Actor, filmmaker, and comedian Paul Santoli joins master acting coach Amy Lyndon and talent agent Ofelia Habelt to share how he stopped waiting for a big break—and created it himself.
From his comedy roots to starring in his Amazon Prime feature film Because of Mika, Paul opens up about the mindset, hustle, and creative risks behind building your own career in Hollywood.
👉 A must-listen for actors ready to take control, filmmakers chasing independence, and creatives who know they are enough.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Hey guys, welcome back to After You Are Enough.
Yeah. Ophelia.
Ophelia, how Belt and I are. This is episode 12 Season 3 and
we have a special guest today. This is this is Paul Santoli.
(00:24):
Say hello, Paul. Hello.
Everyone, thank you for having me on the show.
I appreciate it too. Yeah, yeah.
I'm just really stoked about what's going on with you.
We're having you here because I want actors and anybody really
to see that if you have a dream and you you can make it happen
for yourself and there's no excuses and there's certainly no
(00:45):
excuses as far as you go. Behind You is your new movie
that I happen to be in, so look behind you there.
You go, we want the virus. You want the virus, but Ophelia,
you wanted to ask him some questions 'cause it was.
Inquiring minds want to know. Yeah, I have so many questions.
(01:08):
Like, first of all, what is yourbackground?
First of all, First of all, whatis your background?
And then like, how did you meet Amy?
Like, how did this come to be? Let's just start with like, what
is your background? Like what do you do?
OK, so my background, I kind of came up with that.
You know, I was one of five children.
(01:29):
I came from a very Italian family.
I grew up laying bricks. It was very good, fellas.
You know, the big family Christmas dinners with the Trays
and the Sternos and the cousins I didn't know and.
Where did you grow up? Long Island in Massapequa, it's
like. I love this, I love this.
(01:49):
Yeah, yeah. And then, you know, my dad, you
know, threw laying bricks. My dad kind of taught me the
kind of foundation of building and business.
And then my mom, you know, she taught me so much about, you
know, work and the relationshipsand how to handle things.
And I guess through both of that, you know, through what I
learned as a kid and then going to school for marketing and then
(02:12):
watching them watch Seinfeld andlove it and Cannonball run.
And just like, you know, liar, liars, bloopers and I'd and
Robin Williams from Miss Doubtfire and the mask.
And I think seeing all those comedies and the joy of brought
people really inspired me to make comedy.
(02:33):
And then I found writers and I kind of wrote my own lanes.
And my buddy was doing a short film.
And that's where Amy and I met. And a year after we met, I
emailed her a script and I go read it.
Let me know, you know, there's arole there if you want it.
She got back to me the next day.And, you know, IMDb, Oh, Amy
Linden is attached to your project.
(02:54):
You put it on. Instagram.
That's that's how it went down. So wait, so you started like how
old are you? When you when you decided like,
I want to write comedies. I want to make, I want to make
comedy films. I was 6 or 7 or 8 when I used to
watch Seinfeld with my dad, but I got pushed on stage at 18.
(03:18):
In high school I was a senior or17 and I sold out the place at
the Bellmore brokerage. And from there I started doing
stand up for a little bit and then I started doing sketch
comedies. And then I came to LA in 2019
and began writing bigger things.So I guess I'll I'll say 18
years old is when I said I don'twant to do door to door sales.
(03:41):
Oh my God, dude. That's like only like 7 years
ago. 18 No, it's 13 years ago. Wait, how old are you?
31. How much younger 20?
Five. I moved out here at 25.
I know, but you look like you're, doesn't he look like
(04:02):
he's like 2460? Five you do you have this.
You could play like whenever I look at people, I'm an agent, so
I'm all with my it's like I'm always without even like wanting
to. I'm always like, what age range
can they play? And you're definitely like,
like, yeah, like early 20s. Oh absolutely.
(04:23):
He's probably like 20 to like oreven 19 to like 26 tops. 19 you
got all right. Now you guys are just teasing
me. It's no, no, no.
You have this, You have this baby thing about your face.
So your first movie you made. Tell us how that came about and
(04:45):
how did you get it on Amazon? OK.
I guess the funniest thing aboutit was I started writing these
short films and then I was goingto make one more call because of
Mika. I just thought that nobody did
like this kid, that she's a ghost dog and thought it was a
comedy. So I thought I could do that
very well or play that game. And then my mom's like, I
(05:05):
thought you're moving to LA. So I did because 2018 is when I
started, like brewing that coffee.
Then I went to LA. Then I met a bunch of people.
Then COVID happened. Then I met a writer.
Then I pitched him the short film.
And I said, do you see a movie here?
And he's like, yeah. And then 11 days later, we had
the script, and I kept staying on it and adding team members
and all of this and learning, learning the route of making a
(05:28):
movie as I went. And we got through it.
And it's on Amazon Prime and wonsome awards.
And ironically, Mika passed awayone year ago at this time.
No way. July, July 31st, yeah, we lost.
My wife here, I'm so sorry. Oh, thank you, thank you.
But I made the movie and she will always be here and I maxed
(05:50):
out some credit cards for her, so you know, I wasn't the
favorite. But I hope she knows I cared
about her 'cause I did. Yeah, well, oh, I mean, if you
maxed out credit cards then you care about her.
I did. I did.
You know, yeah, dogs have a veryspecial place in our heart.
(06:11):
How was it working with a dog for a movie?
It was cool. It was funny because she was
kind of like an A list actor where like when she came in, it
was like her set and like no one, like no one was really
petting her and like she wouldn't work unless my sister
Michelle was there. And then we had to find the
balance of like, do we set up the set, bring her in film and
(06:35):
leave. But then it turns out that she
was more comfortable with setting up the set.
We bring her at 10 AM and then she'd be so over it by 5:00.
Then we get the shots and then we needed Italian bread on set
because she don't work unless there's Italian bread guiding
her. That's why in one of the scenes
I literally have bread. It's like it was just
discovering the heat of the moment that it's like, oh, now
(06:57):
you'll like, it was just this. Yeah, it was fun.
It was. It was fun.
Well, what are like, OK, so you make it sound so easy, right?
It's. Not it's not.
That are like like I've been trying to I'm been trying to do
this for 20 years and I can't how did So what was like I think
(07:18):
I'll. Feel you.
A lot of people are waiting for other people to make it happen
for them. What motivates you to to do
this? I guess it's me being Italian
and I have lack of patience. And I even after this second
movie comes out, I am hopeful that someone calls and goes,
(07:39):
hey, is this Paul? And I go, yeah.
And I go, it's the studios in Hollywood we want to get, you
know, like I think everyone's waiting for this phone call and
your. Second phone call's going to be
Amy. I got a park for you, right?
I will. I will.
You're not going to forget me. No, I wrote a third movie
(07:59):
already. It's already sitting there.
It's a lacrosse movie, so there's always something in the
tank. But I just think that I just
move quicker and I'd rather the more I think there's a set of
skills that there's always something holding you from
getting something done, whether it's being able to write the
movie, direct the movie or colorthe movie or edit the movie.
(08:20):
So unless you know those people,you're kind of forced to learn
that skill or unless you have the money to pay for that
person. So I just tried to learn as many
skills as I could and something that this guy Richard taught me
or told me, he was Indian because of Mika.
He goes, it's funny, he goes, you're doing so many things on a
(08:42):
movie set that you're probably not even thinking about the
stress of like the lead role. And he's right, 'cause like even
yesterday we had to do a pickup shot and I had to get the Rose
Bowl and I had to get us on the turf in 10 minutes.
And I had to finagle that to thepoint where we did film the
scene and I got it. On the Rose Bowl turf.
It looks it's I literally got uson the grass like Alex my my DP
(09:06):
pulls up, I go, he's like, yeah.And I'm like, we got the Rose
Bowl. We got 20 minutes.
We got to go. He's like OK, like so I'm not
even thinking do. You see, do you see?
It's like, is that crazy? Yeah, I, I, I guess it's from
watching like. Everyone says yes to him and and
I don't really understand why orhow.
(09:26):
So maybe that's the next question.
How do you get people to say yesto you?
OK, the series like you got the mansion in Pasadena one time and
like. Yeah, that was the one that I I
shot at. Yeah.
And how? Do you?
How do you do it? Yeah, you got the office place,
you got the mansion, now you gotthe Rose Bowl.
I like how did How do you do this?
(09:48):
We got Hennessy's and Hermosa Beach for two nights.
Don't leave that out. Oh my gosh.
Well, if I'm being completely honest, I think one, I'm blessed
by Jesus that I think even if I told people the exact formula I
this I have, I have luck in thiscategory.
(10:09):
I just come from a place where marketing wise, I try to shrink
the size of the favor. Two, Once you're in there,
you're in there. So I don't tell them I need the
Rose Bowl for an hour. I say I need it for 9 minutes.
Then when you're at 1520 minutes, it's easier to
negotiate. When you're in there like I
can't, you know, I was on the phone, I go, yeah, I don't need
90. I go, I need 30.
(10:30):
And then you get in there, you slip the guy 100, you go, I need
35 minutes. And now he's at 20 and you can
tell he's about to get in trouble and you're like, OK, now
we really have to go. Like you learn about the
boundaries that you're in there.But yeah, shrink the size of the
favor. Another thing is I think people
that are making indie films and kind of cutting corners, they
like to use the word movie. And the big thing I was doing on
(10:51):
because of Mika was I was sayingto four cops, I had to talk to
four cops. We got no tickets and I got a
business card. True story.
I told them get into Juilliard and they want me to film a scene
here and I go they need the train station.
I I played it like, I don't evenwant to be here and it worked.
(11:11):
You're. Coming like.
OK, so shrink your favor. Shrink the favor and act like
it, like it's a it's an inconvenience for you.
Yeah, like depersonalize it likethis isn't for me.
Like do you want to help help a brother out like?
Yeah, it's very, I just, I just need this and this and then you
(11:35):
got to leave it where I do sincerely go in with like, if
you can't do it, can you guide me to someone that will 'cause I
don't play it? Like if I didn't get the Rose
Bowl, I could have shot outside of it.
So I don't go in with that pressure where it's like, you
know, me movies not going to be like it.
It doesn't matter. Like I want it, but it's not
going to destroy them. Yeah, you're like you're, you're
(11:55):
not attached to the outcome. Give it power.
You have to shrink the size of the favor.
You're like, I got two other people on the line.
Can we get it? If not, it's cool.
Don't you know, that's kind of my, that's kind of my play,
yeah. That's that's actually really
like helpful strategy. I mean, that's like really
obviously working strategy. That's the.
(12:18):
Second movie. That's the second movie.
What's the second one? What do you think?
Would people like when, if you, and I'm sure you have we all
have run into people who are like they've been trying to do
something for so long and they they just seem it's like there's
this in the way and this in the way like, and you've just kept
going, like you kept moving pastobstacles.
Like what would you tell? What do you tell people that are
(12:39):
like, even if it is an actor, like I, I can't, you know, I,
there's, it's like a lot of people will say, and I've even
heard my say myself saying this is an agent, like, Oh, the
strikes and it's there's. So now there's more competition
and it ended that. Those are all very true things.
But what would you tell someone who has all the reasons why they
(13:00):
can't move forward, which may actually be real, very real
obstacles, but you're also have experienced like completing,
starting, working through and completing really, really
significant things regardless ofanything going on around you.
