Nyambi Nyambi is an accomplished actor that has graced our television screens and the silver screen often over the past few years. Currently, he stars as Wyatt in the hit NBC series, Night Court, and we recently had the honor of sitting down with Nyambi to talk about all things Night Court.
 
John Betancourt: What does it mean to you to be part of such an iconic franchise?
 
Nyambi Nyambi: It means so much to me to be part of an iconic franchise. Night Court was a show that I grew up watching, loving. You know, my way into it was weird. I was a big fan of Police Academy. So, I saw all these cops, whatever, you know, doing their thing. And then I see a character on Night Court, that's also a cop, you know, but not a cop, but like a bailiff, but like dressed the same way, because I'm a kid. I didn't know the difference between cops and bailiffs. But like, but then Marsha Warfield killed it every time I saw her and so like, loved Marsha Warfield growing up.
 
So that was my way into the show and loving the show. And then I got a chance to then watch all nine seasons right before doing this show. And then watching the first season. And then of course, stepping on set and seeing the sets and then meeting John Larroquette for the first time was quite amazing, intimidating, at the same time, because I just watched nine seasons of him. But really 10 seasons of him. But yeah, it's been it's been amazing. I think my childhood self would giggle at the idea that I'm on, on the show that I was watching as a kid.
 
John Betancourt: You know I had a similar sentiment. I watched it growing up as well, and I was talking to my girlfriend this morning about how surreal it was to be covering the show now. But that aside, you bring up a good point about how there is a little pressure that comes with the history of the show. How do you handle that as an actor?
 
Nyambi Nyambi: Oh, for me? Um, it’s interesting… for this show. I don't feel as much of the pressure or intimidation on screen. Literally for me and John, it was just more of like, because I was like, “How do I approach him? How do I talk to him about all those years. Because I have so many questions. I want to know what Charlie Robinson was like, I want to know what Selma Diamond was like, I want to know what Florence Halop was like, you know, I want to know what Markie Post was, like, you know, I want to know what Richard Moll was like, I would like to, like, I have all these questions, right? And then of course, I asked none of them. (Laughter)
 
But you know, it's, for me, I think my experience on Mike & Molly was so invaluable. And then, of course, getting to work with a lot of the people I've gotten to work with over my career on stage and then on camera. The Good Fight all the amazing guest stars that are coming through on The Good Fight has allowed me to be on this set, to be fully, like who I am and just play and not worry about being funny and trusting that. That if, if it's not funny, it's not my fault. (Laughter) No just kidding. Like, it allows me to just play and just, you know, bring whatever I think is funny, as opposed to what do I think, they think, is funny. I'm like, “No, no, let me bring what I think is funny.” Which is I think, is more daring for me and to be able to be okay with doing that has been liberating.
 
John Betancourt: Last question I have for you today. If you had to sum up your Night Court experience in a single world. What would it be?
 
Nyambi Nyambi: Yes… and.
 
John Betancourt: Oh, a "to be continued" yes. I like that.
 
Nyambi Nyambi: No, a single word, I’d say… freeing.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

Lacretta is an accomplished actor that has popped up often on our television screens over the past few years and currently, she stars as Donna ‘Gurgs’ Gurganous on the hit NBC series, Night Court, and we recently had the honor of sitting down with Lacretta to discuss her work and experiences on the show. 
 
John Betancourt: I would love to know what it means to you, to be a part of such an iconic franchise.
 
Lacretta: Oh, gosh, it's overwhelming. And it's thrilling. And I am honored.
 
John Betancourt: See now what’s interesting there, is that none of us would ever know that it is overwhelming for you. Because you come out there every week and you just deliver, plain and simple. So now I have to ask, how do you keep yourself even keel with pressure upon you?
 
Lacretta: Yeah, I think I don't think about it until we wrap. (Laughter) Or, you know, sometimes there was one week in December where I got into the glam room. And Keisha was taking off my makeup, and I just started weeping. So, I think, you know, I, my soul knows when I need to do a little bit of a release, I take care of myself, on the weekends, I make sure I watch my sappy movies, so I can't cry, or I watch, I Survived. Ooh, that one gets me every time. And I'm just good to myself, because I don't want you to see me under pressure. Because I think you might look at me a little sideways. But also, I will be honest and authentic.
 
So, there is that, but I do have a job to do. And my job is saying these words on the page with the joy and passion that they bring. But yes, I do have my moments of release. And when we wrap soon, I will be crying. (Laughter) Because you know it is… I'm at a time in my career where I never thought that I would be. And here we are. And this is the project. And this is a project that I held near and dear to my heart because I feel like, it's what shaped me as a funny person that and you know, so many other shows that I was watching, and I was a little too young for. But I still knew that I liked these characters and gravitated towards these characters to make an eight, nine, ten year old watch this on a weekly basis.
 
