
Producer Ashley Jay Sandberg, executive producer of "Twisters," joins us on Story & Craft.
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Producer Ashley Jay Sandberg, executive producer of “Twisters,” joins us on Story & Craft.
Ashley executive produced “Twisters” with Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Kiernan Shipka. We talk about her career path, her growth as a filmmaker at Kennedy/Marshall, shooting “Twisters” in Oklahoma, and finishing it at Skywalker Ranch.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
Ashley Jay Sandberg joins Story & Craft
Filmmaking Insights: Skywalker Ranch
Ashley J Sandberg’s Background
Family and Personal Life
Twisters: The New Blockbuster
Challenges and Production Insights
The Future of Theatrical Releases
Tornadoes and Natural Disasters
Family and Career Insights
Future Projects and Genre Preferences
Casting and Actor Preferences
Filming Challenges and Strikes
Seven Questions Segment
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Full Transcript
Part 1
Speaker:00:00:00
Ashley Jay Sandberg: I grew up
watching, you know, Raiders, Temple
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Ashley Jay Sandberg joins Story & Craft
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of Doom, Last Crusade, Jurassic
Park, Back to the Future, Goonies.
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Like, these were the films, you
know, you really felt for these
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characters in these big worlds.
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Announcer: Welcome to Story Craft.
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Now, here's your host, Marc Preston.
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Marc Preston: All right, here we go.
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Another episode of Story Craft.
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Thank you so much for stopping back by.
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If this is your first episode, welcome.
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Glad to have you.
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My name is Marc Preston.
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Preston, it's a pleasure to
have you along for this episode.
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Great conversation.
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We are talking filmmaking with
executive producer Ashley Jay Sandberg.
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She produced the new blockbuster Twisters,
which is coming out Friday, July 19th,
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and it was a great conversation talking
about her career and her inspirations
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And it was, it was a great conversation.
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chat.
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I think you'll enjoy it quite a bit.
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Uh, real quick request.
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If you would, don't forget to
follow story and craft, grab your
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phone, hit the follow button.
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You get notified every time
there's a new episode and we
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have some great ones coming up.
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And also, uh, if you would please drop a
review in there, a few stars, uh, it helps
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people find the show, which is very cool.
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And I appreciate you doing it.
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Uh, also story and craft.
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pod.
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com, the website, everything you
could possibly want to know about
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the show, including all the socials.
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You can drop me a note as well.
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You know, just say, hi,
I like hearing from you.
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Go, don't be bashful.
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Go ahead.
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Send me a message.
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I like hearing from you.
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Uh, also you can find out more about
our guests, find out who we've had on,
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find out a little bit more about them.
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It's all right there at story and craft.
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All right, let's get after it.
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Filmmaking Insights: Skywalker Ranch
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Uh, today we're talking filmmaking,
a big summer blockbuster.
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How does it come to be?
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Well, let's find out today
is actually Jay Sandberg day,
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right here on story and craft.
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So where are you joining us from today?
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Ashley Jay Sandberg: I'm in Los Angeles.
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I just got back.
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We were up north at Skywalker
ranch, finishing the final
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mix on the film twisters.
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And we just got back a day or so ago.
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Marc Preston: Skywalker ranch.
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That's north of.
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San Francisco, right?
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Am I thinking right
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Ashley Jay Sandberg: about an hour north?
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Um, in the Casio.
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Um, and it's really or, you know, right
off the Lucas Valley Road, and it's
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really something pretty spectacular.
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I think for all filmmakers and talent
and finishing a film, you're in the
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most stressful time of your project.
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But yet you're in this, like, very
safe, nestled, quiet community.
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So you're able to finish the film in
this very, you know, serene place.
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It was really pretty special.
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Marc Preston: Don't they have like
a really well known big sound stage
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and everything up there and Yes.
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Yeah,
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Ashley Jay Sandberg: they have a bunch
of offices and stage some of the best in
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the business that are working in sound.
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Um, they also have the best
theater that I've ever been in
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to watch a film and hear a film.
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And that's on the
property right there too.
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So it's.
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to be able to see and hear
your film in that capacity.
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Um, and know what the audience
is going to start feeling.
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We've been living it with it in
such a current state to see these
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final touches and it come alive.
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Um, and be surrounded by people
who are equally as excited for
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the film was it's really great.
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Ashley J Sandberg's Background
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Marc Preston: Now where
you originally from?
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Ashley Jay Sandberg:
Originally, I'm from Baltimore.
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Um, And I knew I wanted
to be in the industry.
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I knew I wanted to work in production.
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At one point I thought it was
news broadcasts that I wanted
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to do and produce the news.
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And so, uh, when looking for
universities and schools, I was
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seeing who had that program and also
how do I get myself to California?
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And so I ended up going to Pepperdine,
uh, sight unseen, which was not too
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bad, cause it was Malibu, I said,
how bad could it be, you know, to,
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uh, to, willing to take the chance.
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And that's what got me out to California.
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And I've stayed ever since.
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So now I've been here
over 20 something years
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Marc Preston: now.
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Now, did you do anything in TV or was
that just a aspiration initially, but
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did you ever spend any time doing it?
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Or it was just what got you to college?
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Ashley Jay Sandberg: I did.
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So for me, when I went to school,
I ended up going the news broadcast
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route and producing the local news in
Malibu and reporting and covering that.
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And then around my, my I took a film
studies course my junior year and I
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ended up minoring in film studies,
realizing I like love the craft,
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loved all the pieces about it.
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And then after I graduated, I worked,
uh, you know, in physical production,
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doing PA work, uh, whatever I really
could get my hands on to be on sets.
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And a lot of the, a lot of those
were TV shows like Ugly Betty.
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And then I, when I went into working
at Kennedy Marshall, I eventually
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at one point in my time there, I
was there for over 12 years, but I
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was working in our TV department and
overseeing our development of TV.
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And then over ended up overseeing all
of our TV and film while I was there.
