Joseph Holland, author, playwright, and former Housing Commissioner of New York State, shares his life's tapestry, embracing the arts and spreading joy through his plays while serving the Harlem community, which is showcased in the film "Harlem Grace." As Holland recounts the various hues of his life, we're reminded of the transformative power of faith and using one's talents to ignite hope and change in the lives of others.
Journey with us as we navigate the nuances of Holistic Housing, an innovative model that Joe pioneered, giving not just a roof over heads but also nourishing the mind, spirit, and future employment opportunities of those he served. From the principles that underpinned his life skills curriculum to the global reach of his initiatives, including the founding of an institute in Liberia, Holland's story is one of unwavering dedication. His transition into a political role, leveraging his extensive community and entrepreneurial experience, exemplifies a life of purpose. Be inspired as we trace Holland's footsteps, a path where faith, creativity, and the desire to leave a lasting legacy beautifully converge.
Harlem Grace Website
Joe's Website
Navigating Hollywood
Film Producer and Broadway Investor Rob Stillman recounts the ambitious journey of translating the powerful play "Freud's Last Session" into a movie, with Anthony Hopkins breathing life into Freud. His insight into the allure of challenging roles for A-list actors and the intimate process of film production shines a light on the artistry behind making a movie. Rob also reflects on his beginnings with "The God Committee," tracing his path from off-Broadway to the heart of Hollywood.
In a world quick to dismiss different viewpoints, our conversation takes a turn towards the significance of maintaining meaningful dialogue and the value of faith and friendships beyond our differences. Rob shares his perspective on success, measured not in box office receipts but in the laughter and love of family—especially the bond with his children. Join us for an episode that doesn't just entertain but also questions, connects, and celebrates the stories that make us human, all through the lens of a man who's seen the best and brightest of what show business has to offer.
Navigating Hollywood
Rob Stillman IMDb
Freud's Last Session
The Sound of Violet Official Site
Who is Scott Teems, the celebrated filmmaker behind award-winning films like "The Evening Sun," and the hits "Exorcist: Believer" and "Insidious: Red Door"? How did Scott grow up to create intense, thrilling, and dramatic stories that captivate audiences? Join us as we explore the life and career of this versatile creator, as we discuss his journey from a struggling youngster to an acclaimed filmmaker, responsible for creating the Peabody Award-winning Sundance TV drama "Rectify".
Scott attributes his success to the encouragement he received in the eighth grade, which launched his journey into filmmaking. His move to New York and his involvement with The Haven community of artists served as stepping stones to his career. Our conversation also takes you through Scott's collaborations with Terrence Berry and his experiences with Halloween Kills, and his exploration of the audience's fascination with violence in movies.
We delve into the realm of horror films, their power to explore evil, and Scott's unique approach to the Exorcist sequel. Scott emphasizes the importance of collaboration for creating compelling stories and shares his beliefs about the expectations one needs to set while embarking on a creative journey.
Host and filmmaker Allen Wolf becomes the guest in this rebroadcast of Perspectives on Neurodiversity where he talks about the journey of making his recent movie, The Sound of Violet. We dive headfirst into a discussion about the film adaptation of his novel. The road to casting Shawn, a unique character with autism, wasn't easy, but we talk about the triumphs achieved along the way and the personal connections to the story's theme of human trafficking. We'll hear how the film reflects human life's complexities and unpack essential aspects of a character's development and relationship portrayal in films. Uncover how Allen worked to illustrate Shawn's character and discovered his autism, integrating the concept of synesthesia into the story.
We'll also reflect on the transformative power of film and the impact The Sound of Violet has had on its audience. How did the pandemic affect the film's release? How did the critical role of music shape the story? Discover how Allen and composer Conrad Pope worked to create an Academy Award-worthy score. Don't miss this enlightening exploration of neurodiversity, the intricacies of independent films, and the beauty of creative storytelling.
• The Sound of Violet Official Site
Join us on a thrilling journey as we chat with Tory Belleci, host, actor, and writer best known for his work on Mythbusters. Tory recalls how an unexpected encounter with the cops led him to the world of visual effects. Buckle up as we take you through the exhilarating steps Tory took to land his dream job at Mythbusters, a job he nearly passed on.
