Emily Brundige is a talented writer that has worked on some iconic shows, such as The Powerpuff Girls, and Teen Titans Go! Her current project, Goldie, recently debuted on Apple TV+, and we had the honor of sitting down with Emily to discuss her new show. One based on the short of the same name that Emily brought to the silver screen in 2019.
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John Betancourt: I do want to start kind of at the beginning. I am very curious what inspired the creation of Goldie to begin with.
 
Emily Brundige: Well, I created the character in 2016, and I was feeling like I wanted to create a character who was a girl who took up space, simply put. And I felt like by creating a giant girl character, just by her existing, you know, she was kind of undeniable. And so that's kind of where it came from. And then also this feeling of, “Wow, this, this is a really good idea,” you know, this, she could be her own version of Clifford, the Big Red Dog, like this iconic giant friend, you know. And kind of being able to show such a diverse town where, you know, her family is a bird, and her best friend is the tiniest girl in her grade. And kind of how showing that everyone's kind of learning to accept themselves for being different sizes or different kinds of creatures and people.
 
John Betancourt: Now, Goldie’s been through quite the journey. As you said, you made it happen in 2016, came out as a short film in 2019. What brought about a television series for Goldie?
 
Emily Brundige: Well, honestly, I had always wanted to, or I always had the intent of pitching it down the line as a series. So that was in my thoughts from the beginning. But I also wanted to create a short that could have its own life, because I had been, so many times, in development on a project that never saw the light of day, and it was an opportunity to create something that I could call my own. And it was nice having it be seen all over the world and festivals. And then, kind of, when it felt time, I got serious about pitching it as a show. And it's, it's one of those things that never happens, where things just work out. Like, I intended to make it a short that plays in festivals and then sell it as a show, make it into a show, and it's just, like, can't believe it actually worked.
 
John Betancourt: So textbook and so storybook in its own right. Wow. Now, since it's something you always kind of envisioned, and it sounds like there's just so much thought that went into this Goldie in general, were there any challenges that you ran into then, when you got the green light for the series and in expanding her story?
 
Emily Brundige: Um, I think that her size, just from a visual perspective, yeah, was a fun challenge, I think for everyone to kind of figure out how to show her interacting with all her tiny friends and whatnot, kind of just dealing with scale in that way, I think was the biggest challenge.
 
John Betancourt: Obviously, there's that core message that's there, about diversity and accepting oneself and all those pieces, but I couldn't help but notice, as I'm watching each episode, there's multiple messages in each episode as well, which I absolutely love. I'm all about messaging. But what kind of challenge went into creating such layered episodes that have so much to say about just us?
 
Emily Brundige: Yeah, I mean, I think that they were episodes were written by very human people, very, you know, caring, feeling writers, and that we were trying to be authentic in where the stories were coming from and telling the right kinds of emotional stories that we felt were relatable to us and would be relatable to other people and kids.
 
John Betancourt: One of the best parts about Apple TV+ and their family entertainment lineup, is that it really is designed to spark discussion in the. What are you most excited for families to discuss when everybody in the house has had a chance to watch this first season?
 
Emily Brundige: Yeah, I think that if it helps kids to be able to discuss their emotions, because the show so clearly demonstrates, you know, especially in Goldie, you know, when she's sad, she might like flood the town, you know? Like, it's just so oversized that, I hope it's comforting to kids who feel like, you know, maybe it's they shouldn't be showing these kinds of emotions.
 
John Betancourt: I love that. We don’t talk enough about how emotions are present in younger children and how hard those are to navigate as they continue to grow. So, I think that's a great place to go with that. And obviously this is a product that is so personal to you, has gone on this amazing journey, this storybook journey in its own right. What does it mean to you now to have this debuting on one of the biggest platforms out there?
 
Emily Brundige: It means a great deal. I think this… for in my career, was really my baby and dream project, and for the world to be able to experience it… just… I could never have imagined that. And I think it's coming at a really good time when we're living in time where I when I think people really need a happy escape, and so I'm hoping that it will really provide that for people, that they'll like to escape to Boysenberg and kind of feel the warmness of it.
 
John Betancourt: It’s also coming at a time that it's almost like… there's a revolution in family programming right now where we are seeing these elevated, much more in-depth programs, and well, the last question I have for you today, what does it mean to you personally, to now be part of that revolution?
 
Emily Brundige: It means that in my career, that I'm doing something good with my work, which is really important to feel like you're living a fulfilling and meaningful existence. Well, that's what it means, it means like, I feel like I'm putting good out into the world, which makes me really happy.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

Gary Anthony Williams is a truly talented comedian and actor that has appeared in a mountain of films and television shows, and you can hear his distinct voice in a host of animated works as well. Currently he stars as Flobert on the hit NBC series, Night Court, and we recently had the honor of sitting down with Gary to discuss his work on the show.
 
John Betancourt: I'd like to start by getting to know what it means to be part of such an iconic franchise.
 
Gary Anthony Williams: Dude. I watched this show religiously as a kid, and to step on that set, it's like, I'm stepping into the television. Because they really tried to keep that vibe going, like, from, from a lot of the original set pieces on there, and they wanted to make it look like, you know, things have not changed in all this time, like it's still that slow moving court system in New York. It's amazing. Like I worked with John Larroquette in the past on Boston Legal. So that was good to work with him, just to be able to work with him again. But then Melissa Rauch is one of the kindest human beings ever invented. If they invented people, she's definitely one of the kindest ever. And Wendie Malick, come on, she's too nice. Legally. Somebody has to stop it. Then you got Lacretta and Nyambi Nyambi, who are just talented human beings by every measure you know. So, it's fantastic stepping back into that, like becoming part of becoming part of my childhood, and still having that flavor. I love it. I absolutely 100% love it.
 
John Betancourt: I'm also curious too, because the comedy this year is just so, I mean, it's always been good, but it's so next level this year, so amazing. And I'm just curious how you as an actor have found the zany essence of Flobert.
 
Gary Anthony Williams: The beauty of it. And I tell all my buddies, that is, the show gets to do a lot of stupid stuff. Flobert. He gets to do the stupidest stuff. He's the only guy on there that there are no rails for him. Like he's been a judge, he's been a lawyer, he's been a clerk, he sold sodas, like he's done everything. Sold real estate, apparently, he's been involved in rap battles in the past. There's there are no limits to what he can do and who he can be and who he has been. So, every time I get a script, it's a joy. It's like me doing this (Gary gleefully rubs his hands together), as my son calls it, “Smithering” my hands, going, “What is Flobert up to this week?” Because there is absolutely no telling. I don't have to abide by any rules as Flobert.
 
John Betancourt That is so true. I mean, him being in a trash can is probably one of the highlights of that.
 
(Laughter from Gary)
 
Gary Anthony Williams: So silly, and this this season, we have a huge musical number, that song and dance number, and that, you know, I get to do some singing and dancing alongside Broadway star Lacretta. So, yeah, she is… she has the pipes brother. Also. Hold on. I see Brent Spiner over your shoulder, and he will be back! He's going to be back on an episode.
 
John Betancourt: Oh, that makes me so happy. It was such a joy to have him on the show again last season. So, we’ve got your Broadway number coming up. We've got Brent Spiner coming back. What else are you super excited for fans to experience in this back half of the season?
 
Gary Anthony Williams: Well, I always, you know, when they bring back characters from the past, like Marsha Warfield, she's going to be coming in, in a terrific episode. And then just the, just the guest cast that gets to come in, like Kate Micucci, who is one of my favorite people in the world. Um, definitely, definitely that musical number, obviously, is just one of the finest things. But you got people like Lauren Lapkus coming in to do some stuff, who I just did this space movie with her. They the guest cast that they have coming in, and I tell all my buddies who are funny. I was like, “Sooner or later, you're going to be on the show.” They never bring anybody in who can't knock it out of the park. And that's the fun like, how are they going to knock it out of the park? And my good buddy Ryan Hansen, who is plays the love interest as of late on there with Melissa Rauch’s character, so there's some good stuff coming up with him as well.
 
John Betancourt: That's so much good stuff coming up. You kidding me? I was already excited about the first two things. Now we get all these other great guest stars. Like, wow.
 
Gary Anthony Williams: By the way, so I was such a fan of Brent Spiner’s, and I had never met him, ever. Like, you know, I've worked with Shatner, you know, and everybody, also, just in his realm, I've worked with most of those people. I had never met him, and he kills it number one, as funny a human being as you can be, and then he's like, “Oh, by the way, I have this album.” So, I downloaded this album of him singing like these old tunes. It's so fantastic.
 
John Betancourt: So, I know he did an album with the cast of The Next Generation. Is it “Ol’ Yellow Eyes Is Back?” Or is it something new?
 
Gary Anthony Williams: This is just him and, no, this is him and a female, singing.
 
John Betancourt: Yeah, I'm in. Because he's a crooner, plain and simple.
 
Gary Anthony Williams: Also, that episode is ridiculously funny. Like, if you're asking me, like, like, you know which episodes that is definitely one with him, his wife and Kate Micucci as his daughter, that is stupid funny.
 
John Betancourt: That leads me to my next question then obviously the excitement in your voices is beyond palpable. What have you enjoyed the most about just being part of this experience?
 
Gary Anthony Williams: Literally, you just answered it. It is being part of this experience. It is so much like family when you show up. Everybody cares about everybody. Melissa Rauch is… she seriously is one of the five kindest people I've ever met in Hollywood, and she… they're so loyal to the people that they bring in, and they want them to do well, and they want them to do their thing, just literally being a part of a show like that, that takes care of you, and the writers get the idea of what you can do, and they keep pushing it further… like, I can't ask for much more than that in a career to, like, look forward to. The new script and the changes and what's gonna happen. And I get to do it this again this week. Nothing better.
 
John Betancourt: Last question I have for you today, if you had to describe this back half of the season in one single word, what would that word be?
 