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Marc Preston: Uh, what drew you to,
uh, The TV thing to the TV news thing.
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Ashley Jay Sandberg: You know, I remember
my morning starting before school,
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putting the today show on and just, you
know, getting a taste of what was going
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on in the world and making the world
seem so much bigger than this, like, you
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know, town that I lived in outside of
Baltimore and, um, and it just fascinated
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me that you, you know, everything that
was going on and how you could, if
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you're a reporter, you could travel and
you cover these different stories and
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for me, I think it always came down to
the story element of it, like, okay,
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what can we get that doesn't exist?
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breaking or new or fresher people.
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What are people not knowing?
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Um, so I think that's the
aspect that really drew me to
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why I wanted to be in news.
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Um, and ultimately I feel like that ends
up tying what my love to filmmaking is.
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And it is the story.
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It is the human interest stories.
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It's getting to know these
characters and people that may
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be, uh, you know, that don't live
like us or live different than us.
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And then we get to know who
these people are and experience.
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Marc Preston: I always thought
it'd be a blast to do that.
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You know, you're kind of
plugged in everything going on.
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And, uh, the only time I had press
passes, I, I thoroughly abused them.
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You know, I went to, I went to
the Texas Rangers games and stuff
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like that, got in the press box.
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Ashley Jay Sandberg: Those
are the perks of the job.
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So, you know, when you have,
when you're able to do that,
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that, that is a good thing.
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That's a fun thing to do.
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Family and Personal Life
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Marc Preston: Now, did your, your folks,
uh, were they into the media or were
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they into any kind of, uh, performance?
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No,
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Ashley Jay Sandberg: I, You know,
this was, yeah, my, my mom was a
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social worker for 30 years until
she retired and went into real
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estate and my father was in sales.
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So no industry family whatsoever.
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I just kind of was someone as a young
age, just putting on movies and watching
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them over and over and over again and
really falling in love with like how
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you can make these worlds feel so big.
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Um, and so.
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I really was the only one in my family to
then pursue a job in the arts like this.
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Did
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Marc Preston: you have any brothers
or sisters who were, uh, who were
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around or were you an only kid?
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Ashley Jay Sandberg: No,
I, I have two sisters.
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I'm the middle.
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So I think oftentimes I, my husband
will often mention that I, you know,
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he could see the middle child in me.
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And I think part of it is wanting
to Make sure I, you know, I
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please and get everyone right.
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Everyone's good and happy.
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And you know, everyone's needs are met.
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Um,
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Marc Preston: is that a
trait of the middle child?
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Cause I was an only child.
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I'm living vicariously through my
three kids, but is that a trait of the
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middle child as the, is the pleaser?
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Ashley Jay Sandberg: I In our family,
it was, I felt that, you know, I was
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close to both of my sisters, but I
usually was the middle between the
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older and the younger and making
sure I'm like, Oh, you know, always
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kind of sometimes giving up my spot.
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So everyone else was happy and could
go and we keep, you know, kind of
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the peacekeeper with everybody.
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Marc Preston: Sometimes I'm
kind of checking out on the
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sociology of my three kids.
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You know, what is it?
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Well, how's the dynamic, you know, I
remember always telling him, you're
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going to be brothers and sisters forever.
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You got to get along, you know,
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Ashley Jay Sandberg: I will say it.
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I think everyone gets
closer as they get older.
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I think you start realizing how
important family is and what, you
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know, what we, why we need our family.
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So I found my sisters and I got even
closer as we each, we all got older.
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Marc Preston: They
lived back in Baltimore.
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Ashley Jay Sandberg: I have a one
sister lives in Los Angeles, a mile
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from me, um, which is wonderful and
really helps support our family.
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Cause I'm gone on the road a lot
for work and I have a daughter.
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And so they help us out a lot.
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And then I have one sister back
on the East coast with my parents.
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Marc Preston: You said
you had a little girl.
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How old is she?
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Ashley Jay Sandberg: He's eight.
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Marc Preston: Okay.
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So she's not like a little,
little, but she's, you know, the
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third grade and summer vacations
kicking in, I'm assuming right now.
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So
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Ashley Jay Sandberg: now that
she's older, it's a little harder.
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To have her bring her on location with me.
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Now that school's up and going.
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So our family has a, a, a, not a rule,
but we try to go no longer than two
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weeks without being with each other.
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Marc Preston: Well, this last year
must have been a big year for the
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family with her being in school.
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And this isn't a small project,
finding a stretcher on.
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Ashley Jay Sandberg: Yeah, I
think I have a good partner.
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So that helps a whole lot.
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But, um, she, we really explain
kind of what I do to her.
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So like what my work is
and explain that for her.
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So she has a better
understanding as to why I'm gone.
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And she's very interested.
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And so when we can, we'll
bring her Her onto set.
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And it also helped that our director,
Isaac, he also had a 10 year old
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daughter, and so they were able to
experience some of this film together.
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Marc Preston: Oh, that's fair.
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That's very cool.
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As we go back to post TV
aspirations to now you're, you're
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doing the production thing.
219
Twisters: The New Blockbuster
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What was it that kind of.
220
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Shifted you into saying, you know,
I want to, I want to produce.
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Ashley Jay Sandberg: That was always
my goal for whenever I, you know,
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all the work that I did leading up to
where I am now, whether it was being
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an assistant, whether it was being a
coordinator, it was always of the mindset
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of wanting to be a creative producer.
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And I was always very
transparent with the company.
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I was working for Kennedy Marshall
and Frank Marshall, who I had
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worked with for a very long time.
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And, um, When this project came
along at the time, I was head of
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our production development and I saw
this project come in from Marc L.
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Smith and Joe, and they were
telling us Joe Kaczynski.
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They were telling us this idea that they
really want to relook at twisters and
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we were sitting down talking about it.
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And, uh, I was like, I had a feeling,
I'm like, this is the one, I think
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that we can get across the finish line.