So what would you say to someonewho's like has these all these
(13:23):
reasons, even if they're legitimate?
I think I would say, I think I would say something can always
be getting done in the meanwhile.
Like even for example, yesterdayI needed a couple of things to
fall in place, but I knew that Ididn't have to wait five hours
for them to fall in place. I could be doing other things.
(13:46):
And I think through, I mean, some people use the universe.
I like to use faith. I think if God's God sees me
making those steps somehow, someway, like as that's going on,
the thing you were worrying about tends to happen.
Or if that doesn't happen, you built these five other steps and
you go in that direction. And I think that I think that
(14:07):
there's, I don't think I know, like even with the movie, it's
you're building a home. You start with the foundation.
One day you're fixing the windows, the other day you're
painting, the other day you're feeding the team like the other,
you know, one time you're on theroof.
So it's not this, it's this everchanging scenario of like
something can always be done to build this.
(14:29):
Some days I'm working on marketing and I'm not on set and
other days I'm, you know, working spiritually to make sure
that I'm a good human being going into these situations
because I represent this whole 516 production.
So, you know, I'm, I'm working on physicality, I'm working on
my spirituality, I'm, I'm working on making sure things
are in place. So I think that people get
(14:49):
frustrated at at they do something or they want something
to happen. Like I wrote this lacrosse
script years ago, but I don't know when God wants it to happen
or how it wants to happen or XYZ.
But I just try to write down what I what I can do.
Yeah, you're, you're not, not your focus is not what's
blocking you. It's like, well, OK, well what?
(15:10):
What can I do? What can I do?
What is in my control? Yeah, yeah.
And I'm just gonna keep doing it.
I'm gonna keep reaching out and asking, you know, drawing people
in. If I can't get people to help
me, I'm gonna learn it on my own.
I mean, what a concept. I don't know how many people are
doing that. Like I have no idea.
I think a lot of, I think a lot of people get stuck, OK, They're
(15:33):
like, well, like I know, I know a couple people that just didn't
don't finish things. They don't finish things.
Yeah. I don't understand how you could
start something and not finish it.
I don't understand that. Especially with the film when
and and Paul's doing features, there's people that are doing
shorts that they're not even finishing.
(15:55):
Like how do you not finish something?
You you start it, you need to finish it.
You can't freak out along the way because you don't have XY
and ZI mean, obviously Paul figures it out and there's a lot
of components that go into that.And you know, years ago I wrote,
I read this book called Acres ofDiamonds.
(16:15):
And the philosophy of the book is, is that all of your riches
are in your backyard. So you know somebody that can
help with something. Right.
Right. Have to ask.
Yeah, ask. You don't know.
And the thing with you, Paul, you're not afraid to ask.
(16:35):
Yes, that's you. I'm, I, I have hesitancy around
it, 'cause, you know, and I needto work on that.
And then there are some people that just won't do it at all.
But but you don't have any hesitancy around it because you
look at it differently. Yeah, You know, another thing
too, is like, I see how many people work so hard on the movie
(16:56):
and are so interested in the script that it kind of motivates
me to push this thing as far as it can go.
Even Cody was like, he gets to the Rose Bowl and I give him a
high 5. I haven't seen him in two
months. And he's like, what's up?
And I was like, we're going to get in the Rose Bowl.
And he he's watching me like finagle this phone call gone,
you know, and he's just like, he's like, I just love watching
you. And I was like, well, you drove
here. You put your time, effort and
(17:17):
energy. I'm going to push for us to get
in there because I'm going to, you know, go as far as you can.
And then if you got to come back, it's it'll still be funny
over there and. Yeah, so you're inspired by the
people you put around you. Yeah.
And also, yeah, that's good. Yeah.
I mean, from a personal level too.
I mean, I've experienced an abnormal amount of loss in my
(17:39):
life. And I think that I look at time
differently on this earth. And I think that it's a, it's a
beautiful thing. And sometimes it's not a
beautiful thing. But I, I had lived with a sense
of urgency. And like, I just look at a
different. Like I had a brother who was
working on a race car for 10 years.
He passed away. He didn't get to finish it.
(18:00):
So now I'm working with my dog Mika.
She's 8. I'm like, all right, you know,
sometimes you got to push through.
And even with we want the virus,like sometimes we got to push
through, you know? Oh yeah, our days are numbered.
I mean, that's you. Don't know.
You don't know, I don't know ourdays totally.
And so it such a it what what isthere's a there's actually a
(18:22):
verse. It says eternity.
I can't think of what it is. Maybe it'll come to me later.
But the whole idea is like if, if like I think so much of so
many people live without thinking about like, oh, there's
like I have a time limit. And I think when you, when you
get older and older, you get more aware.
But I think for what your perspective is very unusual for
(18:45):
your age. And this is an interesting time
and a really wise way to carry that knowledge because right now
you also have the energy, you know, you're in age.
Yeah, yeah. You're combined with this wisdom
of like, yeah, I have the energyand I'm young.
However, I don't know how, you know, how long I, how long the
people I want to do this thing with have either, you know?
(19:06):
And so it's like really being mindful of that and like, hey,
like, what am I? What am I waiting for?
I'm not going to sit around and wait for this to come to me or
to happen to me because who knows if it, you know, if I'll
be able to complete it, you know?
So I just think there's so much wisdom.
(19:27):
I. Love that sense of urgency.
Yeah, yeah. Thank.
Thank you. Thank you.
It's it's you can, it's like oneof one of the things that's
driving you along with, you know, some of the other things
you mentioned like, oh, just your care about other people.
I think that's really powerful when you have an other centered
mindset, how that can actually be a motivation because you're
(19:51):
like, this isn't just about me. This is and, and I think human
nature is to, is to be, I mean self-centered.
I mean, that's just human nature.
But when you're really, when you've got, you've got that
really amazing maturity of like,I'm gonna like, I'm gonna be
other centered. And I I do think faith is a
really. Famous.
Huge, huge. Yeah, yeah.
(20:13):
I mean, this is the this is the first movie where you know, and
because of Mika, I almost went into it where I was like I was
directing these players, but I made sure like all right, Gino
shines like my character shines as an actor.
But even in in this one, I really let go and I turned it
into this. There was a quote.
It's somewhere along the lines of if you strive to work in
(20:37):
harmony, you will be more successful than striving to be
successful. So I would always make jokes
where like even in the middle ofset, I go everyone having fun,
you know, because it's like thatmorale will go further than OK,
like we got to get this. You go to Dalian and XYZ and you
know, since people were going for some people are coming on
set for free, some people are going at a discount.
(20:59):
I knew if anything else, let me make this thing the funnest
environment that I can and I'm really really excited.
Like this is like literally cannonball run like the bloopers
match like it's three like Dom Deluise, like there's day
players that this port like the homeless man.
I spit on him like 4 times from laughing by accident.
(21:19):
I was I like Jesus gave me what I watched at 9 and wanted.
I was in a Ferrari in this thing.
Like it was it was a gorgeous, gorgeous experience to the point
where I'm like another one. I don't know if I don't know if
we could top this like this thing is like out of the park.
Like I didn't EP watch it twice already had me on the phone for
two hours. I was like, Jeff, I gotta get up
in the morning like I have dreams and I wanna eat eggs.
(21:41):
Like I gotta go. Like thank you, I know, but I
gotta go. That's so good.
Oh my gosh, yes. And I can't wait to see Amy in
it. Oh my gosh, that's that's so
funny. Ophelia.
Ophelia came to see Lady Parts at the Chinese Theatre.
I told her how amazing you were when I hardly knew you, and you
(22:02):
came downtown to the Regal Theatre to see me in Lady Parts.
That was that. That said a lot, Paul.
Yeah. When I tried to show up, that
was a great indie film. And, you know, I get it.
And that team hustled very similar to the way I did where
the director was driving EU Haul.
(22:24):
Like, I know that. I know that ride.
You know, it's just, it's very humble.
And yeah, it's, I understand it.So it was cool to see.
What's going on with the festival?
Like did you talk to Bonnie fromLady Parts to talk about
festivals? Yeah, I did.
My plan is I'd like to walk in the AFM with it and test, test
(22:47):
the waters over there. I know some festivals, if we get
in, I want to get in some of thebigger ones.
I don't want to get in the chintzy ones That you get 35
awards. It means nothing, but it says
Sundance. It's stamped.
And it's like, you know, like my, my, my buddy just got into
TIFF and, you know, it's like, oh, OK, TIFF deadline words,
(23:08):
right? Whoa, you know.
Hey. One picture article like it's.
It's so interesting the polls some have compared to the
others. Sure.
Now how so I question. So my question, I have a
question about like choosing actors.
So I represent actors, Amy Coach's actors.
Tell us your process for how your because you know, because
(23:31):
of of it being indie, you're probably casting everyone.
As well, why did you offer it tome?
What was it about what you saw that you offered to me?
I knew you were a pro and I knewyou could pull it off.
Ah, there you go. I knew you were a pro.
I knew you could pull it off. You had the you had the training
and the the experience. That's the foundation.
(23:53):
It's the foundation and the confidence.
So I didn't put a question mark in his brain.
And then, you know, ironically, Cody, who plays the other lead
in the movie, I met him doing extra work and we spent 12 hours
together and I've never even seen him act.
I emailed them the script. I had 2000 people read for this,
(24:14):
but none of them he really could.
He actually submitted and then said, oh, the dates are messed
up. I can't.
And there's this weird psychology of like the people
that don't jump into it. I was like, well, you know, it's
a weird thing, but I just knew that he had the swagger to pull
it off. We did a couple rehearsals.
Some of the roles I kept in the family.
(24:36):
What did you see in him that you're like, he's, he's got
something for this role? Like what did you see?
So we were there for 16 hours. There's a video of it's, it's
the Lakers show winning time. And it's a clip where they're on
roller blades and there's this alley oop.
And ironically, when the guy dunks the ball, Cody and I are
(24:56):
right behind that clip. It's super viral and you don't
see us, but we're literally right there pretending to be
photographers. And after 16 hours, I go, what a
waste of an effing day. And he goes, not really.
And I go, why? And he goes, we met and that was
Adam and Greg. Because my character hates the
world. I'm a pessimistic Italian.
He saw the bright side of it. I was like this, you know, I
(25:19):
met, I saw Jason Segel. I literally grew up before I
take a girl out on a date. I watch a scene from Miss
Doubtfire and Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
Then I picked the chick up, but like just to get in the zone and
here I am, Jason Segel, same room, 16 hours later.
I'm like, this business is stupid.
And then Cody's like, no man. Like it was good.
And I go, that is the battery ofpositive and negative.
(25:40):
That is, that is Greg and Adam. Isn't that interesting?
So sometime and you didn't even see him act like really, really.
So that is. So.
I, I feel like you know, and I've, I've told actors, I,
we've, we've tell actors this, our, our agency.
Even, you know, we, we do training when they first start.
We do an intro meeting. We talk about different things
(26:02):
to be mindful of if you're on set for something, even that if
it's small, your attitude can make or break you ever coming
back in their room again. It's also.
It's also how you show up in theworld.
You know, I remember it's 20 years ago.
I can't believe it's a little over 20 years ago.
I was at a Academy Awards party and I'm I'm making fun of Cher
(26:26):
on the TV and Ray Dawn Chong wasthere.
That's Tommy Chong from Cheech and Chong's daughter.
She went up to the woman that has the house and the party.