John Betancourt: Now in talking to your cohorts, and some of the guest stars this year, I keep hearing about how there’s real joy on this set and everyone just has a blast and I’m curious as to what you’ve enjoyed the most about playing Gurgs.
 
Lacretta: How much she surprises me. We shot an HR episode. And we're sitting around, and we have this moment where I'm fighting with Olivia. And out of -- out of nowhere, she like grabs her phone and starts talking to her phone and like “Whoa, who is that?” I really feel like I am providing a vessel for something to step into, and to get to live and live these words that are written for us specifically. And so, that's where the honor comes from. Because this is what I get to do, when I try not to comment, that was something that was taught to me in grad school, you know, it's not about what I would be doing right now. It's what Gurgs wants to do. And how can I help her in getting that done?
 
John Betancourt: Something else that’s come up in other conversations with your co-stars, is how the live audience plays a big part in the energy for the cast, what does that do for you as an actor?
 
Lacretta: It's the fifth, seventeenth, sixteenth character, like that is… that's the fourth wall. That's who we're doing this for. And their input is very important to us. It's fuel. They -- and it doesn't even need to be laughter. You know? You can feel it when they're like “oh,” you can feel it when they're just riveted. You can feel that. And as a person who comes from live theater, that's always been around. And that's what I live for. I do prefer to do dramas, because it's different, it's not as much as a symphony as when you're doing a comedy because you know, you've got this rhythm going on here. And you've got the feedback coming from the audience. But there's a pressure that you feel when it's a drama and that pressure pushing on you or going away from you is a beautiful thing. And there are endorphins that get released. (Laughter) Let's not mince words, there is a thrill and a high that you get when you know that you are affecting people, you're touching them on a on a deeper level, on a spiritual level. That's everything to me.
 
John Betancourt: Obviously, we are reaching the end of season two, and without any spoilers, I’m curious as to what you’re looking forward to audiences experiencing in the next couple of episodes.
 
Lacretta: Well, I'm looking at your pictures back behind you and yeah, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised to know that one of them, from The Next Generation, is going to be on the show!
 
John Betancourt: Oh man! It’s gotta be Patrick Stewart! (Laughter from John and Lacretta) No I’ve heard on good authority, it’s Brent Spiner and the Wheelers.
 
Lacretta: It was a delight to meet the both of them. They were lovely. And I wanted to hide you know, because I get shy. But I did very well. And I had some lovely conversations with Brent Spiner. And I can't wait for you guys to see them again.
 
John Betancourt: Oh, I can’t wait, another big moment fulfilled right there. Last question I have for you today, if you had to describe your Night Court experience thus far in a single word, what would it be?
 
Lacretta: Inspirational.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

Alex Williamson and Sam Hodgson are a pair of accomplished producers that have teamed up to bring the world one unique documentary on Apple TV+, Earthsounds. Which explores the symphony of sound the world creates that we sometimes miss, and we here at NTG were fortunate enough to sit down with both of them to discuss the crafting of this fascinating series.
 
John Betancourt: What inspired each of you to bring this incredible documentary to life?
 
Alex Williamson: So, with natural history, we're always looking for fresh ways to tell stories and fresh ways into the subject. And the idea was to try and explore the natural world through sound, which felt fresh, it felt like it hadn't been done before. And the simple concept was, the natural world is buzzing with millions of different sounds, but our human hearing can only capture a fraction of them. So, using new technology, which felt like a really good fit for Apple TV+, which is a tech company mixed with kind of TV, we're turning new tech to be able to capture stories and capture sounds that are beyond our human hearing. So, sounds that are too high for us to hear, too low for us to hear, too tiny or too fast. So, using new tech, the idea was we could capture a whole world of new secret conversations and sounds. And what's cool about it is that when you start to listen into nature, you realize that the animals are doing some pretty weird stuff with sound and not just communicating with it.
 
They're navigating with it, they are finding mates with it, they're fighting with sound, there's even a spider uses sound as a kind of sedative. They're using it in weird ways. But they're also, they're creating it in weird ways. So, there are shrimp that explode, there's a little Amazonian bird uses its feathers like a violin bow. So, they're using sound in weird and crazy ways. And they're producing it in even weirder ways. So, the concept was for the audience to hear our planet like never before. And we over the course of four years captured 3000 hours of sound from 20 countries and all seven continents. So, our sound teams have been literally around the world recording our planet and the animals on it, hopefully, so that the audience can hear for the first time the whole story.
 
