DreamPath Podcast

Bryan and Jason discuss takeaways from Bryan's chat with TV writer and producer Kourtney Kang, who was executive producer on How I Met Your Mother and Fresh Off the Boat. She is also the creator/showrunner of the new Disney Plus series Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.

Bryan and Jason reflect on 90s television, discuss how well Friends and Seinfeld have held up over time, draw parallels between the rough first season of Friends and Seinfeld to the first year of DreamPath Podcast, and discuss year-end plans, which include applying for film festival credentials and recapping highlights from Bryan's 2021 interviews.

Finally, Bryan tells Jason about how his recently recorded (but not yet launched) interview with music promoter and manager Ken Kinnear. Kinnear, who created the The Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington, is featured in a new documentary on Amazon Prime called Enormous: The Gorge Story, and is launching an "Induct The Gorge" campaign to induct The Gorge Amphitheater into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Kourtney Kang is a writer, producer, and the creator/showrunner of the new hit Disney+ show Doogie Kamealoha, M.D., a reimagining of the beloved 90s show, Doogie Howser, M.D. Kourtney was also an executive producer on How I Met Your Mother, co-executive producer of Fresh Off the Boat, and supervising producer of Netflix’s Pretty Smart.

What you will learn:

• ​​How Kourtney became the creator and showrunner of Doogie Kamealoha, M.D., and how she and her writing team were able to thoughtfully and cleverly incorporate references to the original Doogie Howser, M.D.into the reboot.How setting and shooting the show in Hawaii allowed Kourtney to accurately represent Hawaiian culture and also hire local Hawaii residents to staff various departments on set. [0:00-7:35]
• How Kourtney managed to put such a personal touch on a show produced by such a huge network like Disney, which included basing the show's characters on her own family and basing the themes on her own experiences. How she was able to strike a balance between finding a personal spin on material for the show and hooking studio executives with the idea of a reboot. [7:35-15:11]
• The logistics of working in the writers room of Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. in the middle of a global pandemic, the importance of “story breaking,” and the benefits of having a diverse group of writers on a show depicting Asian and Hawaiian characters of all ages. [15:11-23:23]
• What it was like shooting on location in Oahu, and how her team was able to create a fabulous, elaborate set at a real medical center for Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. How the late Steven Bochco’s family became involved in the show. How working on a network show, with rigid time constraints, differs from working a show available on demand through a streaming service like Disney +, financially, logistically, and artistically. [23:23-34:39]
• How her formal education at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon were formative experiences in her career as a writer. How the many twists and turns in her writing and producing career brought her to a place where she is thriving artistically and collaboratively. [34:39-42:57]
• How the writers room work culture has changed over the last two decades, especially with more women becoming showrunners and holding positions of authority in Hollywood. Why showrunners are focusing more now on efficiency over putting in long hours. Finally, Kourtney talks about the possibility of Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. getting picked up for a second season, and why it’s more difficult today than it was 10 years ago to measure the success of a show on streaming services like Netflix or Disney+. [42:47-51:19]

Resources:

• Kourtney Kang’s: IMDb, Twitter, Instagram

Bryan and Jason discuss takeaways from Bryan's chat with screenwriter and director Justine Bateman, who made her directorial debut with Violet, starring Olivia Munn, Luke Bracey, and Justin Theroux. Bryan and Jason play a new song (Overcome By You) from Chris Kinkade's band Elsewaves. Jason talks about some new jazz songs he's been writing and recording, including a song called Water Visions. And Bryan talks about his upcoming interview with music manager and Gorge Amphitheater founder Ken Kinnear. Ken is featured in the new documentary Enormous: The Gorge Story, along with Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews, and many other iconic artists.

Resources:

• Elsewaves Music Video for Overcome By You
• Elsewaves on Apple Music
• Elsewaves on Spotify

Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Justine Bateman is an author, screenwriter, producer, and director. After decades as a successful actor, with roles on Family Ties, Satisfaction, Men Behaving Badly, and Californication, Justine made her feature film directorial debut with Violet, starring Olivia Munn, Luke Bracey, and Justin Theroux, which opens in theaters on October 29 and will be available on VOD on November 9. Justine is also author of bestselling books Fame and Face: One Square Foot of Skin.