She says, who is that girl? And two weeks later, I was
shooting a starring role in her movie.
And that was the movie. That was Chris Pratt's first
movie. She found him.
(26:48):
He was a waiter. There was something about him at
the table with her. He really, he was not an actor.
He's an artist. He was like an artist.
And. And two weeks later, he was on
the set with me, you know, and it was his first movie.
And, and I didn't even audition for her.
There was the the energy of whatshe was looking for, for that
(27:11):
character. I mean, she did ask, are you an
actress, you know? And so the answer was yes.
But she didn't look at my resume.
She didn't look at my reels. She just went on the energy of
me talking to the TV in a derogatory way to share.
Yeah. Something about how big my mouth
(27:33):
was at this party. Right for that this role, Oh my
gosh, that's hilarious. That is just oh, like you just
just be yourself. It's like.
Be yourself. You're they're right, Cody.
Cody was his himself with Paul, and Paul said that's exactly
(27:54):
what I need as my foil to star in this movie with me.
Amazing. Yeah, yeah.
And even, you know, I think thatwhen actors come out here,
there's this pressure that like,everything they do has to be one
step closer to like, being an actor.
And I've noticed that the times I've completely let go and
thrown away, like, all right, I'm just going to be a human
(28:14):
being and enjoy my life today. I've I've come up with like 3
short films that really got me into the game with making
movies. I went to an event where I met
Alex and Kevin, the producer andthe DP of the movie.
I didn't even want to go to the event.
I like dragged myself there and then this kid Alex shoots the
hell out of this movie. Kevin.
(28:35):
He was amazing. He's amazing.
He's lethal. He is lethal.
So it's just like, you know, doing the right thing, praying
about it, God puts the right people in your, in your life,
takes the wrong ones out. And I kind of, I just look at
this the art game differently. Like I've studied negotiation
with Chris Voss. I've read The Way of the Seal
(28:57):
like. You're studying too.
You're not just. It's not just the zeal, the
energy. It's not just that these, these
gems of wisdom, but you're actually doing real preparation
work too. You're studying, you're reading,
you're learning skills. I mean, it that's so important.
I think sometimes people that dohave faith, they kind of expect
(29:20):
God to just lay it all out for them.
You know, you don't end up working.
I mean, if anything, we should be working harder than people
who don't have faith because they're just depending on what
they can do. But why aren't we trying to, you
know, be excellent in what we'redoing and, and reflect God's
(29:40):
excellence in what we do? You know, So I just love that
you're like you're, you know, studying and and really applying
yourself. You know, you know, what's
really important is that when you become famous, a lot of
people can't handle the the fameyou understand, because they
don't have the foundation. Yes.
Actually setting a really great foundation for when you do have
(30:05):
over abundance that you're goingto be able to handle it because
of the the, the great foundationthat you're building.
God, Spirit, friends, community,all these things that are strong
foundations. I think everybody's trying to
get to the money without doing work.
(30:28):
Yes and then they how many people really can handle fame I.
There's a lot of people that can't handle fame.
Yeah, yeah. So it's that's so beautiful to
see. I think that's such a great way
to articulate that Amy, that you're, you're really
establishing a a foundation to get help you be successful in
(30:48):
the long haul. Yes, the long haul and it and it
is about the long haul. I mean, I, I don't, you know, I
talk all the time about that, that the job, people go after
the job, don't go after the job,go after the career.
Yes. The career spans a lifetime.
(31:09):
The job is is temporary. It leads to the career, but
everybody's going after the job.Yes, so true.
Yeah, so Paul there. So there's the festivals.
How? But how did you get Micah into
Amazon? Like how did that happen?
(31:30):
Because of Mika I was able to self distribute because they
were still allowing that lane. So it sounds like based on
what's going now, I just snuck in where I don't think they're
allowing individual titles anymore.
But since I have an account withthem, worst case scenario, we
want the virus could stream on Prime.
So it's cool to have that fall back totally.
(31:50):
But what happened with that was I submitted it.
And then like you're looking at this green circle that's halfway
full and it says like pending. And everyday I'm checking like
it's like Christmas. And then four weeks later, 3
weeks later it says like rejected.
And I'm like, why? You know, And then like it says
the movie poster, you got to fixit.
And I do. And then I'm watching the
(32:12):
Bengals game and everyday I'm just Googling because of Mika,
like just waiting for a moment. And I'm Googling it and I'm
sitting there in the living roomand I I see that it says
available on prime. And I go what?
And I'm just like, ma, give me the remote.
And like, you know, I search it and it pops up and I'm like, Oh
my, you know, my mom's bugging out.
The dog's just confused. Like my family's going nuts.
(32:32):
Me because like, I'm just that'sATV like, but yeah, we got to
like live that moment together. So it was.
That's beautiful. That's a crazy that.
Was cool. That was cool.
Thank you. Yeah.
So like how do you, how did you raise money?
Like how did that happen? So I try, you know, something
(32:53):
that I do as a filmmaker is I come with as many teammates as I
can. I tend to see people trying to
crowdfund with one person or twopeople and it's hard to do that.
So I try to bring as many peopleas I can, showing that there is
a realistic chance that something can happen.
I try to show I try to bring as much leverage to the table as I
can. I try to be coming off a good
(33:14):
beat like we're because of Mika.It's like I had a couple short
films that just hit. I just landed a power a
commercial. So I was like, call my guy Josh
and I was like, we got to throw this thing on the in the
Internet like now, like it's hotright now, strike while it's
hot. And then through that, one of
the, you know, something that I did was a lot of people have a
(33:35):
ton of social media followers. I had like 2000 at the time.
So I was trying to spread the GoFundMe as far as I can.
So a donation was just as essential as a shout out.
So when people donated, I would DM them or text them and say,
Hey, thanks so much. Do me a favor, just throw it on
your Instagram. I just want to repost it and
thank you. That way they money goes in the
bank and they post it. I post it and now people start
(33:59):
to see this shit he threw at themovie.
I got to throw she didn't, you know, like, so I was playing
that world. And then the tricky thing is
once you see it start to slow down, you're like, OK, this is
where it's got to happen. So you, you really don't know
how much like some people do theKickstarter and all that stuff.
And that's cool. But I'm not trying to make
T-shirts for 95 people and posters.
(34:21):
And I don't think they care about that.
I think they're trying to help you get a movie off the floor.
So my goal is you throw me the bread, I'm going to make this
movie as good as I can. I'll sell out for you guys.
Not not not Hollywood style. I'll work hard for the movie.
So that's that's what I did and it worked twice.
We do have an AFM. They require that electronic
(34:43):
press kit and sometimes it's really good if they come to a
booth and they see a video playing, you know, are you going
to have a booth at AFM? What are you doing?
No, I planned on going there. I have an index card with.
I mean I have a business card with the poster on one side and
AQR code that's going to take him to the trailer on another
(35:04):
side. I'm only going for like 2-3 days
so I planned on, I go in, you know, I'm going in there with
the intention of not just selling.
We want the virus. I was like, I'd like to get
maxed out off the floor of my third movie.
I go in as an actor trying to network for projects I'd like to
get because of Mika for, for international distribute, like
(35:26):
getting that overseas. So I'm kind of just going in as
a businessman because what I've read is you really want to go in
as an EP and not an artist. So yeah, I want, we want the
virus to move, but I'm going in as like, OK, I'm with 516.
I have these four things I'd like to happen.
I'd also like to see what other people are trying to make happen
because I don't know if someone wants a script written and
(35:48):
they're offering a percentage and I hire a couple of my homies
and we knock that out and that money does that.
So, like, again, I'm not, you know, Yeah, please God, let this
sell today or else you're not really meant.
Like, I'm just, I'm going to brush, brush my teeth, comb my
hair, have a good breakfast, youknow, go in there.
Just rock'n'roll. So that's what I'm doing.
(36:10):
Just look cute. Yeah, try have.
To be in there. Throw a little Cologne on for.
A while. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I got some good stuff right now.I got Johnny Depp stuff right
now. How is it?
It's. It's great, It's great.
No complaints. No complaints.
(36:33):
Now you want to go smell it somewhere?
I'm so curious. Yeah, now I want to know.
I can't smell it through Zoom. I will wear, I'll wear it at the
premiere when you ladies show up.
So. We OK, that's perfect.
We can test, test the waters. Yeah.
So, so we have what's next for you?
We have what's going on with you?
Are you, are you Rep? Do you have lawyers?
(36:54):
Do you have agents? I mean, what do you have?
I have a lawyer, I have an accountant, no Rep at the time.
I'm looking for a Rep to be honest with you, I did because
of Mika and then took some meetings with some reps and
wasn't really happy with what the offer was or XYZ.
(37:14):
So I kind of went back to the old drawing board and I go, let
me come back with two things in my pocket and you know, kind of
go from there. So my main focus has been
finishing this project at the time, but I would never say no
to taking a meeting with a Rep. I just sincerely have not been
hunting since I went on this. Finished the movie real quick
quest. Yeah.
(37:35):
So when is the movie done? How many more scenes do you?
Have three, It'll be done in twoweeks.
Nice love. It and so then we're going to go
for the second edit. Yeah, I just got to send the
hard drive to my editor. He's going to clean it up.
I'm going to have it colored outhere.
There will be a trailer ready for AFM in November and yeah,
(37:56):
we'll take it from there. So that's.
So exciting. So when's the screening you
think? I don't know.
I mean, I'll do one at the end of the year regardless.
That way the team can see it. We're looking at a 90.
Minute, you could also bring in distributors.
I mean, you could do a whole thing to get distributors to
watch. Yeah, it'd be a good spot to
(38:17):
wear the Cologne too. The Dior over there.
Yeah, there's just. A secret in all of this it's
it's clone this. Is a Dior ad.
All this is was a Dior ad. Nothing to do with anything.
It's all just Dior. No, I I do think.
With all the doors. No, in all seriousness, to put
some pedal to the metal to get exhibitors and distributors to
(38:42):
come see it, Yeah. It's not something that I would
say no to, so yeah, I mean, I'm just trying.
To think about, I do know that overseas they love comedies, so
I do think selling a territory with a comedy or a horror film
is a very big deal. Yeah, I'd love to.
(39:03):
I'd love to push Because of Mikafirst, just to kind of test the
waters on how that would go. I think Because of Mika is a
solid comedy. But like I said, we want the
virus turned into my new child. So it's like, OK, you know, test
out the first baby. And it's like, we will, we will
see 'cause I'm, you know, seeingthe golden tickets.
So I'm. Yeah.
Yeah. I mean, I mean, the goal is to
(39:24):
have it theatrically released. That's the goal.
Yeah, I'd like to see how Naked Gun does, because Naked Gun's
probably the only comedy that came out this year, and I know
that people don't get off their I'm.
Not sure that Nate, that Naked Gun is going to pull people into
the theater. I think young guys are going to
put people in seats. Yeah, I wouldn't.
(39:45):
Even think it's a comparison, totell you the Godzone's truth,
it's a remake with somebody that's not known to be a
comedian, so I'm not sure about that.
They don't. Yeah, Question mark.
Yeah, I just know. I just know that that I mean,
there could be other comedies that came out this year.
I just comedies just got so rareall of a sudden.
Yeah, which is why Trace had told me to finish my script.
(40:10):
That's what Trace told me. And Ophelia, that dog script,
Remember I told you I had. Yeah.
