The Fisch Bowl

Wearing The Colors Anyway

Send a textThe shine of a big break doesn’t always light the path ahead. We sit down with character actor Robert LaSardo to explore what success really feels like when the cheers fade and the measuring starts—how to wear your colors after a loss, why loyalty outlasts gossip, and what it takes to keep your spirit intact inside a machine that rewards visibility while testing your soul.Robert brings us into the surreal joy of working on The Mule with Clint Eastwood—from a simple self-tape to notes, a greenlight, and then the quiet shock of meeting a legend who leads without ego. He shares how Eastwood “plays jazz” on set, trusts improvisation, and eats with his crew like family. That humility becomes a masterclass in creative leadership: protect the work, respect people, and let honesty breathe. We also touch on a tender moment with Andy Garcia that affirms how old-school respect still matters and how being seen can reset your day.From there, the conversation tackles film literacy, lowered standards, and the seduction of spectacle. Robert contrasts meaningful storytelling with the numbing effect of relentless visual stimulation and weightless violence. He champions writing what you know, building teams around authenticity, and using craft to entertain without dumbing down. We thread Scorsese’s evolving style, Woody Allen’s neurotic wit, and the enduring power of films like The Poseidon Adventure, American Graffiti, and The Exorcist—stories that last because they carry consequence, atmosphere, and soul.Robert closes with American Trash, his new film in post-production: a raw, compassionate portrait of PTSD, apathy, and environmental care set in Los Angeles. It’s a 1960s spirit reimagined for right now, asking us to look at the ground under our feet and the people beside us, then choose community over indifference. If you care about acting, directing, or simply watching better movies, this conversation is a compass—equal parts grit, gratitude, and guidance.Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, share it with a film‑lover, and leave a quick review to help more curious listeners find the show.Support the show

Robert LaSardo: From Navy Discipline To Screen Grit

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Mall Memories And Midnight Zombies

Send a textThe best horror stories aren’t just on screen—they’re the ones told in the glow of dead‑of‑night lights, long after the credits. We sit down with cast and crew from Dawn of the Dead to relive the midnight Monroeville shoots, the improvised zombie gigs, and the wild on‑set mishaps that became legend. From a neck‑bite effect gone hilariously wrong to a crew member who asked George Romero for a shot and walked away as the machete zombie, these are unscripted, human moments that turned a cult classic into a lifelong bond.What makes these memories stick is how ordinary they started. One panelist only came because a friend insisted. Another was just an 11‑year‑old who could stay awake while other kid zombies crashed, perfectly embodying Romero’s idea of “residual memory” as he bumped a toy bike down a fluorescent hallway. A teacher brought a Super 8 camera to show students what a set looked like and accidentally created a DVD extra that now anchors the movie’s archive. The mall itself remains a character—still a place some of them shop, still a trigger for recall—with every corridor doubling as a portal back to 3 a.m.We trace the film’s unlikely afterlife through media history: from three broadcast channels and strict censorship to the arrival of pay TV, Betamax, and VHS that kept the undead alive at home. The panelists talk about walking into their first conventions in Strongsville and beyond, astonished to find passionate fans from Nova Scotia, England, Germany, even Hawaii. Autographs, photos, and t‑shirts came later; the connection came first. Decades on, the reunions feel warmer than high school anniversaries because the memories were forged under pressure, creativity, and the practical magic of Tom Savini’s effects.If Dawn of the Dead lives on, it’s because people keep telling these stories—small, funny, honest—and inviting new fans into the crowd. Join us, subscribe for more behind‑the‑scenes lore, and share your first Dawn of the Dead memory in a review or with a friend who loves horror history.Support the show

Inside Night Of The Living Dead

Send a textA crowded floor at Living Dead Weekend, a mic in the “fishbowl,” and one of horror’s key voices reflecting on how a scrappy regional production became a global touchstone. We sit down with Russ Streiner to unpack the 30-day, two-block shoot behind Night of the Living Dead, the trade-offs of keeping commercial clients afloat while chasing a dream project, and the nerve-wracking distributor road trip that collided with national tragedy. The result isn’t a victory lap; it’s a frank study in how timing, casting, and theme can elevate a low-budget horror film into a cultural landmark.We dig into why Duane Jones’s lead performance mattered then and still matters now, and how the film’s stark frames, practical approach, and moral ambiguity gave it staying power far beyond its modest means. Russ shares how spontaneous moments and small line tweaks helped shape the movie’s voice, and we zoom out to compare craft elements—like the chilling role of music in The Shining—against Night’s raw, cut-to-the-bone rhythm. Along the way, we celebrate film geek moments, from Dr. Strangelove trivia to the joy of discovering that a kept stumble or an ad lib can become canon.Through it all, Russ credits the fans for the film’s longevity. Community screenings, classroom debates, and con conversations have kept Night of the Living Dead alive for generations, proving that independent horror thrives when audiences see themselves in the fear, the fallout, and the choices that define the living. If you love horror history, indie filmmaking, or the story behind enduring cult cinema, you’ll find plenty to chew on here. If this conversation hits home, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—what keeps Night of the Living Dead alive for you?Support the show

Romero’s Legacy, Laughter, And Lasting Community

Send a textHorror history feels different when you’re standing where it happened. We sit down at Living Dead Weekend 2024 to celebrate George A. Romero, trade stories with longtime friends, and trace how a single location—the Monroeville Mall—became a cultural landmark that still pulls fans from the UK, Germany, and beyond. It’s part reunion, part field study in why certain films never fade: they attach to places, people, and rituals that outlast trends.Our conversation dives into Creepshow and why it remains a high-water mark for anthology horror. We talk about the EC Comics DNA baked into the film’s design, the craft of threading five stories without losing momentum, and the joy of working with icons like Hal Holbrook, Fritz Weaver, and Leslie Nielsen. The set memories are unforgettable, from performance notes to Nielsen’s infamous “fart box,” a perfectly timed prank that says everything about his comic instincts. That story becomes a lens on his career arc—from early heavy in dramatic TV to deadpan genius in Police Squad and The Naked Gun—showing how Creepshow acted as a bridge between two distinct personas.We widen the lens to celebrate genre shapeshifters like George Kennedy and Christopher Walken, exploring how great actors manage tension, timing, and tone whether they’re playing menace or mirth. There’s a loving nod to Walken’s under-the-radar comedic turn in Envy, plus reflections on why malls and movie locations function as living archives for fans. If you care about Romero’s legacy, the evolution of anthology horror, or the alchemy that lets actors cross from drama to comedy, you’ll feel right at home here—surrounded by stories, laughter, and a community that keeps the flame alive.If this conversation made you smile or sparked a new watchlist, follow the show, share it with a horror-loving friend, and leave a quick review to help more fans find us.Support the show