
Director Ash Avildsen from "Queen of the Ring" joins us on Story & Craft.
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Director Ash Avildsen from “Queen of the Ring” joins us on Story & Craft.
We talk about the film’s roots in pro wrestling history and the story of Mildred Burke, a star female wrestler from the 1930s to the 1950s. Ash shares his filmmaking process, casting, music in film and how the music business has changed. He also talks about his father, director John Avildsen, and his influence.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
Ash Avildsen joins Story & Craft
The Making of ‘Queen of the Ring’
Ash’s Love for Wrestling
Challenges in Casting
The Evolution of the Music Industry
Growing Up with Famous Parents
Transitioning from Music to Film
The Collaborative Art of Filmmaking
The Importance of Music in Film
Cinema vs. Television
The Theater Experience
Convenience of Watching Movies on Phones
Childhood Movie and TV Influences
Directing Style and Influences
Challenges of Filming Wrestling Scenes
Personal Life and Hobbies
The Seven Questions
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Full Transcript
Part 1
Ash Avildsen:00:00:00
I find myself calling the front desk.
2
Ash Avildsen joins Story & Craft
,990 --> 00:00:04,330
Can you bring me the real remote?
3
,330 --> 00:00:06,340
I try to explain to them
why I need the real remote.
4
,400 --> 00:00:09,019
The maintenance guy comes
other times, no one's working.
5
,020 --> 00:00:11,329
So I'm just like, I'm just going to
play it on my computer or my phone.
6
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Announcer: Welcome to story and craft.
7
,049 --> 00:00:16,160
Now here's your host, Marc Preston.
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Marc Preston: All right, here we go.
9
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Another episode of story and craft.
10
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Welcome back.
11
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Good to have you.
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I'm Marc Preston.
13
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If this is your first episode,
welcome, glad to have you along.
14
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Uh, today sitting down with director
Ash Avildsen, uh, now he's not only
15
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a director, he has a record label.
16
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He's a kind of a Renaissance
guy doing a lot of different
17
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things, but a new film out.
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His first big one.
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It is called queen of the ring.
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Uh, it is out today, Friday, March 7th.
21
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It's with Emily Bette Rickards.
22
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Also Josh Lucas, Martin Cove,
who is in Cobra Kai, as well as
23
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the original Karate Kid movies.
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Which is kind of cool because Ash's
father, John Avildsen, who was also a very
25
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well known director, directed the Karate
Kid movies as well as the Rocky movies.
26
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Lean on me and a whole lot more.
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Great conversation.
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Enjoyed sitting down with Ash.
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And, uh, don't forget, if you
would, stop on by our website,
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smallrequeststoryandcraftpod.
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Dot com slash rate head there, rate,
uh, an episode, rate the show, leave
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some stars, leave a review, uh,
make sure you on your podcast app,
33
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whichever one you use, follow the show.
34
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That way you get notified every
time we have a new episode.
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All right.
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So, uh, tell you what, let's
jump right into it today.
37
The Making of 'Queen of the Ring'
,124 --> 00:01:34,585
Ash Avildsen day right
here on story and craft.
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So, uh, where are you
joining me from today?
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Ash Avildsen: I am at the
Santa Monica Proper Hotel.
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Marc Preston: How did you
fare during the fires?
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Ash Avildsen: I was out of town.
42
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Uh, my home here is for sale.
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So I didn't really, uh, very fortunate.
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It didn't really affect me at all.
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Um, I wasn't here for any of it.
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Marc Preston: But yeah,
that's good to hear.
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You're okay though.
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So glad we had a chance to connect it.
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You know, I was checking out your
stuff and kind of seeing your,
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your sort of a, I don't want to say
renaissance guy, but you've kind of,
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you've, you've, you've done more than
just dabble in a few things here.
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Is this the first big kind of release,
uh, you know, queen of the ring, is
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this the kind of the first big one?
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No, you've done some other
projects, but is this kind of,
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Ash Avildsen: This is
the first big one for
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Marc Preston: sure.
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You got a great cast and I've seen the
previews, it all looks just fantastic.
58
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But I got to know how this even got
to you, this project, uh, was this
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something that, you know, you'd kind
of been tied in with, let's say,
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the writer or did they come to you?
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How did this come together for you?
62
Ash's Love for Wrestling
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Ash Avildsen: Oh, I've always been a
big fan of pro wrestling and I wanted
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to make a fictional Story that was
kind of like a love letter to all my
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favorite, um, stories from the eighties.
65
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And I felt that there wasn't really
a, um, I felt like at the time there
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wasn't that movie that took place in
the world of pro wrestling that had a
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great, you know, inspirational ending.
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Uh, I loved the wrestler by Aronofsky,
but that's obviously about, Oh yeah.
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So I called Jim Ross, who, uh, is
a legendary WWE executive and hall
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of famer and commentator and asked
if he'd, he'd work on developing
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it with me because he's lived it.
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I want it to be as, um,
as authentic as possible.
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And he said, sure.
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By the way, have you ever
heard of Mildred Burke?
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And I said, no, who's that?
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He said, you should check out
this book, Queen of the Ring.
77
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So that weekend I read the
Queen of the Ring book.
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I found out all about Mildred Burke.
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I got, I became completely enchanted.
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with her story and I called him back
Monday morning and I said, forget
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about the eighties fictional thing.
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We have to tell this woman's story.
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This is incredible.
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And uh, and I was, you know, I was,
I was both upset and sad that, um,
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I didn't know who Mildred Burke
was, nor did any of my friends who
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were also big pro wrestling fans.
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We just had never heard.
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Her story or heard of her at all.
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So, uh, like what,
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Marc Preston: what era was
she wrestling in though?
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Because, uh, looking at the previews,
this is going back sixties, fifties ish.
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Is that about right?
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Ash Avildsen: Thirties to fifties, yeah.
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Marc Preston: Oh, okay.
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Ash Avildsen: Mid thirties to mid fifties.
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Marc Preston: Yeah.
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'cause the, you know, when I was
growing up, I, I wasn't really big into
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wrestling, but wrestling was sort of kind.
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omnipresent growing up in
Dallas and the von eric family.
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And that was, you know, it was, you
know, because there wasn't time and
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they were, they were doing like pizza
hut commercials, you know, they were
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like, it was, it was mainstream enough.
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And so everybody knew who they were,
you know, just even if you weren't
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necessarily into it, but what kind
of grabbed you about wrestling?
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Ash Avildsen: I, I was just so entertained
by it, you know, uh, as a little kid,
106
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I got into it at a very young age and
I just found it wildly entertaining
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the characters and the personas
and all of the drama and theatrics.
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And I just fell in love with the world.
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I found it very, very entertaining,
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Marc Preston: you know, even
watching the, uh, uh, What was it?
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I iron claw was at the movie with about
about the von Erichs and you look at it,
112
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it was, it was, it felt like a little
bit, it just kind of felt different.
113
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It felt kind of like a little bit
of the wild West, a little bit,
114
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you know, like I said, being in
Dallas, it was kind of mainstream.
115
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We, I mean, we knew what it was all about,
but, and then you kind of came into the
116
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WWE and there's a big spectacles and,
uh, you know, it just seemed like it
117
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really grew and just kind of ballooned.
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Was wrestling a big thing back in the day
or was it if you knew about it, you knew
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about it You know going back to when you
know the era that the movie takes place in
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Ash Avildsen: uh, it became
a big deal for women.
121
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Um, Mainly because mildred burke
broke through and became a superstar
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The men's side didn't really explode
into big pop culture until a gorgeous
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georgian age of television Gorgeous
George is actually credited with
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selling a massive amount of TVs.
125
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They were even calling him Georgie
boxes because back in the fifties,
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people were just so entertained by him.
127
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Um, and he does play a part in in
the film and in Mildred story and was
128
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in the book, The Queen of the Ring.
129
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Um, but the men were definitely drawing
tickets and they were drawing more
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tickets up until Uh, when Mildred broke
and once Mildred really broke through,
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she started headlining over men.
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She was, uh, you know, the
first woman to do that in this
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world of sports entertainment,
to actually headline over men.
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Um, but it was definitely bad.
135
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I mean, they were selling out arenas.
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Uh, she was, we didn't go into
so much of her international.
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Um, impact in, in, in the film, but yeah,
she became an international superstar.
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And at the time she was the highest
paid female athlete in the world.
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And I believe the first ever female
athlete to make a million dollars.
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And it was really the first to
do combat sports and become, you
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know, a household name at the time.
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But because The peak of her career was
prior to the television era of wrestling.
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She's been very forgotten about.
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Um, I grew up knowing Mae Young and the
fabulous Moolah cause they were still
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in WWE and in their older years, but
Mildred was, was never part of that.
146
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So she's, she was really
forgotten about by most.
147
Challenges in Casting
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Marc Preston: The casting, like with,
uh, Emily, but, uh, uh, Rickards
148
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and, um, Josh Lucas was casting, did
you kind of know where you wanted
149
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to go with it or now you've got this
story, you've got a screenplay like.
150
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Was it a challenge to find just
the right folks or did you kind
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of land on them pretty quick?
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Ash Avildsen: It was a challenge.
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I mean, first and foremost, it was
a challenge just because it's an
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ambitious film for an independent
production and I'm not a name director.
155
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So, you know, getting, getting name
actors in roles, uh, is very hard.
156
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Um, but we were fortunate to get Emily
and Josh and they, they were terrific.
157
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We're really fortunate to get
Walton, uh, God, this is Jack.
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But, uh, yeah, it was definitely,
it was definitely a challenge.
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I mean, it's just hard.
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Indie film, unless you have a really
big studio or a big, you know,
161
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named director on a project like
this, um, you know, getting very
162
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recognizable actors who are having
good, you know, runs in their career.
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It's tough.
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It's not easy.
165
The Evolution of the Music Industry
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Marc Preston: you know, just kind of
hit rewind a little bit of, uh, uh, you
166
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know, your musician, you have the record
label, which I'm kind of fascinated by,
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you know, the whole record label thing,
because I came up, uh, in radio, uh,
168
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for many years and I was in my thirties,
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Ash Avildsen: you got the radio voice.
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Marc Preston: Yeah.
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I've been accused of that once or twice.
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Um, it's been kind of a tectonic
shift in the way things are done.
173
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Like I look at my kids, you
know, they're, you know, 19.
174
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How old are my kids?
175
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19, 20, 21, and how they
discover music is different now.
176
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They got Spotify at well, primarily,
but I guess like when we were coming
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up, you discovered music on the radio.
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You know, some people just hung out like
a, you know, what we have it like growing
179
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up in sound warehouse, you know, and all
the different music stores just go hang
180
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out there and, you know, see what's up.
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How do you define, uh, right now,
how the music industry is shifting?
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Because I wonder how record
labels pull it together.
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Ash Avildsen: Yeah.
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Well, it's never been easier to discover
new music because there's no longer
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really like gatekeepers of distribution.
186
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Anyone can, you know, uh, record a
song and get it on Spotify and Apple.
187
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Uh, And all of those places, but
there's also so much music that comes
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out every week that it's, it's an
incredible amount of new music weekly.
189
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So, uh, there's more competition
and more, you know, noise, if
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you will, to break through.
191
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So that's kind of like the double edged
sword of the digital era, but, uh,
192
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yeah, you know, there's no, there's no.
193
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There's no magic formula, you know,
um, everything plays a part, uh, uh,
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whether, you know, you, you tour music
videos, social media, radio, word of
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mouth, if, if the internet just kind of
embraces you, if you, if you just kind of.
196
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Click into what's happening
week to week with culture, but
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there's no, there's no magic wand.
198
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Um, and you know, most of the artists
that end up having real careers that
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sustain it's a combination of all of it.
200
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You know, it's playing live.
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It's touring.
202
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It's press.
203
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It's music videos.
204
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It is play listing, which is
kind of a new form of radio.
