Hey guys, welcome to I've never said this before with me Tommy di Dario. Today's guest is the wonderfully talented Justin Hartley, who has been in so many fan favorite projects including This is Us, you know, a little show that only took over the entire world. Now he stars in the CBS hit show Tracker, which just debuted its second season, and he is unbelievable in this series. There's a reason why Tracker is the number one show on television. Oh and here's a fun fact for you. It is the most watched new series since Desperate Housewives back in their two thousand and four two thousand and five season, which, if you don't remember, it felt like that show was the only thing people were talking about back then.

Hey guys, welcome to I've never said this before with me Tommy di Dario. Today's guest is the wonderfully talented Justin Hartley, who has been in so many fan favorite projects including This is Us, you know, a little show that only took over the entire world. Now he stars in the CBS hit show Tracker, which just debuted its second season, and he is unbelievable in this series. There's a reason why Tracker is the number one show on television. Oh and here's a fun fact for you. It is the most watched new series since Desperate Housewives back in their two thousand and four two thousand and five season, which, if you don't remember, it felt like that show was the only thing people were talking about back then.

Justin Ah, he is the real deal and it was such a pleasure to chat with him.

Justin Ah, he is the real deal and it was such a pleasure to chat with him.

Our fifty minutes together felt like five because we just had such a nice conversation. Now, this is a special edition episode of my podcast because the conversation you are out to hear it's from an event that I'm moderated, presented by the prestigious ninety second Street why New York. You can check them out at ninety two ny dot org for upcoming events and hey, maybe you'll even catch me at one. So let's see if today we can get Justin to say something that he has never said before.

Our fifty minutes together felt like five because we just had such a nice conversation. Now, this is a special edition episode of my podcast because the conversation you are out to hear it's from an event that I'm moderated, presented by the prestigious ninety second Street why New York. You can check them out at ninety two ny dot org for upcoming events and hey, maybe you'll even catch me at one. So let's see if today we can get Justin to say something that he has never said before.

Well, Justin, I am so happy to be hanging out with you today. Man. I love the show.

Well, Justin, I am so happy to be hanging out with you today. Man. I love the show.

I was telling you that backstage, and before we begin, I'm going to give you some of your flowers that you deserve. Okay, you ready for it? I'm ready for Tracker was the number one television show for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty four season.

I was telling you that backstage, and before we begin, I'm going to give you some of your flowers that you deserve. Okay, you ready for it? I'm ready for Tracker was the number one television show for the twenty twenty three twenty twenty four season.

Yes it was.

Yes it was.

It has reached over eighty one million viewers since it debuted in February, and each episode averaged about eleven point fifty eight million viewers. That just doesn't happen for a broadcast television show anymore.

It has reached over eighty one million viewers since it debuted in February, and each episode averaged about eleven point fifty eight million viewers. That just doesn't happen for a broadcast television show anymore.

So let's give it up for Justin. Well, it's a it's a it's a group effort. It's a huge team behind these shows. As you probably know, there are I want to say, close to two hundred people, like one hundred and fifty one hundred and sixty just in the shooting crew of our show. That they all work very very hard. So it's what you see is this. But what you start with is a blank page and a thought and a couple of words, and then you end up with you know, production and network and studio and everybody behind one baby I call it, and you end up with something really great.

So let's give it up for Justin. Well, it's a it's a it's a group effort. It's a huge team behind these shows. As you probably know, there are I want to say, close to two hundred people, like one hundred and fifty one hundred and sixty just in the shooting crew of our show. That they all work very very hard. So it's what you see is this. But what you start with is a blank page and a thought and a couple of words, and then you end up with you know, production and network and studio and everybody behind one baby I call it, and you end up with something really great.

Well, when a show like this wins, I feel like we all win because we need more art like this, We need the television landscape to keep thriving. And when a show like this comes along and it has such success, I feel like it's a whole win for everybody in the business.

Well, when a show like this wins, I feel like we all win because we need more art like this, We need the television landscape to keep thriving. And when a show like this comes along and it has such success, I feel like it's a whole win for everybody in the business.

But I also would.

But I also would.

Imagine there's a lot of pressure that comes with knowing your number one, right, with needing to be just as good as the last season, with wanting to do great work for the fandom. So do you feel that pressure or are you able to kind of push that aside and focus on the work, Like how do you balance the two different things?

Imagine there's a lot of pressure that comes with knowing your number one, right, with needing to be just as good as the last season, with wanting to do great work for the fandom. So do you feel that pressure or are you able to kind of push that aside and focus on the work, Like how do you balance the two different things?

I feel it now right about that? No, Yeah, of course, you know it's there's pressure, for sure, But I think there's there's a responsibility that comes with it. And when you when you're asking, I always sort of look at it like this. I don't know anyone who's not busy. Everyone's busy, and everyone has their own life People watch our show for different reasons. They watch it for to escape, they watch it to get inspired, they watch it for entertainment, They watch it for the family dynamic, they watch it for the beauty of it that for the landscape. Whatever reason it might be that you're watching our show or that you tune in week after week, you're you're taking and you're taking an hour out of your life a week and you're saying, I'm going to watch this show. That is a I take that as a huge responsibility to deliver something that is the best thing that I know how to do. From the time that I wake up in the morning and go to work to the time I come home usually later later at night. It is every frame, It is every thought, It is every every piece of wardrobe that we choose, every shot, all the locations we have a studio and a network and a shooting crew and a post production crew that feel the exact same way that I do. And when you have people like that, and I truly mean this, when you surround yourself with insanely talented people that are dedicated to something and the same thing that you're dedicated to, you end up oftentimes with something like this and the difference I think is we were able to find an audience and CBS helped us with that. The studio helped us with that in putting us after the super Bowl, which was really great. So we delivered this pilot that everyone kind of fell in love with, thank God, and then they said, well, we really love it. We're going to put it after the super Bowl. And then of course I'm like, wow, this is really great. I'll walk you through this really quick. My nightmare of a night. So we have the Chiefs playing and Taylor Swift on tour, and then there's rumor they're like she's going to be able to make it to the game, and I'm like, and we're premiering after the super Bowl that Taylor Swift is attending, and I kind of kicked my feet up and I'm this is gonna be great. Everyone's going to watch this thing. And then the game is so good that it goes into overtime and then I'm doing I'm looking at my watch. I'm like, we're asking people to stay up until like eleven thirty to watch this thing that this new show that that they're not hooked on you. I can't lie that worried me. Yeah, me too. That's a bit late. But you all pulled you all, you already did it. You all pulled through, and we appreciate it. We really appreciate it. That was great.

