Next Act with Jeff Ornstein

Marc Baron – Award-Winning Screenwriter, Producer & SAG-AFTRA National Board Member

On this episode of Next Act with Jeff Ornstein, Jeff sits down with award-winning actor, screenwriter, director, producer, and longtime SAG-AFTRA leader Marc Baron. Marc shares the remarkable story of how encouragement from Dustin Hoffman and Matthew Broderick inspired him to begin creating his own projects, ultimately leading him to develop award-winning screenplays and independent films. From his leadership role within SAG-AFTRA to his work mentoring emerging writers, Marc offers an inside look at the realities of building a sustainable career in the arts. The conversation explores Marc's upcoming films MegaBall$ and Comeback in Vienna, the challenges of independent film financing, the importance of resilience in creative careers, and why today's artists have more tools than ever to tell their own stories. Most importantly, Marc shares the advice that has guided his entire career: "Don't wait for the work. Make the work." Whether you're an actor, filmmaker, writer, or anyone pursuing a creative dream, this episode is packed with wisdom, inspiration, and practical insights from someone who has spent decades helping stories come to life.

Michael "Buster" McMahon – Creative Director / Playwright / Producer, West Side Dance Center

In this episode of Next Act, Jeff Ornstein sits down with Michael "Buster" McMahon, Creative Director, Playwright, and Producer at West Side Dance Center, whose creative journey has taken him from stand-up comedy stages to community theatre productions, public access television, and original radio plays. Michael shares how a passion for storytelling led him to create the Michael Buster McMahon Televised Radio Playhouse and Used Tire Company, an anthology series featuring everything from romantic comedies and murder mysteries to horror westerns. Along the way, he reflects on the challenges of writing, directing, casting, and producing independent creative projects while building a community of performers around him. The conversation explores the art of casting, the value of public access television, the unique energy of live theatre, and why some of the best creative breakthroughs happen when unlikely ideas collide. Michael also shares stories from his days as a stand-up comedian, his unexpected ban from a local story slam, and the surprising origin of his nickname, "Buster." If you've ever wondered what drives someone to keep creating, performing, and telling stories long after the spotlight fades, this episode is for you. Watch Michael's anthology series, The Michael Buster McMahon Televised Radio Playhouse and Used Tire Company, here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnIVdQZ4NyU&list=PL9C19yDHbbhIjGDhFDfFZYG6j1x3tDRTt

Steve Maiselson – Founder, YADDA Productions

What does it mean to keep creating when success doesn't arrive on someone else's timeline? In this episode of Next Act, Jeff Ornstein sits down with Steve Maiselson, founder of YADDA Productions, whose career has spanned acting, writing, producing, documentary filmmaking, and storytelling for more than four decades. From appearing in projects like Die Hard 2, The Sopranos, and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman to producing a Rosa Parks documentary whose interviews and archival materials now reside in the Smithsonian Institution, Steve has spent a lifetime pursuing meaningful stories and creative ideas. The conversation explores the realities of the entertainment industry, the persistence required to survive rejection, and why some projects take decades to find their moment. Steve shares the story behind The Coffee Shop, a screenplay he is now reimagining as a stage musical, discusses his upcoming documentary Sleepwalker Tunnels, and reflects on White Dwarf, his award-winning screenplay inspired by his real-life experiences with Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf. This is a thoughtful conversation about resilience, reinvention, creativity, and the belief that your most important work may still be ahead of you. In this episode: • Building a career across acting, writing, producing, and documentary filmmaking • Lessons from decades in Hollywood and independent film • The story behind The Coffee Shop and its potential future as a stage musical • Preserving history through a Rosa Parks documentary now housed in the Smithsonian • The inspiration behind Sleepwalker Tunnels and its connection to mental health and 9/11 • White Dwarf and turning unusual life experiences into award-winning stories • Why rejection is part of every creative journey • What falling short can teach us that success never will Learn more: White Dwarf: https://pageantiff.com/white-dwarf-script-review/ [https://pageantiff.com/white-dwarf-script-review/] Sleepwalker Tunnels: http://sleepwalkerforhopeproductions.com [http://sleepwalkerforhopeproductions.com/] The best is yet to come.

Aaron Marcus - Full-time actor, model, mentor, author, lecturer and webinar host

What does it really take to build a successful acting career? In this episode of Next Act with Jeff Ornstein, Jeff sits down with Aaron Marcus, a full-time actor, author, mentor, and commercial model who has booked nearly 1,300 acting and modeling jobs over a 40+ year career. Aaron shares his unconventional path into acting, the mindset that helped him overcome rejection, and the lessons he learned from auditioning 15 times before landing a recurring role on House of Cards. He also explains why actors must treat their careers like a business, how casting decisions are really made, and why focusing on the process is often more important than focusing on the outcome. Whether you're an actor, entrepreneur, or anyone pursuing a competitive career, this conversation offers practical lessons on resilience, persistence, and long-term success. The best may be yet to come.

Tom McElroy - Actor, Chicago Freelance

In this episode of Next Act with Jeff Ornstein, Jeff sits down with actor Tom McElroy to talk about a life shaped by faith, storytelling, theater, film, and unexpected turns. Tom shares how he moved from ministry into acting, what drew him to the stage, and why performance became more than a career path. He reflects on working in Chicago theater, appearing in productions like Prison Break, Chicago Fire, and The Dark Knight, and the lessons he has learned from decades in a difficult but deeply meaningful business. This conversation is about faith, resilience, creative calling, and the strange, funny, and powerful moments that come from chasing the work you feel called to do.