Back To One Podcast

Back To One is a podcast about acting. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. No small talk, no celebrity stories, no inane banter—just the work.

Back To One

June Schreiner is the star of "Dark Hollow," a folk horror film about a young mother who, in order to protect her home and save her family, must hunt down a nightmarish monster that has emerged from an Appalachian coal mine.  On this episode, Schreiner explains why she fell in love with Daniel Byers' script and related so much to this character. She talks about her formative years at Area Stage, explains why she sometimes starts her process by identifying elements that she has resistance towards, makes a solid case for earnestly learning about the other jobs on a film set, describes the joy of finding her creative spark again through community, and much much more. "Dark Hollow" is available On Demand September 4th. Click here to pre-order Look out for select screenings in LA, with more cities to come.  Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Subscribe to Back To One on Substack Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Oliver Cooper has one of the greatest stories about breaking into Hollywood, landing his first role in "Project X." I'm grateful he takes his time telling it on this episode. It's a story about hilarious naiveté, unwavering belief in himself, and an unlikely friendship with a person unfairly pushed to the margins of the business who fueled him with the support he needed. That story is so formative that he still wants to tell stories about people who were counted out, but who keep the dream alive. His latest collaboration with filmmaker Joe Burke, "Burt," is about that and so much more. Cooper stars opposite real-life roommates Burt Berger and Steven Levy. He talks about working with these two incredible personalities who were basically playing themselves, and the acting challenge he had in serving them, letting them shine properly, while not standing out himself as the "actor." He succeeds wonderfully, and you can (and should) check out "Burt" on your favorite streaming service. It was made for $7000 in a few days with an extremely small crew and will make you laugh, cry, and capture your heart so deeply that you'll wonder why most movies have to waste so much money for so little impact. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Subscribe to Back To One on Substack Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Tom Brittney first rose to global prominence with his multi-season turn on the celebrated British series "Grantchester," where he built a devoted international following through a performance defined by emotional depth and restraint. With his new series "The Westies," he hops "the pond" and ventures into darker and more volatile territory while delivering layered, character-first work surrounded by stellar co-stars like J.K. Simmons and Titus Welliver. On this episode, he explains why the lack of belief in his abilities that he felt from his teachers in drama school resulted in his own lack of faith it what they were teaching, how seven seasons playing the same character made him a better actor, why he will never get used to the instability of this profession, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Subscribe to Back To One on Substack Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Ken Marino is very funny. All the time. Maybe even "too funny." Starting with the legendary comedy group "The State," more than three decades ago, Marino has been the go-to comedy gold in countless television shows, stealing so many scenes in movies, always bringing the funny. The films he's co-written with David Wain are some of his highlights — "The Ten," "Role Models," "Wanderlust," and now "Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass" (which comes out July 10th). On this episode, Marino ponders the origins of his brand of comedy (or if he even has one), explains why he doesn't like humor that punches down, makes a case for why he thinks he has "a good grasp on 'asshole,'" talks about what has brought him to a place where he makes bold choices right off the bat, lays out how it all comes down to "specifics," and much much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Subscribe to Back To One on Substack Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Karolina Wydra's performance as Zosia in Vince Gilligan's new hit series "Pluribus" is impressive on many levels, but it wasn't until I talked to her for this podcast that I realized the absolute herculean challenge this role is for an actor. Zosia is part of the single consciousness, and is no longer ruled by the hang-ups, shortcomings, and flaws of a normal human existence. "Remember, she has no nerves!" Gilligan kept telling her. Luckily Wydra faced the challenge head-on. On this episode, she talks about her journey from Poland to America, from model to actor, dipping in various acting disciplines before she created her own blend, and the break she took from her career to feed another love in her life. It was during that break, when her reps had dropped her, that the Pluribus team went looking for her, not knowing that it was her absolute dream to work for Gilligan. This is an inspiring episode about being fully dedicated to the work, following your heart, and letting love lead the way. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Subscribe to Back To One on Substack Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Mark Strong has made a name for himself playing villains or stealing scenes (or both) in movies like "Sherlock Holmes," "Kick-Ass," "Zero Dark Thirty," "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," "The Imitation Game," the list goes on. On this episode, he talks about his work in the theater, particularly two of his most celebrated performances for the stage: Eddie in "A View From The Bridge," and "Oedipus" (which just earned him a Tony nomination for Best Actor In A Play). He explains why he needs to understand a character fully before he can play it, why extensive research is often not necessary, why specifics in direction usually doesn't work for him, why trust is so important, how going bald changed everything for the better, and much much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Subscribe to Back To One on Substack Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Simon Helberg is best known for playing Howard in the hit sitcom "The Big Bang Theory" for 12 seasons, but he has also built a notable and varied film career working with people like Leos Carax, the Coen Brothers, and a stand-out performance opposite Meryl Streep in "Florence Foster Jenkins." For his latest, he returns to television in Jonathan Glatzer's Silicon Valley series "The Audacity" on AMC. On this episode, he talks about why he's "precious" about the first read of a script, ponders the paradox of character vs. self, shares some tidbits he gleaned from Ms. Streep, sums it all up with three important words: "Expect and Affect," plus much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Subscribe to Back To One on Substack Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Asa Butterfield is a British actor who may be best known for starring as Otis Milburn in the worldwide phenomenon "Sex Education," for Netflix, and Hugo Gabret in Martin Scorsese's "Hugo." He first received critical acclaim, as a pre-teen, for his work in "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas," a film adaptation of John Bayne's novel by the same name. Now he has taken on his bravest role yet, Solomon Jackson in Oscar Boyson's "Our Hero, Balthazar," a coming-of-age story that defies all conventions with pitch-black humor and daring, timely storytelling. On this episode, he describes what it took to skirt the line of "unlikeable" with that character while still reaching for relatability. He talks about his love for accents and why he takes them very seriously, how working with Scorsese made his love for movies grow, what recently made him want to get on the stage for the first time and why he enjoyed the frightening challenge, plus much more! "Our Hero, Balthazar" is in select theaters now. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Subscribe to Back To One on Substack Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Jordan Hull is an actress, writer, and producer based in New York City. She won a LADCC Award for her performance as Clare in the world premiere of "Poor Clare" by Chiara Atik at the Echo Theater Company. Her screen credits include "The L Word: Generation Q" and "Hustle," alongside Adam Sandler, Queen Latifah, and Robert DuVall. She produced and starred in the Tribeca Festival-winning audio drama "Red for Revolution." Upcoming, she just wrapped production on "Caity," directed by Lindsay Calleran and "The Plan," directed by Jess Barr, premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival in February. On this episode she talks about being unfazed by the "entire movie is one-shot" aspect of Barr's film, and how improvisation was used to create authenticity. She talks about why she hates reading scripts to herself, what it means to be the "curator of [her] own experience" that she wants to have with the character, why she's obsessed with career trajectories, loves to be surprised, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Subscribe to Back To One on Substack Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Matthew Shear is a filmmaker and actor based in New York. He starred in Noah Baumbach's "Mistress America," as well as the limited series "The Alienist." His other credits include Baumbach's "The Meyerowitz Stories," M. Night Shyamalan's "Old," and Nathan Silver's "Between the Temples." He makes his debut feature as a writer/director with "Fantasy Life," (opening on March 27th) which he stars in opposite Amanda Peet, Alessandro Nivola, Judd Hirsch, and Bob Balaban. It world premiered at SXSW '25 and won the Narrative Feature Audience Award. On this episode he talks about writing that script, never thinking he'd star in it, nor direct it, and what had to change to make him see those possibilities. He explains why he wanted to tell a story about "mental health embedded in a normal world," why The Barrow Group suited him well in his younger days, how he learned to "not get in the way" of the scene, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Subscribe to Back To One on Substack Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Robert Longstreet is a respected actor who moves fluidly between indie films and genre work, showing a gift for playing complex, wounded, or morally ambiguous characters. He gained broader recognition recently for his performance as a grieving father in "The Haunting of Hill House," created by Mike Flanagan. Longstreet has since become a regular collaborator with Flanagan, appearing in projects like "Midnight Mass," where his portrayal of the troubled but deeply humane Joe Collie became one of the show's most poignant characters. On this episode, he talks about the psychological effects of some of the dark roles he's done and ponders if leaving "a pound of flesh" is necessary for the work. He calls directors not knowing how to talk to actors "a sin beyond measure," explains why good writing is so easy to memorize,  why he'd rather do a zoom audition than a self-tape, why he didn't want to play a psychopathic octogenarian woman in Todd Rohal's instant cult classic "Fuck My Son!" and struggled all the way through it, plus much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Subscribe to Back To One on Substack Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

David Krumholtz is a beloved actor to every actor he works with, and on this episode we get to see why. From "The Santa Clause" to "Oppenheimer," with more than three decades of experience in all facets of this business, you can believe he has things to say, opinions to share, and stories to tell. His latest is "Forelock," the hilarious buddy comedy film he stars in with writer/director Caleb Alexander Smith. He talks about how helping out as a producer on that film was actually fulfilling for him in a real way. He tells a story about a struggle he had to overcome on the Broadway production of Tom Stoppard's "Leopoldstadt," explains how an episode of "Extras" helped him appreciate his television series gig, illustrates why going a little crazy can actual help an actor, and much, much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Subscribe to Back To One on Substack Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Stellan Skarsgård is a celebrated Swedish actor whose career spans more than five decades across European and Hollywood cinema. He first gained attention in Scandinavia before becoming an international screen presence in films such as "Breaking the Waves" and "Good Will Hunting." He went on to deliver acclaimed performances in movies like "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," "Dune," "Dune Part 2," and television series like "Andor" and "Chernobyl." In his latest, Joachim Trier's "Sentimental Value," Skarsgård gifts us with perhaps his most robust and richest work in the form of Gustav, a once-prominent filmmaker struggling to mend fractured ties with his daughters. On this episode, he details the environment Trier created, through love, attention, and enthusiasm, that laid the tracks for that work to travel. He talks about the importance of "sabotaging your tools," why he's careful not to infect a director's vision, the emotional agility necessary for working with David Fincher, why relief from being an "acting addict" doesn't interest him, and much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Substack and  Instagram

Back To One

Samantha Smart is the lead actress, writer and producer of "Charliebird," the feature debut of director Libby Ewing, which won the top prize at the 2025 Tribeca Festival, calling it "a deeply affecting portrait featuring grounded and complex performances." On this episode, Smart describes the process of writing it, getting to a crisis point of wondering if she could still play the character she was creating for herself, and miraculously finding young Gabriela Ochoa Perez who skillfully plays Charlie. She details the fine-tuning that needed to happen with the central scene, how the camera operator's energy affects actors, talks about her role as "Labinia" in the hilarious Oscar Nominated live acton short "Jane Austin's Period Drama," and much more! "Charliebird" opens in NYC on February 27th, and more select cities after that.  Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Sarah Coffey starred as Eva Shapiro in the feature film "31 Candles," and instantly made her an iconic romanic comedy character. She can also be seen in "Queens Of The Dead," which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival last year. And her viral success as a comedian led to a role in "Stapleview," the first-ever fully produced live sketch show on TikTok. On this episode, she talks about the blessings and drawbacks of finding a spotlight through her own online content. She takes us back to her early days, discovering an early love of singing, and talks about how that ties in to a knack for impressions, accents, and the melding of comedy and music. She talks about what she gleaned from people like Terry Knickerbocker and Bob Krakower, the importance of "building a muscle memory of experience," why she likes to get immediately off-book, gets us excited about her upcoming film "Mouse," and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram  

