The Mighty Dragon podcast

Pierre Bourdaud, a French actor based in Beijing and previous The Mighty Dragon interviewee joined me recently on the podcast to catch up. I was keen to hear how his career is unfolding in China and how he adapts his acting style to the local culture. It’s hard to believe two years have passed since we last spoke. In our conversation, Pierre shares his experiences navigating the unpredictable and unstable film industry in the wake of the pandemic, and how it has directly impacted his career. Having lived as an expat in China for over 20 years, Pierre offers fascinating insights into the importance of networking in China and contrasts it with his experiences in his native France. As a dedicated father and husband, he also opens up about balancing family life with his career, and shares his aspirations for the future. Is a return to France on the horizon, or has he found a lasting home abroad? Tune in to find out.

Ian Attard The Mighty Dragon has added yet another Bridgerton interview to the collection! I was delighted that actor, Ian Attard, joined me on the podcast to talk about his character, Nelson, and what it’s like being part of the smash-hit Netflix series. Ian talks about his research for the character Nelson, Anthony’s devoted valet and right hand man. He mentions what its like working with Jonathan Bailey who portrays Anthony Bridgerton and life on set in the glamourous Regency Era. Ian discusses his acting inspirations, how he got into acting and his character preparation. Ian is a versatile actor, he’s appeared in Supacell, EastEnders, Belgravia, The Fall of the Krays and, of course, Bridgerton. We touch upon what he learned as an actor from these various experiences. Finally, how would Ian see himself in the Regency Era, would he be a noble or pauper? Find out below…

What happened to Bruce the Shark? The famous, temperamental mechanical contraption that spawned a new suspense style in horror films. Bruce the Shark went from film star, theme park attraction, junkyard item to retirement. But was he doomed to the scrap heap? Or, did he have one last bite at film history? WATCH - Robert Shaw - Explosive Moments on the set of JAWS https://youtu.be/hK0MxtmdNhQ?si=tfB-p7t5Tzr3aseA SUBSCRIBE TO THE MIGHTY DRAGON CHANNEL https://www.youtube.com/@TheMightyDragon OTHER WAYS WE CAN CONNECT https://www.instagram.com/themightydragonblog/ https://themightydragon.blog/ #brucetheshark #sharkinjaws #jawstrivia Clips used on The Mighty Dragon are under the YouTube Fair Use policy that copyright-protected material under certain circumstances can be re-used without the permission of the copyright owner.

Cool Beans Comedy Cool Beans Comedy – a fantastic collection of comedians making waves at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival! Cool Beans Comedy includes some incredible talents: Renee Pezzotta, Suzanne Luna, Corey Martin Craig, and John Zeno. Don’t miss out on this unique act which will take Edinburgh by storm this year. Ticket links and all things Cool Beans are in Resources below. Notably, Renee Pezzotta has been interviewed previously on The Mighty Dragon, she’s Smokey in the new series of “Frasier.” It was a pleasure to get to know the rest of the Cool Beans gang and learn about their unique comedy writing process and the special twist they have planned for their act this year. I have a lot of respect for comedians and comic writers, they have the hardest job in the world… to make people laugh… RESOURCES Grab your tickets HERE for the Edinburgh Festival Cool Beans website – get involved! EdFringe app Cool Beans – Linktr.ee Renee’s previous The Mighty Dragon interview! Behind the scenes of Frasier!