Yeah, in the Indiana Adventure, dog Adventure and and she's
like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Everybody's looking for comedies
right now. So just, you know, everybody's
looking for comedies right now, Paul.
(40:31):
Oh, beautiful. Fun.
It's so funny. Yeah, it's a big deal.
It's a big deal because we're kind of over saturated with
horror right now and so the laneis really comedy.
So over saturated with remakes. Yeah, and horror.
They're making too many horror films be.
Over saturated, yeah. You won't catch me watching a
(40:53):
horror film. They're.
Not some of them are doing good,but a lot of them are not
because they it's like enough enough already.
So I think, I think the world's ready for summer comedy.
Yes, we're ready for well. Well, we haven't.
Tell. So tell us about.
OK, what is what is this about? Well, first of all, what is
Mika? It's with, it's called.
(41:14):
The name is Mika the full name? Because.
Because of Mika. Yeah, it's about a pizza.
That's about and then about the the that we want the virus is
about. Sure.
Because of Mika is about a pizzaboy pot dealer stuck in his 20s
kind of going nowhere fast and all of a sudden he meets a dog
and he's the only one that couldsee a dog.
(41:35):
So he has to figure out what thehell is going on, why is she
here, etcetera, etcetera. There's romance involved.
So it's it's a good little romantic comedy.
It's like Liar. Liar meets just like heaven.
OK. Yeah, yes.
Just like heaven. Oh my God, yes.
OK, that's really fun. OK.
(41:55):
And then we want the virus. What is that?
I mean, I have, I'm like, I'm like getting a sense of the idea
of it, but like, what is it actually about?
Yeah, so it's a modern day Dumb and Dumber meets Weekend at
Bernie's 2 Broke Actors Get drunk 2021.
They make a GoFundMe pretending they have COVID.
Wake up, there's 30 grand and the only way to get the money is
(42:16):
they must get a positive COVID test.
So we're like, let's just do it.And then things unfold and
things get crazy. So it's a quest to go get
COVID-19. That's that's actually
hilarious. Yeah, they can't get COVID.
They can't get Yeah, he's not able to get the get COVID.
(42:37):
Yeah, but it is a story about friendship and desperation for
fame. That is the 2 themes of the
story that are really that, you know what's driving them.
But yeah, it's an Italian and a kid from Philly, and they're
sick of being broke and they're like, let's just go get the
stupid thing. And it was a it was, I had a
great time playing Adam. I'm still Adam today.
(42:58):
So fun. And then what do you have in the
works now? In the works I have, it's a bit
of a deeper project. It's called Maxed Out and is
about a freshman lacrosse playernamed Max Stalzer that loses his
dad at a young age. And his dad was a professional
lacrosse player, so he's trying to fulfill that prophecy.
He gets injured as a freshman. And his roommate kind of said if
(43:20):
you don't take Percocets, like, you will be forgotten about.
So you're kind of watching this Christian lacrosse player slowly
push the Bible away and take on drugs just to get through.
You're kind of seeing the innocence of how drug addiction
starts. So it's like Gladiator meets
Place beyond the Pines. Wow.
Yeah, that's written. Very fascinated by this already.
(43:42):
Wow, that's really yeah. Thank you, thank you.
It's. Good.
Yeah, Paul. So what advice would you give to
anybody out there that wants to make a movie?
I would say first you got to pray 2.
(44:06):
Grab, you know, grab a team and start building a community 3 you
know, learn the art of script writing because the foundation's
the script. A good script will bring good
people in four, I would say. I think just learn as many
skills as you can and I think the biggest thing is the first
(44:28):
project you do. Don't write explosions.
Make it a narrative. Make it 4 or 5 characters.
You know, at a certain point I was making all these short films
and I finally gave myself permission to attempt a movie.
And now you get the first one done.
And after the second one, you'relike, yeah, after the third
movie's done, we'll do this one.So it's, it's this change in
mentality as well, Like just laythe bricks.
(44:50):
Write down A to do list of the things you got to do.
Enjoy the process, you know, learn to build in a unique way.
It's not really linear. Some days you're here, some days
you're there. Some days it's a revision.
Some days it's a teammate, some days you're drunk.
No, I'm just kidding. But just, you know, just just
work hard, enjoy the work. Build the foundation correctly.
(45:13):
Because if you build the foundation correctly, then the
rest of it will, will grow correctly, you know?
Yeah. It'll stay, it'll stay up.
Yeah, yeah, it's my best advice.So Paul, why don't you tell
everybody how how can they follow you on Instagram?
So you want to open up your iPhone?
(45:33):
No, my Instagram for my company is at a 516 productions.
I was from Long Island, so. At 516.
At 516 I'm looking for it right at 5:00. 8516 production. 08516.
No, no, no, a 516. Oh, at a 516 production.
(45:56):
There we. Go of 516.
A as in April 516 productions. OK got it.
Following. Yeah, so you, you followed him
and then and then personal Instagram.
Is Paul Santoli PAULSANTOLI no spaces?
There you go. And so that's how you get in
(46:17):
touch with Paul, guys. Yeah, and then my Only Fans
account is going to be. Yeah, yeah, feet, right.
It's. Yeah, it's the Dior.
It's the Dior promote. That's how I raise money.
That's how I raise money for themovie and it's through that.
Crap putting on the Cologne. They smoke.
(46:39):
They. Like.
What a world, what a world. And then they can find because
of Mika on Amazon Prime. Yes, simple.
Search it will be there. Yeah, search for it, guys.
Watch the movie and then watch for We Want the Virus and.
(46:59):
Both of them. Thank you so much for being on
our show today. Wasn't he great, Ophelia?
So much fun, so refreshing on somany levels.
Oh my gosh, that was such a delight to meet you and so
inspirational. Yeah, we share the.
Same values that you do Paul. Yeah, thank you for having me
(47:22):
and I appreciate talking to you girls.
And yeah, I mean, it's just beensuch a phenomenal team that I'm
honestly blessed that people trusted me with this.
And I can't wait to The success of this movie is really going to
reflect the kindness of every single person.
Like, everyone on the credits that did anything, did more than
they had to for this movie. And we're selfless.
(47:43):
And that is why this thing is going to pop off.
So I'm just, I'm excited for people to see that.
We wanted to save comedy and bring back old school comedy.
And because we all put our handsin and work through humility.
Yeah, this, this. We made the cult classic.
OK, OK, I just realized I did not ask Amy.
(48:04):
What part are you? Who do you play in this movie?
Tell Tell her what I. Yeah, I can't wait to it's.
Just run to go fund yourself. She runs, yeah.
She runs the headquarters and wecall her and we're like, yeah,
we we're calling about young Italian stud that has COVID and
you need your help or he's goingto die from COVID.
And she's like, OK, one minute she's like, oh, here it is.
(48:28):
She obviously thinks something'sfishy because we're dumb.
And yeah, she's the the B story and the ones coming after us.
Oh my gosh, this is too. Yeah, the ending.
The ending's awesome. I'm not going to tell you what
it is, but it's. Awesome, you can tell me that.
Oh my. The whole movie.
The whole movie is awesome. Yeah, Now we had a great time.
(48:50):
We were really great and it's really fun to work with all of
those guys. Yeah, it was it was a blast.
It was it was a good time. Yeah, yeah, it was a great
environment. I'm, I'm hoping I'm trying to
write a limited series called Non Union where it's like
Entourage meets Seinfeld. And like, I would love to see
(49:12):
this open up that with a small studio.
I would love that shot. Yeah, like 8 episodes, 8
episodes, 25 minutes. You come in, we come in with the
same players and you know, 'cause I know that the
environment created is gonna. It was a successful 1.
So I'd love to bring that back and kind of yeah.
Yeah. I just know, you know, we don't
(49:34):
have to do nine seasons. 'Cause I feel like there is
nothing. It feels like there's nothing in
your mind that's like this. This is, this is not doable.
Like of of the things you do is it's like there's nothing.
It just seems like there's nothing there that's like
blocking you internally. Like you.
I mean, maybe you just have, maybe you just have learned to,
you know, learn what to do with you.
(49:56):
Just continue. Yeah, you're just like, this is
what's going to happen. Like there's nothing Like it's
like you're unstoppable. I mean, I know that's a generic
word, but there is a sense of this is what I'm we're going to
do and this is what's. And then you and you have this
track record of it actually happening.
So it's like, it's just kind of,it's very unusual to see that,
(50:17):
especially in someone, I guess your age or I don't know, it's
just, it's just very refreshing and like, Hey, you guys look at
listen, it is possible. I, I think half the things that
people think are blocking them are not even real.
They're not real. They're not real obstacles and
they're, they're perceived as real.
Their issues are real issues, but they're not real actual.
(50:39):
They really cannot stop you, youknow, and, and I think
obviously, you know, having thatrelationship with God and having
a higher power that mean there'sthat's real too.
And so there, you know, that youhave an unfair advantage.
Honestly, I mean, being people who do have faith, have that
unfair advantage of like, yeah, I have something bigger than me.
That's you know. Well, that, that's, that's the
(51:01):
thing too, you know, I got to give credit to my mom because
like she put me on the Elvis andElvis was a human being.
But for some reason he is still and forever will be this icon.
So my mom really taught me aboutlike that lane and then she put
me on to the Bible and, you know, believing and anointing
and really, you know, Elvis usedto carry around the Bible and
(51:22):
working with the Holy Spirit. And you know, it's this.
That's that's another thing. Like I hope my achievements in
my life reflect that faith is real.
And this is like real, like I'm not secretly doing something
like robbing bent. Yeah, yeah.
It's really like these, these prayers really work and, and
doing the right thing really works and keeping yourself
healthy really works. And I mean, I've certainly been
(51:44):
blessed in some moments. I don't think many people could
go into the Rose Bowl and just be like, yeah, you know, do it
the Italian way. But Jesus has been so kind.
You know, I I've been blessed with a lot of the times he's
been anointing me and and these people that are around me
through all of us believing thatit can happen gives me the
confidence to go into it. You know, even Alex has been
(52:06):
fearless and Sterling has been fearless.
Amy's been if all these people, if I have 50 people that are
fearless, then it makes me feel exponentially like, all right,
we can do this because we all sincerely believe that we can do
it and then somehow it gets done.
Yeah, absolutely. It's like.
A mastermind effect and and and power of faith and I love that.
(52:27):
I think that is so, so good and and it's when.
You think about all these filming them, we have to stop.
But I wanted to just say like, like Neil Laboux is a great
example. When he made Boogie Nights,
Philip Seymour Hoffman was in that a lot of stars that weren't
stars yet. But that filmmaker, he all, he
(52:48):
found his team and he kept usingthe same people for Ryan Murphy
does that too. They find their team and they
they continually move with the team and they they put out great
product because everybody trustseach other and everybody has the
same mindset, yes. Yep.
(53:08):
Thank you, Paul. Yeah, well, congratulations
Paul. I'm so happy to know you work
with you and and be in your movie.
And I'm so happy you came to theto the podcast today, right,
Ophelia? So great.
Awesome. Good job, Amy.
That was amazing. What an amazing guest.
Yes, guys, if you like what we're doing, we need to continue
(53:33):
doing it. So follow us, subscribe, like,
share and and all that stuff. All the things.
Yeah, Yes, ladies. Thank.
Thank you so much, Amy, Ophelia,it was a pleasure meeting you.
And I will see you girls at the premiere.
Yes, it's not sooner. Yeah, it's not sooner.