Back To One

Ben Mehl is most recognized for his role as Dante on the hit Netflix show "You." Other TV credits include "The Good Wife," "Supernatural Investigator" and films like "My Christmas Guide" and "Viral Beauty." On stage he has performed with The Public Theater and Williamstown Theatre Festival. He's also a passionate acting teacher and volunteer at the 52nd Street Project. On this episode he tells us the story of finding out he had Stargardt disease, coming to the decision to go ahead with his dream of being an actor despite being legally blind, and the piece of advice a teacher gave him that miraculously made this mountain much easier to climb. Plus we talk about why telling the truth in your life fuels your acting, how teaching has informed his craft, the importance of "trusting the work that you're doing," and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Astrid Rotenberry has had roles on "Law & Order SVU," "The Four Seasons," and "American Sports Story." Now she plays Catherine Kelly in the Netflix limited series "His and Hers," and her performance is so authentic and affecting it runs the risk of being taken for granted. On this episode, she details what excited her about the role, and why trust is so important to her. She takes us back to her childhood and how parental encouragement impacted her, talks about some of the valuable nuggets she learned as an intern in a casting office, expounds on ways she combats self doubt, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Jordan Lage is an award-winning actor, writer, director and founding member of the Atlantic Theater Company, which celebrates its 41st anniversary this year.  He studied acting at New York University under the tutelage of playwright David Mamet and actor William H. Macy and then taught acting and playwriting at the Atlantic Theater Acting School for nearly 30 years. Best known for his work performing the plays of David Mamet's, he has acted in multiple productions of the author's works on Broadway, off-Broadway & regionally, including "American Buffalo," "Glengarry Glen Ross," "Speed-The-Plow," and "Oleanna," among others. On this episode, he talks about how his early exposure to great films of the 70s led to a fascination with New York and a desire to be a working actor there. He breaks down the freedom Mamet's approach to acting gave him, tells a story about having to reach outside his technique to hit a moment a role required, explains why practical direction is most effective, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Carolyn Michelle is an actress, producer, educator, and entrepreneur. Her credits include: "Brilliant Minds", "And Just Like That", "The Chi", "Russian Doll", "House of Cards", and the role of Vanessa, opposite Kathleen Chalfant's Ruth, in Sarah Friedland's celebrated indie film "Familiar Touch." On this episode she talks about her deeps roots with that project, and what she told Friendland she needed to bring that character to life. She takes us back to her earliest days as an actor, and the mentor whose influence is still felt today. Carolyn has served as Co-Director of Lena Waithe's Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab, and is a former visiting lecturer at Cornell University and Fordham University. She talks about how teaching feeds her acting, the power of sound frequencies in prep work, the importance of empowering the actor, why great production design and being able to stay in character on set are so important to her, plus much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Kimball Farley is the future. His breakthrough role in "Hippo," the critically acclaimed dark comedy that RogerEbert.com called "an unholy fusion of A Clockwork Orange and Napoleon Dynamite" established him as a talented, chameleon-like actor to watch, then his performance in "The Righteous Gemstones," opposite Bradley Cooper, displayed his range. And now 2026 is shaping up to be a big year for him, with upcoming releases from filmmakers like Tim Sutton, Mark H. Rapaport, and Henry Chaisson showcasing more of what he can do. On this episode, he details his "outside-in" approach to character work, and why changing his appearance is of prime importance with each role. He talks about how writing contributes to his preparation process in beneficial ways, why he believes in the law of attraction, what makes Al Warren and Bradley Cooper great scene partners, why following in the footsteps of his heroes is so important to him, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Michael Imperioli is best known for his Emmy-winning portrayal of Christopher Moltisanti on "The Sopranos," a role that made him one of the most recognizable faces of prestige television. Some of his other credits include "Goodfellas," "Jungle Fever," "Summer of Sam" (which he also co-wrote), "The White Lotus," and his latest, "Song Sung Blue," the real-life story behind Neil Diamond tribute performers, where he plays Mark Shrilla, opposite Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson. On this episode he talks about the technical mountain he had to climb before he allowed himself to take on that role. Then he takes us back to his early days and two giant, back-to-back acting disappointments that somehow didn't break his drive; talks about how welcoming encouragement from directors like Martin Scorsese helped bring out the best in him; explains what's special about the New York acting community; and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Kevin Corrigan, the consummate actor, true student of the craft, friend of all actors, the best friend of Back To One, the very first guest of this podcast, returns for the 8th time in what might be his most vulnerable and relatable episode yet. He generously details a crisis he had acting on a series this past year, ponders what he would do with power, asks the question he thinks every actor should ask themselves, reads a moving instagram tribute to Diane Keaton by Jarrod Allan, shares his own wonderful memories of working with Keaton, delivers a couple wonderful impersonations, and much, much more. Past Kevin Corrigan Episodes: Ep. 1, Ep. 67, Ep. 133, Ep.185 Ep. 234 Ep. 268 Ep. 319 Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Diane Kruger is a German actress known for her verticality in roles and languages, from Hollywood blockbusters like "Troy" and "National Treasure," to Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" and international gems like "In the Fade," for which she won Best Actress at Cannes. Currently she stars in two television series, "The Seduction," a French-language period drama for HBO MAX, in which she plays Madame de Rosemonde, and "Little Disasters," a psychological thriller for Paramount+ where she plays a complex, fiercely devoted new mother whose world collapses around her. On this episode, she gives us a peek inside her acting process and the ingredients in the "sauce" that help her do her work, like why she's not fond of rehearsal, the importance of trust and collaboration, how a detailed backstory helps her, why she wouldn't want to play the same character for dozens of episodes, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Cassandra Freeman has made her mark in everything from drama to laugh out loud comedy across film, television, and the stage. She is best known for her feature roles in Spike Lee's "Inside Man" and Chris Rock's "I Think I Love My Wife." She has also starred in "The Last O.G.," NBC's "The Enemy Within," and Marvel's "Luke Cage." And now she just finished her 4-season run as Vivian Banks (Aunt Viv) on the hit Peacock show "Bel Air." On this episode, she explains how she came to trust her intuition, how research into African traditions of performance shifted her paradigm, the "thievery" of over-direction and how it robs her of "discovery," the words that every actor should hear from their director, why it all starts with a prayer, and much more.  Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

  Few actors have been able to consistently make a living dipping their toes in as many different mediums and genres as Feodor Chin has—film, television, theater, gaming, animation, audio books—he's done it all. He just ended his run as "China" in the remarkable and timely play "Kyoto" at the Lincoln Center Theater in New York City. We use that experience as a jumping off point to explore his approach to this crazy endeavor called acting. He talks about the importance of knowing exactly how your character serves the story, explains how he got into voiceover work, details the one medium he hasn't worked in but would love to try, and much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

From "Orange Is The New Black" and "Severance" to "Spider-Man:Homecoming" and "Inez & Doug & Kira," Michael Chernus has been consistently delivering performances that place him as one of the most cherished character actors working today. His latest happens to be the first time he's staring in a television series—"Devil In Disguise: John Wayne Gacy"—and it's bringing him some of the best reviews of his career. On this epic episode, he talks about the freedom he felt in knowing he would never truly know that character, and why it took every tool in his "toolkit" to depict him. He takes us back to his early days at Juilliard, generously dives deep into the roots of his acting process, gives us an honest depiction of the lessons he's learned about what it takes to do this work well, talks about the importance of being in service of the larger production, explains why he likes being directed, lays out the problem with "denying what's happening in the room," makes a case for making bold choices, and much much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

June Squibb has only been acting for about seven decades, so forgive her if she hasn't figured this whole acting thing out yet. Luckily she isn't stopping or even slowing down. In fact, at 96 years old, she is more busy than ever before. Since her Oscar nomination for a supporting role in Alexander Payne's "Nebraska," Squibb has been in high demand. Her first leading role in a film, "Thelma," led to another, "Eleanor The Great," directed by Scarlett Johansson. And now she's about to take the stage in the exciting new Broadway production of "Marjorie Prime." On this episode, she talks about what she's anticipating with her return to New York theater. She explains how her acting teacher second husband gave her the tools to go deeper in the work, why the script is so important to her, what she learned from the great Ethel Merman, why she turns down most of the roles offered to her, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Tom Bateman has delivered wonderful performances in "Thirteen Lives," "Death on the Nile," "Murder on the Orient Express," and Peacock's dark comedic thriller series "Based on a True Story," alongside Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina, to name a few. For his latest, "Hedda," he got to work opposite Tessa Thompson and Nina Hoss. On this episode, he explains what made that production special, starting with the 2 weeks of rehearsal that director Nia DeCosta insisted on. He takes us through his beginnings in the theater, how Shakespeare is the gift that keeps on giving, gives examples of direction that ignited discoveries, hard lessons learned in younger days, the curious phenomena of finding similarities in his characters the further he gets away from himself, and much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Corey Fogelmanis' first big break came as the fan-favorite Farkle on the Disney Channel series "Girl Meets World." He later appeared alongside Octavia Spencer in the psychological thriller "Ma," and in Netflix's hit series "My Life with the Walter Boys." Now his first lead performance as Ben, a teen who comes out as non-binary, in the refreshingly modern coming-of-age movie "I Wish You All the Best," has already garnered glowing early reviews. On this episode, he talks about the "very aligned process" of working with director Tommy Dorfman, how music helps him prepare, learning the difference between naturalism and truthfulness, the difficulties of shaking off old childhood sit-com methods, and much more! Plus he just got done acting in the sequel to "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," helmed by David Fincher, so he gives us a slight peak into that production! "I Wish You All The Best" opens in select theaters on Friday November 7th. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Nina Hoss is one of our most respected stage, film, and television actors working internationally. She is known for her collaborations with director Christian Petzold in films such as "Barbara" and "Phoenix," as well as "Tar" opposite Cate Blanchett, the celebrated series "Homeland," and her latest "Hedda," opposite Tessa Thompson. On this episode, she talks about what drew her to Nia DaCosta's bold new reimagining of the Ibsen's classic. She gives us a peek into her process, talks about the "journey of filmmaking" she and Petzold embarked on together, environment as communication, how "The Cherry Orchard" in Brooklyn "landed at the right time," finding enjoyment in "checking out the possibilities," why she sometimes rehearses in German when she's acting in English, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Cooper Raiff returns to the podcast (first time was Ep. 128) to discuss his latest project, the eight-episode, independently-made, decades-spanning series "Hal & Harper." He picks up right where we left off in the first interview, 5 years ago, taking us through the process of getting "Cha Cha Real Smooth" made, and how that green light helped him avoid compromising "Hal & Harper." He explains why no matter what success you've had (like winning top prizes at the biggest festivals for his previous two films) the industry makes you start over and prove each new project's worth. He talks about how the grueling shooting schedule took a toll on his health, what makes Lili Reinhard the perfect Harper, how ignoring good advice paid off, and much more. "Hal & Harper" is streaming now on Mubi. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

This is the second part of my interview with Crispin Glover where we dive deep into his latest film "No! You're Wrong or Spooky Action At A Distance," which he spent the better part of the last 18 years making, completely independently. He touches on many of the technical aspects of the film, such as shooting ratio, color correction, music scores, film vs. digital, why he's bad at sound mixing, what "spooky action at a distance" actually means, and much much more. Go to CrispinGlover.com to find out where you can catch him on tour.  

Back To One

Crispin Glover is best known for playing George McFly in "Back To The Future," but for the past three decades he's been very thoughtful, patient, and selective about his acting roles and even more thoughtful and patient as a true independent filmmaker, self-financing and self-distributing three films — "What is it?", "It is Fine! Everything is Fine," and his latest, "No! You're Wrong Or: Spooky Action at a Distance." On this episode, which is the first part of a two-part conversation, he talks about a characteristic in certain directors that usually spells trouble for him as an actor, the importance of surrealism in his work, why he became obsessed with "The Hero's Journey" and structure in general, his latest role in Tallulah H. Schwab's film "Mr. K," and much more. Glover is at IFC Center in New York City through October 14th at both "Mr. K". and "No! You're Wrong" screenings, the latter will also include his "Big Slide Show" and book signings. Sign up at CrispinGlover.com for info on his upcoming tour. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Catherine LeFrere plays Isabella Blow in the inventive off-Broadway production "House of McQueen" at The Mansion At Hudson Yards in New York City. The play depicts the life of the brilliant fashion designer Alexander McQueen, who was discovered by Blow. On this episode, LeFrere takes us on a deep dive into the creation of her version of Isabella. She talks about starting with the voice, why she doesn't want to be off-book in first rehearsals, the importance of playing off the audience, and much more. "House of McQueen" has been extending into November. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Josh Pais returns to the podcast (first time was Ep. 77). Aside from being one of the most respected actors in the game, with over 150 credits in film and TV, Pais is the founder of "Committed Impulse," a groundbreaking training born from his own acting process that has since become a "secret weapon" for thousands of top entrepreneurs, artists, doctors, lawyers, public speakers, and creators of all kinds. His work helps people break free from the tyranny of overthinking and drop into a state of embodied, spontaneous brilliance. And now—he has written a book! In "Lose Your Mind: The Path to Creative Invincibility," he shows us how to stop letting fear and anxiety run the show, and start trusting the moment. On this episode, he takes us on a deep dive into many of the most helpful aspects of the book—the 4-step system to activate "peak presence," the hidden advantage of nervousness, the importance of "breathing to feel," and much more—giving everyone (but especially actors)  the tools to step out of the limiting paradigm of the mind and embrace a level of aliveness and spontaneity that we didn't know was possible. "Lose Your Mind" is available on September 30th. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram    

Back To One

Watching Ruby Cruz's remarkable and seemingly effortless performance in her latest film, "The Threesome," I got a hunch that she was engaging with the work on some kind of intuitive level where connection was paramount. I also sensed that this might not be easy to talk about. In one sense I was right, the gifted young actor, who's credits include "Bottoms," "Willow," "Mare of Easttown" and "The Sex Lives of College Girls," approaches the work in an elusive way, but, lucky for us, she still manages to speak about the intangible and slippery aspects with an eloquence that is inspiring. She talks about always knowing she wanted to act, how she turns insecurity into fuel, the joys of working with Zoey Deutch, why she likes to treat auditioning as "an opportunity to make something," how it all comes down to acceptance, plus much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram  

Back To One

Tim Blake Nelson is a celebrated actor, writer, and director. His nearly 100 screen credits include "The Thin Red Line," "Lincoln," "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs," "Watchmen," and "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" For his latest, the independent film "Bang Bang," he plays an aging boxer whose glory days are long past. On this episode, he details how his process has changed by comparing the patience he has now to his approach for "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" where "fear inspired hubris" fueled him. He explains why it's the actor's job to retranslate poor direction, how his thirst for knowledge benefits his work, why he shows up on day one knowing the entire script inside and out. Plus he tells a few interesting stories about the Coen Brothers, hilarious ones about Terrence Malick, inspiring ones about directing Amanda Seyfried, and much much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

John Carroll Lynch has delivered so many performances, on so many sets, for both the big and small screen, that it is almost ridiculous. Just a few highlights of his hundreds of credits include: "The Drew Carey Show," "Fargo," "Zodiac," "Big Sky," "American Horror Story," "The Trial of The Chicago 7", and his latest, "Sorry Baby". On this episode, he gives us a deep dive into his approach to the work, and how it has evolved over the years. He explains the benefits of highlighting the text based on lexical categories, how directing his first feature "Lucky" (with Harry Dean Stanton) changed his approach to acting, why he no longer believes his first impressions of a character holds as much significance, the importance of incorporating (and not erasing) everything and everyone on set into the process, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

You know the multitalented Sunita Mani from "Glow," "Spirited," "Mr. Robot," or "Save Yourselves!" And now, just this year, she has roles in so many projects (like "The Wild," "Death of a Unicorn," "A Nice Indian Boy," "Government Cheese," "His and Hers," "The Roses") that one wonders how she has to time to do it all. On this episode, she takes us back to where it all started, improv comedy, and explains how being willing to fall down and get back up has served her work. She details the "emptying out" process that she needs to do before a new role, the benefits and drawbacks of learning on sets rather than in a classroom, the lack of regret in turning things down, why new underwear is so important for her latest role, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Mary Neely first came to the world's attention during the pandemic with her viral videos, earning praise from Lin-Manuel Miranda and Andrew Lloyd Webber, as well as being named "Best Theater of 2020" by The New York Times and The Washington Post. Since then, she has been delivering  great work on both sides of the camera, such as the tv pilot "Stars Diner" which premiered at SXSW this year, "Valley Girl," "Lyle Lyle Crocodile," and Netflix's "Happiness For Beginners." Now, she and Kareem Rahma ("Subway Takes") co-wrote and co-star in the true New York low budget indie film "Or Something." On this episode she tells the story of meeting Kareem, how that film came together, and the "endurance test" of shooting a feature in 6 days. She talks about growing up an "acting nerd," what she learned from performing different jobs on a set, the difficulty in accepting herself as more than an actor, why it all starts (and ends) with memorizing the text, and much more. "Or Something" opens in New York on August 22nd and in LA in September Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