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And, and made, um, and so early on, I,
you know, Frank trusted me and he said,
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this is, you know, this is your project,
spread your wings, go get it done.
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And really that's what we did.
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So it was, you know, about a year
and some change with developing the
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script and getting the script, right.
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And then being able to find
a director to attach to it.
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Once Joe was no longer able to direct
it due to conflicting projects and
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then seeing it, you know, Getting
us a green light and made and, uh,
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for me, it was always what I love
about producing is, is that you get
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to help put all the pieces together.
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So you, you know, you, you find
the writers and team that you
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want to build out the story.
247
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Then you find your filmmaker
who can help see it.
248
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You find your crew, you find your
production designer, all these
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people to make this vision happen.
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And really my job, a lot of the
times is problem solving and
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how do I get How do I get the
director's vision on the big screen?
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How do we get yeses
when we're getting nos?
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How do we work within the budget that we
have to really get, to make it feel big?
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And I always feel there's a way.
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Marc Preston: Is Twister is
considered a sequel, for lack of
256
,305 --> 00:10:48,165
a better way of putting it, to
Twister, or is it his own standalone?
257
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Uh, project,
258
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Ashley Jay Sandberg:
it's its own standalone.
259
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So this is a next chapter in the story.
260
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I think similar themes with
nature and, you know, what nature
261
,180 --> 00:11:00,955
looks like now, you know, uh,
in, in the world that we live in.
262
,225 --> 00:11:04,675
But it is definitely all new
characters, new adventures,
263
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new science that's in there.
264
,450 --> 00:11:09,385
But for the original fans, you'll
definitely get some good Easter
265
,385 --> 00:11:13,075
eggs and, and see that sprinkled
throughout, which is really fun for
266
,075 --> 00:11:16,495
people in some of our previews to call
out the things that they recognize.
267
,565 --> 00:11:19,255
That are throwbacks or nods
to the original film is
268
,255 --> 00:11:20,235
Marc Preston: sharing a DNA.
269
,235 --> 00:11:23,745
It's not necessarily a sequel,
but it's, it's definitely carved
270
,745 --> 00:11:25,365
from the same cloth as it were.
271
,725 --> 00:11:28,535
So when you got ahold of this,
there wasn't even a script.
272
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So this was just an idea.
273
,265 --> 00:11:33,004
Ashley Jay Sandberg: It was an idea
that came in and really, you know,
274
,024 --> 00:11:36,765
getting Steven Spielberg excited
about it too, which he definitely was.
275
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And so supportive.
276
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He has a really big
fascination with tornadoes.
277
,165 --> 00:11:45,295
And if there is a, you know, a
YouTube video of a tornado out
278
,295 --> 00:11:46,875
there, he's definitely seen it.
279
,215 --> 00:11:50,934
Um, and so he was right off
the bat, very supportive of us
280
,954 --> 00:11:52,464
moving forward with this project.
281
,474 --> 00:11:56,094
And the really, the big thing for
us was getting the science, right?
282
,124 --> 00:11:59,844
Can we make this grounded, um, believable?
283
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We don't want to offer
false hope to our audiences.
284
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And so we really spent a lot of time.
285
,095 --> 00:12:09,325
Getting this science, uh, to
a place that, you know, can
286
,325 --> 00:12:11,715
be looked into and questioned.
287
,715 --> 00:12:15,135
It's definitely science theory,
um, that we're using in this.
288
,185 --> 00:12:18,395
And we brought on an amazing
consultant, Kevin Kelleher, who
289
,405 --> 00:12:20,255
also worked on the original film.
290
,255 --> 00:12:21,854
So I, you know, worked with him and.
291
,885 --> 00:12:22,075
Oh,
292
,075 --> 00:12:22,625
Marc Preston: okay.
293
,715 --> 00:12:26,395
Well, as a kid who grew up in
Dallas, I remember, uh, In elementary
294
,395 --> 00:12:30,315
school, the tornado drills go in
the hall, put a book over your head.
295
,335 --> 00:12:34,984
No, I mean, you kind of get in like
a crouched in position, but, but
296
,984 --> 00:12:38,915
it's a fascinating thing because
as much as they, we know about it,
297
,925 --> 00:12:40,615
there's still so much they don't know.
298
,615 --> 00:12:44,704
And hence, I guess the whole, uh,
you know, the tornado chasers going
299
,705 --> 00:12:45,755
out there and doing their thing.
300
,755 --> 00:12:49,485
And just between the time that made the
original movie and now there's so much
301
,485 --> 00:12:52,115
that's been learned, but what did you.
302
,880 --> 00:12:55,220
Was there anything that kind of,
that you were educated on, you
303
,220 --> 00:12:58,350
just didn't know about the whole,
you know, tornadic activity thing?
304
,390 --> 00:13:00,760
Or was there something you learned like,
oh wow, this is kind of interesting?
305
,240 --> 00:13:04,360
Ashley Jay Sandberg: Well, you know,
we were able to get a tour of NOAA, um,
306
,390 --> 00:13:08,180
and what I, you know, and their whole
facility and infrastructure they do
307
,180 --> 00:13:12,074
and how they, like, cover the entire
United States in this, in this space.
308
,395 --> 00:13:16,755
Space and I think what I've learned now
working on this film is that you know,
309
,825 --> 00:13:22,124
tornado alley is just getting bigger
It's not you know What it once was and
310
,134 --> 00:13:26,655
also the fact that our now our tornado
seasons are more months It's there's
311
,655 --> 00:13:28,425
not a traditional tornado season.
312
,444 --> 00:13:33,635
And so um learning about kind of where
the changes have like You know where
313
,635 --> 00:13:37,740
that is how that's happening and how
when we were in You know, prepping the
314
,740 --> 00:13:39,740
film, there was a tornado in Los Angeles.
315
,800 --> 00:13:43,230
It's just, you know, becoming more and
more common, I think, or we're more
316
,230 --> 00:13:45,160
aware of it than we had been in the past.
