Brent Huff on The Rookie, AI’s Threat & the Actor’s Fight to Survive

In this exclusive Stream Panther episode, actor Brent Huff, best known as Smitty on ABC’s The Rookie, shares an unfiltered look at Hollywood’s uncertain future.

From unexpected AI disruption (“the genie is out of the bottle”) to union struggles and the collapse of reliable commercial work, Brent gets brutally honest about what it really takes to survive as a working actor today.

We dive into The Rookie’s journey (now top 10 on Netflix), how Smitty evolved from a one-day part to a fan favorite, and what makes the character so fun to play.

Brent takes us behind the scenes of The Rookie, Mad Men, NCIS, Shameless, and more, sharing the lessons he learned navigating between network TV and the rise of streaming platforms.

He digs deep into the real impact of the streaming model on creators and whether it truly helps filmmakers or leaves them more vulnerable.

We unpack the lasting effects of the SAG-AFTRA strikes, the looming threats and promises of AI, and Brent's candid take on protecting actors' digital likeness and performance rights.

Brent also shares his views on Trump’s Hollywood tariffs, film tax credit bills, and what he would do differently if he were running the industry.

From union struggles to the ethical future of AI in film, this is an essential conversation for anyone passionate about storytelling, creative freedom, and the future of performance.

💬 "Art can’t be automated. We can’t lose that connection to an audience."

If you care about the soul of Hollywood, creative freedom, and what it means to make audiences laugh and cry in a digital-first era, this is a must-listen.

Time Stamp

00:00 Coming Up

02:55  Brent Huff’s 2025

04:15 Quigley Smiitty - The Rookie

06:55 Madmen, NCIS, Shameless

08:05 Streaming VS Network Tv

09:40 Is Streaming Model Helping Filmmakers?

12:10 Lasting Changes in SAG STRIKES

14:46 AI Protections, Threats & Survival

17:42 If Brent Huff was the Decision Maker of the Industry

20:41 Trump’s Hollywood Tariffs

24:20 Film & Tv Tax Credits Bills

25:43 What’s Going on in SAG ?

27:50 Future of  Actors 

30:15 Rapid Fire

36:40 Thank You Brent Huff

33:57 Digital likeness and AI-generated performances

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[Brent Huff, The Rookie, Smitty character, Hollywood AI future, SAG-AFTRA strike, actor struggles 2025, acting career advice, future of filmmaking, AI in entertainment, Netflix The Rookie, union versus non union work, acting industry tariffs, creative purpose acting, Stream Panther podcast, surviving Hollywood]