You can see Ivan Martin's work in "Billions," "The Sopranos," "Suits," "Ozark," "Gaslit," "What We Do In The Shadows," and much more. Currently, he stars in the exceptional indie film "To Kill A Wolf," writer/director Kelsey Taylor's modern take on Little Red Riding Hood. On this episode, he talks about the circumstances that brought that role his way, the connection he has with the character that made him feel like he could bring him to life, and the environment on set that made it all possible. He explains the round-about way he got interested in acting when he was young, why it's the communal aspect that matters most to him, and much much more. "To Kill A Wolf" is in select theaters now. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Martin Harris has delivered stand-out work on "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," "Young Sheldon," "NCIS: Los Angeles," "Stranger Things," and now he plays the Boravian General in "Superman." On this episode he describes the surprisingly efficient production that James Gunn presided over, and how it felt like "shooting a party video." He surmises why directors keep giving him more scenes on-set, how reading a book between set-ups not only gets you focused but is also a conversation-starter, why he credits Kobe Bryant with helping him get to the next level with his career, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Jason Patel is an emerging actor and artist. He plays the lead role of "Aysha" in "Unicorns," opposite Ben Hardy. It's his feature film debut. The film is co-directed by Sally El-Hosaini and James Krishna Floyd, who also wrote the screenplay. "Unicorns" also features Patel's music, a true fusion of both art forms. On this episode, he talks about how he approaches everything in life with creativity and love, and why his life goal is to make people happy even when he's not there. He describes the giant role music plays in his preparation, the importance of staying in the moment, why doing the important sex scene on the first day of production on "Unicorns" was actually beneficial, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

For the 350th episode of Back To One, I sat down with an actor who brings me great joy when he's on the screen, the one and only David Malinsky. He wrote the blurb himself for this episode. It follows: Peter has only met David three times in person before. His filmography includes Onur Tukel's "Abbey Singer/Songwriter," "Black Magic for White Boys," "Poundcake," Theodore Collatos' "Tormenting the Hen," MG Cinecraft's "A Moderate Folly" and more. Dave has also done standup comedy, cabaret singing, and YouTube Video Essays. But Dave thinks it's vital to situate acting within art and human history, now and in the past.  This meandering conversation covers spirituality, identity, railroads, gaming, and how all art—and all consciousness—is related to each other. But Dave, a self-described hardline materialist, would just call it how things work. Visit his YouTube channel here. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Erik Jensen is a multipyphenate who, along with his wife and creative partner Jessica Blank have been called "the foremost practitioners of documentary theater in the U.S." Their genre-defining plays "The Exonerated," "Aftermath," "Coal Country," and "The Line" were all critically acclaimed. As an actor, Jensen's credits include "The Walking Dead," "Mindhunter," "Mr. Robot," "The Americans," not to mention his praised portrayal of legendary NY Yankee Thurman Munson in "The Bronx is Burning." On this episode he details his approach toward playing that beloved figure, and finding out that "almost the entire body of that character was an emotional word-gesture." He talks about learning how much psychology is in people's words, his process of having multiple "wants" for a character so he can easily adapt to what he's given, he explains why it's a disservice to write or act for the audience, why he doesn't believe in monologues, how conducting interviews taught him how to listen and become a better actor, plus much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Bonnie Rose started her professional career as a stand-in for Bette Midler on "First Wives Club." Next up, the iconic and legendary film director Sidney Lumet hand picked her for the feature film "Night Falls On Manhattan," playing a New York City cop opposite Andy Garcia, which led to many other Lumet projects over the next decade including a recurring role as a legal aid attorney on the TV legal drama "100 Centre St." Bonnie's massive credits in television and film include "Inside Llewyn Davis," Marvel's "Jessica Jones," "Mr. Robot," "Blue Bloods," "Broad City," "The Sopranos," and the trifecta of all "Law & Orders." She recently won Best Actress at three different film festivals for her role in Finise Avery's short film "Living with Grandma." She also appears opposite Rose Byrne in Stephanie Laing's feature film "Tow," which just made its World Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival. On this episode, Rose talks about the child-like enthusiasm which fuels her work, what it means to "right-size yourself," why having only one line is sometimes harder than having many lines, bravely (and hilariously) tackling nudity in her mid-fifties, the importance of always letting gratitude lead the way, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Steve Zahn gained early attention for his breakout roles in the 1990s, including "Reality Bites" and "That Thing You Do!" He became a frequent scene-stealer in films like "Out of Sight," "Happy, Texas," and "Saving Silverman," showcasing his offbeat humor and charm. In HBO's "Treme," he played a passionate music teacher navigating post-Katrina New Orleans. More recently, he appeared in the first season of "The White Lotus," earning critical acclaim for his role as a troubled father on vacation. His latest is personal on multiple levels—the indie film "She Dances," which he co-wrote with his producing partner Rick Gomez, who also directs. On this episode, he talks about co-staring in that film with his daughter Audrey, and being continually blown away by her work. He takes us back to his early stage work, makes a case for the importance of rehearsal, gives us the two attributes that make a great director, explains why he loves the communal aspect of filmmaking, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Tim Bagley has so much experience doing comedy on television that his credits read like a comprehensive list of every sit-com over the past 30 years. But his depiction of Brad Schraeder on "Somebody Somewhere" is on another level. It's beautiful, truthful, restrained work, that is often hilarious and sometimes very moving. Few performances on television this year have impacted me more. On this episode, he talks about how the collaborative nature of that show helped so much with his work, the big part logic plays in his comedy, why it's important to keep challenging himself,  and much more. Plus he tells a couple wonderful stories about discovering that sometimes it's not about you at all, and you have to just let it go. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Carrie Preston is back in her Emmy-winning role as 'Elsbeth Tascioni' in the second season of the CBS series "Elsbeth," from "The Good Fight" and "The Good Wife," creators Michelle and Robert King. On this episode she gives us a deep dive into her work on that hit show, taking us way back to the "queen of quirk" as just a recurring role on the "Goods", trying to figure out how to dip her toes into this new character, taking clues from the word "pause," all the way till the second season of her own show, taking the job of number one on the call sheet seriously, learning what it means to give "more Tascioni," working with her acting heroes when they come on as guest stars, and much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

The legendary Ian McShane has been acting for more than 60 years, from "The Wild and The Willing," "The Last of Shelia," and "Jesus of Nazareth" to "Lovejoy," "Sexy Beast," and the "John Wick" films. His two latest films are "Ballerina," set in the John Wick universe, and and the action comedy "Deep Cover." On this episode he talks about what made his time as Al Swearengen on "Deadwood" (perhaps his most iconic role) so special, and tells a story about an unforgettable suggestion from creator David Milch. He explains what sets Wick's Chad Stahalski apart as a director/producer, why life experience helps an actor, how a few short words from director Tony Richardson placed him right on track to do his work, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

You know Bobby Naderi from his subtle and sometimes hilarious work in films like "Bright" and "The Beekeeper." Now he brings that same aliveness to the new Amazon series "The Better Sister," where he plays Detective Matt Bowen. On this episode, he talks about how his nomadic youth shaped his life and work, how failures paved the way for breakthroughs, why he stopped anticipating how a scene will play out, how his mother's blunt criticism of his acting work helped him get better, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

The young but wise Lovie Simone is best known for "Selah and The Spades" and "The Craft: Legacy." Now she stars in the hit Netflix series "Forever," an adaptation of the Judy Bloom book. On this episode, she talks about the giant role music plays in her preparation, why having a Black hair & make-up person on set is crucial to work, "importance over relevance," "quality over quantity," her love of words "and the weight of each word," the "accidental" way she and Michael Cooper Jr. built their "Forever" chemistry, plus much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Theodore Bouloukos returns to the podcast after nearly 7 years (first time was episode 14). The "secret weapon of independent cinema," as The New Yorker's Richard Brody called him, brings us up to date on his adventures in acting. He talks about why he never dwells on a project's prospects after his work is done, explains the kind of characters that attract him, reminisces about a couple exceptional recent shoots (including the wonderful ode to the game of Baseball that is the film "Eephus"), makes a case for going "full on" for every role, and much more. "Eephus" is currently on demand and highly recommended. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

We rarely get to hear Joel Potrykus talk about himself as an actor. The independent filmmaker of such beloved low-budget treasures as "Ape," "Buzzard," and "Relaxer" says he has, in fact, never talked about it. In his latest, "Vulcanizadora," he once again co-stars with the man he loves to point his camera at, Joshua Burge. The two reprise their roles of Derek and Marty exactly ten years after they birthed those characters in "Buzzard." On this episode, Potrykus explains the decision to take on the role in both films, why he loves working with the "machine" that is Burge, the part of directing actors he likes the least, how the end of "Field of Dreams" helped his acting process, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

You know him as Murray in "Stranger Things," or Martin in "Fleabag," or loved him in "Lemon" (the wonderful indie film he also co-wrote), or his countless guest star roles on Comedy Central, Adult Swim, "The Office," "Curb" (the list goes on), but lately Brett Gelman has been venturing into more serious projects like "McVeigh" and "Lady in the Lake." On this episode, he talks about the conscious choice to just "do great roles" that often takes him away from comedy. He talks about his relationship to the craft which started in acting school, explains how bombing on stage doing improv was great training for acting, describes why a method approach continues to serve him, makes a plea for us to stop being afraid to "enter into the ugly," and much more. Currently you can catch him, and his co-host (and wife) Ari Dayan, on their podcast "Neurotica," which gives listeners an unfiltered view into their marriage! Listen wherever you get your podcasts! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Adeel Akhtar is a versatile British actor known for his powerful performances across film, television, and theatre. He gained widespread acclaim for his BAFTA-winning role in the BBC drama "Murdered by My Father," and won another one, a few years later, for "Sherwood." His other credits in front of the camera include "Four Lions," "The Big Sick," "Enola Holmes," "Utopia," and "Sweet Tooth." On stage, Akhtar has appeared in productions at the National Theatre and the Royal Court. Currently he wows audiences as Lopakhin in a new production of Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard" at St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn. On this episode he talks about the pleasures of performing "with complete freedom" in that production, interacting with the audience, and the interesting connections he finds between that character and his own return to theater. Plus he explains why he no longer finds himself over-preparing for a role, shares something a valued teacher gave him that changed his approach to the work, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Michael Angarano has been acting since he was an infant and has a long resume of memorable work in both comedic and dramatic roles—"Almost Famous," "Will and Grace," "This is Us," "Gentlemen Broncos," "Oppenheimer," to name a few. His latest is a wonderful comedy with a lot of heart that he stars in, co-wrote and directed called "Sacramento." On this episode he talks about the long road of getting that film made, how he needed to adjust once he saw Michael Cera's approach to the role, and the interesting realization that he may not need to act and direct and write at the same time again. He tells a story about suddenly facing a strange form of stage fright, and the sensitive way Steven Soderbergh helped him get though it. He explains why he says he doesn't have an acting process, has a particular aversion to relaxation exercises, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Jolene Purdy is always a standout. She gained recognition for her performance as Cherita Chen in the cult classic "Donnie Darko," and later appeared in hit shows like "Orange Is the New Black," "Under the Dome," "Breaking Bad," "WandaVision," and "The White Lotus." She now plays opposite Kevin Bacon in the new Amazon series "The Bondsman." On this episode, she talks about how the collaborative nature of that production ignited her creativity and brought out the best in her. She tells us her secret to mastering the art of delivering exposition, why she loves to be directed, how she learned to protect her characters, why Kevin Bacon is "boss," and much more.  Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

The incredible Lebanese actor Hadi Tabbal just finished the monumental Broadway run of Sanaz Toossi's Pulitzer Prize-winning play "English." He originated the role of Omid, and performed in various iterations of this powerful and transformative play over the last few years. On this episode, he talks about the fascinatingly unique aspect of "English" that is unlike any other play he's performed, and what he means when he says it is "alive" every night and "very delicate," and he has to "take care" not to "derail" it. He explains the difference between "discovery" and "deciding," talks about the "saddest" part of acting, describes his pre-show ritual, how it all comes down to "learning people," and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Jonathan Majors is an actor. His latest film is "Magazine Dreams." He sat down with Peter Rinaldi to talk about the work.  Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram    

Back To One

Ariella Mastroianni is an actor from New Jersey by way of Ontario, Canada. With director Ryan J. Sloan, she co-wrote and co-produced "Gazer," which she also stars in. The film, which the duo shot on weekends over the course of two years, brings the paranoid thriller genre into wildly original new territory. On this episode, Mastroianni tells the story of deciding to shoot on film, using their own money, with no formal support, no connections, just a deep desire to make the film they were both dying to see. She talks about the tools her acting teachers (like Brad Fleischer and Kyle Donnelly) provided that still serve her, how "mapping" her character's physical journey grounded her on the set, the trick she used to stop worrying and love her marks, the "desperate love" it took to see this film through, and much more. "Gazer" open in New York on April 4th and LA on April 11th. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram  

Back To One

An actor's actor of the first order, Vincent D'Ononfrio has been delivering "all in" performances, usually in supporting roles, for  nearly four decades—"Full Metal Jacket," "Men In Black," "Household Saints," "Steal This Movie!," "The Cell," "The Magnificent Seven," to name just a few, not to mention 10 audience-loving seasons of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." He's getting more accolades for his latest performance as Wilson Fisk in "Daredevil: Born Again." On this episode he talks about the "emotional event" that he has to summon to bring about Fisk's voice in that series and its predecessor. He takes us all the way back to his introduction to Stanislavsky through Sonia Moore and Method work through Sharon Chatten, talks about renting camera equipment to make an early self-tape to send to Stanley Kubrick, explains why script analysis is the best way to serve the story, how "Law & Order" made him a better actor, the fundamental importance of failure, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