What you will learn:

• What inspired Justine to write the books Fame and Face, and what the writing process was like. Justine’s thoughts on the concept of fame, what it means and what it doesn’t mean, and how fame (or lack thereof) plays out at events like red carpet premieres. [0:00-12:02]
• Justine reveals why, out of the numerous screenplays she has writiten, she chose Violet as her first feature film to direct. What steps she took to make the film an immersive experience for viewers, and what the casting process was like. [12:02-25:28]
• How Justine found funding for Violet, the hustle required to pitch to film festivals, and thoughts on the shift in the entertainment industry (and humanity in general) due to COVID. [25:28-35:10]
• What Justine has planned for the future, from a new book to a handful of scripts, and the added hurdles COVID presents for filmmakers. She shares about her personal experience with sexism in Hollywood and how that did and didn’t translate to her film Violet. [35:10-46:12]
• Advice Justine has for those wanting to break into the television/film industry, as well as book recommendations (listed below). [46:12-1:00:03]
• Why Justine toiled over the final edit of Violet and what steps she took in editing to help the film come together as she had originally envisioned. How the actors during the shoot were in the dark about much of what would be on screen until the final product was revealed. [1:00:03-1:13:38]

Resources:

• Justine Bateman’s: Website, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn
• Justine’s book recommendations: ​​Like Brothers by Mark and Jay Duplass, A Man With a Camera by Nestor Almendros, The Big Goodbye by Sam Wasson, and A Life in Movies by Irwin Winkler.

Bryan and Jason discuss key takeaways from Bryan's epic chat with artist, musician, painter, author, and filmmaker Onur Tukel. Jason shares his thoughts on Seattle's recent decision to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms. Bryan talks about a book on songwriting he just read called How To Write One Song, by Jeff Tweedy. Bryan talks about his interview with Justine Bateman which launches next week. Bryan and Jason reflect on memories of seeing concerts at The Gorge Amphitheater. And Bryan talks about the possibility of interviewing the man responsible for creating The Gorge concert venue in the 1980s: Ken Kinnear, who is featured in the recently-released documentary Enormous: The Gorge Story.

Onur Tukel is an actor, screenwriter, producer, director, musician, painter, graphic novelist, and children’s book author. His previous films include Catfight, starring Sandra Oh and Anne Heache, Applesauce, and Black Magic for White Boys. His most recent film is Scenes From an Empty Church, starring Kevin Corrigan and Thomas Jay Ryan, Max Casella, and Paul Reiser.

What you will learn:

• ​​The hustle required to be an indie filmmaker, and the uncertainty that comes with the job, even with numerous successful projects under his belt. How he is able to incorporate taboo or controversial themes in his films and still find funding. Why he prefers New York over L.A., despite potentially missing out on career and film opportunities in L.A.. [0:00-15:21]
• What it was like growing up in North Carolina as the son of Turkish immigrants, making movies with friends and eventually creating his first independent film, House of Pancakes, at age 24. The faith he had in his 2001 film Ding-a-ling-Less, and the harsh lessons learned about the film world when it was shelved. Onur discusses his eclectic filmography and the challenge of finding audiences for all of his work. [15:21-28:49]
• Talking shop, Onur reveals his camera preferences and style of filming. What it was like to film Scenes From an Empty Church with quarantine restrictions, what inspired him to make a pandemic-centered movie in the middle of pandemic, and why the film was a conscious shift from his previous style of work. [28:49-48:07]
• Onur reveals plans for his next film project, an absurdist horror/comedy, and touches on the deeper aspects of why he is compelled to express himself creatively. How he is able to be so prolific creatively in times of darkness, when other creatives tend to shut down and experience writer’s block. How invaluable having a creative partner (or benevolent competitor) can be, and how sadness can serve as fuel for art. [48:07-1:00:16]
• How his personal views and perspectives are reflected in his work. How Onur worked to make Scenes From an Empty Church a film that anyone, regardless of religious belief, can enjoy and find common ground with the collective trauma caused by the pandemic. How Onur weaved themes of the soul and the afterlife into the film. [1:00:16-1:16:27]
• Onur gets candid about his writing process, his struggles, and the creative tools he has gathered over the years. His perspective on the importance of geographic location as it relates to success in the film industry. Onur also provides creative advice for aspiring filmmakers. [1:16:27-1:31:42]
• The story behind Onur’s infamous appearances on Doug Benson’s podcast, what led him to being kicked off of that podcast (twice), and the lessons he learned from those experiences. [1:31:42-1:40:09]

Resources:

• Onur Tukel’s: Website, Twitter, YouTube, IMDb
• Scenes From an Empty Church trailer

Bryan and Jason recap Bryan's interviews with guitarist Jeff Fielder and director and screenwriter Rebecca Eskreis. Bryan talks about his recent "solo-cast," shares why recording it was so difficult, and expresses gratitude for the positive feedback from listeners on that episode.Jason talks about a recent harrowing experience in his recording studio involving a chihuahua and two bottles of carpet cleaner.Bryan previews his upcoming interviews with writer and director Onur Tukel and writer and director Justine Bateman, and recounts his recent experience speaking at a seminar one day after accidentally shaving off his eyebrows.