I feel it now right about that? No, Yeah, of course, you know it's there's pressure, for sure, But I think there's there's a responsibility that comes with it. And when you when you're asking, I always sort of look at it like this. I don't know anyone who's not busy. Everyone's busy, and everyone has their own life People watch our show for different reasons. They watch it for to escape, they watch it to get inspired, they watch it for entertainment, They watch it for the family dynamic, they watch it for the beauty of it that for the landscape. Whatever reason it might be that you're watching our show or that you tune in week after week, you're you're taking and you're taking an hour out of your life a week and you're saying, I'm going to watch this show. That is a I take that as a huge responsibility to deliver something that is the best thing that I know how to do. From the time that I wake up in the morning and go to work to the time I come home usually later later at night. It is every frame, It is every thought, It is every every piece of wardrobe that we choose, every shot, all the locations we have a studio and a network and a shooting crew and a post production crew that feel the exact same way that I do. And when you have people like that, and I truly mean this, when you surround yourself with insanely talented people that are dedicated to something and the same thing that you're dedicated to, you end up oftentimes with something like this and the difference I think is we were able to find an audience and CBS helped us with that. The studio helped us with that in putting us after the super Bowl, which was really great. So we delivered this pilot that everyone kind of fell in love with, thank God, and then they said, well, we really love it. We're going to put it after the super Bowl. And then of course I'm like, wow, this is really great. I'll walk you through this really quick. My nightmare of a night. So we have the Chiefs playing and Taylor Swift on tour, and then there's rumor they're like she's going to be able to make it to the game, and I'm like, and we're premiering after the super Bowl that Taylor Swift is attending, and I kind of kicked my feet up and I'm this is gonna be great. Everyone's going to watch this thing. And then the game is so good that it goes into overtime and then I'm doing I'm looking at my watch. I'm like, we're asking people to stay up until like eleven thirty to watch this thing that this new show that that they're not hooked on you. I can't lie that worried me. Yeah, me too. That's a bit late. But you all pulled you all, you already did it. You all pulled through, and we appreciate it. We really appreciate it. That was great.

Well, you know, as the leading man of the show, there's so much dialogue, there's so much scene work. You're in almost every single scene, if not you know all of them. I would say ninety eight percent of the scenes you're in. How do you navigate that?

Well, you know, as the leading man of the show, there's so much dialogue, there's so much scene work. You're in almost every single scene, if not you know all of them. I would say ninety eight percent of the scenes you're in. How do you navigate that?

Like, how do you.

Like, how do you.

Navigate getting the job done and knowing you're the face of it, You're you're the guy, like you are the tracker and you have to keep on going to deliver a full season?

Navigate getting the job done and knowing you're the face of it, You're you're the guy, like you are the tracker and you have to keep on going to deliver a full season?

Is that a hard balance? You know, it's a lot of thought goes into it. You have to take care of yourself in certain ways. There's a lot of people counting on you. You can't go down. You can't really get sick. People get sick, but you can't. You have to take care of yourself in a way. You got to take your vitamins, you got to get your rest. There's a great responsibility I think that comes along with that. You know, if I go down, there's really nothing to shoot, and like I said, we have hundreds of people that are now kind of like this, So you can't be reckless, you can't goof off, you know all that stuff. You're representing a bunch of people, a bunch of people, and not only the people that work on the show, but they're families that they're supporting. So I take that very seriously. And then you know what, you know what else it is, oh, thank you one person. It also takes their life seriously. That person must be from the Midwest or something. There's just one. Everyone else is drinking this. It's great. But but also you surround yourself with really talented people, and so I'm able to when I'm on set and they call action, I'm able to just act. I have one job. And that's what Ken and I Ken Olin, the guy who created the show, with me, that's what we kind of decided. We were like, look, I can produce and I'm going to do everything that I can. But when they call action, when I step onto the set and they call action, I need to do one thing I can't do acting and also directing and also producing and also that because it just takes away from the one thing that I'm supposed to be doing in that moment. And they've been really great, my whole team. They've been really great about letting me do that and understanding that right now he's doing one thing, will do everything else, and then when I walk away. Sure it's different. But I can't sit in on every single meeting. As much as I would love to, I can't. I mean, I guess I could, but I don't know who won. No, but I physically can't because I'm on set. But I can't give every single note about every single thing that's going on in my head and at the same time give one hundred percent to the performance, which is really what is the most important thing to me, is a performance. We have great writers, like I said, we have great producers, we have people that can handle all of that stuff. But the words have to come out of my mouth and I have to hit that mark and I just need to be doing that one thing at that time. So that's the And look, everyone's different, everyone's different. I've seen Ben Affleck direct brilliant movies and be brilliant in those movies. He does it all. That guy is like a machine. So it's different for every single person. But for me, that was the most important thing was to make sure that I don't sacrifice any of the acting for the other stuff. There on the other hats that I'm wearing. Well, for the record, Justin Hartley is a machine as well. So there we go.

Is that a hard balance? You know, it's a lot of thought goes into it. You have to take care of yourself in certain ways. There's a lot of people counting on you. You can't go down. You can't really get sick. People get sick, but you can't. You have to take care of yourself in a way. You got to take your vitamins, you got to get your rest. There's a great responsibility I think that comes along with that. You know, if I go down, there's really nothing to shoot, and like I said, we have hundreds of people that are now kind of like this, So you can't be reckless, you can't goof off, you know all that stuff. You're representing a bunch of people, a bunch of people, and not only the people that work on the show, but they're families that they're supporting. So I take that very seriously. And then you know what, you know what else it is, oh, thank you one person. It also takes their life seriously. That person must be from the Midwest or something. There's just one. Everyone else is drinking this. It's great. But but also you surround yourself with really talented people, and so I'm able to when I'm on set and they call action, I'm able to just act. I have one job. And that's what Ken and I Ken Olin, the guy who created the show, with me, that's what we kind of decided. We were like, look, I can produce and I'm going to do everything that I can. But when they call action, when I step onto the set and they call action, I need to do one thing I can't do acting and also directing and also producing and also that because it just takes away from the one thing that I'm supposed to be doing in that moment. And they've been really great, my whole team. They've been really great about letting me do that and understanding that right now he's doing one thing, will do everything else, and then when I walk away. Sure it's different. But I can't sit in on every single meeting. As much as I would love to, I can't. I mean, I guess I could, but I don't know who won. No, but I physically can't because I'm on set. But I can't give every single note about every single thing that's going on in my head and at the same time give one hundred percent to the performance, which is really what is the most important thing to me, is a performance. We have great writers, like I said, we have great producers, we have people that can handle all of that stuff. But the words have to come out of my mouth and I have to hit that mark and I just need to be doing that one thing at that time. So that's the And look, everyone's different, everyone's different. I've seen Ben Affleck direct brilliant movies and be brilliant in those movies. He does it all. That guy is like a machine. So it's different for every single person. But for me, that was the most important thing was to make sure that I don't sacrifice any of the acting for the other stuff. There on the other hats that I'm wearing. Well, for the record, Justin Hartley is a machine as well. So there we go.

Because you do you wear a lot of different hats man. And I think you know when I look at the dialogue in this series, it's so heavy, it's so intense. And are there other actors and artists in the audience today?

Because you do you wear a lot of different hats man. And I think you know when I look at the dialogue in this series, it's so heavy, it's so intense. And are there other actors and artists in the audience today?

Okay, great, this is a question for all of y'all.

Okay, great, this is a question for all of y'all.

I think you'll appreciate this. How do you go about memorizing? You get these scraps for every episode, right, and I'm sure this season will have a lot more episodes. You're turning around things very quickly. You're on a time crunch, right, It's it's a business as well. You got to get the shot and keep on moving on because the clock sticking and dollars are being spent. How do you memorize to make sure you show up you're prepared, you know your lines? Do you have different techniques? Do you have advice, like what works for you? I do have different techniques.

