Story and Craft with Marc Preston

Marc Preston sits down with actor Rex Linn from "Cliffhanger" and NBC & Peacock's "Happy's Place" to discuss his new project, career, and personal stories. Over his decades-long career, Rex has become a familiar face on television, appearing in major marquee shows like "CSI: Miami", "Better Call Saul", "Young Sheldon", and "Big Sky".We cover his early days growing up in Texas and Oklahoma, and how classic Universal movie monsters inspired him to pursue acting. Rex details the pivotal decision to leave his career in banking at age 34 to move to Los Angeles, eventually landing his breakout role opposite John Lithgow and Sylvester Stallone in "Cliffhanger". He also shares insights into the fast-paced, improvisational nature of shooting a sitcom compared to dramatic television.Off the set, Rex talks about his lifelong passion for drumming, including the moment his fiancée, Reba McEntire, surprised him by having him play live on stage with her band. We also touch on the dynamics of working alongside Reba every day, our mutual appreciation for Whataburger, and the importance of simply being kind.00:06:52 | The unexpected classic movie monsters that inspired his acting career00:10:56 | The Jack Nicholson performance that cemented his career path00:13:33 | Leaving a career in Oklahoma banking to pursue acting at 3400:15:42 | Landing a breakout role opposite John Lithgow and Sylvester Stallone00:24:31 | Breaking a thumb on the congas to impress a high school crush00:26:00 | The birthday surprise drum kit from Reba McEntire00:30:54 | Playing the drums live on stage with Reba's touring band00:37:47 | The advice John Lithgow shared about working on sitcoms00:40:58 | The dynamic of rehearsing and acting alongside his fiancée00:46:16 | The Seven Questions

Marc Preston sits down with actor Sofia Rosinsky from Hulu's "Death and Other Details" and Peacock's "The Miniature Wife" to discuss her career and personal stories.Sofia shares the fascinating story of her unconventional path into the industry, revealing that an innocent trip to an acting camp unexpectedly put her in front of casting directors. Growing up in a deeply creative household, she was surrounded by cinema thanks to her independent filmmaker mother and musician father. She also opens up about her rigorous acting foundation, noting that she was raised on the Meisner technique directly passed down from her mother, who studied under the legendary Sanford Meisner.Beyond her recent high-profile roles, Sofia discusses her passion for dark comedies and producing independent films with her sister Alexis. She details the physical transformation required to play Mac on Prime Video's "Paper Girls" and the nerve-wracking yet magical experience of working with childhood idol Mandy Patinkin. The conversation also touches on her ongoing education at Berklee College of Music and plans for the future.00:04:38 | Balancing an acting career with an online education at Berklee College of Music00:07:17 | Growing up with a studio musician father who played on legendary film scores00:14:30 | How a terrifying performance by Alec Guinness sparked her initial acting inspiration00:16:18 | The innocent summer camp that accidentally launched her straight to casting directors00:20:11 | The physical hair transformation for her role in Prime Video's "Paper Girls"00:21:54 | The surreal experience of sharing the screen with the legendary Mandy Patinkin00:24:49 | Learning the Meisner technique from her mother, who studied directly under Sanford Meisner00:27:22 | Booking "The Miniature Wife" and working alongside Matthew Macfadyen and Elizabeth Banks00:32:17 | Expanding her horizons by producing and writing an anthology feature with her sister00:35:05 | The Seven Questions