Writer, Director, and producer Rebecca Eskreis is a familiar face on the international film festival circuit, screening at SXSW, SIFF, Munich, and Stockholm, among others. Rebecca’s directorial debut, What Breaks the Ice (starring Madelyn Cline, Sofia Hublitz, and Lukas Gage) was selected for the Austin Film Society’s Artist Intensive, hosted by Richard Linklater, and releases in select theaters and on VOD October 1st.

What you will learn:

• Rebecca talks about early inspirations for her film What Breaks the Ice and the theme of moral ambiguity that weaves through the film. [0:00-7:25]
• The significance of using the Monica Lewinsky scandal from the late 90s as a story-telling device in What Breaks the Ice, and how the lack of technology in that era allowed the story to unfold in a way that would perhaps not be as effective if the film were set in the present day. [7:25-13:53]
• Why What Breaks the Ice was filmed with a handheld camera for specific scenes and the world that effect created. How Rebecca worked her way up in Hollywood. [13:53-20:24]
• How a meeting with Diablo Cody inspired Rebecca to make What Breaks the Ice, and the work it took to finance and cast the film. Rebecca reveals why her short film Noodling was one of the best investments she made in herself professionally, and talks about the time it took to complete that project. [20:24-30:27]
• What it was like to work on Jonathan Demme’s concert film Justin TImberlake + the Tennessee Kids, why Demme thought of this film (at least in part) as a “comedy", and what she learned throughout that production. [30:27-37:21]
• Rebecca’s plans for future projects, including an exciting show in the works about the Von Trapp family. Advice Rebecca has for folks hoping to make it in the film and television business. [37:21-43:15]

Resources:

• Rebecca Eskreis’: Website, IMDb, Instagram, LinkedIn
• What Breaks the Ice: Trailer, Apple TV

Bryan talks about formative events in his life that made him realize the importance of living the life you want to live now.

Guitarist, songwriter, and producer Jeff Fielder has worked with notable artists such as Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees and Queens of the Stone Age), Amy Ray (Indigo Girls), Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam), Duff McKagan (Guns N Roses), Sera Cahoone, and most recently landed a touring gig with the Indigo Girls. He also writes and creates music with his wife, Tekla Waterfield. Their most recent album, released this year, is Trouble in Time.

What you will learn:

• Jeff reflects fondly on growing up in Alaska, his early musical influences, learning to play guitar as a kid, and looking up to Metallica and OzzyOsbourne. [0:00-11:36]
• How the freedom and support Jeff felt from his parents during childhood influenced his musical trajectory, and howhe endured the jarring cultural change in culture moving from Alaska to Washington state. Jeff’s thoughts on the necessity (or lack thereof) of sight reading music. [11:36-18:25]
• Why Jeff eventually let his passion for drawing go and fully embraced his passion for music, inspired by new artists like Nirvana and Pearl Jam. How Jeff worked to get his foot in the door and began playing with the artists he admired. Why Jeff at a recent gig in Seattle referred to himself as the Forrest Gump of Rock and Roll. [18:25-29:11]
• Why Jeff focuses on artists who bring deep emotion into their work. The logistics of touring with another artist, what Jeff feels the most passion for in his impressively versatile career, and how he began collaborating with Amy Ray and the Indigo Girls. [29:11-40:27]
• The impact southern musicians have had in music. How Jeff’s collaboration with Duff McKagan began, which developed into anorganic bond formed over time. The importance of pushing past fears and discomfort in music. [40:27-49:27]
• Jeff talks about his early songwriting and solo career and how his focus shifted over time. What it’s like collaboratingwith his wife and creating music again, and why he felt it was important to achieve an introspective, easygoing vibe on their most recent album. [49:27-1:00:15]
• How Jeff booked a recent gig with fellow Seattle musician Alain Johannes and what he envisions inthe future for his career. The story behind how Jeff ended up contributing to the musical scorethe film Hickock, starring Kris Kristofferson. [1:00:15-1:06:37]
• Jeff discusses the main challenges facing musicians, and aspiring musicians. Talking guitars, Jeff shares his go-to electric and acoustic favorites. [1:06:37-1:17:33]

Resources:

• Jeff Fiedler’s: Website, Facebook, IMDb, Instagram