I think you'll appreciate this. How do you go about memorizing? You get these scraps for every episode, right, and I'm sure this season will have a lot more episodes. You're turning around things very quickly. You're on a time crunch, right, It's it's a business as well. You got to get the shot and keep on moving on because the clock sticking and dollars are being spent. How do you memorize to make sure you show up you're prepared, you know your lines? Do you have different techniques? Do you have advice, like what works for you? I do have different techniques.

If I'm not tired at all, and I'm and I've got a full tank of gas or what you know, and my batteries full. I will do it birotely. I do it birotely. It's one word, and then it's two words, and then it's three words, and it's four and then it's a sentence, and it's that sentence in one word, and then it says, and I will I could probably tell you the first letter of every word of the first of the whole entire thing, like you know T. I can do that if but then you get as a time sort of time crunch starts to happen. I have a different technique, but it's always about sort of a gut feeling. I'm never really done with it until they say moving on, we're on the wrong set, we're moving on, we're going to that. I've never really done with it. And oftentimes, and I don't know for the actors in this room, or actually not even actors, anybody who works, anybody who does anything. Oftentimes, right you have an encounter with someone, or you're at work or you're doing something, and then you go, man, I wish I would have done that. Oh I should I should have said that. Oh they really needed me to say that. And instead I got ah, man, I really, I really messed that up. I should have done that, And I've just learned you can't spend a lot of time doing that in this profession because if you're constantly doing that, you're never going to be satisfied when it's done and you're moving on. You're on the wrong set. You're on the wrong set and it's like a different scene right now. You carry that with you in a good way, but you can't dwell on it. And I think for me, I know when it's time to go to when I can rest, when I can go to bed. There's a certain feeling that I have in my body when I know that I'm ready. If I'm not, I can't get any sleep. I'll just be up all night anyway, So I might as well put the extra work in. The Last thing I want to do is show up on set and not be prepared. I mean that I have had nightmares about being in still today day and I'm twenty eight and I and I I wasn't gonna say anything. I don't know what is that that there's one the one person was the only one that didn't laugh. No, I'm forty seven years old, and I still will to this day have nightmares about not knowing the not studying for a quiz in high school. You know, it's just not a good feeling, and that's something you can control. It's just time. It's just spending time with it. It takes as long as it takes. You know. Sometimes you'll read something and it'll be like four pages and you'll read it once and you're like, oh, I've got it memorized. And then there are other times where you just it's just not clicking for whatever reason. So it takes what it takes. And then I also say this, I can't really start working on anything until I have it memorized. Does that means sense? Like, I really can't. I have to memorize it, get it all memorized in my head, and then I can actually start to process it and work on it and start to understand what it means and how I'm going to approach it.

If I'm not tired at all, and I'm and I've got a full tank of gas or what you know, and my batteries full. I will do it birotely. I do it birotely. It's one word, and then it's two words, and then it's three words, and it's four and then it's a sentence, and it's that sentence in one word, and then it says, and I will I could probably tell you the first letter of every word of the first of the whole entire thing, like you know T. I can do that if but then you get as a time sort of time crunch starts to happen. I have a different technique, but it's always about sort of a gut feeling. I'm never really done with it until they say moving on, we're on the wrong set, we're moving on, we're going to that. I've never really done with it. And oftentimes, and I don't know for the actors in this room, or actually not even actors, anybody who works, anybody who does anything. Oftentimes, right you have an encounter with someone, or you're at work or you're doing something, and then you go, man, I wish I would have done that. Oh I should I should have said that. Oh they really needed me to say that. And instead I got ah, man, I really, I really messed that up. I should have done that, And I've just learned you can't spend a lot of time doing that in this profession because if you're constantly doing that, you're never going to be satisfied when it's done and you're moving on. You're on the wrong set. You're on the wrong set and it's like a different scene right now. You carry that with you in a good way, but you can't dwell on it. And I think for me, I know when it's time to go to when I can rest, when I can go to bed. There's a certain feeling that I have in my body when I know that I'm ready. If I'm not, I can't get any sleep. I'll just be up all night anyway, So I might as well put the extra work in. The Last thing I want to do is show up on set and not be prepared. I mean that I have had nightmares about being in still today day and I'm twenty eight and I and I I wasn't gonna say anything. I don't know what is that that there's one the one person was the only one that didn't laugh. No, I'm forty seven years old, and I still will to this day have nightmares about not knowing the not studying for a quiz in high school. You know, it's just not a good feeling, and that's something you can control. It's just time. It's just spending time with it. It takes as long as it takes. You know. Sometimes you'll read something and it'll be like four pages and you'll read it once and you're like, oh, I've got it memorized. And then there are other times where you just it's just not clicking for whatever reason. So it takes what it takes. And then I also say this, I can't really start working on anything until I have it memorized. Does that means sense? Like, I really can't. I have to memorize it, get it all memorized in my head, and then I can actually start to process it and work on it and start to understand what it means and how I'm going to approach it.

So I imagine you memorize very kind of monitor, like you just get it in your body.

So I imagine you memorize very kind of monitor, like you just get it in your body.

Yeah. I try to. Yeah, Yeah that's interesting. Yeah, it sounds fun, right, Yeah, but you know what, it's a lot of work.

Yeah. I try to. Yeah, Yeah that's interesting. Yeah, it sounds fun, right, Yeah, but you know what, it's a lot of work.

It works, and I think and all the actors out here. I'm tipping my hat to you because what bothers me so much is when an artist or an actor says, oh, it's not like we're carrying cancer. We're not brain surgeons, because you can't compare it. Because what you guys do, what you all do as artists, is you bring people so much joy and safety and feeling seen. And that has just as much weight to me as those other professions. So it's really important the work that you all do. That's why I love having conversations thank you like you because you.

It works, and I think and all the actors out here. I'm tipping my hat to you because what bothers me so much is when an artist or an actor says, oh, it's not like we're carrying cancer. We're not brain surgeons, because you can't compare it. Because what you guys do, what you all do as artists, is you bring people so much joy and safety and feeling seen. And that has just as much weight to me as those other professions. So it's really important the work that you all do. That's why I love having conversations thank you like you because you.

Put in the work.

Put in the work.

You don't just show up and say I'm here on camera like memorize, You go through rehearsals, you do stunts. I mean, it's it's just amazing what you guys accomplish every single day on set. This character, specifically Culture Shaw, he's he's something. Yeah, he's something. He's an American hero to so many people who watch the show. I think he's a kind of hoped to many. An interesting character because he's helping track people and bringing that closure and safety to families, but also getting paid. It's a business, so it's an interesting relationship there.

You don't just show up and say I'm here on camera like memorize, You go through rehearsals, you do stunts. I mean, it's it's just amazing what you guys accomplish every single day on set. This character, specifically Culture Shaw, he's he's something. Yeah, he's something. He's an American hero to so many people who watch the show. I think he's a kind of hoped to many. An interesting character because he's helping track people and bringing that closure and safety to families, but also getting paid. It's a business, so it's an interesting relationship there.

