker for getting me a
reservation. Love that place. AllChabal is another one in New York,
a little easier to get into thesame owner best Burg or you're you'll have
love it? What gets you in? What do you do to prepare to
get into your any character? So, like, give us like a routine.
Do you you know, read yourlines? Do you meditate you first?

(01:28:58):
Do you have to need do youneed quiet? Like you need to
escape from people for a week?To us about first thing I'll do after
reading like the script or my scene. Probably ten times, I'll just ask
like my dad or my mom,I brought somebody that's not an actor.
I'll say I'll be in character,and I'll say I need fifty questions.

(01:29:19):
Ask me anything about my character.Oh, what's your character's favorite ice cream
flavor? Oh you know what wasa struggle? Uh? You know?
Do you have a heartbreak? Anyquestion? Like if I were asking you.
I'm just in character and I'm answeringany question about anything, and that
helps me to fill my character.Yeah, that's smart, Like fifty sixty

(01:29:42):
questions. And I'll just have somebodythat's not in entertainment of It's like,
yo, I'm gonna be in character. I need to ask me one hundred
questions and I'll answer that as mycharacter those questions. I love that.
That's really actually a great tip,I mean, because then you get into
the real character you like, knowwho that person is, and it helps
so much much like you wouldn't evenYeah, try that, I'm telling you,

(01:30:03):
right, that's that's amazing. Ilove that. Yeah. Well,
Darren Wise, you are amazing.We love you. This has been a
phenomenal interview. Thank you for joiningus, thank you for being so open
and supportive. We're so proud ofyou, Mazaltov on all the success you
have, all these movies. We'regonna listen right now. Please check them
out. Americano Americano. When doesit come out so we can tune in?

(01:30:26):
Probably in the fall, in thefall, so you're gonna tune in.
First of all, we got Breakcoming out April twenty six. April
twenty six, mob Cops. Probablyin the fall. Okay, we got
a bartijob with it, which isMarch nineteenth, right around the corner.
Please, guys, I encourage you. I'm pushing you, guys. Please
watch it. Darren is phenomenal init. Danny as phenomenal in it,

(01:30:47):
and Robert Dove. What a greatmovie about the Holocaust and based on a
meal. Who it's a meal Hirsh? Is that his last name? Yes?
Yes, who was a meal?A meal fish Ason? Sorry Hirsch
of course, Oh my god,I just got that. Chea real Versch
is in one of my favorite actorsin Inside Man and The Engineer that I

(01:31:09):
was also in. Actually you werealso in. I mean that's incredible to
me. I watched Engineer by theway, like three times. You were
incredible in that as well, whichis also about the Israeli passing in conflict.
You know, I keep bringing itup. I'm sorry because it's important
and a lot of people are notdoing those movies, so please check it
out. Follow at Darren Weiss Darrenwhere can they follow you? We're gonna
also put on Instagram just my nameDarren Weiss eight at Gmail, dots giving

(01:31:32):
my email Darren Weiss eight on Instagram. Ladies don't contact him unless he wants
it. Yeah, yeah, allright, Darren Weiss eight on Instagram.
I post a lot of updates there, and you know, the Italians and
other film I show with Michelle Dannerlast summer, The talented Abigail Breslin from
Little Miss Sunshine. It's a comedyabout an Italian family. Had a fun

(01:31:55):
little role in that. That'll beout this summer, So there's some things
to look forward to. I lovethat. Oh well, you know a
lot of people say, you know, because I know you do. It's
a lot of actors will say,you know, it's it's I can't do
this anymore because I'm not. Idon't feel I'm getting famous or the recognition
that I want to get. Isthere anything you want to say towards that,
because you you know, I don'tthink it's about the famous. I

(01:32:15):
think it's about just keep doing itright, Just keep doing and if you
have the passion like that should bethe reason for wanting to do it,
you know, and enjoying the processand doing poin characters that are fun and
unique to you. Yeah, right, and then you'll be famous like Darren,
he's been all these movies. That'sthe whole point. That's how you're
out there, right, He's like, I'm about that. I just want

(01:32:36):
to keep playing like great fun,meaningful stuff. You know. Yeah,
I love that. I know you'reincredible. Thank you. Please follow at
Darren Weiss eight right at Darren Weisseight on all social media platforms, and
we're going to have more information onthe Chanel and City iHeartRadio. We're going
to put some links towards Darren's bioand the movie's coming out. So really,

(01:32:57):
I'm so grateful that you did this. I'm honored. I really feel
honored. I'm such a busy manfor taking the time on this Friday afternoon
to talk to me and be onyour incredible show. And I you know,
I always call you when I'm inNew York and I look forward to
uh to see you soon, eitherin New York or LA. Yeah,
of course me too. I loveyou. I'm sending you love and I
thank you. Hey, everybody,this is Darren Wise from Break coming out

(01:33:19):
April twenty six. I'm on Chanelin the City with my girl, Chanel
Omari on the iHeart Radio station.

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Darren Weiss chats his new movie: BREAK, acting, & being Jewish in Hollywood today!

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.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

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Darren Weiss chats his new movie: BREAK, acting, & being Jewish in Hollywood today!

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