Gary Anthony Williams: It's a hyphenated word, okay, the hyphenated word is… it-just-keeps-getting-stupider-and-better. That's the hyphenated word.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

Sara Garcia is a talented actor that has appeared in a bevy of films and shows and has lent her voice to countless works of art as well. Currently, she stars as Jennifer Morales in the new NBC series, The Hunting Party, and we here at NTG had the honor of sitting down with Sara to discuss her work on the show.
 
John Betancourt: I would love to start by getting to know what it was that attracted you to this series as an actor.
 
Sara Garcia: Yes, it was right off the heels of the SAG and WGA strikes, and it was a really exciting project that just came in. And to me, it showed that we were we were coming back to work and the energy was sort of palpable. I auditioned for it without reading the pilot, and was attracted to the character because my brother was in the Canadian Armed Forces, and I had always wanted to play a role where I was maybe in the military, just as a nod to him, and to have that connection between us. He got to be the real-life version, and I got to be the TV version. And then, through the audition process, I was given the pilot, and the pilot blew my mind. I was… I was shocked. I'm… I'm usually kind of timid and scared about horror and serial killer content, but that sort of drove me to want to dive in more. I had never done a character or a project like this, and so I was like, let's go.
 
John Betancourt: That is so awesome. I had no idea that you had such a personal tie to Jennifer in that respect. And speaking of Jennifer, she is just so dynamically different than the majority of the team, especially in this third episode, and we kind of get to know her better. And I'm curious how you kind of found that quirky essence of her.
 
Sara Garcia: Oh, that quirky essence of her is me. I think what was interesting is a lot of the times in first seasons, you know, we're all trying to find the idea. And so, I had this idea. I would, I would come to set, and I would just be unabashedly me and all my quirky weirdness. And I think they picked up on it because they started writing her more tailored to me, and, yeah, it was great. I know the scene you're referring to, and that was really fun for me to play, because I do have those moments where I talk a million miles a second, and I am laser focused. So, yeah, but, but mostly I like to insert parts of myself in all of my characters, just to keep it grounded and connected. And Morales is no exception to that.
 
John Betancourt: I’m also very curious, what it means to be part of a show that is so unique and so special.
 
Sara Garcia: Oh, it’s a dream come true. I think I've waited my entire life as an actor to be a part of something like this at this scale, working with a company like NBC. I mean, I cried when I got the part, and it was just really exciting from start to finish. And working with such wonderful people was just an absolute dream.
 
John Betancourt: What I love, too, is every episode has amazing surprises. We don't want to spoil any surprises. But just as an overall view for the rest of the season, what are you most excited for audiences to experience?
 
Sara Garcia: Oh, I'm excited overall for honestly, for people to see these incredible guest star performances. I mean, we have some really amazing people coming in who are playing our serial killers and, and folks at home are going to recognize them from projects and, and I think they're going to be so blown away by their performances. These actors just really brought it. And so, I'm excited for that.
 
John Betancourt: I can hear the passion your voice, and you’ve talked about, how much you've injected yourself into Morales. What have you enjoyed the most about playing her so far?
 
Sara Garcia: I enjoy her… her lightness and her optimism that she brings to work. It made going to work really easy. And we're shooting some really dark content. So that can, you know, depending on things, that can shape the environment and perspective. But because she lives in this effervescent light, kind of energy, it made it easy for me to for me to do. And then on top of that. Everybody, the whole cast, the whole crew. They're so amazing and funny and full of life that it just made going to work really, really, easy in general. It was just a really fun time.
 
John Betancourt: Last question that I have for you today, what are you most proud of when it comes to what you've put forth on the show.
 
Sara Garcia: I'm really proud of episode nine. We see a lot of Morales in episode nine. It's really her moment to shine and she gets to play a different role. And I'm really proud of that work. I'm really proud of the fact that she is taking charge and kind of stepping into a leadership position. You see her growth, and I'm excited for that episode.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

Jef Kaminsky is an executive producer that has brought forth some incredible family shows to the airwaves, and of his most important ones, Eva the Owlet, is back for a second season on Apple TV+ and to properly celebrate we sat down with Jef to discuss season two of this dynamic show.
 
John Betancourt: I'd like to start by getting to know, what does it mean to be back for a second season.
 
Jef Kaminsky: It's awesome. It's the best. It's the dream come true. It's what you want.
 
John Betancourt: I couldn't help but notice this season that you and the team, not only brought back what you made season one so amazing, but you also expanded upon a lot of the messages this year regarding the world and life, and I’m curious what went into the decision to go bigger this year.
 
Jef Kaminsky: I think it's just, you know, letting the writers, you know, keep imagining what kind of stories they would tell. I think more of that… how characters are going to relate. You know, I think, like the one where Humphrey’s sad and playing his guitar is like a nice example of, you know, we're still doing the same thing. You're still recognizing your emotions. You're journaling about them, you're talking to yourself and figuring things out, but you are really trying to connect, trying to see things from someone else's angle and connect with them, which is what she does. She doesn’t try to fix him, she just joins him, which is a really different -- a lot of times we're, like, focused on, what's the fix, what's the you know, what's the zenith, the ultimate outcome, and that was like, “Well, you know, join somebody in an emotion that you're maybe not so comfortable with to help them feel better.”
 
John Betancourt: I very much appreciated that, because that is something I'm seeing more and more of now. Less about how can I fix it, and more, how can I support? And we’re definitely seeing deeper thoughts like that appear in this genre of TV. So, I thought that was a really nice touch to add that in there. And speaking of that second layer, was it hard to accomplish?
 
Jef Kaminsky: You know, there's… you work on certain shows and things are hard. I can't think of anything that was hard on this show. It was all like a pleasure, like everything about it was fun. It was this was truly a delight to work on. There's some lawyers and stuff, but oh well. (Laughs.)
 
John Betancourt: (Laughs) they're always there. That's for sure. Now I'm curious too, how do you as a producer then shepherd that structure and that messaging?
 
Jef Kaminsky: Well, the nice thing about this role, is that you really get a crazy overview. You're like, 50,000 feet up, and you're not, you know, there are days you come in and you're like, “Well, let me come up with a couple of story ideas to help us, you know, keep moving.” But you're not like, I'm not drawing anything. I'm not trying to figure out what the color styling is. I'm reviewing work that really great people have already done. And if you know what you're trying to achieve, you can give the kind of notes that are actionable, that keeps the core of it, you know, as a through line. And then, I mean, like, look… Apple TV Plus execs are top notch at helping us with this. They are remarkable people, super creative, super collaborative. And really, I mean, they're not going to let you go too far off the path, because that's what we all want to achieve. Is this a singular vision that makes sense.
 
John Betancourt: Back to the messaging for a moment, it's a question I asked last time we talked, and I want to ask it again, because the show goes to such unique places this year. What's the message that you hope people take away overall from season two this year.
 
Jef Kaminsky: I think it’s the same. It's really about, it's about knowing how you're feeling and being able to either, if you don't know how to, what to, call it, you learn how to put a name on it, if you don't know what to do with the feelings, you figure out what to do. Ideally, giving kids that toolkit to navigate life better. That's all, same season one, same season two.
 
John Betancourt: That’s a fine message and an honest answer, and it does lead me to my next question. Because you as a producer are in a very unique spot with this show. Because you can outright say you’ve helped put together a story that is helping children kind of process, that kind of stuff that we don't talk about enough. And I'm curious what it means to you to be a part of a television revolution in this genre, and a show, that is actually helping young minds grow.
 
Jef Kaminsky: Sometimes my friends make fun of me because I say that this is what gets me out of bed in the morning. This is what keeps me going, this is what keeps me happy. This is what I want to do with my time here. To be able to help kids through this medium, have, live in a better world. Be better, enjoy themselves, have fun, laugh and maybe be kinder. Be all the things that we want to ideally be. As a self-actualized little person.
 
John Betancourt: I think that's a great thing to do, because we don't get enough folks to do that. Now you’ve also put together more incredible moments that parents can use as conversation starters, what are you most excited for families to discuss when they sit down to watch season two?
 
Jef Kaminsky: That's a great question. I haven't thought about it. I, you know, ideally, we'd have parents co-viewing with kids, but hopefully the shows are clear enough and we've got it like dialed into the demographic the right way, so that kids don't need a parent there to help them to explain things to them. But as even as a parent myself, that same, the same messages, the same, you know, desire to have kids be able to, in particular in this series, to regulate, to identify, and to be able to come back from certain kinds of emotions, like, you know, sometimes Eva has negative feelings, and to be able to process that and then have a good outcome from that processing. I think that's a tremendous thing to be able to do.
 
John Betancourt: Obviously, you’ve got one season under your belt. The response was tremendous. What does that response mean to you?
 
Jef Kaminsky: Well, yeah, it's why you do it, right? You want to, you want to reach as many kids as you can. I used to be a kindergarten teacher. I would teach 20 kids a year, and when you realize the power of this media, you're like, “Oh, I like that it can just expand out to millions of kids over the years.” That's… that's the dream, is to reach, to reach tons of people with the message and the humor and the fun of it.
 
John Betancourt: The last question I have for you today, what does it mean to you to be part of this grand expansion of both children’s entertainment and the messages they carry?
 
Jef Kaminsky: Well, I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to do this. This is like a crazy dream job, to be able to have it. You know, you've talked a little bit about, like, what's contemporary, what's contemporary thought in children's television, or children's media, to be able to stay abreast of what's going on, in what kind of shows are being made. I mean, Apple TV Plus has an amazing – Dr. Alice Wilder is an incredible guide in this. And Apple TV Plus also has change makers. That's like a huge part of the of what they do. It's… it's amazing to be a part of that ecosystem and be able to craft stories, and of course, out of Scholastic Books. That's what I do is, you know, try to try to take the best of the Scholastic Books and adapt them, but to be able to do that in partnership with Apple TV Plus, to really be ahead of the curve on what's happening in the world is a delight. It's a pleasure. It's an honor.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

On Call debuts on Prime Video on January 9, 2025, and it truly is a sight to behold. For this latest offering from Wolf Entertainment, goes places that few police serials have ever gone before and it features some bold moments, and to further celebrate its release, we sat down with cast members Troian Bellisario, Brandon Larracuente, Lori Loughlin, and Eriq La Salle, and co-creators/producers Tim Walsh & Elliot Wolf to discuss this dynamic new series!