Right. What do you love about playing him? I love all of those things. And just HARKing back to what you just said, you know, that's one of the sort of things that I always think about, is brain surgeons wonderful. All that stuff wonderful. But whether you're mopping a floor or sweeping the floor, or acting in a TV show or on stage, or acting in a community theater, or doing brain surgery or that's all you're doing at that moment, that's the only thing that you have right that is what you're doing. So if you just focus on that and you do what you say you're doing as an actor, I think it's hard for people to deny that you're actually doing it. I mean sans I always say sans like shooting someone or wielding a night like, you know, you really can just do what you say you're doing as an actor. And anyway, what do I love about him? Gosh, what don't I love it? I love how complex it his backstory is. I love that he took all of those things that happened to him as a kid, and instead of saying, well, life happened to me, he ends up kind of happening to life. I love that I loved playing Kevin Pearson on this is us. I loved it. It was the highlight of my career until I got this show. And I'm like, I really, I really love playing this character. He's so different than Kevin, and I've fell in love with Kevin and I'll carry him with me forever. He'll forever be in my heart. But the opportunity to be able to play a character like this that is so different, especially in a world where people want to put you in a box in this industry as well, they want to go, oh, you did that well, and so it's a compliment because they see you do that and they're like, that's what that person does, which means you maybe you did it well. Maybe that's what that means. Otherwise they'd be like that, they would know that guy can't do that. But it's also kind of bad because you then they only see you a certain way and it's hard to break out into something else. Right, But you did it well. We different, very different, very different a lot of people we all did it together. But I got the opportunity to do it right and and it's been great. I love that he doesn't get distracted. I love I love that, I love that he I love that he's on his own. I love that he can, that he's a decision maker. I love that he doesn't make excuses, and I love that he I love that he helps people. I love that he's a good guy. He's not an anti hero. He's just he knows right from wrong, and he has conviction, he follows it. And I also love the way they're writing this character where it's sort of like Rockford Files, but this guy evolves as he goes. So you when you watch episode two of season one versus episode two of season two, he's the same guy, but all the things that he has learned throughout the seasons, throughout the episodes, throughout his you know, instant, these encounters that he has with other people, he keeps them, he takes them with him, and he becomes a better man, which I think is so great and unfortunately rareer than it should be. So those are some of the things I really love about him. I mean, what percentage of stunts do you do in the show? I try to do all of them? Try to do all of them. You're hanging off cliffs, you're well off cars. There soe bad of the airplane. Now, there are certain things they won't let me do. And then there are certain things that I'm sure that could would come up that I wouldn't want to do. But but so far, yeah, I mean fights, I think it's important. There's certain things, like I'm not stupid about it. There are certain things that I just simply can't do, or my stunt guy would be better at doing it than I would be doing it would benefit the show to have him do it. But there are other instances where and most oftentimes where if it's safe enough and I can do it now, our director can put the camera in a different spot because they don't have to hide anyone's face. They can just shoot my face, you know, kicking the hell out of someone or whatever, or diving down off of something or whatever it might be, and they make it pretty safe. I mean, you get dinged up. I'm always something's always sprained, and something's always kind of scratched up, and something's always achy or whatever it might be. But that's kind sort of the price of doing business. You know, it's like anything else, but it's never really dangerous. It's just kind of like, Okay, you're going to fall off of that thing. It's not gonna feel great. But you can handle it right, And I'm was like, Okay, we practiced a couple of times, and like, how many times are we going to do it? Well, We'll try to do it under like like less than four Okay, try to not do it more than four times. I can probably survive that. And we get it done and you end up with a shot where you see the actual actor the character flying through a frame, the frame and taking the hit as opposed to now you have to put the camera someone else somewhere else, and the guys's got his head down somehow, and there's a wig coming up the guys, you know, and he's twice as big, and it's like, I'm not even sure if the shoes match, you know what I mean. So I think there's a benefit in that. And it's so about protecting the show.

Right. What do you love about playing him? I love all of those things. And just HARKing back to what you just said, you know, that's one of the sort of things that I always think about, is brain surgeons wonderful. All that stuff wonderful. But whether you're mopping a floor or sweeping the floor, or acting in a TV show or on stage, or acting in a community theater, or doing brain surgery or that's all you're doing at that moment, that's the only thing that you have right that is what you're doing. So if you just focus on that and you do what you say you're doing as an actor, I think it's hard for people to deny that you're actually doing it. I mean sans I always say sans like shooting someone or wielding a night like, you know, you really can just do what you say you're doing as an actor. And anyway, what do I love about him? Gosh, what don't I love it? I love how complex it his backstory is. I love that he took all of those things that happened to him as a kid, and instead of saying, well, life happened to me, he ends up kind of happening to life. I love that I loved playing Kevin Pearson on this is us. I loved it. It was the highlight of my career until I got this show. And I'm like, I really, I really love playing this character. He's so different than Kevin, and I've fell in love with Kevin and I'll carry him with me forever. He'll forever be in my heart. But the opportunity to be able to play a character like this that is so different, especially in a world where people want to put you in a box in this industry as well, they want to go, oh, you did that well, and so it's a compliment because they see you do that and they're like, that's what that person does, which means you maybe you did it well. Maybe that's what that means. Otherwise they'd be like that, they would know that guy can't do that. But it's also kind of bad because you then they only see you a certain way and it's hard to break out into something else. Right, But you did it well. We different, very different, very different a lot of people we all did it together. But I got the opportunity to do it right and and it's been great. I love that he doesn't get distracted. I love I love that, I love that he I love that he's on his own. I love that he can, that he's a decision maker. I love that he doesn't make excuses, and I love that he I love that he helps people. I love that he's a good guy. He's not an anti hero. He's just he knows right from wrong, and he has conviction, he follows it. And I also love the way they're writing this character where it's sort of like Rockford Files, but this guy evolves as he goes. So you when you watch episode two of season one versus episode two of season two, he's the same guy, but all the things that he has learned throughout the seasons, throughout the episodes, throughout his you know, instant, these encounters that he has with other people, he keeps them, he takes them with him, and he becomes a better man, which I think is so great and unfortunately rareer than it should be. So those are some of the things I really love about him. I mean, what percentage of stunts do you do in the show? I try to do all of them? Try to do all of them. You're hanging off cliffs, you're well off cars. There soe bad of the airplane. Now, there are certain things they won't let me do. And then there are certain things that I'm sure that could would come up that I wouldn't want to do. But but so far, yeah, I mean fights, I think it's important. There's certain things, like I'm not stupid about it. There are certain things that I just simply can't do, or my stunt guy would be better at doing it than I would be doing it would benefit the show to have him do it. But there are other instances where and most oftentimes where if it's safe enough and I can do it now, our director can put the camera in a different spot because they don't have to hide anyone's face. They can just shoot my face, you know, kicking the hell out of someone or whatever, or diving down off of something or whatever it might be, and they make it pretty safe. I mean, you get dinged up. I'm always something's always sprained, and something's always kind of scratched up, and something's always achy or whatever it might be. But that's kind sort of the price of doing business. You know, it's like anything else, but it's never really dangerous. It's just kind of like, Okay, you're going to fall off of that thing. It's not gonna feel great. But you can handle it right, And I'm was like, Okay, we practiced a couple of times, and like, how many times are we going to do it? Well, We'll try to do it under like like less than four Okay, try to not do it more than four times. I can probably survive that. And we get it done and you end up with a shot where you see the actual actor the character flying through a frame, the frame and taking the hit as opposed to now you have to put the camera someone else somewhere else, and the guys's got his head down somehow, and there's a wig coming up the guys, you know, and he's twice as big, and it's like, I'm not even sure if the shoes match, you know what I mean. So I think there's a benefit in that. And it's so about protecting the show.