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Um, yeah.
206
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Uh, it's all of it.
207
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You know, there's no, no, when you say
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Marc Preston: playlist thing, is that
like notable folks put out, Hey, this
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is my playlist to what I'm listening to.
210
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Uh, is that kind of what
you mean by playlisting?
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There are like, you know, human.
212
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Ash Avildsen: Well, there, there,
there's like, I don't want to call it
213
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an influencer, but there are playlists
that have like a face to them, like a,
214
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like a, like a human, like an ambassador.
215
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Um, but a lot of the big playlists
on Spotify, you don't really
216
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know who's running it, but,
217
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Marc Preston: Oh, Oh, I
see what you're saying.
218
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Yeah.
219
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You're like, if you're looking for
like EDM, like a specific genre
220
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or something like that, somebody
is curating that to some degree.
221
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Ash Avildsen: Fridays and things that are
very like week to week, but yeah, there's
222
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a lot, you know, Um, depending on the
genre or sub genre that you're listening
223
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to, you're looking for the playlists help,
but, um, playlists don't break artists.
224
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You know, the only thing that really
breaks an artist is that people
225
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just falling in love with them.
226
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Marc Preston: Yeah, that's
what happened with my daughter.
227
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And, uh, I'm forgetting the country
artist name, but he, you know, there's
228
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some folks who just like, especially
during COVID, we're just cranking out
229
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videos, YouTube or, uh, like Instagram.
230
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And the next thing, you know, they've got
a bazillion downloads and a record deal.
231
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You know, coming up in radio, it was,
it was kind of, in a way, kind of fun.
232
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It was a little different because you
always have the, the, the folks coming
233
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from record label, Hey, let's take you
out to a really expensive dinner and
234
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let's, you know, it was always them
schmoozing the DJs, which the DJs rarely
235
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had any input on it was really music
director and program director, you know.
236
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But there was always this kind of
relationship and everybody knew
237
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who the record label folks were.
238
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And is it still, do you still
have to work radio kind of the
239
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same way you did back in the day?
240
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Or is it just a small piece
of what you're doing now?
241
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Ash Avildsen: I wasn't around, you know,
I started my label in 2006 and I, I was in
242
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a band that was signed to a label in 2004.
243
,555 --> 00:12:20,450
So I was, I was all on this side
of the two thousands prior to that.
244
,500 --> 00:12:25,550
There was a lot of like payola, um, which,
you know, they made illegal, which is
245
,550 --> 00:12:29,680
basically, you know, the labels were like
buying their way onto the radio stations
246
,680 --> 00:12:31,349
and bribing people and all of that.
247
,220 --> 00:12:36,270
So that I've never experienced
that I've been a part of that.
248
,290 --> 00:12:39,400
Um, thankfully it's changed and
it's more based on, on merit now,
249
,400 --> 00:12:43,549
but there's still a lot of, um, you
know, a lot of it's relationships and
250
,819 --> 00:12:47,799
a lot of it's just how a song does
once it comes out and how people are
251
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Marc Preston: reacting to it.
252
,749 --> 00:12:52,500
And if my kids don't buy albums, I'm just,
it's the whole, like, even how you make
253
,520 --> 00:12:54,560
money in the music business seems to be.
254
,765 --> 00:12:58,565
The whole different dynamic because
they'll just kick on Spotify when
255
,565 --> 00:13:00,055
you were coming up as a young guy.
256
,065 --> 00:13:01,115
What were you listening to?
257
,115 --> 00:13:02,995
What was, uh, what was your jam?
258
,105 --> 00:13:07,585
Ash Avildsen: I always gravitated towards
rock and alternative music at a young age.
259
,605 --> 00:13:13,784
So, um, it was, I mean, I loved a
lot of the classic rock, even when
260
,785 --> 00:13:16,795
I was a kid, Zeppelin and the doors.
261
,204 --> 00:13:17,889
Um, yeah.
262
,090 --> 00:13:19,960
I was born in 81.
263
,970 --> 00:13:26,020
So really I was like, as a young
kid, like even before puberty, it was
264
,020 --> 00:13:29,370
guns at roses and metallic skid row.
265
,380 --> 00:13:31,669
I loved, um, the first sandwich
266
,730 --> 00:13:32,150
Marc Preston: right in there.
267
,150 --> 00:13:33,139
You're right on the cusp.
268
,140 --> 00:13:36,490
You're like right in between
Gen X and kind of millennial.
269
,505 --> 00:13:38,335
Bureau, what they call
it, older millennial.
270
,335 --> 00:13:38,665
Yeah.
271
,755 --> 00:13:41,395
Ash Avildsen: I mean, I feel like I'm very
grateful to have experienced the eighties
272
,395 --> 00:13:44,455
and the nineties prior to everything
becoming cell phones and like the early,
273
,455 --> 00:13:48,325
early days of the internet with internet
relay chat, IRC and BBS and all that.
274
,745 --> 00:13:51,835
And that even like growing up without
a remote control for a television to
275
,835 --> 00:13:53,785
now like, you know, having an iPhone.
276
,785 --> 00:13:58,755
And so I, I, I'm fortunate,
um, in, in the time.
277
,604 --> 00:14:01,435
That I've lived in the different decades.
278
,755 --> 00:14:04,645
Um, and then, and you know, it
went more into the nineties.
279
,645 --> 00:14:05,875
I loved alternative rock.
280
,875 --> 00:14:06,685
I loved grunge.
281
,724 --> 00:14:07,805
I love new metal.
282
,165 --> 00:14:11,104
Uh, man, the eighties and nineties
were just, there was just so much
283
,104 --> 00:14:14,074
great music, but I really just found,
and I just got into it going to
284
,074 --> 00:14:18,465
like Tower Records and Sam Goody and
reading the magazines, watching MTV.
285
,045 --> 00:14:19,245
Marc Preston: Oh
286
,245 --> 00:14:19,595
Ash Avildsen: yeah.
287
,645 --> 00:14:20,025
Marc Preston: Yeah.
288
,095 --> 00:14:22,035
Did you grow up in the LA area?
289
,155 --> 00:14:23,015
Ash Avildsen: No, I grew up.
290
,045 --> 00:14:23,735
I was born here.
291
,735 --> 00:14:24,025
I lived here.
292
,025 --> 00:14:24,424
So I was about.
293
,365 --> 00:14:27,365
I grew up in D. C. Maryland in Virginia.
294
Growing Up with Famous Parents
,665 --> 00:14:30,025
Marc Preston: You know, your
dad, of course, director.
295
,025 --> 00:14:32,115
But what did your mom, what was she up to?
296
,515 --> 00:14:34,485
Ash Avildsen: My mom was a model.
297
,495 --> 00:14:40,835
She was part of the Art Deco kind
of, you know, this, uh, specific
298
,845 --> 00:14:44,175
gypsy look her and her sister did.
299
,185 --> 00:14:46,904
So she was, uh, quite a successful model.
300
,314 --> 00:14:49,005
1969 London, that
301
,005 --> 00:14:49,435
Marc Preston: whole scene.
302
,894 --> 00:14:50,344
So.
303
,730 --> 00:14:53,840
She was doing that, but you, how
was that growing up with a mother?
304
,840 --> 00:14:54,640
Who was a model?
305
,910 --> 00:14:56,890
It was like 35 when
306
,950 --> 00:14:58,080
Ash Avildsen: she had me.
307
,080 --> 00:15:04,359
So she wasn't actively still modeling, you
know, he was already into her forties, but
308
,359 --> 00:15:09,409
she was like running, um, modeling agent.
309
,469 --> 00:15:11,350
She had like a modeling business.
310
,350 --> 00:15:12,380
I vaguely remember.
311
,380 --> 00:15:13,720
And she was still doing like.
312
,300 --> 00:15:19,330
So like, you know, things that models
at that age would, would do like some
313
,330 --> 00:15:23,500
wedding books and things, but it wasn't
like when she was in her twenties, you
314
,500 --> 00:15:28,319
know, going around with her sister and all
the big, you know, events and all that.
315
,379 --> 00:15:28,579
So
316
,829 --> 00:15:29,860
Marc Preston: as far as.
317
,125 --> 00:15:35,125
Your dad directing, how aware of his
work were you when you were younger?
318
,295 --> 00:15:38,485
Ash Avildsen: It was, uh, you
know, it's, it was a challenging,
319
,615 --> 00:15:42,025
uh, situation because I knew who
he was and I had his last name.
320
,294 --> 00:15:44,665
He was not in my life,
but I did love his movies.
321
,855 --> 00:15:48,854
Um, and karate kid, you know, when I
was in elementary school, it was like
322
,854 --> 00:15:50,285
one of the biggest things in America.
323
,455 --> 00:15:54,475
So it was constantly around
and I loved lean on me as well.
324
,800 --> 00:15:57,379
Um, so I, I loved his work,
but I didn't know him.
325
,380 --> 00:15:59,110
So it was, it was a head fuck, you know?
326
,180 --> 00:16:03,340
Um, yeah, no, no easy way to describe.
327
,450 --> 00:16:05,880
Marc Preston: So you kind of made a
connection a little bit later on, but
328
,880 --> 00:16:10,079
how old were you when you kind of, kind
of dialed into in your thirties, which
329
,080 --> 00:16:13,019
you've got a lot of miles into your wheels
by the time you get into your thirties,
330
,020 --> 00:16:15,320
what was, um, what were you curious about?
331
,320 --> 00:16:18,230
What were you, you know, as you're
developing, I don't mean necessarily the
332
,230 --> 00:16:22,120
relationship as much, but maybe were, were
you looking at things like professionally,
333
,120 --> 00:16:23,800
were you curious about what he had done?
334
,305 --> 00:16:27,345
You had that bug that maybe it was
taking you in the direction that.
335
,785 --> 00:16:28,525
That he had gone.
336
,735 --> 00:16:30,755
Ash Avildsen: I always loved storytelling.
337
,755 --> 00:16:33,225
I mean, I loved film and I loved music.
338
,225 --> 00:16:39,285
I just decided to focus on music
first because, uh, well, one, I
339
,655 --> 00:16:41,194
was growing up on the East Coast.
340
,205 --> 00:16:45,854
So it's not like, uh, at the time, at
least not in DC, Virginia, there was,
341
,955 --> 00:16:49,715
there was a movie business, but I just
had music and I started playing in a
342
,715 --> 00:16:51,564
band in high school with my best friends.
343
Transitioning from Music to Film
,564 --> 00:16:57,579
And then I just really, um, you know,
fully, fully committed to, to, you know,
344
,930 --> 00:17:03,060
Music in general, um, and I didn't I
didn't focus on film until I was older
345
,060 --> 00:17:09,470
and I had established myself at a certain
level on the music business and had
346
,480 --> 00:17:14,920
a level of success and freedom that I
could then diversify into film without.
347
,200 --> 00:17:19,440
Kind of risking my whole,
uh, everything to try.
348
,460 --> 00:17:22,829
Cause it's obviously very,
very difficult business.
349
,859 --> 00:17:27,210
Um, a lot of people in it and not a
lot of seats at the table, so to speak.
350
,920 --> 00:17:32,809
So, uh, and I also didn't want people
to think that I was in any way trying
351
,809 --> 00:17:37,079
to like cash in on my last name or
emulating my father or misconstrue.
352
,139 --> 00:17:42,360
You know, my success because of some
type of nepotism or something, because
353
,389 --> 00:17:43,960
obviously that was not the case at all.
354
,960 --> 00:17:44,810
I didn't even know him.
355
,220 --> 00:17:49,659
Um, but yeah, I just naturally
gravitated towards music and then,
356
,679 --> 00:17:52,290
um, crossed over into the movie world.
357
,340 --> 00:17:54,869
And there's definitely a lot of
similarities between the two businesses.
358
,919 --> 00:17:55,379
That's for sure.