Robert Shaw's Explosive Moments on the Set of Jaws: A Case Study What’s the perfect summer movie? JAWS, of course! In my opinion, JAWs is one of the greatest films of all time but it was born from a volatile environment, who was it who said - Chaos is the fuel that ignites the fire within, pushing us towards greatness. With never-changing script re-writes, cast fallouts and mechanical failures in the sea off Marthas Vineyard its a wonder this film was ever made. Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece led to a new style of suspense in film, which was quite by accident. Where the filmmakers had to come up with creative ways to solve Bruce the shark’s constant malfunctioning - this just shows that when you are faced with failure, greatness can emerge. I’ve been a JAWS fan all these years, I have always been fascinated with this film, it’s possibly one of the few movies that’s better than the book. I’ve come back to it time and time again, may be for me it take me back to my childhood in the 1970’s where it was a ‘treat’ to watch this masterpiece, my eyes would always be shielded when the two alpha sharks, Quint and Bruce would face off. My top 3 films were all made in the 1970’s - so is there a case for childhood films staying with you for the long term. So, let’s now go to Amity Island where a shark is terrorising the local population who are soon to be celebrating a bumper tourist season for July 4 and a ruthless Mayor who will do anything to make sure the celebrations go ahead until his own son is nearly taken by the shark itself. Our heroes of the story Brodie, Chief of Police - the classic, unwilling hero, a New Yorker getting used to trivial crime on an island, his fear of water which he needs to overcome to defeat the shark. Quint, the belligerent, old-school and difficult but skilled Captain. and Hooper, the rich, intelligent young marine biologist who brings with him modern gadgetry - the perfect antagonist to Quint. This set up is PURE DYNAMITE. All the actors in the film portrayed their part perfectly. But none more so, than British acting legend Robert Shaw. Born on August 9, 1927, in Lancashire, England he originally turned down the role of Quint - he famously said ‘JAWS was not a novel it was a story written by a committee, a piece of sh*t’. Lee Marvin and Sterling Hayden could not step up to the role. Shaw was perfect for the part. Robert Shaw, known for his exceptional acting talent but also for causing significant problems on set. Here are some of the key issues he caused during the production of "Jaws":

Dominic Coleman Today on the Mighty Dragon podcast, we are thrilled to welcome Dominic Coleman, the talented actor known for his role as Lord Cowper in Bridgerton. Dominic joined the beloved series in its second season, portraying the patriarch of the Cowper family and father to Cressida. Beyond Bridgerton, Dominic has recently appeared in high-profile films such as Wonka and Napoleon. In this exclusive interview, we dive into his experiences on these sets and explore the breadth of his acting career. We discuss his preparation process for various roles and the challenges he has encountered along the way. Dominic also shares invaluable advice for aspiring actors, making this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in the world of acting.

Anthony J. Abraham This week’s guest is actor Anthony J. Abraham. From Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan to Bad Education and now to the latest offering in the Star Wars Universe, The Acolyte. Anthony’s career is forging ahead and I must say it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. Anthony is currently starring in The Acolyte, as Fillik, a meknek – which, as Wookieepedia explains  “Mekneks were freelance mechanics who did repairs on the outer hulls of starships. During the High Republic Era, Republic law dictated that only droids could perform this dangerous work. This meant that mekneks were an illegal profession.[1] During that same era, Osha Aniseya and Fillik worked as mekneks on a freighter for the Trade Federation.[2]” Wookieepedia With The Acolyte now streaming on Disney+, it was a great time to catch up with Anthony, who is busy filming overseas. I’m so grateful he found the time for this quick chat to discuss his career!

Mark Wingett After my recent interview with Maria Austin, where we discussed Mercy, a film about life as a pig in a slaughterhouse. I decided to reach out to her co-star, Mark Wingett, who portrayed the slaughterman. Mark, a familiar face on our screens for over 20 years as The Bill’s Jim Carver, got his first break as Dave in the British cult classic movie, Quadrophenia. Dave was Jimmy’s best friend, the one with the cool hat who ultimately betrays Jimmy at his lowest point by stealing his girl. As a first job, this is quite an achievement. Mark was one of the youngest in the cast, he was just 17 and fresh out of the National Youth Theatre when he was cast. Now with a career spanning over 40 years, it was an honour to talk to this much accomplished actor about his career and dip into his personal life which involves scuba diving and biking with the Tokyo mods! Mark reminisces about his first day on set and how many egg sandwiches he had to eat! We talk about the success behind the movie, Pete Townshend’s genius musical score and the admirable vision of the director, Franc Roddam. A director who took chances when selecting the actors and stuck to his interpretation of the story. The bond between cast members is still as strong as ever, with Mark describing them as family. The cast have all had such illustrious careers including Phil Davis, one of my favourite actors. At the time of filming, Sting was launching his music career and Ray Winstone had made his third film in that year. Mark mentions that Ray Winstone was always destined for greatness, I can’t help think that happened to Mark too.