317
,670 --> 00:13:50,879
Um, what I did find out too, is that
in the original Twister, you know,
318
,879 --> 00:13:55,270
there wasn't a lot of funding for the
research at NOAA and at these facilities.
319
,270 --> 00:13:58,680
And so when they were making the movie,
Kevin Kelleher told me, he talked to
320
,680 --> 00:14:02,829
Kathy Kennedy, who was the producer
of the first film, and said, Please,
321
,829 --> 00:14:07,020
whatever you do, do not make it look
like we have a fancy, like, facility
322
,020 --> 00:14:08,760
here, because that's not the truth.
323
,760 --> 00:14:13,280
And after the film came out, there was
a lot more money that was granted to
324
,280 --> 00:14:16,939
do this kind of studies and research
and up our technology and kind of,
325
,230 --> 00:14:18,909
you know, tracking these storms.
326
,309 --> 00:14:23,000
And that after the first film
came out, OU became the number
327
,000 --> 00:14:24,530
one school for meteorology.
328
,785 --> 00:14:29,775
And that wasn't originally that and
it's stayed number one since so, um, you
329
,775 --> 00:14:33,245
know, there was a bunch of like, I'm out
to dinner and I'm rattling off facts.
330
,245 --> 00:14:36,224
There's a lot of things that have stayed
in that I didn't expect that I would know,
331
,224 --> 00:14:37,885
but know so much coming out of this film.
332
,275 --> 00:14:39,875
Marc Preston: I remember when
the first one came out, I was
333
,875 --> 00:14:41,565
just a biggest Bill Paxton fan.
334
,565 --> 00:14:46,265
I had the, uh, opportunity to meet him
at a press junket for, uh, True Lies.
335
,335 --> 00:14:49,755
He's from Fort Worth or, uh, was
from Fort Worth and for, uh, like
336
,755 --> 00:14:50,704
I said, me being from that period.
337
,255 --> 00:14:53,935
And Tornado Alley, being familiar with
it, I was like, oh, this is kind of
338
,935 --> 00:14:56,755
a whole thing I didn't know existed,
that there are these people out there.
339
,625 --> 00:15:07,004
Something I'm personally curious about
as an executive producer, when you're
340
,004 --> 00:15:11,535
coming on board, of course, director has
a lot of say so naturally when it comes
341
,535 --> 00:15:14,455
to casting, but, but as the script came
together, you're like, This is who I
342
,465 --> 00:15:16,265
think should play this part or this part.
343
,295 --> 00:15:16,505
Yeah,
344
,505 --> 00:15:18,995
Ashley Jay Sandberg: it definitely
evolved as the script kept going
345
,005 --> 00:15:20,745
and as we got into different stages.
346
,785 --> 00:15:25,145
Um, when the great thing is, is
that Isaac and I have a lot of
347
,155 --> 00:15:30,754
similarities and, and as what, like
in taste and, uh, and creatively.
348
,774 --> 00:15:34,105
So when he was talking names with
me, there were also the names that
349
,105 --> 00:15:35,905
I were Was already thinking about.
350
,915 --> 00:15:40,725
And I think ever saw, since I seen a Daisy
Edgar Jones and normal people, she's been
351
,725 --> 00:15:43,844
on my list of actors to continue to watch.
352
,865 --> 00:15:48,815
And I feel that she brought so much
to the character of Kate Carter.
353
,815 --> 00:15:51,514
And I'm so glad we were able to
get her because I think this is
354
,515 --> 00:15:54,485
going to be a really big jumping
off point for her and her career.
355
,985 --> 00:15:59,025
Uh, Anthony Ramos is another character
or actor that I wanted to work with.
356
,455 --> 00:16:04,305
Um, and it was interesting because the
character originally was a Was named
357
,315 --> 00:16:09,125
mason in the script and we were saying
well anthony isn't necessarily a mason
358
,425 --> 00:16:14,575
Uh, and so we kind of talked all these
things through and in talking with
359
,584 --> 00:16:18,705
steven Which I felt so happy about
is that we really wanted to embrace.
360
,994 --> 00:16:22,125
Uh anthony's puerto rican
heritage I'm, also puerto rican.
361
,125 --> 00:16:27,225
So it was important for me to have
representation in the film And so we
362
,225 --> 00:16:30,224
were able you know, we we were able to
Isaac went into the script, worked with
363
,224 --> 00:16:34,245
Marc and we were, you know, evolved
this character into being Javi Rivera.
364
,564 --> 00:16:37,334
And a fun fact is Rivera is
my grandmother's last name.
365
,375 --> 00:16:39,584
So Javi is, uh, has my
grandma's last name.
366
,584 --> 00:16:41,824
Marc Preston: So were you born
in Puerto Rico or is that just
367
,824 --> 00:16:42,645
where your people are from?
368
,745 --> 00:16:45,354
Ashley Jay Sandberg: I was born in
Maryland, but my family was, yes.
369
,355 --> 00:16:46,944
And so, um, yes.
370
,005 --> 00:16:49,675
Marc Preston: So anybody in the
family really good at Mofongo or, uh,
371
,875 --> 00:16:54,819
Ashley Jay Sandberg: I'm
372
,819 --> 00:17:01,624
Marc Preston: just, you know, it's one
of the places I haven't been yet that
373
,625 --> 00:17:04,004
I've always wanted to go with, with this.
374
,014 --> 00:17:05,405
Is it similar?
375
,405 --> 00:17:07,504
I mean, I don't want, I don't
like spoilers, you know, I'm not
376
,504 --> 00:17:11,105
a fan of that, but what parallels
between this film and, and twister.
377
,305 --> 00:17:12,385
Will people kind of see?
378
,395 --> 00:17:15,515
Ashley Jay Sandberg: Yeah, you have two
opposing, you have two talent, equally
379
,515 --> 00:17:20,904
talented teams, but opposing teams kind
of going out and chasing these storms.