359
,659 --> 00:17:57,360
Marc Preston: I think by the time you
get into your thirties, you've kind
360
,360 --> 00:18:00,760
of built a foundation for like who it
is you are, you know, more or less.
361
,760 --> 00:18:03,649
And so that, that point it's,
you know, whatever creatively
362
,040 --> 00:18:05,029
that's already flowing.
363
,030 --> 00:18:05,550
So.
364
,490 --> 00:18:11,219
You know, were you big into picking your
dad's brain on on directing and style
365
,520 --> 00:18:13,149
and technique and all that kind of stuff?
366
,149 --> 00:18:16,620
Or were you just kind of osmotically
just picking up on things?
367
,959 --> 00:18:19,379
Ash Avildsen: Once we became,
you know, great friends.
368
,379 --> 00:18:19,530
Yeah.
369
,530 --> 00:18:23,899
I loved, I loved learning from him
and talking to him and hearing stories
370
,899 --> 00:18:29,349
and getting his perspective and his,
you know, taste and, um, yeah, it
371
,350 --> 00:18:32,870
was, it was really beautiful that the
time we got to share together and I
372
,870 --> 00:18:36,770
definitely learned a lot from him and,
uh, I'm, I'm very grateful for that.
373
,750 --> 00:18:40,500
Marc Preston: Have you had an opportunity
to work with, uh, any of the, let's
374
,500 --> 00:18:44,880
say, cinematographers, sound, any of the
people that maybe had a chance to work
375
,880 --> 00:18:48,639
with him on sets, have you been able
to kind of tap into that for, uh, this
376
,649 --> 00:18:50,870
project or anything else you've worked on?
377
,960 --> 00:18:54,069
Ash Avildsen: Just with an actor,
uh, Marty Kove, who's in Queen of the
378
,070 --> 00:18:55,919
Ring, who was, you know Okay, yeah.
379
,330 --> 00:18:58,790
for his role in the Karate
Kid and now in Cobra Kai.
380
,270 --> 00:19:02,800
Um, I believe he's the only
actor to my knowledge that has
381
,800 --> 00:19:04,399
worked with both me and my dad.
382
,419 --> 00:19:06,379
Um, but Marty's been fantastic.
383
,399 --> 00:19:07,840
He's, he's a really great guy.
384
,850 --> 00:19:10,759
I, I, uh, puts me in the best mood
when I'm hanging out with him.
385
,759 --> 00:19:12,090
Just totally lovely.
386
,129 --> 00:19:14,249
I can't say enough good
things about Marty Kove.
387
,769 --> 00:19:17,420
Marc Preston: Yeah, it's kind of cool
to see him show back up in Cobra Kai.
388
,510 --> 00:19:19,640
Uh, it's something I usually
was watching with the kids,
389
,640 --> 00:19:20,820
but now they're off at college.
390
,820 --> 00:19:23,190
So I guess, you know, whenever
they get back into town and we kind
391
,190 --> 00:19:24,610
of catch up on all of his shows.
392
,640 --> 00:19:24,730
But.
393
,005 --> 00:19:28,745
Just looking at the preview of the movie,
did you come in with an idea of kind of
394
,755 --> 00:19:32,035
how you wanted the, the, the, the tone,
the feeling, the vibe of the movie?
395
,065 --> 00:19:35,845
Did you already know where you wanted to
go with, uh, with it when you started off?
396
,845 --> 00:19:39,915
Or was this more of a, just kind
of feel your way through it?
397
,115 --> 00:19:43,584
Ash Avildsen: You, you should always have
some type of idea of, of what you want
398
,584 --> 00:19:45,384
to create before you start creating it.
399
The Collaborative Art of Filmmaking
,434 --> 00:19:49,415
You've obviously learned so much
on the day and all that, but, uh,
400
,435 --> 00:19:52,574
you know, a big part of it also
is like all my department heads.
401
,689 --> 00:19:56,379
that were brilliant in, in, in
the worlds that they were in, the
402
,470 --> 00:19:59,560
production designer, cinematographer,
of course, I'm very grateful to work
403
,560 --> 00:20:04,639
with Andy Stran, um, you know, hair
and makeup, costume and all, they all
404
,649 --> 00:20:06,470
are just build the world together.
405
,479 --> 00:20:09,899
I mean, it's such a, it's one
thing I really, I just love so
406
,899 --> 00:20:13,459
much about, uh, filmmaking is
that it's such a collaborative
407
,540 --> 00:20:15,050
team sport, you know, that's just.
408
,269 --> 00:20:20,379
Everyone is doing their part music,
you know, you have the producer
409
,379 --> 00:20:21,730
and then you have the band members.
410
,730 --> 00:20:29,635
It's it's a much smaller Um, creative
process, which is still a lot of fun
411
,635 --> 00:20:35,304
as well, but, um, the filmmaking, it's
just so wonderful where there's so
412
,305 --> 00:20:38,965
many different departments and so many
moving pieces and everyone is just
413
,965 --> 00:20:43,454
collaborating, working towards this common
goal to, uh, you know, to tell a story.
414
,899 --> 00:20:45,820
through pictures.
415
,889 --> 00:20:51,399
Uh, and uh, it's, it's really
just a very gratifying experience.
416
,629 --> 00:21:01,270
Marc Preston: Given that you had the music
background, did you get involved at all
417
,270 --> 00:21:04,519
in the, uh, in the scoring of the movie
or just kind of leave that up to your guy?
418
The Importance of Music in Film
,139 --> 00:21:06,649
Ash Avildsen: Very, very deeply.
419
,649 --> 00:21:09,139
I mean, our composer,
Aaron, who's brilliant, he's
420
,429 --> 00:21:10,970
written the original score.
421
,970 --> 00:21:18,520
I give course feedback and notes and
You know, um, direction on, on where
422
,700 --> 00:21:22,460
we wanted to go and how we wanted to
feel, uh, and then for the original
423
,460 --> 00:21:24,440
mute or for the, like the songs in it.
424
,440 --> 00:21:24,730
Yeah.
425
,740 --> 00:21:25,810
All the needle drops.
426
,810 --> 00:21:26,690
That's all me.
427
,079 --> 00:21:31,480
That's all my, you know, just kind of
taste and, um, what I think is going to
428
,500 --> 00:21:33,850
be best for each scene and each character.
429
,190 --> 00:21:38,430
Um, but the original score is,
uh, Aaron Gilhouse, who's just,
430
,450 --> 00:21:40,190
uh, he's been, um, so wonderful.
431
,210 --> 00:21:41,090
He's really a gem.
432
,340 --> 00:21:42,760
I think he's gonna have a
big career ahead of him.
433
,740 --> 00:21:46,340
Marc Preston: So given it takes place
in the thirties, were you staying
434
,340 --> 00:21:47,860
true to kind of the era of music?
435
,890 --> 00:21:50,290
Or did you kind of play with music at all?
436
,320 --> 00:21:54,030
Maybe put some contemporary
side tracks in there.
437
,320 --> 00:21:55,650
Ash Avildsen: Yeah, to a degree.
438
,700 --> 00:22:00,740
Um, you know, the nice thing about
doing a story that not everyone knows
439
,760 --> 00:22:05,120
so specifically, because most people
don't know this story is that you can
440
,120 --> 00:22:07,879
take a lot more creative liberties
with how you tell it, you know,
441
,879 --> 00:22:13,445
combining characters Um, just, you know,
creative license on certain moments,
442
,445 --> 00:22:16,035
but on musically, I didn't want to.
443
,160 --> 00:22:20,400
I didn't want it to be like,
okay, right now we're in 1952.
444
,400 --> 00:22:25,050
So we have to play a song
that's between 50 and 52.
445
,100 --> 00:22:29,760
I definitely just, I stuck to the decade
for a lot of it, not for all of it.
446
,790 --> 00:22:33,399
There is some modern artists in
it that still have a vintage.
447
,315 --> 00:22:38,665
Feel to their sound, but it's modern
production and, and modern recordings.
448
,695 --> 00:22:42,325
Um, but there's a lot of period music in
it as well from the forties and fifties.
449
,715 --> 00:22:46,645
But I didn't do it, um,
very specific to the year.
450
,645 --> 00:22:50,185
I just did it more for the feeling I,
there was too many, frankly, there's
451
,185 --> 00:22:52,575
just a lot of great music that came out.
452
,195 --> 00:22:57,198
you know, slightly after the movie ends.
453
,198 --> 00:23:07,144
So I defi the timeline a bit, but un
uh, forties and fifties m I don't think
454
,144 --> 00:23:13,540
most people You know, it's not like
you're, you're watching a, a 1960s,
455
,620 --> 00:23:18,410
uh, period and all of a sudden Nirvana
starts playing like, what is that?
456
,410 --> 00:23:19,450
You know, there's nothing like that.
457
,459 --> 00:23:21,120
That's not polarizing at all.
458
,170 --> 00:23:25,039
At least in my opinion, in my opinion,
it, all the music and it blends
459
,039 --> 00:23:26,660
well with the scene that it plays.
460
,230 --> 00:23:29,650
Marc Preston: For your record label,
what kind of music or genre do you
461
,660 --> 00:23:33,120
have a specific focus or do you
kind of play with different genres?
462
,470 --> 00:23:35,230
in terms of who you'd
like to have on the label.
463
,300 --> 00:23:37,629
Ash Avildsen: I mean, the core of
it is, I call it, you know, all the
464
,629 --> 00:23:41,270
different colors of the rock and roll
rainbow, but it's, it's rock music,
465
,270 --> 00:23:47,859
it's alternative, it's metal, it's
emo, hardcore, prog, um, but it's
466
,870 --> 00:23:50,629
predominantly, yeah, all these different
kind of flavors of rock and roll.
467
,649 --> 00:23:53,960
Marc Preston: Yeah, one of the,
the, you know, the people that I
468
,060 --> 00:23:56,700
kind of came up with in the 90s
working in radio, a lot of them, uh,
469
,899 --> 00:23:58,050
for those who don't work in radio.
470
,380 --> 00:24:01,500
Even some who still are, they're
like, Oh yeah, rock and roll's dead.
471
,520 --> 00:24:02,390
Oh man, it's dying.
472
,390 --> 00:24:04,680
And there's the sounding that alarm.
473
,680 --> 00:24:08,170
It seems like every few years always has a
way of coming back, you know, traditional,
474
,180 --> 00:24:10,760
like rock and roll the way we perceive it.
475
,760 --> 00:24:13,760
But as a music guy, what
do you think is kind of.
476
,095 --> 00:24:17,365
Emerging now, is it like a, uh, a
genre or something that you think
477
,365 --> 00:24:20,995
is going to be as far as genre
goes or style or whatever have you
478
,545 --> 00:24:24,785
Ash Avildsen: People really like,
um, hybrids and, and juxtaposition.
479
,785 --> 00:24:28,025
Mm-hmm . For the combination
of different genres being put
480
,025 --> 00:24:32,030
together, I think is still very
popular and that's always evolving.
481
,690 --> 00:24:34,030
I think that's
482
,030 --> 00:24:35,170
Marc Preston: happening in country music
483
,210 --> 00:24:37,210
Ash Avildsen: a bit
where it's, it's, yeah,
484
,250 --> 00:24:37,620
Marc Preston: yeah.
485
,460 --> 00:24:41,530
Ash Avildsen: There's a lot of fusion
and crossover happening in country.
486
,920 --> 00:24:42,479
Uh, yeah.
487
,479 --> 00:24:45,430
Modern countries really just
popped into pop culture.
488
,430 --> 00:24:46,819
Like it's never has before.
489
,820 --> 00:24:50,499
In my opinion, I never found myself
listening to much, much country,
490
,500 --> 00:24:54,359
but nowadays it's become so much
more just inventive and fresh.
491
,935 --> 00:24:58,335
that, uh, that I actually
do really enjoy a lot of it.
