Thriving Artists: The Daily Joyride with Robyn Cohen

From The Mailroom To A Major Film Role: Wolfgang Bodison's Extraordinary Journey

• Robyn Cohen • Episode 12

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How does one go from the mailroom to co-starring in an Oscar-nominated film without any prior acting experience? What role does a joyful approach, perseverance, and mentorship play in achieving extraordinary feats? How do we ignite our passions and turn them into thriving careers? In this riveting episode of the newly rebranded, 'Thriving Artists: The Daily Joyride,' host Robyn Cohen delves deep with Master Acting Teacher Wolfgang Bodison, whose journey from behind the scenes at Castle Rock Entertainment to his breakout role in 'A Few Good Men' is nothing short of miraculous. Wolfgang shares powerful teachings on following your instincts, overcoming self-doubt, and continually raising the bar for yourself as an artist. This episode is filled with wisdom on turning adversity into advantage, the transformative power of dedicated training, and the importance of creative curiosity in the face of challenges. Perfect for anyone looking to reignite their passion and thrive in their artistic pursuits, this conversation offers invaluable lessons and rich, heartwarming moments that promise to propel your career toward artistic fulfillment, creative satisfaction and a thriving future.

Connect with Wolfgang Bodison:

IG: @wolfbodison 

Wolf’s Website: wolfbodison.com

Connect with Playhouse West:

IG: @PlayhouseWestLa 

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Time Stamps:

00:35 Wolfgang's Background and Career Highlights

07:14 Wolfgang's Journey to Hollywood

13:50 Landing the Role in 'A Few Good Men'

31:13 Teaching and Mentoring at Playhouse West

38:09 Discovering Hidden Talents

40:20 Raising the Bar in Theater

43:32 Dealing with Criticism and Rejection

55:45 The Importance of Instincts

01:02:50 The Impact of Art and Teaching

🔆 Let’s ride. Let’s thrive. Together!

Robyn Cohen:

Well, hello. Hello friends and welcome to the all new rebranded podcast, Thriving Artists: The Daily Joyride I'm your host, Robyn Cohen, and today you're in for an Extraordinary ride. So first, just a quick word about this exciting rebrand. after recording over 25 episodes and coaching thousands of artists, it became crystal clear. The myth of the starving artist is done. It just has to be. This podcast now exists. To shatter that lie and to usher in a new era, a space where artists can thrive, where creativity equals abundance, where joy is the truth, the way, and the strategy. So how perfect that today's guest is someone who proves this with every fiber of his being. Wolfgang Bodison started in the mail room at Castle Rock Entertainment not long after he was cast by Rob Reiner in the Academy Award nominated film, A Few Good Men, performing Opposite Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, and Demi Moore. with zero acting experience. None. No agent, no audition history. He was simply showing up. He wasn't chasing fame. He was doing his job with passion and precision as a locations manager. And when director Rob Reiner asked him to audition, he showed up again and he delivered. when opportunity knocked, he had the spirit, the presence, and the inner knowing to say yes. Wolfgang is now a master acting teacher, a director, a working artist. And his story reminds us the game can change in an instant. You don't have to suffer to succeed, and your passion is not something to postpone. It's your launchpad. if you are ready to get into the room, to to stop waiting and to start living your creative joy ride. classes begin Monday, June 2nd at 12:00 PM Pacific and Tuesdays, June 3rd at 6:00 PM Pacific. Just DM me on Instagram@RobynCohenActingStudio. Or email me at Robyn@cohenactingstudio.com. Robyn's with a Y. With the early Bird special, you're gonna get a hundred dollars off, and that runs through Wednesday, May 28th at midnight. And if it's your first time auditing, you are invited for free. Now buckle up and enjoy this fantastical ride with the amazing, the inspirational, the magnificent acting teacher Wolfgang Bodison. This is what thriving looks like. Well, hello. Hello, and welcome back to the Daily Joy Ride. I am so. honored to have the amazing Wolfgang Bodison on the show today. We have Wolfgang Bodison on the show today.

Wolfgang B:

Thanks for having me, Robyn. This is awesome. Oh,

Robyn Cohen:

it is. Such a joy and a lo long time coming. Yes. We'll talk all about it in the episode, but, to take it back just for a moment, Many of you listening to this podcast you know about Wolfgang just because he and I both have been at this a while. Yeah. And we ebb and flow in various creative communities. Yeah. But, for those of you who don't know Wolfgang yet, Wolfgang graduated from the University of Virginia, UVA, you know, my. Late brother Adam Cohen

Uhhuh

Robyn Cohen:

actually got his PhD, his doctorate in Shakespeare from UVA. Wow. And this podcast was actually started in his memory. It's called The Daily Joy Ride. Right. Uhhuh. And it's sort of,

it's the

Robyn Cohen:

ups and downs of life itself. Yes, absolutely. and when he passed, before he died, he. It was his wish, uhhuh for me that I figure out a way to be happy in this, this lifetime. And so this podcast is really a love letter to him. Oh, wow. So it's remarkable that you, I love that. Um, the first thing that I'm sharing about you is the raison detre for this entire thing. Yeah. Is my brother who also was at U-V-A-U-V-A.

Mm-hmm.

Robyn Cohen:

Um, and, uh, you were there earning a degree in fine arts.

Yes.

Robyn Cohen:

Wolfgang, you have been seen in A Few Good Men, little Big League, the Expert Freeway, most Wanted Joe, somebody, and American Skin. These are just a few of your ever-growing film credits, along with a long list of TV credits, guest starring roles and recurring roles. As a writer and director, you've produced the short films, Simone Broken, Sarah's Wish, and the Long Wait, all of which have screened at, major film festivals worldwide and have won several awards, including Best Short Film, Simone, The Long Wait Best Screenplay, Broken and Best Director. Woo hoo. That's you for Sarah's Wish and The Long Wait. And many of these I've seen at the Playhouse West Film Festival. Absolutely. And we've all been lucky to be able to see those at that incredible event. Wolfgang, it says in your bio that Wolfgang, you love your job. Yes. Of mentoring young actors as the school director at Playhouse West, where you and I met lo those many absolutely. Decades ago. Playhouse West is actually an acting school and repertory theater. Along with your teaching duties, you also serve as the festival director. The one we were just talking about, the aforesaid, mentioned Playhouse West Film Festival. And you continuously provide opportunities for students to develop their craft by casting them in recurring productions that you direct, such as the Extravaganza One Act Festival. Amazing. Been there. Saw it. Knocked my socks off. I need new socks. Yeah. The Song To Scene show and the Spoon River Movie Mashup. Yes. Recent Play Productions that directed include Tape by Steven Belber. I also directed that show. Yeah. What A Ripper. Proof by David Auburn. Been in that show, MMF by David Kimple, What We're Up Against by Theresa Rebeck. Meteor Shower by Steve Martin. Men in Suits. Fabulous. By Jason Milligan And Standing By h. And of course the show that I just saw

Wolfgang B:

Yes.

Robyn Cohen:

Just a couple nights ago, which blew the roof off what theater is and can be in its depth. Humanity and amazingness, Gruesome Playground Injuries.

Yeah.

Robyn Cohen:

By Rajeev Joseph. What a phenomenal job. So that's a bio that you had sent to me. And that's also ai, by the way, corroborated much of your bio. Oh, okay. Because I looked you up. The robots also talk about you, they Exactly. In very glowing terms. In fact, to be interesting. Would you like to hear a little bit about what the robots say about you? Ai Yes, please. Just a little bit. Sure. Yeah. This is, this is kind of neat'cause it talks about, he's like, yeah, let's hear it. it talks about, some of the ways that you kind of got started in this. Yeah.

Yeah. It

Robyn Cohen:

corroborates that you were born in DC You know, I was born at the Bethesda Naval Hospital. Wow. We're both DMV. Oh, wow. There you go. Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. and as you know, in the show, what the Constitution means to me, I say that my birth costs$14 and 27 cents. Wow. And in fact, yeah, it did.

Yeah.

Robyn Cohen:

My mom told me this recently, and then after she told me that it was$14 and 27 cents, she looks at me and she says. Worth every penny. Okay. So, so the 27 cents. Exactly. so it says that you began your career at Castle Rock Entertainment, ascending from the mail room to become a production assistant, and eventually the personal assistant to Director Rob Reiner on the film Misery Is that true?