Tory shares stories from his time on Mythbusters, from the jitters of being in front of the camera to the creation of the show and his role. Get a close-up view of the behind-the-scenes happenings of one of the most-watched science shows on television. He also talks about his other adventures, the delicate nature of life in the sudden loss of his co-host, Grant, and the incredible story behind his near-death heart condition. So tune in, and prepare to be captivated by these tales of adventure, trials, and triumphs.
• Tory Belleci's website
• Tory on Instagram, X, IMDb, Facebook
• The Sound of Violet Official Site
Ready to explore the powerful intersection of faith and creativity and find the answers to some profound questions? Our latest episode features a message from the late pastor, speaker, and New York Times bestselling author Tim Keller. He addressed an off-Broadway audience on a riveting topic: Why Do We Need Artists? Tim delivered this message to a packed theater when he was 42 years old, and his enlightening words are as relevant today as they were then.
Join us on this captivating journey as Tim Keller discusses how art is a conduit reconnecting us to something from which we've been disconnected. Today, we breathe life back into his invaluable insights, serving up a treat for artists, art aficionados, and anyone intrigued by the crossroads of spirituality and creativity. Tune in as we explore these compelling themes and uncover how art indicates there's more to us than meets the eye.
Kris has been featured in Jurassic World: Dominion, Wonder Woman 1984, Where Hope Grows, TV movies for the Hallmark Channel, and many other films and TV series, including Mad Men, Get Shorty, and Backstrom. He has also co-authored two books from the series From Kona with Love. Kris talks about his incredible journey, how an explosion nearly took his life and the legacy he'd like to leave behind.
• Kristoffer Polaha on IMDb, Instagram, Twitter
• The Sound of Violet Official Site
Jeremy is a stunt coordinator and driver who has worked on many incredible films, including Black Panther, the Dark Knight movies, Captain America, National Treasure, Indiana Jones, Free Guy, Tenet, Ford V Ferrari, John Wick, and many, many others. He has also been featured in dozens of television series as well, including WandaVision, Big Little Lies, True Detective, NCIS, and many others.
Jeremy has won multiple awards for his stunt work, including a Screen Actors Guild Award for Black Panther, a nomination for Ant Man and the Wasp, and Baby Driver, and he won the Taurus World Stunt Award, which is equivalent to an Oscar in the stunt world for The Bourne Ultimatum, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, and Baby Driver. Interviewed by Filmmaker Allen Wolf.
See more at NavigatingHollywood.org
Links:
• Watch this interview on Youtube
• Jeremy Fry on IMDb
• The Sound of Violet Official Site
• Allen Wolf on IMDb, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
Dean Batali was a writer and Executive Producer for That 70's Show, writer for Buffy The Vampire Slayer, head writer for the Disney Jr series Puppy Dog Pals, and was the executive producer and showrunner for Hallmark Channel’s Good Witch. He also co-authored the book Watching TV Religiously. Dean discusses his career, the challenges he met along the way, why he's thankful for the worst day of his life, and the legacy he'd like to leave behind. Interviewed by Filmmaker Allen Wolf.
See more at NavigatingHollywood.org
Links:
• Watch this interview on Youtube
• Dean Batli on IMDb
• The Sound of Violet Official Site
Named as one of Variety’s 10 Writers to Watch, Monica has written for some of the most acclaimed television series over the last 15 years. She’s a Consulting Producer for HBO’s Station Eleven, the Executive Producer for MacGyver, Queen Sugar, Nashville, and Gentefied, which was nominated for a Peabody Award. She was a writer on Lost, Teen Wolf, Knight Rider, Prison Break, and more. She talks about her career, where she finds inspiration, and the time when she thought she'd never work again.
See more at NavigatingHollywood.org
Links:
• Watch this interview
• Monica Macer on IMDb, Twitter
• The Sound of Violet Official Site
Brian is the co-creator and executive producer of the top-rated Hallmark Channel original series When Calls the Heart and is the writer and producer of over two dozen films and TV movies such as The Heart of Man, Bopha!, Call Me Claus, Not Easily Broken, Captive, and The Case for Christ. Over his 40+ year career, Brian has written and/or produced nearly 350 episodes of television, including Evening Shade, Step by Step, and Touched by an Angel.