The celebrated period drama "Belle" marked the arrival of Gugu Mbatha-Raw and since then she hasn't stopped impressing audiences in films like "Motherless Brooklyn," "Misbehaviour" and series like "Doctor Who," "Black Mirror" (San Junipero episode), "Loki," "The Morning Show," and "Surface," which is now releasing episodes from its second season. On that Apple TV+ series, Gugu plays Sophie, a woman who has lost her recent memories and must piece them together. She talks about the "liberating" feeling she got playing someone with a missing back story and how it forced her to be present. She explains how she utilizes her sense of smell in her preparation process, how she learned to claim her space on set and not be "crushed by the technicalities," how taking on the leadership role of EP expanded all aspects of her work, plus much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Caveh Zahedi is one of the most influential independent filmmakers of our time. Jay Duplass, Lena Dunham, Richard Linklater, Greta Gerwig, are all big fans of his 30+ years worth of ultra-autobiographical work (five features, "I am A Sex Addict" perhaps being the most popular). His magnum opus, "The Show About The Show," started out as a "self-reflexive TV show about its own making" for BRIC TV and has continued despite lawsuits, loss of distribution, re-castings, and many more obstacles, thanks to Zahedi's dogged determination to simply tell the story, mostly through re-enactments using the actual people in his orbit playing themselves, of what happened in his life. He gets a small, but passionate amount of support from his loyal fanbase who want him to see this now decade long journey come to an end in the final season, which is about to be released. Zahedi has done a lot of interviews about his filmmaking, but rarely any, like this one, that focuses on his work as an actor for other filmmakers and in front of his own camera, where he plays a version of himself. He talks about the tonal fine line he has to walk when addressing the camera, nudity (his and others'), actors who work well with his directorial approach (like Emmy Harrington and Jim Fletcher), the rigors of auditioning to play a pedophile rabbi, striving for "non-acting," and much more. Creative Nonfiction Film Weekend is bringing Zahedi's work (and the man himself) on a UK tour in March 2025. Check here for more info Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Lucy Boynton is known for delivering exceptional performances in films like "Sing Street," "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Chevalier," and "The Greatest Hits." Her latest is the BritBox's limited series "A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story," about a woman convicted of killing her abusive lover who then became the last woman to be hanged in the UK. On this episode, she talks about why the challenge she faced portraying Ellis "wasn't an actor issue," but more about facing the traumas women are still dealing with decades later. She ponders how acting as a child served her into adulthood, explains why over-direction is never a problem for her, why "turning the dials" on micro-facial acting excites her, makes a plea for more women screenwriters, and much much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Griffin Dunne has balanced acting, directing, and producing for over 40 years in this business. "Chilly Scenes of Winter," "An American Werewolf in London," "After Hours," "Practical Magic," "This is Us," to name just a small handful of his credits. For his latest, "Ex-Husbands," he delivers a performance revelatory in its ease, miraculously blending lightness and dread. It's so much fun, and even inspirational, to simply watch him walk around as this character, carrying this load. Hopefully, this is the start of a new chapter: Dunne as the contemplative man of a certain age who has seen it all. On this episode, he shares his favorite piece of direction, talks about how producing affected his acting work, tells the story of discovering he's a Chekhovian actor, explains why it all comes down to listening and being in the moment, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

In movies like "Million Dollar Baby," "August: Osage County," "Blow The Man Down," and series like "The Americans," "Justified," and "Sneaky Pete," "esteemed character actress Margo Martindale" loves to play people much different from herself. And she's been so good at it for so long that she only started to get truly recognized for her work in her 60s. Three Emmys later, she's able to pick and choose what she wants to do. Her latest, the Amazon series "The Sticky," finds her number one on the call sheet and having a blast playing the bombastic maple syrup farmer Ruth Landry. On this episode she explains why the first step in her preparation process is knowing where a character was born and raised. She talks about feeling most free when she's able to "play" like she did in her backyard, what makes Alexander Payne and Robert Benton great directors, why it took some time for her to settle in to sit-com acting, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Brad Fleischer is an actor, teacher, coach, filmmaker, producer, and founding partner of GhostLight Media. He originated the role of Doug in "Gruesome Playground Injuries" alongside Selma Blair. On Broadway, he starred opposite Robin Williams in "Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo," opposite Tony Schaloub in "Golden Boy," and played the title character in the Olivier award winning "Coram Boy." On the screen, Brad has worked with Robert De Niro in "The Good Shepherd," Scott Frank and Liam Neeson in "Walk Among the Tombstones", Greg Nicotero on "The Walking Dead", among many others. For 17 years and counting, he continues to run his own professional acting class in New York and Los Angeles, strictly through word of mouth. On this episode, he tells the story of how he came to a level of dedication similar to what athletics required, which he now passes on to his students. He talks about the difference between the visceral and the intellectual; the importance of finding and working with good actors that you can learn from; why it all comes down to focus, specificity, and commitment. Plus much more!

Back To One

Marianne Jean-Baptiste is getting accolades and awards for her incredible performance in Mike Leigh's "Hard Truths." The two last worked together nearly 30 years ago, on Leigh's "Secrets and Lies," for which Jean-Baptiste was nominated for an Oscar. On this episode, she takes us all the way back to her first time working with Mike Leigh, on the play "It's A Great Big Shame," and details for us the ins and outs of working with him on these three projects. She talks about her love of process, how this intense character work fuels her on less actor-centric jobs, why she's still mad at Leigh for "murdering" Pansy's mother, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

The U.S. premiere of "Hard Truths" at the New York Film Festival in October brings director Mike Leigh back to the podcast for the third time (Ep. 54 and Ep. 204). He talks about working again with Marianne Jean-Baptiste after nearly 30 years, how a lower budget didn't change his process but made him "dig vertically," why American actors are unofficially not allowed in his films. Plus he shares his hope for cinema after he's gone, but explains why he refuses to officially pass down his process. And much more! "Hard Truths" opens in select U.S. theaters on Friday January 10th.  Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Tiffany Boone's breakout role was Jerrika Little on the series "The Chi." "Little Fires Everywhere," "The Midnight Sky," "Nine Perfect Strangers" and "Hunters" followed. Now she voices Sarabi in Disney's "Mufasa: The Lion King." She explains how getting back to her childlike imagination was a must for that role. She tells the story of trying to break up with acting but acting wouldn't break up with her. She talks about the importance of knowing the character better than anyone else, how focusing on connecting with people through her art allowed her to "let go of the desperation," and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Tommy Dewey is best known for playing Alex Cole on the Hulu series "Casual" for five seasons. This year, two movies benefit from his talents—the Jason Reitman ensemble comedy "Saturday Night", and Caroline Lindy's romantic/horror/comedy "Your Monster," where he brilliantly plays the titular character. On this episode, he talks about what went into deciding on the proper mixture of absurdity and tenderness  for that special role. He explains why, if a comedy script connects with him, he "maybe reads it once and stay the hell away from it." Plus how writing can help you as an actor, the increased pressure of 3-dimensionality the higher you are on a call sheet, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Alessandro Nivola returns to the podcast (Ep. 37 and Ep.170) to discuss three performances he gives in three different films out at the same time this week—Pedro Almodóvar's "The Room Next Door," "The Brutalist," and "Kraven The Hunter." He gifts us with a detailed peek into what it took to build each of these characters. He talks about the interesting way he received a "green light" from Almodóvar in terms of his approach to the role of an Upstate New York policeman, the challenge of balancing adherence to period authenticity with a modern accessibly as Attila in Brady Corbet's epic, tells the thrilling story of how he found a way to bypass the Marvel committee approval to bring his version of The Rhino to life while miraculously having a creatively fulfilling time in the process, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson are the stars of "Nickel Boys," RaMell Ross' bold and brilliant adaptation of Colson Whitehead's novel that tells the story, cinematically, almost entirely in a first-person POV-style. Herisse and Wilson talk about the challenge of acting to the camera, their saga of navigating auditions, the "freedom" and "openness" they both felt from Ross, how the trust they built with the crew played a big part in performing in this process, and much more. "Nickel Boys" opens in select theaters on December 14th. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Michael Shannon is known for his intense and versatile performances across film, television, and theater—"Take Shelter," "99 Homes," "Nocturnal Animals," "Boardwalk Empire," "Long Days Journey Into Night," "George and Tammy," to name just a few. On this episode, he talks about his "simplistic" approach to preparation, the test he gives directors to see if he can trust them, the importance of "disappearing," why he no longer likes to do endless takes, and much more. Plus he discusses his love for George Mackay, who plays "Son" to Shannon's "Father" in "The End," Joshua Oppenheimer's post-apocalyptic musical which opens in select theaters December 6th. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

In this time of the year when traditions give us a sense of comfort and repetition that we need, especially in these volatile times, Back To One has a tradition of its own—the annual Kevin Corrigan episode! The patron saint of the indie film actor was the first guest on this podcast and he has returned every year since, telling hilarious stories from his adventures in the acting world, waxing about Brando, Walken, Scorsese, expounding on music, philosophizing about life in general—these episodes have become listener favorites. In this installment, Corrigan talks about shooting a scene recently where his emotions were almost too much at his finger tips, shares the awe and pride he felt working for his old friend Natasha Lyonne, and the similar feeling of working for his Daughter in a film she directed. Plus he brings back the Moss Hart story he told in a previous episode, but this time movingly reads it in Hart's words, and much much more. Past Kevin Corrigan Episodes: Ep. 1, Ep. 67, Ep. 133, Ep.185 Ep. 234 Ep. 268 Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

As an actor, Peter Vack is known for his work in television series such as "I Just Want My Pants Back (series lead)," "Mozart In The Jungle," and "Love Life," and recent independent films like "PVT Chat," Eugene Kotlyarenko's "The Code" and his virtuoso turn as an evil version of "Peter Vack" in "Actors" (written, directed, and co-staring his sister Betsey Brown). As a filmmaker, he has gotten a reputation for demanding an "all in" approach from his performers. His first feature, "Assholes" (called "the most disgusting movie ever"), won a jury prize at SXSW, and his latest, "www.RachelOrmont.com," described as a "psychedelic techno-satire about growing up in captivity," just premiered in September and is already on the fast track toward "cult hit" status. On this episode, he describes his belief that an actor has to develop a pure, almost religious faith in their ability, fueled by positivity and joy. He explains why "intellectual homework" doesn't help him at all anymore, how incorporating a "toxic method" approach when playing a toxic "method actor" actually worked for him, what being "a player on the field" and "embodying the energy" mean for him as a director, why the best practice an actor can do is actually outside the work, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram (Photo by  Marcus Maddox)

Back To One

Jack Dunphy is a writer, filmmaker, animator, actor and podcaster. His shorts have played in festivals around the world and his latest, "Bob's Funeral," won Best Nonfiction Short Film at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. As an actor, he starred in Peter Vack's "Assholes" and Caveh Zahedi's legendary, unfinished, 24-hour retelling of Joyce's "Ulysses." He can soon be seen in "Paradise and Lunch," the new film from Jordan Tetwesky and Joshua Pikovsky, and "Anything That Moves" from Alex Phillips. His wonderful new podcast, "Revelations with Jack Dunphy," in which he talks about his struggles with addiction and mental illness with fellow artists, is out now on the Talkhouse network. Even though he draws on his real life so much in his work, Jack talks about his difficulty with playing a version of himself. He explains why authenticity shouldn't be a brand but a necessity, what it means to be a "three chord" actor, how fame would negatively impact his addiction management, and much more. Listen to "Revelations with Jack Dunphy" here. It's fast becoming one of my favorite podcasts.  Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Jaclyn Bethany is an Emmy award winning filmmaker, writer and actor based in New Orleans, Louisiana. She has been committed to creating art and telling stories exploring complex women, the intimacy of female friendship, sisterhood and queerness from the female perspective. Some upcoming film projects include "Delusion "- a short film in collaboration with Adult Film NYC, "In Transit," written by Alex Sarrigeorgiou and featuring Jennifer Ehle and Francois Arnaud, and "All Five Eyes," which she co-wrote with Greta Bellamacina, featuring Bellamacina and Honor Swinton-Byrne. In this episode she talks about her role as the Co-Artistic Director of The Fire Weeds, a female driven immersive theater company based in New Orleans, and her endeavor to present new theater, and new approaches to old theater, in a place where "new" takes some getting used to. She also discusses what she learned as an actor that helps her directing, why she's so fascinated by Tennessee Williams, the importance of a "child-like" approach to the work, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Daisy Ridley shot to global fame for her portrayal of Rey in the "Star Wars" sequel trilogy. Since then, she has been choosing diverse roles that showcase her talents in films with wide ranging budgets that prove her north star is the quality of the work and nothing else. She has three films that have come out in this year alone—"Sometimes I think About Dying," "Young Woman and The Sea", and her latest, "Magpie." On this episode, she explains how coming up with the idea for "Magpie" and building her character from the ground up was an interesting exercise in multiple ways. She makes a compelling case for why not all actors can be objective enough to give notes on a film, talks about the ways her process changes when she has to do an accent, ponders the healthy amount of worry and uncertainty that surround her return to the character of Rey, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Actor, director, coach, teacher, Maria Dizzia is a perpetual student of the craft of acting, which makes her celebrated and in-demand for all those jobs. The movie "My Old  Ass" and the play "Pre-Existing Condition" are a couple of her most recent projects. On this incredibly dense and gold-filled  episode, she generously gives us a peek into the aspects of the work that she deems important to focus on, worth struggling with, or where she simply finds the most fruit. She talks about the huge importance of those first subconscious "offerings," how to use the discoveries made when "alive" to fuel the work in times when you're not, learning gentleness is much more affective than being hard on yourself, the value of "I don't know,"  and much much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