Sam Hodgson: What’s exciting about it is, is often you know, we had we had amazing access, we were able to work with scientists to get amazing access to new stories. And one of my one of my favorites was up in Alaska, we were able to work with the University of Alaska to put some tiny microphones on recording devices on humpback whales for their bubble netting. What that did was enable us to see for the first time, what the humpback whales are doing as they bubble net feed as they create these bubble curtains but also hear what they're doing. And it revealed that behavior in a completely new way, we now know that the whale that blows the bubble is also the whale that blasts out the feeding call, which freaks all the fish out into the center of the bubble curtain. So, it's about revelation and experiencing the world differently through sound, as Alex said.
 
John Betancourt: Alex, as you mentioned, it’s been a four-year labor of love. So, what does it mean to each of you to finally have it out in the world?
 
Sam Hodgson: You know, we’re just very proud of it as a series and, it has been a labor of love. We got the series commissioned, then COVID hit and we had a period where we couldn't get out filming and then for the whole team in the office, figuring out different lock downs and figuring out local crew and how we would record these, so there was a lot going on behind the scenes, shall we say. But watching the shows on Apple TV+ now we're just incredibly proud of, of how they look, but also how they sound. And as you know, as Alex was saying, we're always looking for new ways to experience the natural world and I think we were surprised by how incredible some of the sounds were. And we've got the sounds of walrus up in the Arctic, which just sound like -- you cannot believe an animal produces sounds like that. It's got to be heard to be believed so, I feel proud that we've been able to showcase these amazing natural sounds.
 
Alex Williamson: Yeah, it's the project I'm most proud of having ever been a part of. It's been four years over COVID, and it's been my creative focus. And to get it out in the world is fantastic. And it's about presenting the audience, our natural planet in in a really fresh way. And I think what's interesting, as well as some of the amazing stories and having Tom Hiddleston narrate it, who's a great narrator and brings the stories to life… it's a fun watch. It's a fast watch, its action packed. But it's also got a serious message to it. And it allows the audience to kind of really, we designed it so that it will plunge the audience into these worlds of sound and take you on a journey into sound. So, you drift through the soundscapes, and it feels immersive. But through it, you learn how animals sound, but also how each place on the planet has a unique, precious, and fragile soundscape. And what I'm most proud about it, I think, is that you realize that sound is a very powerful indicator about the health of the planet as well as it being kind of a fun action-packed show. And that soundscape is changing faster than you believe. So, I think it really, it's a great fun watch, but also has a more profound message to it, which is about the keeping our beautiful, fragile, and precious planet safe and secure.
 
John Betancourt: Ultimately, what do you hope audiences walk away with after they've had a chance to experience this show?
 
Alex Williamson: Well, I think well… our planet is cool. And “Oh my god, I had no idea animals made those sounds. And I didn't know nature could be that amazing.” And like for me, we've made TV natural history shows together on and off for about 15 years. And what's cool about this one is it feels different. And there's so many natural history shows out there in the marketplace, and they all feel and have a similar kind of vibe to them. And I hope that you know, all the work that, we always try and strive to be different, but this one really does feel like “wow.” I just… there are so many weird belching sea anonames, exploding shrimp, body popping elephant seals, it’s a crazy world out there. And, and you've got to hear it to believe it. So yeah, it feels. Yeah, we sort of say there's more to nature than meets the eye. And really, this show really lands that it's kind of a funny, quirky, brilliant, beautiful planet.
 
Sam Hodgson: Basically, I started off as a radio producer. So, I've always been sort of sound focused. So, for me, it's been lovely to… our motto on the show was “audio first.” So, from everything we did, we were thinking about sound first and the pictures later and even the way we shot it, we tried to keep the camera moving as sort of drifting on the airways, we worked with, we worked with a Flow Motion, a seamless cinematographer who creates these sort of sound journeys through different soundscapes so, so it's really got a strong visual flavor, but, but it was all driven by the audio, how do we how do we take the audience on an acoustic journey through these landscapes? And so yeah, so it's been a fantastically fun and rich project to work on.
 
Alex Williamson: When we originally pitched it, the feedback was, this sounds like a radio show. And so, we spent a lot of time once we got into it, thinking how are we going to get the visuals to work? Since we know the audio is gonna sound great. So, coming up with that fresh visual style was something we're really proud of.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
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Christopher Cassel is an award-winning documentarian who has chronicled some fascinating stories during his career. His current project is the definitive look at Joran van der Sloot’s crimes via the new Peacock documentary, Pathological: The Lies of Joran van der Sloot, and we here at NTG were honored to sit down with Christopher to discuss his work in assembling this powerful documentary.
 
John Betancourt: What compelled you to tell this tale?
 