John Betancourt: This is a supremely ambitious and bold series, and I’m curious what it means to each of you to be part of it?
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Brandon Larracuente: I mean, it's kind of, at least for me, it's what I've always dreamed of being a part of. A show that just allows you to expand on what you thought you were capable of. I mean, I remember reading the script, and every single day it's like, at first, fear. It was like, “Oh my gosh, I can't do this.” And then you read it again, you go, “Okay, maybe I can pull this off.” And then, of course, you know, there's still that fear stepping into set. But then when you're surrounded around people who are there to uplift you and just want you to succeed. I think that's what made it easy for me. But I think as an actor like you, always are looking for that next thing that that will help grow you as a person and as an actor. You know that'll expand your skill set.

Troian Bellisario: I think that that's a really wonderful way to describe it, reading the scripts, it was always fear first, and okay, “I'm gonna do this. So, how's it gonna happen?” And it was just really wonderful to be working with this incredible team of writers and directors and actors, and, you know, everybody behind the scenes. We had the most incredible prop department, and really wonderful people that were making sure that we were, you know, approaching a call in the right way, checking out that we were holding our weapon in the right way, or harnessing it in the right way. You know that we were responding on the radio in an authentic way. And so, for us, and for me, I'll speak for myself, like it was just so exciting to be put in this position, to get to be able to portray something so authentically that all we had to do was do our best, to get to the truth of it. You know, what does it really sound like when you're putting something out on the radio? Because if I were in that position, I would be screaming, and I would be terrified, and you wouldn't get a word of it. And it was really wonderful to have a tech on set with us, and he was like, “If you're that, you know, scared, and you project that on the radio, they're not going to be able to locate where you are. You need to be clear; you need to be calm.” And so, to have that kind of authenticity was just really incredible. And I agree with you, it's a very ambitious show, but I think first and foremost it our goal was to be authentic, and that allowed us to reach for something bigger, wonderful.

John Betancourt: You both turned in some amazing work in this show, and I’m curious what you’re both most proud of when it comes to your work here?
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Lori Loughlin: Oh, my goodness, I'm proud that I… like the role is so different. And I think the moment that was impactful for me was when Eric screened a rough cut of the first episode for me, and I came on screen, and I was sitting in the screening room, and I stopped, and I was like, “Oh, wait, that's me again.” To not recognize myself for a moment. I don't know how to describe it. It was just, I don't know, just gave me such a sense of satisfaction that I had taken on a role and done it, you know, in a way that I was unrecognizable to myself.

Eriq La Salle: There’s so many cool experiences… I'm, you know, it's funny when you talk about being proud of a show, it hits you in different stages. There are moments that are quick. Right away. You as a director, you give a note, you see an actor flourish from that note. You see them grow. You're proud. You do a scene, a challenging scene, you get finished with it, while it came together, you get into the editing room -- so, there are these stages of pride, but we are now collectively going through another level of pride, because as many times as you guys, the press, do these things, what we have gotten today, overwhelmingly, is your enthusiasm for the show, your appreciation for the show. Like so many of the people that have interviewed us, they've already binged the show. And, you know, some people, they watch one, one show, they show up, they ask a couple of, you know, ready-made questions, but just knowing, even now, there's a sense of pride -- a different kind of pride today that we didn't have yesterday, because we haven't had these interviews, and we didn't know how engaged that you guys would be, that you and your colleagues would be, and so, so we're experiencing all kinds of pride. The trailer dropped yesterday. We're proud of the trailer. We’re proud of the artwork drop. You know, so it's, it's the gift that keeps giving.

John Betancourt: What kind of challenges went into creating a show that is this ambitious?

Elliot Wolf: I appreciate that.
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Tim Walsh: That’s a big question. There's challenges in the development of it, trying to tell this show in this climate, that's a challenge in and of itself, and then technical challenges with the body cams, the lens captured everything. We found that out in the editing afterwards. You know, you get you get in the editing bay, and you see that characters that are, you know supposed to be looking this way, but you can see everything that's not supposed to be in the shot. So that was trial and error. The weather down in Long Beach, very challenging, you know, um, but really, outside of that it was a pretty great time, pretty great shoot.

Elliot Wolf: I think that we are our own toughest critics. Yeah, so in writing and so forth, we hold ourselves to a quality standard that is challenging, but ultimately, we hope it shows in the final product.

John Betancourt: This is a labor of love, that took years to finish, and it shows in the final product. But I am curious, what it means to each of you to have this labor of love released?

Tim Walsh: So much. Quite honestly, you know, for me, personally, it's taken me 23 years to get here, and I'm incredibly grateful for that journey. And so, to be working with Elliot and to have it be this show, here in Long Beach, super exciting.

Elliot Wolf: I mean, this has been four plus years, five now in the making, and… I was telling Tim when we were walking to the room, seeing the printed key art for the first time. It still feels a little surreal, and it feels surreal, and I think we're so excited, because we're proud of it. We're really proud of the product, and that is, by far and away, the most gratifying part, being excited for the world to see what we've done.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

Operation Taco Gary’s was one of the finest comedies to grace the 2024 Austin Film Festival. Courtesy of its ability to harken back to the era in film where zany comedies ruled the day, and to further celebrate this amazing film we sat down with Writer/Director Michael Kvamme, Star Simon Rex, and Producer Matthew Vaughn to further break down this refreshing film.
 
John Betancourt: So, a bit of a multi-part question to start. For Michael, what inspired you to write this and for Simon and Matthew, what inspired you to be part of this?
 
Michael Kvamme: I wrote it during lockdown, like I've been telling people, you know, I had that completely unique idea to write a screenplay during lockdown, and I can't believe no one else thought about it. I was literally the only one. (Laughter) So, I had this brother relationship that I always wanted to do based on a text message that my little brother sent me a long time ago, before he joined the military, he was like, “Let's go on a road trip to Mexico.” And I think I said this in the Q and A, but I was convinced he was trying to leave the country, like steal my passport, maybe because that's… I was projecting. That's what I would do for him. And I just love conspiracy theories, so I just had fun during the pandemic, trying to, trying to write conspiracy theories and put them into a grounded quadrant.
 
Matthew Vaughn: Well, first, it's all in the writing. When Michael sent me a very early draft of the script, I was immediately hooked, and I knew this was something that we had to go and make it wasn't just one, you know, he's been very successful in selling scripts and things, but this was one for us to go out and actually make.
 
Simon Rex:  Well, Matt and I go way back, and I knew him before he really kind of started working in Hollywood, producing a lot of, you know, big comedy specials. He's the Emmy winning producer, and he started to do film, starting with this one, and he said, “Hey, I got a really funny script. You want to read it?” And my first reaction, which I'm learning is not always right, is when a friend comes at you with a script… it's usually not the best, unfortunately, not just friends. Most scripts are bad, but it gets funny when it's a friend, because you have to say no to a friend, and it gets weird. I was pleasantly surprised when I read the script. To say the least. I laughed out loud the whole time. My agents and managers agreed. They're like, “Ihis is the funniest thing we've read in awhile, and we see a lot of scripts come in,” and I knew I just wanted to do it based off the script. And Mike and I had a meeting, and I just went with my gut, and I said, “Let's do it.” And we executed what I saw on the page. And I'm just so happy that we made a fun throwback movie to a bygone era when movies like this were made for the under 90 minutes that are insane and silly. And you know, we need these more than ever right now and they’re not being made. So, I slapped myself on as a producer, because I wanted to be involved more in the creative process, help cast it. You know, have ideas. They were open to letting me chime in, and it was awesome.
 
John Betancourt: That leads me to my next question for Michael, because I’m curious what inspired you to bring this type of comedy back to life.
 
Michael Kvamme: If you're not being commissioned or paid to write a project, you're writing for yourself, right? I mean, as everyone probably at this conference knows, you're just writing to entertain yourself, something that you want to see. And clearly, I wanted to throw back to that those comedies with a capital C, and just be as goofy and stupid and weird as possible with a nice, cohesive story, and try to have a unique take and the unique look. But again, at the end of the day you start these kind of projects for yourself.
 
John Betancourt: Now from a production standpoint, for Matthew and Simon, were there any restrictions that you ran into, in getting Matthew what he needed to make this feature?
 
Matthew Vaughn: I mean, early drafts of this would blow your mind, but what I will say, I think that's one of the harder jobs of a hands-on producer is, is having to find creative ways around certain limitations when it comes to budget. Because, of course, that's -- I don't care if you have $3 million or you have $25 million, you're still gonna be having those same like, “We need more, we want this. We want that or more days.” So, I think we're always going to have those conversations from smaller films like this all the way up to the to the big ones. But on this one, what was great is that a lot of the choices Michael made -- it massaged Michael's muscle to make fun comedic creative choices to offset certain things that maybe weren't possible at this budget level. That’s how the script evolved. And then we started backing into a, you know, a version of that.
 
I think that's why I love doing what I'm doing, because it’s always seemed like production is the bad guy, and it’s always production and creatives going head to head, and production’s always saying “No, no, no, we can't afford this, blah, blah,” yeah, so to come in and try and bridge that gap and be a creative, you know, that can help steer… that is, is what makes it so much fun. But it's tough. I mean, I mean, Simon was a part of those conversations too, with certain things of like, what we could do, what we couldn't do. What was great is we had Simon and Dustin Milligan who were willing to, like… we got to go out and rehearse months beforehand and do things like that. That really helped so that we could shoot this film in a truncated timeline, because the amount of dialogue this guy had, yeah, was insane. I mean, that's why I'm curious. You haven't really talked much about when you first read it. We're like, “Oof, that's a lot of lines.”
 