"There are practical paths and intuitive paths with each character," says Cory Michael Smith at the start of this episode, and it's a recurring theme throughout. The talented actor was Riddler on the series "Gotham," a standout in three Todd Haynes films, and now plays Chevy Chase in "Saturday Night." On this episode he details the careful process of studying Chevy clips for months before diving into the script. He talks about the importance of "ridding myself of any hint of fraudulence," why it's so important for him to show up with lots of ideas, how being intentional with his career choices allows him to better serve the work, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Michael Urie is one of those mega-talented actors who seems to jump effortlessly from theater (like "Torch Song," "Spamalot," and, currently, the revival of "Once Upon A Mattress") to television (like "Ugly Betty," "Younger," and, currently, "Shrinking"), with a genuine love for both. On this episode, he talks in-depth about his acting process with a humility and a humor that is infectious. He explains why he decided to always be off-book on day one, how he came to believe in himself as an actor after starting out wanting to be a director, tells an interesting story about the temptation to mold a joke based on the audience's response, lays out what makes "Shrinking" such a special show, reminisces on the "Hamlet" experience, takes us through his pre-show ritual, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Straddling the line between outsider artist and full fledged Hollywood sellout, Will Janowitz has always found solace working both sides of the industry. With work ranging from Troma films to Ang Lee's "Taking Woodstock" to "The Sopranos," he's made a career of always doing the unpredictable. This year two films he produced, and one he wrote, will make their festival run; "Bang Bang" starring Tim Blake Nelson and the later, "Train Dreams," starring Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones directed by Clint Bently. On this episode he talks about his improvisational sweet spot and how it rests in the heart of danger and risk, brings us back to his beginnings at UNCSA and the reasons why that school didn't work so well for him, charts his own journey discovering his way into the craft, tells some hilarious and relatable audition stories, plus an eye opening one from the other side of the table, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

His breakout role in Netflix's "Outer Banks" catapulted Chase Stokes to fame. In the series, he portrays the charismatic and determined John B, the leader of a group of young outcasts on a treasure hunt in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The show's blend of adventure, mystery, and coming-of-age drama quickly gained a massive fanbase, establishing Stokes as a rising star. Since then he's been in "Tell Me Your Secrets," this year's "The Uglies," opposite Joey King, and next year's "Valiant One," not to mention Season 4 of "Outer Banks," which is dropping in October. On this episode, he tells the story of his struggle to break in to the business. It's an epic, sometimes hilarious, saga of "failing forward," an inspiring tale of determination and perseverance. He talks about why his process starts with "the newspaper read," the importance of the "f*ck it" mindset, how Nick Cassavetes made him fall in love with making movies, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

The mega-talented Canadian multi-hyphenate Grace Glowicki gives an incredible performance in Mary Dauterman's debut feature "Booger." On this episode, she reveals why she was interested in the project before even opening the script, and how she could just tell Dauterman was going to be the kind of director that would give her the support she needs. She talks about her current focus on examining issues dealing with authority, her love of bodily fluids in film, her struggle with emotional scenes, how directing herself as an actor actually helped her acting career, differences between the Canadian and American indie film scene, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Odessa Young is only 26, but she already has a truly impressive body of work behind her. "Assassination Nation," "A Million Little Pieces," "Shirley," "Mothering Sunday," "The Stand," "The Staircase," "Manodrome," in each of these projects, she seems to have an effortless command over her character, each unique, never forced, always true. Now she stars as Vita, the lead character based on Zia Anger in "My First Film." On this episode, she talks about the need to "cultivate an obsession" as character preparation, recent musings on "how much an actor should act to the camera," why she never worries about being misinterpreted, the importance of "kindredness with creators," and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

To be a standout on a show featuring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford is quite a feat, but that's exactly what Luke Tennie did in his breakthrough role as Sean in the hit Apple TV+ series "Shrinking." On this episode, the seemingly effortlessly-talented young actor takes us back to his early days and details how football played a pivotal part in helping him with the disciplines required for acting. He explains his belief that there can be no real "play" without massive preparation; talks about coming to a place of understanding that auditioning is simply a "demonstration of my capabilities;" tells a hilarious story about his first job, working with Rob Reiner, which ends up being a lesson in letting go, plus much more. The second season of "Shrinking" is dropping this fall and Tennie also has a small part in the eagerly anticipated film "Nickel Boys" which is scheduled to be released on October 25th. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

He was in "The OA," "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," and played Roy Cohn in "Fellow Travelers," but the stage is where Will Brill has found the most satisfaction and success recently, in "A Case For The Existence of God," "Uncle Vanya," and, just this year, as Reg in "Stereophonic" on Broadway, for which he received a Tony Award. On this episode he talks about building Reg by starting with his voice, why following playwright David Adjmi to a bar was a pivotal move, the importance of directorial affirmation, how his pre-show ritual has changed, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

He was a model and MTV VJ, and then Simon Rex transitioned to acting, becoming widely recognized for his comedic roles in the "Scary Movie" franchise, where his sharp timing and parody skills made him a fan favorite. But more substantial parts were on the horizon. On this episode, he talks about the job that changed everything, Sean Baker's *Red Rocket," which won him wide acclaim, an Independent Spirt Award, and a fresh chapter in his career. He talks about the interesting new place he finds himself now at the intersection of "not caring and caring SO MUCH." He explains what he had to do to feel confident playing a chef in Zoë Kravitz's directorial debut "Blink Twice," learning that "to simply par the course" is enough, and sometimes "you don't have to slap the fish." Plus much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Marianne Rendón's performance in "Summer Solstice," Noah Schamus' "modern twist on the buddy comedy from a queer and trans perspective," is special in such a rare way that makes shinning a light on it actually detrimental to its effect on the new viewer. Its revelations are small and imbedded in the nuances of the character. It's how they seem rooted and not created, "lived" and not "played," that make them extraordinary. On this episode, Rendón takes us back to her training, and how being fed great experimental theater before the classics resulted in a kind of "reverse engineering" of her foundation. She details the effort it took to let go of a quality she used to think was her only real strength. She talks about the importance of "cluing into the rhythm of the writer," dipping back into asking sensory questions through "method" (in its true meaning) approaches, working with "the texture" of life, "living on camera," how "space informs everything," and much more. "Summer Solstice" is available to stream on August 16th. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Still in his early career, Dylan Arnold has already built  a diverse catalog of roles, including a breakout one in season three of Netflix's "You," reprising a fan-favorite for the "Halloween" franchise in "Halloween Kills," and last year, of course, playing Frank Oppenheimer, holding much more than his own, opposite Oscar winner Cillian Murphy. Now he goes a good bit darker in Alma Har'el's Apple TV+ series "The Lady In The Lake." On this episode, he talks about the differences between these two incredible actor's directors, Har'el and Christopher Nolan, and what works best for him. He explains the importance of holding back from making choices too early in preparation, why you should approach with caution anything discovered in rehearsal, learning that "things that scare me can yield exciting results," and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

David Garelik was in Trey Edward Shults' "Waves," Peter Berg's "Mile 22," and recently finished a run of an Off-Broadway 2-hander at the WP Theater, co-produced with Colt Coeur. Now you can see him as the bad guy/enucleator, opposite Liana Liberato, on this season of "Criminal Minds: Evolution" on Paramount+. On this epic episode, he recounts his journey from moving to New York with zero acting experience and "being a bad auditioner", to making naivety work for him and "changing the game" by refusing to play it. It's a story of perseverance, endurance, and growth, fueled by focus on the work, Conor McGregor quotes, and an unwavering belief in himself as an actor, told with bold rawness and refreshing honesty, sure to inspire. Currently, Garelik teaches Sensory Based Acting Process and Dramatic Improv at adultfilm.nyc  Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Jimmy Tatro is an actor, director, writer, and comedian best known for the popular YouTube channel he created over a decade ago, "LifeAccordingToJimmy." His career expanded into the mainstream with roles in movies like "22 Jump Street" and the Netflix series "American Vandal," all while he continued to expand the content on his channel. His latest project is "The Real Bros of Simi Valley: The Movie," a continuation of his popular mock-reality show web series. The film delves deeper into the absurd lives of friends navigating the quirks of suburban Southern California while preparing for their high school reunion. Tatro's talent for blending satire with genuine character development makes this hilarious comedy a surprising stand-out. On this episode, he takes us back to the beginning and details how he started forming his particular brand of humor and brings us all the way up to the making of this film. He talks about what it took to keep the channel successful, the benefits of collaboration, the production conundrum that birthed the "Real Bros," the frustrations that continued despite popularity, learning how the tone is matched in the edit, realizing that "people don't believe you can do something until you do it," and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Y'lan Noel played Daniel in the HBO series "Insecure" and starred in "The First Purge," now he plays Officer Platt in "Lady in The Lake," Alma Har'el's eagerly anticipated new series for Apple TV+ that drops on July 19th. On this episode, he discusses his unique approach to the work, which starts with, and centers on, daydreaming and the avoidance of aiming to do "the right thing." He talks about allowing for "an energy that's not me to make certain decisions;" the importance of solitude, space, stillness; how Har'el's willingness to leave room for the mystical served his process; and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  This is the 300th episode! If you are enjoying this podcast, please leave a review and share it with someone who might enjoy it as well.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

After early success opposite Kirsten Dunst in Lifetime's "Fifteen and Pregnant," and as Jasper on the CW's reboot of "90210," Zachary Ray Sherman has gone on to build an impressive acting resume balancing television work (Hulu's "Under the Banner of Heaven") with edgy, transformative roles in independent films ("Cuck"; "Can't Seem to Make You Mine," opposite Lindsay Burdge; and "A Desert," which just premiered at the Tribeca Festival, to name a few). On this episode, he talks about why it all starts with building trust with his collaborators early, the semi-mystical process of aligning his heart with the character's heart, the importance of risking failure, how physical transformation helps, and he highlights an example of creating backstory that paid dividends in establishing emotional connection. Plus much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

In the midst of a successful modeling career a decade ago, Abbey Lee's chance to break into acting came with "Mad Max Fury Road." That challenging shoot was the first of many she faced with relish. A scene-stealing role in "The Neon Demon" followed, then M. Night Shyamalan's "Old," "Lovecraft County," and "Florida Man," to name a few, and now she stars opposite Kevin Costner in his 2-part western epic "Horizon: An American Saga" (in theaters now). On this episode, she talks about letting the character find her, the importance of staying malleable, using everything that happens as fuel for the work, and much much more. The second part of "Horizon" opens on August 16th. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

There are few actors more well respected than the preternaturally gifted Julianne Nicholson. Recent notable credits include "August: Osage County," "Dream Scenario," "Mare of Easttown" (which won her an Emmy award), and her latest, playwright Annie Baker's first film, "Janet Planet." In this episode, she talks in-depth about playing Janet in that remarkable film, her elusive preparation process, getting the environment to settle into her body, actually learning how to do acupuncture, why she lets her instinct lead the way, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

John Early is an actor, comedian, writer, and wearer of many hats. His latest as a comedian and writer is the HBO special "Now More Than Ever." His latest as an actor is the independent film "Stress Positions." On this episode he talks about how these two projects came about, the differences between the John Early character and himself, the pleasure of working on the series "Search Party," why he relishes straight-up acting, the comedy breakthrough he made in his new special, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

When you look at the illustrious career of Clive Owen, you see choices made based on the depth of the roles ("Closer," "Children of Men," "Hemingway and Gellhorn," "The Knick"), not on trajectory or star power. His two latest projects, "Monsieur Spade" and "A Murder At The End of The World," are quality television series where he's able to settle in and deliver the grounded, nuanced work we've come to expect from him. On this episode, he explains why he needs time to prepare a role, and the "marination" process that is required. He talks about the qualities found in his favorite co-stars, the "heaven" of Soderbergh's "concentrated" sets, how Bogart's voice helped him play Spade, why he calls himself a "logic monster," and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Betsy Aidem has been in over 80 plays, off Broadway, on Broadway, and around the world. Recent titles of note: "All The Way," where she played Lady Bird Johnson, "Mama's Boy," where she played Lee Harvey Oswald's mother, Tom Stoppard's "Leopoldstadt," and "Prayer For The French Republic," for which she is nominated for her first Tony Award. On this gold-filled episode, she talks about her love of extensive research, why she doesn't think the people she plays are just one person, the "golden moment when your character is unsure," the importance of a director's patience and willingness to let her swerve off course, and why she believes the prize is always in the work, plus much much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Molly Gordon makes everything better. She was a stand-out among stand-outs in films like "Good Boys," "Booksmart," and "Shiva Baby." Then she showed her talents on the other side of the camera, co-writing/directing the hilarious indie hit "Theater Camp." Now she plays Claire on the beloved series "The Bear," which is about to drop its third season. On this episode she talks about why she loves improv, how her parents unintentionally formed her comedy sensibilities, getting "buzzed" from in-person auditions, "locking in" with Jeremy Allen White, why she's always aspiring to a child-like lack of self consciousness, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram (Photo by Elias Tahan)

Back To One

She was on "Game of Thrones" when she was a child, but Nell Tiger Free hit her stride in the M. Night Shyamalan series "Servant," and now her absolutely incredible performance in the hit horror film "The First Omen" has solidified her as one of the great young actors working today. On this episode, she discusses her 'total non-process' process, which means every aspect of her work takes place between "action" and "cut" and literally nowhere else. She talks about why she only reads the script once, finds all backstory that isn't on the page "cringe," doesn't like to rehearse at all, is at the complete service of the director, and strives for total emersion in the moment. It's a fascinating and inspiring approach that could easily be misconstrued as carless if it didn't yield indisputably astonishing results. "The First Omen" begins streaming on Hulu May 30th. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Since he was last on the podcast (Ep. 112), Tom Pelphrey has been nominated for an Emmy for his work on "Ozark," he's had juicy roles on "Outer Range" and David E. Kelly's "Love and Death," and now Kelly has given Pelphrey perhaps his most exciting role to date in the character of Raymond Peepgrass in Netflix's "A Man In Full." On this episode, Pelphrey takes us deep into his work on that limited series. He talks about why a good costumer designer is an actor's best friend, what made him feel free to go "full weird" with Regina King, the importance of being an advocate for your character, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram (Photo by: Skylar Reeves)

Back To One

Over the past year and a half, no actor in any medium has given me more inspiration through their work than Mia Vallet. As a company member and frequent performer at the exciting NYC "loft theaters" Adult Film and The Brooklyn Center for Theatre Research, she continues to show the thrilling possibilities for this craft of acting, culminating in her performance as Nina in "Sea Gull," Adult Film's new version of Chekov's masterpiece, opening on Friday May 10th in Manhattan. On this episode, she talks about her training at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and early success in the business, the setback in her personal life that threw her off course but set the stage for true fulfillment in the work, why daring actors inspire her, the importance of trusting a director, why she loves rehearsal, loves Chekhov, doesn't shy away from the highly emotional material, is inspired by the remarkable resilience of actors, and much much more. "Sea Gull" Info and Tickets  Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram  