Christopher Cassel: Yeah, well, mainly, it was the timing of it, that, you know, he was back in the headlines, as you probably saw last year when he was extradited to face extortion charges. And that had been a really long time coming. So, for many years after Stephany’s murder, we really didn't hear much about him. And so, this promise to be, you know, perhaps, the closure or well, the Holloway family will never get closure, entirely. But this promised to be the closest thing that they might get, and probably the last legal chapter in his story, and so it felt like the right time, you know, to tell the whole story to tell a full retrospective with the benefit of knowing how it ends. And, you know, being able to look back with kind of fresh eyes at all the parallels between the two murder cases, you know, starting with the date, but also just, you know, being able to weave the full story together in a way that in the past really hadn't been possible.
 
John Betancourt: What was it about this case, period, that was compelling to you?
 
Christopher Cassel: It's really chilling. You know, here's this, you know, teenage boy who seems to have it all, he lives in paradise, seems to have a good family, good parents, and he's got talent, he's athletic, he's smart, you know, so, and then to see somebody like, that goes so far off the rails, it's, you know, tragic, just looking at his story alone, much less what happened to the girls and everybody else. It's just tragic that he went down that path, and you have to wonder why. And how did it snowball? And then there's also something in this… there seems to be some, he has some appeal, certainly to like women who have, you know, been infatuated with him in prison, but also to the media, you know, he seems to be somebody that, you know, the media loves to talk about, and he just makes you wonder why, like, what is it about him that, you know, is so charming to people? I don't know. A lot to explore.
 
John Betancourt: What kind of challenges went into assembling something that is so epic in scope?
 
Christopher Cassel: Yeah, it was, I mean, the main challenge we had was, was booking and telling the Aruba side of the story, really. Luckily, we had 18 years of archival news reports and footage. But cracking the Aruba story, in real time, you know, and with our own cameras was difficult. And I think that says a lot about Aruba’s kind of perspective on the story, and the fact that they just can't wait for this thing to go away. They're never gonna solve it. They stopped trying. There's always been questions about the conduct of the investigation down there. And so that was difficult. And, you know, building the trust with the Holloway family, with the Flores family, took time. And happily, we, you know, we ended up getting the blessings of both families and the participation of members of each family. You know, but that was a process because particularly on the Holloway side, because they've been just badgered for 18 years, you know, with so many different documentaries and news pieces that, you know, it's hard to differentiate yourself from the pack and, you know, help them understand that what your intentions are, and that this is going to be hopefully a special piece. So, you know, that was that was something that we worked on for a while.
 
Jon Betancourt: Logistically, your team is everywhere in this documentary, what kind of logistical challenges did you run into as well?
 
Christopher Cassel: Yeah, I mean, so we filmed in Aruba, Peru, Alabama, a lot of interviews in New York, in Peru and in Aruba. There, there are additional logistical layers that go into filming internationally and particularly in Peru with the language barrier. So, setting all that up, having the right producers on the ground that, you know, were working with us to do the bookings to do all the logistical arrangements of crew and equipment. I mean, that was all, you know, it was a big job. But you know, in the end, it really worked out well. And it was really, you know, well managed, locally, and we were able to get everything we wanted.
 
John Betancourt: Now obviously, the expectation is that journalists remain as neutral and objective as possible when reporting. But this is a brutal case, and a brutal story, and I’m curious as to how you as a director and a journalist reconciled the hard stuff you had to document.
 
Christopher Cassel: I think you just try to stay out of the way and let people tell their own story. And make sure that the editing, you know, accurately reflects their intentions, and doesn't take them out of context. And yeah, but as far as being objective, you know, certainly there's, you're always going to have your own opinions. I think, you know, it's a fairly universal opinion, that Joran is a scumbag but at the same time, I wanted to humanize him, and I wanted, I wanted people to understand that he's not only a monster. But also, I think the real story was in the people around him and all the collateral damage he caused with so many and all the victims, and it's not just Stephany (Flores), Natalie (Halloway), you know, it's even his parents and, you know, his family and the drivers that drove him to Chile, you know, there's just everyone he encountered, paid a price, you know, for associating with him. So ,you don’t want to have kind of a heavy hand, and you just edit and just hear what these people have to say.
 
John Betancourt: What surprised you the most when you started assembling this documentary that about this case that you didn't notice or were aware of before?
 
Christopher Cassel: I think just how, unapologetic, he always was, he was just so callous, and, you know, watching hours of interviews that he did, and, you know, there was just never the slightest expression of remorse or regret or… and I found that just hard to imagine, you know, hard to relate to, of course. But also, just fascinating that somebody could be, you know, so callous, and that's just kind of how he operates. And I think to this day, he's… it's hard to find a soul in there. I'm sure it's there. But then, you know, you talk to people like his girlfriend, Eva. You know, and it's like, you're talking about a totally different person. You know, she just thought he was the most kind and warm and loving person she'd ever met.
 