380
,935 --> 00:17:24,835
And it is the interaction between
these groups of people, uh, and a
381
,835 --> 00:17:29,635
little bit of the competition layer
underneath it, uh, that comes into
382
,635 --> 00:17:31,455
play for a really kind of fun journey.
383
,455 --> 00:17:34,715
And we'll give you some reminders,
I think, of how the first film,
384
,895 --> 00:17:37,925
what the first film evoked
in you when you watched it.
385
,314 --> 00:17:42,855
Um, but it really is, I'd say, the
most, the biggest, and they are all
386
,855 --> 00:17:44,345
scientists, you know, different.
387
,395 --> 00:17:45,755
They're studying these storms.
388
,755 --> 00:17:47,545
They're trying to figure these storms out.
389
,955 --> 00:17:51,995
Uh, Glenn Powell, like I will always
say he was meant to play this character.
390
,005 --> 00:17:54,785
He's someone I think we
kind of always had in mind.
391
,285 --> 00:17:58,805
Uh, For the Tyler Owens character.
392
,175 --> 00:18:01,925
Um, I can't wait for
you to see him in this.
393
,925 --> 00:18:04,575
I think this is like a
Glenn you haven't seen yet.
394
,945 --> 00:18:10,895
Um, and you kind of, he's one of these
characters that you kind of don't know
395
,895 --> 00:18:14,685
really what to make of him and ultimately
has this really great arc and you
396
,705 --> 00:18:15,965
find out a little bit more about him.
397
,965 --> 00:18:16,215
It would have been
398
,215 --> 00:18:17,364
Marc Preston: better if you would
have found somebody that's a little
399
,364 --> 00:18:20,155
bit more of a leading man character,
a little more attractive, you know.
400
,329 --> 00:18:22,299
I mean, Glenn Powell's kind of, he's okay.
401
,879 --> 00:18:23,339
I know
402
,370 --> 00:18:25,489
Ashley Jay Sandberg: every time you
get New York times today, you open
403
,489 --> 00:18:26,929
it up there right on the cover.
404
,939 --> 00:18:27,769
There's Glenn's face.
405
,779 --> 00:18:31,229
So the hit man comes out today and
I seen it and it's really fantastic.
406
,230 --> 00:18:31,689
Yeah.
407
,689 --> 00:18:33,279
Marc Preston: That's what I'm
really looking forward to seeing.
408
,319 --> 00:18:36,370
Um, kind of brain farting
on, uh, the director on that.
409
,429 --> 00:18:36,639
Ashley Jay Sandberg: Yeah.
410
,109 --> 00:18:37,629
Link ladder.
411
,660 --> 00:18:37,890
Yeah.
412
,949 --> 00:18:39,009
Marc Preston: You know,
meet me in a Texan.
413
,109 --> 00:18:39,599
You gotta love him.
414
,979 --> 00:18:41,579
Uh, you know, dazed and
confused and all that.
415
Challenges and Production Insights
,620 --> 00:18:44,789
Um, but the, this has gotta be a very CG.
416
,789 --> 00:18:48,360
I mean, I'm assuming it's
a very CGI heavy film.
417
,370 --> 00:18:48,520
Ashley Jay Sandberg: I.
418
,960 --> 00:18:49,980
We did a lot.
419
,990 --> 00:18:51,310
We use the same.
420
,330 --> 00:18:55,570
Um, our head of special effects was
Scott Fisher, who did Oppenheimer.
421
,580 --> 00:18:56,540
So a lot.
422
,680 --> 00:18:59,540
You're seeing a lot of
practical effects in this film.
423
,989 --> 00:19:01,669
Um, we were on the road.
424
,679 --> 00:19:05,229
70 percent of the film actually filming
on the road and not on a process station.
425
,294 --> 00:19:05,695
stage.
426
,695 --> 00:19:10,155
So there is a lot of, you know,
that's, I think what helps make some
427
,155 --> 00:19:13,895
of our CGI feel so real is because
we were actually practically doing
428
,004 --> 00:19:15,612
a much of what you see in the film.
429
,612 --> 00:19:16,134
Marc Preston: I like that.
430
,134 --> 00:19:17,374
That's a, that's a really cool thing.
431
,435 --> 00:19:18,274
The aesthetic of it.
432
,274 --> 00:19:19,174
It just feels different.
433
,504 --> 00:19:20,824
And this isn't a small project.
434
,844 --> 00:19:22,835
Was this, there's a
lot of plates spinning.
435
,835 --> 00:19:24,535
That's why I kind of
brought up the CGI thing.
436
,535 --> 00:19:26,855
I was wondering, you got a lot
of different camps working on
437
,855 --> 00:19:29,875
different things and do you
just like these big challenges?
438
,875 --> 00:19:31,985
Is that just kind of like you
like going into the deep end right
439
,985 --> 00:19:33,235
out of the gate or is it just.
440
,235 --> 00:19:33,594
Yeah.
441
,745 --> 00:19:34,235
Ashley Jay Sandberg: That is it.
442
,235 --> 00:19:37,785
I'm like, let's, you know, every
project has, whether it's a
443
,785 --> 00:19:41,535
small budget or big budget, it's
really the way you go about it.
444
,535 --> 00:19:42,615
It's very similar.
445
,645 --> 00:19:45,235
I, you know, you have a bigger
budget, but yet you still have
446
,265 --> 00:19:48,125
constraints because you have to make
everything fit in that budget, the
447
,125 --> 00:19:49,794
same way you do on a smaller film.
448
,814 --> 00:19:51,175
So it's just a different scale.
449
,534 --> 00:19:55,064
Um, so you kind of have to have
that sensibility, which was so great
450
,064 --> 00:19:58,524
with Isaac because he came from
an independent film background.
451
,814 --> 00:20:01,715
So when he looks at things,
he looks at it in that way.
452
,715 --> 00:20:04,584
Can we get this at a, you know,
how do we get this for less?