Back To One

Judy Reyes is best known for playing Carla on the TV series "Scrubs," but her nearly three-decades-long career is packed with roles on long-running shows like "Devious Maids," and in movies like "Birth/Rebirth," for which she was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Actress. Her latest is Hannah Marx's highly anticipated screen version of John Green's celebrated novel "Turtles All The Way Down" (coming to MAX on May 2nd). On this episode, she takes us back to the beginning—her "dramatic" childhood household serving as a form of acting training, defying her mother when she wanted to actually be an actor, and the support she found at the legendary LAByrinth Theater. She tells us why journaling as the character is her first step inside, how one recent role allowed her to show the fullness of her range, why simply being a latino artist is not enough, and much much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

As a working actor, Ryan Czerwonko's credits include "The Endgame," "Chicago Med," "Chicago Fire," "Cherry," "Paint," and "Watchmen," to name a few. He's also the artistic director of Adult Film, an exciting Brooklyn theater and film group where he acts, directs, and teaches. His latest project is a year-long exploration of Chekhov's "Sea Gull" that will culminate in a limited engagement in Manhattan in May and a documentary on the whole process. On this episode, he explains why Chekhov is so important to him and what he set out to do with this ambitious endeavor. He gives us a deep dive into his very specific preparation process and takes us through the various techniques and approaches he has collected and adapted for his own use and combined into a curriculum for his students. He uses his recent time on the set of a movie as an example of being in the present moment and using your current thoughts and feelings as the driving force of your work, which is a major tenet of his approach. He explains why Stella Adler and Nikos Psacharopoulos are so influential to him, why tension is good, "acting" is bad, how he learned to stop worrying and focus on the work, and much much more. "Sea Gull" Info and Tickets  Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram (Photo by Matt Street)

Back To One

Dylan Baker is the definition of a consummate actor. For over three decades he has delivered so many incredible performances in series like "The Good Wife," "Damages," "Hunters," films like "Happiness," "Selma," "Spider-Man 2", and his latest, "LaRoy, Texas", where he plays a professional killer. He talks about his approach toward playing despicable people, some who other actor's wouldn't touch. He takes us back to his beginnings, and the acting instruction that changed his work and which he still uses today. He tells a story about how the legendary theater director Nikos Psacharopoulos had a big impact on his early career,  talks about the excitement of working on ultra independent films like Onur Tukel's "The Misogynists," explains why minimal direction works so powerfully for him, gives us a run down of his pre-curtain ritual, and much much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

His work in series like "Grey's Anatomy," "13 Reasons Why," and "This Is Us," has established Brandon Scott as a captivatingly talented actor. His latest is the new MAX series "The Girls on the Bus," where he plays the jilted ex-lover of Melissa Benoist's journalist character, who now needs his help because he's the new press secretary to the leading Presidential candidate. He talks about the process of building connection between two people that are supposed to have a past, and how sometimes that can be done in simple ways. He describes the impact Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini had on developing his sense of play while shooting "Dead To Me," explains why directors showing "collaborative curiosity" is so helpful, why his process starts with stress and fear, plus much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Colin Burgess and Anthony Oberbeck star in "Dad & Step-Dad," a indie comedy film they co-wrote with director Tynan DeLong. It follows Jim and Dave, a dad and a step-dad, as they struggle with bonding during a weekend upstate with Branson, the 13 year-old son they share. It's about family, communication, insecurity, and the fragility of the male ego. On this episode, Burgess and Oberbeck describe the development of their comedy tastes and take us back to the improvised shorts that preceded the feature, where they were able to hone their characters and comedic sensibility before growing the project to feature-length. They talk about the decision to "not do jokes," the importance of silence in comedy, the influence of Fredrick Wiseman, the similarities with the other comedy starring Colin Burgess that's out now—"Free Time," and much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

You know the gifted actor George MacKay from films like "1917" or "True History of The Kelly Gang." Now he has given us two absolutely incredible performances in "Femme" (in select theaters now) and "The Beast" (out on April 5th). On this episode, he takes us into his process of inhabiting these two extremely different characters. He explains why context is becoming more and more important to him in his preparation, talks about the actor as storyteller, the secret to appearing truly menacing, those sex scenes in "Femme," a lesson about respect that he learned from Eddie Marsan, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Lukas Gage is on a roll. In shows like "The White Lotus," "Euphoria," "You," and the latest season of "Fargo," films like "How to Blow Up a Pipeline," "Down Low" (which he also co-wrote), and now the eagerly anticipated "Road House" reboot, he's been able to display his immense talent and range. He's even played himself in "Gossip Girl" and "The Other Two." On this episode, he explains how sometimes doing the opposite of what's described is beneficial in an audition, why over-directing doesn't work for him, the importance of creativity for the actor, how he arrived at his current state of not caring about how he's perceived and only focusing on the work, plus much much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

The Brooklyn-based actor Anastasia Olowin stars in Shaun Seneviratne's "Ben and Suzanne, A Reunion in 4 Parts," which just had its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival. She has such a command of the screen and brings so much life to her character, it's hard to believe this is her first feature film. On this episode, she takes us back to her training at NYU's Experimental Theater Wing, her 8 years producing and acting in new work for the stage, and the 10 year journey to bring "Ben and Suzanne" to the screen. She talks about the collaborative process at the heart of the production, her fascination with various kinds of stories, what it means to be a "how" not "why" actor, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

As an actor, Hugo De Sousa had breakout leading roles in "We Used to Know Each Other," "Mister Limbo," and "Everything in The End." I was introduced to his work as an actor/filmmaker, with the celebrated shorts he made in collaboration with Frank Mosley—"The Event" and "Good Condition." On this episode he talks extensively about the making of those films, and his latest, which might be of particular, cathartic interest to listeners of this podcast, the absurdist short "Je Ne Suis Pas Une Star De Cinéma." Plus he discusses the importance of feeling "out of balance in front of the camera," why he likes to absorb challenges on set, how independent cinema is "like robbing a bank," and much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

"Heartbreak Ridge" put him on the map as an actor, "New Jack City" as a director, and with "Posse," the 1993 hit Western he directed and stars in, Mario Van Peebles secured his place as a celebrated actor/director with countless credits, over the next 30 years, on the big and small screen. His latest is another star-filled, super fun western called "Outlaw Posse." On this episode, he talks about the importance of discovering the tone of the project, how his love of learning leads to his desire to make "edutainment," ways his acting experience informs his work as a director, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

John Magaro has been delivering consistently stellar performances in films like "Not Fade Away," "The Big Short," "Carol," "First Cow," and "Showing Up," to name a few. This past year he played Arthur, husband of Greta Lee's character Nora, in "Past Lives." On this episode he talks, spoiler-free, about the last scene of that film, and why it makes people emotional. He explains how receiving books, music, photos from directors helps in his preparation. He makes the case for experience over academia, takes us back to a big breakthrough that came to him from the legendary acting teacher Howard Guskin, and talks about how newfound freedom in the work has changed everything. Plus much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Leah McKendrick wrote, directed, and stars in the hilarious, super smart, and intensely personal new film "Scrambled." It's about a perpetual bridesmaid who, realizing she isn't quite willing or able to settle down, decides to freeze her eggs. McKendrick doesn't shy away from depicting her character's sex life, the frustrations involving family and friends, and the true loneliness that enveloped her when she decided to do the same procedure in real life. It's that rare film that will have you belly laughing one minute and crying hard the next. On this episode, we find out what elements were at play to make this little miracle of a movie come to life. She talks about how hitting rock bottom when her studio screenwriting work just evaporated into thin air one day, after years of commitment, led to a desire to get back to making her own films; why it's always advisable to hire your talented actor friends, even for the tiniest roles; what it took to finally stop worrying if her performance was coming across on the screen; the extent to which she had to fight to stay true to her own vision, and much more! This is a truly inspirational episode for anyone who seeks to make, and act in, their own films. "Scrambled" is in theaters now. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Mia McKenna-Bruce is an English actress. Her performance in the film "How To Have Sex" is, rightfully, being spoken about with many superlatives. Subtle, controlled, thoroughly alive, deeply impacting, it is a star-making turn. There's a scene where her character, Tara, is simply walking down the street, and it's something of a revelation. It won her the BIFA for Best Lead Performance. On this episode, she breaks down the ingredients that helped her deliver this work—an extensive audition process to find her co-stars that allowed her time to play; complete trust in the director, Molly Manning Walker, and everyone on the crew; a feeling of total ownership of the character;  a "360 set" that allowed for full emersion into Tara's world, a sense of obligation to "get this right" for everyone it will impact, and much more. "How To Have Sex" is out in limited release. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Sallieu Sesay is a Sierra Leonean-American actor who has had recurring roles on CBS' "Seal Team" and HBO's "Barry," and, in his latest, delivers an incredible supporting performance in John Trengove's nihilistic thriller "Manodrome," alongside Jesse Eisenberg. On this episode he talks about doing tons of research before taking on that part, having so little in common with the character, and facing the pressure of being at the center of a movie's most pivotal scene. He gives us a glimpse at his dedication to this craft, his continuous training with some of the best acting teachers around such as Ivana Chubbuck, how substitution plays a part in his preparation, the significance of journaling, why empathy and curiosity are two important words for the actor, what "it's all about trusting the work" really means, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Jack Huston has worked with Scorsese, Ridley Scott, David O' Russell, The Coens, had meaty roles on series like "Mayfair Witches," "Fargo," and, maybe most notably, "Boardwalk Empire," where he played Richard Harrow. His latest project is Lulu Wang's Amazon series "Expats." On this episode he talks about gaining 30 pounds for that part (which wasn't as much fun as it sounds), why it all starts with the voice for him, writing and directing his passion project "The Day of The Fight" for Michael Pitt and Joe Pesci, and he reveals a common trait of all great directors he's known. Plus we discuss the current state of Independent Film, what we think should change, and much more. "Expats" streams on Amazon Prime starting January 25th. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

You know Spenser Granese from memorable roles on "Better Call Saul," "Fear of the Walking Dead," "Pam & Tommy," and, perhaps most memorably, the character of Bevel in the final season of "Barry." On this episode, he talks about landing that role after trying hard to get on the show for 3 seasons, and the incredible working environment he found on set. He opens up about his unique approach to the craft having no formal training, why he keeps the lines barely memorized, avoids expectations, operates on his instinct, and much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Discovering Michelle Monaghan in "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" was like finding evidence that the old school Hollywood comedy actress gene, long thought extinct, was alive and well. She did more than hold her own opposite Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer, she stole the movie. I've been rooting for her ever since. A few "Mission Impossibles," "Gone Baby Gone," "True Detective" followed, as well as some significant work in small indies like "Trucker," "Fort Bliss," and "Nanny." She returns to comedy with her latest, "The Family Plan," which is streaming now on Apple TV+. On this episode, she talks about how her deep desire to be a journalist is actually still playing out in her career, why a good vocabulary is the best trait for a director, what precipitates the necessity to protect the arc of her character and how she does it, plus much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Melora Hardin is best known for playing Jan on the American version of "The Office." She was nominated for an Emmy for her work on the series "Transparent." Recently she stepped back into the role of Trudy Monk for "Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie," which is streaming now on Peacock. On this episode, she talks about bringing the character Mabel Montgomery-Mayflower to life in the new independent film "Golden Vanity," and how the perfect combination of director's vision and true collaboration helped her deliver that tour-de-force performance. She takes us back to her early days as a child actor, lessons learned while getting 10,000 hours of experience before her 18th birthday, tells an incredible story about Stella Adler, and a touching one about Gene Hackman, plus much much more. "Golden Vanity" is playing at the Cinelounge Sunset in Los Angeles through December 17th. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

You might know Robbie Tann from "Preacher," "The Deuce," or when he played Billy on "Mare of Easttown," or Whitty in the "Mazey Day" episode of the latest season of "Black Mirror." Currently he plays Shipley in this year's most exciting and original sci-fi film, "The Creator." On this episode, he tells how the run-and-gun style of shooting on that production, combined with the cast and crew's infectious passion for the project, helped with all aspects of his work. He explains why he now bypasses a straightforward "roadmap" of preparation, focusing instead on letting the role seep into his unconscious. And he talks about what a director can do to get the best of out him while still respecting the ideas he brings to the set. Plus much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram  

Back To One

You know Olli Haaskivi from his work in series such as "Winning Time", "Manifest", and "The Sinner," and films like "Motherless Brooklyn", "Nancy" and of course, this Summer's blockbuster "Oppenheimer," where he played scientist Edward Condon. On this episode he shares his experience of working with Christopher Nolan on that film (which he says seemed less sprawling than some student films he's worked on!), why he felt the freedom to bring his ideas and "all of himself" (spoiler: Nolan is not afraid of actors!), and how all this affected the work in the moment. Plus he talks about his "this IS the job" approach to auditioning, something post-strike that he'd like to see implemented about the work, why you can't get to the great stuff "without risking that it might all go off the rails," and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Brit Marling is an inspiration. The talented multi-hypenate became an indie darling in 2011 with "Another Earth" and "Sound of My Voice"—collaborations with Mike Cahill and Zal Batmanglij respectively. She avoided various vapid roles and unfulfilling career paths and instead went on to star in (and co-create with Batmanglii) the hit Netflix series "The OA," which was bafflingly cancelled after two seasons, despite a rabid and large fan base. The two are back with another series, "A Murder At The End of The World"—a cool Zoomer detective whodunit set in a remote super-hotel in Iceland. On this episode, she talks about how knowing she will have to play a character affects the writing process, the "shared loneliness" of collaboration, using AI as a story element before the world even knew it existed, why she has to hold on to her character during the editing process, the cosmic concoction she uses to make her ideas grow, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

The SAG strike is over and Back To One returns in the most fitting way—with The Sixth Annual Kevin Corrigan Episode. The living patron saint of the indie actor fills us in on what's been going on in his world over the past year, talks about playing off of Tim Blake Nelson in his latest film "Bang Bang," takes us way back to his first time on a film set as an extra in 1987, describes a recent rewarding experience of performing his own ultra personal material, and ponders his strange case of involuntary lens spiking. Plus stories about "manhandling" Christopher Walken, a horrific "Sopranos" audition,  sitting down with Pacino at a diner, and much much more. Past Kevin Corrigan Episodes: Ep. 1, Ep. 67, Ep. 133, Ep.185 Ep. 234 Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