492
,365 --> 00:25:01,774
And then it makes me go back and
listen to some of the classic era
493
,784 --> 00:25:05,324
stuff and like outlaw country and
things that I didn't really know.
494
,324 --> 00:25:09,524
Actually, I'm liking a lot of this
classic, you know, the classic rock of
495
,524 --> 00:25:13,555
country, but, uh, the modern stuff is
what kind of, you know, was the gateway
496
,555 --> 00:25:17,185
drug into it, but yeah, that's definitely
a genre that's really reinvented itself.
497
,655 --> 00:25:18,155
Marc Preston: Yeah, it's funny.
498
,155 --> 00:25:21,854
I know a guy who runs a radio network
out of Nashville and he was telling
499
,854 --> 00:25:26,474
me that what's popular right now with
my kids age, you know, Gen Z kids,
500
,475 --> 00:25:29,445
there's a lot of the 90s country, you
know, the Brooks and Dunn and all that.
501
,445 --> 00:25:32,975
And it is crazy because I
remember my daughter, I think
502
,004 --> 00:25:34,754
Neon Moon was on in the car.
503
,175 --> 00:25:36,534
And so she just starts singing.
504
,534 --> 00:25:37,945
I'm like, how the hell
do you know this song?
505
,985 --> 00:25:38,835
She's like TikTok.
506
,935 --> 00:25:41,254
So the discovery of music, we
were talking about that before.
507
,055 --> 00:25:45,125
The things you never would have
thought like, okay, there's this whole
508
,135 --> 00:25:48,725
genre that these kids are discovering
through some random channel, you
509
,725 --> 00:25:52,545
know, going back to the film of
the filmmaking is you're coming in.
510
,545 --> 00:25:57,275
Did you say I want to do film like
theatrical release or were you like a TV
511
,275 --> 00:26:01,285
school or did you have or do you have any
preference on what you like to work on?
512
Cinema vs. Television
,024 --> 00:26:06,004
Ash Avildsen: You know, I mean, the
one thing it's the thing that's great
513
,004 --> 00:26:07,695
about TV is that you get to keep it.
514
,695 --> 00:26:07,704
Yeah.
515
,524 --> 00:26:10,845
expanding the story and the characters.
516
,245 --> 00:26:18,155
Um, and TV is, is, you know, you're
essentially asking questions to create
517
,155 --> 00:26:19,955
more and more episodes and seasons.
518
,345 --> 00:26:24,104
And then with film, you're supposed to
answer all the questions by the end.
519
,195 --> 00:26:26,464
Um, so it really.
520
,020 --> 00:26:31,310
You know, it's kind of two different
directions of current flowing of, of
521
,650 --> 00:26:34,950
storytelling, but they're both great.
522
,950 --> 00:26:36,740
I mean, it's like apple pie,
cherry pie or something.
523
,750 --> 00:26:41,929
They're, they're both great, but, um,
film obviously is exciting because
524
,050 --> 00:26:46,880
it plays in movie theaters and it,
uh, you know, you have to tell.
525
,295 --> 00:26:51,425
For most movies anyway, like within
two hours ish, give or take, you
526
,425 --> 00:26:54,415
need to like have a beginning,
middle, and end to the story.
527
,865 --> 00:27:00,674
Um, television, you have, you know,
the creative liberty to just keep
528
,675 --> 00:27:02,714
going and going if people like it.
529
,384 --> 00:27:10,885
So, I love them both, um, but making
an independent film is a bit more, um,
530
,655 --> 00:27:17,915
psychologically like, you know, easier
because you're like, okay, it's done.
531
,490 --> 00:27:24,670
Towards television, uh, you got, you
know, you, it's just a lot more, but
532
,680 --> 00:27:27,510
at the same time, you can bring on
different directors and writers, of
533
,510 --> 00:27:32,259
course, and it becomes more of a, you
know, a writing team, showrunners, all
534
,259 --> 00:27:36,879
that, um, but I love them both, but I
think right now, and this is thanks to
535
,880 --> 00:27:42,135
things like Letterboxd, there is, I think
like a resurgence happening with young
536
,135 --> 00:27:46,865
people being excited about cinema and
going to the movies and watching a lot
537
,865 --> 00:27:51,694
of movies, you know, writing reviews,
critiquing, having a conversation with
538
,694 --> 00:27:55,844
people online and offline and, and just,
you know, going into a dark room for two
539
,844 --> 00:27:59,974
hours and escaping, you know, our daily
lives, um, which was kind of lost for
540
,975 --> 00:28:04,715
for a while between the Netflix era, then
COVID and everyone being on the couch.
541
,715 --> 00:28:07,065
I think now there's this kind
of renewed sense of excitement
542
,065 --> 00:28:07,695
to go out to the movie.
543
,195 --> 00:28:10,785
Marc Preston: But I think there
is something kind of cool.
544
,785 --> 00:28:13,265
Like if you want to see the movie
now, you got to get to a theater,
545
,335 --> 00:28:14,885
you know, you got to go see it.
546
The Theater Experience
,915 --> 00:28:19,814
Um, and I imagine that this, you know,
especially the fight sequence or the
547
,815 --> 00:28:23,165
wrestling sequences, those probably
are just meant for a bigger screen.
548
,275 --> 00:28:23,865
Ash Avildsen: They are.
549
,895 --> 00:28:24,585
I mean, it's a much
550
,585 --> 00:28:25,455
Marc Preston: different experience.
551
,455 --> 00:28:28,935
Ash Avildsen: I don't, for, for
most, I mean, for any film, I think
552
,935 --> 00:28:30,065
it's a much different experience.
553
,955 --> 00:28:36,814
And it really is for films that
were specifically put together to be
554
,814 --> 00:28:38,604
played in a theater, which this is.
555
,604 --> 00:28:42,394
I mean, there's no comparison
seeing it on a screen like that.
556
,425 --> 00:28:44,784
Then, you know, watching
it on your laptop or.
557
,274 --> 00:28:47,415
You know, on a normal television.
558
,465 --> 00:28:51,955
Um, there's just, you can't, you
know, you can't really compare it.
559
,985 --> 00:28:53,825
It's just not really comparable
560
,855 --> 00:28:55,435
Marc Preston: because you
know, one's a movie theater.
561
,515 --> 00:28:56,475
The other one's a living room.
562
,925 --> 00:28:57,084
Yeah.
563
,084 --> 00:28:59,595
My kid, well, my kids generation, some
of them watch movies on their phone.
564
,615 --> 00:29:00,905
I'm like, I can't do that.
565
,595 --> 00:29:03,644
Some kids will sit there and just
watch a whole movie on their phone.
566
,644 --> 00:29:06,655
And I got to, I don't know, maybe,
uh, I mean, I don't know if this is
567
,655 --> 00:29:09,125
a sign of age or, so I don't know.
568
,125 --> 00:29:10,074
I just can't do that.
569
,514 --> 00:29:12,875
Ash Avildsen: There's certain
movies that if I'm like.
570
,219 --> 00:29:20,100
you know, actually funny movies on
my phone someti because the hotel
571
,460 --> 00:29:23,670
televis on my laptop, the hotel T
572
,680 --> 00:29:26,500
remote to it.
573
,510 --> 00:29:28,310
So you can't turn off these settings.
574
,310 --> 00:29:29,840
It's called the soap opera effect.
575
,050 --> 00:29:31,040
It drives me insane.
576
,040 --> 00:29:36,499
But most of these new TVs have a factory
setting that's good for like reality
577
,499 --> 00:29:40,769
tv or live sports or news, but it's
terrible for scripted entertainment
578
,770 --> 00:29:42,289
because of the interpolation.
579
,300 --> 00:29:46,640
So it essentially makes everything
look like it was, it's a soap opera.
580
,185 --> 00:29:47,725
Marc Preston: Oh, yeah.
581
,725 --> 00:29:47,965
Yeah.
582
,965 --> 00:29:48,744
Yeah.
583
,745 --> 00:29:51,345
Ash Avildsen: Well, he's the
look of a movie or a script.
584
,925 --> 00:29:52,075
Exactly
585
,075 --> 00:29:52,485
Marc Preston: what you mean.
586
,485 --> 00:29:52,865
Yeah.
587
,075 --> 00:29:55,895
Ash Avildsen: And I find
myself calling the front desk.
588
,925 --> 00:29:57,255
Can you bring me the real remote?
589
,255 --> 00:29:59,255
I try to explain to them
why I need the real remote.
590
Convenience of Watching Movies on Phones
,305 --> 00:30:01,244
The maintenance guy comes other times.
591
,244 --> 00:30:01,954
No one's working.
592
,954 --> 00:30:02,704
So I'm just like, fuck it.
593
,704 --> 00:30:04,485
I'm just going to play it
on my computer or my phone.
594
,045 --> 00:30:06,065
For that reason.
595
,125 --> 00:30:10,335
Um, but I think a lot, I think
a lot of young people or just
596
,335 --> 00:30:12,465
people in general that, that do
watch movies on their phones.
597
,465 --> 00:30:14,355
I think it's just out of convenience.
598
,355 --> 00:30:15,465
If they don't, if they're
laying Yeah, I think so.
599
,705 --> 00:30:20,655
In bed and, you know, um, but with that
said, and look, so I, I never really
600
,655 --> 00:30:22,215
got into watching movies on the plane.
601
,215 --> 00:30:24,375
I'd rather like, kind of
like work on my computer.
602
,435 --> 00:30:24,735
Um.
603
,455 --> 00:30:29,415
But I get it because it helps pass
the time and sometimes you're like,
604
,415 --> 00:30:31,225
Oh, I'm not going to be distracted.
605
,475 --> 00:30:32,695
I'm just going to watch it on the plane.
606
,695 --> 00:30:37,225
But you know, anytime you can go
into a world and, and, and see a
607
,225 --> 00:30:41,084
story, like just do it with phone
plane, it's better than not at all.
608
,615 --> 00:30:42,885
Yeah,
609
,205 --> 00:30:46,975
Marc Preston: whatever I travel, I always,
uh, we bring our Roku stick, you know,
610
,975 --> 00:30:49,905
and just plop that into the TV so we
can watch whatever, you know, without,
611
,314 --> 00:30:51,974
and pause it and whatever have you.
612
Childhood Movie and TV Influences
,035 --> 00:30:54,824
Um, well, when you were coming up, what
were you watching when you were a kid?
613
,894 --> 00:30:58,025
Uh, movie wise, TV, what was grabbing you?
614
,035 --> 00:31:06,345
Ash Avildsen: I mean, as I, when I was
a kid, kid TV, you know, TV prior to
615
,345 --> 00:31:12,354
like the Sopranos and HBO really kind
of reinventing what television was TV.
616
,355 --> 00:31:14,304
This was not nearly as compelling.
617
,305 --> 00:31:17,325
In my opinion, like, when I was a
kid, there were still cool shows,
618
,334 --> 00:31:18,465
but it wasn't like it is now.
619
,465 --> 00:31:24,345
So I watched, I mean, I, I loved all
of these, you know, all the stuff when
620
,345 --> 00:31:28,375
I stand by me, the goonies, all the
coming of age stuff when I was a kid.
621
,835 --> 00:31:29,505
Um, yeah.
622
,565 --> 00:31:34,445
to, as I got older, you know, the people
versus Larry Flynn, a time to kill casino.
623
,805 --> 00:31:42,765
Um, you know, just, uh, I do have,
I do, I do love, uh, true stories.
624
,095 --> 00:31:46,175
I've always been drawn to them, especially
ones that aren't very well known.
625
,685 --> 00:31:51,705
Um, cause it's, I feel like it's easier
to watch it without being like as.
626
,930 --> 00:31:59,890
you already have, like in it should
or shouldn't be nice when you know
627
,890 --> 00:32:06,309
that i not that familiar with it
to kind of just ride the the moon.
628
,990 --> 00:32:09,869
Marc Preston: Uh, we like kill moon.