Really, it's evident that you're so invested in every single piece of how the show looks. Right, it's not just about you, it's about the overall picture.

Really, it's evident that you're so invested in every single piece of how the show looks. Right, it's not just about you, it's about the overall picture.

Yeah, even hanging.

Yeah, even hanging.

Out backstage and watching the up episode, you were admiring the lighting and you were giving notes and it's just you're so invested in all in and I know you're an executive producer on this project as well. Are you able to give you guide in somewhere you want your story to go? Do you collaborate with the writers or do you kind of let them do their own thing? Like what's that line you straddle between letting writers do the job they're here to do, but also expressing what your vision is as an EP and the leading man.

Out backstage and watching the up episode, you were admiring the lighting and you were giving notes and it's just you're so invested in all in and I know you're an executive producer on this project as well. Are you able to give you guide in somewhere you want your story to go? Do you collaborate with the writers or do you kind of let them do their own thing? Like what's that line you straddle between letting writers do the job they're here to do, but also expressing what your vision is as an EP and the leading man.

I mean, I think it has to do with personnel. We have our head writer, Elwood Reid, who is really wonderful and he's a really great writer. He's a talented guy, comes up with great stories and he knows the character inside and out. But he's also I think his biggest asset is he's so collaborative and he's not ego driven at all. You can tell him anything and he won't. He doesn't take it. Well. If he does, he does it alone with tears, but in front of me, he doesn't take it. He understands where the notes are coming from. It's not coming from anything other than it's not coming from some place where I'm saying I can do this better, because I can't. It's coming from a place where, hey, have you thought about this? And he's so collaborative and that goes the other way too. I mean they're the same way. They're like, hey, you know when cultures in this situation, you're the actor, but don't you think that, Oh of course, I hadn't thought of that. You know, we have so many eyes on this that it's hard to let things slip through the cracks when you have so many eyes on it, the people that really care that sort of have the same vision. But yeah, we collaborate whatever. I mean, there are certain story areas or scripts that come in that don't need to be touched, and then there are certain ones that come in where you have a couple of maybe a couple of ideas for they could maybe I don't want to say make it better, but maybe sharpen it a little bit or make it more interesting in certain areas. And then there are certain times where you have notes that just they fall flat and you're the only one that thought that, and you kind of have to let those go. So it's a team.

I mean, I think it has to do with personnel. We have our head writer, Elwood Reid, who is really wonderful and he's a really great writer. He's a talented guy, comes up with great stories and he knows the character inside and out. But he's also I think his biggest asset is he's so collaborative and he's not ego driven at all. You can tell him anything and he won't. He doesn't take it. Well. If he does, he does it alone with tears, but in front of me, he doesn't take it. He understands where the notes are coming from. It's not coming from anything other than it's not coming from some place where I'm saying I can do this better, because I can't. It's coming from a place where, hey, have you thought about this? And he's so collaborative and that goes the other way too. I mean they're the same way. They're like, hey, you know when cultures in this situation, you're the actor, but don't you think that, Oh of course, I hadn't thought of that. You know, we have so many eyes on this that it's hard to let things slip through the cracks when you have so many eyes on it, the people that really care that sort of have the same vision. But yeah, we collaborate whatever. I mean, there are certain story areas or scripts that come in that don't need to be touched, and then there are certain ones that come in where you have a couple of maybe a couple of ideas for they could maybe I don't want to say make it better, but maybe sharpen it a little bit or make it more interesting in certain areas. And then there are certain times where you have notes that just they fall flat and you're the only one that thought that, and you kind of have to let those go. So it's a team.

You've brought up this as us, and my mind keeps going back to that because obviously the show resonated with so many people. It's a yeah favorite and will forever be a fan favorite. When you were wrapping up that show. You began where on this show?

You've brought up this as us, and my mind keeps going back to that because obviously the show resonated with so many people. It's a yeah favorite and will forever be a fan favorite. When you were wrapping up that show. You began where on this show?

Right? Yeah, So what was that.

Right? Yeah, So what was that.

Like for you as an artist to kind of have to hang up your hat with that character and say goodbye and make peace with that's it and I'm not going to see him again, and then getting right into the mode of preparing for another one, like did you have time to kind of grieve that loss?

Like for you as an artist to kind of have to hang up your hat with that character and say goodbye and make peace with that's it and I'm not going to see him again, and then getting right into the mode of preparing for another one, like did you have time to kind of grieve that loss?

For lack of a better word, we had a lot of time, so we knew the show was going to go six years from like the beginning. In fact, I think I was told five and then I think it evolved into six. I could be totally lying to but that's how I remember it. But we knew for years and years and years that that show was ending when it was ending, so we had a you know, a lot of times you don't get that opportunity. Things just happen. People go you're not doing it anymore, and you're like, oh, okay, this was more like, Wow, you get an opportunity to play this character for six years. It's going to be amazing. What a ride this guy's going to go on. And here's kind of what his journey's going to be. And it evolved a little bit throughout the series. I'd say quite a bit actually, but it ended up being something that was I thought that project was remarkable to be a part of. There's a There's an interesting thing that happens with that too, though, because if you have a mind like I do, you pull off the pages of the calendar, and that calendar starts to get remember those little desk calendars in the year yah, And as you pull off the pages, you're like, oh, another day, another day, another day. And then as that things starts to get thinner and thinner, you're like, oh, we're almost at the end of the and it starts to feel different to rip them off right than it does at the beginning of the year. So I don't even know what your question was. I'm just rambling at this point, but yeah, yeah, I One things I didn't realize, and I'm so happy that it's happening, is that I didn't really say goodbye to him, because people remember him and people say things to me, you know, people are they'll say things about passions. It's like this soap opera that I did one hundred million years ago, and people will still say Fox Crane, which is like the only character I've ever played that had two animal names as the first and last name, which is the most interesting thing about him. But but but people, because some people hold on to that stuff, and that's kind of cool because you never really have to let go of it. It's days in everyone's hearts. It's really remarkable and it's a really cool thing to have happened in your life.

