The Collection with Brad Gilmore
Episodes
Tuesday Nov 12, 2019
Leslie Iwerks
Tuesday Nov 12, 2019
Tuesday Nov 12, 2019
The Imagineering Story, premiering on Disney+ Nov. 12.
For over a decade, Iwerks has continued to follow in her family’s footsteps by producing, directing, and editing award-winning feature and short documentaries, television specials, and digital content.
On November 12, Iwerks will bring to Disney+, The Imagineering Story, an original series providing a behind-the-scenes look into the sixty-seven year history of Walt Disney Imagineering -- the creative engine that designs and builds all Disney theme parks, resorts, attractions, and cruise ships worldwide!! This is the most access anyone has been given since Walt was alive.
Leslie can of course speak to being a female filmmaker in Hollywood, technology and innovation in addition to her legendary family upbringing inside the Disney juggernaut. Let me know what you think might be possible.
Friday Nov 08, 2019
William Fichtner
Friday Nov 08, 2019
Friday Nov 08, 2019
Born in Long Island, New York, Fichtner spent his early years as an army brat on a military base. After completing high school, he studied criminal justice in college before moving to New York City to shift his focus to acting.
By 1988, Fichtner landed his first major acting job, playing Josh Snyder/Rod Landry in the daytime drama, As the World Turns. Five years later, he landed a recurring role on the series Grace Under Fire playing Ryan Sparks, and started working on feature films such as Malcolm X (1992), Quiz Show (1994), Strange Days (1995) and Heat (1995). As he slipped from role to role, his chameleon ability provided wonderful characters, but was rewarded by an audience who couldn't recognize him from picture to picture.
In 1997, his name became a bit more familiar to moviegoers after playing Kent, the blind astronomer in Contact . Strong performances in Armageddon (1998), Go (1999), Passion Of Mind (2000), and The Perfect Storm increased his popularity.
No stranger to the stage, Fichtner has starred in a number of off-Broadway productions including Raft of Medusa, The Years, Clothes for a Summer Hotel and Machinal and was a member of the Circle Repertory Theatre in New York. He starred in productions at the Manhattan Theater Club and Joseph Papp's Public Theatre.
He became a household name for TV viewers after playing the mysteriously creepy Sherrif Tom Underlay in ABC's sci-fi drama Invasion during the 2005/6 season, followed by a regular role as FBI Special Agent Alexander Mahone in Fox-TV's hit series Prison Break.
Back on the big screen, he played a supporting role in Elysium (2013), starring Matt Damon and Jodie Foster, and in the reboot Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014). Most recently, he appeared in the thriller St. Sebastian (2016), the apocalyptic sequel Independence Day: Resurgence (2016), the drama Last Days of Summer (2016) and 12 Strong (2018).
Friday Nov 08, 2019
Greg Grunberg
Friday Nov 08, 2019
Friday Nov 08, 2019
Although he is the first to admit that much of his success is due to his longtime friendship with writer/director/producer J.J. Abrams — who cast Grunberg in plum roles on Felicity and Alias — this lovable actor is no slouch on his own. After studying business in college, Grunberg founded a successful frozen-yogurt business and assisted film producers Dino De Laurentiis and Joel Silver before segueing into acting. The quintessential Average Joe, he quickly landed TV guest spots, small film roles and a number of commercials, often portraying blue-collar guys. But his kindergarten pal Abrams lifted him out of the ranks of no-name players by writing him a role as a sarcastic inventor on Felicity. 2001 found Grunberg briefly appearing on two Abrams shows simultaneously, when he took on a recurring part as a CIA field agent on Alias in addition to his Felicity duties. Although TV remained his primary medium, he popped up in small film roles, notably the Abrams-directed Mission: Impossible III. In 2006 he snagged his highest-profile role to date as a hapless cop who can read minds on Heroes. But Grunberg has proven that his talents aren't limited to the screen. He plays in the charity-benefiting music act Band From TV, which features a star-studded lineup including Hugh Laurie, James Denton, Bob Gulney, Jesse Spencer, Adrian Pasdar and Scott Grimes. Though the band raises money for an array of causes, Grunberg is primarily involved in epilepsy research as his oldest son, Jake, has the disorder. He also created talkaboutit.org, a website to raise awareness for epilepsy and featuring several celebrity videos, and organizes frequent benefits and fund-raisers.