Wolfgang B:

Yes, that is absolutely true. So AI got

Robyn Cohen:

that right? Yeah. His foray into acting was serendipitous. Yes. That's what the robots think they say. While serving as a location manager for A Few Good Men, director Rob Reiner recognized your potential and cast you as Lance Corporal Harold W. Dawson, a role that marked your impressive acting debut in A Few Good Men.

Uhhuh.

Robyn Cohen:

Following this Wolfgang appeared in film such as Little Big League, the Expert, and Joe, Somebody, and then it talks about beyond acting, you've directed numerous. Spectacular productions I might add at Playhouse West and continues to mentor emerging actors emphasizing the importance of dedication and continuous learning. I like these robots and that's, I know these robots are very kind and, uh, and they're honest, especially about you. and then I just had to add this because I actually have a, for those of you watching this on YouTube, I have have a physical copy of the program and I just wanna add this last little bit from Wolfgang's, written bio, which is in the program for Gruesome Playgrounds, which I just saw. And which you all must see everything that Wolfgang ever does till the end of time. Thank you. But I just love this. you talk a little bit about your credits that, as a Playhouse West staff member and the school director, you're grateful for the opportunity to work with the many talented students at the school and. When you see Wolfgang Smile, know that he's thinking of his daughter.

Yeah.

Robyn Cohen:

Olivia.

Hey,

Robyn Cohen:

how wonderful is that? Yeah,

thank you. So,

Robyn Cohen:

oh my gosh, Wolfgang, I mean, the whole podcast could just be a bio of you and the, the myriad of things that you've done, that you're doing that is on, your creative docket to do in the near future and beyond. Sure.

Wolfgang B:

I mean, even the start of my career, just, yeah, I'd love to take it back.

Robyn Cohen:

so you're in the DMV area, you're right now a premier teacher and instructor and mentor and director and producer and actor in Hollywood. But it didn't, you didn't start out that way. And, um, for people listening, many of whom mm-hmm. Are like, how do you forge a career in this wackadoodle non Yeah. Non unconventional, non-prescriptive, yes. Career in the arts. And I'd love for you to share, how you got yourself here. Right. If you could go back a little and take us on that ride a bit. Well, you're

Wolfgang B:

absolutely right. I mean, there's no sort of linear path in this business, you know? Yeah. I mean, it's not like you go to law school as undergrad and then you go to a, you know, graduate school, then you get into a firm. Yeah. Or even with the path from medical school. Um, I thought I was going to get into, graphic design and, my goal was to be a, you know, an artist in that way. but then I took. I did a project at UVA where I took pictures of kids playing war, black and white pictures, and edited to the song, Bullet To Blue Sky by U2. And it was really turned out really well. And one of my instructors was like, you know, have you ever thought about film? And I really hadn't. I mean, I had always been writing and stuff and poetry and short stories, and it was so crazy. The, it's like the moment he said that, it was like, I'm going to Hollywood. I'm gonna, I'm, that's what I'm gonna do, you know? What did your

Robyn Cohen:

family, I mean, was your family in the arts or creative at all? No.

Wolfgang B:

No. Fortunately my mom is very supportive.

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah.

Wolfgang B:

Uh, my dad had passed many years ago, but my mom was like, you know, I don't think she also knew much about it, what

that meant. Yeah, exactly. What did it even mean?

Wolfgang B:

Right. If she'd known more, she would've been like, no, you need to go get you a, an accounting degree or something. Right. So, me and a buddy, I had, he had a car called, ice cream, which was a sunbird that had a hole in the gas tank. We drove it up to Boston. We got a you drive it car. It was a service that you drive someone's car across the country. We left his car on the side of the road. We drove that"you drive it" car across the country and they gave you six days to do it. Well, we being silly kids, go, okay, well we're gonna get out there as soon as we can and then use the car to drive around and find, you know, a place to stay and all that kind of stuff. So he drove, I slept, I drove, he slept. We went from Boston to LA in two days.

Robyn Cohen:

Oh my. It was

Wolfgang B:

like, it was like nuts. By the time we got here, we were, so we actually ended up out in Whittier thinking we were in LA Right. And we go like, LA doesn't look all that nice. Right. Where's the

Robyn Cohen:

Hollywood sign?

Wolfgang B:

Yeah, exactly. Where the, I don't see no tall building. What's going on? Uh, so, what I had done though. Preparation for that move. My spring break, before I graduated that summer, I went to the, counselor's office and they had a service where you could find all the alumni who are in Hollywood. So I got that information and I sent a head letter to say, Hey, I'm going to be coming out. I'm gonna come out on my spring break, can I meet with you? That kind of thing. And that's a great resource if anybody is thinking about coming out here, because you know, the alumni always want to help, you know? Yeah,

yeah.

Wolfgang B:

And fortunately, there was some big executives that, were willing to, I, I probably got meetings for people and people like, ha ha, hey, how'd you get in front of the line there? But it was because, you know,'cause of the school affiliation. Yeah. And. through one of those meetings when I came out, I had a job at Columbia Pictures in, in the filing department. Okay. So at least had a job, and we found a place to stay. And I then did that for a while. And again, through another connection from UVA, was over, there was two guys from UVA at the mail room at Castle Rock, and one of the partners is an alum alumnus from UVA. And so I was in touch with them and it was like, Hey, we have this opening happening in the mail room, why don't you come over? Come in. And that company had just started with, like When Harry Met Sally was coming out. And so it was just starting to blow up, uh, The Princess Bride that Rob directed, you know, classics. Yeah, exactly. And, Glenn Padnick they'd all come over from Norman Lear's company, you know. Oh.

Yeah. Legendary. Mm-hmm.

Wolfgang B:

So they were, you know, it was a really company that was starting to really grow. And so I went into the mail room and just worked my way up from there.

Robyn Cohen:

Geez.

Wolfgang B:

You know, just hustling. How long,

Robyn Cohen:

how long were you in the mail room? I was probably, they were like in mail room.

Wolfgang B:

Yeah. About a, a year and a half or so.

Robyn Cohen:

Good for you. Good for you.

Wolfgang B:

Yeah. and then from there, I became a production assistant on a couple of their TV shows.

Yeah.

Wolfgang B:

and then like it says in the bio, got the opportunity Rob Reiner's assistant on Misery which, how

Robyn Cohen:

did that, was that another UVA something or other? No. You were already there.

Wolfgang B:

I was at the company and he needed assistant and fortunately I had been hustling my butt off and really work hard and someone said, Wolf, how about Wolf? And he was like, yeah, let's, let's go with wolf.'cause, you know, and so, because.

Robyn Cohen:

he works hard. He's got a great name. Exactly. He can, and he prob and he, and he's sturdy. He can probably, he like carry a lot

Wolfgang B:

of stuff. Right.

Robyn Cohen:

Which is what production assistants do. Let, let's face it, that's what we do. You know. But

Wolfgang B:

what was great was I was his onset assistant and yes, I, you know, took care of his needs. But I got to stand there and watch. And I had a notebook Wow. Watching him and Barry Sonnenfeld worked with Kathy Bates and Jimmy Caan and I had like six books of notes that, you know, just the different setups, that kind of stuff. Like, wow.'cause at that time I was not interested in acting. I wanted to be a writer and director. Okay. So, whoa, this, this was sort of interesting. An education in directing and writing and stuff. Oh

wow.

Wolfgang B:

So then after that. I, you know, went back to Castle Rock, into the, uh, production of things and then started to work. I was kind of working up the production ladder and then got into location managing. Mm-hmm. Right? Mm. And so just assisted a couple jobs. And then the big coup was I got to be the, the location manager on A Few Good Men. Right. And I hadn't been doing it that long, so it was like, oh, okay, sure.

Robyn Cohen:

And so, okay,

Wolfgang B:

I'm running around trying to find locations to this big a-list movie, and I come back to the company and I bump into Rob in the hallways and we're talking a few location questions, and then he goes out of the blue, he goes, I look, I, I know you wanna write and direct, but have you ever acted before? I was like, no. He goes, look, you know the, you, you've read the script, you know the, uh, Harold Dawson and the thing. I said, yeah, I know the role. He goes, look, I want you to come in and read for that. I was like. Oh, okay. Okay, sure. He says, yeah, my, I have casting, you know, and my assistant get ahold of you set up an appointment, uh, they'll send you the material and we just want, I want you. It's just, I don't know. Trust me, I just want you to come in and read. And so, fortunately, my roommate at the time knew a, uh, wonderful, coach who worked with me on it and prepared me for it. And, I came in and, you know, auditioned. And it's funny, the first, when I first walked in, the casting comes, she goes, uh, do you have, uh, your picture, resume? I was like, I, I, I, I don't have none. Whatcha

talking about? Yeah, whatcha talking about, whatcha talking about whatcha talking about

Wolfgang B:

She kind of got this gr what she, she kind of got this grin like, okay, I see what this is going to be.