Simon Rex: Yeah, no, it was intimidating, for sure, the amount of dialogue, knowing that it had to be said so fast. I mean, we kept leaning into while on set, you know, speed is our friend. You know, I think when you're in comedy, if you plow through, if it's good writing, it makes it funnier. You almost don't give an audience a chance to really, like, digest what was said. So, I knew that it had to be machine gun fire delivery. So, I really had to memorize some of those diatribes, that was, for me, that was really the challenging part. And I just did an impression of a friend of mine who's a conspiracy theorist, who's basically, you know, calls me and is going 100 miles an hour, and, you know, sharing these conspiracy theories. And it's very entertaining. And I just did an impression of him.
 
John Betancourt: So, to follow up on that a bit. This kind of movie is obviously in your wheelhouse, and you are a comedy legend. But what did this do for you as an actor freedom wise? Since you had more input here and a chance to really build up the character.
 
Simon Rex: Well, there was some improv, but honestly, for the most part, the script was so well written, and it flowed so naturally that I really just stuck to the script. I'd say 90% I mean, there wasn't too much improv as far as dialogue goes. It didn't really need it. And so, if anything, it was more on the producer side that was the new experience for me, and that gave me confidence. Normally, as an actor, you stand here, say this, wear this, say it like this, and maybe you'll have a director that’s cool to let you chime in with ideas. But, that's fine, that that's the case normally, but in this case, you know, it was nice to have my ideas explored, or if I had, you know… he was very open minded to best idea wins, which I think is often a good way to shoot a movie, especially a comedy. And so, for me, it was just kind of, this is my default setting, like, I'm more comfortable doing comedy than drama, like I don't take myself that serious, so I like to have fun and be the clown and the court jester. So that comes natural to me. So, if I was to have to be very dramatic and serious, that's actually the challenge. So, this is, to me, kind of like my thing. So, that's also why I was attracted to it, not out of laziness, but out of, like, I love doing comedy so much, and it's so dry out there for these types of types of movies.
 
John Betancourt: Now, I do want to expand on something a little further, since you talked about that impression of your conspiracy theorist friend. I’d love to know more about how you built that up and made it so realistic.
 
Simon Rex: I remember Sean Penn -- so this is the best, one of the best acting tips, not directly from him, but something I learned is to do an impression of somebody, you know, because it that's an easy thing to pull from. And like Sean Penn said, when he did Spicoli, he was just doing an impression of this dude in Venice that he surfed with. That was always like, “No way.”  He's like, “That was a real guy.” And he's like, “I just did an impression of him.” So, I always remembered that. And in several projects, I've done, I have so many colorful friends in my life. I'll just do impressions of my friends that I know their rhythm and their timing and how they talk. So I kind of just did a hybrid of me and this buddy of mine who is one of the funniest people I know, and is 100 miles an hour and is very passionate about his conspiracy theories, very convincing and coming from a good place, like that was something I wanted to, you know, put into this is that, you know, I don't want to give anything away, but Danny's actually doing what's right. And I think that it all comes down to intention. And if somebody's trying to do the right thing, you root for them more. So as much as Danny seems like he's like, like some… not the villain, but you know, he's doing some fucked up shit to his brother, but it is all for a reason, and he's a hero, yeah, so I wanted to make them likable, funny.
 
John Betancourt: Now for Michael, this is a movie that takes some big swings with the story. Now, we won’t spoil anything here, but I am curious what motivated you to put together a bold story.
 
Michael Kvamme: Well one of the, one of the goals I had... I knew what the last page of the script was, right? So, how do I get there? You have to take risks basically every 15 pages. And that's I was trying to do, like, alright, so every 10 to 15 pages, we gotta have big progression. And it's basically every 10 to 15 pages, Danny will say, “I haven't been completely honest with you.” To move it along. But also, you know, again, I wrote it first for me. I like to be entertained. I like to constantly -- I don't like to know where the story is going.
 
John Betancourt: With this being a labor of love, what did it mean to each of you to have this screened in front of a live audience?
 
Michael Kvamme: Yeah, especially when you write it, say, four years ago, all these jokes are so old, and you're still hoping, like, “I hope they still work. I hope they're still funny. I hope people laugh,” and when they did, it was just such a relief. I've just been relieved this whole time.
 
Matthew Vaughn: You also have to remember, we've seen the film so many times, in so many different iterations. Some of those hits lose their effect, after a while, that's the way it is, those surprises. I think what was so great about last night is that we got to experience that through a large group of people, and they hit right where they were supposed to hit. And that's what made it like… that was the relief of like, “Oh my gosh,” and the joy because then you're laughing again too, because you're like, “Yeah, that is fucking funny.” Oh, they picked up on that, you know, Easter egg. I mean, this is a movie that you go, and you can just turn off from the world for a little bit and laugh from the beginning to the end. And that's what I think we accomplished with this and with an amazing cast.
 
Simon Rex: I mean, the cast is amazing. Everybody crushed it. I can't even imagine anyone else doing these roles. We're so lucky to get everyone we had in it. And I remember David Zucker when I did Scary Movie. He said, “I'm making a movie so people could put their brain under their seat for 90 minutes and like, escape from their lives and have a good time.” And I feel like while this does that. It still does have a story that you're invested in, and it has stakes, and it's not mindless, but it's silly and fun, and having fun making -- it's like a “Wink, wink, we're in on the joke.” You know what I mean? Which to me, again, I just think we need these movies more than ever, and that's what makes me so excited about it is, I think making people laugh is the most magical thing you could do. I'm a huge fan of comics. I just showed you the book I'm reading, it’s from a comic. I love comedy so much. It's like I grew up watching what molded my brain as an only child. My best friend was the television. I remember when the VCR came out, I would just record movies off HBO like Mel Brooks movies and David Zucker movies and memorize them and watch them over and over. So, to me, going, being able to do this kind of comedy is just ingrained into me since my childhood, and it's just fun to, you know, to do that.
 
Matthew Vaughn: I'm hearing rumors. It's the conspiracy comedy of the decade. (Laughter from everyone.)
 
John Betancourt: That needs to be on the theatrical release poster. The last question I have you gentlemen today is… what are you each most proud of when it comes to what you’ve accomplished here?
 
Michael Kvamme: The most proud of I mean, there were so many different accomplishments throughout. Just getting to the first day of shooting, and then getting to the second day of shooting. (Laughter) You know, getting to the edit, we ran out of money so many different times. It was just, there's a million different accomplishments. If I could just pick one thing… just that we made this script, you know, we didn't compromise. We made the movie we wanted to make. And it worked. I don't regret anything.
 
Matthew Vaughn: Honestly, I'm piggybacking off what Michael said, because I think that was, that was the perfect answer and I'm also proud that I got to do this with my friends. It's not always that you get to work with your friends, you're always going to make new friends and stuff, but I've known Simon for 15 plus years, Michael, 15 plus years, Bill Dawes, who's also a piece of talent. And so getting to do this with people that you've known that long, and, and to do something fun like this, that's the hope is that we continue doing these types of movies, because I really do think there's a hole right now for those throwbacks, as Simon said, the late 90s, early 2000s comedies, when they were low budget, so yeah, we'll see.
 
Simon Rex: Yeah. I'm most proud… my ego is the proud to see my name with executive producer. (Laughter) So I'm gonna say surreal to see my name there as a producer, I never would have thought in a million years I would see that. And piggybacking off what Matt said, I actually have had a lot of bad experiences working with friends. You know, it could often jeopardize friendships. So, I have an aversion at times, to working with friends, which was, at first, I didn't want to affect my friendship with him, so I was a little on the fence, because in the past, that has backfired on me, not always. So, I'm proud of the fact that I got to work with my friends. It came out great, and it didn't sabotage friendships, and I built new ones. So that was a good learning experience for me, that I'm wrong a lot, and I shouldn't have that aversion. Maybe I should, sometimes. It worked out.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
​

There are few writers that have impacted the landscape of the science fiction genre over the past few decades, quite like Ronald D. Moore has. After all, he expanded the world of Star Trek in a manner that continues to be used to this day, he revolutionized the reboot and showcased how sci-fi can tackle real world issues in a new way via Battlestar Galactica. Plus, he updated how epics are adapted via Outlander and of course, he paved a new path for ‘what if?’ type stories with his work on For All Mankind, and well… we here at NTG had the distinct and humbling honor to sit down with Mister Moore at the Austin Film Festival to discuss his stunning career.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

John Betancourt: What was it that inspired you to get into writing in the first place?
​
Ronald D. Moore: I think… I don't know. I just started writing things as a kid, like in elementary school. I wrote short stories, kind of for my own amusement. My mom kept this one. I wrote this long story with little pictures of us, me and my dog on this crazy trip to Disneyland, and the dog getting out, and me chasing through all the rides, because I was a huge… I loved Disneyland Park as a child, and she kept it. And she bounded a thing, and it's still like, it's like 20 pages or something, of all this hand, hand scrawl of mine when I was a kid and I was just like writing, and I always enjoyed it, and I always did well in classes that featured it in one way, shape or form. But I come from a very small town in central California, and being a writer wasn't real job, so I didn't really think of it as like something I was going to do one day.
 
John Betancourt: You've had a very unique career and a very fulfilling career, and I'm curious what it means to you to be in the chair that you're in now as a person and as a writer.
 
Ronald D. Moore: It’s… I have the best job in the world. I mean, to be a showrunner, to create a show, to run a show, to put a team together, to, you know, to be the player manager, and in a baseball sense, that nobody does that role anymore, but I get to do that role. It's incredibly fulfilling, you know, and then to present to an audience, and I can't imagine doing anything else with my life now, it's just the opportunity to dream and play on this kind of scale. You know, these are big budget. All these shows cost millions of dollars that you're trusted with to do something with. And you work with really talented people, and you challenge each other, and you try to do something better every single day, and it's enormously rewarding. It's incredible.
 