(53:54):
Oh, you're going to see my mom though, OK.
Oh yeah, yeah, one week. Yeah.
OK. Thank you.
Bye, guys. Thank you, ladies.
Bye bye.
Hey guys, welcome back to After You Are Enough.
Yeah. Ophelia.
Ophelia, how Belt and I are. This is episode 12 Season 3 and
we have a special guest today. This is this is Paul Santoli.
(00:24):
Say hello, Paul. Hello.
Everyone, thank you for having me on the show.
I appreciate it too. Yeah, yeah.
I'm just really stoked about what's going on with you.
We're having you here because I want actors and anybody really
to see that if you have a dream and you you can make it happen
for yourself and there's no excuses and there's certainly no
(00:45):
excuses as far as you go. Behind You is your new movie
that I happen to be in, so look behind you there.
You go, we want the virus. You want the virus, but Ophelia,
you wanted to ask him some questions 'cause it was.
Inquiring minds want to know. Yeah, I have so many questions.
(01:08):
Like, first of all, what is yourbackground?
First of all, First of all, whatis your background?
And then like, how did you meet Amy?
Like, how did this come to be? Let's just start with like, what
is your background? Like what do you do?
OK, so my background, I kind of came up with that.
You know, I was one of five children.
(01:29):
I came from a very Italian family.
I grew up laying bricks. It was very good, fellas.
You know, the big family Christmas dinners with the Trays
and the Sternos and the cousins I didn't know and.
Where did you grow up? Long Island in Massapequa, it's
like. I love this, I love this.
(01:49):
Yeah, yeah. And then, you know, my dad, you
know, threw laying bricks. My dad kind of taught me the
kind of foundation of building and business.
And then my mom, you know, she taught me so much about, you
know, work and the relationshipsand how to handle things.
And I guess through both of that, you know, through what I
learned as a kid and then going to school for marketing and then
(02:12):
watching them watch Seinfeld andlove it and Cannonball run.
And just like, you know, liar, liars, bloopers and I'd and
Robin Williams from Miss Doubtfire and the mask.
And I think seeing all those comedies and the joy of brought
people really inspired me to make comedy.
(02:33):
And then I found writers and I kind of wrote my own lanes.
And my buddy was doing a short film.
And that's where Amy and I met. And a year after we met, I
emailed her a script and I go read it.
Let me know, you know, there's arole there if you want it.
She got back to me the next day.And, you know, IMDb, Oh, Amy
Linden is attached to your project.
(02:54):
You put it on. Instagram.
That's that's how it went down. So wait, so you started like how
old are you? When you when you decided like,
I want to write comedies. I want to make, I want to make
comedy films. I was 6 or 7 or 8 when I used to
watch Seinfeld with my dad, but I got pushed on stage at 18.
(03:18):
In high school I was a senior or17 and I sold out the place at
the Bellmore brokerage. And from there I started doing
stand up for a little bit and then I started doing sketch
comedies. And then I came to LA in 2019
and began writing bigger things.So I guess I'll I'll say 18
years old is when I said I don'twant to do door to door sales.
(03:41):
Oh my God, dude. That's like only like 7 years
ago. 18 No, it's 13 years ago. Wait, how old are you?
31. How much younger 20?
Five. I moved out here at 25.
I know, but you look like you're, doesn't he look like
(04:02):
he's like 2460? Five you do you have this.
You could play like whenever I look at people, I'm an agent, so
I'm all with my it's like I'm always without even like wanting
to. I'm always like, what age range
can they play? And you're definitely like,
like, yeah, like early 20s. Oh absolutely.
(04:23):
He's probably like 20 to like oreven 19 to like 26 tops. 19 you
got all right. Now you guys are just teasing
me. It's no, no, no.
You have this, You have this baby thing about your face.
So your first movie you made. Tell us how that came about and
(04:45):
how did you get it on Amazon? OK.
I guess the funniest thing aboutit was I started writing these
short films and then I was goingto make one more call because of
Mika. I just thought that nobody did
like this kid, that she's a ghost dog and thought it was a
comedy. So I thought I could do that
very well or play that game. And then my mom's like, I
(05:05):
thought you're moving to LA. So I did because 2018 is when I
started, like brewing that coffee.
Then I went to LA. Then I met a bunch of people.
Then COVID happened. Then I met a writer.
Then I pitched him the short film.
And I said, do you see a movie here?
And he's like, yeah. And then 11 days later, we had
the script, and I kept staying on it and adding team members
and all of this and learning, learning the route of making a
(05:28):
movie as I went. And we got through it.
And it's on Amazon Prime and wonsome awards.
And ironically, Mika passed awayone year ago at this time.
No way. July, July 31st, yeah, we lost.
My wife here, I'm so sorry. Oh, thank you, thank you.
But I made the movie and she will always be here and I maxed
(05:50):
out some credit cards for her, so you know, I wasn't the
favorite. But I hope she knows I cared
about her 'cause I did. Yeah, well, oh, I mean, if you
maxed out credit cards then you care about her.
I did. I did.
You know, yeah, dogs have a veryspecial place in our heart.
(06:11):
How was it working with a dog for a movie?
It was cool. It was funny because she was
kind of like an A list actor where like when she came in, it
was like her set and like no one, like no one was really
petting her and like she wouldn't work unless my sister
Michelle was there. And then we had to find the
balance of like, do we set up the set, bring her in film and
(06:35):
leave. But then it turns out that she
was more comfortable with setting up the set.
We bring her at 10 AM and then she'd be so over it by 5:00.
Then we get the shots and then we needed Italian bread on set
because she don't work unless there's Italian bread guiding
her. That's why in one of the scenes
I literally have bread. It's like it was just
discovering the heat of the moment that it's like, oh, now
(06:57):
you'll like, it was just this. Yeah, it was fun.
It was. It was fun.
Well, what are like, OK, so you make it sound so easy, right?
It's. Not it's not.
That are like like I've been trying to I'm been trying to do
this for 20 years and I can't how did So what was like I think
(07:18):
I'll. Feel you.
A lot of people are waiting for other people to make it happen
for them. What motivates you to to do
this? I guess it's me being Italian
and I have lack of patience. And I even after this second
movie comes out, I am hopeful that someone calls and goes,
(07:39):
hey, is this Paul? And I go, yeah.
And I go, it's the studios in Hollywood we want to get, you
know, like I think everyone's waiting for this phone call and
your. Second phone call's going to be
Amy. I got a park for you, right?
I will. I will.
You're not going to forget me. No, I wrote a third movie
(07:59):
already. It's already sitting there.
It's a lacrosse movie, so there's always something in the
tank. But I just think that I just
move quicker and I'd rather the more I think there's a set of
skills that there's always something holding you from
getting something done, whether it's being able to write the
movie, direct the movie or colorthe movie or edit the movie.
(08:20):
So unless you know those people,you're kind of forced to learn
that skill or unless you have the money to pay for that
person. So I just tried to learn as many
skills as I could and something that this guy Richard taught me
or told me, he was Indian because of Mika.
He goes, it's funny, he goes, you're doing so many things on a
(08:42):
movie set that you're probably not even thinking about the
stress of like the lead role. And he's right, 'cause like even
yesterday we had to do a pickup shot and I had to get the Rose
Bowl and I had to get us on the turf in 10 minutes.
And I had to finagle that to thepoint where we did film the
scene and I got it. On the Rose Bowl turf.
It looks it's I literally got uson the grass like Alex my my DP
(09:06):
pulls up, I go, he's like, yeah.And I'm like, we got the Rose
Bowl. We got 20 minutes.
We got to go. He's like OK, like so I'm not
even thinking do. You see, do you see?
It's like, is that crazy? Yeah, I, I, I guess it's from
watching like. Everyone says yes to him and and
I don't really understand why orhow.
(09:26):
So maybe that's the next question.
How do you get people to say yesto you?
OK, the series like you got the mansion in Pasadena one time and
like. Yeah, that was the one that I I
shot at. Yeah.
And how? Do you?
How do you do it? Yeah, you got the office place,
you got the mansion, now you gotthe Rose Bowl.
I like how did How do you do this?
(09:48):
We got Hennessy's and Hermosa Beach for two nights.
Don't leave that out. Oh my gosh.
Well, if I'm being completely honest, I think one, I'm blessed
by Jesus that I think even if I told people the exact formula I
this I have, I have luck in thiscategory.
(10:09):
I just come from a place where marketing wise, I try to shrink
the size of the favor. Two, Once you're in there,
you're in there. So I don't tell them I need the
Rose Bowl for an hour. I say I need it for 9 minutes.
Then when you're at 1520 minutes, it's easier to
negotiate. When you're in there like I
can't, you know, I was on the phone, I go, yeah, I don't need
90. I go, I need 30.
(10:30):
And then you get in there, you slip the guy 100, you go, I need
35 minutes. And now he's at 20 and you can
tell he's about to get in trouble and you're like, OK, now
we really have to go. Like you learn about the
boundaries that you're in there.But yeah, shrink the size of the
favor. Another thing is I think people
that are making indie films and kind of cutting corners, they
like to use the word movie. And the big thing I was doing on
(10:51):
because of Mika was I was sayingto four cops, I had to talk to
four cops. We got no tickets and I got a
business card. True story.
I told them get into Juilliard and they want me to film a scene
here and I go they need the train station.
I I played it like, I don't evenwant to be here and it worked.
(11:11):
You're. Coming like.
OK, so shrink your favor. Shrink the favor and act like
it, like it's a it's an inconvenience for you.
Yeah, like depersonalize it likethis isn't for me.
Like do you want to help help a brother out like?
Yeah, it's very, I just, I just need this and this and then you
(11:35):
got to leave it where I do sincerely go in with like, if
you can't do it, can you guide me to someone that will 'cause I
don't play it? Like if I didn't get the Rose
Bowl, I could have shot outside of it.
So I don't go in with that pressure where it's like, you
know, me movies not going to be like it.
It doesn't matter. Like I want it, but it's not
going to destroy them. Yeah, you're like you're, you're
(11:55):
not attached to the outcome. Give it power.
You have to shrink the size of the favor.
You're like, I got two other people on the line.
Can we get it? If not, it's cool.
Don't you know, that's kind of my, that's kind of my play,
yeah. That's that's actually really
like helpful strategy. I mean, that's like really
obviously working strategy. That's the.
(12:18):
Second movie. That's the second movie.
What's the second one? What do you think?
Would people like when, if you, and I'm sure you have we all
have run into people who are like they've been trying to do
something for so long and they they just seem it's like there's
this in the way and this in the way like, and you've just kept
going, like you kept moving pastobstacles.
Like what would you tell? What do you tell people that are
(12:39):
like, even if it is an actor, like I, I can't, you know, I,
there's, it's like a lot of people will say, and I've even
heard my say myself saying this is an agent, like, Oh, the
strikes and it's there's. So now there's more competition
and it ended that. Those are all very true things.
But what would you tell someone who has all the reasons why they
(13:00):
can't move forward, which may actually be real, very real
obstacles, but you're also have experienced like completing,
starting, working through and completing really, really
significant things regardless ofanything going on around you.
So what would you say to someonewho's like has these all these
(13:23):
reasons, even if they're legitimate?
I think I would say, I think I would say something can always
be getting done in the meanwhile.
Like even for example, yesterdayI needed a couple of things to
fall in place, but I knew that Ididn't have to wait five hours
for them to fall in place. I could be doing other things.