John Betancourt: I think it is safe to say we learn from every story we experience in any capacity, so what did you take away from this experience and this story?
 
Christopher Cassel: I think I took away that, you know, in being able to meet people who were actually victimized, or as part of the story, you know, to see the real people behind these headlines and how not only the crime itself, but the coverage of the crime impacted their lives. It really, it was a stark reminder that you know, that these are real people under these headlines, you know, that, that are really suffering. And, you know, so many people broke down during the interviews and, you know, there's still so much emotion, so many years later, and just wanting to really treat them with respect and be sensitive to that, and not exploit it, which I hope we succeeded in but, you know, just a reminder that behind any of these, any crimes that you hear about, there are people that are really suffering, and, you know, we tend to -- the true crime genre can be guilty of sensationalizing stories and you know, kind of exploiting the victims and it's something we need to guard against because again, these are just these are real people that you need to respect everything they're going through.
 
John Betancourt: Something that I did notice that I really did appreciate the fact that this was more of a balanced True Crime documentary. It wasn't just rapid fire, here's what happened. There's a lot of emotion in this. And I’m curious what went into the decision to really humanize the story on a level that it hadn't been humanized before?
 
Christopher Cassel: Well, I think a lot of it was, you know, we gained the trust and the participation of the families. And I wanted to make sure we honored that and that when they saw this, that, you know, that they wouldn't be horrified by it, you know, that they would appreciate, you know, that we did do justice to Natalie’s story and to Stephany’s story. And so, yeah, I mean, from the beginning, that was really important, I think. I think that's when not only true crime, but any, any documentary works best when you're kind of letting the raw emotion drive the story. And, you know, in sort of staying out of the way of the story, and just letting, letting the people involved tell it.
 
John Betancourt: Ultimately, what do you hope audiences take away from this from a lesson standpoint?
 
Christopher Cassel: Well, I hope, you know, particularly younger women who may have grown up after Natalie, see this and understand that, you know, people like Joran are out there and, you know, to be careful and make smart choices. You know, I have a daughter who's 14, and, you know, she’ll be out in the world someday and needs to be cautious, and hopefully, that's the takeaway that some people get from this, that, yes, this is Joran’s story, but there are many others out there like him. And, you know, we just need to be careful.
 
John Betancourt: Last question that I have for you, long term, what do you hope this legacy This documentary is going to be?
 
Christopher Cassel: Um, I feel like we're at a point with this story now, where I'm sure something will come out years from now and Joran will have a new twist on the tale when he needs money or something. But I think fundamentally that we now know the story. And so hopefully, this is kind of a, you know, the last word on… and it won't be the last word. I'm sure there'll be others. But, you know, we're in a place now where we can look at all of the legal chapters. And, you know, have the full story for the first time. And so hopefully, this will stand as kind of the definitive, you know, chronicle of those 18 years.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

India de Beaufort is an accomplished actor that has consistently shown up on our television screens over the past few years. Currently, she stars as Olivia on the hit NBC series, Night Court, and we had the distinct honor of sitting down with India, to discuss her journey on the show thus far.
 
John Betancourt: I would love to know what it means to you, as an actor as a person to be part of a franchise. That is just so iconic.
 
India de Beaufort: Honestly, I grew up in England. So, I do not have the same context or reference to it that people who grew up here do, my husband is American. So, he informed me of how honored I am to be here. But I have since watched the show in its entirety and love it. But it's so fascinating. I'll never be able to know what it was and what it is prior to me getting to discover it for myself.
 
John Betancourt: Then to follow up to that, since you’re stepping into this world with fresh eyes, but an understanding of the gravity of it, does that put any pressure upon you?
 
India de Beaufort: Sure, the thing I think about the most is being mindful and being respectful of cast members who've gone before. So, when Marcia (Warfield) visits or the Wheelers visit, I definitely feel like I'm in their world as opposed to being the other way around. I actually, I went to say welcome to Brent (Spiner) and Annie (O’Donnell) when they were here. And then immediate was like, “Actually, that doesn't make sense… you… should… I -- I'm in your space”. And I'm always curious, I say to them, “How does it feel? Is it a time machine? What's going on in your brain right now? This has to be a trip,” which normally the answer is it very much is. And it's so it's fun to observe... without fully understanding. I can appreciate what's going on around me. And then just make sure that I respect my place in the vast universe that is this beloved legacy of a show.
 
John Betancourt: See now that really is a fascinating perspective to say the least. Now, something I’ve noticed in talking to your cohorts and some of the guest stars is that there’s a real joy that comes with working on this set. What is it you enjoy the most about playing Olivia?
 