Oh, Boise, Idaho. Yeah.

Wolfgang B:

Alright. And so. I came in and I read, and I, you know, I guess, but here's the thing. They kept calling me back. Right. Kept calling me back several rounds

Robyn Cohen:

of auditions. They have several rounds of these things that Yeah, yeah.

Wolfgang B:

I'm in the waiting room with all these other named guys that I'm like, oh I'm not gonna get this job. I mean, this person's here. This person's here. That person's here. You

Robyn Cohen:

recognize them. They were like, oh yeah. People that you were like, oh, I've seen them on tv. I've seen in the movies. Well, I had worked

Wolfgang B:

on another movie with a couple of them, when you were the pa, when you the assistant actually was a picture car coordinator on Boys In The Hood.

Robyn Cohen:

Okay. You know, oh, I believe it. Which, which

Wolfgang B:

is a, which is a whole nother story. Nother story. Whole nother story. That's a whole nother story. And

Robyn Cohen:

episode two, it's gonna be our second follow up. It's Oh, follow up. Oh my gosh. That

Wolfgang B:

was like, uh, and so,

Robyn Cohen:

you're in the waiting room and there are these guys are I, so, and then I go

Wolfgang B:

in and I do the audition, the final audition. And I remember Rob stood up. He goes, well. I have a big decision to make, and I'm thinking, yeah, okay, I'm sure those guys are really good. I, every time I left the room or audition, I was like, I, I gotta find these locations, right? So I'd go off and I'm like, you're like, see? I'm like, see ya. I got, I got, I gotta do this other thing. And I remember being out in, uh, west Hollywood and I get a call, a page, this is back in the day with the pagers. I got a page from his, uh, from the company and I call in and I remember, I know. There was like a hospital building and there's no payphone there anymore, but I got on the payphone and, they connected me to his office and the assistant said, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. She was like, giggling. She goes, Hey, just gimme a second. And so she puts me on the phone with him and she says, uh, uh, Rob gets on the phone and he goes, welcome to the movie business. I'm gonna offer you this job in A Few Good Men. And, you know, it was one of those to this day, oh my, I still don't think I, it, it really happened. Well, it, it hasn't landed on me like it really should. You know, it was like, okay. In fact, I went to the office of the head of production, Jeff Scott, and I was like, Hey Jeff, do you think I can do the role? First of, I go, you know, Rob offered me the role field, but he goes, I know, congratulations. I said, do you think I can still do the location managing job and do the movie thing? Oh, he was like, he was like, Wolf, I think you should focus on the, on the acting job. Oh my God. And so I did, and I continued to work with the coach, Julie Ariola is her name. And um, and I remember the table reading and I'm sitting there, I come early'cause like, you know, I'm 30 minutes early, I'm gonna be late. And in comes, you know, uh, uh, uh, Kevin Bacon, uh, Demi Moore, Kevin Pollock, uh, Keifer Sutherland. And then you hear a Russell, a little boy, and then comes Tom Cruise. And then you hear more, Russell then walks Jack Nicholson. I'm like, oh, what am I doing here? What, what is, what is happening? And we start, as you know, so one of those situations in a big studio is a big tables all the way up, you know, big circle of tables. And everybody starts reading and they're like, fantastic, right? And I'm like, oh my God. And I got my finger on my pages where my scenes are right. Oh, be right. I'm just ready to. I'm like, okay, I got five pages left. All three pages away, two babies.

Robyn Cohen:

Oh my God.

Wolfgang B:

And my, the first lines outta my right. I'm sweating listening

Robyn Cohen:

to this. No, listen, even just listening to this, I'm sweating right now. Hey, there

Wolfgang B:

was a drop of water that hit my page and I was like, it must be a leak. And I was like, no, there's sweat coming off my head. I'm like, and the first words outta my mouth were like, blah. Like

Shakespeare, Kingsley. Exactly right.

Wolfgang B:

And everybody was like, oh, okay. But here's the amazing thing. Everybody in that cast, and especially Tom Cruise, was so supportive. They knew the story and they could have taken the position of like, who's this guy? You know? But they really, took me under their wing and were really supportive. And I remember Tom Cruise said, Hey, if you ever wanna run lines, you ever wanna, you know, work on anything, let me know. Well carve out some time. I'm here for you. And it was one of those man. You know, this is a guy, even then, he was a-list person. Uh, but he's smart. He knows, hey, the every link in the chain needs to be strong. Oh, yeah. You know, so you can't have one weak link in the thing. So he made sure that he was supportive, anything supportive and present and, and offer this time to help me prepare. Um, and then we shot it. And, you know, it was just such a, it was one of those things of I had nothing to lose. I had no kind of, so to me it was like doing the work as pure as I've probably had. you know, as pure as I could be. And it, the movie turned out really well. Ha. And then the journey began because now I decided, hey, I wanna do this acting.

Robyn Cohen:

Whoa.

Wolfgang B:

But then here's the, here's the rub. Once the movie came out, there were a lot of expectations of, oh. This guy can do this thing. But the truth is, I didn't really have the training. I had maybe seven months to go to class to kind of get ready for this crazy, you know, shot out of the Canon business.

Robyn Cohen:

But this is your first professional Yes. Acting job. Yes. With Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson, A Few Good Men. Robert. Like this is your first pro Yes. Acting job. Numero uno.

Wolfgang B:

Yes. Yes.

Robyn Cohen:

So people were like, but they're, they don't know. They're thinking like, no. Oh, he's the guy. He's the guy. Well, which you are.

Wolfgang B:

Which you are. But they, but they knew the story also. And it was one of those Hollywood stories. But, you know, look, there was a whole spectrum of how people embraced it. Some people were very supportive. Some people, you know, look, it's, you know, I kind of jumped the line a little bit. Okay. And so there was some that did not appreciate that. I totally understand it, you know, but for myself going into this room with some of these directors, that quite honestly, yeah, I jumped the line. It's like, well, I'm in a room with this director and that director. And sometimes I came through, sometimes it was, I was overwhelmed and it was too much for me. And I say to people at this point, it's like, look, it was a great problem to have, but I don't, I don't suggest you start there. You know, there's something to developing your craft, developing your confidence. I spent way too much time coming into the room trying to prove to them I could act not coming into the room of this is what I'm going to do with the role. You know? Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And so it just took the, you know, the years of, the work that I've done, auditions. To eventually kind of get to that place. but it was a, it was a long, wacky ride.

Robyn Cohen:

You know, I'm so, first of all, this is just like the most delicious story, right? It is kind of, it's kind of unimaginable and I'm moved by it and there's a couple things that are just standing out right now. One, just because it's most recently you were saying, you know, this idea of that maybe you jumped the line. I would assert Wolf that. Yes. You know, maybe it wasn't the logical everyday order of things. Sure. But you were also the guy that had six to 10 notebooks of notes that was doing a kind of due diligence, whether that was

right

Robyn Cohen:

in the mail room, whether that was scouting the location, whether that was assisting somebody being the assist. You know, in soccer world sports, the assist is the, is the true MVP. Right?

True. Exactly. Whether

Robyn Cohen:

that was you at UVA, uh, doing what you were doing to, develop yourself in that craft at the time was graphic design, which by the way, now it's all coming together for me because Wolfgang always has the greatest posters and pictures and graphic designs for his plays and everything else. But even before that, what you had to do to even go to an institution like UVA, I mean, so I just, I offer that to say wherever you go. There you are. Right? and your, your due diligence, even though it might not have been a direct line.

Wolfgang B:

Yes.

Robyn Cohen:

That's all part of who you show up as.

Wolfgang B:

Yes.

Robyn Cohen:

which is this, which is just great. And someone that does their homework means business about their work, whether it's in the mail room or scouting or acting in a film. And that is a vibe for people. And a lot of people don't necessarily have that going on for them. And they're usually the ones that are like, oh my God, you jumped the line. Not fair. But at the same time, and I, you know, some of those people are definitely at home eating Cheetos, just kind of like judging everybody else. You know what I mean? So I just, I just wanted to reflect that back to you.