Maria Austin British actress Maria Austin is currently starring as the title character, Mercy, in the film of the same name on Apple TV. I am absolutely delighted that she is part of the interview collection here on The Mighty Dragon. The life of a factory farmed pig. Mercy’s tragic journey, as she leaves behind her own family and encounters those whose job it is to end her life. If you haven’t seen it, then prepare yourself for a dynamic, unforgettable performance from this talented actress. Alongside Maria in Mercy is Mark Wingett, Quadrophenia legend, who plays the slaughterman. Maria tells me what it was like working with Mark on this chilling story. It’s out now to Rent or Buy – here

I am delighted to announce that actor Adrian Schiller joined me on the podcast to discuss his time on the hugely phenomenal The Last Kingdom series. Followers of The Mighty Dragon Instagram account know that I have recently binge-watched the entire five series. So I am completely over the moon that my favourite bad guy from the series, Æthelhelm, is part of this interview collection. Adrian discusses Æthelhelm, his favourite parts of his character, his motivations, and how the character immersed itself into The Last Kingdom. But were Athelhelm’s motivations misjudged? Doting grandfather or evil mastermind? We discuss this and more, on The Mighty Dragon.

Head on over to The Mighty Dragon blog for my interview with Marise Alvarez. https://themightydragon.blog/2022/07/16/the-mighty-dragon-podcast-with-marise-alvarez-obiwankenobi-nyche/

Youssef Kerkour Ridley Scott’s Napoleon returns to The Mighty Dragon with another great interview. This week, I am speaking to Napoleon’s right-hand man, Marshal Davout. Or should I say Youssef Kerkour who portrayed this infamous soldier otherwise known as The Iron Marshal. Davout himself was a highly acclaimed general, being present at most of Napoleon’s battles. Devoted, driven and resilient, I can’t help but think Youssef was the right actor to portray him, as he has these qualities himself. Napoleon isn’t the first time Youssef has worked with legendary director, Ridley Scott. He was also in House of Gucci, portraying Nemir Kirdar. We talk about Ridley Scott’s style of working, as well as Youssef’s preparation for his roles. I am convinced that Youssef is the most prepared actor on set, cleverly adopting psychological practices to immerse himself in the role. His British and Moroccan heritage has given him access to many great parts, but we talk about how he “niched down” on his Arab heritage to gain even more exposure.

Jimmy Dunn Frasier is taking over The Mighty Dragon once again. Today’s guest is actor and stand-up comedian, Jimmy Dunn. Jimmy plays Moose in Frasier, the firefighter who captured Olivia’s heart in the Christmas special. Jimmy gives a great behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of Frasier. The supreme writing, the professionalism on set and what its like working with Frasier himself, Kelsey Grammar. Jimmy didn’t have to go far for the inspiration for Moose, he brings so much of himself to every role. With firefighters in his family, they must be very proud that he portrays these heroes on a set based in Boston. I have a lot of respect for comedians, they have the hardest job in the world to make people laugh. It was a pleasure to find that Jimmy is very much like Moose himself. A proud Bostonian, we talk about his stand-up inspirations and what impact they had on American stand-up. We touch upon stand-up internationally too, with hopes of Jimmy taking his comedy overseas. With a plot twist in the Christmas episode, we hope to see more Moose in season two! Tune in now!