"Dogleg" is one of the best films of the year. A unique and hilarious feat of cinematic inventiveness, it follows amateur director Alan, played by Al Warren, after he loses his fiancé's dog at a gender reveal party on the day of an important shoot. Warren also wrote and directed the film, which took more than half a decade to finish. On this episode, he tells us why he was in no hurry to complete the film, and why he has taken a much more intentional and meaningful approach toward bringing it to the audience. He takes us back to his childhood, and a story of how prematurely promised stardom, followed by years of actively avoiding acting, led him to arrive at the craft in a genuinely meaningful and life-enriching way, which is where we find him now. Plus he shares his philosophy of comedy (which boils down to "Nothing is funnier than self-seriousness"), talks about his latest role opposite Nicolas Cage in "Dream Scenario," and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Aidan Gillen returns to the podcast (first time: Episode 40). You know him from some of the most beloved shows of the century: "Game of Thrones," "The Wire," "Peaky Blinders," to name a few. Now he stars in the Irish Neo-noir film "Barber," where he plays a private investigator hired by a wealthy widow to find her missing granddaughter. He talks about why he doesn't look at the lines until the day before shooting, how his latest venture on the stage affected his work, why he still doesn't like rehearsal for film, what bothers him about the idea of an "actor-centric" production, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Onur Tukel is a boldly independent writer-director-actor who, for more than a decade, has been making cutting edge comedies in New York City that sometimes land in the horror category, sometimes social satire, are often absurd, mostly hilarious, and always thoughtful—"Catfight," "Applesauce," "Summer of Blood," "The Misogynists," "Scenes From An Empty Church," to name just a few. His latest, "Poundcake," about a serial killer who only targets straight white men, is maybe his boldest yet, which says a lot. In this hour, he talks about his reluctant approach toward acting in his own films, the ways he has navigated low budget indie film production consistently enough to make a film every year, what rejuvenated his excitement for making movies after almost quitting, why he won't stop taking big storytelling risks, and much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

The great actor of the stage and screen, Ron Cephas Jones died on August 19, 2023, at the age of 66. On this episode from 2020, he details the value of a true collaborative relationship with the director, why the script never leaves his side in preproduction, talks about what it was like to slowly build "William" on "This Is Us" through many seasons of that show, and takes us back to his early days at LAByrinth theater in New York City to explain how Philip Seymour Hoffman forever changed his approach to work, plus much more! This is an expanded version of his episode, recorded on June 29, 2020, featuring a few minutes of extra material not included in the original release. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Please Note: These interviews were recorded prior to the SAG/AFTRA strike, in June 2023, as part of the Tribeca Festival. On this special episode of Back To One, actors Sophia Lillis, Hannah Gross, and Michael Cera talk about their work in writer/director Dustin Guy Defa's wonderful new film "The Adults." We get a glimpse into each of their general preparation processes before doing a deep dive into their work on this actor-centric production. They each talk about how they built the reality of their complex sibling relationship, why the songs and dances that play such a big part in their characters' past feel so organic, the extremely hard task of being truly unfunny, and much more. The Adults opens in select U.S. cities on August 18th. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

On this very special episode, I visit the picket line at each of the four SAG/AFTRA strike sites in New York City, in one continuous, unbroken audio "take." Actors Michael Gaston, Clarissa Thibeaux, and others talk to me about what's at stake, and en route to each location I share my own thoughts on the issues at hand, make some predictions, voice concerns, and offer up my total and complete solidarity to the cause, all supported by the loud and never-ending symphony of the New York City streets! Get ready for the strangest, but definitely most sonic-rich, episode of this podcast yet! This episode was recorded on Monday, August 7, 2023 from 9:56am ET until 10:48am ET For more information of the SAG/AFTRA strike, click here Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

(This episode was recorded prior to the SAG/AFTRA strike) Dierdre Friel always finds a way to ground her characters in such a deep reality that you feel like they aren't written at all, just simply among the living. Two examples of this can be found in "Ella" on the NBC show "New Amsterdam," and "Greta" on "Physical," the Apple TV+ hit that enters its third season on August  2nd. On this episode, she details the helpful exercise of laying out the similarities she shares with the character, and using Meisner's "what if" when the differences outweigh them. She talks about her amazing experience training at the Globe Theater, the "detective work" that is so integral to her process, the risky decision to take a part in a play that continues to pay dividends, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Chris Messina is that rare character actor leading man who is the go-to supporting actor in seemingly everything. From "The Mindy Project" and "Newsroom," to "She Dies Tomorrow" and "I Care A Lot," he handles ultra-serious roles (like in "Blame," which I loved) or uproarious ones (such as this year's hit "Air") with what seems like effortlessness, and now he's starring in the new series "Based on a True Story" with Kaley Cuoco. In this hour, he generously takes us on an extended tour of his process. He talks about learning to "experience" rather than "act," why the thought of preparing a role "for 14 years" excites him, and the elements that make up "Air" which elevated his work past simply being four phone calls. He tells wonderful stories about his time at the Actors Studio in New York, getting a helpful note from Amy Adams that has profoundly affected his work, why a recent viewing of "Raging Bull" got him emotional, and leaves us with much more inspiration and wisdom than we had before. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Dave Burd, known by his stage name Lil Dicky, is a multi-platinum rapper, comedian and actor. For three seasons now, he has been the co-creator, executive producer, writer and star of the critically acclaimed comedy series, "Dave." In this hour, he takes us from the beginning, being the laugh machine for his friends, through the discovery of his musical talent and the viral comedy video years, and finding his happy place in pitch meetings, convincing the money people that he could not just make a good TV show, that's easy, but maybe one of the great shows of all time. He talks about the hard work he puts into every aspect of "Dave," learning and growing from the amazing writers, the unique collaboration with the directors, and the true secret to his outstanding comedic performance: not having any time to think about it at all. Plus much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Few television show characters are more iconic than "Mad Men's" Don Draper. Jon Hamm played him for 7 seasons and just might have changed television forever. Since then Hamm has ventured into film and exercised his funny muscles. Last year's "Confess, Fletch" was a wonderful example of what Hamm can do with good material, and so is his latest, "Maggie Moore(s)," directed by his friend (and "Mad Men" co-star) John Slattery.  In this episode, he talks about how Slattery worked with him to establish the very specific tone of that film, and what he needs from a director in general. He details how his previous television work prepared him for "Mad Men," how he didn't let the hype of that show overwhelm him in the final season (for which he won an Emmy), plus much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Mark Duplass is the living patron saint of the indie filmmaker. Honest, simple, modest, positive, affirming about the work, Duplass, first with his brother Jay and now on his own, has become a household name in the film world for producing projects in a DIY style foregrounding authenticity, improvisational humor, and human connection. As an actor, both in his own productions and also series like "The Morning Show," he finds a way to keep that homegrown genuineness alive in front of the camera. His latest film, "Biosphere," which he co-wrote with director Mel Eslyn, is a true two-hander (with the wonderful Sterling K. Brown) that never fails to surprise and is sure to be a summer crowdpleaser when it opens on July 7th. On this episode, he talks about how his approach to acting grew out of necessity as a filmmaker, what he loved about being directed by his trusted partner Eslyn, why he himself hasn't directed for over eight years, what he needed to adjust when working in more precision-oriented productions, why he's cautiously optimistic about the AI effect on acting, and much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

In recent movies like "Air" and "Funny Pages," television series like "Our Flag Means Death," and plays like Annie Baker's "The Flick," Matthew Maher has made a name for himself as someone who can bring an oddball or weirdo to life with enough charm, charisma, and genuine gusto to make us love him unconditionally. On this episode, he talks about his acting foundations, the tools formative teachers have given him, and some theories he has developed as a teacher himself. He explains the allure of experimental theater in 90s New York City, makes a case for embracing contradictions and obstructions in a character, and brings it all back to the simple act of "owing it." Plus much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

It is extremely hard not to love Jeff Hiller's character Joel, opposite Bridget Everett's Sam, on the hit HBO series "Somebody Somewhere." Their friendship is sweet, revelatory, and concerningly codependent, all at the same time. On this episode, he talks about how he got good at auditioning while wondering if he'd ever play someone with an inner life, "or a name." He tells the story of landing "Joel," the surprising connections he shares with the character, the secret ingredient that makes his chemistry with Everett work so well, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Owen Teague is only 24, but he's already had an opportunity to show his range as an exceptional young actor in shows like "Bloodline," "Black Mirror," and "The Stand" and films like "To Lesley," "Montana Story," and the new Nicole Holofcener film, "You Hurt My Feelings" (which opens Friday, May 26th). On this episode, he talks about gleaning "a lot" from the great actors he's worked with, knowing when to "separate yourself," the importance of feeling scared but not intimidated, discovering how central a character's physicality is for him, plus much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

With incredible performances in films like "Midnight Cowboy," "Coming Home," "Deliverance," and "Runaway Train," Jon Voight has earned himself a spot in the acting Pantheon. At 84, he has never stopped working. Seven seasons of "Ray Donovan" being a recent highlight. On this episode, he talks about how he "starts slow" when developing an approach to a character, letting "things drop into my psyche." He pinpoints directorial characteristics of John Schlesinger (director of "Midnight Cowboy") that worked well for him, details a scrappy fight scene with Jonathan Rhys Meyers on his latest film "Mercy," reminisces about working with Cassavetes on "Love Streams" the play, and much more! "Mercy" is Select Theaters now, On Digital May 19, and On Demand June 2. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

You've seen his work in such films as "Interstellar" and "Cloud Atlas," and television series like "Containment" and "Carnival Row," now David Gyasi plays Austin Dennison in Debora Cahn's new hit Netflix limited series "The Diplomat." On this episode, he talks about the rare collaboration he had with Cahn in developing Dennison, the part of the job he finds "sacred," loving re-HEARsal, the real reason why he is so picky with the roles he takes on, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

The 4K restoration and re-release of the comedy "Party Girl" brings Parker Posey to Back To One. Shortly after the success of that movie in 1995, she went on to star in so many independent films, like "The Daytrippers," "Clockwatchers," "The House of Yes" (not to mention a bunch of Hal Hartley and Christopher Guest classics), that she was dubbed "Queen of the Indies." On this episode, she explains why that moniker was oddly detrimental to her career. She talks about recent experiences on the sets of "Beau Is Afraid" and "The Staircase;" the connection between actors and athletes; why, for her, it all starts with "shoes and hair;" and much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

My first encounter with the work of actor, writer, director Betsey Brown was her captivating and shocking performance in "The Scary of Sixty-First." Then, in her first feature film "Actors," she and her brother Peter Vack play over-the-top versions of themselves in a wildly fictional, yet super-personal exploration of their relationship that boldly pulls out all the cinematic stops. It's the kind of rare indie that gives you hope for the future of film. In this episode, she talks about the aspects of the acting craft that are central to her—patience, relaxation, fearlessness, appreciation, and the importance of the present moment—plus the unique ways she and her brother bring out the best in each other both in front of and behind the camera, and much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Emily Meade is best known for her roles in the HBO shows "The Deuce," "The Leftovers," and "Boardwalk Empire." Her latest project, the Amazon series `Dead Ringers," premieres on April 21st. She became an advocate for intimacy coordinators on set following a lack thereof on "The Deuce," where she portrayed a sex worker. After urging HBO to hire an intimacy coordinator, her advocation ignited the use of intimacy coordinators on all HBO sets and beyond, creating a new standard in Hollywood. In this episode, she talks about needing to base her characters on real-life people she knows, how being a true empath affects the work, the struggle of shifting what characters casting people see you playing, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

For three decades, Julio César Cedillo has been delivering authentic, nuanced, fully realized performances in films and television series such as "Sicario," "Cowboys and Aliens," "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada," "Narcos Mexico," and the new Netflix film "Chupa," to name just a few. In this hour, he generously shares what he's learned from being a "lunchbox actor," doing this work he loves. He talks about why, as an actor who happens to be Mexican, his first read of a script is a "search for traps." Through stories detailing his experiences on-set, he explains why it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission, the importance of "owning it," why humbleness doesn't serve the work, and much much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram  

Back To One

On this special episode, we're talking all about voice! Neda Lahidji is an actor, singer, vocal health coach, voice teacher and a certified vocal health first aider. She specializes in the voices and vocal health of actors, VO actors, and singers, including any vocal athletes in the film industry as well as directors who use their voice tremendously throughout production. She talks about the different factors that affect the voice, gives us techniques to help maintain a vocal athlete's optimal vocal health, shares her own stories of various vocal ups and downs, explains why it's almost all mental, and much more! Whether you act, sing, or both: voice habilitation is preventative vocal care. Hopefully this conversation will inspire you to invest in your voice and vocal health! Find Neda on Instagram Check out her video about vocal health here Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram  

Back To One

Edwin Lee Gibson's stage career spans 40 years and over 100 U.S. and international theater productions. On television he is currently reprising his role as series regular "Ebraheim" in season 2 of FX's hit series "The Bear."  On this episode, he talks about the importance of listening, "letting the character find me," working with the late Peter Brook, cultivating a relationship with fear, how his stutter actually made him dig deeper into the study of speech, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram  

Back To One

Jeremy Jordan is probably best known for his Tony and Grammy-nominated portrayal of Jack Kelly in "Newsies" on Broadway, as well as his many roles on television including series regulars on CW's "Supergirl", NBC's "Smash" and Disney Channel's "Tangled." And now he leads a star-studded cast as the tenacious record industry giant Neil Bogart in the epic new feature film "Spinning Gold." On this episode, he talks about how finding a character's physicality and where they hold tension informs his preparation, the importance of letting every single moment of a performance tell the story, why he's still getting used to the non-transient nature of film, how having a child opened him in ways nothing else could, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram  