Brian talks about how he got his start in the industry, how he thinks it's essential to be fearless to be successful and shares many inspirational stories and insights. He also discusses how the best legacy of When Calls the Heart is not the show, it's the Hearties
See more at NavigatingHollywood.org.
Links:
• Watch on YouTube
• When Calls the Heart Official Site
• When Calls the Heart on Twitter
• Navigating Hollywood
• Brian Bird on IMDb, Twitter
• Allen Wolf on IMDb, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
• Allen Wolf’s website
• Allen Wolf's movie website
The Sound of Violet is a romantic comedy about a man who thinks he found his soulmate but his autism keeps him from realizing she's a prostitute looking for a ticket out of her trapped life. Lead cast members Cason Thomas, Cora Cleary, Jan D'Arcy, and Michael E. Bell join the movie's writer, director, and producer Allen Wolf, to talk about the challenges of making the movie, building the characters, and how the story inspired them. The Sound of Violet opens April 29, only in theaters. Get tickets and exclusive content at TheSoundofViolet.com.
During this compelling discussion, Cason talks about his experience having a mom who was a victim of trafficking, how he grew up in the foster system of Houston, Texas, and how that informed his view of the story. Cora shares about how she went undercover to research her character while Jan and Michael talk about how they connected with their roles.
Links:
• The Sound of Violet Official Site
• The Sound of Violet on IMDb, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok
• Navigating Hollywood
• Video version
Composer Conrad Pope is one of the most respected and trusted musicians working in Hollywood today. He talks about how he got his start and how he creates memorable music. Composers such as John Williams, Alexandre Desplat, and Hans Zimmer have all called upon his expertise as one of the industry’s top orchestrators as well as his abilities as a conductor and score producer, making him one of the most in-demand scoring professionals.
Conrad has contributed to the scores of more than a hundred films. The iconic films on which he has worked range from the Star Wars prequel films, the Harry Potter series, to Jurassic Park, to Pirates of the Caribbean, and more. Conrad created the musical score for Allen Wolf's new romantic comedy movie, The Sound of Violet.
See more at NavigatingHollywood.org.
Links:
• Conrad Pope on IMDb, Facebook
• The Sound of Violet Official Site
Encore Episode : Sheryl J. Anderson, the Creator and Executive Producer of the hit Netflix show Sweet Magnolias, discusses how she started as a storyteller, the way her life experience made her uniquely qualified to create this hit show, and how faith has played a crucial role for her as an artist. She also talks about her life priorities and how she has been able to get where she is today.
On writing Sweet Magnolias, Sheryl explains, "We had a running joke in the writer's room that we wanted to make the audience laugh out loud once an episode, cry once an episode, and then whatever they wanted to do in between was fine. But the running joke became that we wanted to do that to each other every day in the room and we laughed a lot together and we cried a lot together."
This episode originally aired April 2021.
See more at NavigatingHollywood.org.
Links:
• Sweet Magnolias Official Site
• Sheryl J. Anderson on IMDb, Twitter
Special Episode: Filmmaker Allen Wolf is interviewed on The Autistic Me podcast where he talks about the challenge of portraying an autistic character in his upcoming movie, The Sound of Violet, as well as how he discovered the story, writing at Disneyland, and much more. We re-broadcast the episode here.
• The Autistic Me podcast
• The Autistic Me Blog
• Order Allen's Book, The Sound of Violet
• Navigating Hollywood's Marriage Course, Pre-Marriage Course, Alpha Course
• Allen Wolf on IMDb, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
• Allen Wolf's website
• Allen Wolf's new movie
Scott Teems wrote Halloween Kills with David Gordon Green and Danny McBride, and upcoming will be The Exorcist sequel, and Stephen King’s Firestarter. Scott was a writer and co-executive producer of the popular Netflix series Narcos: Mexico and he wrote, directed, and produced three seasons of the acclaimed, Peabody Award-winning TV drama Rectify. Scott discusses his career challenges, responds to critics with the deeper messages they may have missed in Halloween Kills, what excites him as a storyteller, and why he rarely smiles.