India de Beaufort: I love the mischief, I love… I think there's something… it's almost like an emotional release to get to do and say things that I would not say as a person. And it's just kind of fun to be up to mischief and not always be the most likable person in the room. And not always be the most polite or self-aware and get to blurt out random, offensive things. But then somebody yells “cut,” and we'll have a giggle and shake hands. And it’s fun flipping back and forth between the two.
 
John Betancourt: Something that’s been coming up lately in some of my discussions with actors who work on sitcoms, is how the energy of a live audience is helpful. What does that do for you as an actor?
 
India de Beaufort: For me, I think it really just helps us know… is this working? It gives you a gauge, you get an immediate response. So, we shoot the show -- we pre block half the show, pre shoot half the show on a Thursday. And then we shoot the other half of the show live and for the audience on a Friday and I do believe that there's a little bit of extra magic in the scenes that get shot in front of an audience, just by way of them being the sixth series regular, essentially.
 
John Betancourt: Obviously and sadly, only a couple of episodes remain in season two, and I was wondering if you could share what you’re most looking forward to audiences experiencing in the next few weeks?
 
India de Beaufort: The Wheelers. People have been asking for them for so long. I, again I don't have context, I don't have a real sense of what it means but I do know from social media that this is something that a lot of fans of the original have been waiting for. And have you ever met Brent?
 
John Betancourt: I've not met him in person, but I’ve definitely seen him speak live at multiple conventions I’ve been to. But Brent is an actor I definitely grew up with.
 
India de Beaufort: Yeah. Data, Riker, Jean-Luc Picard. Now that is a show we did get, and Deanna Troi for me is probably your Data. But he's awesome. He's really awesome, and he's kind, and he's funny and, and Annie and I actually text now, we stayed in touch. She's so sweet. And it was just… having them on set I think was really just the… probably spiritual week of production for me. And I hope that that comes across on the screen for the old die-hard Night Court fans.
 
John Betancourt: Last question I have for you today. Now that you have an understanding of the show’s legacy, as you’re helping to build and reinforce it, why do you think this saga continues to endure as it does?
 
India de Beaufort: I think mostly from a lot of people trying to respectfully continue it forward. It's not actually a reboot, even though we get called a reboot. It's a continuation of the original. And sometimes I think that works really well. Sometimes it doesn't work as well. I think the greatest part, the greatest ingredient to it being successful is that everybody on board, ego doesn't get in the way, you know, the first thing that you do is to respect what is existing. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Of course, there's some things you're going to need to update for 2024, inevitably, but the general gist of what we're trying to do is give you a place to escape make you laugh, make television you can watch with your family, you know, this is not a soapbox TV show. This is a forget about it all for a little while, kind of TV show. And so come giggle with us. We know what we're hoping that you take away from it. And, well along the way, hopefully you fall in love with these new characters, while still having the familiarity of John Larroquette and Marsha Warfield and that you'll stick around week to week and we can start to form new bonds with you as we make our way along.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
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Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’.
 
Matthew August Jeffers is an accomplished actor that has been consistently gracing the silver screen and our television sets over the past few years, including earlier this evening. For Matthew played Nat on this week’s episode of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, and we had the distinct honor of sitting down with him to discuss his work in ‘Gone’, and so much more.
 
John Betancourt: I would love to know what attracted you to the part of Nat.
 
Matthew August Jeffers: Well, you know, as a little person over the course of cinema history, there are not many roles that come to mind when you think of fully fleshed out multi-dimensional, complicated characters. There aren't many. And I, in my career, I hope to effect change, I hope to change that, the tone of that, and the trend. And when I read this script, and I saw who Nat was and the way he talked, and his unique skill set, I mean this… this was a character that made sense, to me. I'm like, yes, yes, yes! You know, I starred in an indie film, two years ago called Unidentified Objects. Also, like fully fleshed out, deeply complicated, flawed character. And so, I've had the gift the past few years of stepping into these really dynamic roles. And the other beautiful thing that attracted me to Nat was like, his stature was secondary to his track and his story, right, his story was not about, let's focus on this person with a disability.
 
It was, let's show how a person who was behind the eight ball in some ways, found a roundabout way to get past that in this really challenging environment. And let's honor that. And I feel really fortunate to kind of bring a new lens to disabled actors in this world. I think there's one other major disabled actor to live in The Walking Dead Universe. And I think I'm the first actor with dwarfism to live in this world. So I hope, I hope that when people watch this, people who have a disability, specifically, dwarfism, they can watch this and effect and feel the same things I felt when I was in college watching Peter Dinklage, not that I'm comparing myself to Peter Dinklage, I just mean that when I would go home, and I would see Game of Thrones, I would see “Oh, this is a fully fleshed out character who happens to have dwarfism.” And so that is how I felt reading Nat. And that was really exciting to finally be able to step into something like that.
 