Wolfgang B:

It's funny you say that. Thank you very much. the, actually, the. The big, biggest thing about this was, Rob Reiner, who, you know, saw that in me in being his assistant in the whole thing. Yeah. And him having the courage, he took a big risk

Yeah.

Wolfgang B:

To put someone who's never acted in before into a movie. As big as that. As

Robyn Cohen:

big as that.

Wolfgang B:

And

Robyn Cohen:

it was the biggest movie of the day. Yeah, it was, it was. But he said,

Wolfgang B:

and he's talked about it, he says, but the role was in him and he had the confidence in his directing to go, and I can pull it out of him, you know? Yes, yes. And so not every director. would take that chance, you know? Yes, yes. And I'm so grateful that he did such a thing. Yes. And then he's even said after the fact, I don't know if I made his life or ruined his life, because it's to be determined.

Robyn Cohen:

to be, well, look,

Wolfgang B:

I was headed in a direction and he literally, I, from that experience went this way. Yeah. And who I, where I might be in terms of the production ladder and the whole thing, maybe a VP of something I. And, but really set me more on that creative path, which like, you know, is no guarantee. A lot of up and downs. Yeah. but I, you know, look, I'm so happy in the creative world that I live in right now.

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah.

Wolfgang B:

You know, I, I feel

Robyn Cohen:

that coming off of you like shooting stars and in the work that you do and produce Yeah. Like, there's so much love that's poured into it. It's something that we all feel anytime we, well, whether it's me who've acted across from you. Yes. Or I'm watching one of your shows like you love Your Creations into life. Like you love them from your imagination into the physical world in the manifestation of a scene or something you're acting in or a play you're directing. It's so obvious, and I'm sure it was obvious to everyone that you were working with and Tom Cruise who was like, let's work together if you need anything. And Rob, you know, that, and those energetics are felt. They just are, you know, it's like, uh, you know, when someone walks into a room, the vibe you don't have, it's behavior. It's what we study, right. As scientists of the heart and mind as acting teachers and actors. It's like they don't have to say anything. Right. And, it's really a t testament to

Wolfgang B:

you, but it's been a long road of getting absolutely like, you know, with this, this business crazy business. We've chosen a lot of ups and downs and moments when I. Have thought, why did I go this way? You know,

Robyn Cohen:

a thousand percent. Thousand percent. There's probably

Wolfgang B:

being a much more stable job right now.

Robyn Cohen:

Listen, I and I get it. Well, like literally last May, I had come out of this, conference. It was actually for, women in business, women entrepreneurs, Uhhuh. There weren't necessarily a lot of creatives there. There were.'cause I think everyone is creative. Sure. Oh, absolutely. I think everyone is creative. Accountants are

Wolfgang B:

creative.

Robyn Cohen:

Exactly. Exactly. Everybody is creative. Yeah. Everybody is creative. Yeah. And so I walked out of this conference last May and, just to give you a little background, like I was, at the time I was working for four different professional theater companies doing Shakespeare with one, I was doing What The Constitution Means To Me I was doing something at a theater called A Noise Within in Pasadena. I was doing and that like I love that. It's a great theater. So I had like literally five different full length plays in my mind. Wow. It was sort of a repertory type of situation. I was also working on Tartuffe in repertory in Topanga. So I had these five plays and I would go through them all the time. Every day I'm just going through one or another in rotation so that I know what lines to say when I get on stage.'cause what the heck?

Wow.

Robyn Cohen:

and I walk outta this conference and my partner, like who I, she was basically I was sitting next to her during the conference and we would share and talk about it. Right,

right. I

Robyn Cohen:

said to her and it just occurred to me and this sort of winds back to what you were saying about like being an actor, but I said to her. In the midst of all this creativity and doing all these shows. And I was like, I was like, you know what? I don't think I'm an actor. Well, I was like, I was like, I don't think I'm an actor. And she's like, what are you saying? What are you

Wolfgang B:

talking about? You just told me about all this. You're acting more than anybody's acting, because

Robyn Cohen:

she's like, what are you talking about? Yeah. And I said, you know, and this reminds me of you. I said like, I am a human being that really loves to act. And I'm a woman that really loves teaching.

Mm-hmm.

Robyn Cohen:

And I'm a woman that really loves connecting creatives and projects and like,

yeah, yeah.

Robyn Cohen:

I'm a human being that loves to do all these things. And there was something about saying that I was an actor, which I felt was more narrow to my, I,

I hear you purpose,

Robyn Cohen:

and I know you do, because you, as a multihyphenate doing so many things all the time in these various areas. It's like we're human beings.

Wolfgang B:

Wow.

Robyn Cohen:

I think, you know, and well create

Wolfgang B:

creative beings.

Robyn Cohen:

Creative, creative human beings. and so, yes. You know, if you had started, if you had kept on without this movie, and were going toward the writing and directing and, you know, VP of a studio, which

right.

Robyn Cohen:

I don't know that you wouldn't be sitting on Magnolia Boulevard right now doing this podcast. I don't know that even if you had not done A Few Good Men, that you wouldn't be sitting where you're sitting right now, just because your love and your heart is so big and your imagination so wide that there almost needs to be a container for you in all of these areas and environments and facets.

Wolfgang B:

Sure, sure.

Robyn Cohen:

so it's interesting like that, the sliding doors thing, like if I had done it this way

Wolfgang B:

Yeah.

Robyn Cohen:

But when I look at you and experience you, I'm like, he would've done everything anyway.

Wolfgang B:

Well, when I say, you know, there was those times of doubt.

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah.

Wolfgang B:

You would've heard me a week ago talking to somebody going, I have the best job in the world, you know? Yeah. Yeah. I get to work with actors, I get to create these wonderful productions. Yeah. I get to, you know. Make the flyers work with the music. I'm like constantly being creative every single day in some fashion or another. Yeah. And I'm my own boss. Yeah. I mean, you know, I work at Playhouse with Mr. Carnegie, who's been fantastic in Yeah. Helping to mentor me and allow, and more importantly, allowing me to, Hey, that should take the res, that's your playground. Go ahead and play. You know? I love that. Uh, yeah. And so has given me that permission on top of the training that he's given me. to, you know, kind of have that every day, waking up, you know, what am I, what's, you know, what part of this thing am I working on today? Yeah. And never being bored. Never being feeling stagnant. Yeah. you know, right now we just closed that play and at the end of May we're gonna be putting up with by two advanced class that extravaganza one-act fest.

Yeah.

Wolfgang B:

Which is, I just. Counted the one acts, it's 21 acts.

Robyn Cohen:

Holy. Right. And some of'em are self, are written by the students. No,

Wolfgang B:

nine 90% of them are Wow.

Robyn Cohen:

So cool. Written by, by the students. Amazing. So what an opportunity. We did a

Wolfgang B:

whole month of workshop, them coming in, reading it, exchanging notes, they're going back, they went away, came back. And so that whole development, and it's still developing. and I even thought they don't know this yet, but I'm going to have them now. Also the veterans.

Yeah.

Wolfgang B:

Direct them as direct, not theirs, but other people's, you know? Yes. So,'cause it's just, we learn so much from, as an actor, I've learned more towards my acting by writing, by directing and teaching, you know? Yes. Hundred

Robyn Cohen:

percent.

Wolfgang B:

the last Extravaganza Fest was the first time I had them write, and I was just blown away.

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah.

Wolfgang B:

It was remarkable about their creativity. And it was like, so, you know, you always have that little bit of fear of like, yeah, I don't know what I'm going to get, you know? Yeah. Yeah. But they really, you know, not surprised me, but, really just kind of blew me away with their creativity. Yeah. And so now I'm like, Hey, well let's, let's give them the reins and Yeah. You know, there's a, there's a system that I work with called Ebb and Flow that they, you know, I want them to now start to build it, you know? Okay. And, and so is it an

Robyn Cohen:

actual system? Can you say more about that? Like, it is a way that you teach, it's called

Wolfgang B:

Ebb and Flow. Yes. Ebb and Flow. It's taking a scene or a one act, whatever it might be, and breaking it up into sections. Right? And each section, it's predicated on the idea that if it's my section, I'm making a point to you that you don't want to hear. And then the section switches to you where you then make a point to me that I don't want to hear. And at the end of each section, like in Spoon River work, there's a punchline or point that is being made. And it's crazy. If you look in the text, you can think of as attacking and retreating. Yeah. It's in the words, you know, it's how we argue. We a argue in sort of this ebb and flow sort of, you know? Yes. And writers write that way, whether consciously or not. Yes. And so I break it down that way so that we can utilize that in the movement of the play. You know, as like you saw in"Gruesome" it never was kind of just standing there talking. There was always kind of this way I, or that way, how physical it was.'cause if it ain't

Robyn Cohen:

physical, it ain't really happening. Right. It,

Wolfgang B:

it's, the conflict is in the words, but we also have to put it in the physical movement of things.