629
,870 --> 00:32:11,670
I was like, I didn existed.
630
,680 --> 00:32:17,425
But yeah, that's their directors
that you Whose style you dug?
631
,485 --> 00:32:19,045
I loved Oliver Stone,
632
,285 --> 00:32:22,795
Ash Avildsen: um, who actually I recently
met and he watched Queen of the Ring and
633
,795 --> 00:32:29,395
wrote me a really wonderful, uh, email,
uh, review, which, uh, was pretty awesome.
634
,455 --> 00:32:32,125
Uh, that was a very full circle
moment for me 'cause he's been
635
,185 --> 00:32:33,985
one of the, my biggest influences.
636
,045 --> 00:32:36,845
Um, but yeah, Oliver Stone's definitely
637
,845 --> 00:32:37,625
Marc Preston: a top, uh,
638
,655 --> 00:32:38,645
Ash Avildsen: top five for me.
639
,705 --> 00:32:39,605
Top three even.
640
Directing Style and Influences
,270 --> 00:32:41,980
Marc Preston: How would you
define your directing style?
641
,980 --> 00:32:45,400
Is it kind of, do you like to have a lot
of intensity or are you kind of laid back?
642
,520 --> 00:32:47,040
It depends what the scene is.
643
,040 --> 00:32:51,279
Ash Avildsen: I always think the
energy on the set should be conducive
644
,279 --> 00:32:57,570
to what the emotion is of the scene.
645
,700 --> 00:33:04,540
Um, so, you know, it's a very
intimate, dramatic, two person, you
646
,540 --> 00:33:08,040
know, just a one on one, small room.
647
,690 --> 00:33:13,760
Soft spoken, you want that energy
around you to help the actors give
648
,760 --> 00:33:16,650
that performance and go to the
place that their characters are in.
649
,240 --> 00:33:21,890
Um, but you know, if you're like
when we shot the finale, which is 360
650
,890 --> 00:33:26,329
people everywhere in this auditorium
and they're doing moves and the actors
651
,329 --> 00:33:29,470
are putting their bodies through,
you know, these stunts and this
652
,790 --> 00:33:33,100
intensity, we want the crowd to go.
653
,100 --> 00:33:35,760
So we want everyone kind of rallying them.
654
,770 --> 00:33:41,490
So I always just try and Take the approach
of like, what are we trying to accomplish
655
,490 --> 00:33:42,710
in the scene that we're shooting?
656
,710 --> 00:33:46,740
What, what do we want the characters
to be feeling and what the
657
,555 --> 00:33:48,675
Emotions that we're expressing.
658
,675 --> 00:33:51,265
And what do we want the audience
that's watching to take from it?
659
,275 --> 00:33:57,175
And so, um, it's very specific to
whatever is being shot of like the style
660
,545 --> 00:34:02,575
of, as far as like the energy on the
set and, and how we're interacting with
661
,605 --> 00:34:06,315
Marc Preston: the actors, um,
I mean, this is a big one.
662
Challenges of Filming Wrestling Scenes
,395 --> 00:34:08,345
I mean, looking at, you know,
all the wrestling and stuff,
663
,355 --> 00:34:09,635
there's choreography involved.
664
,805 --> 00:34:13,725
Did you get a case of, uh, I need
a case of nerves or, or like.
665
,045 --> 00:34:18,035
That it kind of bringing extra anxiety,
like, okay, it's not just actors acting.
666
,335 --> 00:34:20,625
You've got choreography, you've
got camera movements and all
667
,625 --> 00:34:21,555
kinds of stuff happening.
668
,555 --> 00:34:23,335
Was that intimidating at all?
669
,335 --> 00:34:25,805
I mean, it was just kind of the first
time you've encountered that kind of
670
,805 --> 00:34:27,264
a, or approach this kind of a shoot.
671
,785 --> 00:34:28,884
Uh, it's definitely the most
672
,884 --> 00:34:30,064
Ash Avildsen: on like the stunt side.
673
,065 --> 00:34:30,315
Yeah.
674
,315 --> 00:34:34,605
And I've, yeah, I've never done
a wrestling, you know, this was
675
,645 --> 00:34:39,205
the first time I've done pro
wrestling, uh, on, on camera.
676
,225 --> 00:34:39,795
So.
677
,540 --> 00:34:45,420
It's one of the reasons we stunt casted
two real wrestlers for the two roles
678
,420 --> 00:34:51,430
that have the most in ring action because
I just wanted, um, actors to be able
679
,430 --> 00:34:56,329
to do their own stunts repeatedly and
get all the coverage we need, uh, and
680
,329 --> 00:35:00,400
that was going to be on our timeline
much harder to do without people that
681
,460 --> 00:35:02,030
do it professionally for a living.
682
,470 --> 00:35:08,070
And so I'm very grateful that the two
women we got were so great, uh, in the
683
,070 --> 00:35:13,890
roles, both as pro wrestlers, but also
as, uh, actors, I thought, um, Kaylee
684
,890 --> 00:35:18,239
Latimer and, and Tony Rizal, who both,
uh, just knocked it out of the park.
685
,379 --> 00:35:21,799
Marc Preston: Going back to your dad's
work with Karate Kid, of course, that's,
686
,919 --> 00:35:26,880
I mean, I don't think, I think my kids
is trying to explain to them when Kai,
687
,890 --> 00:35:31,465
how big karate A kid was, you know, when
it, when it came out and the whole story
688
,465 --> 00:35:35,345
and, uh, but that was a big film for
your dad and that had that same kind of,
689
,345 --> 00:35:41,425
there was choreography that Do you ever
peek into your dad's films and just see
690
,425 --> 00:35:45,025
how they inform you that, you know, or
do you ever go back and watch something
691
,025 --> 00:35:49,605
and just try to deconstruct maybe what he
was thinking about, or maybe what he was
692
,605 --> 00:35:53,125
trying to accomplish and maybe integrate
that a little bit in what you do?
693
,000 --> 00:35:54,540
Ash Avildsen: Yeah.
694
,570 --> 00:35:58,910
Um, I mean, from a, from a visual, I
mean, he was so great with montages, um,
695
,950 --> 00:36:03,690
and just getting the audience to feel
part of the, you know, the protagonist's,
696
,869 --> 00:36:07,370
uh, underdog quest, if you will.
697
,690 --> 00:36:11,899
But one thing that I think people will
see in Queen of the Ring, uh, that's
698
,909 --> 00:36:16,960
something I, you know, was kind of
instilled with my father is he, he
699
,960 --> 00:36:21,020
always, he was a big believer with
like, okay, and what happens next?
700
,390 --> 00:36:26,160
In the sense that let's keep these
people interested, especially now,
701
,160 --> 00:36:28,560
he'd always joke, you know, they
got a million things going on.
702
,560 --> 00:36:30,300
They have all these things they
can do in their pocket on their
703
,300 --> 00:36:32,070
phone, like what happens next?
704
,070 --> 00:36:33,840
Keep them in the story.
705
,960 --> 00:36:35,790
Marc Preston: Kinda like a
forward momentum kind of a thing.
706
,820 --> 00:36:36,360
Ash Avildsen: Yeah.
707
,360 --> 00:36:41,430
And so we have a lot of scenes in Queen
of the Ring, and I, I don't, I don't, I
708
,430 --> 00:36:45,710
mean, I don't think we move too fast, but
I think we move at a pace because you have
709
,710 --> 00:36:49,310
to, you know, we're, we're, we're going
20 plus years in two hours and change.
710
,310 --> 00:36:49,550
Right.
711
,555 --> 00:36:49,565
Right.
712
,505 --> 00:36:55,615
We get to the main event, uh, before
the two hour Marc, there's a level of,
713
,185 --> 00:37:01,025
you know, having to cover as much ground
as you can, but still have it flow and,
714
,034 --> 00:37:05,834
uh, and keep the audience engaged and on
an emotional, you know, ride with you.
715
,845 --> 00:37:11,089
So he would always, you know, talk about
that because, you know, a lot of movies.
716
,380 --> 00:37:16,640
Um, are out there that are
purposely, um, you know, by design,
717
,950 --> 00:37:18,950
not to say that it's good or bad.
718
,950 --> 00:37:22,490
It's all just your opinion and
your taste, but like it purposely
719
,490 --> 00:37:25,599
goes slow and they're slow burn.
720
,620 --> 00:37:30,460
And a lot of times the ones that are
paced very slow can also be more kind
721
,460 --> 00:37:32,569
of dark and depressing in the end.
722
,570 --> 00:37:33,880
Um, and that's.
723
,780 --> 00:37:35,730
Not this.
724
,800 --> 00:37:36,900
Uh, right, right.
725
,950 --> 00:37:37,590
It's not much.
726
,720 --> 00:37:40,600
My dad did have some movies
that that lean more on that.
727
,600 --> 00:37:44,300
But, um, you know, he
liked to keep it moving.
728
,310 --> 00:37:48,939
He liked the momentum of scene
to scene and just keeping the
729
,939 --> 00:37:51,100
audience engaged in that regard.
730
,100 --> 00:37:57,410
So I think that's definitely the style of
of Queen of the Ring, um, in the sense of.
731
,485 --> 00:38:03,205
Um, you know, each scene is, uh, is
hopefully making the audience feel
732
,205 --> 00:38:07,134
like, oh, I can't go take a pee right
now because I'm going to miss it.
733
,135 --> 00:38:08,685
Other movies, sometimes you're
just like, you know what?
734
,685 --> 00:38:09,015
I'm good.
735
,015 --> 00:38:10,914
I'm going to go, uh, go to the restroom.
736
,914 --> 00:38:11,955
I'll be back in a few minutes.
737
,955 --> 00:38:13,364
Yeah,
738
,365 --> 00:38:14,494
Marc Preston: you know,
it's only slow enough.
739
,494 --> 00:38:16,665
You can go knock that out
and whoever stayed, you know,
740
,665 --> 00:38:17,845
like, catch me up real quick.
741
,845 --> 00:38:18,115
Yeah.
742
,265 --> 00:38:21,935
Going forward, what do you have
that you're working on now?
743
,935 --> 00:38:23,925
Or are you, do you have something in mind?
744
,935 --> 00:38:28,355
Like, okay, this is where I want
to get to next, be a TV film, even
745
,365 --> 00:38:29,975
musically, what do you have going on?
746
,195 --> 00:38:33,035
Ash Avildsen: I have a few different
scripts I'm deciding between.
747
,065 --> 00:38:35,215
Some are, some are original.
748
,565 --> 00:38:38,375
Some are also true stories
that aren't very well known.
749
,900 --> 00:38:45,620
Um, I feel like it's opening up a,
uh, it's going to open up a whole
750
,630 --> 00:38:47,210
box for me to start going into them.
751
,210 --> 00:38:52,039
But, um, yeah, I definitely want
to keep, you know, the momentum as
752
,040 --> 00:38:54,509
a, as a filmmaker that hopefully
queen of the ring brings me.
753
,510 --> 00:39:00,289
And also, I just want to get back on
set, you know, post production process.
754
,725 --> 00:39:05,115
You spend, you know, four or five
weeks, eight weeks prepping the movie.
755
,115 --> 00:39:09,625
You shoot it for four or five, six weeks,
and then you work on it for a year plus.
756
,335 --> 00:39:15,295
And, uh, you know, the post production
process on most movies is so much longer
757
,305 --> 00:39:16,904
than the actual production itself.
758
,904 --> 00:39:17,374
So.
759
,105 --> 00:39:19,265
You really, it's the
760
,265 --> 00:39:21,425
Marc Preston: additional, it's
the final telling of the story.
761
,425 --> 00:39:22,675
You know, how are you cutting it together?
762
,675 --> 00:39:23,275
We're at music.
763
,275 --> 00:39:26,605
I mean, it's, it's a whole, there,
there's an ever going process,
764
,605 --> 00:39:29,364
which would drive me nuts because I
would be like, okay, am I done yet?