John Betancourt: Obviously, you've done, you've written so many amazing stories, written so many amazing things. Is there a particular type of story or a genre that you haven't been able to touch that you're still eager as a writer to get into?
 
Ronald D. Moore: I'd love to do a James Bond film. But I'd be a writer, and then there'd be another writer after me, which is kind of the drag of features. But Naren Shankar, who was a friend of mine and a colleague, and I tried to resurrect The Wild Wild West. Once wrote a pilot for CBS that they didn't, they didn't do, and that's still the one that got away from me. It's still man, because The Wild Wild West was, which is kind of a forgotten show now, it doesn't come up in conversation. It's not referenced really in pop culture, right? But it was a big show that it was a huge hit at the time, and when I was growing up in, again, this trip syndication, it was like Star Trek and Wild Wild West were sometimes back-to-back, you know, Monday through Friday. And I love that show too. And I just like, oh, my God, wouldn't it be great to do a spy Western thing that also has the occult, and, you know, there were some wacky, crazy places in that show. And I just, I would love to resurrect that, but it's… I've been chasing that for years.

John Betancourt: Now with a few exceptions, shows you’ve assembled receive a complete arc, a series finale, the works. What’s that like? Since so many TV writers don’t get that journey.
 
Ronald D. Moore: You know, it's funny because I've had a specific and unique career. I know that's just what I expect it to be, is I expect to be able to finish my story, and I have, I have, fortunately, you know, not had the experience of being cut off in the middle and not I've had pilots that got made but didn't air, and stuff like that, but generally speaking, I've been able to complete the story, and that's, that's great, but that's kind of what it should be, and I just expect it to be that
 
John Betancourt: Of the many things you’ve done, is there a particular piece you’re most proud of? And why?
 
Ronald D. Moore: That’s hard. There's a lot because there I'm proud of different things for different reasons. I mean, “33” pops to mind today because we spent a lot of time talking about it today, and it was an extraordinary episode, and I was very proud of the fact that it's the only episode I've ever written where I didn't have an outline or really of any kind, because it was a whole story that I wrote that because it was between the mini-series being produced and when they hadn't picked up the show yet at Sci-Fi And there was a moment when UPN, if you remember UPN, they talked. Where they'd stepped in and they said, “We might pick up the show if Sci-Fi doesn't want it.” And David Ike was my producing partner, that was talking to them directly, and he called me, like, over Christmas and said, “Okay, UPN, might pick up the show, but they would need to see a script of, like, an episode. Could you just, like, get an episode by January?” And it's like, “Okay, I guess.”
 
And I didn't have any, there were no outlines. It was, there's no staff. It was just me and David, you know, and I had a… I did have some log lines of potential episodes, and it was like, we're gonna go to the prison ship, and there'll be a murder mystery and, and one of those log lines was the fleet jumps away from the Cylons every 33 minutes. And I just kind of fixed on to that one. Said, “Okay, I'll do that one. And I just decided… fade in, and I just started writing it, and just wrote it each scene and what's the next scene? And just made myself write a next scene, and a next scene, and then it became that episode. I'm very, very proud of that episode, and it was like a moment of just pure writing.

John Betancourt: What was it like, to have one of your first jobs be Star Trek: The Generation?
 
Ronald D Moore: Oh, it was crazy. It was literally my first job. And it was, it was a childhood dream come true. I mean, it was, I was a dyed in the wool Star Trek fan as a kid. I was a Trekkie, and growing up in the 70s, and I thought that the show was this thing that I loved that nobody else did, because, again, it was a little cow town, yeah, and it was in strip syndication, so it was on five days a week when I got home from school and I could watch it five days in a row, and I loved and obsessed about it, and, you know, couldn't get enough of it. And it wasn't until I was in a drugstore one day and saw Starlog magazine for the first time, and it was issue three, and on the cover that was a cartoon drawing of the Star Trek cast members hanging from a chandelier over a convention floor of fans with signs, yeah. And I went, “What? What is that?” And that's how I realized there was a thing as fandom.
 
And so, I was like, “Oh my god.” Suddenly I wanted to go to conventions. And you know, wrote away for catalogs and all this stuff, and realized there was this whole community out there that I had no idea even existed. But then I embraced it and loved it. And so, when I got the chance to be on the show, you know, I was the fan made good. I was like, I was a fan who suddenly would walk down and sit on the bridge in the Enterprise anytime I felt like it, which is an amazing thing. It's yeah, it's… I don't even… now today, all these years later, I’m still kind of astonished that that's part of my life story, and it's an amazing gift. And I just, you know, it's, it's, it's unbelievable what the show did for me growing up as a child, and then what it did for me as an adult for a career. And it's just like, it's, it's one of the defining things of my life.
 
John Betancourt: I think something that I've always been very intrigued by is that you are, in essence, the father of the modern Klingon. That's probably the best way to put it. So, with that in mind, I'm very curious how you managed to build that world so well. Because we could not think of the Klingon Empire without the work that you put together.
 
Ronald D. Moore: Well, thank you. It was, it really wasn't by design. It was just kind of happenstance, because when I showed up on the show Michael Piller, the late Michael Piller, who was the showrunner at the time, he was just getting to know the Star Trek Universe, and didn't really know really the difference between Klingons and Romulans, and he kind of turned to me and asked me to write, “Could you send me a menu of all this stuff? Can you just send me a memo of who the Klingons are and who the Romulans are?” I went, “Okay.” So, I wrote what I thought, I think the Klingons, the Romulans were, and then he handed me on that same day, he said, “All right, here's two scripts about Worf that we're having trouble with. See what you can do with them, it has to be an episode”. And Som I just took these two scripts and combined them, and that's what became Sins of the Father. And in the course of writing Sins of the Father, because it was the first time the Enterprise was going to the Klingon Homeworld. Homeworld didn't have a name. It was a lot of things had yet to be defined.
 
So, then I could just play around with sort of who I thought they were based on things that were mentioned and referenced in The Original Series and the movies. And they had done that one episode of Next Gen, “Heart of Glory,” first season that kind of told you they had some rituals. And it was just, there was just a lot of room. And I could kind of play and do a lot of things and set stuff up. And once I did that episode, because it ends on sort of an emotional cliffhanger with Worf has lost his honor. You knew we were going to revisit that story at some point. And when we did it was kind of Michael said, “Well, you should write the next one, because you wrote that one,” and that was Redemption Part One and Two, and after that, yeah. I was the Klingon guy at the staff. I was the Margaret Mead of the Klingon Empire. It was like, “Okay, I'm gonna tell you.” It was fun. I really enjoyed it.

John Betancourt: Now I would love to know what it was about Outlander that resonated with you as a writer?
 
Ronald D. Moore: I was just fascinated with, you know, I read the book, and I could kind of just see what the show was, because I really responded to the central character of Claire in the book. First book is written in her voice, so she's talking to all the way through. And I thought she was fascinating and smart and strong and funny, and I really thought, well, I can build a show around that character. And I didn't know a lot, if anything, about 18th century Scotland. So that was like, I'm going to an alien planet. I don't know these people. I don't know what the customs -- the customs seem crazy, and they do this stuff, and all this is kind of fascinating. And I was drawn to doing it because I thought the audience would have that experience too. Like, “what is this?” And it just felt like a really big, sweeping adventure that was still grounded in intimate stories about these, these particular characters.
 
John Betancourt: And obviously now we're coming to one more season of the show. What has the response, and the journey of Outlander meant to you?
 
Ronald D. Moore: It's been amazing. You know, it's, I start every project as this wide eyed optimist that this is gonna be the greatest show. People are gonna love it. It's always, this is gonna be the biggest show ever. And, you know, doesn't always happen. Usually doesn't happen. But on that show, it happened like, yeah, it took off. People loved it. The fans embraced it. Public embraced it. Eight seasons. You know, it's, it's a success. I'm very proud of it. And it's very… it's not surprising in a certain sense, but it's gratifying. It's like, “Yeah, we did do a good show.” It's nice it's being seen like that

John Betancourt: So, we absolutely need to talk about Battlestar Galactica, since that's been on topic today. It really does stick with everyone. And I'm curious why you think it resonates so well still, after all this time.
 
Ronald D. Moore: It was different. It was an intense show, and it was very human show. I think it was the characters that people really connected to. And, you know, there's the cast. We've got an amazing cast, and those characters were just indelible. You know, Adama and Laura and Starbuck and Apollo and all of them. And it was just… we were daring. We were daring to do something that hadn't been done at that point. We were trying to break the mold of how sci fi was on TV. It was the time of, you know, the War on Terror and the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan were in the news, and we were talking about those things in real time. And I think that got people's attention. And it's just an extraordinary show. It was extraordinary thing to be part of. I'm very proud of being part of that. Very proud of being part of that team.
 
John Betancourt: That was something I was very appreciative of when it comes to Battlestar. That fact that it was the first piece of media that really talked about and helped us process 9/11 in any capacity.
 
Ronald D. Moore: That’s the genius of science fiction and good science fiction, we could talk about 9/11 without having you have to relive 9/11. We didn't have to, like, actually call everything by its name and make you literally go back through this horrible, horrible event, you know, again. But we could talk about it. And you knew what we were talking about it, but you had a -- yeah, it was one step removed, and it made it okay. And then we can look at it from different perspectives, you know? So, you don't have to, like, feel weird that we're looking at it from Osama bin Laden's perspective. Like, that's a hard show.  But, you know, okay, step back. It's not Osama, you know, we're not… the players are different, but the themes are resonant.
 
John Betancourt: I think what I appreciate the most about the show is that it does shift tone as we start getting closer to the end. It becomes a very beautiful and hopeful show. I personally am a huge fan of the finale, because that was just this beautiful piece. And I'm curious what went into, and when the decision was made to shift the show into this hopeful… “we’re gonna be okay,”
vibe?
 