Yeah, yeah. You know?

Wolfgang B:

Yeah. And you know, hey, you've got your back to, you know, your shoulder to me and I'm trying to talk to you and you know, now I'm trying to get your attention or to make a point to you. Yeah. And from that we can do so much, Physical kind of, engagement that keeps, that, tells the story that Exactly. And it keeps the audience engaged. Yeah. A hundred percent. You know, if there's that movement happening, they can't look away. Right. You know Right. They don't wanna look away. So

Robyn Cohen:

yeah.

Wolfgang B:

What's been great is in teaching that when I will give, you know, the guys credit for, in"Gruesome", I'd say 80% of what you saw is what they built on their own from the work that we had been doing together. Good for them. And then, and then I kind of, came up with some other things, scenes they had trouble with. And so from that I'm like, okay, well let's have another student direct them and, develop that ebb and flow and, I think it's gonna be really such an enriching. Experience for these guys, you know? Yeah. Because it's, yeah. They came to an acting school and then they worked on their writing. Right. Now they work on their directing, you know, so. Right.

Robyn Cohen:

it's this place where people can meet their talent.

Wolfgang B:

Absolutely. Ooh, I like that. I

Robyn Cohen:

like that I have it on my website because I think that's,

Wolfgang B:

yeah.

Robyn Cohen:

I think there's a point when you come into contact with certain teachers such as yourself, who have so much to offer and that know how to pull it outta people. Yeah. Right. Because as you said, ev they've all, everyone has everything in them. It's already in

them.

Robyn Cohen:

Right. The good teachers, yeah. Pull it out and hold the mirror up and let actors know what they can do in the hands of good writers.

Yeah.

Robyn Cohen:

And, What a marvelous way to introduce themselves literally to these other talents that unless they had been given the opportunity to direct these one acts and write these shows. Write these one acts. Yeah. Act together and work out all the physical and everything else. They might not know they even had it in them. Yes. Yes. So that, that is remarkable. And I think it also, going off into a slightly, but I think it sort of speaks to what it is to be a creative today, which is It's different than it was being an an actor. You know? I think it's why recently I was like, I don't know if I'm an I'm, I am a lot of things. Right. We have

Wolfgang B:

to be so many things. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. and

Robyn Cohen:

I think we want to be, yeah. So many things. And sometimes it takes someone letting us know that it's possible. giving them,

Wolfgang B:

giving them the opportunity. The opportunity like you were given to work with

Robyn Cohen:

Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise and everybody else. Right, right,

Wolfgang B:

right.

Robyn Cohen:

it's, it's remarkable. and I loved what you shared too. Yeah. There, there's

Wolfgang B:

one, there was in this recent extravaganza. Yeah. There's a student who is a good actor. He's very sort of shy and reserved. And I remember it was like two weeks ago, he came up and he, he was reading a story and I'm like. I told, I said, this is fantastic. You know, I had no idea his story. Yeah. he had written letter and you know, there was development to be done, but I was like. you know, I, listening to her, I'm, I'm thinking, man, I had no idea this was in you. You know? And I don't think he knew it was in him. I don't know. So it's such the, the moments like that, you know? Yeah. That you really go, wow. You know, I'm glad, I hope this is a beginning for him in some way. Yeah. You know, of a new discovery in his talents Yes. That he can build on, you know?

Robyn Cohen:

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Who knows how far he might go with this.

Wolfgang B:

Yeah. You know, probably, maybe he is not gonna be an actor, become a great writer, or maybe a great director, you know? Yes. that's how this business works. Yes. We tend to all start as actors and end up in so many other fields of creativity.

Robyn Cohen:

Yes. You know. Yes. Why do you love being a creative? What is it about this that has had you dedicate your life and spirit and efforts to this field of arts and crafts? What keeps you, what keeps your creative, what keeps you on fire about this?'cause your work is so immediate and igniting. Yeah. And we've been doing this a long time. We will at some point talk about this for this scene that we did where you played my priest and I had to go to confession. You guys, you guys. No, I had to go. I was a priest.

Wolfgang B:

We were lovers too. That was no conflict. Yeah. It's a problem. Listen, if there's no, if

Robyn Cohen:

there's no problem, there's no play. No, exactly. But this is a kind of a whack and doodle. Yeah. And I'm going to confession. Yeah. But what I'm trying to confess to you, and we put ourselves in the little, this little area that looks like a confessional. Yeah. And I'm trying to confess that I love you and you're my priest anyway. Oh my God. Robert Carnegie, our teacher and a mentor, thought we did very well.

Wolfgang B:

Yes, yes. You shoulda put that up on a run, you know, may listen, it's never too late. There you go. Although I am gonna,

Robyn Cohen:

we are taking suggestions. Anyone listening out there, email me. Let me know what you think Wolf and I should work on together next.

Next. Oh my gosh,

Robyn Cohen:

I would love that. But what keeps you so integrated alive, bursting with this kind of creativity and igniting the next generation? in a world that has gone mad, how, what is keeping you so alive and vibrant and contributing in this world?

Wolfgang B:

I, I think I have M mo in terms of. Each project I do, I wanna raise the bar from the last project.

Ooh, that's great, whether

Wolfgang B:

each like you, the, the Spoon River show, the evolution of it over the years, you know, to where it is now and where it's going to be the next time we do it. And with each play, and I hear folks, and I love to hear people go, gosh, I, you know, you've done it again. I don't know how you can raise the bar to the next thing you know, in the theater here, we have the, incandescent lights in the park hands, which was great for years.

Yeah.

Wolfgang B:

And then I was like, it was very limiting. And then it was like, well, I started with some spotlights for the Spoon River Show, and then I happened to get an LED, and then I'm like, I got three LEDs. Then I got six LEDs, then I got 12 LEDs. And then I'm getting the program to that. And so there's these constant learning curves that kind of keep me engaged and keep me excited of like, you know, okay, oh, now I've got, you know, you saw the screen with the video. And so now, you know, I'm starting to venture into that, to kind of, you know, I wanna build like A-A-L-E-D wall with like four or five screens in the back Wow. To kind of help, you know, augment, because I go to the Pantages and you go to the, the Ahmanson and you're watching, I'm watching shows and I'm, sometimes I'm kind of in tears. I'm watching at the, at the Pantages, like Hamilton, and I'm like. Oh man, I wish I could do that. You know? Yeah. I'm like, uh, look at that. It's just I so envy the directors who have all of this at their disposal.

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah. And know that they've gone to school. There's now a major in projections. Just in projections Oh, wow. At, uh, Yale School of Drama, Oh, wow. What you're doing at Playhouse West is still like aiming for, you're going for gold. You're just going for gold with it.

Wolfgang B:

Well, it's funny because you saw the merry-go-round. We have Right. that was in the play. Yes. And for years I wanted, I've wanted to have that sort of turnstile on the stage. Yeah. And it was like, I've looked up on YouTube how to do it, and now I'm like, oh, so now I just need to build the stage around this thing. And you have the

Robyn Cohen:

turntable and have

Wolfgang B:

Exactly, exactly in the stage. I'm gonna make it happen. I'm gonna make it. You already already did. It's

Robyn Cohen:

hap It's happening. It's happening. It's, this is moving. But I love that. I love that it's like about the evolution. Like you keep iterating. And I think that's where we get stuck as creatives. Like it has to be perfect. No, we're gonna iterate. Like if we're going with the float, we're gonna keep expanding. Let's keep, keep expanding, exploring, keep better and more. And you know, just, and we had a

Wolfgang B:

great conversation after the play about being safe. You know, a lot of times, artists, you know, it is like, I want to be safe because I'm afraid of what criticisms I might get. And, you know, uh, fortunately. it's something that, yes, I want people to love it.

Yeah. But

Wolfgang B:

as I tell to the students, you're not gonna please everybody. That's right.