(13:46):
And I think through, I mean, some people use the universe.
I like to use faith. I think if God's God sees me
making those steps somehow, someway, like as that's going on,
the thing you were worrying about tends to happen.
Or if that doesn't happen, you built these five other steps and
you go in that direction. And I think that I think that
(14:07):
there's, I don't think I know, like even with the movie, it's
you're building a home. You start with the foundation.
One day you're fixing the windows, the other day you're
painting, the other day you're feeding the team like the other,
you know, one time you're on theroof.
So it's not this, it's this everchanging scenario of like
something can always be done to build this.
(14:29):
Some days I'm working on marketing and I'm not on set and
other days I'm, you know, working spiritually to make sure
that I'm a good human being going into these situations
because I represent this whole 516 production.
So, you know, I'm, I'm working on physicality, I'm working on
my spirituality, I'm, I'm working on making sure things
are in place. So I think that people get
(14:49):
frustrated at at they do something or they want something
to happen. Like I wrote this lacrosse
script years ago, but I don't know when God wants it to happen
or how it wants to happen or XYZ.
But I just try to write down what I what I can do.
Yeah, you're, you're not, not your focus is not what's
blocking you. It's like, well, OK, well what?
(15:10):
What can I do? What can I do?
What is in my control? Yeah, yeah.
And I'm just gonna keep doing it.
I'm gonna keep reaching out and asking, you know, drawing people
in. If I can't get people to help
me, I'm gonna learn it on my own.
I mean, what a concept. I don't know how many people are
doing that. Like I have no idea.
I think a lot of, I think a lot of people get stuck, OK, They're
(15:33):
like, well, like I know, I know a couple people that just didn't
don't finish things. They don't finish things.
Yeah. I don't understand how you could
start something and not finish it.
I don't understand that. Especially with the film when
and and Paul's doing features, there's people that are doing
shorts that they're not even finishing.
(15:55):
Like how do you not finish something?
You you start it, you need to finish it.
You can't freak out along the way because you don't have XY
and ZI mean, obviously Paul figures it out and there's a lot
of components that go into that.And you know, years ago I wrote,
I read this book called Acres ofDiamonds.
(16:15):
And the philosophy of the book is, is that all of your riches
are in your backyard. So you know somebody that can
help with something. Right.
Right. Have to ask.
Yeah, ask. You don't know.
And the thing with you, Paul, you're not afraid to ask.
(16:35):
Yes, that's you. I'm, I, I have hesitancy around
it, 'cause, you know, and I needto work on that.
And then there are some people that just won't do it at all.
But but you don't have any hesitancy around it because you
look at it differently. Yeah, You know, another thing
too, is like, I see how many people work so hard on the movie
(16:56):
and are so interested in the script that it kind of motivates
me to push this thing as far as it can go.
Even Cody was like, he gets to the Rose Bowl and I give him a
high 5. I haven't seen him in two
months. And he's like, what's up?
And I was like, we're going to get in the Rose Bowl.
And he he's watching me like finagle this phone call gone,
you know, and he's just like, he's like, I just love watching
you. And I was like, well, you drove
here. You put your time, effort and
(17:17):
energy. I'm going to push for us to get
in there because I'm going to, you know, go as far as you can.
And then if you got to come back, it's it'll still be funny
over there and. Yeah, so you're inspired by the
people you put around you. Yeah.
And also, yeah, that's good. Yeah.
I mean, from a personal level too.
I mean, I've experienced an abnormal amount of loss in my
(17:39):
life. And I think that I look at time
differently on this earth. And I think that it's a, it's a
beautiful thing. And sometimes it's not a
beautiful thing. But I, I had lived with a sense
of urgency. And like, I just look at a
different. Like I had a brother who was
working on a race car for 10 years.
He passed away. He didn't get to finish it.
(18:00):
So now I'm working with my dog Mika.
She's 8. I'm like, all right, you know,
sometimes you got to push through.
And even with we want the virus,like sometimes we got to push
through, you know? Oh yeah, our days are numbered.
I mean, that's you. Don't know.
You don't know, I don't know ourdays totally.
And so it such a it what what isthere's a there's actually a
(18:22):
verse. It says eternity.
I can't think of what it is. Maybe it'll come to me later.
But the whole idea is like if, if like I think so much of so
many people live without thinking about like, oh, there's
like I have a time limit. And I think when you, when you
get older and older, you get more aware.
But I think for what your perspective is very unusual for
(18:45):
your age. And this is an interesting time
and a really wise way to carry that knowledge because right now
you also have the energy, you know, you're in age.
Yeah, yeah. You're combined with this wisdom
of like, yeah, I have the energyand I'm young.
However, I don't know how, you know, how long I, how long the
people I want to do this thing with have either, you know?
(19:06):
And so it's like really being mindful of that and like, hey,
like, what am I? What am I waiting for?
I'm not going to sit around and wait for this to come to me or
to happen to me because who knows if it, you know, if I'll
be able to complete it, you know?
So I just think there's so much wisdom.
(19:27):
I. Love that sense of urgency.
Yeah, yeah. Thank.
Thank you. Thank you.
It's it's you can, it's like oneof one of the things that's
driving you along with, you know, some of the other things
you mentioned like, oh, just your care about other people.
I think that's really powerful when you have an other centered
mindset, how that can actually be a motivation because you're
(19:51):
like, this isn't just about me. This is and, and I think human
nature is to, is to be, I mean self-centered.
I mean, that's just human nature.
But when you're really, when you've got, you've got that
really amazing maturity of like,I'm gonna like, I'm gonna be
other centered. And I I do think faith is a
really. Famous.
Huge, huge. Yeah, yeah.
(20:13):
I mean, this is the this is the first movie where you know, and
because of Mika, I almost went into it where I was like I was
directing these players, but I made sure like all right, Gino
shines like my character shines as an actor.
But even in in this one, I really let go and I turned it
into this. There was a quote.
It's somewhere along the lines of if you strive to work in
(20:37):
harmony, you will be more successful than striving to be
successful. So I would always make jokes
where like even in the middle ofset, I go everyone having fun,
you know, because it's like thatmorale will go further than OK,
like we got to get this. You go to Dalian and XYZ and you
know, since people were going for some people are coming on
set for free, some people are going at a discount.
(20:59):
I knew if anything else, let me make this thing the funnest
environment that I can and I'm really really excited.
Like this is like literally cannonball run like the bloopers
match like it's three like Dom Deluise, like there's day
players that this port like the homeless man.
I spit on him like 4 times from laughing by accident.
(21:19):
I was I like Jesus gave me what I watched at 9 and wanted.
I was in a Ferrari in this thing.
Like it was it was a gorgeous, gorgeous experience to the point
where I'm like another one. I don't know if I don't know if
we could top this like this thing is like out of the park.
Like I didn't EP watch it twice already had me on the phone for
two hours. I was like, Jeff, I gotta get up
in the morning like I have dreams and I wanna eat eggs.
(21:41):
Like I gotta go. Like thank you, I know, but I
gotta go. That's so good.
Oh my gosh, yes. And I can't wait to see Amy in
it. Oh my gosh, that's that's so
funny. Ophelia.
Ophelia came to see Lady Parts at the Chinese Theatre.
I told her how amazing you were when I hardly knew you, and you
(22:02):
came downtown to the Regal Theatre to see me in Lady Parts.
That was that. That said a lot, Paul.
Yeah. When I tried to show up, that
was a great indie film. And, you know, I get it.
And that team hustled very similar to the way I did where
the director was driving EU Haul.
(22:24):
Like, I know that. I know that ride.
You know, it's just, it's very humble.
And yeah, it's, I understand it.So it was cool to see.
What's going on with the festival?
Like did you talk to Bonnie fromLady Parts to talk about
festivals? Yeah, I did.
My plan is I'd like to walk in the AFM with it and test, test
(22:47):
the waters over there. I know some festivals, if we get
in, I want to get in some of thebigger ones.
I don't want to get in the chintzy ones That you get 35
awards. It means nothing, but it says
Sundance. It's stamped.
And it's like, you know, like my, my, my buddy just got into
TIFF and, you know, it's like, oh, OK, TIFF deadline words,
(23:08):
right? Whoa, you know.
Hey. One picture article like it's.
It's so interesting the polls some have compared to the
others. Sure.
Now how so I question. So my question, I have a
question about like choosing actors.
So I represent actors, Amy Coach's actors.
Tell us your process for how your because you know, because
(23:31):
of of it being indie, you're probably casting everyone.
As well, why did you offer it tome?
What was it about what you saw that you offered to me?
I knew you were a pro and I knewyou could pull it off.
Ah, there you go. I knew you were a pro.
I knew you could pull it off. You had the you had the training
and the the experience. That's the foundation.
(23:53):
It's the foundation and the confidence.
So I didn't put a question mark in his brain.
And then, you know, ironically, Cody, who plays the other lead
in the movie, I met him doing extra work and we spent 12 hours
together and I've never even seen him act.
I emailed them the script. I had 2000 people read for this,
(24:14):
but none of them he really could.
He actually submitted and then said, oh, the dates are messed
up. I can't.
And there's this weird psychology of like the people
that don't jump into it. I was like, well, you know, it's
a weird thing, but I just knew that he had the swagger to pull
it off. We did a couple rehearsals.
Some of the roles I kept in the family.
(24:36):
What did you see in him that you're like, he's, he's got
something for this role? Like what did you see?
So we were there for 16 hours. There's a video of it's, it's
the Lakers show winning time. And it's a clip where they're on
roller blades and there's this alley oop.
And ironically, when the guy dunks the ball, Cody and I are
(24:56):
right behind that clip. It's super viral and you don't
see us, but we're literally right there pretending to be
photographers. And after 16 hours, I go, what a
waste of an effing day. And he goes, not really.
And I go, why? And he goes, we met and that was
Adam and Greg. Because my character hates the
world. I'm a pessimistic Italian.
He saw the bright side of it. I was like this, you know, I
(25:19):
met, I saw Jason Segel. I literally grew up before I
take a girl out on a date. I watch a scene from Miss
Doubtfire and Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
Then I picked the chick up, but like just to get in the zone and
here I am, Jason Segel, same room, 16 hours later.
I'm like, this business is stupid.
And then Cody's like, no man. Like it was good.
And I go, that is the battery ofpositive and negative.
(25:40):
That is, that is Greg and Adam. Isn't that interesting?
So sometime and you didn't even see him act like really, really.
So that is. So.
I, I feel like you know, and I've, I've told actors, I,
we've, we've tell actors this, our, our agency.
Even, you know, we, we do training when they first start.
We do an intro meeting. We talk about different things
(26:02):
to be mindful of if you're on set for something, even that if
it's small, your attitude can make or break you ever coming
back in their room again. It's also.
It's also how you show up in theworld.
You know, I remember it's 20 years ago.
I can't believe it's a little over 20 years ago.
I was at a Academy Awards party and I'm I'm making fun of Cher
(26:26):
on the TV and Ray Dawn Chong wasthere.
That's Tommy Chong from Cheech and Chong's daughter.
She went up to the woman that has the house and the party.
She says, who is that girl? And two weeks later, I was
shooting a starring role in her movie.
And that was the movie. That was Chris Pratt's first
movie. She found him.
(26:48):
He was a waiter. There was something about him at
the table with her. He really, he was not an actor.