John Betancourt:  Those are all amazing points, and absolutely 100% correct. But also, you as an actor did so much with that. That was so impressive. I mean, I know, there's parts that are on the page, but as you as the actor brought out so much depth and so much meaning and so much realism to Nat. How did you do that? Because everything that he has to say, makes it feel as though we're not watching the show, it feels like we're watching somebody talk about their past and offering sage advice in the process.
 
Matthew August Jeffers: I think that, as an actor, the goal is not to become this other character, but to bring yourself into this costume. And when you are able to really feel connected in that way. It makes it really easy and fun. Like I got to share… like Nat is a conduit for sharing who I am as a person, right? And my fears and my history… my history is littered with surgeries. And so, when it came to him getting bombed and having to recover and being all bruised and battered, I am bruised and battered. And so, it's all about finding like those elements of your life and bringing and infusing that into the words on the page. And when you have such a really well written script, it just makes that journey so much easier and more accessible for an actor to be able to be like “Okay, I'm going to bring -- this is how I'm going to present myself in this world” and credit to Danai (Gurira) and Scott (M. Gimple), Denise (Huth), you know, all of the gatekeepers in this world because they really gave me the keys and I really appreciate it.
 
John Betancourt: So, I simply have to ask, what it was like… to be able to step into the world of The Walking Dead?
 
Matthew August Jeffers: A little surreal, to be honest, a little surreal. I grew up, you know, I moved to New York, in 2013, I would have Walking Dead viewing parties at night, and I would watch the Talking Dead. And like it was, you know, it was like, I would go to acting class during the day and watch it at night and be like, “How do I get from here to there? How do I do that? Where's the roadmap?” And you know, 10 years later, I found it. And that was really a beautiful journey to go on. And I think the one thing I will offer though, specifically, one specific nugget, is the tremendous talent of the art department. Like they are next level. I mean, they've had years and years of honing their craft, but my gosh, like, I don't think I've ever been on a set... I haven't been on many, but I don't think I've ever been on a set that felt so lived in. And so textured. Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is another one that comes to mind, like, every nook and cranny was like, of the world, The Walking Dead, just the art department, from the walkers to the landscape to the costumes, like it just infuses you in that space and helps and helps you tell the story, that you need to tell. So major credit that goes to these guys who are often like thankless, right? Like people don't think like, “Oh, the art department!” But they literally create this world. And it was so cool to be able to step into that. as cold as it was. It was really, really, really cool. Really, really, cool. They are ARTISTS.
 
John Betancourt: It’s definitely safe to say that Nat plays such an important part in this episode and has so many incredible lessons to offer. What do you ultimately hope audiences take away from his journey?
 
Matthew August Jeffers: I'd like to believe that the thing that kept Nat going, is Danger’s lighter, which is literally and figuratively a flame. And I think it's really crucial for people to know that it's okay to allow other people to light your way. That you don't always have to muscle, and you don't always have to carry your own weight that you can trust that someone else who loves you is going to give you that fire, to carry on, and make your own way and we need that, everyone needs a Danger in their life. Everyone needs a champion to literally light the fire. And, that I think is really poetic the way they shot that and the way that Danai takes that lighter, you know is kind of our further telling of that story.
 
I also think that Nat’s advice is Michonne, is you'll know, you'll know when, when it's time. And I think I think a lot of people tend to, myself included, but like, I think… I think people tend to search for answers. Like I think people are like, “What should I be doing? What am I doing? Like? How can I do this better?” Like they’re really trying to muscle their way into the next chapter of their lives. And I have found that opening yourself and just being present and showing up and trying to be a good person and showing up on time, all those little minutiae, like those are the things that will allow you to know what direction to head in, you know, and it might be a little messy, and it might be a little confusing. But if you keep yourself open, you'll know. Like everyone has their internal compass and everyone has their flame.
 
I think, it’s all this kind of leeway that one person lights the way for the other person and that is I think ultimately what Scott is going for in like the whole Walking Dead Universe is like, how do we… how do we, in this really bleak world, pass the baton or extend a hand for the ones that we love and, and that that's what I would leave with.
 
John Betancourt: Now to go back for just a second, because you did mention that this was a show you were watching with friends back in the day. So, what does it mean to you on a personal level… to be part of this universe?
 
Matthew August Jeffers: I have made it my mission in my life to try to shift the narrative of what it means to be a little person in the world and in media. And we have a long way to go. But personally, right, I'm speaking from a personal point of view. I hope this is a continuing trend of worlds that are inviting different abilities. And that if you have the ability to tell a compelling story that you belong in that world, and I'm really grateful that you know, really fortunate, I feel really fortunate to have been able to be invited into this space. And I think it's… I think it's really important that people are open to different types of abilities and different types of bodies and we're all trying to survive, and we're all trying to survive and I'm so glad that I survived for Episode Two.
 