For lack of a better word, we had a lot of time, so we knew the show was going to go six years from like the beginning. In fact, I think I was told five and then I think it evolved into six. I could be totally lying to but that's how I remember it. But we knew for years and years and years that that show was ending when it was ending, so we had a you know, a lot of times you don't get that opportunity. Things just happen. People go you're not doing it anymore, and you're like, oh, okay, this was more like, Wow, you get an opportunity to play this character for six years. It's going to be amazing. What a ride this guy's going to go on. And here's kind of what his journey's going to be. And it evolved a little bit throughout the series. I'd say quite a bit actually, but it ended up being something that was I thought that project was remarkable to be a part of. There's a There's an interesting thing that happens with that too, though, because if you have a mind like I do, you pull off the pages of the calendar, and that calendar starts to get remember those little desk calendars in the year yah, And as you pull off the pages, you're like, oh, another day, another day, another day. And then as that things starts to get thinner and thinner, you're like, oh, we're almost at the end of the and it starts to feel different to rip them off right than it does at the beginning of the year. So I don't even know what your question was. I'm just rambling at this point, but yeah, yeah, I One things I didn't realize, and I'm so happy that it's happening, is that I didn't really say goodbye to him, because people remember him and people say things to me, you know, people are they'll say things about passions. It's like this soap opera that I did one hundred million years ago, and people will still say Fox Crane, which is like the only character I've ever played that had two animal names as the first and last name, which is the most interesting thing about him. But but but people, because some people hold on to that stuff, and that's kind of cool because you never really have to let go of it. It's days in everyone's hearts. It's really remarkable and it's a really cool thing to have happened in your life.

And I feel like it's a role that I don't know, maybe down the line, you would revisit one day.

And I feel like it's a role that I don't know, maybe down the line, you would revisit one day.

Yeah, you know. I mean we've talked about it. We've all talked about it, and I don't know if there's any plans to if there are plans to reboot it. I haven't been involved in there, which is a whole another conversation, I guess. But but yeah, I still keep in touch with all those guys. They're all so great. They'll be lifelong friends of mine and I would do anything for them. I love them all. Might we see any of them on tracker? We? I think we will. I think we will? Yeah, right, yeah right? Season two? Yeah.

Yeah, you know. I mean we've talked about it. We've all talked about it, and I don't know if there's any plans to if there are plans to reboot it. I haven't been involved in there, which is a whole another conversation, I guess. But but yeah, I still keep in touch with all those guys. They're all so great. They'll be lifelong friends of mine and I would do anything for them. I love them all. Might we see any of them on tracker? We? I think we will. I think we will? Yeah, right, yeah right? Season two? Yeah.

For fear of executives from CBS who might be here coming on stage and body checking me, what can you tell me that won't get you in trouble, but maybe that you haven't shared yet.

For fear of executives from CBS who might be here coming on stage and body checking me, what can you tell me that won't get you in trouble, but maybe that you haven't shared yet.

Let's see what haven't I shared yet? That won't well, let's get in trouble. Who cares? All right, what do we got? We have? I think you all know that Johnson's coming back, Jensen Ancles is coming back. That'll be fun. My wife, who is here somewhere is coming back. Sophie Apprentice has come other she is, Sophia is coming back. And by the way, my mother and my sister are here in the front. This is moving up for mom and sistern who else is coming back? We have this? We have this, this white Whale case that we introduced in the episode that you all just saw that ends up taking up like sort of half of our season. The first half of our seasons up being kind of about that. There's a job that Culture takes several episodes into the first part of our season where he ends up. He's out in the forcing stumbles upon this these campers go missing, and he's trying to figure out what He's surveying the scene and trying to figure out getting all the clues that he can try to figure out where these people went. There are four of them, so something happened, right. It wasn't like one one, you know, stray, It was all four of them are gone. Then there's there's this man that he finds while he's looking for them. The man's got a gun. He's got a couple of questions for this man, and this man ends up telling him sort of a little bit about his backstory and why he's there, and he has a white whale case of his own, and so they kind of help each other. So for the first time in our series, really you see Culture teaming up with not just for a moment, for several episodes, with someone from kind of a different generation, different totally different way of doing things than Culture does. And it may or may not help him with his white whale job that he's been, you know, searching for a decade. Was that an executive going because George Cheeks is like, shut up, well, George might not like this question, but is he maybe going to find love this season or explore that more? You know, I think he's got a tough job, you know what I mean. He travels a lot, and it's something that something that we talk about. And the guy, like I said, he evolves, He's going to evolve but I think for right now, I mean, he's that would be a difficult relationship to have, wouldn't it a relationship with a guy like that, like a guy who's traveling all is gone all the time. He's off the grid also, and plus it's dangerous. He's always getting shot out or doing doing something you know, crazy. I mean, you did have some fun season one, episode one. Yeah, it seems like he only has fun in episode one. Yeah, one, O one, two oh one, probably three oh one. Like yeah, if if you're if you're an actress or an actor, a female actor, and you want to come on tracker and like three oh one, something's probably going to go down. Other than that, you're safe. I don't know what that is. I don't Yeah, I don't know why, why, why that happened, but it did. And then that whole thing that happened at the end of that episode that you just saw ends up being something that we we earn and we explain and you go, oh, man, okay, I see it's more. It's more than just a trauma bond thing. There's a history there.

Let's see what haven't I shared yet? That won't well, let's get in trouble. Who cares? All right, what do we got? We have? I think you all know that Johnson's coming back, Jensen Ancles is coming back. That'll be fun. My wife, who is here somewhere is coming back. Sophie Apprentice has come other she is, Sophia is coming back. And by the way, my mother and my sister are here in the front. This is moving up for mom and sistern who else is coming back? We have this? We have this, this white Whale case that we introduced in the episode that you all just saw that ends up taking up like sort of half of our season. The first half of our seasons up being kind of about that. There's a job that Culture takes several episodes into the first part of our season where he ends up. He's out in the forcing stumbles upon this these campers go missing, and he's trying to figure out what He's surveying the scene and trying to figure out getting all the clues that he can try to figure out where these people went. There are four of them, so something happened, right. It wasn't like one one, you know, stray, It was all four of them are gone. Then there's there's this man that he finds while he's looking for them. The man's got a gun. He's got a couple of questions for this man, and this man ends up telling him sort of a little bit about his backstory and why he's there, and he has a white whale case of his own, and so they kind of help each other. So for the first time in our series, really you see Culture teaming up with not just for a moment, for several episodes, with someone from kind of a different generation, different totally different way of doing things than Culture does. And it may or may not help him with his white whale job that he's been, you know, searching for a decade. Was that an executive going because George Cheeks is like, shut up, well, George might not like this question, but is he maybe going to find love this season or explore that more? You know, I think he's got a tough job, you know what I mean. He travels a lot, and it's something that something that we talk about. And the guy, like I said, he evolves, He's going to evolve but I think for right now, I mean, he's that would be a difficult relationship to have, wouldn't it a relationship with a guy like that, like a guy who's traveling all is gone all the time. He's off the grid also, and plus it's dangerous. He's always getting shot out or doing doing something you know, crazy. I mean, you did have some fun season one, episode one. Yeah, it seems like he only has fun in episode one. Yeah, one, O one, two oh one, probably three oh one. Like yeah, if if you're if you're an actress or an actor, a female actor, and you want to come on tracker and like three oh one, something's probably going to go down. Other than that, you're safe. I don't know what that is. I don't Yeah, I don't know why, why, why that happened, but it did. And then that whole thing that happened at the end of that episode that you just saw ends up being something that we we earn and we explain and you go, oh, man, okay, I see it's more. It's more than just a trauma bond thing. There's a history there.

Hm hmm.

Hm hmm.