He's an artist. He was like an artist.
And. And two weeks later, he was on
the set with me, you know, and it was his first movie.
And, and I didn't even audition for her.
There was the the energy of whatshe was looking for, for that
(27:11):
character. I mean, she did ask, are you an
actress, you know? And so the answer was yes.
But she didn't look at my resume.
She didn't look at my reels. She just went on the energy of
me talking to the TV in a derogatory way to share.
Yeah. Something about how big my mouth
(27:33):
was at this party. Right for that this role, Oh my
gosh, that's hilarious. That is just oh, like you just
just be yourself. It's like.
Be yourself. You're they're right, Cody.
Cody was his himself with Paul, and Paul said that's exactly
(27:54):
what I need as my foil to star in this movie with me.
Amazing. Yeah, yeah.
And even, you know, I think thatwhen actors come out here,
there's this pressure that like,everything they do has to be one
step closer to like, being an actor.
And I've noticed that the times I've completely let go and
thrown away, like, all right, I'm just going to be a human
(28:14):
being and enjoy my life today. I've I've come up with like 3
short films that really got me into the game with making
movies. I went to an event where I met
Alex and Kevin, the producer andthe DP of the movie.
I didn't even want to go to the event.
I like dragged myself there and then this kid Alex shoots the
hell out of this movie. Kevin.
(28:35):
He was amazing. He's amazing.
He's lethal. He is lethal.
So it's just like, you know, doing the right thing, praying
about it, God puts the right people in your, in your life,
takes the wrong ones out. And I kind of, I just look at
this the art game differently. Like I've studied negotiation
with Chris Voss. I've read The Way of the Seal
(28:57):
like. You're studying too.
You're not just. It's not just the zeal, the
energy. It's not just that these, these
gems of wisdom, but you're actually doing real preparation
work too. You're studying, you're reading,
you're learning skills. I mean, it that's so important.
I think sometimes people that dohave faith, they kind of expect
(29:20):
God to just lay it all out for them.
You know, you don't end up working.
I mean, if anything, we should be working harder than people
who don't have faith because they're just depending on what
they can do. But why aren't we trying to, you
know, be excellent in what we'redoing and, and reflect God's
(29:40):
excellence in what we do? You know, So I just love that
you're like you're, you know, studying and and really applying
yourself. You know, you know, what's
really important is that when you become famous, a lot of
people can't handle the the fameyou understand, because they
don't have the foundation. Yes.
Actually setting a really great foundation for when you do have
(30:05):
over abundance that you're goingto be able to handle it because
of the the, the great foundationthat you're building.
God, Spirit, friends, community,all these things that are strong
foundations. I think everybody's trying to
get to the money without doing work.
(30:28):
Yes and then they how many people really can handle fame I.
There's a lot of people that can't handle fame.
Yeah, yeah. So it's that's so beautiful to
see. I think that's such a great way
to articulate that Amy, that you're, you're really
establishing a a foundation to get help you be successful in
(30:48):
the long haul. Yes, the long haul and it and it
is about the long haul. I mean, I, I don't, you know, I
talk all the time about that, that the job, people go after
the job, don't go after the job,go after the career.
Yes. The career spans a lifetime.
(31:09):
The job is is temporary. It leads to the career, but
everybody's going after the job.Yes, so true.
Yeah, so Paul there. So there's the festivals.
How? But how did you get Micah into
Amazon? Like how did that happen?
(31:30):
Because of Mika I was able to self distribute because they
were still allowing that lane. So it sounds like based on
what's going now, I just snuck in where I don't think they're
allowing individual titles anymore.
But since I have an account withthem, worst case scenario, we
want the virus could stream on Prime.
So it's cool to have that fall back totally.
(31:50):
But what happened with that was I submitted it.
And then like you're looking at this green circle that's halfway
full and it says like pending. And everyday I'm checking like
it's like Christmas. And then four weeks later, 3
weeks later it says like rejected.
And I'm like, why? You know, And then like it says
the movie poster, you got to fixit.
And I do. And then I'm watching the
(32:12):
Bengals game and everyday I'm just Googling because of Mika,
like just waiting for a moment. And I'm Googling it and I'm
sitting there in the living roomand I I see that it says
available on prime. And I go what?
And I'm just like, ma, give me the remote.
And like, you know, I search it and it pops up and I'm like, Oh
my, you know, my mom's bugging out.
The dog's just confused. Like my family's going nuts.
(32:32):
Me because like, I'm just that'sATV like, but yeah, we got to
like live that moment together. So it was.
That's beautiful. That's a crazy that.
Was cool. That was cool.
Thank you. Yeah.
So like how do you, how did you raise money?
Like how did that happen? So I try, you know, something
(32:53):
that I do as a filmmaker is I come with as many teammates as I
can. I tend to see people trying to
crowdfund with one person or twopeople and it's hard to do that.
So I try to bring as many peopleas I can, showing that there is
a realistic chance that something can happen.
I try to show I try to bring as much leverage to the table as I
can. I try to be coming off a good
(33:14):
beat like we're because of Mika.It's like I had a couple short
films that just hit. I just landed a power a
commercial. So I was like, call my guy Josh
and I was like, we got to throw this thing on the in the
Internet like now, like it's hotright now, strike while it's
hot. And then through that, one of
the, you know, something that I did was a lot of people have a
(33:35):
ton of social media followers. I had like 2000 at the time.
So I was trying to spread the GoFundMe as far as I can.
So a donation was just as essential as a shout out.
So when people donated, I would DM them or text them and say,
Hey, thanks so much. Do me a favor, just throw it on
your Instagram. I just want to repost it and
thank you. That way they money goes in the
bank and they post it. I post it and now people start
(33:59):
to see this shit he threw at themovie.
I got to throw she didn't, you know, like, so I was playing
that world. And then the tricky thing is
once you see it start to slow down, you're like, OK, this is
where it's got to happen. So you, you really don't know
how much like some people do theKickstarter and all that stuff.
And that's cool. But I'm not trying to make
T-shirts for 95 people and posters.
(34:21):
And I don't think they care about that.
I think they're trying to help you get a movie off the floor.
So my goal is you throw me the bread, I'm going to make this
movie as good as I can. I'll sell out for you guys.
Not not not Hollywood style. I'll work hard for the movie.
So that's that's what I did and it worked twice.
We do have an AFM. They require that electronic
(34:43):
press kit and sometimes it's really good if they come to a
booth and they see a video playing, you know, are you going
to have a booth at AFM? What are you doing?
No, I planned on going there. I have an index card with.
I mean I have a business card with the poster on one side and
AQR code that's going to take him to the trailer on another
(35:04):
side. I'm only going for like 2-3 days
so I planned on, I go in, you know, I'm going in there with
the intention of not just selling.
We want the virus. I was like, I'd like to get
maxed out off the floor of my third movie.
I go in as an actor trying to network for projects I'd like to
get because of Mika for, for international distribute, like
(35:26):
getting that overseas. So I'm kind of just going in as
a businessman because what I've read is you really want to go in
as an EP and not an artist. So yeah, I want, we want the
virus to move, but I'm going in as like, OK, I'm with 516.
I have these four things I'd like to happen.
I'd also like to see what other people are trying to make happen
because I don't know if someone wants a script written and
(35:48):
they're offering a percentage and I hire a couple of my homies
and we knock that out and that money does that.
So, like, again, I'm not, you know, Yeah, please God, let this
sell today or else you're not really meant.
Like, I'm just, I'm going to brush, brush my teeth, comb my
hair, have a good breakfast, youknow, go in there.
Just rock'n'roll. So that's what I'm doing.
(36:10):
Just look cute. Yeah, try have.
To be in there. Throw a little Cologne on for.
A while. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I got some good stuff right now.I got Johnny Depp stuff right
now. How is it?
It's. It's great, It's great.
No complaints. No complaints.
(36:33):
Now you want to go smell it somewhere?
I'm so curious. Yeah, now I want to know.
I can't smell it through Zoom. I will wear, I'll wear it at the
premiere when you ladies show up.
So. We OK, that's perfect.
We can test, test the waters. Yeah.
So, so we have what's next for you?
We have what's going on with you?
Are you, are you Rep? Do you have lawyers?
(36:54):
Do you have agents? I mean, what do you have?
I have a lawyer, I have an accountant, no Rep at the time.
I'm looking for a Rep to be honest with you, I did because
of Mika and then took some meetings with some reps and
wasn't really happy with what the offer was or XYZ.
(37:14):
So I kind of went back to the old drawing board and I go, let
me come back with two things in my pocket and you know, kind of
go from there. So my main focus has been
finishing this project at the time, but I would never say no
to taking a meeting with a Rep. I just sincerely have not been
hunting since I went on this. Finished the movie real quick
quest. Yeah.
(37:35):
So when is the movie done? How many more scenes do you?
Have three, It'll be done in twoweeks.
Nice love. It and so then we're going to go
for the second edit. Yeah, I just got to send the
hard drive to my editor. He's going to clean it up.
I'm going to have it colored outhere.
There will be a trailer ready for AFM in November and yeah,
(37:56):
we'll take it from there. So that's.
So exciting. So when's the screening you
think? I don't know.
I mean, I'll do one at the end of the year regardless.
That way the team can see it. We're looking at a 90.
Minute, you could also bring in distributors.
I mean, you could do a whole thing to get distributors to
watch. Yeah, it'd be a good spot to
(38:17):
wear the Cologne too. The Dior over there.
Yeah, there's just. A secret in all of this it's
it's clone this. Is a Dior ad.
All this is was a Dior ad. Nothing to do with anything.
It's all just Dior. No, I I do think.
With all the doors. No, in all seriousness, to put
some pedal to the metal to get exhibitors and distributors to
(38:42):
come see it, Yeah. It's not something that I would
say no to, so yeah, I mean, I'm just trying.
To think about, I do know that overseas they love comedies, so
I do think selling a territory with a comedy or a horror film
is a very big deal. Yeah, I'd love to.
(39:03):
I'd love to push Because of Mikafirst, just to kind of test the
waters on how that would go. I think Because of Mika is a
solid comedy. But like I said, we want the
virus turned into my new child. So it's like, OK, you know, test
out the first baby. And it's like, we will, we will
see 'cause I'm, you know, seeingthe golden tickets.
So I'm. Yeah.
Yeah. I mean, I mean, the goal is to
(39:24):
have it theatrically released. That's the goal.
Yeah, I'd like to see how Naked Gun does, because Naked Gun's
probably the only comedy that came out this year, and I know
that people don't get off their I'm.
Not sure that Nate, that Naked Gun is going to pull people into
the theater. I think young guys are going to
put people in seats. Yeah, I wouldn't.
(39:45):
Even think it's a comparison, totell you the Godzone's truth,
it's a remake with somebody that's not known to be a
comedian, so I'm not sure about that.
They don't. Yeah, Question mark.
Yeah, I just know. I just know that that I mean,
there could be other comedies that came out this year.
I just comedies just got so rareall of a sudden.
Yeah, which is why Trace had told me to finish my script.
(40:10):
That's what Trace told me. And Ophelia, that dog script,
Remember I told you I had. Yeah.
Yeah, in the Indiana Adventure, dog Adventure and and she's
like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Everybody's looking for comedies
right now. So just, you know, everybody's
looking for comedies right now, Paul.
(40:31):
Oh, beautiful. Fun.
It's so funny. Yeah, it's a big deal.
