Inside Take Fountain: Anthony Answers the Bernard Pivot Questionnaire

In this episode of Take Fountain, we pay tribute to the iconic '90s interview series Inside the Actors Studio, hosted by the legendary James Lipton. With reverence and humor, we dive into the show's famous 10-question Bernard Pivot questionnaire, answering candidly, off the cuff, and from the heart. Whether you're a working actor, a theater nerd, or just love deep, reflective conversations about art and creativity, this is your invitation to lean in. We explore what creatively turns us on, what shuts us down, and what sound always sparks joy.

This episode is a celebration of the artistic spirit and the questions that define us as storytellers. We talk about the role of artists in a world obsessed with clickbait, the emotional toll of the entertainment industry, and why actors still dream of answering Lipton’s timeless questions. Aspiring actors, filmmakers, and creatives of all kinds: join us as we reflect, laugh, and share truths that matter.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
On today's episode of Take Fountain, we are paying homage
to one of our favorite interview shows from the 1990s
inside the Actor's studio.
It ran starting in 1994,
and I think they filmed close to 200 episodes.
Feels like a thousand. Yeah. With the host James Lipton.

(00:21):
It became, it started on Bravo actually
before Bravo was All Housewives in reality shows.
That's right. Uh, it was this incredible resource,
I think for anyone who is interested in the entertainment
business, especially actors.
He, James Lipton would have his famous stack

(00:42):
of Blue Note cards with all of his questions, which was
spoofed perfectly on SNL Welfare Ferrell.
Yeah. These interviews were really in depth,
really well researched questions about the actors' career,
how they got started.
You know, quite often,
I think at least once in every episode, the actor would kind

(01:02):
of be like, wow, you really did your research.
'cause he would pull something out that, you know,
from early in someone's career.
So we're both big fans of the show.
I think most of the episodes are actually available on
Peacock these days.
Um, and Ovation, if you have cable still
absolutely recommend anyone to go check these out.

(01:23):
You know, a lot of actors that were interviewed on
that program with James Lipton
are still working today, concluding
One who was just a student and wasn't interviewed at all.
Yes. Yeah. That is, uh, yes.
If you, you may know of this show
because there is a clip of Bradley Cooper in the audience
as a student at the Actors Studio

(01:44):
on Robert De Niro's episode,
and he is one of the people that gets
to ask a question Yeah.
Of Robert De Niro.
So that is truly a lovely, amazing moment.
And I think now they've, there's a new version of the show
that's kind of post James Lipton, where they, it's sort
of like the variety actors on actors.
They have guest actors interviewing each other. Right.

(02:06):
One of the staples of the show was no matter
who he was interviewing,
they would always finish the interview with a set
of 10 questions that Lipton adapted actually from a French
interviewer named Bernard Pivo.
So I thought it would be fun since now we have the
power to do that ourselves.
Yeah. This is the

(02:27):
inside the actors studio slash Bernard pivo slash hate
fountain edition of the 10 questions.
What is your favorite word?
Syne. Alright.

(02:47):
I don't have an elaboration for why. Okay.
Uh, I like the word a lot, that's all. Yeah.
I think it's, I like K words. Mm-hmm.
And also, I just think it's like a little obscure,
but it's also super useful.
Yeah. Uh, it comes up.
But also one of my favorite movies is Syne New York.
Least favorite Word.

(03:09):
I'd rather you just have thought of this,
thought about this beforehand.
No, that's the point of the interview.
Yeah. My least. What is my least favorite word?
No, my least favorite word is no. Uh, yeah.
Both saying it and hearing it, unfortunately, but yes.
What turns you on creatively, spiritually, or emotionally?
The mountains. Um,
I could disappear into the mountains happily for the rest

(03:30):
of my life when I need to recharge, when I'm stuck,
when I'm feeling like I need to like, step aside
for a minute, I go into the mountains,
I lead backpacking trips, I go, you know,
cross country travel over through the mountains.
Like that's my, that's my spot.
What turns you off?
People who don't fulfill their obligations.

(03:52):
That is a, an enormous turnoff to me.
If you say you're gonna do something, do it.
I remember early in my career, I sat in an audience
and a friend of mine, a a friend of ours,
Brian Kite, was getting an award.
I remember the presenter said something along the lines
of like, Brian is one of those people
where when he says he is gonna do something, he does it.
Which is true A and b Awful.

(04:14):
That, that's so unique that it bears mentioning.
But I remember at that time I thought like, I,
I want people to say that about me.
Yeah. And also, I don't want to be around people
that you can't say that about.
I like that. Yeah. What is your favorite curse word?
I mean, f**k, it's, f**k.

(04:35):
I, unfortunately, it's, f**k, it's basic, but I love, f**k.
What sound or noise do you love?
Sorry. Um, what sound, I hate to tell you guys this,
it's the sound of my own voice.
I really love listening to myself speak.
I watch our YouTube videos. I love that 15 times.

(04:58):
I really like hearing myself speak. It's not great.
I'm not proud of that, but it's true.
Wet sound or noise. Do you hate
Wet farts? Oh,
Okay. Yeah.
Wet farts are bad. It's a bad sound. Yeah. Yeah.
I like that. You specified wet. Yeah. Yeah.
I like it. Dry farts fine. Yeah. But a wet fart.

(05:22):
Absolutely not. No. 'cause then
it's like, then you're Mm. Yeah.
No, I got you. No. 'cause then you're wondering like,
what's what was left behind.
Got it. Yeah. What profession, other than your own,
would you like to attend?
I would love to be a backpacking guide.
Like, I would love, I love taking people into the mountains.

(05:43):
I do some guiding.
I would love to make that a full-time thing.
I think that would be a lot of fun.
You know, just spending your time in the mountains.
I think that would be beautiful. Be
What profession would you never want
Talent agents?
Um, I, I'll be completely honest, I would never want
to be a professional actor.
Mm. And that's not to, I, I'm not one
of those people who's like, don't do it like, like.

(06:05):
Right. It's not that. It's really just like I see
what it takes from someone to really be successful
and I don't have the drive to do that.
Right. To put my, to be so vulnerable and to put myself out
and to spill my guts every day for work.
Mm-hmm. That's very, very difficult.
I don't think I would want to do that.

(06:25):
I read this great thing recently that was talking about
how the career you choose should be the problems
that you want to sign up for.
Hmm. And I think in with specifically to acting, I think
that's a really good way of framing it.
Yeah. Because do you want the problem of having
to be vulnerable for a living?
Right. Right. And if you, if that doesn't sound good to you.

(06:47):
If that doesn't sound fun, do you want
the problem of auditioning?
Do you want the problem of Right. Finding an agent.
If none of that sounds fun, then
maybe you don't actually wanna be an actor, right?
Yeah. Yeah. If heaven exists, what would you like
to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?
That's okay. I didn't believe in you either.

(07:11):
Love it. Yeah. Awesome. I do believe in God.
Just so we're clear, I'd like to hear him say it. I like it.
Thank you so much. If you enjoyed this episode, you know,
you should probably just click the thumbs up button.
Hey, while you're out, why don't
you, uh, leave a comment below.
Let us know what your favorite word is.
Uh, do you like wet farts? Let us know.

(07:32):
Uh, subscribe for more wet fart content.
And, uh, thank you so much. This has been Take fountain.
I should have a stack of blue cards. You
Should. Oh, we didn't,
We didn't think about that.
Drops.
What? Can we fly in some blue cards?
Fly in some blue cards.