Links:
• Order Allen's Book, The Sound of Violet
• Scott Teems on IMDb
• Navigating Hollywood's Marriage Course, Pre-Marriage Course, Alpha Course
• Allen Wolf on IMDb, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
• Allen Wolf's new movie
The transcript for this episode can be found here.
Video for this episode can be found here.
Tony nominee Elizabeth A. Davis and her husband, Emmy-nominee Jordan Richard, talk about their incredible journey through stage and television. Elizabeth's Broadway debut landed her a Tony Nomination and launched her on a multi-year search to discover her artistic voice. Jordan has won multiple Emmy nominations for his role as a director at NBC News. He talks about how the news can be biased, his role as a news director, and mishaps along the way. Elizabeth and Jordan also discuss how they have built a relationship where they encourage each other to develop their artistic voices and thrive.
Links:
• Order Allen's Book, The Sound of Violet
• Elizabeth A. Davis on IMDb, Wikipedia
• Designated Survivor Article about Jordan Richard
• Navigating Hollywood's Marriage Course, Pre-Marriage Course, Alpha Course
• Allen Wolf on IMDb, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
• Allen Wolf's new movie
The transcript for this episode can be found here.
Video for this episode can be found here.
As a special agent for the FBI, James R. Fitzgerald (Jim) helped solve some of the highest profile criminal cases in U.S. history, including the Unabomber, the D.C. Sniper, the 2001 anthrax cases, and many more. Sam Worthington portrayed Jim in the acclaimed mini-series "Manhunt: Unabomber" on Netflix. Jim also served as a consultant for Criminal Minds and many other crime-related television shows. He gives advice for writers who are writing crime stories. Jim is the most special guest Allen Wolf will ever interview for one reason: Jim is Allen's uncle. Allen didn't know they were related until recently and they share how they discovered their family ties later in the show.
As a special agent for the FBI, James R. Fitzgerald (Jim) helped solve some of the highest profile criminal cases in U.S. history, including the Unabomber, the D.C. Sniper, the 2001 anthrax cases, and many more. Sam Worthington portrayed Jim in the acclaimed mini-series "Manhunt: Unabomber" on Netflix. Jim also served as a consultant for Criminal Minds and many other crime-related television shows. He gives advice for writers who are writing crime stories. Jim is the most special guest Allen will ever interview for one reason: Jim is Allen's uncle. Allen didn't know they were related until recently and they share how they discovered their family ties later in the show.
Links:
• Pre-Order Allen's Book, The Sound of Violet
• James R. Fitzgerald's Website
• James R. Fitzgerald on IMDb
• James R. Fitzgerald's The Fitz Files.
• James R. Fitzgerald's books, The Journey to the Center of the Mind
• Navigating Hollywood's Marriage Course, Pre-Marriage Course, Alpha Course
• Allen Wolf on IMDb, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
The transcript for this episode can be found here.
Video for this episode can be found here.
Film and TV producer Darren Moorman has worked with top Hollywood talent and most recently produced Blue Miracle with Dennis Quaid. Darren talks about his journey as a producer, what he would do differently if he had to redo his career and the kind of legacy he'd like to leave behind.
Links:
• Pre-Order Allen's Book, The Sound of Violet
• Darren Moorman on IMDb
• Newly Formed Producers Union Seeks To Collectively Bargain For Indie Feature Filmmakers
• Navigating Hollywood's Marriage Course, Pre-Marriage Course, Alpha Course
• Allen Wolf on IMDb, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
The transcript for this episode can be found here.
Writer/Director Ricky Staub and Producer Dan Walser of the Netflix hit movie Concrete Cowboy, starring Idris Elba, discuss the story behind the making of the movie, their company's program to help the incarcerated, and how suffering has impacted each of their lives.