Ronald D. Moore: It was important to me that that was the note that we ended on. I… it was, I always felt like, as tough as the show was, it always had an element of hope. It was always, you know, there's a baby born on the Rising Star at the end of 33? You know, there's always… these are characters that are dealing with incredible, difficult times. They've gone through horrible tragedies, but they're still struggling to be better. They're struggling towards the light. It was always important that we're not going to end the show on a downbeat we're not going to end the show on a hopeless note there. There should be hope at the end. Was really important in the concept of the series.

John Betancourt: Let’s talk a little bit about For All Mankind. Specifically, what inspired the origins of it, because it's such a cool idea. I love the idea of this alternate Earth along those lines.
 
Ronald D. Moore: For All Mankind came out of a discussion. Came out of a discussion with an executive, actually, Zack Van Amburg, was an executive at Sony Television when I was there doing Outlander. And he and I had a casual conversation years ago where he said, you know, he grew up when NASA was a big thing when he was a kid, like it was for me. And he said, “Wouldn't it be cool to do like a Mad Men style show, set NASA in the 70s?” “Yeah, that'd be cool.” And then we didn't talk about it again. Years go by. He then left and ran Apple TV Plus, as one of the co-presidents, called me up and said, “Let's talk about some stories.” He came over and he said, “Oh, you know, I still think about that. NASA, Mad Men show. We want to do that.” And I said, “Well, wow, I thought about that in a while. Let me go think about it.” And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that, yeah, you can do that show. You could do Mad Men as an office thing about the culture and the characters at NASA in the 70s, and that'd be an interesting show.
 
But to me, who was a space aficionado, the story of NASA in the 70s is kind of a sad and depressing one, because it's about budgets getting cut, ambitions being curtailed. And you know, we weren't going to do these big things, I thought we can do as a kid. And I went back to Zack, and I said, “What if we did the show about the space program? I didn't get the one that was promised, where we really do go to Mars, we really do these big, big things, and to really step out into space in a dramatic way.” And he said, “Well, that's cool, but why would we have kept going like, what's different? Why would that be the case?” And I didn't have an answer, and so I decided -- I called up a friend of mine, Garrett Reisman, who's an actual astronaut and was a big Battlestar fan. We had talked to him when he was in orbit, when we were on Battlestar, and he did a cameo on the show. He's great, very smart, amazing guy, and who had kept in touch over the years. And I called him up and said, “Can we have lunch and let me just pick your brain about something?” And he was working at SpaceX at that point, went over to SpaceX, had lunch with him in the commissary, and I told him, “Okay, this is what we're talking about doing.” And I said, “I'm not sure. Why do you think they would have kept going? What could have gotten the space program to keep going after Apollo 11?” And he said, “Well, you know, a lot of people just don't know how close the Russians came to getting on the moon.” I said, “Really?”
 
Because I was a huge aficionado, and I knew that the Russians sort of made a vague attempt, but I thought they didn't really try. And he said, “Well, actually, they really made a real attempt to do it. But you know, the rockets blew up, and they had political problems around it, but they had really committed a lot of resources trying to do it. They had picked the astronaut, Alexei Leonov, was going to be their first man on the moon. In reality, they had built the space suits. They had prototyped the lander. They were down the line to try to do it, and they just couldn't pull it off. And he said, “You know that if they had actually gotten to the moon, yeah, it might have been very different.” And I realized, yeah, if they had beaten us to the moon, it would have changed everything, in my opinion, like the people, Americans, just would have gotten pissed off. “We can't. This is crazy. We're gonna double down in space.” And I thought, now we're into a story. Now we're into the whole alternate history of the country.
 
John Betancourt: See, I’m with you on so much of that. Because I too noticed that all the programs and promises were never fulfilled by NASA. But I also appreciate the commentary in the show, and the depth, and this could have been a simple, straight forward, alternate history story. But I am curious when the decision came about to add that subtext to the story.
 
Ronald D. Moore: Because it felt like we're still it's not gonna change people. So, we're gonna have, it's still gonna be problems. We're still gonna have these, elements of fighting against each other and fighting against other people. So, we wanted to go down this road that was more that was leading towards a better world, a better future, towards the Star Trek futures. As we always said, this is like the path that takes you there, but that it wasn't going to be easy, and there were going to be setbacks, and there were going to be tragedies, and there were going to be things that were questionable happening as people interacted with each other. So, it was important that we did that because it kept it feeling real, like, “Oh, it's more grounded that it's really going to still be problematic, even if it's a better, a better world that we're watching.” Generally.
 
John Betancourt: What have you enjoyed the most about piecing together this particular series?
 
Ronald D. Moore: Oh, it's a lot of fun because there's so much in the writer’s room of “what ifs” or what if this had changed, what if you tweet that, coming up with who's the president is like a really great game. And then all the little pop cultural things that we throw in, and there's so many more ideas that we have than we're ever able to do, but it's just kind of a thrill. I'm a history buff as well as a space aficionado and a political junkie, so a lot of those story lines of charting a path for Ellen, from ex-astronaut in a world where space is huge, to give her, like, well, John Glenn really did run for the presidency in 1984 Well, she's going to actually run, she's going to win. And so that was fun. Like, okay, our astronaut is going to be her. It's going to be a woman that's going to do it for the first time in our in our new sort of history of the world.

We meant when we said that the aspireTV feature, Nochebuena, was ‘one of the most refreshing holiday films in years.’ Simply because it offered us so much and accomplished so much from a storytelling standpoint, and that is why we sat down with the film’s director, Adam Lopez, and one of its stars, Carmen Morales, who plays Mel… to further deconstruct this special film.
 
John Betancourt: I Would like to start by getting to know what inspired each of you want to be involved with this project.
 
Adam Lopez: First of all, Glenaliz Quezada wrote the script, and I was showing my last project short Adam at a film festival. She said, “Hey, I wrote this Christmas movie. Will you take a look at it.” And when I read it, I was like, “Oh my gosh. I like, I lived this as a kid, like, I remember the parrandas when I was a kid” and, there was, like, little things that she littered throughout the script that I thought, “Oh, this, this feels like home.” And so, it really resonated with me. And then when she asked me to direct it, I was, I was just completely honored and excited to jump on board.
 
Carmen Morales: Oh, I Well, honestly, it was a story that I had never heard put out there, and you don't often get an opportunity to read a script that hasn't been done yet. I'm sure you know that John… it seems like everything has already been done. So, this was a story that I was like, not only was it new, but not new, but it was like something that I hadn't seen, but it also had a lot of life in it, and there was a lot of heart in it. And that was something that was like, it's, those are the things you really want from a Christmas movie and for a holiday film. And that was the whole thing, is, we've seen so many holiday films done ad nauseam that are the same three beats, the same things over and over and over again, the same thematically. I mean, I'm certain, you know, you know which ones I'm talking about. Don't make me say it. (Laughter) Um, so this wasn't like that. You know, this is a story that was told, and it also had, it also had Afro Latinos and Latinos in general, acting like real people and not like caricatures of themselves, and all of those things put together. I was just like, yes. How could I say no to something like this? This is… I want to be a part of this story.
 
John Betancourt: Now you both bring up great points about the realism present here, and there are moments in this movie I relate to as well. So, I want to talk about that in detail, and Adam, to start with, what went into the decision to make this story so authentic and so realistic?
 
Adam Lopez: I think my background in acting really helped me. I mean, I get incredibly frustrated when I watch… and I'm not trying to be a hater. But like, you know, you see people put on the Hispanic accent, and, my big note was, as I was communicating with the actors, is like, listen, just, let's not do that. Like, that's not what it is. It's not my reality, it's not how I sound, you know. And so that was definitely an active choice in the casting process and on set, you know, try to be as collaborative. Carmen brought so much colors to what she was doing on set. I also, you know, it's like, I got the take we did. We did the take where it was scripted, and then it was like, alright, Carmen, do your thing. And, you know, having Carmen, who's got so much experience on stage doing stand up, you know, it was a lot of fun just to sit back and watch her play, you know, and just take it off the script and add, you know, all these cool buttons that, you know, made it into the film, and, you know, punched it up, really, and gave it a lot of life. So, you know, I just, I kind of on set, you know, you try to be, you know, as collaborative as possible, you know, while going like, “Hey, this is the goal. We're trying to get this. These are the beats we're trying to hit.” And I just didn't want it to be stereotypical.
 
John Betancourt: That leads me right to my next question to Carmen, because now that I know that there was some improv in there, some of which explains a lot of the great jokes in the film. I mean, the beauty of it too, is, again, your acting work on this is phenomenal. Mel, feels like several people that I've known throughout my life. And I'm just curious how you as an actor, made Mel just so realistic.
 
Carmen Morales: Well, that was because… even in stand up, I oftentimes like, I never get compared to another comedian. I've never been compared to another comedian. I'm always hearing like, “You remind me of my cousin, you remind me of my sister, you remind of my best friend, you remind me of….” It's always somebody in their family. And I was like, “Why don't I take all of that information and bring that into this person?” Because you do want to see that. And especially in a holiday film, those people are always around. So, I wanted to make sure to showcase having that person there and what, what kind of brightness it does bring, and how it activates all of the other characters too. Um, because you saw me and Rose's (Bianco_ dynamic, I absolutely loved in the film, where we could go back and forth, because we were kind of, like giving that same married couple energy of like bickering and stuff like that. And then she was, she loves me, but I get on her nerves.
 
And that's also something that your cousin or your best friend or your sister would be doing, you know. So, I wanted to try to, I wanted to try to bring all of those in, like pulling from my own life and pulling from friends that I've had and from my own nochebuenas, characters in my past that I was like, “Oh, I would, I would love to have some of that life in this character.” So I was, it was a big deal for me to make sure that she was real and that she wasn't, because especially whenever you're doing anything comedically, there's a line between character and character, and I didn't want it to be, you know, I'm not trying to do a slapstick -- this isn't a slapstick. But I did want her to be funny, because a lot of those friends and cousins and sisters are inherently funny without trying to be. And that was what I was trying to encapsulate.
 