765
,645 --> 00:39:32,024
Do you ever get to the point of going,
okay, there's something else I can
766
,025 --> 00:39:34,265
do, but I think, I think we're good.
767
,255 --> 00:39:38,285
Ash Avildsen: I mean, there's still,
even right now, I'm still tweaking
768
,285 --> 00:39:43,090
certain, uh, You know, musical
moments and I still watch it now.
769
,090 --> 00:39:43,650
I'm like, you know what?
770
,650 --> 00:39:44,670
I could tweak this scene.
771
,670 --> 00:39:45,640
I could change this.
772
,990 --> 00:39:49,659
We were, I mean, my, my
dad said something great.
773
,670 --> 00:39:52,859
He was like, you know, I went as
far as the post production process.
774
,860 --> 00:39:55,639
He's like, just keep working on it
until they take it away from you.
775
,920 --> 00:39:57,820
And then eventually you have a date.
776
,880 --> 00:40:01,670
And for us, we basically picked a
date that we felt, Okay, this is,
777
,800 --> 00:40:06,940
this gives the movie the best shot,
Theatrically, based upon the time
778
,940 --> 00:40:13,669
of the year, What other movies are
close to it, Um, and then anything
779
,669 --> 00:40:15,469
that, like, helps people remember it.
780
,470 --> 00:40:18,930
So we're in March, it's, it's, uh,
Women's History Month and then March
781
,280 --> 00:40:22,320
8th, Which is our opening Saturday,
is International Women's Day.
782
,570 --> 00:40:25,089
And there's not anything really
else in, like, the sports.
783
,595 --> 00:40:30,945
underdogs, specifically female
world of things around our date.
784
,945 --> 00:40:35,045
So I think March 7th is hopefully one
of the best dates we could have picked.
785
,405 --> 00:40:38,474
So we basically had to set the
deadline that, okay, we can't really
786
,475 --> 00:40:40,154
make any more changes up till now.
787
,155 --> 00:40:44,254
So tomorrow, you know, we do the final
mix and then that's essentially it.
788
,354 --> 00:40:50,224
Um, but yeah, you can keep, I mean,
you can always continue to tweak
789
,224 --> 00:40:52,984
and change and also just try out
other ideas, you know, I mean,
790
,984 --> 00:40:54,504
that's the thing it's, there's.
791
,055 --> 00:40:58,345
Only so many hours in the day, but there's
always a new idea to try, but eventually
792
,345 --> 00:40:59,515
you just got to say it's enough.
793
,555 --> 00:41:03,295
And also your desire to go
tell a new story because.
794
,500 --> 00:41:06,849
And so you've been working
on one for a while.
795
,850 --> 00:41:07,020
Well,
796
,020 --> 00:41:09,240
Marc Preston: that's the thing I, I've
mentioned it a number of times in the
797
,240 --> 00:41:13,430
show that, uh, the times have acted
nothing big at all, but it's like
798
,430 --> 00:41:14,909
you show up and it's its own work.
799
,909 --> 00:41:17,150
Don't get me wrong, you know,
but you show up and you get to
800
,180 --> 00:41:20,909
go home and you've invested, you
know, however much time in it.
801
,909 --> 00:41:25,610
And, but as a director, you're, you You're
locking in well before in pre production
802
,620 --> 00:41:28,580
and doing the thing and then the post
production you got a year to two years
803
,580 --> 00:41:30,490
of your life dedicated to this one thing.
804
,080 --> 00:41:34,360
So I guess that makes choosing that
thing ultra important for you because
805
,360 --> 00:41:35,730
you're married to something for a while.
806
,080 --> 00:41:38,650
Like where did y'all shoot this film?
807
,710 --> 00:41:38,770
It
808
,260 --> 00:41:40,520
Ash Avildsen: not in Louisville, Kentucky.
809
,910 --> 00:41:42,500
Marc Preston: Do, is that
a, like a turn on for you?
810
,500 --> 00:41:45,680
Like, okay, well I get to go here
to do this thing, or you do You like
811
,680 --> 00:41:47,545
going out, traveling to get a, I,
812
,665 --> 00:41:52,160
Ash Avildsen: I do love, uh, I do love
shooting outside of wherever I'm living
813
,160 --> 00:41:57,620
because it, it, it forces you to go live
in a new city for enough time where you
814
,620 --> 00:41:58,845
can actually really get a feel for the.
815
,565 --> 00:42:03,535
You know, it's one thing to go to a
city for, like, three, five days a week
816
,535 --> 00:42:07,435
vacation, or if you're on tour, you know,
we'd only be in a city for a day or two.
817
,465 --> 00:42:08,674
So it's hard to really experience it.
818
,685 --> 00:42:12,455
When you're living in a city for
months, you actually at least can
819
,455 --> 00:42:16,449
really get the, you know, a much more
real experience of what it's like.
820
,640 --> 00:42:18,490
that city is and how and how it is.
821
,530 --> 00:42:22,340
Um, so I, you know, I can proudly say
I lived in Louisville, Kentucky because
822
,340 --> 00:42:26,670
I was there for several months between
scouting and then prep and then shooting.
823
,050 --> 00:42:31,370
Um, but yeah, that's part of the magic
of, of, of the adventure of making
824
,400 --> 00:42:36,410
films is just going to a place that
you've never been and just putting the
825
,410 --> 00:42:38,070
flag in the ground and getting to work.
826
Personal Life and Hobbies
,380 --> 00:42:40,940
Marc Preston: When you're just kind
of having your own time, you know,
827
,950 --> 00:42:45,250
how you like I'd say hobby But you
know, what is it that you're enjoying
828
,260 --> 00:42:48,120
doing that kind of lets you clear
your head just kind of decompress
829
,925 --> 00:42:51,635
Ash Avildsen: Uh, well, I mean,
on a physical side, I do, you
830
,635 --> 00:42:53,775
know, hot sauna, cold plunge.
831
,805 --> 00:42:56,575
I try and exercise and walk a lot.
832
,585 --> 00:43:00,634
But on a personal level, you know,
I'm a father for the first time.
833
,645 --> 00:43:05,994
So spending as much time as I can with
my little two and a half year old boy,
834
,095 --> 00:43:08,745
um, I didn't have this growing up.
835
,755 --> 00:43:12,165
So it's been a very cathartic,
incredible experience.
836
,305 --> 00:43:12,675
Yeah.
837
,755 --> 00:43:13,725
Being a father.
838
,750 --> 00:43:20,510
all, you know, having all I never
experienced with like hyper sensitive
839
,530 --> 00:43:24,870
to j and specifically father t
840
,970 --> 00:43:30,500
hope, hopefully we have
a to have a little girl.
841
,919 --> 00:43:31,639
Um
842
,520 --> 00:43:37,500
Just a huge part ever since he was born.
843
,500 --> 00:43:41,430
I mean, it's just, I'm so grateful
that I have him and that I get to
844
,440 --> 00:43:44,609
be in his life and he's in my life
and he's actually in the movie.
845
,620 --> 00:43:45,749
He plays a little baby.
846
,280 --> 00:43:51,239
Marc Preston: Did you grow up as an only
kid or did you have a siblings around?
847
,760 --> 00:43:54,550
Ash Avildsen: I had an older brother,
a different father, older brother.
848
,550 --> 00:43:56,770
I mean, we're technically half
brothers, but he's my brother.
849
,770 --> 00:44:01,560
I mean, I, we'd never thought of, and
then I have, I have two half brothers
850
,609 --> 00:44:06,050
on my dad's side that I didn't know
at all that I still today barely know.
851
,150 --> 00:44:11,950
Uh, and then, um, I have a half sister
on my dad's side who actually I've become
852
,989 --> 00:44:14,040
pretty close with and I love her to death.
853
,450 --> 00:44:18,500
Uh, but yeah, I grew up, I had one older
brother that would always beat my ass.
854
,665 --> 00:44:21,525
Marc Preston: Now, now it's
855
,905 --> 00:44:22,405
Ash Avildsen: grown up.
856
,515 --> 00:44:24,235
Marc Preston: Yeah, I
grew up as an only child.
857
,395 --> 00:44:25,975
I'm living vicariously through my kids.
858
,975 --> 00:44:29,114
You know, it's like to have siblings,
you know, and I'm kind of disturbing.
859
,324 --> 00:44:30,255
Ash Avildsen: They're out of college now?
860
,324 --> 00:44:32,094
Marc Preston: Yeah, no, my
daughter Lily just graduated.
861
,095 --> 00:44:32,974
She's 21.
862
,985 --> 00:44:34,445
She's graduated from Loyola.
863
,505 --> 00:44:36,614
Uh, and then my son is still there.
864
,614 --> 00:44:37,215
He's 20.
865
,215 --> 00:44:40,705
And my youngest is down
at Boca Raton at school.
866
,715 --> 00:44:41,445
She's 19.
867
,905 --> 00:44:43,105
Ash Avildsen: You were a young dad.
868
,125 --> 00:44:43,465
Marc Preston: Yeah.
869
,465 --> 00:44:43,655
Yeah.
870
,655 --> 00:44:43,845
Yeah.
871
,855 --> 00:44:48,225
No, I was 30 the when I had,
uh, when I had my first.
872
,440 --> 00:44:52,650
Uh, which was, you know, a little later
than some, but earlier than others.
873
,660 --> 00:44:54,010
I was a pretty good age to have
874
,720 --> 00:44:57,350
Ash Avildsen: and gosh, I,
yeah, I had mine when I was 40.
875
,350 --> 00:45:02,119
So
876
The Seven Questions
,699 --> 00:45:06,820
Marc Preston: before we get going
here, I always have my seven.
877
,340 --> 00:45:10,150
Questions like to throw in on
the back end little extra fun.
878
,180 --> 00:45:11,420
Uh, just extra good to know.
879
,420 --> 00:45:11,630
Yeah.
880
,710 --> 00:45:16,130
Uh, first one I always ask is what
is your favorite comfort food?
881
,140 --> 00:45:19,649
Something you just love best
day, worst day, just love to,
882
,800 --> 00:45:21,180
you know, grab ahold of it.
883
,210 --> 00:45:27,499
Ash Avildsen: Uh, I mean, my guilty
pleasure, although I have kind
884
,499 --> 00:45:30,020
of had a high cholesterol, so I'm
not eating these anytime soon.
885
,030 --> 00:45:33,150
I love a real Philly cheesesteak,
although with like provolone,
886
,150 --> 00:45:34,110
I don't do the cheese whiz.
887
,180 --> 00:45:37,340
So that's like my guilty pleasure.
888
,410 --> 00:45:41,250
And then other than that, I mean,
pizza, Popeye's fried chicken.
889
,250 --> 00:45:42,790
But again, this is stuff
I'm really not eating.
890
,049 --> 00:45:44,119
Marc Preston: I felt like I have Liberty.
891
,120 --> 00:45:46,990
I'm taking a stat now and
I think it's more genetic.
892
,990 --> 00:45:48,440
I have a little bit of
a cholesterol thing.
893
,679 --> 00:45:52,520
Not bad, but you know, now
I'm going, I'm down in Texas.
894
,530 --> 00:45:54,130
So I'm like, can I have
that chicken fried steak?
895
,130 --> 00:45:54,690
Yeah, I'll do that.
896
,920 --> 00:45:55,940
I'm like, I like,
897
,220 --> 00:45:59,220
Ash Avildsen: I'm a big, uh, I love frozen
898
,220 --> 00:45:59,730
Marc Preston: yogurt.
899
,315 --> 00:46:03,545
Ash Avildsen: That's my, my
guilty pleasure for dessert.
900
,845 --> 00:46:06,665
Marc Preston: Now, the next question I
got for you is if you were to sit down
901
,665 --> 00:46:10,214
with three people, living or not, you're
going to have a cup of coffee, sit down,
902
,534 --> 00:46:12,314
uh, for a few hours and talk story.
