The Mechanics of Storytelling

Becca’s origin story: how she got into special effects work (2:10) Defining what is special effects (6:05) Working your way up in the special effects world (13:30) What is it like in the day of a special effects professional? (21:10) What is something in real life that doesn’t actually happen the way special effects makes it seem like in the movies? (25:40) Thinking of the overall story/storytelling when doing special effects (28:30) How does faith life affect your work in special effects? (43:50) Spiritual Question: What have you learned about yourself and the world this past 1.5 years during the pandemic? (49:05) Bye for now!  

Catherine’s origin story (6:45) Catherine’s first equity job (15:00) Catherine’s  Broadway debut in “Mamma Mia!” (18:10) Hundreds of hours of training, practice, and injury to perform (26:43) Catherine starts the “Artists Who Code” organization (38:20) Spiritual question: What theatre superstition/ritual have you been able to bring into your day-to-day life? (46:35)   Connect with our podcast: https://www.instagram.com/mostpodcast   Connect with Catherine: https://www.instagram.com/cattricafort/   Artists Who Code: http://artistswhocode.com/ https://www.instagram.com/artistswhocode/

How Geneva got into documentary-making (3:55) Why did you choose to be behind the camera as a documentarian instead of in front of the camera? (11:05) How the Womxn video and podcast documentary series came into being (13:30) Listen to first episode of Womxn Podcast (season 2) with Minnijean Brown-Trickey (20:05) How do you get your documentary subjects to bring out their moving or interesting stories? (28:00) Spiritual Question: Could you share the moment you stepped into your beauty, power, and greatness? (33:15)   Geneva’s website: https://www.genevapeschka.com/ Womxn Podcast: https://anchor.fm/geneva-peschka Womxn Video Documentary Series: https://www.womxndocseries.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/gneva

Wong Fu Productions's content during 2020 reflects the COVID experience (3:10) Christopher’s origin story: how he got into cinematography (9:22) Christopher talks through his technical process as Director of Photography (20:30) Thinking quickly, responsively, and on the fly when on set (34:00) How to think about lighting/color and developing your own style as a cinematographer (35:50) Spiritual Question: What's the meaning of your life and how does it relate to your work as a DP? (39:25) Connect with Christopher and Wong Fu Productions on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yangstopher/ Personal Website: https://www.christopherhyang.com/about Wong Fu Productions YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCutXfzLC5wrV3SInT_tdY0w  

How Edward got into voiceover acting (4:40) Edward’s act of social activism: creating a directory of Asian American and BIPOC voiceover actors (8:30) How casting works (12:35) Role preparation tips for beginner voiceover actors (19:30) Sound equipment you need to get started as voiceover actor (25:09) Challenges of dubbing work (27:48) Is racism and stereotyping still an issue for voiceover actors of color in Hollywood? (37:10) Spiritual Question: How do you get through the suffering and rejection attendant to being an actor? (42:18) Our first bloopers this podcast! (50:40) Connect with Edward Hong on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/cinnabonmonster Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cinnabonmonster/ Connect with us or drop us a line on Instagram (@mostpodcast): http://instagram.com/mostpodcast   --- Keywords: podcast, Asian American BIPOC representation, voiceover acting technique process, dubbing, animation, commercials, Hollywood, TV Film Theatre performance, storytelling

How Nancy became interested in sociology, racial justice, and more equitable racial representation in Hollywood (3:10) Nancy’s first experience seeing positive Asian representation in film (5:55) Importance of racial representation and  mental health amongst youth (8:33) Asians perpetually  being portrayed as the outsider and "noble immigrant" (10:15) Becoming creators of our own storytellers, creators and content producers (16:25) The role of regulation and policy in improving diversity and representation in TV and film (25:15) Why the current system in Hollywood is difficult to change (29:30) “What encouragements would you offer to Asian/BIPOC actors and creatives in the industry now?” (31:00) Spiritual question: “How do the spiritual and moral dimensions come together in your work, research, and fight for racial justice in Hollywood?” (34:10) You can connect with Nancy: Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancywyuen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nancywyuen Connect with us or drop us a line on Instagram (@mostpodcast): http://instagram.com/mostpodcast

ORIGIN STORY: "How did you get started with storyboarding for animation?" (2:29) Bobby talks about his creative process. (12:30) Taking feedback from others but staying true to your story’s vision. (14:44) Thinking about Asian heritage when Assistant Director for “Avatar: The Last Airbender”. (23:10) “How do you access or experience the divine?”(30:05)

ORIGIN STORY: How Patrick and his college friends started Rotten Tomatoes (0:30) When creating a start-up company, how do you deal with discouragement at the onset--or even before you get started? (5:19) Patrick’s experience as Executive Producer of a film (16:30) As an Asian American in a very white space (i.e. Hollywood) did you encounter any racism in Hollywood and in your professional experience with Rotten Tomatoes? (20:50) Experience transitioning from computer science/engineering to the world of business and movies (26:40) What do you think is the meaning of life? (28:55) Life legacy (32:20) To connect with our podcast, check out our Instagram: http://instagram.com/mostpodcast   This is the final episode of Season 2. Thank you for supporting our podcast! We aren't sure when Season 3 will be coming out, but if/when it does, we hope to see you then. Please take care during these tentative times. And if you're able to, please VOTE!  