John Betancourt: I think another piece that I appreciate about this, in addition to the realism in the authenticity, is just that it's such a moving and beautiful piece of work. I think what I really appreciate is the fact that you have so many layers to this story, which is also kind of rare for holiday film that's usually kind of A to B, you know, and love trumps all. But there's so much more depth here about grief than loss and wonderful things that you don't hear people talk about enough. And I'm just kind of curious. Let me start with Adam again. What you hope the audience takes away from a messaging standpoint.
 
Adam Lopez: Man, that's a really good question. My goal for this film was for the movie as a whole, to transcend it being an Afro Latino film, you know. And we got lucky with aspireTV, and it's like the proof is in the pudding that it lands at a place like aspire where obviously it's working, it speaks to everyone and for me, that was just my that was my goal. And, you know, accompanying the images with a pretty traditional American composition, you know, having, this Latino story backed by, you know, this big sound. And so, when people watch it, I just hope they, they feel like they’re home. You know, they feel, they have all those emotions that come up throughout the holidays. You know, sometimes holidays are sad. You know, it can be a nostalgic time for a lot of people, and it can make them go back to people that are no longer in their lives. And, you know, the big, the core of the thing is that something bigger is at play. And you know that thing, you know, what's meant for you will always be for you. I mean, that is, that's the root of the story. And, you know, hopefully people watching, they'll have a little bit more faith in what's meant to happen for them.
 
Carmen Morales:  I also, I mean to jump off of that. I also feel like a lot of times, especially holiday films, it's usually the same three beats and the love conquers all and stuff like that, and it doesn't really address any of the other feelings. It kind of just brushes over it and ignores everything else. It's kind of like how when everybody is celebrating Mother's Day or Father's Day, it's completely neglecting people who don't have those people in their lives. And this is addressing those things as well. It's like a head nod to all of the things that holidays bring up, the frustrations of dealing with your you know, the loudmouth character, the frustrations of my significant other isn't going to be here, like this should matter, and all of that, and in the significance of dealing with those feelings of loss, and how you go through the holiday with and without these people, all of those things I thought were all kind of beautifully meshed together in this script. And I'm just, I'm happy that we were able to convey that message, you know, I because I thought that was really important.
 
And, and doing it all in 90 minutes, you know what I mean, doing it, getting it done, and have it still b real. You know? That was really. It. And everybody on set really tried their best to do it. And I think, and I think everybody succeeded, because that was the other thing too, is it was important on set and offset. And I you could tell in post too that this isn't just a Latin film, man. This is… like my I have friends from Sri Lanka that connected with it, and it reminds them of her grandmother and there's characters in this that remind me, you know, my friends from all over the world, they're connecting with it. So, it's not just, it is a holiday film. It is not a specific genre of holiday film.
 
John Betancourt: Carmen, you bring up exactly what I want to talk about next. What does it mean for each of you to be part of a movie that really is kind of a revolutionary holiday film, because we don't see these types of stories very often for it?
 
Adam Lopez: Oh, thank you. That's a really nice compliment. You know, I've I kind of always secretly wanted to check this genre off my personal life goals of stories that I want to tell. So, for it to be a film about, you know, the Puerto Rican culture as a backdrop, it's just, it's really cool for me, like, I'm, like, over the moon. Pun intended, you know, but, like, it's really, really exciting for me to be a part of it, and I'm really, really proud of this film, and to have worked with so many of my friends, you know, that I went to high school with Carmen. She was in the first play that I ever did, when I read it, and I'm like, “Oh, this is, you know, I see Carmen,” you know, and I just saw her, you know. And I was like, I know who, exactly who Mel is. And I mean, there's something really like, I said, there's something bigger at play with this movie. I feel like… It was like, all the things that have happened to me in my personal life have led me to, you know, the opportunity to make this kind of movie. And it's just, I'm just really proud of it, and I'm really happy with it. Found such a good home at aspire. They're treating it like their own movie, and they've given it so much love and attention. And, you know, as an independent filmmaker, I couldn't ask for more.
 
Carmen Morales: I um, I think that I'd be… sorry. I was just, I'm… I'm just flattered. I guess that you called it a revolutionary film, that I was just like, “My god. I guess it kind of is,” I didn't even think about it like that. But, um, it's also, yeah, I hope people can connect with it emotionally, because I think that is what is lacking in a lot of other holiday films, and it's also a film that your husband or boyfriend isn't forced to watch like, you know what I'm saying, like everyone can watch it together, and there’s not someone that's eye rolling. Because that was the whole thing, is that I think the realism in it is what made it a better film than your average holiday film. And with that, then it's easier for human beings to connect with, not just, you know, sad white ladies. (Laughter from everyone.)
 
I mean, they could still get into it too, but it's just, you know, it's not the same story, and it's a story that, because I feel like a lot of other people during the holidays, get neglected as far as being represented in a holiday film. So, this is, it's nice that it's, I mean, based on, like, how you received it, it. It makes me feel good that people are receiving it correctly, you know. And I hope people continue to do that, this is a film that's got some unity in it, and that's really beautiful. That's really the point of the holidays.
 
John Betancourt: The last question that I have for you two today, relates to the fact that there's not enough Latin representation on television. I'm Mexican American, and there's only so many shows that I watch that that feature Latinos. And that's, that's, that's of concern.
 
Carmen Morales: And then if we are represented, it's always in a in a goofy way. It's gotta be the sultry Latina or you it's somebody working a taco truck, or it's somebody it's like, they’re caricatures, and this is a real story about real people.
 
John Betancourt: Yes! That’s a perfect way to sum up the problem! So, the last question I have for you two today is what it means to each of you to be offering up such an important story when it comes to representation?
 
Carmen Morales: I mean, I think it's incredible. Incredible, to be part of that, because it's something that I've been screaming from the rooftops, even in in this stand-up space, because that's where I thrive the most, as a comedian. So, I've been talking about this for years, so it's nice to be able to see it in the in the film space, to see it come to fruition in any kind of way, especially in a way that's done authentically. So, I think it's super important. And I hope that's their takeaway from it.
 
Adam Lopez: Representation matters. I've, you know, I lived in Los Angeles for 11 years. And, you know, I did, I did… I played a gang member, you know, I played the guy handing out the pizza behind the counter. And, you know, I just had, I just said, you know, enough's, enough. I'm going to champion and make my own movies, you know. And so, anybody watching this that has an idea, you know, tell your stories because it matters. And, you know, you can't sit around, sit around and wait for somebody to give you permission. So, I hope it inspires, you know, other filmmakers to tell their stories is, you know, especially, especially Latinos.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

Silent Notes just so happened to be one of the most refreshing films to grace the 2024 Austin Film Festival. Courtesy of its unique plot and its ability to offer audiences incredible representation. It’s a film that we raved over for certain, and we also had the opportunity to sit down with several members from the film to further explore the wonder of this movie. So, without further ado, here is what Director Toni Comas and stars Matt Riker (Ethan) and Daniel Durant (Bruce) had to say about their work in putting this important film together.

John Betancourt: What inspired you to take part in this project?
​
Matt Riker: The honest truth is, an actor of my limited stature doesn't get many opportunities. I'd be lying if I didn't plainly state how grateful I was to be given the audition that opened the path towards even discussing the project. From that vantage point, it was very easy to see how delicious the role of "Ethan" was for me as an actor. I love exploration of characters, and there was so much to chew on in this script. The subject matter of love, exploring silence, and friendship just added layers to my own inspiration. Working alongside Daniel was just the cherry on top!

Toni Comas: Two of my favorite movies are The Conversation by Coppola and Lost Highway by David Lynch. I realized that the most defining element in both films is the sound design. So, I wanted to make a movie where the main character is deaf, which allowed me to play with the point of view and sound design to help narrate the story. 

John Betancourt: What do you hope audiences take away from this film from a messaging standpoint?

Matt Riker: I don't think it has to be anything deeper than I hope people were fulfilled in even the tiniest way. First and foremost, were you entertained? We're not curing cancer, but you are hoping people can escape and find their own silence within themselves.  Did this film feel authentic and honest to you? Not every film can break the mold, but we can try our best to connect with honest and unique depictions of love, friendship, hardships; all the intricacies that make life so damn challenging. So, did we do that for you, in even the tiniest way? Could you relate to Ethan? To Bruce? I hope I did my part and allowed you to have that moment. 

Toni Comas: One of the characters in the movie, the Policeman Gene learns from the main character Bruce that, in the end, it is impossible to live without love and connection to others. I hope the audience takes away the same message.

John Betancourt: What was the most fulfilling aspect of working on this project?

Matt Riker: I got to sink my teeth into a fully formed character (on paper).  At my level, meaty roles (and jobs) don't come around often, so when one is lucky enough to sink his/her teeth into one, it's a gift! I'm never fully confident I got the job done or that I even approve of my contribution; however, in this I was a part of something so unique in structure, intelligent in writing, and FUN that I find the whole project itself to have been fulfilling! 

Toni Comas: The most fulfilling aspect is having been able to finish the film the way we envisioned. Many times, during the process, I felt like I would never be able to complete the film. Looking back now, I realize that all the struggles made sense, that we had to go through those phases for it to reach its true form. My producer Andres Torres always told me, “Make sure that you like the final version of the film, no matter how long it takes.”

John Betancourt: What does it mean to you to be part of such an important feature?

Matt Riker: A film is only as important as the people that surround it. It's much more important to me, to have been trusted in adding my vision to the already topical story. The film was always going to be important for audiences with or without me, so the fact that I got to play but a small percentage of the overall value of this feature is a forever gift.

Toni Comas: This film means everything to me - it is the most important thing in my professional life. Making this movie was such a learning process both in writing and directing, and I hope to take some of that into my next creative project.