Robyn Cohen:

You're not, you know, there's no way. And we don't want to, we're not trying to please everybody. Exactly. Well, let me ask you this, because I know a lot of actors that deal with this. What do you tell your students and how do you deal with the criticism? Because, you know, as actors, we're supposed to be skin of a rhinoceros, but we've got the hearts of butterflies, right? Like Stella Adler said, the heart of a rose, the skin of a rhinoceros. Right. So how do you deal with, you know, like what are you telling them and how do you get through when there is a quote, unquote, lot of rejection?

Wolfgang B:

Yes.

Robyn Cohen:

How do you keep going with this kind of fervor and passion?

Wolfgang B:

It's in their training.

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah. Okay.

Wolfgang B:

They have to train to, and I, I tell them, I'm trying to get you to the point where you are defensive. Proof or as I say to them, F you, F you. I'm good at this stuff. Okay. And so if you believe that any criticism you get is not an indictment on your craft.

Mm.

Wolfgang B:

Okay. Mm-hmm. Or any adjustments you get, because a lot of times we might get in the room or be on the stage, you know, on the set. And we've, you know, we are doing our work and we get adjustments sometimes if we're, we get, we can tend to get defensive at times. Oh yeah. It hurts. It hurts because, because we think that's an indictment on our work. Yes. When all it is, is someone else having a different point of view about something. Yes. And the reason they have you there is because you are good at this stuff. Yes. So, yes. So to then not let that criticism or adjustment or note that, is maybe not what you thought of to be in that place of, okay, hey, I'm a craftsman that is so confident in my work. Let's, let's go. Wow. Let's do this. You know? I love that. And, but that comes through the training that we have to do, and hopefully through the years of work we do, you know, and wherever it comes, you know, somebody who works on a series for eight years develops that confidence. You know what I'm saying? and, you know, we hope to all, have that opportunity. Yeah. But for the students here, it's in the work that I, you know, I always try to challenge them. Yeah. You know, to, you know, we make a show date. we're trying to figure out which weekends at the end of May to put up this thing. Great. And we're, that's where we're gonna do it. There's no like, Hey, we will do it when we're ready. Yeah. Yeah. And so now there's a whole journey of excitement and doubt and fear. Yeah. And, you know, yeah. And people wanting to drop out and it's like, no, you're not dropping out.

Robyn Cohen:

It's go time.

Wolfgang B:

It's go time. Go time.

Robyn Cohen:

And we're never ready and we gotta go anyway. I love that. You gotta go this, this idea of like, you get so good you're unmissable with

Wolfgang B:

Exactly. Ineffable

Robyn Cohen:

with Right. Eff.

Wolfgang B:

Exactly.

Robyn Cohen:

And, also. Falling in love with that excitement. Like you just said, people are ready to like go outta their minds. I'm dropping out. It's too soon. I'm not ready. Yeah, yeah. But actually reframing that like no, it's go like this is the fun part. Yes. This is the high flying trapeze part that attracted you

Right. To

Robyn Cohen:

this whole game in the first place. and I love what you shared about like when you do drill down and you do go for it, like Hercules with creative joy in your classes, you know, show after show, just putting it out there. Try, try again. Getting back on your feet. Mm-hmm. Even when they wanted a different way, you know, you stop outsourcing approval. Mm-hmm. I don't need you to agree with me. Yeah. Right. We can have a conversation because I already have approved of myself. I. I've approved of myself. You may not like my take and we can talk about it and get into the trenches and work it through. I was on set in Hungary very recently, Uhhuh. Congratulations

Wolfgang B:

again.

Robyn Cohen:

Oh, thanks. Yeah. It's airing tonight. CBS, well this, this is gonna come out way after the fact, but for those of you who have streaming, it's called,"They May Get Their Wish". That's the title. It's FBI International and I was on set. And their sparks, creative Sparks. Yeah, were flying. Wow. Right in front of my face about what I was doing and my scene

Uhhuh,

Robyn Cohen:

and I'll tell you Wolf, there is something about, I mean we've been doing this for decades, since the dawn of time, and there is something about like. all of that yelling and screaming was creative, passion and excitement, and we all actually want the same thing. Sure. They wanted, this was the cr, the director and the lead of the show, and they're yelling about this scene and I'm, I'm of two feet in front of'em. I'm just like listening. I'm like, okay, Uhhuh. Yes, yes. They're working it out. But some part of me was like, yeah, because what's the alternative? Apathy. I don't care. No, I sure. I get that when people, everybody's passionate people are coming at you seemingly. Yeah. What's behind all that is a commitment that I share with you. Fellow creative. A hundred percent. Like we actually want this to be awesome. All of us here yelling and screaming. Right?

Yeah, exactly.

Robyn Cohen:

Actually want the exact same thing. And I know you've, you generate environments like that where people can explore their creative passions and have this safe space and you talk about it and Yeah. It's just such a wonderful, and in some ways rare in a town that's known for at times having big dips in integrity and workability, right? Sure. So it's like, wow, that, um. So you can't ever stop or ever retire and you're gonna ha you have a thousand more plays to do ahead of you. as I

Wolfgang B:

say, I'm going to be teaching their children. Oh my god.

Robyn Cohen:

Maybe even their grandchildren. Oh no. My goodness. Maybe. Well, you know, Carnegie's teaching the grandkids now. I think he has a couple of the He has a, yeah, I think I heard her. A grand nephew or something. Okay.

Wolfgang B:

Sure, sure.

Robyn Cohen:

Something that had us feel all had a grand in Exactly. Ancient ancients. and I'm curious too, um, I still have a couple questions, so when I went to see her show

mm-hmm.

Robyn Cohen:

This past weekend, yes. Like, um, I'm gonna cry just thinking about,

I'm crying.

Robyn Cohen:

It was, um. You know, as I said to you and I spoke to the actors after the show, it was really, it was so special, and unique in the depth of humanity and the vulnerability. And I could see so clearly I was in the front row and I could just feel how the strength of that show was in their vulnerability.

Wolfgang B:

Yeah. Yeah. They were so good and,

Robyn Cohen:

so good. And the way you directed it and the way you let the set and their movement, tell the story mm-hmm. Additionally. Mm-hmm.

In

Robyn Cohen:

addition to the words and the way they were acting the words. But the whole thing was, it was extraordinary in the quality. Thank you. and so unique in the willingness for every person involved, whether they were on stage or not, to just go to the mat. Everyone just went to the mat literally for this play. So I've had some experiences like that, Yeah. In my life where you see something, you watch a movie, you see a play, and you're just like, not even the same afterward or you read a book. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And I'm curious with you,'cause literally last Saturday, like I will never forget. What you did. Yeah. Or that, thank you. It's, it's sort of emblazoned, it's been imprinted Yes. in my heart and I'll never forget it. And I'm curious, what work of art or works of art have had the deepest impact on you?

Wolfgang B:

Uh, that's interesting. The, I, I guess people goes like, what's your favorite movie? And I don't know why this is, but the movie Apocalypse Now. Okay. By Francis Ford Coppola. Okay. Or from the first day I saw it and through my days in high, uh, college and afterwards, and. Watching the documentary of the making of it and then watching the redo of it, you know, with the additional footage.

Yeah.

Wolfgang B:

And it was something, and then reading the short, the short story of it, the man's journey within himself. There's just something about that. My imagination always tends to kind of go back to that thing. You know, again, I, I don't know why I can probably get psychological about some of the wounds I have and how that kind of applies to the whole thing. but that movie I think has had an impact on me, in ways that I don't even know. Wow. You know what I mean? Mm-hmm. That, finds its way into my, into the work that I do. So, you know, even just the making of the movie was such an ordeal.

Yes. You know? Yes, yes. And it

Wolfgang B:

was, and it was something I love about Francis Ford Coppola's process in making that he was just totally, you know, writing it and, and in the process of doing it. And it's what I like about, Trent Resnor in Nine Inch Nails, the musician. And I love, I love his music and he's always. Tinkering with his songs.

Hmm.

Wolfgang B:

You know, he has the album he puts out, but then he puts out an EP that has these songs that he's remastered them and reconfigured them and reimagined them, and then who do another one? You know, and it's just like these guys who are always in the laboratory in a way. Yeah. Who are always these mad scientists that are just, and it's kind of something actually the actors will laugh. They'll go, just for the last weekend I was like, okay, I want to change the ending. And they're like, oh my God, we're closing. We're closing, we're the show. Right. and even the curtain call music and they're like. it was Marilyn Bass and Grant Tarzackis were the actress who were fantastic and phenomenal. Yes. And Grant was like, when did, when do you stop thinking about this thing? You know? And it's like, I, I can never, even if I'm not. It's going, it's like that program that's still going on in the back percolating.