It's a big deal because we're kind of over saturated with
horror right now and so the laneis really comedy.
So over saturated with remakes. Yeah, and horror.
They're making too many horror films be.
Over saturated, yeah. You won't catch me watching a
(40:53):
horror film. They're.
Not some of them are doing good,but a lot of them are not
because they it's like enough enough already.
So I think, I think the world's ready for summer comedy.
Yes, we're ready for well. Well, we haven't.
Tell. So tell us about.
OK, what is what is this about? Well, first of all, what is
Mika? It's with, it's called.
(41:14):
The name is Mika the full name? Because.
Because of Mika. Yeah, it's about a pizza.
That's about and then about the the that we want the virus is
about. Sure.
Because of Mika is about a pizzaboy pot dealer stuck in his 20s
kind of going nowhere fast and all of a sudden he meets a dog
and he's the only one that couldsee a dog.
(41:35):
So he has to figure out what thehell is going on, why is she
here, etcetera, etcetera. There's romance involved.
So it's it's a good little romantic comedy.
It's like Liar. Liar meets just like heaven.
OK. Yeah, yes.
Just like heaven. Oh my God, yes.
OK, that's really fun. OK.
(41:55):
And then we want the virus. What is that?
I mean, I have, I'm like, I'm like getting a sense of the idea
of it, but like, what is it actually about?
Yeah, so it's a modern day Dumb and Dumber meets Weekend at
Bernie's 2 Broke Actors Get drunk 2021.
They make a GoFundMe pretending they have COVID.
Wake up, there's 30 grand and the only way to get the money is
(42:16):
they must get a positive COVID test.
So we're like, let's just do it.And then things unfold and
things get crazy. So it's a quest to go get
COVID-19. That's that's actually
hilarious. Yeah, they can't get COVID.
They can't get Yeah, he's not able to get the get COVID.
(42:37):
Yeah, but it is a story about friendship and desperation for
fame. That is the 2 themes of the
story that are really that, you know what's driving them.
But yeah, it's an Italian and a kid from Philly, and they're
sick of being broke and they're like, let's just go get the
stupid thing. And it was a it was, I had a
great time playing Adam. I'm still Adam today.
(42:58):
So fun. And then what do you have in the
works now? In the works I have, it's a bit
of a deeper project. It's called Maxed Out and is
about a freshman lacrosse playernamed Max Stalzer that loses his
dad at a young age. And his dad was a professional
lacrosse player, so he's trying to fulfill that prophecy.
He gets injured as a freshman. And his roommate kind of said if
(43:20):
you don't take Percocets, like, you will be forgotten about.
So you're kind of watching this Christian lacrosse player slowly
push the Bible away and take on drugs just to get through.
You're kind of seeing the innocence of how drug addiction
starts. So it's like Gladiator meets
Place beyond the Pines. Wow.
Yeah, that's written. Very fascinated by this already.
(43:42):
Wow, that's really yeah. Thank you, thank you.
It's. Good.
Yeah, Paul. So what advice would you give to
anybody out there that wants to make a movie?
I would say first you got to pray 2.
(44:06):
Grab, you know, grab a team and start building a community 3 you
know, learn the art of script writing because the foundation's
the script. A good script will bring good
people in four, I would say. I think just learn as many
skills as you can and I think the biggest thing is the first
(44:28):
project you do. Don't write explosions.
Make it a narrative. Make it 4 or 5 characters.
You know, at a certain point I was making all these short films
and I finally gave myself permission to attempt a movie.
And now you get the first one done.
And after the second one, you'relike, yeah, after the third
movie's done, we'll do this one.So it's, it's this change in
mentality as well, Like just laythe bricks.
(44:50):
Write down A to do list of the things you got to do.
Enjoy the process, you know, learn to build in a unique way.
It's not really linear. Some days you're here, some days
you're there. Some days it's a revision.
Some days it's a teammate, some days you're drunk.
No, I'm just kidding. But just, you know, just just
work hard, enjoy the work. Build the foundation correctly.
(45:13):
Because if you build the foundation correctly, then the
rest of it will, will grow correctly, you know?
Yeah. It'll stay, it'll stay up.
Yeah, yeah, it's my best advice.So Paul, why don't you tell
everybody how how can they follow you on Instagram?
So you want to open up your iPhone?
(45:33):
No, my Instagram for my company is at a 516 productions.
I was from Long Island, so. At 516.
At 516 I'm looking for it right at 5:00. 8516 production. 08516.
No, no, no, a 516. Oh, at a 516 production.
(45:56):
There we. Go of 516.
A as in April 516 productions. OK got it.
Following. Yeah, so you, you followed him
and then and then personal Instagram.
Is Paul Santoli PAULSANTOLI no spaces?
There you go. And so that's how you get in
(46:17):
touch with Paul, guys. Yeah, and then my Only Fans
account is going to be. Yeah, yeah, feet, right.
It's. Yeah, it's the Dior.
It's the Dior promote. That's how I raise money.
That's how I raise money for themovie and it's through that.
Crap putting on the Cologne. They smoke.
(46:39):
They. Like.
What a world, what a world. And then they can find because
of Mika on Amazon Prime. Yes, simple.
Search it will be there. Yeah, search for it, guys.
Watch the movie and then watch for We Want the Virus and.
(46:59):
Both of them. Thank you so much for being on
our show today. Wasn't he great, Ophelia?
So much fun, so refreshing on somany levels.
Oh my gosh, that was such a delight to meet you and so
inspirational. Yeah, we share the.
Same values that you do Paul. Yeah, thank you for having me
(47:22):
and I appreciate talking to you girls.
And yeah, I mean, it's just beensuch a phenomenal team that I'm
honestly blessed that people trusted me with this.
And I can't wait to The success of this movie is really going to
reflect the kindness of every single person.
Like, everyone on the credits that did anything, did more than
they had to for this movie. And we're selfless.
(47:43):
And that is why this thing is going to pop off.
So I'm just, I'm excited for people to see that.
We wanted to save comedy and bring back old school comedy.
And because we all put our handsin and work through humility.
Yeah, this, this. We made the cult classic.
OK, OK, I just realized I did not ask Amy.
(48:04):
What part are you? Who do you play in this movie?
Tell Tell her what I. Yeah, I can't wait to it's.
Just run to go fund yourself. She runs, yeah.
She runs the headquarters and wecall her and we're like, yeah,
we we're calling about young Italian stud that has COVID and
you need your help or he's goingto die from COVID.
And she's like, OK, one minute she's like, oh, here it is.
(48:28):
She obviously thinks something'sfishy because we're dumb.
And yeah, she's the the B story and the ones coming after us.
Oh my gosh, this is too. Yeah, the ending.
The ending's awesome. I'm not going to tell you what
it is, but it's. Awesome, you can tell me that.
Oh my. The whole movie.
The whole movie is awesome. Yeah, Now we had a great time.
(48:50):
We were really great and it's really fun to work with all of
those guys. Yeah, it was it was a blast.
It was it was a good time. Yeah, yeah, it was a great
environment. I'm, I'm hoping I'm trying to
write a limited series called Non Union where it's like
Entourage meets Seinfeld. And like, I would love to see
(49:12):
this open up that with a small studio.
I would love that shot. Yeah, like 8 episodes, 8
episodes, 25 minutes. You come in, we come in with the
same players and you know, 'cause I know that the
environment created is gonna. It was a successful 1.
So I'd love to bring that back and kind of yeah.
Yeah. I just know, you know, we don't
(49:34):
have to do nine seasons. 'Cause I feel like there is
nothing. It feels like there's nothing in
your mind that's like this. This is, this is not doable.
Like of of the things you do is it's like there's nothing.
It just seems like there's nothing there that's like
blocking you internally. Like you.
I mean, maybe you just have, maybe you just have learned to,
you know, learn what to do with you.
(49:56):
Just continue. Yeah, you're just like, this is
what's going to happen. Like there's nothing Like it's
like you're unstoppable. I mean, I know that's a generic
word, but there is a sense of this is what I'm we're going to
do and this is what's. And then you and you have this
track record of it actually happening.
So it's like, it's just kind of,it's very unusual to see that,
(50:17):
especially in someone, I guess your age or I don't know, it's
just, it's just very refreshing and like, Hey, you guys look at
listen, it is possible. I, I think half the things that
people think are blocking them are not even real.
They're not real. They're not real obstacles and
they're, they're perceived as real.
Their issues are real issues, but they're not real actual.
(50:39):
They really cannot stop you, youknow, and, and I think
obviously, you know, having thatrelationship with God and having
a higher power that mean there'sthat's real too.
And so there, you know, that youhave an unfair advantage.
Honestly, I mean, being people who do have faith, have that
unfair advantage of like, yeah, I have something bigger than me.
That's you know. Well, that, that's, that's the
(51:01):
thing too, you know, I got to give credit to my mom because
like she put me on the Elvis andElvis was a human being.
But for some reason he is still and forever will be this icon.
So my mom really taught me aboutlike that lane and then she put
me on to the Bible and, you know, believing and anointing
and really, you know, Elvis usedto carry around the Bible and
(51:22):
working with the Holy Spirit. And you know, it's this.
That's that's another thing. Like I hope my achievements in
my life reflect that faith is real.
And this is like real, like I'm not secretly doing something
like robbing bent. Yeah, yeah.
It's really like these, these prayers really work and, and
doing the right thing really works and keeping yourself
healthy really works. And I mean, I've certainly been
(51:44):
blessed in some moments. I don't think many people could
go into the Rose Bowl and just be like, yeah, you know, do it
the Italian way. But Jesus has been so kind.
You know, I I've been blessed with a lot of the times he's
been anointing me and and these people that are around me
through all of us believing thatit can happen gives me the
confidence to go into it. You know, even Alex has been
(52:06):
fearless and Sterling has been fearless.
Amy's been if all these people, if I have 50 people that are
fearless, then it makes me feel exponentially like, all right,
we can do this because we all sincerely believe that we can do
it and then somehow it gets done.
Yeah, absolutely. It's like.
A mastermind effect and and and power of faith and I love that.
(52:27):
I think that is so, so good and and it's when.
You think about all these filming them, we have to stop.
But I wanted to just say like, like Neil Laboux is a great
example. When he made Boogie Nights,
Philip Seymour Hoffman was in that a lot of stars that weren't
stars yet. But that filmmaker, he all, he
(52:48):
found his team and he kept usingthe same people for Ryan Murphy
does that too. They find their team and they
they continually move with the team and they they put out great
product because everybody trustseach other and everybody has the
same mindset, yes. Yep.
(53:08):
Thank you, Paul. Yeah, well, congratulations
Paul. I'm so happy to know you work
with you and and be in your movie.
And I'm so happy you came to theto the podcast today, right,
Ophelia? So great.
Awesome. Good job, Amy.
That was amazing. What an amazing guest.
Yes, guys, if you like what we're doing, we need to continue
(53:33):
doing it. So follow us, subscribe, like,
share and and all that stuff. All the things.
Yeah, Yes, ladies. Thank.
Thank you so much, Amy, Ophelia,it was a pleasure meeting you.
And I will see you girls at the premiere.
Yes, it's not sooner. Yeah, it's not sooner.
(53:54):
Oh, you're going to see my mom though, OK.
Oh yeah, yeah, one week. Yeah.
OK. Thank you.
Bye, guys. Thank you, ladies.
Bye bye.
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