903
,534 --> 00:46:15,275
Who would those three people be that
you would like to sit down with?
904
,725 --> 00:46:17,844
Ash Avildsen: Well, just because
she's so fresh on my mind, I'd
905
,845 --> 00:46:19,595
love to sit with Mildred Burke.
906
,195 --> 00:46:24,715
Uh, I've always, uh, you know, it'd
probably be maybe Mildred Burke,
907
,725 --> 00:46:26,375
John F. Kennedy and Bob Marley.
908
,935 --> 00:46:27,605
I think I would.
909
,490 --> 00:46:29,710
That would be a great hang.
910
,650 --> 00:46:31,270
Marc Preston: Very cool.
911
,270 --> 00:46:31,450
Yeah.
912
,450 --> 00:46:33,360
I was just, uh, Bob Marley just came up.
913
,360 --> 00:46:37,200
I was speaking with Jimmy Buffett's
daughter Delaney and, uh, uh, Katie
914
,200 --> 00:46:41,179
Corwin, they have a film coming out
and, uh, Bob Marley came up and I was
915
,179 --> 00:46:44,469
like, Oh, you know, it's funny because
I always listen to your dad's music.
916
,469 --> 00:46:45,309
There's a through line.
917
,310 --> 00:46:45,960
I heard Bob Marley.
918
,150 --> 00:46:48,340
I said, was your dad really,
really into Bob Marley?
919
,340 --> 00:46:50,140
She's like, yeah, my brother's
middle name is Marley.
920
,230 --> 00:46:51,360
I was like, apparently so.
921
,360 --> 00:46:53,820
So I think he's only come
up once before and that was.
922
,035 --> 00:46:54,765
Last week.
923
,765 --> 00:46:58,805
So very good now going back when you
were young, uh, who was your first
924
,815 --> 00:47:01,415
celebrity crush when you were a young guy?
925
,465 --> 00:47:06,545
Ash Avildsen: Well, the first, I mean, she
wasn't, I don't know if she's a celebrity,
926
,545 --> 00:47:12,774
but the first time I got like aroused
was, uh, the girl in, um, the rock, the
927
,775 --> 00:47:15,435
cradle of love, Billy Idol music video.
928
,805 --> 00:47:19,295
Marc Preston: Oh, well, we're old enough
to remember the videos, you know, like
929
,305 --> 00:47:22,565
Tony contained, you know, but as far as
930
,725 --> 00:47:25,065
Ash Avildsen: like, I mean, the
first, the first time I remember
931
,065 --> 00:47:29,160
like putting like, A girl is like the
wallpaper on my computer and stuff.
932
,160 --> 00:47:32,480
That probably was, uh, when
Sandra Bullock first came out.
933
,550 --> 00:47:40,300
Um, I was like a teen, um, that was
like the, that was the first one
934
,300 --> 00:47:44,449
I remember really just, yeah, like
the wallpaper, that whole thing.
935
,470 --> 00:47:44,920
Yeah.
936
,190 --> 00:47:46,770
Marc Preston: It's the first
time anybody's mentioned that.
937
,770 --> 00:47:51,259
I forgot that people used to put
wallpaper of like a model or something.
938
,260 --> 00:47:54,540
I think, uh, but when I was a
kid, it was posters and I think
939
,550 --> 00:47:56,470
like Kathy Ireland was a big one.
940
,110 --> 00:48:00,129
Cindy Crawford, I think the Mike was
941
,130 --> 00:48:00,540
Ash Avildsen: up there.
942
,540 --> 00:48:01,330
That's a big one.
943
,160 --> 00:48:02,810
Definitely.
944
,820 --> 00:48:03,000
Yes.
945
,010 --> 00:48:03,600
Cindy Crawford.
946
,600 --> 00:48:04,530
I had some wallpapers.
947
,960 --> 00:48:06,439
Marc Preston: You're the
first person's mentioned that.
948
,439 --> 00:48:10,500
And I literally forgotten about,
uh, wallpapers on your, and
949
,510 --> 00:48:13,140
downloading and trying to like, you
know, you got your dial up mode.
950
,140 --> 00:48:15,450
I'm trying to get that stuff
downloaded took forever, you know,
951
,880 --> 00:48:18,790
just, and you always got yourself a
nice, healthy virus out of the deal.
952
,210 --> 00:48:21,050
Um, Now, next question.
953
,050 --> 00:48:24,520
If you're going to be living on an exotic
island somewhere for a whole year now,
954
,520 --> 00:48:26,100
somewhere you want to be, it's a resort.
955
,100 --> 00:48:26,550
It's nice.
956
,640 --> 00:48:30,179
You know, it's not like you're cast
away, but you don't have streaming.
957
,180 --> 00:48:33,129
So you have to bring a movie.
958
,129 --> 00:48:36,960
You can watch over and over again, a
DVD and an album, or it could even be
959
,960 --> 00:48:40,350
a box set if you want, but something
you could listen to all year long.
960
,360 --> 00:48:42,300
What would that DVD and the music?
961
,300 --> 00:48:43,400
What would the CD be?
962
,640 --> 00:48:47,910
Ash Avildsen: The album would be
Florence and the machine ceremonials.
963
,420 --> 00:48:52,600
I got stranded on an island, so I have
to think, I'm not gonna, I'm gonna
964
,600 --> 00:48:55,650
want the right ending to lift me up.
965
,960 --> 00:48:59,420
Thinking if I'm on an island,
am I, I mean, am I celebrating?
966
,429 --> 00:49:02,190
Am I, is this like a castaway
scenario where I'm stranded
967
,190 --> 00:49:03,440
and I hope someone finds me?
968
,200 --> 00:49:05,360
Marc Preston: It's a year of chill.
969
,840 --> 00:49:06,690
Yeah, a year of chill.
970
,690 --> 00:49:07,150
Okay,
971
,190 --> 00:49:07,760
Ash Avildsen: um.
972
,460 --> 00:49:09,040
What would it be?
973
,140 --> 00:49:10,250
That's a great question.
974
,320 --> 00:49:12,220
Um, gosh, I don't know.
975
,710 --> 00:49:15,619
I will say, I mean, I always find
myself going back to the People vs.
976
,650 --> 00:49:16,269
Larry Flint.
977
,800 --> 00:49:21,875
I really, really love, uh, That
movie is just a really fun ride.
978
,675 --> 00:49:23,325
Um,
979
,765 --> 00:49:25,585
Marc Preston: and Woody
Harrelson is just so underrated.
980
,605 --> 00:49:26,865
I think he's just such a great.
981
,955 --> 00:49:27,455
Oh yeah.
982
,505 --> 00:49:28,595
The way he gets into stuff.
983
,875 --> 00:49:29,305
Ash Avildsen: Yeah.
984
,835 --> 00:49:31,095
Um, fuck it.
985
,175 --> 00:49:32,245
The people virtual area plan.
986
,255 --> 00:49:32,664
There you go.
987
,885 --> 00:49:36,545
Marc Preston: Now, if you were to go stem
to stern beginning to the end of the day
988
,554 --> 00:49:38,175
from time you wake up, I'm gonna sleep.
989
,705 --> 00:49:40,825
If you were to define it Perfect day.
990
,825 --> 00:49:45,085
What would the component parts be of a
perfect day beginning to end for you?
991
,865 --> 00:49:47,835
So the key, the key parts,
992
,245 --> 00:49:49,395
Ash Avildsen: I
993
,395 --> 00:49:49,705
Marc Preston: mean,
994
,625 --> 00:49:54,325
Ash Avildsen: the key parts, well,
it would be, you know, waking up
995
,645 --> 00:50:01,914
and going to sleep with my family,
um, having a good, uh, moment of
996
,914 --> 00:50:07,564
exercise, uh, ideally outside and
good weather, getting a great sweat.
997
,844 --> 00:50:11,475
Um, great sauna, some time to write.
998
,555 --> 00:50:16,375
Time to eat some clean, organic
food, time to catch up with a friend,
999
,075 --> 00:50:22,394
um, listen to some music, watch
a great movie, yeah, a massage,
Speaker:1000
,095 --> 00:50:23,355
Marc Preston: I'm a big
Speaker:1001
,744 --> 00:50:28,854
Ash Avildsen: fan of massages, and uh,
I need to get back into yoga, but you
Speaker:1002
,855 --> 00:50:32,905
know, self care, it's easy, it's easy
to put ourselves last, especially when
Speaker:1003
,905 --> 00:50:36,655
you're trying to accomplish all these
things, you have all this kind of self
Speaker:1004
,655 --> 00:50:38,964
induced pressure, so I try and take it in.
Speaker:1005
,605 --> 00:50:42,555
Remember to unplug as much
as I can, but it's very hard.
Speaker:1006
,785 --> 00:50:44,035
You really have to practice it.
Speaker:1007
,035 --> 00:50:48,265
It has to become a practice of
like self care and not because
Speaker:1008
,465 --> 00:50:51,275
Marc Preston: it's too easy for the back
of your brain to be processing going,
Speaker:1009
,275 --> 00:50:54,244
you could be getting this done now, and
you could be getting that done now and
Speaker:1010
,255 --> 00:50:56,684
you forget, okay, I need to take care of.
Speaker:1011
,455 --> 00:50:58,645
just doing nothing.
Speaker:1012
,885 --> 00:51:01,465
You know, that's something
I'm trying to work on as well.
Speaker:1013
,495 --> 00:51:01,835
Yeah,
Speaker:1014
,145 --> 00:51:05,555
Ash Avildsen: it's really hard, especially
if you're like, you know, running your own
Speaker:1015
,555 --> 00:51:08,095
company or working on your own project.
Speaker:1016
,095 --> 00:51:12,544
There's never like an end until you
just say, okay, I'm done for now.
Speaker:1017
,915 --> 00:51:17,904
You know, it's not like you're, you know,
I used to wait tables and deliver pizzas
Speaker:1018
,904 --> 00:51:22,985
and all these, you know, you know, just
normal hourly jobs when I was growing up
Speaker:1019
,985 --> 00:51:25,965
and like, you know, you deliver the pizzas
for eight hours, you go home, you're done.
Speaker:1020
,020 --> 00:51:30,250
Yeah, you're not like thinking
about, oh, I wonder what my first
Speaker:1021
,250 --> 00:51:31,340
address is going to be here.
Speaker:1022
,350 --> 00:51:33,810
What the order is going to
use out of sight out of mind.
Speaker:1023
,810 --> 00:51:37,790
But with, you know, a lot of
the things in other worlds,
Speaker:1024
,919 --> 00:51:39,060
it's like, it's never ending.
Speaker:1025
,060 --> 00:51:40,679
It's like, there's a
million things right now.
Speaker:1026
,680 --> 00:51:42,199
I need to be doing to.
Speaker:1027
,640 --> 00:51:45,080
Make sure the film is
getting Marceted right.
Speaker:1028
,080 --> 00:51:49,260
And, you know, coordinating everything
with the cast and the press and
Speaker:1029
,270 --> 00:51:51,960
the theater, you know, it's just
never ending and it's, well, it's
Speaker:1030
,960 --> 00:51:54,699
Marc Preston: a matter of delegation,
you know, that's my biggest problem
Speaker:1031
,699 --> 00:51:57,460
is like, I'm not that I don't
trust somebody can do a good job.
Speaker:1032
,460 --> 00:51:59,079
It's sometimes like, Oh, I gotta get this.
Speaker:1033
,399 --> 00:52:02,630
There's a certain thing I'm looking for
in the time it takes me to explain it.
Speaker:1034
,640 --> 00:52:03,620
Maybe go through a first.
Speaker:1035
,110 --> 00:52:06,730
You know, I'll just get it done and
do it myself, you know, and I know
Speaker:1036
,730 --> 00:52:10,260
that's probably not optimal, but
delegation is something I'm working on.