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah. Yeah, yeah,

Wolfgang B:

it's going on in, and that's what I kind of, with Coppola in that movie. and what I saw in the documentary of this, just, he was like, on this, this old typewriter in the middle of the movie, just working on this script. And, you know, Trent Reznor always, in the shop at the studio, just working on the sounds of the songs that are done, songs that are like won awards. He's like, uh, I, I, I hear it differently Like this, you know? Yeah. Sort of thing.

Robyn Cohen:

The so it never stops.

Wolfgang B:

Never stops

Robyn Cohen:

because the imagination never stops. God willing.

Wolfgang B:

Yeah. It's infinite. And it's waking me up at four in the morning. I'm like, huh? My girl's like, oh my God. Just get out bed and go downstairs. You're gonna keep me up.

Robyn Cohen:

You're like, sorry, my creative. I'm sorry. The creative gods doesn't, they won't us all up.

Doesn't. Right.

Robyn Cohen:

and they won't let us go back to sleep. Go back to sleep. So, get that. I so get that. so, oh my gosh. We, we are gonna have to have a follow up episode to this. Oh, please. I love this. Thank you. but I gotta ask what do you want, like, at the bottom of it all, what do you want your students to get? What is it at the foundational level, like the must have where you're gonna go full tilt boogie with your students? What do they have to get to experience and explode what they can do? What do you tell'em To unlock it

Wolfgang B:

first? Well, okay, that's just two parts.

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah.

Wolfgang B:

I, I try to teach them in a way that they don't need me later on. Ooh. You know? And it's like, yeah, you have the tools. Great. I'm always here if you want, you know, want to reach out and we can, creatively go over something that you're struggling with. But, a lot of times you hear of, you know, people who are being taught that they need this other person to help them get there. Yeah. And it's like, look, I don't want you, don't, I, I'm trying to teach you so you don't have, you don't call me later on. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You gotta graduate. You're self

sufficient, you gotta graduate. You're

Wolfgang B:

sufficient. You have the tools you need. Yeah. And you can do the work. Yes. And the, the second part is, and we talked about this, the other day, is listening to your instincts. You know? Yeah. if there's anything I can. Impart on them. And I talked to this in the beginners and all levels, is that voice in our head? Yeah. It's always right. And we have to listen and follow. And if you do, and if you do that, you'll, like you said, your work will be, and we talked earlier where I have the luckiest job because this is my laboratory. I hear things and I do things that are like, anybody else? We gonna, no, no, you can't. You know, no, you can't do that. But I'm like, here, I just do it. And so I'm so lucky in that way to have experienced that and to now try to share with them, look, your ideas are never wrong. but they're like, yeah, but. I had an idea and this wasn't used when that, you know,'cause this per director didn't want to use it. I was like, well, okay, that doesn't mean it was wrong. It means there was someone else who was, an arbiter of that moment that could say, no, we don't want to use that. Sometimes it is ahead of its time. That that idea, sometimes it's an idea that will take you to the next thought. Right. Once closer, that will take you to the next thought that will take you to the thing that is the thing,

you know? Yeah. Yeah. And

Wolfgang B:

so it's our, our instincts are never wrong in our, you know, even actors when they're on the stage. Right. And I'll be directing them and we'll go through the thing and at the end I'll go, okay, but on this line here, I want you to get up and ebb away here. And they're like, I knew it. I felt that. I said, well then you should have listened. You know, because it was telling you that voice is telling us, it's speaking to us. It's been speaking to us our whole lives. Hmm.

And

Wolfgang B:

the problem is society. And it's gaslighting and it's control, and it's, you know, we no longer, you know, we doubt it and we judge it. Mm-hmm. And even still, it speaks to us. It's like you leave the house and you see a brush on the table and you go, I should grab that brush. The voice says, and you're like, I don't, I'm not gonna need that. Two hours later you're like, ah. I need that brush. That's so true. And'cause it, it's, you know, call it the higher self, call it the, you know, collective unconscious. I don't know, it's, you know, colleague, God, whatever you wanna call it. I call it our, everyone has a creative genius in them. Yeah. That is always speaking to us. Yeah. That we have to just learn to listen and follow unconditionally.

Wow. You

Wolfgang B:

know? Wow.

Wow.

Wolfgang B:

And then the moment we start doing that is when our work will, like you said, explode to

Robyn Cohen:

take off. Take off, yeah. Starts to soar. Yeah.

Wolfgang B:

Yeah.

Robyn Cohen:

Uh, I love that.

Wolfgang B:

I mean, you hear writers talk about it where they're like, you know, I spent years trying to write had this idea, but I didn't think, I wasn't listening to it. And I tried to write what the studios wanted.

Yeah.

Wolfgang B:

And then they kept getting rejected and then I just listened to that voice and I wrote this thing and next thing you know, it's an Academy Award-winning project,

you know? Yeah,

Wolfgang B:

so that's, that's that thing on another level. And I tell the students it's, it's like, I know I sound crazy'cause I can't hold it. I can't show it to you. I can only tell you from my experience and my passion about it, and I know I sound like a nutty kind of person, but you just gotta trust me that through my experiences, I've, it's what I have. People go, man, you have such great ideas. And I go, no, I don't. I have the same great ideas you have. I'm, I have just gotten better at listening and following, you know, making myself

Robyn Cohen:

available.

Wolfgang B:

Exactly. You know, to go with it. And we all have it. and I try to really attune the students to this by sharing my own experiences and, constantly harping on it. Please just listen and follow your instincts, you know? Yeah. Um, that creative voice. So, which is

Robyn Cohen:

scary because to do that you have to take your hands off the levers of control.

Yes.

Robyn Cohen:

It's not even about giving up control. It's about giving up the illusion that there is any

Wolfgang B:

control. Yes. Very good. Absolutely. And that takes time

Robyn Cohen:

and trust and practice and repetition.

Wolfgang B:

Yes. Yes.

Robyn Cohen:

And what you're saying, it's just like the truest words ever spoke because why did we become actors and creatives anyway? Yeah. But to share our unique once in a cosmos voice.

Wolfgang B:

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Authentically. Oh, I love that. Yeah. Yeah. And

Robyn Cohen:

so what you're talking about is letting yourself be a channel. Yeah. And open to receive the impulses from your imagination through the filter that is you. And to share that with the world. Not block it, not stop it. Not constrain it. Not constrict it, not get all emotionally congested about it, but actually when it comes to you let it you know, that couldn't be more true, I think whether you're an actor, a writer, as you said, a human being, that that had this impulse, like, I should take my keys. That happened to me the other day. I got out my sewing kit. I was like, I should sew these buttons on this lovely pink button down shirt. It's been sitting there for weeks. I gotta sew this button that night. I get the audition where I gotta wear that shirt. I mean, right. I mean, I know it sounds ridiculous,

Wolfgang B:

but Oh, it's, but it's so true. It's part of it. Absolutely.

Robyn Cohen:

I know. So I know. ah, it's so good. Okay. Okay. So. Last thing before we Yes.'cause I would keep you here all, all, all day and night. And I know you have classes to teach and people to direct and plays to put on. But I would

Wolfgang B:

love to sit here all night with you all.

Robyn Cohen:

Oh my gosh. It's great. It's so good. Like, um, your students are so lucky to have you fighting for them in this way to mm-hmm. Be who they are. No one's gonna do it better than you. You being who You can't be someone else. They've already got the part as them. You gotta do it like you do it.

Yeah.

Robyn Cohen:

Right? Yeah. And so, to get even underneath that well, what is the message that you're trying to, what are you wanting to give the world wolf like? What are you wanting to give the world through this

Wolfgang B:

world? Wow, that's great. Through this filter

Robyn Cohen:

of yes, we're creatives, but what's the bigger picture for you? Like, what would, what do you wanna give the world right now through all this beautiful effort and creativity and, and all that you're doing? What's underneath all that?

Wolfgang B:

Wow, that's, that's, I don't know.