453
,584 --> 00:20:07,294
If we get this, you know, if we get a
cost breakdown for what this scene will
454
,294 --> 00:20:10,884
cost and kind of constantly looking
at things, I mean, this film, I can
455
,125 --> 00:20:15,604
proudly say we came under budget,
um, and you know, across the board.
456
,614 --> 00:20:18,465
So, you know, I feel really proud
of the team that we had on this.
457
,795 --> 00:20:20,295
To be able to accomplish that,
458
,305 --> 00:20:23,715
Marc Preston: that's kind of unheard of,
especially with a big, you know, summer
459
,715 --> 00:20:25,395
film like this to come in under budget.
460
,415 --> 00:20:27,524
That's, that's kind of an alien concept.
461
,965 --> 00:20:31,664
Uh, but no, you can't with Kennedy
Marshall, you're, you're dealing
462
,665 --> 00:20:34,384
with folks who, who are the
big summer blockbuster people.
463
,505 --> 00:20:38,085
What was it that you gleaned from your
experience there that you really feel
464
,085 --> 00:20:43,325
like was, okay, this is a big, uh, big
ingredient and how you're approaching
465
,335 --> 00:20:45,205
doing this as an EP on a film.
466
,700 --> 00:20:48,190
Ashley Jay Sandberg: I think, you know,
working for Frank and Kathy who have
467
,190 --> 00:20:51,360
been doing it for so long and are some
of the best at what they do in their
468
,360 --> 00:20:55,889
career, you see how they, you know,
solve problems that come their way.
469
,909 --> 00:20:59,919
It's, you know, even every position that
I had at the company, you know, you're
470
,940 --> 00:21:03,090
conditioned to look at things like a
producer, which is like time is money.
471
,090 --> 00:21:05,549
What's the most effective and
efficient way to do things.
472
,550 --> 00:21:07,879
How do we service the creatives
that we're working with?
473
,139 --> 00:21:10,620
How do we, you know,
make sure that we are.
474
,890 --> 00:21:14,090
Facilitating and creating the vision
that the director wants like that is
475
,090 --> 00:21:19,090
your number one job is to really make
that happen for them and so By just being
476
,090 --> 00:21:21,270
around them and seeing how they worked.
477
,280 --> 00:21:26,530
It really was the best film school you
could possibly get Um, I also spent
478
,530 --> 00:21:28,219
a lot of time working in franchise.
479
,219 --> 00:21:31,870
I worked on the previous jurassics
and then franchise management Um
480
,879 --> 00:21:36,035
over you know The different, uh,
you know, there was drastic world
481
,035 --> 00:21:37,685
phone kingdom and then dominion.
482
,025 --> 00:21:41,865
Uh, so having all of those experiences
really kind of set you up for something
483
,865 --> 00:21:45,764
of this size and scale and I worked
regularly with studios Um, this was
484
,804 --> 00:21:50,054
interesting because it was a cofi so you
had warner brothers and universal so and
485
,085 --> 00:21:54,760
amblin So usually you get kind of one
set of notes, but now You know, this one,
486
,760 --> 00:21:58,470
we also had a lot of other people too
in this to, you know, make sure they're
487
,470 --> 00:22:00,160
happy with what's happening in the film.
488
,550 --> 00:22:02,670
Marc Preston: God, I can't even imagine
what that, I mean, I just, I'm not
489
,670 --> 00:22:05,510
pretending like I know a lot about
how movies are made, but I know enough
490
,560 --> 00:22:08,520
that where you've, you get a lot of
chefs in the kitchen, it can kind
491
,520 --> 00:22:12,350
of become a little bit of a, uh, it
becomes, you have to be very diplomatic.
492
,350 --> 00:22:13,510
I guess that's the best way to put it.
493
,610 --> 00:22:14,649
Ashley Jay Sandberg: I feel
like I've learned that through
494
,649 --> 00:22:15,760
the years and I think working.
495
,245 --> 00:22:19,445
Kennedy Marshall letter that has
really helped me be in that capacity of
496
,445 --> 00:22:20,995
making sure people feel seen and heard.
497
,365 --> 00:22:24,215
And also how do we, okay, Lynn, how
do we keep everything moving forward?
498
,615 --> 00:22:27,055
Marc Preston: Now isn't Kathleen
Kennedy, isn't she doing something
499
,055 --> 00:22:29,754
with Lucasfilm or is that my, okay.
500
,794 --> 00:22:29,934
No,
501
,935 --> 00:22:30,425
Ashley Jay Sandberg: that's correct.
502
,425 --> 00:22:33,535
She, in 2012 became the
president of Lucasfilm.
503
,565 --> 00:22:36,495
So she has been working
over there, um, since then.
504
,965 --> 00:22:41,045
Um, uh, but also because, you know,
obviously Frank and Kathy are married
505
,055 --> 00:22:44,960
and, um, Uh, so a lot of times they
would be working out of our office too.
506
,040 --> 00:22:47,060
So there was crossover
with Kathy and their team.
507
,160 --> 00:22:49,800
Marc Preston: You know, a lot
of the staff has to be on set.
508
,330 --> 00:22:54,590
How, how much did you need to be,
you know, on location compared
509
,590 --> 00:22:55,790
to, you know, in an office?
510
,829 --> 00:22:57,070
Is that really just your choice?
511
,110 --> 00:22:59,349
You know, do you like, Hey, I really
want to be where it's happening.
512
,350 --> 00:23:01,650
So if there's a question that has
to get answered, I'm right there.
513
,760 --> 00:23:02,050
Ashley Jay Sandberg: Yeah.
514
,050 --> 00:23:02,690
For this job.
515
,700 --> 00:23:06,350
No, my, my responsibility was
to be there the entire time.
516
,350 --> 00:23:09,959
So I was, uh, you know, boots
on the ground throughout.
517
,405 --> 00:23:15,195
You know development then prep production
pre production prep and you know now
518
,195 --> 00:23:19,815
in post production So i'm the day
to day producer on for the project.