Renee Pezzotta Who else has just finished the first season of the latest in the life of Doctor Frasier Crane? This fantastic, new series picks up where he started, in Boston. In the aftermath of the passing of his father Martin, we see Frasier getting closer to his son Freddy. Frasier continues to do what Frasier does best, witty one liners, clever quips and navigating family tensions hilariously. As a sidenote, as a Brit who grew up with Only Fools and Horses on the box 24-7, its been great to see Nicholas Lyndhurst in this series as Alan Cornwall, Frasiers’ Oxford buddy and sidekick. It’s been delightful to see him as this character and I’m interested to see how this character evolves.   New characters have been introduced this season, one being Smokey, Freddy’s firefighter buddy and coworker. Smokey is portrayed by actress Renee Pezzotta, who I am delighted to welcome onto The Mighty Dragon. These new faces have found their voices in the Frasier universe, and it was interesting to hear how Renee approaches Smokey’s character and acting in general. Tune in to hear how this Tennessee-New Jersey native made it not only in acting but in stand-up comedy too. As a very driven professional, it didn’t surprise me to hear that Renee has a side-hustle too alongside her acting career. We talk about the effect of perfoming infront of a live audience, something she is used to with her stand-up comedy experience. We talk too about script changes in the live environment and how this can change a performance. This was a very insightful glimpse into how sitcoms are made in reaction to the audience reaction! Renee also talks about the fantasy backstory she has for Smokey, can you guess which Cheers legends daughter she aspires to be? The new cast are all so highly talented but what else do you expect from a show like Frasier? Tune in now!

John Bucy Another great Frasier interview lands on The Mighty Dragon! Today’s guest is actor John Bucy. John plays Roger in Frasier, and like Frasier he is a Boston native. But home is in Los Angeles where he is focussing on building his acting career. It was a great time to catch up with John as he navigates his way in the new Hollywood. John shares how he got into acting, how he has approaches portraying his characters, some nuggets from behind the scenes of Frasier and also some sage acting advice for anyone joining the industry. Life is busy for John, with many projects taking off after the writers/actors strike, I have a feeling that 2024 is going to be a roaring success for this dedicated actor. Tune in now!

Our esteemed guest today is the talented Natalia Bulynia, who has recently brought her inaugural short film, "LA HISTORIA DE FERNANDO," to life and is already immersed in the creation of her next cinematic masterpiece. Join me as I delve into the creative mind of this multi-faceted writer, director, and producer to unravel the intricacies of her artistic process and discover how she seamlessly weaves together the elements of storytelling, direction, and production.

Synnøve Macody Lund Today’s guest, Synnove Macody Lund, stars in the smash hit series Ragnarok on Netflix as Ran Jutul, the principal of Edda Secondary School. As we spoke I was so impressed with Synnove’s drive and determination to venture into her acting career. Those nerves she felt ahead of a performance propelled her to draw out her unique acting talent and into performances such as Ran, Gabriella in Spiders Web or Diana in Headhunters. We talk about her career so far, how she prepares for new characters and staying true to a character versus bringing her own interpretation to a role. Interesting to note, Synnove discusses the pressures on women to always look good. As a busy mother and actress, I was keen to hear how Synnove maintains a healthy work-life balance. We discuss the challenges Synnove has faced in her acting career and how she has overcome them. Finally, we of course, discuss Ran, the multi-layered character who Synnove has enjoyed exploring her vulnerabilities.

Alex Alessi Recently I watched a terrific horror short called The Rose. Written and directed by my friend and past The Mighty Dragon interviewee, Andrew Froening. An enchanted rose bequeathed a curse upon a young woman many years ago, and now her descendants learn they too may suffer by the thorns of the rose. IMDB The Rose stars Alex Alessi, an actor who provides a powerful performance. I just had to ask him onto the podcast! We discuss his career in acting, how he prepares for roles, what parts of himself he brings to a character, and how he handles feedback and criticism, plus much more. With his eyes on a superhero role, tune in to see what character this is… can you guess?

Patrick Wirtz Patrick Wirtz has been on my radar for some time for an interview for The Mighty Dragon. His work with past The Mighty Dragon interviewee, director Deborah Richards, is truly an epic glimpse into the life of a producer. After speaking with Patrick, I have so much more appreciation for this role. Naive me, thought that this role was mostly financial. How wrong was I?! I joked to Patrick that a day in his life would give me a heart attack, I wasn’t wrong! Patrick shares his experiences working alongside Deborah on her first feature, Move Me No Mountain. We touch upon how projects develop from concept to completion. Patrick offers insights into social media strategies, industry trends and how the role of a film producer will evolve in the future. This, of course, ventures into the world of AI, scary for some, whereas others are embracing this technology. With their next movie, Scissor Mouth, coming out soon it was a great time to catch up.

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