ORIGIN STORY: How Ross got into storytelling, screenwriting, etc. (3:50) Combining TECH AND STORYTELLING: How writers can use tech to enable better writing or overcoming writer’s block (5:35) How to make a story interesting (drama) and meaningful (theme)? (12:30) What makes a great story? (13:50) Using “dramatic questions” — or questions that make the audience want to know what the answer is— to retain audience interest and to push forward a story (18:30) Importance of theme (24:00) Is exploration of moral questions necessary for a great story? (31:20) What is your process of getting your ideas to paper — how you actually start writing the script itself?(43:10) Snowflake method of writing (46:00) Ross, what is the meaning of life?! (51:30) Preorder Ross's upcoming book "The Structure of Story" here: https://kiingo.co/preorder More about Kiingo here: https://kiingo.com/ Connect with Kiingo on Instagram  here: instagram.com/kiingocreative/ Connect with Ross on Instagram: instagram.com/ross_hartmann    

How Donald got into improvisational (“improv”) comedy and acting (1:15) Improv as a way to break out of his shell (4:00) How you become the producer for the Asian AF show at Upright Citizens Brigade New York? (7:25) Do you improv differently when your audience is mostly Asian? (11:45) Basic technique to improv comedy (14:20) As an improv actor/partner, what are you trying to achieve in each improv skit? (20:15) How you know when the skit is over/ending! (20:50) What goes through Donald’s mind as he performs improv (23:35) Even in improv, audiences want to see interesting relationships between people (25:00) Being afraid of being yourself and improv as a way for repressed adults to return to a place of childhood playfulness (26:30) What NOT to do when doing improv(29:00) How improv will help you in your life (33:40) Doing improv in a way where you’re not worrying about saying the wrong (even if morally wrong) thing (34:11) Why do you think there’s suffering in the world? (36:45)   Connect with Donald Chang's Instagram at http://instagram.com/donaldkchang Learn more about UCB's Asian AF show (and about upcoming performances) at https://www.asianafshow.com/    

How Donald got into improvisational (“improv”) comedy and acting (1:15) Improv as a way to break out of his shell (4:00) How you become the producer for the Asian AF show at Upright Citizens Brigade New York? (7:25) Do you improv differently when your audience is mostly Asian? (11:45) Basic technique to improv comedy (14:20) As an improv actor/partner, what are you trying to achieve in each improv skit? (20:15) How you know when the skit is over/ending! (20:50) What goes through Donald’s mind as he performs improv (23:35) Even in improv, audiences want to see interesting relationships between people (25:00) Being afraid of being yourself and improv as a way for repressed adults to return to a place of childhood playfulness (26:30) What NOT to do when doing improv(29:00) How improv will help you in your life (33:40) Doing improv in a way where you’re not worrying about saying the wrong (even if morally wrong) thing (34:11) Why do you think there’s suffering in the world? (36:45)   Connect with Donald Chang's Instagram at http://instagram.com/donaldkchang Learn more about UCB's Asian AF show (and about upcoming performances) at https://www.asianafshow.com/    

Youngmi grows up in Korea and Saipan (1:00) Feeling like an outsider as a white person in Korea (5:00) How feeling like an outsider has influenced Youngmi’s comedy (9:00) Complexities of biracial upbringing (10:45) Youngmi retraces her history with starting Mission Chinese restaurant (14:30) Working through co-dependency issues (17:58) How Youngmi was able to assert her own creative desires and goals, working through baggage of Asian American upbringing and depression (19:15) Doing the scary thing of pursuing creative endeavors and honestly facing the possibility of failure (24:40) The challenge of living transparently emotionally and being vulnerable (25:30) Processing and healing from repressive Asian upbringing (26:50) “Was it scary to get into stand-up comedy?” (28:20) Coming up with stand-up jokes and practicing them (31:00) Power dynamics: Commanding the room as a stand-up comedian while also being vulnerable (36:30) Stand-up comedy as means of self-healing and talking about personal history on stage as comedy (38:25) “Do you think you could handle fame/celebrity?” (40:05) Youngmi answers a spiritual question: “Why is there suffering in the world?” (42:55) You can check out Youngmi's podcast "Feeling Asian with Youngmi Mayer and Brian Park" here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/feeling-asian/id1481891689 Connect with Youngmi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ymmayer

Youngmi grows up in Korea and Saipan (1:00) Feeling like an outsider as a white person in Korea (5:00) How feeling like an outsider has influenced Youngmi’s comedy (9:00) Complexities of biracial upbringing (10:45) Youngmi retraces her history with starting Mission Chinese restaurant (14:30) Working through co-dependency issues (17:58) How Youngmi was able to assert her own creative desires and goals, working through baggage of Asian American upbringing and depression (19:15) Doing the scary thing of pursuing creative endeavors and honestly facing the possibility of failure (24:40) The challenge of living transparently emotionally and being vulnerable (25:30) Processing and healing from repressive Asian upbringing (26:50) “Was it scary to get into stand-up comedy?” (28:20) Coming up with stand-up jokes and practicing them (31:00) Power dynamics: Commanding the room as a stand-up comedian while also being vulnerable (36:30) Stand-up comedy as means of self-healing and talking about personal history on stage as comedy (38:25) “Do you think you could handle fame/celebrity?” (40:05) Youngmi answers a spiritual question: “Why is there suffering in the world?” (42:55) You can check out Youngmi's podcast "Feeling Asian with Youngmi Mayer and Brian Park" here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/feeling-asian/id1481891689 Connect with Youngmi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ymmayer