519
,175 --> 00:23:23,305
So that's seeing us through
Marceting publicity and release Well
520
,634 --> 00:23:26,165
Marc Preston: just kind of as a
side like origin story note Like
521
,325 --> 00:23:27,665
what were you watching as a kid?
522
,735 --> 00:23:30,215
Were there movies that were you
you were watching they're just kind
523
,215 --> 00:23:33,365
of had you transfixed you're like,
oh, I love this genre or this You
524
,365 --> 00:23:37,045
know when you were junior high age,
let's say what were you really into?
525
,725 --> 00:23:41,534
Ashley Jay Sandberg: Yeah, I think I went
you know, I was watching The films for
526
,534 --> 00:23:43,685
the, from the Amblin projects, right?
527
,695 --> 00:23:46,804
So that's, I think when I first became
interested in working at Kennedy Marshall,
528
,825 --> 00:23:52,004
it was because I grew up watching, you
know, Raiders, Temple of Doom, Last
529
,005 --> 00:23:58,175
Crusade, um, uh, Jurassic, Jurassic
Park, Back to the Future, Goonies.
530
,205 --> 00:24:01,795
Like these were the films that I
was really gravitating towards.
531
,169 --> 00:24:02,649
Poltergeist.
532
,750 --> 00:24:07,540
It was just, you know, you really felt
for these characters in these big worlds.
533
,540 --> 00:24:09,100
And I think that's the big balance.
534
,110 --> 00:24:12,520
If you're doing a huge blockbuster film,
you're going to have the spectacle of it.
535
,719 --> 00:24:13,839
But what makes us love it?
536
,850 --> 00:24:14,929
We love the characters.
537
,929 --> 00:24:15,790
We want to be them.
538
,810 --> 00:24:16,899
We want to be friends with them.
539
,899 --> 00:24:19,719
We want Watch it again, because
we want to experience the
540
,719 --> 00:24:21,969
heartbreak, the, the adventure.
541
,249 --> 00:24:27,479
So for me, those were the stories that
I liked, and I continue to want to pull
542
,479 --> 00:24:31,879
those emotions, like Stephen did in the
past, like some of the people before us,
543
,309 --> 00:24:36,349
uh, that made these films that we love
so much and kind of set up a generation.
544
,349 --> 00:24:40,925
And really, What Isaac and I want
to continue to do is make films like
545
,925 --> 00:24:44,935
that to get people excited to go back
to the theater and experience like
546
,935 --> 00:24:46,925
these big worlds and these big fields.
547
The Future of Theatrical Releases
,195 --> 00:24:49,944
Marc Preston: Spielberg even
mentioned, uh, I think it was him.
548
,055 --> 00:24:50,924
I'm sure it's him.
549
,925 --> 00:24:54,885
I'm paraphrasing a little
bit that theatrical releases.
550
,885 --> 00:24:57,794
We're going to see fewer of them and
they're going to be in the theater
551
,794 --> 00:25:00,965
longer, uh, just kind of the way
people are watching things at home.
552
,284 --> 00:25:06,554
So what's going to show up on screen
is going to be the bigger stuff, you
553
,554 --> 00:25:10,584
know, um, do you think that's a good
thing, uh, you know, in, in terms of.
554
,370 --> 00:25:13,480
Theatrically, the movie experience.
555
,480 --> 00:25:17,320
Do you think that's better that more
people are that they're really going to
556
,320 --> 00:25:20,860
be going primarily for the big stuff as
opposed to like everything, of course,
557
,860 --> 00:25:23,030
came out in the theater once upon a time.
558
,399 --> 00:25:24,689
What are your thoughts on that?
559
,860 --> 00:25:30,519
Ashley Jay Sandberg: Yeah, I
mean, I see I'm a theater goer.
560
,530 --> 00:25:35,070
I love watching films in theater,
but I understand that, you know, time
561
,070 --> 00:25:39,239
looks different now for people, uh,
the access of having our phones and
562
,239 --> 00:25:41,379
our computers and our TVs that stream.
563
,379 --> 00:25:44,609
So it's, I don't think he's
wrong in saying that because, you
564
,609 --> 00:25:49,239
know, it, our industry is ever
changing and with that change.
565
,445 --> 00:25:51,395
You know, our output changes.
566
,395 --> 00:25:55,075
And I think what we're going through
in the industry right now, we've gone
567
,075 --> 00:25:56,685
through with so many different phases.
568
,685 --> 00:26:00,715
We went through it when TV became a
thing, and then it happened again, when
569
,715 --> 00:26:05,914
we got to, you know, DVD and VHS and, and
that changed the way we looked at things
570
,914 --> 00:26:07,225
and then it happens now with streaming.
571
,225 --> 00:26:11,175
So there's always been like this
movement up and, you know, changes once
572
,225 --> 00:26:12,764
technology changes in the industry.
573
,784 --> 00:26:15,524
But, you know, I, I think that.
574
,240 --> 00:26:21,260
At this point, yeah, these big, you know,
event films, I think we like to call them
575
,500 --> 00:26:25,340
are what really is driving people to the
theater and I, my hope is that people
576
,340 --> 00:26:29,249
are having so much fun in these event
films and being in the theater with a
577
,250 --> 00:26:33,469
group of people and feeling that energy
that they'll want to do that for a whole
578
,470 --> 00:26:35,109
bunch of different size and scale films.
579
,419 --> 00:26:39,060
And I think the movie, whether you
like it or not, Glenn Powell and Sidney
580
,060 --> 00:26:42,650
Sweeney's Anyone But You was a really
great example of a film that was.
581
,990 --> 00:26:49,060
You know, midsize budget and then
a rom com, uh, more traditional.
582
,060 --> 00:26:51,979
And it ended up, you know,
grossing so much in the box office.
583
,979 --> 00:26:53,730
They are just like a whole spin behind it.
584
,760 --> 00:26:57,050
So I think it broke what the odds
were that people thought that
585
,070 --> 00:26:57,940
people would go to the movies.