John Betancourt: Last question I have for you today, what did you enjoy the most about this experience?
 
Matthew August Jeffers: It was a hard shoot, man. Like it was a really hard shoot. The elements, the scenes like, obviously, you know, like a number of really challenging scenes. And when I say it was really hard shoot, I mean that in the best way, like, I, that's what I dream about is going to work and feel like I am working. You know, like feel like I'm really at that gymnasium where I'm really stretching these muscles and really like working my body and my soul out. And hopefully, ultimately, that translates into a great story. So, it was a really hard shoot. And that as an actor, if I could get home at one in the morning, and I drop my keys off in my apartment, and be like “Man, that was fucking hard.” Like that is the best-case scenario because you know that you're doing something that you had to fight for. And when you have to fight for it. More often than not, it leads to a really great outcome.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

Morgan Kibby and Jen Guyton are a pair of accomplished creatives that normally, that work in fields we don’t discuss all that often. For Morgan works with music and scoring and Jen is a renowned photographer. But come Monday, their talents will be celebrated. For they both worked on the upcoming National Geographic series, Queens, and we here at NTG had the distinct honor of sitting down with them to discuss their contributions to this incredible new series.
 
John Betancourt: Let’s talk about what attracted each of you to work on this project.
 
Morgan Kibby: I've never worked in the genre before. So, for me, this was a massive opportunity to do something fresh and new, and to challenge myself. And the massive cherry on top was that they, really the creators, specifically Chloe, she really wanted me to bring, I think, my background in electronic music as a fresh kind of flavor, if you will, to the score for this series.
 
Jen Guyton: So, I shot the cover story for National Geographic magazine on spotted hyenas that's linked to this series. And for me, I've always been so fascinated by hyenas. And as soon as the magazine approached me with this idea I was on board.
 
John Betancourt: Now since you two have a slightly different perspective on this series, I’ve very curious as to what you think audiences will take away from it?
 
Jen Guyton: I was absolutely blown away, in particular, by you know, the ‘African Queens’ episode and just how much they managed to capture in, you know, just a short period of time out filming in the field. And so, I hope that the audience has a better understanding of, you know, hyena behavior and gets really excited about this really cool world that they unveiled.
 
Morgan Kibby: I think in tandem, you know, each episode, I personally learned something that just blew my mind. So even if there's just one fact, from each episode that the audience takes, I think that's an incredible thing. But for me, personally, I have to say, every time I got a new episode from the editors to start working on it, I would sit down, watch the whole thing through, and there was inevitably a moment where I would just start crying about something. And it's really emotional. And that is so fresh. And I really hope, frankly, that the audience has the same emotional reaction and experience that I was lucky enough to have.
 
John Betancourt: What does it mean to each of you to be involved in such a poignant series?
 
Morgan Kibby: You know, the best things that happen in life are never things you really understand until they happen. And I guess, I'll just say, I just feel so fortunate that the experience over the last year of making this series has been so rich, and so rewarding, both creatively and personally. I mean, I've made friends for life on this project. And it's brought out parts of my own creativity that I didn't know could exist. I, you know, I didn't know that there was going to be space for a score like this within this genre. And I feel really excited about that. But it's kind of I don't know, it's just kind of hitting me right now that that it is what it is, because you're so in the trenches with it that you don't you know, it's a year’s worth of work. So, it's a lot. So, I'm just very thrilled to, frankly, just be a little satellite around this, this creation.
 
Jen Guyton: Yeah, I think I'm even more of a satellite than Morgan, as I unfortunately, didn't have the opportunity to work directly with the filmmakers on this, but it's just been an incredible thing to witness. And I think it's going to, you know, start a whole new movement within natural history storytelling.
 
John Betancourt: What are you each most proud of when it comes to your work on this project?
 
Jen Guyton: I'd say I'm most proud of being able to deliver some sort of never-before-seen scenes of hyena life. And that was accomplished through using infrared technology, infrared cameras, infrared lights, in a way that didn't disturb the hyena’s behavior. And so, we were able to get these like incredibly intimate scenes of the hyenas that are running in the magazine story.
 
Morgan Kibby: I'm just really proud that the team is happy with the work that we did together. Like ultimately, I'm in service of Chloe's vision, and I'm really happy that we clicked the way that we did and I'm very proud of our collaborative process.
 
John Betancourt: Okay, last question that I have for each of you today. If you had to describe Queens in one word, what would that word be?
 
Morgan Kibby: Inevitable.
 
Jen Guyton: That’s really good. I don't know if I can beat that. I don't know. I might just go with… badass.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.