Yeah, okay, we have a lot to look forward to. Yeah, yeah, we go pretty deep in that because now we can. When you're building a show, you know from the beginning it's the hardest thing to do because you can't just dive in. You have to explain who these characters are to everyone. Pilot are tough. They're tough because you know, as an audience member, I want to know who this guy is, like you know, Breaking Bad, Beautiful, Pilot beautiful. When you watch it, though, you need to know like the circumstances. Okay, he's got lungcans, but he doesn't smoke, he's so why did he You have to explain all this stuff, right, and then as you get into the series, you kind of know it and you can you just kind of it just kind of flows. You don't have to explain every single time that this guy is justin.

Yeah, okay, we have a lot to look forward to. Yeah, yeah, we go pretty deep in that because now we can. When you're building a show, you know from the beginning it's the hardest thing to do because you can't just dive in. You have to explain who these characters are to everyone. Pilot are tough. They're tough because you know, as an audience member, I want to know who this guy is, like you know, Breaking Bad, Beautiful, Pilot beautiful. When you watch it, though, you need to know like the circumstances. Okay, he's got lungcans, but he doesn't smoke, he's so why did he You have to explain all this stuff, right, and then as you get into the series, you kind of know it and you can you just kind of it just kind of flows. You don't have to explain every single time that this guy is justin.

You are someone who's been working a long time, right, and you've been a part of projects that people love, and I know you're very grateful to have been a part of them, and you don't take it for granted, which is amazing to see. What is something you've learned about yourself through all of these years as a working actor. I mean you're going from job to job and you're hustling and it's a very unconventional business. Is there something that you've really learned that has helped you kind of in this in this career, choice, in this path, in your personal life that you can share with people today that might help them.

You are someone who's been working a long time, right, and you've been a part of projects that people love, and I know you're very grateful to have been a part of them, and you don't take it for granted, which is amazing to see. What is something you've learned about yourself through all of these years as a working actor. I mean you're going from job to job and you're hustling and it's a very unconventional business. Is there something that you've really learned that has helped you kind of in this in this career, choice, in this path, in your personal life that you can share with people today that might help them.

I find the right partner, Find the right partner, find someone who finds someone who someone who will walk to the end of the earth with you, who trusts you. Surround yourself with the best of the best, and don't worry so much about pleasing everyone, because I think the people that that get you, that get your heart, didn't know who you are, that really understand you your kindness. I don't think any of that factors into it. I I don't think making sure that you're pleasing other people really has anything to do with that. I think it's being present in the moment. It's an easy thing to say, a very very hard thing to do, but yeah, find the right partner. And that could be that could be in a a in a spouse, that could be in a sister, that could be in a mother, that could be in anybody your team. Just pour into your team, find the right people. Surround yourself with people that are like minded, that appreciate themselves and that appreciate your help, and that you can ask advice from that you can trust, and when you have that, you have and your health the rest of cake.

I find the right partner, Find the right partner, find someone who finds someone who someone who will walk to the end of the earth with you, who trusts you. Surround yourself with the best of the best, and don't worry so much about pleasing everyone, because I think the people that that get you, that get your heart, didn't know who you are, that really understand you your kindness. I don't think any of that factors into it. I I don't think making sure that you're pleasing other people really has anything to do with that. I think it's being present in the moment. It's an easy thing to say, a very very hard thing to do, but yeah, find the right partner. And that could be that could be in a a in a spouse, that could be in a sister, that could be in a mother, that could be in anybody your team. Just pour into your team, find the right people. Surround yourself with people that are like minded, that appreciate themselves and that appreciate your help, and that you can ask advice from that you can trust, and when you have that, you have and your health the rest of cake.

And you strike me as someone who's always wanting to learn. Oh, and you're not afraid to ask a question, are you No?

And you strike me as someone who's always wanting to learn. Oh, and you're not afraid to ask a question, are you No?

And sometimes you end up looking like a fool. But that's okay, because you know what, I would rather look like a fool asking a silly question that everyone in the room knew the answer to than assuming that I knew the answer to that, and then going about my business and doing something and messing up in front of the same people and looking like a complete fool. I'd rather ask the question.

And sometimes you end up looking like a fool. But that's okay, because you know what, I would rather look like a fool asking a silly question that everyone in the room knew the answer to than assuming that I knew the answer to that, and then going about my business and doing something and messing up in front of the same people and looking like a complete fool. I'd rather ask the question.

Yeah, I'm sure when you started executive producing too, you had a lot of things that you had to.

Yeah, I'm sure when you started executive producing too, you had a lot of things that you had to.

Kind of learn. Oh man, I look. I mean the difference between me now and me twenty years ago is I didn't have that. I didn't maybe thirty years ago. I didn't understand that. And I thought the idea was just to make sure that people knew that. So I would read a lot of stuff so I knew. I knew a lot of stuff. I knew a lot about a lot of things. I guess kind of from books. But I had never stood up and told and directed someone in a TV show and told them, Okay, this is what I want to do, and given a note and seeing their response and understand that my I note to you and how I'm going to talk to you is completely different than the note I might give that gentleman right there who's doing the same thing, you're going to respond to it. He might not, or you might look at me like, what is he talking about? Where this guy's over here going, I know exactly what he's talking about. Everyone is so different, So that's part of I mean. When I wrote on Smallville, I learned so much about acting. I used to read scripts differently. I used to read scripts where they would say, and then he tugs on I'm making something up. He tugs on his hood, a green arrowhood or whatever. He tugs on his hood in a way that makes he's uncomfortable. And I would read it and I would get a little bit angry. I'm not gonna lie, and I'd be like, then tell me how I mean how I'm angry. I'm not angry. And then I wrote on Smallville and I realized those notes aren't for me. Those notes are for the people reading the script, that's for the studio and the network, and I mean they have to be there. I was an idiot. I didn't know. And then when I directed on Smallville, the same thing. I learned how to sort of how to give you notes and stuff and how not to offend people. Then I directed on This Is Us and with those actors who were doing something completely different, on a completely different level. With it's just like a completely different animal. And you learn how to talk to someone like, how are you gonna give Stirling K. Brown a note? Right? How are you gonna give Mandy more note? How do you get them? I walk up to Mylon and give him a note, But that's your job, and I'll never forget. I wanted something from this scene when I was directing Mandy in this scene with her kids, her like teenage kids, and I think I think Kevin was even there. So I was directing all of them teenage Kevin was there, and I remember just I didn't I didn't quite know how to say the note to her, but I just thought, you know, she's the character's so annoyed by the way these these guys are acting. These kids are acting and they're it's just it's almost disappointing, not the actors, but but the characters how they're behaving. And I thought to myself, I don't know what to say to her, because I'm not a mother. I don't know how. But then I just remembered and I walked up to her and I just I did It wasn't even really note. I just said to her, man, this would be so much easier if Jack we're here, wouldn't it. And she just froze. And I didn't realize what I had said, so but I said it and then she just froze. And then I saw Mandy freeze and I realized that she got the note, and I think it was more than I wanted to say, and I just kind of turned around and I was just like, okay, leave that alone for a look. And then I was like, this roll will tail slate on this thing. Just roll it right now. And I was like blown away. I mean, I forgot to call cut. Wow, I forgot to call cut. I was just watching her. I was just like, holy cow, this woman is having a moment right now. And I had really had nothing to do with my note. I had to do with just actors need reminders sometimes, you know, she was incredible, and those are the little things that I don't know if you can tell I get really excited about this stuff. I just think it's you know, when you watch a movie and you My wife was just watching a movie today and she turned it on. It was it was Game of the Thrones trilogy, right, Lord of the Rings trilogy and that's sorry, and yeah, we're not crazy and Lord of the Storler and she goes, oh, this part always makes me cry. And I go, I go, okay, I'm I'm gonna grab find my wallet. And then we got to get out of here because we've got to go to lunch. And I found my wallet and I turned around and she was like crying, and she's seen this thing sixty times, and I'm like, this is the power of cinema. This is the This is really unbelievable how it taps into certain things. Right, we need this stuff. It's exciting.

