Story and Craft with Marc Preston

D.B. Sweeney | Crafting His Recipe

On this episode of “Story and Craft,” Marc sits down with actor and voiceover veteran DB Sweeney (“The Cutting Edge,” “Eight Men Out,” “Memphis Belle”) to talk career pivots, creative choices, and the long game of working in entertainment. DB shares what it was like training for “Memphis Belle” with retired SAS guys, flying in real B-17s. He opens up about growing up on Long Island, chasing baseball dreams at Tulane, discovering acting through theater, and getting launched by Francis Ford Coppola in “Gardens of Stone.” They also dig into DB’s work in voiceover run (Bud Light, Lincoln, Oprah’s network, and “Mountain Men”), his love of cooking, directing projects like “Two Tickets to Paradise,” and what he’s working on now, including “Red Ink,” and his current film, “Protector.”03:20 Memphis Belle Bootcamp05:13 B17 Death Star Tactics10:03 Voiceover Career Highlights12:34 Origin Story Long Island13:21 Tulane Baseball And New Orleans15:39 Cooking Signature Dishes19:54 Broadway Breakthrough21:10 Coppola Casting Break22:44 Baseball Roles and Heroes26:15 The Cutting Edge28:30 Movies Then and Now31:33 Directing and Next Projects33:52 The Seven Questions

Olivia Taylor Dudley | Aliens & Nerdy Magic

Marc Preston welcomes actor and producer Olivia Taylor Dudley to “Story and Craft” to talk sci-fi, horror, and why aliens have been a lifelong fascination — so much so that all three of her rescue dogs are named after extraterrestrial-inspired references, including SETI. Olivia breaks down how she “fell into” producing through early YouTube-era work on “Five Second Films.” She shares her unconventional path into acting, dropping out of school due to anxiety, moving to LA at 17, and finding structure and comfort on set. They dive into her new film “Touch Me,” a weird sci-fi/horror/comedy about an alien, and mental health themes, plus her time on “The Magicians,” voiceover/audiobook work, and why horror can feel comforting.02:53 Rescue Dogs and Hairless Breeds04:12 Producing and Wearing Many Hats05:43 ADHD and Loving the Edit07:45 Five Second Films Origins10:35 Patton Oswalt Connection11:32 Dropping Out and Moving to LA12:59 The Exorcist and Finding Acting15:29 Horror Sci Fi Upbringing17:52 SETI Aliens and Disclosure Talk21:12 Touch Me Alien Horror Comedy24:42 Family Background Horses and Ranch25:43 Grandma the Space Nerd26:03 Ranch Stargazing Mysteries27:46 Touch Me Origins32:33 Inside The Magicians35:24 Why Horror Works37:06 Theatrical Versus Streaming41:20 Upcoming Projects Update42:07 The Seven Questions

Joel Church-Cooper | Home Runs & Dutch Treats

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, Marc Preston goes behind the curtain with producer/writer Joel Church-Cooper (“Going Dutch”, “Brockmire”, “Future Man”, “Undateable”) to talk about how TV comedy really gets made and how the business has changed. Joel shares his Northern California upbringing, film-nerd roots in the video store era, and the comedy influences that shaped him (“Kids in the Hall”, “Mr. Show”). They dig into big studio comedies, as well as how algorithms and “second-screen” viewing are reshaping storytelling. Joel breaks down the origins of “Going Dutch” (including the real Army base that inspired it), the evolution of “Brockmire”, working with Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. It’s an engaging chat about what it takes to create great TV!03:29 Film Nerd Origins04:56 Video Store Era Stories13:21 Comedy Influences and Sketch Classics17:24 Public Access and Media Power26:02 Going Dutch and Algorithm Notes28:54 What He Watches Now33:15 Kids Movies and YouTube Brain Rot41:57 Chasing Authenticity42:33 Brockmeyer Origins49:05 Baseball as Existential Comedy51:07 Future Man Writers Room57:39 Why “Going Dutch” was set in The Netherlands01:01:36 Culture Clash Comedy01:03:13 The Seven Questions

Kevin Kane | Shy Man’s Revenge

On this episode of Story & Craft, we sit down with actor/director/writer/producer Kevin Kane. Kevin talks about growing up around Philly (and a stint in Myrtle Beach), catching the acting bug early thanks to a school report on Jimmy Cagney, and eventually moving to New York to chase theater and serious training. He breaks down studying Meisner at the William Esper Studio, how that tight-knit class bond turned into real creative momentum, and how he and Amy Schumer started working together - eventually leading to a long collaboration on projects like ”Inside Amy Schumer” and “Trainwreck.” Kevin also shares how he first got into the Dick Wolf universe, what it was like booking “Law & Order” early on (with Jerry Orbach encouraging him), and how guest spots on “SVU” ultimately helped lead to his role as Terry Bruno. Along the way they get into Philly’s Mummers Parade, comedy vs. drama, shy-kid-to-actor life, cops’ reactions to SVU, and working on ”The Irishman.”03:23 From Philly to Myrtle Beach: Growing Up in Seasonal Towns04:45 College Breakthrough: Acting Electives & Realizing It’s Possible06:17 Philly Traditions Explained: The Wild Mummers Parade09:41 Catching the Acting Bug: Jimmy Cagney, Old Movies & Film Obsessions11:41 ’80s/’90s Pop Culture, Music, and the Ice-T Connection14:43 Shy Kid to Performer: Barroom Stages, Fear, and Moving to New York16:23 Why New York (Not LA): Theater Dreams & Acting Heroes18:01 Comedy vs Drama: Versatility, SNL Era Influences & Finding Your Lane19:58 Family Reactions + “Acting Is a Shy Man’s Revenge”21:42 Training at William Esper Studio: Meisner Technique & Finding Your Tribe24:16 Meeting Amy Schumer: Showcase to Theater Company & Making Your Own Work26:10 Breaking into the Dick Wolf Universe: First Law & Order Audition27:17 SVU Guest Roles to Series Regular: Bonding with Mariska Hargitay28:18 Comedy Fundraisers to Inside Amy Schumer: Getting Pulled Into Sketch TV29:46 On the Trainwreck Set: Writing Alt Jokes with Judd Apatow33:27 Life on SVU in NYC: How Real Cops React to the Show34:15 Scorsese’s The Irishman: Fittings, De Niro, and Feeling Old in a ’90s Suit36:14 Actor vs. Multi-Hyphenate: Where the Work Feels Most Grueling37:41 The “Seven Questions”

Ken Leung | Raised by Acting

On this episode of Story and Craft, we sit down with actor Ken Leung. Known for his roles in “Rush Hour”, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, “The Sopranos”, and notably “Lost”, Ken shares his experiences across stage, TV, and film, as well as his role in the new season of HBO’s “Industry”. We dive deep into Ken's diverse career, discussing his induction into the acting world, his memorable roles, and the nuances of playing distinct characters in different genres. They also chat about the impact of “Lost”, working on “Industry”, and Ken's upcoming film, “Project Hail Mary” with Ryan Gosling and Milana Vayntrub. Tune in for an insightful conversation that will inspire!00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:32 Guest Introduction: Ken Leung01:15 Substack and Listener Engagement02:45 Interview Begins: Ken's Background06:16 Growing Up in New York09:43 Acting Journey and Family Dynamics12:37 Learning Through Acting20:39 Working with Sidney Lumet23:10 Landing the Role in Lost26:26 Experiencing Hawaii and Settling In27:28 The Evolution of Lost27:46 The Impact of Streaming on TV Shows31:17 Transition to Industry35:52 Project Hail Mary and Future Projects38:12 The Seven Questions