John Betancourt: What are you most proud of when it comes to your work here?

Matt Riker: My proudest moments are that I took chances throughout production, and within a limited construct of time. I leapt onto a moving ship mid filming and came prepared to contribute. So many of my greatest moments came from improvisation, which can be terrifying and yet fully exhilarating.  I'm proud of the communal talent from everybody, from the top (Toni Comas), sideways to the Producers, and "down" to every Production Assistant. We all made a film that we can, in fact, be proud of. I sincerely hope that I, too, made the rest of the cast / crew proud.

Toni Comas: Resilience. It took five years, three reshoots, and a lot of coffee to finish the film. I'm also really proud of the camaraderie and environment that we found making this movie - I'm still friends with the cast and crew and we are all in touch to this day.

John Betancourt:  What attracted you to this story as an actor?
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Daniel Durant: When I read the script, I really enjoyed the fact that this deaf character becomes part of the mafia. Most often, stories have the benevolent sweet deaf guy character, but this shows a person surviving and doing what they have to do and getting into the thick of it, even being in a gang, and developing this tough exterior. I really liked that about this character.

John Betancourt: What did you enjoy most about the role?

Daniel Durant: My biggest joy came from working with Toni. We communicated directly despite my having an interpreter on set. Toni would come up to me with a photo of a facial expression or a body movement that he wanted me to embody, and was so clear about what he was asking for emotionally and what the scene required that it gave me an “in” for how to play it. And if there was something he wanted more of, he would race right in and give it to me face to face. I also enjoyed watching Matthew become “Ethan,” because the two are very different.

John Betancourt: How did you craft a character with such depth?

Daniel Durant: After studying the script, I spoke a lot with Toni Comas before we began filming so I knew what was expected of the character and what kind of journey he was on. Toni shared with me how he believed everything about Bruce would be learned through his eyes. That was Toni’s goal for this character in this film, that I would be open and show my sensibilities through my eyes. He wanted the audience to feel the perseverance through his eyes as the journey progresses and so I worked to deliver that for him.

John Betancourt: What do you hope audiences take away from this film in terms of messaging?

Daniel Durant: Our humanity seems to be an underlying theme. We all have hopes, we all have goals, and my character Bruce aspired when he suddenly becomes deaf. So, what does he do? Life goes on and he goes down a path to the unknown where he falls in love with a guy and starts a relationship. He is so open emotionally to his journey that I hope the audience takes note of the humanity of it all. 

John Betancourt: What does it mean to you to be part of such an important feature?

Daniel Durant: Honestly, when we started shooting, I put all of my trust in Toni. I could see that he had a clear vision for telling this story by the writing, and the actors he chose, and the crew he hired. I knew this would be good and had an innate feeling it would be special. 

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

Jennifer Oxley is a highly accomplished producer that has worked on a bevy of family programming, including Wonder Pets! Currently she helped bring for the next chapter in the saga, Wonder Pets: In the City on Apple TV+, and we had the honor of sitting down with Jennifer to discuss this magnificent new show.
John Betancourt: I would love to start by getting to know what inspired you to want to bring this iteration of Wonder Pets to life.
 
Jennifer Oxley: Well, you know, when we, when I got the call asking if I wanted to, you know, bring a new version of the Wonder Pet to a new audience. I was initially shocked, but also, like, because I didn't expect it, but I was also super excited. I loved the challenge of, like, regaining something that stays true to the love and, sort of, like, the nostalgia for the original and honors the spirit, but also takes it to another level, you know, the challenge of like, what could this new take on the Wonder Pets be? So, you know, I got to thinking, and I thought, well, what if our originals that lived in this little classroom in this quintessential rural environment in this red schoolhouse, what if they weren’t alone? What if there was actually this vast network of, you know, opera singing animals all over the world, and we get a chance to meet, you know, three new pets in a new location with new personalities and, you know, new ways of getting around, new ways of getting there. Also, it'd be like… sort of like same format, but, you know, sort of break it out and get a chance to meet some personalities.
 
John Betancourt: I was really impressed with the depth of the songs, of just the lessons overall. And I'm very curious, well into the decision for this iteration of the show to have such impactful and powerful lessons.
 
Jennifer Oxley: Yeah, that's a that's a great question, because, you know, on the original, you know, we definitely like, you know, spoke to the sort of message of kindness and the sort of like joy of helping others, collaboration, teamwork, that was at the heart of the original and I think it's still at the heart of this spin off, but we also wanted to challenge ourselves, because the question is sort of like, why now? Why bring this to the screen now, you know, what if we were to add an additional layer of storytelling, you know, speaking to messages, deeper messages, passion, empathy and inclusivity, you know? What if we were to challenge ourselves to, you know, have a layer like that in every one of our stories for this new spin off. So, I think that that's something that really will set it apart, I think, from the original, and it is definitely an expansion on the world. Even though we did do that, we touched on that on the original, I feel like we've really gone for it on this side, this new spin off.
 
John Betancourt: Now there are some incredible lessons present in this show. Especially when it comes to moral and racial issues people encounter in the real world, and I’m curious what kinds of challenges went into putting together those lessons.
 
Jennifer Oxley: Yeah. I mean, you know what? One thing that we do, pay extra close attention to is, you know, making sure that we get it right. So, we definitely work with a lot of consultants to, you know, sort of make sure that what we're doing is, you know, right, and get their advice on how we might, you know, tackle some of these, you know, subject matters, these deeper, you know, messages in a sort of kid appropriate way. But I will say that that Tate, Tate the snake, sort of like embodies, you know, sort of what we were trying to do with this series, in that, you know, he is this, this snake. And a lot of people, you know, think of snakes as slimy and sneaky and scary and like, already have this preconceived notion of what they are.
 
So, what if we had a character that sort of has that sort of almost like baked into, you know, into the character, and so, you know, we had that episode where they traveled to the farm to help this mom and chicken with this runaway egg. And when the pets get there, she's like, “Oh no, hold the bone. I don't want this snake helping me” because, you know, she's judging him by his appearance. Um, so the whole episode, you know, we still have our formal features of like, we're saving an animal while singing opera and working together. But then there's this added layer of like, you know, don't judge a book by its cover, you know. And we have this wonderful apology moment where she realizes that she was wrong.
 
John Betancourt: Speaking of other challenges too. I would be remiss to not ask, what kind of challenges went into assembling such incredible songs because they're so perfect and they work so well.
 
Jennifer Oxley: Oh, thank you. You know, I think that writing for the Wonder Pets is a challenge because you're basically writing a mini opera. You're weaving in and out of dialogue and song lines, and sometimes it's little, you know, some moments, and then sometimes it's full-on songs. So, it's like figuring out what the flow is going to be. We definitely have some amazing, you know, writers that have come back to work on this spin off. Billy Lopez came on board as our series lyricist. So, I think, like his genius is definitely singing through in all of the songs. And then we were also able to through Jeffrey Lesser, our music producer, who was on the original and is now back with us on the spin off, he was able to tap into his community of Broadway composers, sort of bringing back a lot of the original composers that made the series so great, way back when, to compose for us for this new series, and we also brought in some new voices that we hadn't worked with before. That has also been a wonderful treat. So, you know, if we're going to, let's say, into a Japanese painting. It was important to us to find a composer that could help us with that style of music that's authentic to that genre.
 
John Betancourt: Now this is, you know, I mean, Apple TV has just such a massive audience in general, and now this beautiful show is going to be in front of so many people. And I'm curious what it means to you now, as the shepherd of two iterations of the show, to have it out to so many people in this manner.
 
Jennifer Oxley: You know, I mean, I think that's really what it's all about, you know, for me is, you know, telling stories that are going to touch people and ultimately make a difference. And I do agree with you, the reach that Apple TV has, I think is going to be fantastic, and it's been such a wonderful partnership. You know, they really encouraged us. Michelle Hennessy, our exec over at Apple TV, you know, was a fan of the original, so she brought all that love and joy for the original, you know, to this new spin off, and really empowered us to see how we could elevate our storytelling and our animation.
 
John Betancourt: Ultimately, what do you hope Wonder Pets in the city accomplishes for audiences?
 
Jennifer Oxley: I mean, I guess I hope that they, they feel the love between these three friends who are so different, you know, and feel the sort of joy and the kindness that sort of like is exuding from their, you know, relationships with one another and how they work together, and how they're able to get along, and how, when they come together again as one, they can do great things. And I feel like that's sort of like a message that can be applied to, you know, things that go well beyond preschool and television, the idea of bringing, you know, different outlooks and personalities and views together to work as one.
 
John Betancourt:Oobviously this is a part of been near and dear to your heart for ages. And I'm curious, just from a personal standpoint, what it means to go on this journey.
 
Jennifer Oxley: Yeah, it's been great. I mean, I think that the best part about it for me was that, like, I said, like, it kind of, it started this way, you know, getting to stick with, you know, what I think made the show so special way back when. This sort of unique look and the idea of a mini operetta music forward format that records a live orchestra for every episode. I think that because we were given the freedom to stick with that, I think that that has been very special for me, but maybe even more so than that, was getting the chance to work with the folks that made the show so great way back when. So many of the original, talented, you know, animators and designers and composers and writers and lyricists came back to help us, you know, bring these new characters to life. And I feel like their experience and knowledge from the original and then bringing it forward all these years has enabled us to really take it to that next level. I don't think we could have done it without them.
 
John Betancorut: The last question I have for you today, what are you most proud of when it comes to this iteration of the show?
 
Jennifer Oxley: You know, I think I am very proud of the fact that we are able to tell these sort of deeper stories, you know, that we were able to touch on things that you know sometimes are shied away from on kids TV. You know what I mean, like, the episode that I was speaking about the mama chicken and the egg. You know, that was a complicated story to tell in the right way. And so, I think sometimes the inclination is to just not do it. But I love that, you know, we were given the freedom to challenge ourselves to try and tell some of these deeper stories.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.