Speaker:1037
,310 --> 00:52:12,290
Ash Avildsen: It's hard, yeah,
letting go and, and letting,
Speaker:1038
,180 --> 00:52:15,490
you know, just kind of trust in
someone else to handle that stuff.
Speaker:1039
,800 --> 00:52:18,610
Marc Preston: Now, the next question I
got for you is if you weren't doing this,
Speaker:1040
,620 --> 00:52:24,940
if this was not an option for you, uh, as
a vocation, what would be the next thing
Speaker:1041
,940 --> 00:52:27,840
that you would do that you thought that
you feel like you would find joy doing?
Speaker:1042
,049 --> 00:52:33,910
Ash Avildsen: I mean, I always
either wanted to be a, uh, I
Speaker:1043
,040 --> 00:52:38,140
was really in, I mean, I grew up
in D. C. So I, I loved history.
Speaker:1044
,140 --> 00:52:43,130
I always, you know, as I mentioned,
meeting JFK and Bob Marley, these are
Speaker:1045
,130 --> 00:52:48,770
people that really Helped fight for
truth and honor and for world peace.
Speaker:1046
,780 --> 00:52:54,470
And so I did have a passion, um,
for trying to make the world better.
Speaker:1047
,470 --> 00:52:57,739
And a lot of times it has to come
through politics and leaders.
Speaker:1048
,069 --> 00:53:01,699
I also was, you know,
considered being an attorney.
Speaker:1049
,110 --> 00:53:07,940
Um, specifically for either criminal
defense to try and, you know, find people
Speaker:1050
,940 --> 00:53:13,559
that I believe was innocent and get them
acquitted or, um, you know, an attorney
Speaker:1051
,560 --> 00:53:16,499
to, to help, you know, pass better laws.
Speaker:1052
,589 --> 00:53:21,589
So, yeah, I mean, professor attorney.
Speaker:1053
,175 --> 00:53:23,855
Politician, probably something like that.
Speaker:1054
,855 --> 00:53:25,395
If I wasn't into music and film.
Speaker:1055
,885 --> 00:53:28,275
Marc Preston: Now, the last question
I got for you, if you could jump into
Speaker:1056
,275 --> 00:53:31,594
that DeLorean travel back to when
you're 16 years old and you have a
Speaker:1057
,595 --> 00:53:35,065
piece of advice to offer yourself
either to make that moment a little
Speaker:1058
,065 --> 00:53:37,885
bit better, or to put yourself on
a little bit different trajectory.
Speaker:1059
,885 --> 00:53:41,134
What would that piece of advice be
that you would offer to yourself?
Speaker:1060
,005 --> 00:53:48,255
Ash Avildsen: Probably to exercise
more, um, patience and gratitude for
Speaker:1061
,255 --> 00:53:56,124
just the gift of life and, um, not,
uh, not letting, you know, myself get
Speaker:1062
,124 --> 00:54:02,174
worked up because of how other people
are treating me, um, how my luck of the
Speaker:1063
,175 --> 00:54:04,465
draw is with the world, all those things.
Speaker:1064
,515 --> 00:54:06,785
I think I really just try and instill.
Speaker:1065
,710 --> 00:54:11,440
Gratitude for, you know, being
able to even have the gift of life.
Speaker:1066
,460 --> 00:54:13,070
I mean, life is so fragile every day.
Speaker:1067
,070 --> 00:54:16,480
Now I'm at that age where I just,
there's constantly people dying that
Speaker:1068
,480 --> 00:54:18,679
I've known or getting falling ill.
Speaker:1069
,730 --> 00:54:22,040
And, um, that would probably
be it to just really enjoy.
Speaker:1070
,050 --> 00:54:25,749
And also, I know, I mean, it's a
cliche, but to really enjoy the moment.
Speaker:1071
,770 --> 00:54:27,670
The present is just that it's a present.
Speaker:1072
,670 --> 00:54:30,700
It's a gift that you're alive
and it's very easy to focus.
Speaker:1073
,005 --> 00:54:35,815
You know, fixate on the future
and, and, or, you know, focus on
Speaker:1074
,815 --> 00:54:39,815
the future, fixate on the past
versus like, you know, still really
Speaker:1075
,075 --> 00:54:42,545
enjoying, you know, living the moment.
Speaker:1076
,665 --> 00:54:43,285
Marc Preston: Yeah, that's
Speaker:1077
,495 --> 00:54:43,764
Ash Avildsen: it.
Speaker:1078
,764 --> 00:54:43,914
You
Speaker:1079
,915 --> 00:54:47,185
Marc Preston: know, I think it's one of
the things, as you get older, you start
Speaker:1080
,264 --> 00:54:51,954
appreciating your time a little bit more
and, and how you're investing it and.
Speaker:1081
,255 --> 00:54:53,175
Trying to live in the moment.
Speaker:1082
,175 --> 00:54:55,065
It'd be so wonderful if I had that.
Speaker:1083
,105 --> 00:54:58,955
Uh, if you had that as a kid when
you're young You know, but man, I so
Speaker:1084
,955 --> 00:55:00,594
appreciate you spending some time with me.
Speaker:1085
,595 --> 00:55:02,995
I am so jazzed, uh to see the film
Speaker:1086
,295 --> 00:55:04,335
Ash Avildsen: We were
just talking about you.
Speaker:1087
,335 --> 00:55:05,745
Is he oh, there's my son
Speaker:1088
,144 --> 00:55:09,005
Marc Preston: He's like who is this
Speaker:1089
,445 --> 00:55:11,475
Ash Avildsen: one day when you're
all grown up researching your
Speaker:1090
,475 --> 00:55:15,480
dad This is going to be you
seeing yourself on the FaceTime.
Speaker:1091
,740 --> 00:55:18,200
Marc Preston: Well my friend, you
take care, uh, go talk to your
Speaker:1092
,200 --> 00:55:21,000
little one, enjoy that time, but
uh, hopefully uh, down the line
Speaker:1093
,000 --> 00:55:22,030
we'll have a chance to connect.
Speaker:1094
,080 --> 00:55:22,450
Awesome.
Speaker:1095
,450 --> 00:55:23,500
Thank you so much, Marc.
Speaker:1096
,509 --> 00:55:24,070
Great to meet
Speaker:1097
,070 --> 00:55:24,270
Ash Avildsen: you.
Speaker:1098
,200 --> 00:55:28,460
Marc Preston: All right,
there you go, Ash Avildsen.
Speaker:1099
,719 --> 00:55:31,540
The new film is called Queen of the Ring.
Speaker:1100
,550 --> 00:55:35,200
It is out today, Friday,
March 7th, uh, in theaters.
Speaker:1101
,225 --> 00:55:35,855
Check it out.
Speaker:1102
,885 --> 00:55:37,365
Emily Bette Rickards is in it.
Speaker:1103
,395 --> 00:55:40,915
Uh, Josh Lucas, Martin Cove, who
was in the Karate Kid movies.
Speaker:1104
,925 --> 00:55:45,135
So it's kind of a cool connection
as we discussed that he's directing
Speaker:1105
,135 --> 00:55:47,705
Martin Cove, just like his father did.
Speaker:1106
,945 --> 00:55:50,345
John Avildsen in the Karate Kid movies.
Speaker:1107
,460 --> 00:55:50,770
Okay.
Speaker:1108
,770 --> 00:55:51,520
So do me a favor.
Speaker:1109
,520 --> 00:55:56,440
If you would, I ask every week, small
request pop over to story and craft pod.
Speaker:1110
,710 --> 00:55:59,080
com forward slash rate.
Speaker:1111
,350 --> 00:56:02,959
Uh, or of course, just open up
your podcast app, whichever one you
Speaker:1112
,959 --> 00:56:05,119
use, make sure to follow the show.
Speaker:1113
,119 --> 00:56:07,529
You get notified every
time there's a new episode.
Speaker:1114
,939 --> 00:56:09,550
Also leave a review.
Speaker:1115
,550 --> 00:56:12,940
If you would drop some stars,
rate an episode or the show or
Speaker:1116
,350 --> 00:56:14,420
whatever you would like to do.
Speaker:1117
,420 --> 00:56:15,040
It's always.
Speaker:1118
,235 --> 00:56:18,885
Appreciate it because it
helps people to find the show.
Speaker:1119
,245 --> 00:56:20,365
I'm going to get on out of here.
Speaker:1120
,535 --> 00:56:23,975
Do me a favor, have a wonderful
weekend or let's say you're
Speaker:1121
,975 --> 00:56:25,185
listening to this during the week.
Speaker:1122
,185 --> 00:56:25,904
Have a great week.
Speaker:1123
,275 --> 00:56:27,445
We'll be back in a few days.
Speaker:1124
,455 --> 00:56:28,964
Another fun conversation for you.
Speaker:1125
,055 --> 00:56:31,995
And of course, as always, I
want to thank you again for
Speaker:1126
,995 --> 00:56:33,624
making what I got going on here.
Speaker:1127
,624 --> 00:56:35,615
Part of whatever you've got going on.
Speaker:1128
,890 --> 00:56:37,840
I will chat with you in a few days.
Speaker:1129
,850 --> 00:56:41,790
Another great conversation coming
up right here on story and craft.
Speaker:1130
,110 --> 00:56:44,709
Announcer: That's it for this
episode of story and craft.
Speaker:1131
,950 --> 00:56:48,840
Join Marc next week for more
conversation right here on story
Speaker:1132
,840 --> 00:56:53,150
and craft story and craft is a
presentation of Marc Preston productions
Speaker:1133
,469 --> 00:56:56,369
LLC executive producer is Marc.
Speaker:1134
,370 --> 00:56:59,820
Preston Associate Producer
is Zachary Holden.
Speaker:1135
,150 --> 00:57:03,720
Please rate and review story
and craft on Apple Podcasts.
Speaker:1136
,720 --> 00:57:07,950
Don't forget to subscribe to the
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,070 --> 00:57:09,510
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Speaker:1138
,870 --> 00:57:12,840
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Speaker:1139
,960 --> 00:57:17,100
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Speaker:1140
,660 --> 00:57:18,590
I'm Emma Dylan.
Speaker:1141
,830 --> 00:57:19,790
See you next time.
Speaker:1142
,970 --> 00:57:22,280
And remember, keep telling your story.
Speaker:1143
,280 --> 00:57:23,030
Come help.
Ash Avildsen
Director | Writer | Producer | Music Label Head
Ash Avildsen created, wrote and directed the entire first season of Paradise City.
Ash is the self-made Founder & CEO of leading independent rock/alternative label Sumerian Records. Growing up in Washington DC in a single mom household, Ash got his start in the business as a touring artist, a DIY promoter and a booking agent. Building the label from a tiny Venice Beach studio apartment running his own mail-order with his mom to what it is today has been no easy task. The laptop that he started it all on was put on display at the Grammy Museum’s Golden Gods: History of Heavy Metal Exhibit. With millions of albums sold and millions of followers on Sumerian’s YouTube channel, billions of streams and several Grammy nominations, the cultural relevance of Sumerian Records is at an all-time high.
Avildsen is also known for his work as a writer and film director. His last movie American Satan was picked up by Miramax for worldwide distribution and is currently on Showtime. He won Best Director at Peekskill Film Festival as well as Best Narrative Feature At Sacramento Film Festival, Intendence Film Festival and Oceanside Film Festival. His latest project is the scripted TV music drama series “Paradise City” due out Summer 2020 featuring Bella Thorne, Disney’s Cameron Boyce and several stars from hit shows such as Sons Of Anarchy, The Sopranos, Entourage, The Walking Dead and more.
Ash’s father is Academy-Award winner John Avildsen (ROCKY, THE KARATE KID, LEAN ON ME) whom he never met until he was 34. He grew up always knowing who he was and carrying his last name, but having no relationship with him. When they finally met, they developed a beautiful friendship and bond. John passed away in the Summer of 2017 with Ash by his side.