How Eddie got into drawing comics (1:00) Eddie talks about his previous zine/comic book “Sidewalk Empire” (4:30) Comic strips vs. Zines/Comic books (7:10) Learning to draw as a kid up until now (11:30) Eddie talks about his latest comic book based on his life as a lawyer in non-profit work (16:25) How to work within the comic book panel form? (22:25) Crafting the ending of the story first or develop the story as you go? (24:00) Ezra talk about what he liked in Eddie’s previous comic book “Wish the World” (31:00) How to create storylines, fictional universes, and characters for a zine/comic book? (36:20) Eddie answers a spiritual question: “What is the meaning of life?” (38:55) Find Eddie's comics and drawings here: https://www.instagram.com/ehacomics/ We talk about Eddie's latest comic book release (which he published on Instagram)--to check it out, you can start at this IG post here: https://www.instagram.com/p/B9KA-7ZB_0s/ More of Eddie's zines, comics, and drawings: ehacomics.com

How Eddie got into drawing comics (1:00) Eddie talks about his previous zine/comic book “Sidewalk Empire” (4:30) Comic strips vs. Zines/Comic books (7:10) Learning to draw as a kid up until now (11:30) Eddie talks about his latest comic book based on his life as a lawyer in non-profit work (16:25) How to work within the comic book panel form? (22:25) Crafting the ending of the story first or develop the story as you go? (24:00) Ezra talk about what he liked in Eddie’s previous comic book “Wish the World” (31:00) How to create storylines, fictional universes, and characters for a zine/comic book? (36:20) Eddie answers a spiritual question: “What is the meaning of life?” (38:55) Find Eddie's comics and drawings here: https://www.instagram.com/ehacomics/ We talk about Eddie's latest comic book release (which he published on Instagram)--to check it out, you can start at this IG post here: https://www.instagram.com/p/B9KA-7ZB_0s/ More of Eddie's zines, comics, and drawings: ehacomics.com

Luba’s YouTube Channel “Life of Luba” (3:05) “You don’t need to know a lot about opera to enjoy opera” (5:00) How Luba got into singing opera (6:00) Why Luba wants to share opera with everyone (9:16) Stereotypes of opera singers (14:35) Thinking of singing technically and with the story/character of the opera in mind (17:45) Luba sings for us! (23:28) Luba helps Ezra sing (25:25) Dealing with negative comments on social media (27:14) “What is the meaning of life?” (30:45) Connect with Luba's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeoflubaa You can also check out Luba's YT channel/opera videos--here's a great one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKGYps-BTx8

Luba’s YouTube Channel “Life of Luba” (3:05) “You don’t need to know a lot about opera to enjoy opera” (5:00) How Luba got into singing opera (6:00) Why Luba wants to share opera with everyone (9:16) Stereotypes of opera singers (14:35) Thinking of singing technically and with the story/character of the opera in mind (17:45) Luba sings for us! (23:28) Luba helps Ezra sing (25:25) Dealing with negative comments on social media (27:14) “What is the meaning of life?” (30:45) Connect with Luba's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeoflubaa You can also check out Luba's YT channel/opera videos--here's a great one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKGYps-BTx8

Using sounds to effect emotional response in trailers (3:45) “What is a ‘marketing campaign’ and ‘creative marketing’?” (9:30) How Eric started at HBO (10:55) Configuring the story of a trailer (19:50) How to navigate Hollywood as someone from underrepresented background (29:00) Check out Eric’s trailers here: https://vimeo.com/ericobutler  

Using sounds to effect emotional response in trailers (3:45) “What is a ‘marketing campaign’ and ‘creative marketing’?” (9:30) How Eric started at HBO (10:55) Configuring the story of a trailer (19:50) How to navigate Hollywood as someone from underrepresented background (29:00) Check out Eric’s trailers here: https://vimeo.com/ericobutler  

Kobe Bryant’s death and legacy (1:00) How Jonathan became a Lakers fan (10:53) How Jonathan got idea for podcast (18:02) Logistics of setting up a podcast (18:50) Building podcast’s legitimacy and brand image (28:28) Marketing for his podcast (35:45) Preparing for a podcast episode (38:20) “Has being a Lakers fan taught you anything about spirituality or faith?” (45:45) Connect with Jonathan at his Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jhun88/ The Lakers Legacy podcast at https://twitter.com/LakersLegacyPod Listen to Lakers Legacy podcast on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/2ykVwciCmU7wdkrGofobvY Find more of Mark Dragicevic's music (composed one of the interlude songs) at https://soundcloud.com/cactusbloom