Marc Preston sits down with Actor David Berry from "Starz"'s "Outlander" to discuss his new project, career, and personal stories.David shares the bittersweet reality of saying goodbye to a character he has inhabited for eight years as the series concludes. He breaks down the unique logistical gymnastics required to commute from his home in Sydney to the moody highlands of Scotland, including the nature of 25-hour flights. The conversation touches on the "larrikin" spirit of Australian culture and why Aussies feel a natural compulsion to shorten every name and word they encounter.We also get a glimpse into David’s life off-camera, from his former studies in politics to his very specific post-scene ritual involving a perfect burger. Whether discussing the "reverse colonialism" of an Australian actor playing a British officer or the challenge of finding healthy food in the land of fried Mars bars, David brings a thoughtful and witty perspective to the actor's life. He reflects on the importance of spontaneity and the advice he would give his younger, more anxious self about simply learning to relax.00:01:02 | The origin of Marc’s new Aussie nickname00:03:16 | Exploring the cultural habit of Australian "shortenings"00:04:28 | Defining the "larrikin" attitude toward authority00:06:12 | The challenges of transitioning out of a long-running series00:09:48 | The logistical hurdle of auditioning for global shows from Australia00:11:32 | Navigating the 25-hour commute between Sydney and Scotland00:12:13 | How the Scottish landscape becomes its own character on screen00:14:10 | Comparing the healthy Sydney lifestyle to Scottish comfort food00:15:00 | The reward of a perfect burger after a difficult scene00:18:00 | The Seven Questions

Marc Preston sits down with Actor Danay Garcia from AMC's "Fear the Walking Dead" and NBC / Peacock's "M.I.A." to discuss her new project, career, and personal stories.We talk about her journey arriving in Los Angeles from Havana, Cuba, and the reality of navigating the industry while tackling a profound language barrier. Danay shares memories from her early days, including the thrill of getting her first major break shooting Super Bowl commercials alongside Snoop Dogg and Guy Ritchie. She also opens up about surviving the apocalypse for seven seasons on AMC's hit series, and the incredible, set-blessing presence of Edward James Olmos on her newest project.Plus, Danay gives us a glimpse into her passion for food and community, sharing how cooking traditional Cuban dishes live on Instagram kept her connected to her fans during the pandemic. We also explore the intense, one-hour-and-45-minute in-person audition that landed her the role in NBC / Peacock's crime thriller, "M.I.A.", and why she always says "yes" to stepping into the unknown.[00:01:43] - Settling into Texas[00:09:25] - Why an apocalypse led by a female character made the prequel to The Walking Dead so enticing [00:11:01] - Having lunch at the exact spot where they filmed the "Titanic" infinity pool [00:13:08] - Arriving in Los Angeles from Havana and realizing the true challenge of the language barrier [00:18:04] - Breaking into the American industry shooting Super Bowl commercials with Guy Ritchie and Snoop Dogg [00:20:19] - Growing up in Cuba with a father who poured drinks at Ernest Hemingway's favorite bars [00:27:00] - Nurturing connection by teaching her fans how to cook traditional Cuban food live during the pandemic [00:43:07] - Enduring a grueling one-hour-and-45-minute in-person audition to land her role in "M.I.A." [00:46:50] - Working alongside the iconic Edward James Olmos and feeling his presence bless the set [00:49:00] - The Seven Questions

Marc Preston sits down with Writer and Director Thom Harp from "The Donor Party" and "Home Delivery" to discuss his new project, career, and personal stories.Thom brings a fantastic energy to the conversation, sharing how his background as a cinematographer in Seattle eventually shaped his approach to humane comedy. We talk about the importance of giving actors the space to just play and trust their instincts on set. It’s always fun getting to hear about the process behind creating those incredibly messy, yet hilariously relatable human moments that define his style.We also get into some great stories about his unique writing methods and the undeniable influence of an "explosive diaper" moment changed the trajectory of his creative choices. Thom reminds us that life is pretty ridiculous, and sometimes the best way to deal with the madness is just to point a camera at it and embrace the laughs.[00:02:19] - Guitars, The Cars, and safely navigating a midlife crisis.[00:09:31] - How Monty Python's Flying Circus completely rewired his creative brain.[00:21:28] - Cultivating a safe, playful environment on set for actors.[00:23:48] - The strategic genius of casting dramatic actors in comedic roles.[00:30:10] - Thom’s unique "magnet" method for developing script ideas.[00:34:35] - Why the best comedy requires putting your hero in the absolute worst situation.[00:38:57] - Casting Joe Pantoliano against type to find the moral heart of the film.[00:46:24] - The "explosive diaper" moment that forever changed his view on comedy.[00:55:33] - The Seven Questions.