Links:
• Neighborhood Film Group
• Ricky Staub's TED Talk
• The Cage short film
• The Neighborhood Film Group on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
• Rick Staub on IMDb / Dan Walser on IMDb
• Navigating Hollywood’s Marriage Course, Pre-Marriage Course, Alpha Course
• Allen Wolf on IMDb, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
• Allen Wolf’s website
• Allen Wolf's new movie
The transcript for this episode can be found here.
Video for this episode can be found here.
Actress Emily Swallow shares her experience starring as The Armorer in The Mandalorian, and in the CBS show SEAL Team. She formerly played key roles in Supernatural, The Mentalist, and performed in many other parts in film as well as on stage. Emily talks about the challenges of being an actress in Hollywood, how she hit rock bottom in her life, how everything turned around, and how she'd like to be remembered.
What was it like attending a Star Wars premiere? What was the most surprising thing that a fan did? What's an audition that went wrong? Emily talks about that and more.
• Star Wars Official Site
• Emily Swallow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, IMDb
• Navigating Hollywood’s Marriage Course, Pre-Marriage Course, Alpha Course
• Allen Wolf on IMDb, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
• Books mentioned: The Paradox of Choice, The Reason for God, Making Sense of God, The Meaning of Marriage
• Article mentioned: Why Don’t the Rich Just Stop Working?
The transcript for this episode can be found here.
Video for this episode can be found here.
It's Hollywood's Biggest Night! Filmmaker Allen Wolf shares surprising facts and trivia about the Academy Awards®, and his own experience being an Oscar® best man. We're also giving away prizes to listeners of the show.
Oscar® night is Hollywood’s biggest night of the year, if you work in movies, and that’s because of what the Oscars® represent - the highest achievement for a motion picture voted on by your peers. The Academy Awards® started in 1929 when they handed out their first awards at a dinner party for about 250 people at the blossom room of the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, but what's happened since?
Who paid 1.54 million to own an Oscar® ? which actor got jilted and then got revenge on the Oscar® stage? Which film cost $280 million and didn't win Best Picture?
You'll find out all of that and more during this special episode about Hollywood's Biggest Night.
Links:
• Academy Awards Official Site
• Navigating Hollywood's Marriage Course, Pre-Marriage Course, Alpha Course
• Allen Wolf on IMDb, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
• Allen Wolf's You're Pulling My Leg! book on Amazon
• Navigating Hollywood's Podcast Site
The transcript for this episode can be found here.
Sheryl J. Anderson, the Creator and Executive Producer of the hit Netflix show Sweet Magnolias, discusses how she started as a storyteller, the way her life experience made her uniquely qualified to create this hit show, and how faith has played a crucial role for her as an artist. She also talks about her life priorities and how she has been able to get where she is today.
On writing Sweet Magnolias, Sheryl explains, "We had a running joke in the writer's room that we wanted to make the audience laugh out loud once an episode, cry once an episode, and then whatever they wanted to do in between was fine. But the running joke became that we wanted to do that to each other every day in the room and we laughed a lot together and we cried a lot together."
Allen ends the interview by asking about the cliffhanger in Sweet Magnolias. "Who was in the car?" See more at NavigatingHollywood.org.
Links:
• Sweet Magnolias Official Site
• Navigating Hollywood’s Marriage Course, Pre-Marriage Course, Alpha Course
• Sheryl J. Anderson on IMDb, Twitter
• Allen Wolf on IMDb, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
The transcript for this episode can be found here.
Video for this episode can be found here.
Editor Harry Yoon discusses his work on the Oscar-nominated Minari, his editing of the upcoming Marvel film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, as well as how he survives and thrives in Hollywood.
Harry reveals how Minari was created and some of the challenges they experienced in the making of this award-winning movie. He talks about how he started as an editor, what it's like working on an independent film versus a major studio film, and how he keeps himself inspired as an artist and sharpened as an editor. Surviving in Hollywood means that Harry has to find importance outside of his achievements and he shares how that has been possible.
Links:
• Marvel
• Minari
• Navigating Hollywood’s Marriage Course, Pre-Marriage Course, Alpha Course
• Harry Yoon on IMDb
• Allen Wolf on IMDb, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
Video for this episode can be found here.
The transcript for this episode can be found here.