Robyn Cohen:

I know. No pressure. No pressure. I know you have to, but it's, You

Wolfgang B:

know, I guess just to give back what's, you know, to share what I've been given and, and hopefully affect and, you know, as you know, as teachers, a lot of times we lose sight of the effect we have on people. You know? Mm-hmm. And to hear a student come back years later whom you didn't think you really, and they tell you about the words you said and that, how that guided them through and helped them be prepared to do the job they needed to do. And even ones who came back who were mad at you because you kicked them out'cause they weren't prepared and that taught them the lesson, I better be prepared. And so I guess, you know, giving, being able to, have an impact on people that, um, I, I, I guess would be the thing I can say we, you know, to give back, uh, uh. Yeah. Yeah.

Robyn Cohen:

Well, that is, a mission accomplished. And you oh, you know, the legacy that you leave and are, I mean, the stadiums literally of people that are affected by same with you. We, we lose,

Wolfgang B:

we lose sight of that. You know what I mean? Mm. the myriad of people who have crossed our path Mm. That we have. Uh, and sometimes it's like, I see pictures of old showcases and I'm like, you know, wait, uh, who's this person again? You know? And, and I feel bad because it's like, how do I not, yeah. Remember that? Yeah. But it's the sheer volume of people that Yeah. we instruct and we work with, and we, you know, again, we just lose sight of it and it takes people like, you know, my girlfriend tells me all the time, it's like, you just have no idea. And other students are very Mm, you know, gracious and expressing that as well. So,

yeah.

Wolfgang B:

Um,

yeah.

Wolfgang B:

So that's, that's the thing, that I, that brings a lot of joy. uh, I. In fact, I don't know what this, you know, I kind of, you know, you get a lot of cards and thank you notes and stuff. Yeah. And at first I didn't really make, keep much attention of it. But then, you know, my girlfriend is like, no, you gotta keep all of these, you have to keep all these and just, you know, because in those moments of doubt Yeah. When you don't think you are worth it, you need to just look and see at all of this, you know? Yeah. And know that you have, you know, have, have made a difference.

Robyn Cohen:

Wow. Wow. It's tremendous. You know, we go, we come to Hollywood thinking that, uh, rich and famous, but this is the real wealth, what you're talking about right now.

Yeah.

Robyn Cohen:

That is priceless.

Yeah.

Robyn Cohen:

Like what the real spoils are and they're not spoils is the. Contribution. Mm-hmm. And the generosity and the humanity that you share with all these people that you touch. Yeah. Like that's for me at this point, that's what it is to make it in Hollywood or anywhere else for that matter. Because I think it's true, true abundance, I think true wealth, wellbeing when that, that's where you're really transacting, not in I need a better contract, or this job or this tier of, or this kind of, right. it's so much bigger than that and you're just, what you share. And I mean in this, whole conversation, you're just such a living example of like, what is success really? Like what is it we're really after? And you know, when you drill down in a conversation like this, you're like, yeah, all I want is just like to enjoy. The wholeness of who I am and the wholeness of other people. And to make great stuff. Yes. And to go full tilt boogie. Yes. And to do what we love. Like Hercules, rinse, and repeat you know? Yeah,

Wolfgang B:

exactly. Just again and again. Now don't get, you know, hey, a lot of money's good. Well take it. Yes. I'm not saying

Robyn Cohen:

no to the jacuzzi. I'm not saying that

Wolfgang B:

universe. I'm not saying I don't want the money. I'm not, listen, hey, come on. Hey, arms wide open. But I'm grateful. I'm grateful

Robyn Cohen:

for,

Wolfgang B:

that's it. That's it. I, I do have, that's it. And I recognize what I have. Yes. Uh, so, you know, it's that thing of, I, like I said, I'm so grateful for the job I have.

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah.

Wolfgang B:

Would I like to make more money doing it? Absolutely.

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah. Yes. You know,

Wolfgang B:

dobs of money doing it. Yes, absolutely.

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah. Yes.

Wolfgang B:

You know, waking up every day, coming to the theater every day, you know, teaching the class, people go, I mean, don't you get bored? I said, no, I don't get whatcha talking about getting bored? I, I could do this all day. I think, oh, you know, can't shut me up. I just keep talking about what this, it's what this is. It's never the

Robyn Cohen:

same day twice. Exactly. It couldn't be, it couldn't be.

Wolfgang B:

Exactly.

Robyn Cohen:

Oh

Wolfgang B:

yeah.

Robyn Cohen:

Fantastic. And I do think ultimately that it is that vibe that does ultimately attract the abundance in terms of dollars and sense ary. You know what I mean? Like there's a correlation.

Yeah.

Robyn Cohen:

And you being open, I love that you were just like, yeah, as actors. We have to remain receptive. We have to remain porous, right? Yes, yes. And, not tell ourselves stories about starving artists and street. You know, we can't, we have to. It's, we have to be done with these stories about starving. Yeah. No, and just do what you did. Like I'm open to receive. Please God. Thank you God. Amen. What you appreciate appreciates Right, right,

Wolfgang B:

right. So, oh, I like that happen. You can have it, have

Robyn Cohen:

all that. I'm

Wolfgang B:

gonna say it, I'm gonna say it tonight in class, and I, and I'm gonna say who said that, and they're gonna look around and I'm say I just did. Then I'll footnote Robyn and Robyn Cohen Yeah. Take

Robyn Cohen:

it to the bank wolf. Take it to the bank. oh my gosh. Thank you so much for this time. Thank you. Thank you for your incredible heart and humanity and wisdom. Same wisdom. It's just, this is just such a

Wolfgang B:

joy. And every time I get off the phone with you and talk to, I'm like, man, that was just a burst of energy. Thank you very much.'cause you, you know, you, it's, it's, you always just bring your heart so full to stuff. It's so awesome. So amazing.

Robyn Cohen:

Thanks. Well, well in the Meisner sense of the word, I am truly working off of you, so thank you. Thank

you. Alright.

Robyn Cohen:

Alright, well I will see you so soon and, really appreciate it. Thank you very much Rob, and thanks for all you shared. It's just awesome. You, it's just awesome. Okay, Wolfgang Bodison, we will see you so soon. Thank you. Thank you. God bless you. Thank. Oh my gosh, that was phenomenal. Wolfgang Bodison. You guys have to go back and watch A Few Good Men because at the end of that movie, it's Wolfgang's character. When he's asked by his comrade, they've just lost the case. They've just lost the case. It's the end of the movie. And uh, his friend says to him, listen, why? Why are we in trouble? We were just following orders. We were just following orders. And Wolfgang stands up and he says, you know, man, we could have done better. We didn't protect people that couldn't protect themselves. We knew better, and we didn't stand up for someone who wasn't able to stand up for himself. And that's why. Uh, that's why we've gotta go. We're leaving the military. and that's why we lost the case. And it's such a beautiful moment and you guys are just gonna like, get your socks knocked off again and then you're gonna need a new pair of socks after you, uh, watch or rewatch a few Good Men and see Wolfgang's incredible work in it. And everyone's work. But what a fascinating story. And, I invite you to look in our lives, we think that sort of, how does this one thing connect? Like, how is this getting me anywhere closer? What we've learned from Wolf today? Like it's all one step closer when you are kicking it down the road one step at a time, which is how you kick it down the road with passion and purpose and ignited about your life and what you're up to. It's all one step closer to what it is that we all want, which is really, I think, To love people, to be loved by people, to love what we do. To love doing it with great people. getting to collaborate with awesome people. Getting to make arts and crafts projects with other like-minded creatives. just to be in the world of arts and crafts. Partying on, partying on with like-minded creatives. Like that's a goal. That's the touchdown. And I could just hear that in Wolf's story. He was there in the mail room doing what he loved, whether that was location scouting, writing, whether that was learning to direct with Rob Reiner. And then suddenly he's in the middle of doing what he loves to do with passion, purpose, integrity, and discipline. And Rob Reiner is like, well, do you. Do you wanna act in this movie? That was his first professional job. A Few Good Men, he's, he shimmers with power and vulnerability and excellence. And it just goes to show you that when we take our hands off the levers of trying to control every step of the way, how it goes, the infinite possibility and what can open up as a result is truly. Magnificent and mind bending, and it's all in this episode. Thank you so much for joining. We have ample opportunities to come on to the daily joy ride inside of your creative paths and your creative trajectory. Please come to class, come to an open house, come and audit for free. Just email me at Robyn@cohenactingstudio.com. We will get you in. It is such a privilege to be on this creative joy ride with you, and thank you for your huge hearts and your deep listening. It is in the profundity and depth of your listening, my friends that has these episodes and these conversations arise. So thank you. God bless you. Stay well and hydrated, and I will see you so soon. Hallelujah.