Michael Mohan | Problem Solving with Sydney Sweeney, Directing Intimacy, and Trusting the Flow Between Actor and Director

Aris Athanasopoulos | Helpful Physical Notes for Actors & Directors — Unlocking Character Through Movement and Psychology

In this episode, we sit down with Aris Athanasopoulos — an award-winning actor, filmmaker, and master teacher of the Character Creation approach, a system rooted in the Rudolf Laban / Yat Malmgren Movement Psychology method. Aris has dedicated his career to exploring how physicality and psychology intertwine to create truly embodied performances. From the rehearsal room to the camera lens, his work helps actors move beyond intellectual choices and instead find the emotional truth that lives in the body. In our conversation, we dive into: * Movement as emotion — how physical impulses shape inner life and give rise to authentic performance. * Character Creation — practical tools for actors to decode behavior and physicalize complex psychology. * The actor’s instrument — reconnecting to the body as a way to find freedom, spontaneity, and truth. * Director-actor communication — how physical language can create clarity and trust on set or stage. Aris shares techniques that bridge artistry and craft — from how to read behavior through movement to how to make bold, specific choices that live in the moment. Whether you’re an actor looking to deepen your instrument or a director seeking to better understand the actor’s process, this episode offers a grounded, inspiring look at how the body becomes the gateway to truth in performance. Listen now on Patreon at patreon.com/theactorsdirector [https://patreon.com/theactorsdirector]

Michael Mohan | Problem Solving with Sydney Sweeney, Directing Intimacy, and Trusting the Flow Between Actor and Director

In this episode, we sit down with writer and director Michael Mohan — a four-time Sundance alum, Emmy® nominee, and one of the most emotionally attuned filmmakers working today. Best known for his long-running collaboration with Sydney Sweeney — from Netflix’s Everything Sucks! to Amazon’s The Voyeurs and the recent horror hit Immaculate (Neon) — Michael’s work explores the tension between intimacy, control, and the unexpected beauty that comes from letting go. In our conversation, we explore: * Problem-solving through collaboration — why every obstacle on set can lead to discovery. * Directing intimacy — building trust, safety, and openness between filmmaker and actor. * Finding fluidity with actors — how to stay present, adaptable, and alive in the moment. * Trusting the process — why holding on too tightly to ideas can block truth and surprise. * When silence is the best note — how knowing when not to direct can deepen performance. Michael speaks with honesty and insight about the power of trust — in your actors, your instincts, and the story itself — and why true artistry begins when you stop forcing and start flowing. Streaming now at Patreon.com/TheActorsDirector

John Ortiz | Lessons from Legends, the Importance of Time, and How to Be a Preparation Maniac

*FULL EPISODE AVAILABLE ON PATREON!* In this episode, we sit down with the extraordinary John Ortiz — an award-winning actor, producer, and co-founder of New York’s LAByrinth Theater Company. Across three decades, John has built one of the most respected and quietly powerful careers in film, television, and theater — working with directors like Brian De Palma, Ron Howard, Steven Spielberg, Michael Mann, Ridley Scott, David O. Russell and Cord Jefferson and collaborating for years with the late Philip Seymour Hoffman to nurture one of New York’s most vital artistic communities. In our conversation, we explore: * Lessons from legends — what John learned on set from some of cinema’s greatest directors. * Preparation as liberation — how discipline, rehearsal, and deep study create freedom in performance. * Crying with Philip Seymour Hoffman — the art of vulnerability, trust, and creative partnership. * Leadership on set — what it means to be number one on the call sheet and set the tone for a production. * The importance of time — how patience, presence, and longevity shape an artist’s evolution. John speaks with humility, intensity, and a rare kind of clarity about the craft — revealing how art, discipline, and humanity intersect in every great performance. Whether you’re an actor searching for truth in your work or a filmmaker looking to build a better rehearsal process, this episode is a masterclass in what it means to lead with preparation, courage, and heart.

HIKARI | Directing Between Worlds, Casting Without Limits, and Trusting Brendan Fraser

I'm honored to be joined by HIKARI—an award-winning Japanese filmmaker whose work bridges cultures, genres, and expectations. HIKARI has built a remarkable career directing across both Japanese and American cinema, fluidly moving between comedy and drama. She’s the visionary behind the pilot of Netflix’s Emmy®-winning comedy Beef, the intimate and celebrated coming-of-age drama 37 Seconds (Netflix), and most recently, the 2025 film Rental Family starring Academy Award® winner Brendan Fraser. In our conversation, we dive into: * Directing in two languages — the challenges and joys of working with actors in both Japanese and English. * Inclusive casting — HIKARI’s commitment to casting actors with disabilities and telling stories that reflect underrepresented lives. * Collaboration and trust — what it means to direct Brendan Fraser and how trust transforms performances. * Comedy, drama, and everything in between — how HIKARI balances tone, truth, and comedy in her storytelling. * Cross-cultural storytelling — weaving together her Japanese and American influences to create films that resonate globally. HIKARI’s perspective is bold, fresh, and deeply human. For actors, directors, and anyone navigating creativity across boundaries, this conversation is a powerful reminder of how storytelling can expand empathy and bridge worlds. For more information about in-person workshops and deeper industry insights please visit: www.theactorsdirector.com The Actor's Director Podcast is produced by Graham Sibley, Alex Alcheh and Danielle Lenniger. Music by Ashley Mills Monaghan.

Garrett M. Brown | Art, Acting and Unlocking the Creative Subconscious

In our first episode, we sit down with the incredible Garrett M. Brown—an actor, painter, and writer whose creative journey spans over 50 years. Chances are you recognize Garrett from his work in major studio films, Broadway, and television. But what makes this conversation so rich is how his artistry refuses to stay in one lane. Beyond acting, Garrett’s paintings have been exhibited nationwide, his plays have been produced internationally, and in 2024, he added novelist to his résumé with the release of his debut book, Tin Sea. In our conversation, we explore: * The inner landscape of an artist — how painting, writing, and acting all flow from the same creative well. * Craft as survival — what it means to keep showing up for the work across decades, through highs and lows. * Unlocking the subconscious — why our most truthful performances come when we stop “thinking” and start listening. * The long game — how an artist evolves over a lifetime, and why patience is an essential ingredient. Garrett speaks with honesty, humor, and wisdom about the process of making art in all its forms. Whether you’re an actor, a painter, a writer—or just someone chasing a more creative life—this episode is a reminder that creativity isn’t just a career, it’s a calling. For more information about in-person workshops and deeper industry insights please visit: www.theactorsdirector.com The Actor's Director Podcast is produced by Graham Sibley, Alex Alcheh and Danielle Lenniger. Music by Ashley Mills Monaghan.