Daniel K. Hoh, a writer from ABC’s Grey's Anatomy spinoff, Station 19, and his wife Deborah King discuss his writing career, what inspires him, and the joys and challenges of being married in Hollywood.
Dan and Deb first met at a rooftop restaurant in Santa Monica on a cool fall evening in 2010. She was a lawyer and he was an ER doctor. After getting married in 2013, Deb switched her career to corporate healthcare and made a job of telling doctors what to do-both at work and at home! Dan eventually made a switch too, from practicing medicine to TV writing. He now spends most of his days being a storyteller and writes for Station 19 on ABC, a spinoff of Grey's Anatomy.
When Dan decided to pursue a career in writing, his wife didn't run away. He says, "I commend her for believing in me and for not running away and saying, I married you as this one person with a certain promise of stability and security and now you want to go do the most unstable job. We’re in the most unstable industry ever."
Dan is thankful for his life experience and says it's essential for being a good writer. "Being creative means nothing if you don't actually have the life experience to draw from. A writer who hasn't gone through a lot of interesting or difficult situations is less likely to have good stories than somebody who's been through a lot."
Links:
• Navigating Hollywood’s Marriage Course, Pre-Marriage Course, Alpha Course
• Daniel K. Hoh on IMDb
• Allen Wolf on IMDb, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
Video for this episode can be found here.
The transcript for this episode can be found here.
Joe Holland: Writer & Changemaker, Harlem Grace, Make Your Own History
43:11
Rob Stillman, Film Producer & Broadway Investor: Freud's Last Session, Amazing Grace, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder
29:05
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Encore: Scott Teems, Filmmaker, The Exorcist: Believer, Insidious: Red Door, Halloween
42:01
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Allen Wolf, Writer, Director, Producer: The Sound of Violet: Rebroadcast of Perspectives on Neurodiversity
41:58
Tory Belleci, Host, Actor, Writer: Mythbusters, White Rabbit Project, Thrill Factor, The Explosion Show
34:06
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Timothy Keller, New York Times Bestselling Author & Speaker: Why We Need Artists
12:39
Kristoffer Polaha, Actor & Writer: Jurassic World:Dominion, Wonder Woman 1984, Where Hope Grows
37:31
Jeremy Fry, Stunt Coordinator & Stunt Driver: Black Panther, John Wick 3, Captain America, Baby Driver
23:46
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Dean Batali: TV Writer & Executive Producer, That 70's Show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Good Witch, Puppy Dog Pals
55:39
Monica Macer, TV Writer & Executive Producer: Station 11, MacGyver, Queen Sugar, Lost, Prison Break
1:00:44
Brian Bird, Film and TV Writer & Producer: When Calls the Heart, Bopha!, Captive, The Case for Christ
1:03:14
The Sound of Violet Cast and Filmmaker Allen Wolf
32:34
Conrad Pope, Composer & Orchestrator: The Sound of Violet, My Weekend with Marilyn, Harry Potter movies, Star Wars movies, The Matrix Movies
38:27
Encore: Sheryl J. Anderson: Creator of Sweet Magnolias
37:01
Allen Wolf: Filmmaker, Rebroadcast of The Autistic Me Podcast
50:36
Scott Teems: Filmmaker: Halloween Kills, Rectify, Firestarter, The Exorcist
42:24
Elizabeth A. Davis: Broadway Actress & Jordan Richard: Director at NBC News
38:27
James R. Fitzgerald, FBI Special Agent: Manhunt: Unabomber, Criminal Minds
35:11
Darren Moorman: Producer of Blue Miracle, Same Kind of Different As Me
31:40
Ricky Staub & Dan Walser: Concrete Cowboy Filmmakers
49:06
Emily Swallow: Actress, The Mandalorian, SEAL Team on CBS, Supernatural
45:43
Allen Wolf: Hollywood's Biggest Night
31:41
Sheryl J. Anderson: Creator of Sweet Magnolias
38:12
Harry Yoon: Editor of Minari and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
1:09:17
Daniel K. Hoh: Writer, Grey's Anatomy Spinoff Station 19 on ABC
40:33