Kind of learn. Oh man, I look. I mean the difference between me now and me twenty years ago is I didn't have that. I didn't maybe thirty years ago. I didn't understand that. And I thought the idea was just to make sure that people knew that. So I would read a lot of stuff so I knew. I knew a lot of stuff. I knew a lot about a lot of things. I guess kind of from books. But I had never stood up and told and directed someone in a TV show and told them, Okay, this is what I want to do, and given a note and seeing their response and understand that my I note to you and how I'm going to talk to you is completely different than the note I might give that gentleman right there who's doing the same thing, you're going to respond to it. He might not, or you might look at me like, what is he talking about? Where this guy's over here going, I know exactly what he's talking about. Everyone is so different, So that's part of I mean. When I wrote on Smallville, I learned so much about acting. I used to read scripts differently. I used to read scripts where they would say, and then he tugs on I'm making something up. He tugs on his hood, a green arrowhood or whatever. He tugs on his hood in a way that makes he's uncomfortable. And I would read it and I would get a little bit angry. I'm not gonna lie, and I'd be like, then tell me how I mean how I'm angry. I'm not angry. And then I wrote on Smallville and I realized those notes aren't for me. Those notes are for the people reading the script, that's for the studio and the network, and I mean they have to be there. I was an idiot. I didn't know. And then when I directed on Smallville, the same thing. I learned how to sort of how to give you notes and stuff and how not to offend people. Then I directed on This Is Us and with those actors who were doing something completely different, on a completely different level. With it's just like a completely different animal. And you learn how to talk to someone like, how are you gonna give Stirling K. Brown a note? Right? How are you gonna give Mandy more note? How do you get them? I walk up to Mylon and give him a note, But that's your job, and I'll never forget. I wanted something from this scene when I was directing Mandy in this scene with her kids, her like teenage kids, and I think I think Kevin was even there. So I was directing all of them teenage Kevin was there, and I remember just I didn't I didn't quite know how to say the note to her, but I just thought, you know, she's the character's so annoyed by the way these these guys are acting. These kids are acting and they're it's just it's almost disappointing, not the actors, but but the characters how they're behaving. And I thought to myself, I don't know what to say to her, because I'm not a mother. I don't know how. But then I just remembered and I walked up to her and I just I did It wasn't even really note. I just said to her, man, this would be so much easier if Jack we're here, wouldn't it. And she just froze. And I didn't realize what I had said, so but I said it and then she just froze. And then I saw Mandy freeze and I realized that she got the note, and I think it was more than I wanted to say, and I just kind of turned around and I was just like, okay, leave that alone for a look. And then I was like, this roll will tail slate on this thing. Just roll it right now. And I was like blown away. I mean, I forgot to call cut. Wow, I forgot to call cut. I was just watching her. I was just like, holy cow, this woman is having a moment right now. And I had really had nothing to do with my note. I had to do with just actors need reminders sometimes, you know, she was incredible, and those are the little things that I don't know if you can tell I get really excited about this stuff. I just think it's you know, when you watch a movie and you My wife was just watching a movie today and she turned it on. It was it was Game of the Thrones trilogy, right, Lord of the Rings trilogy and that's sorry, and yeah, we're not crazy and Lord of the Storler and she goes, oh, this part always makes me cry. And I go, I go, okay, I'm I'm gonna grab find my wallet. And then we got to get out of here because we've got to go to lunch. And I found my wallet and I turned around and she was like crying, and she's seen this thing sixty times, and I'm like, this is the power of cinema. This is the This is really unbelievable how it taps into certain things. Right, we need this stuff. It's exciting.

Do you think directing has made you a better actor?

Do you think directing has made you a better actor?

Yeah? Yeah, why it's I I'm I'm easier to give a note to I think probably. I think there was a time in my life where I was you know what that is though is and if I'm being totally honest, when someone gives you a note, if a director gives you a note and you disagree with it, the way that you respond to the note is either you have a conversation about it or you don't, and you let them know that's not I'm not doing that. And that's why this is why I'm not doing that, because he you go on and on whatever, and you kind of put them in their place and they go back because they can't make you do anything. The words have to come out of your mouth, right. But all that is is insecurity. That's all that is. That's something that you, at least in my experience, when you see the person walking over to you, and I've been there before, where you and I are will be in a scene together and you see the director coming out and they're walking and in my head twenty years ago, I'm going, God, hope he doesn't come to me a hope to note it's not from me, hope, And then I'll see him veer off to you, and I'm like, thank god. And then inevitably the director, when he's done with you, turns to me and gives me my note, right, and then I learned as a director a lot of times if I need something from you in a scene, I might not give you the note. You might hear it, but I will give the other actor the note. But it's for you, yeah, for sure. So you just you learn that all of the notes when a director is this is just for me, And a director will typically pull somebody's side if they have a note that this is private whatever. But if there's a note being given on set to someone that is in the scene that you don't even have dialogue with, at least for me, my experience has been listen to it, get all the information that might be for you. And if it's not for you, I bet you can glean something from it. I bet you can. There's something that you can participate in the next take with in a different way from that note, I think. And I feel like that's applicable in any profession. Yeah, Like, no matter where you work or who your boss is, taking notes and feedback is all part of it. Yeah, you have to, and if you're good at it, you're gonna If you're good at it, it's better for you. And it's hard to be good at it because their notes, right yeah, and the notes are usually like would we get would we'll get script notes? And you know, it's always the same. It's like the studio will be like and they don't give us a lot of notes, which is great, but they'll be like the first like three lines are just praise and great and it's amazing. We're so a threat. It's like page one, sentence four, we're wondering if and then it starts right right, but they're very good. That that's how you give notes. You have to say, hey, by the way, we're all in this together. You don't just start blasting people from the you know, like just sit there and go here we go once again? You know. Yeah, but yeah, I think it does. Directing, writing, learning, producing alongside Ken Olan has made me a better actor, I hope, And just you know, I don't know less stress. It'll get done. It'll get done. If we're all here, you know, it'll get done. And if it doesn't get done, I don't know, then we're all in trouble. I guess mm hmmm, yeah we are so far we've done it. So how do you take time for you when you're filming a show like this? I mean, you're busy day in and day out. You mentioned sleep. Do you actually get to sleep? I mean sometimes, yeah, I sometimes I miss a day asleep here and there. But it's okay.