Strip The Script

Steve Carr has directed some of the most recognisable comedies of the last 25 years — working with Eddie Murphy, Ice Cube, Kevin James and some of the biggest names in entertainment. But his route into Hollywood was anything but conventional. In this episode of Strip The Script, Steve sits down with Jazz Lintott to unpack how he went from designing album artwork and directing music videos to being handed Next Friday — despite never having seen Friday. Steve tells the story of stepping onto an $80 million movie with Eddie Murphy and immediately having his directing instincts challenged, what Ice Cube taught him about comedy, and why filmmaking leaves very little time for self-doubt. They also discuss the Public Enemy artwork that began on a diner napkin, what Steve looks for when auditioning actors, why one performer can stand out among a thousand, and the mentality behind a career spanning music, film and television. In this episode: • Breaking into filmmaking without waiting for permission • Directing Next Friday without seeing Friday • Working with Ice Cube • Being challenged by Eddie Murphy on Daddy Day Care • What directors actually look for in auditions • Why “you have to make your day” • Public Enemy and Steve's beginnings in music and design • Learning by doing rather than waiting until you feel ready Strip The Script is a series of unfiltered conversations with actors, filmmakers and creators about the craft, psychology and reality behind creative careers. Hosted by Jazz Lintott. Presented by BetterHelp. Get 10% off at BetterHelp dot com slash actorflow10. Subscribe to Strip The Script for new conversations every week. 00:00 Introduction: No Time to Doubt Yourself 01:48 From Def Jam to Hollywood: Was It Intentional? 05:03 The Art Students League and Early Beginnings 05:49 Free Lunch at Def Jam: Starting The Drawing Board 09:12 Bringing Authenticity to Hip-Hop Album Design 11:56 Managing DMX and Learning to Deal with Talent 13:38 Public Enemy, Fear of a Black Planet, and Six-Hour Waits 16:34 The Slick Rick Opportunity: First Music Video 17:33 Yelling Action and Cut Indiscriminately 21:19 Music Videos: Telling Stories, Not Just Performance 22:26 Moving to LA and Joining Propaganda 24:20 Brett Ratner and the Next Friday Opportunity 25:04 Pitching Ice Cube While Burping Diet Coke 26:01 Now What Do I Do? Landing Your First Film 30:10 Making Your Day: No Time for Doubt on Set 37:43 Eddie Murphy Said 'I Would Never Do That' 39:42 Russell Simmons: Put Your Dick on the Table 42:55 From Culture to Commerce: The Studio System 50:28 Learning Leadership from Ice Cube 54:33 The Rocket Ship Scene and Standing Your Ground 57:35 Casting: What Directors Really Look For 58:32 Self-Tapes vs. The Room: A Director's Perspective 1:01:09 Jacob Vargas: The Only One Who Got the Comedy 1:03:42 What's Next: The Naughty Listers and Breaking Up Mom and Dad 1:05:03 Advice for Filmmakers: Just Do It 1:07:05 Write to the Scale You Can Produce

Mena Massoud became known around the world as the star of Disney’s Aladdin — but the reality of what came next was very different from what most people imagined. In this episode of Strip The Script, Mena sits down with Jazz Lintott for an honest conversation about what Hollywood success actually looks like: from secretly applying to drama school and waiting tables, to landing Aladdin, navigating the expectations that followed, and learning why one breakthrough doesn’t guarantee a career. Mena also opens up about money, entrepreneurship and why actors need to think beyond the next role. He shares how his relationship with money changed, why he believes creatives should think like entrepreneurs, and what he has learned about building something sustainable in an unpredictable industry. They also discuss rejection, identity, ambition, resilience, the years before the breakthrough, and what it takes to keep moving when the career you imagined doesn’t unfold the way you expected. In this conversation: • The road to Aladdin • What happened after a billion-dollar movie • Why Mena made more money on Reprisal than Aladdin • Why actors should think like entrepreneurs • Money and financial discipline as a creative • Building a career beyond acting • Rejection, expectation and resilience • Finding your way back to the mindset you had before success Strip The Script — LIVE UNSCRIPTED. New conversations every week with actors, filmmakers and creators about the craft, psychology and life behind the work. Subscribe and follow Strip The Script for more. Sponsored by BetterHelp. BetterHelp: betterhelp.com/actorflow10 ActorFlow: myactorflow.com/signup?ref=STS15 CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction: From Cairo to Hollywood 04:33 Growing Up Egyptian in Canada 09:33 Choosing Drama School Over Medicine 16:12 Waiting Tables and Building the Dream 21:16 Moving to LA: Mindset & Manifestation 23:24 Booking Jack Ryan and the Aladdin Audition 30:17 The Aladdin Pressure: All In or Nothing 32:40 When Success Doesn't Feel Like Success 34:00 What Aladdin Really Cost Him 40:05 Post-Aladdin Blues and Finding the Way Back 48:16 Think Like an Entrepreneur: Building Beyond Acting 52:46 The Self-Tape Era and Industry Competition 1:00:06 Playing Daniel: Faith, Preparation & Collaboration 1:06:27 Advice for Actors: Money, Perseverance & the Long Game 1:09:37 Savoring Every Moment on Set

Katherine McNamara has spent most of her life performing — from Broadway at just 14 to becoming Clary Fray in Shadowhunters, Mia Smoak in Arrow, and building a career across film, television and theatre. In this episode of Strip The Script, Katherine sits down with actor and producer Jazz Lintott for an honest conversation about what it really takes to build a lasting career in an industry where talent alone is never enough. Katherine shares the Broadway audition that changed her life, the story behind #WhoIsClary, what happened when she landed Shadowhunters, and why she believes an actor's job isn't simply to book the role. They also explore rejection, resilience, preparation, relationships, the pressure that comes with success, and the mindset that has kept Katherine moving forward since she was a teenager. Strip The Script goes beyond the credits and success stories to uncover the decisions, setbacks and turning points that shape creative careers. LIVE UNSCRIPTED. Hosted by Jazz Lintott. Subscribe/follow Strip The Script for new conversations with actors, filmmakers and creatives every week.