Back To One

Sophie von Haselberg stars as Sissy St. Claire in Amanda Kramer's psychedelic fever dream musical "Give Me Pity!" It's part mock 70's television special, part monologue film, and requires the creation of a bigger-than-life persona on screen, and von Haselberg carries it all and delivers a virtuoso performance. On this episode, she takes us from Kramer "pulling me from the ether," through extensive preparation, getting the character "into my body," a frustrating Covid pause, on to the live theater-like 5 day shoot, and how she doesn't think she would have "ever allowed myself to dream that something like this would fall into my lap." Plus much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram  

Back To One

Spanish-American actor Marta Milans reprises her role as Mama Rosa in the second installment of the "Shazam" saga, which hits theaters March 17th. If you binged "White Lines" during the pandemic, you appreciated her work in that Netflix hit series. On this episode, we go way back to when she played Goneril in "King Lear"…at age 8! She takes us on a journey of her life as an actor, a job she says you cannot do well unless you "must do it to breathe." She tells us the reason why language comes easy for her, how music plays a big part in her preparation, why Covid restrictions were rough on set, the next mountain she has her sights set on to conquer, plus much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Mia Wasikowska's first project in The States was the HBO series "In Treatment." She was just 16 years old, but if you watched it then, you were probably in awe, like me, marveling at this seemingly fully formed acting artist, performing, with nuance and subtlety, well beyond her years. She continued to wow us with stellar work in "Jane Eyre," "Madame Bovary," "Alice In Wonderland," "Stoker," "The Double," "Tracks," "Damsel," "Bergman Island," to name a few. Her latest is an absolutely beautiful film called "Blueback." In this woefully brief episode, she talks about the underwater acting she had to do in that film, why she doesn't feel the need to prepare much anymore before 'day one,' "simple confidence" as a tool, why she turns down a lot of projects, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

You might know Todd Stashwick from "The Riches" or "12 Monkeys" (the Syfy series, where he played Deacon), but you definitely know him from his guest star work on countless shows, both dramas and comedies, spanning more than two decades. And now he plays Captain Liam Shaw in the new season of "Picard." On this episode, he talks about how the little boy "Star Trek" fan in him leapt for joy when he sat in his captain's chair for the first time, while the "all business" actor in him had to focus on the work at hand. Plus we discuss his "resting villain face," he shares his secret approach to auditioning, the importance of knowing your character's role in the story, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Jonathan Roumie—actor, director, producer, and speaker—is best known for his award-winning role as 'Jesus' in the groundbreaking series and global sensation, "The Chosen." His new movie, the Lionsgate period drama "Jesus Revolution," is based on the events of the last great spiritual revival in America. Roumie portrays the enigmatic, hippie street preacher, Lonnie Frisbee. On this episode, he gives us a peek at his in-depth approach to the work, which ranges from authentic 'Method' to 'mystically inspired.' He talks about how his occasional need for solitude on set stems from being easily distracted, why chemistry reads should be not just for romantic portrayals, how the role of Jesus has completely changed his life, and how he's dealing with all that role demands from him. Plus much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Elliott Crosset Hove is a true rising star in the Danish film world. The remarkable new film "Godland," his third collaboration with Icelandic director Hlynur Pálmason, just landed him a European Film Award nomination for Best Actor. On this episode, he walks us through his extensive preparation "check list" which he uses to stimulate his unconscious mind and build a defense system to combat doubt. He talks about how the stunning but grueling environment where they shot "Godland" helped him stay in the moment, his method for approaching a character from another time period, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Clay Tatum and Whitmer Thomas wrote and star in the wonderful new comedy "The Civil Dead," which Tatum also directed. On this episode, they discuss their long collaboration and friendship that goes back to Alabama at age 11, doing comedy events in Los Angeles with Power Violence, filming sketches, honing their craft, learning valuable lessons on the HBO/A24 production "The Golden One," the importance of rhythm in comedy, the importance of trusting your own voice, and applying it all toward the modest indie film that won the audience award at Slamdance last year and is about to win audiences over everywhere—"The Civil Dead." Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

British TV and film star Joanna Scanlan won the Best Actress BAFTA award last year for her incredible performance in "After Love." She plays Mary, a devout convert to Islam who, shortly after becoming a widow, discovers her late husband's secret family. In this episode, she takes us on a little tour of the meaningful aspects of her acting process— the investigative phase of initial script reading, the "harnessing" of feelings, the mystical "clicking in" that happens through the words, and why it's always been about the love of it. Plus much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

To say Guslagie Malanda plays Laurence Coly in Alice Diop's "Saint Omer" feels incorrect; she becomes her. It's a performance that holds such subtle power and authenticity that it's easy to take it for granted. On this episode, Malanda explains why she turned down countless acting jobs after her first film, "My Friend Victoria." She talks about the year-long pre-production period that she needed to prepare for the role, the nightmares that plagued her during that time, the breakthrough of learning to breathe, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

Tallie Medel is an award winning actor, educator, artist, and one third of the legendary Cocoon Central Dance Team. Her fiercely authentic and nuanced performances in films like Dan Sallitt's "Fourteen" have garnered attention from critics and audiences alike. This past year she gifted us with Becky in the acclaimed  "Everything Everywhere All At Once." In this episode, she talks about the communal environment on that production that benefited the performances, the importance of establishing true connection with her scene partners and using the present moment as a tool, how learning and teaching Clown has changed and shaped her work, plus much more. Find out more about Tallie's Clown classes here. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

If the Back To One podcast has one tradition, it is the yearly visit from its very first guest, the living patron saint of the working actor, Kevin Corrigan. This is his fifth time on the show (Ep. 1, Ep. 67, Ep. 133, Ep.185), and as you'll hear, he still has a healthy supply of great stories, laughs, and inspiration to dish out. He talks about his recent stints on "Law and Order: Organized Crime," "City on a Hill," and the indie film "Bang Bang;" tells a hilarious story illustrating the ways he practices acting when not on a job; gets nostalgic describing the masterful mix tapes he used to make; plus much more! It all starts out with my recounting of a Corrigan-themed phone call I had with the legendary Amy Taubin minutes before the interview. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

The last time Vicky Krieps ("Phantom Thread," "Bergman Island") was on this podcast (episode 174), we learned about how she approaches the work through a kind of "emptying out" of herself, and a "deconstruction" of everything in her obit, even her preconceptions regarding the role. This time she's back to talk about her astounding work in Marie Kreutzer's film "Corsage," an imaginative re-telling (or perhaps a "correcting?") of a year in the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria. Krieps talks about treating the work as an invitation to play, how dealing with the coldness of the character had an effect on relationships outside of the frame, why she feels at ease when she's lost in the reality of unknowing, and much more! (Spoiler Alert: Toward the end of the episode, the conversation turns to the end of the movie. And although nothing is specifically said about what exactly happens in the end, one can certainly make the case that it is a minor spoiler. All the more reason to see "Corsage" as soon as possible. It opens in select theaters on December 23rd.) Follow Back To One on Instagram Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. 

Back To One

The first time Andrea Riseborough was on the podcast (episode 100), we got a chance to hear how this incredible actor approaches her craft. On this episode, we get to focus on her astounding work in the new movie "To Leslie." She talks about the interesting ways shooting on film in the middle of the pandemic affected everything, why working on her character's alcoholism would have been a disaster, finding a touchstone with director Michael Morris in Barbara Loden's "Wanda," taking the objective "to just exist" from Mike Leigh, seeing constrains as freedoms, the importance of keeping your integrity, and much more. "To Leslie" is streaming now.  Follow Back To One on Instagram Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. 

Back To One

Marc Maron is a stand-up comedy veteran and the host of the popular "WTF" podcast. As a screen actor, he cut his teeth playing a version of himself in the series "Maron." Lately the Netflix series "Glow" and Lynn Shelton's "Sword of Trust" put more of his range on display. And now he delivers the epitome of "supporting" performance in the incredible new film "To Leslie," opposite Andrea Riseborough. On this episode, he talks about his apprehension with accepting the role, his impatience with the process of acting in general, the importance of making himself emotionally available in his scenes, what it would take for him to feel like this crazy endeavor is "worth it," and much more. Follow Back To One on Instagram Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. 

Back To One

Ever since her incredible performance in "I've Heard The Mermaids Singing" 35 years ago, Sheila McCarthy has been one of Canada's most hardworking and reliable actors in theater, television, and film on both sides of the border. In her latest project, she joins a "murderers' row" lineup of actresses like Judith Ivey, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Frances McDormand, and Rooney Mara in Sarah Polley's powerful new film "Women Talking." On this episode, she talks about how the production was both daunting and exhilarating, why it felt like the "acting olympics," what having this "extraordinarily ordinary" powerhouse director at the helm brought out of her, plus wonderful stories about a debt owed to Liza Minnelli and a letter that changed Bruce Willis. Follow Back To One on Instagram Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. 

Back To One

You may know Grace Van Patten from "Nine Perfect Strangers," "Under The Silver Lake," or "Tramps." I first took note of her in "The Meyerowitz Stories," where her youth belied a seemingly effortless command of her character among the likes of Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, and Dustin Hoffman. In her latest, the hit Hulu series "Tell Me Lies," she stars as Lucy Albright, and now she commands the screen with the same effortlessness, mixed with a complexity and nuance that is compelling viewers who are begging for a second season. On this episode, she breaks down one important scene from both "Meyerowitz" and "Lies," and we get an idea of her unique approach to the craft, which is fueled by sizing up the world surrounding her character, connecting with her partner in the scene, and staying in the moment. Plus she talks about how her 11 year old sister June inspires her inner actor, and much more! Follow Back To One on Instagram Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. No small talk, no celebrity stories, no inane banter—just the work.

Back To One

Paul Walter Hauser is that rare character actor who has made a name for himself as a stellar talent in both comedy and drama equally. He established himself in films like "Blackkklansman" and "I, Tanya," but playing Richard Jewell in Clint Eastwood's film put him on the map. Now he's wowing audiences and critics alike with his incredible performance as serial killer Larry Hall in the Apple+ limited series "Black Bird." On this episode, he lifts the hood and lets us peek in on his acting process. He explains why his first step is all about self amusement, how mundane details help to bring him closer to the character he's playing, why he believes you do not need to be a dark person to be an effective actor who takes on dark roles, plus much more.  Follow Back To One on Instagram Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. No small talk, no celebrity stories, no inane banter—just the work.

Back To One

Renowned as "a one-woman global village," Sarah Jones is a Tony Award-winning solo performer, writer, comedian and activist. Her directorial debut, "Sell/Buy/Date," is a hybrid documentary/meta film which features Jones and four of her characters (all played by her) on a journey across the country to listen to real people telling personal stories about their experiences that land them on both sides of various aspects of the complex topic of sex work in America. On this episode, she talks about overcoming the many obstacles and controversies to bring this important film to life, how trusting in collaborators like cinematographer Joshua Weinstein meant so much to her as a first time director who is also in front of the camera in every scene, why she had to make telling the truth her north star, plus much more! "Sell/Buy/Date" is currently playing in New York City and will be streaming on-demand on November 8th. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. No small talk, no celebrity stories, no inane banter—just the work. Follow Back To One on Instagram

Back To One

On a special episode of Back To One, I'm sharing a segment from a recent episode of the popular screenwriting podcast Scriptnotes called "Writing As Acting." In it, screenwriters John August and Craig Mazin "analyze what lessons writers can learn from acting techniques (such as staying present) and working with actors (like staying open)." When I first heard this segment, I desperately wanted to share it with Back To One listeners because I thought it was very enlightening, and maybe even healing, to hear creatives on the other side of the camera talk thoughtfully, and with sensitivity, about the process of the actor. Some of the points John and Craig make about the unique connection between actors and screenwriters inspire me to facilitate a larger conversation where actors can chime in about their experiences giving life to characters that screenwriters have been living with, in their own way, for years. Something to think about. But first, check out this segment from episode 568 of Scriptnotes, and, if you feel inclined, share your thoughts either on the Back To One podcast Instagram page, or email BackToOnePodcast at gmail dot com. And thanks to Scriptnotes for allowing us to share this conversation! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. No small talk, no celebrity stories, no inane banter—just the work.  

Back To One

Britt Rentschler is the star of "Pretty Problems," a smart and hilarious new indie adult comedy which she also produced and helped write with screenwriter and co-star Michael Tennant. In this episode, she talks about their lengthy commitment to making the story work, building their characters with depth, and the risky but triumphant decision to cast their talented friends in supporting roles rather than famous actors who might have secured more money. She describes how her apprehension toward playing the lead role of Lindsay actually benefited her performance, the ways director Kestrin Pantera brought the best out of everyone, plus much more. "Pretty Problems" is in select theaters across the US, and on VOD. Follow Back To One on Instagram Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. No small talk, no celebrity stories, no inane banter—just the work.

Back To One

Dolly de Leon is a Filipina veteran actor of film and TV who is now, due to her outstanding performance in "Triangle of Sadness," being spoken about with words like "newcomer" and "breakthrough." That might have something to do with the "I'm the captain now" nature of the role she plays in the Palme d'Or winning film. It's like the character and the actor are both saying "I have arrived." In this episode, she describes the dark place she was in right before auditioning for the part, how director Ruben Ostlund's collaborative approach sparked her dynamic creativity, why watching the film with audiences cheering for her character feels like live theater, and much more. Follow Back To One on Instagram Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. No small talk, no celebrity stories, no inane banter—just the work.

Back To One

If Isabelle Huppert is not your favorite actor, she's the favorite actor of someone you know. Guaranteed. There's something about her that is unlike any other actor that has ever been on film. But it's really hard to talk about what that "something" is. In each performance, in every film she's made, she has such a command of the character, the text, the frame, that we place her in equal authorship with the directors she's worked with, who happen to be some of most interesting and important in the last half-century—Jean Luc-Godard, Michael Haneke, Claude Chabrol, Michael Cimino, Claire Denis, Joachim Trier, Mia Hansen-Løve, Hong Sang-soo, to name a few. She always found a way to play complex, multi-dimensional, often morally questionable characters, even in a time when the female variety were in short supply. In this woefully short episode, she talks about some of the important, yet somewhat mysterious, aspects of her approach to the craft—curiosity, collaborating with the director, the present moment, listening to the language of the camera, and much more.  A retrospective of 29 of Isabelle Huppert's best films begins Friday October 7th at Film Forum in New York City.  Follow Back To One on Instagram Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. No small talk, no celebrity stories, no inane banter—just the work.