586
,410 --> 00:26:58,599
Marc Preston: Yeah.
587
,599 --> 00:27:00,229
I think that, uh, you know, when I watch.
588
,495 --> 00:27:03,834
One of my kids watch a
movie on their phone.
589
,885 --> 00:27:04,995
I'm like, Oh, really?
590
,115 --> 00:27:05,294
Yeah.
591
,294 --> 00:27:08,955
No, yeah, I'm kind of, there is
something about the communal experience
592
,955 --> 00:27:11,864
of being in a theater, you know,
where you can't be distracted.
593
,864 --> 00:27:15,964
I mean, admittedly, I'll be on my laptop
cause I'm doing work constantly and I'll
594
,965 --> 00:27:19,695
have like a 75 inch, you know, TV and
it's, something's always kind of on and
595
,695 --> 00:27:21,215
I'm kind of half paying attention to it.
596
,530 --> 00:27:24,740
But I found if I really, if it's something
big, I really want to see, I try to
597
,120 --> 00:27:26,730
close the computer and just focus in.
598
,030 --> 00:27:28,540
If you're in a theater,
you have no other option.
599
,550 --> 00:27:30,580
You're going to be fully immersed.
600
,009 --> 00:27:33,549
And I think that's, that's, there's
something special about that.
601
,549 --> 00:27:37,640
I got this kind of the same DNA, I
guess it came from traditional theater.
602
,640 --> 00:27:40,320
You're all kind of there in this
kind of experience, you know?
603
,320 --> 00:27:45,549
Um, It's so funny because where I am
now, uh, on the island, I got to drive
604
,549 --> 00:27:49,010
35, 40 minutes to get to a theater, but
I definitely want to see this movie in
605
,020 --> 00:27:53,219
the theater because you know, if it's
anything like the first, I remember
606
,219 --> 00:27:55,889
the first movie came out and I saw
some of the behind the scenes stuff
607
,500 --> 00:27:59,520
and the sound of the, of the tornado.
608
,825 --> 00:28:00,935
Uh, of the tornadoes.
609
,235 --> 00:28:04,355
They were, I think, weaving
in some animal sounds.
610
,385 --> 00:28:06,785
The sound design of it was spectacular.
611
,785 --> 00:28:07,745
It was really awesome.
612
,195 --> 00:28:11,705
Um, there was an attention to detail
and I got a feeling, you know, it, this
613
,710 --> 00:28:13,145
is definitely a theater experience.
614
,150 --> 00:28:15,035
You gotta see this in the
theater, I'm assuming.
615
,095 --> 00:28:19,085
Ashley Jay Sandberg: Um, I, I, I'm
absolutely, you know, saying that
616
,085 --> 00:28:20,225
you should see us in the theater.
617
,225 --> 00:28:24,755
I think, uh, one, like you said, the
sound, our sound design, there's no
618
,755 --> 00:28:29,375
animal sounds in this one, but you,
it's like what they did to create these.
619
,380 --> 00:28:31,660
we are calling the tornado our jaws.
620
,660 --> 00:28:37,230
Um, and, and th scale.
621
,230 --> 00:28:42,529
And there's so many of what
kind of tornadoes you kind of
622
,560 --> 00:28:47,689
each one has both visually and
sonically recommend theater for it.
623
Tornadoes and Natural Disasters
,690 --> 00:28:53,085
Marc Preston: at a time when just
look Three weeks, let's say how many
624
,105 --> 00:28:55,075
tornadoes, the frequency of them.
625
,075 --> 00:28:58,764
And it seems like they, like you said,
expanding, they're going further north.
626
,794 --> 00:29:02,975
They're going like even the LA area, you
know, you know, living, having lived in
627
,984 --> 00:29:06,115
New Orleans for a period of time, but
through Hurricane Katrina and Ida and,
628
,684 --> 00:29:08,325
and, People like, Oh, it's terrible.
629
,325 --> 00:29:10,054
It's like, well, you know, you
know, when the hurricane's coming,
630
,054 --> 00:29:13,905
the scary thing about tornadoes
is that monster vibe about them.
631
,925 --> 00:29:17,494
You, they can drop in out of nowhere,
you know, and it's when it, especially
632
,494 --> 00:29:20,484
when it's dark, you know, that
that's a wonderful way of putting,
633
,484 --> 00:29:22,004
it does have a monster element to it.
634
Family and Career Insights
,105 --> 00:29:27,264
You know, um, now as far as your,
your, uh, your daughter, has she
635
,265 --> 00:29:28,845
looked at you and gone, this is cool.
636
,845 --> 00:29:29,995
I think I want to do this too.
637
,305 --> 00:29:32,115
She looked at your,
the arc of your career.
638
,115 --> 00:29:34,280
She was like, Nah, no, this is this.
639
,470 --> 00:29:35,700
This is no, I don't like this.
640
,980 --> 00:29:36,360
Ashley Jay Sandberg: I know.
641
,360 --> 00:29:40,370
I always say to people There's anything
else you love to do maybe per, you
642
,370 --> 00:29:44,599
know, this isn't an easy path or
you know Or you know journey to go
643
,600 --> 00:29:48,389
on but like for me I love what I do
and I think she sees that I love it.
644
,399 --> 00:29:52,230
So she has an interest in it But when she
comes to set, I always make it a point
645
,240 --> 00:29:55,450
to show her, like, here's the costume,
here's the art department, here's the
646
,450 --> 00:29:57,250
camera department and show her everything.
647
,250 --> 00:30:00,379
Cause it takes all of these pieces
and they're all important, all
648
,380 --> 00:30:01,920
these departments to make a film.
649
,219 --> 00:30:05,650
So she definitely has an interest
and hasn't narrowed down yet,
650
,700 --> 00:30:09,249
but she loves coming and learning
and observing what everyone does.
651
,580 --> 00:30:12,420
Marc Preston: I always talk a little
cooking for a brief half of one second,
652
,450 --> 00:30:14,230
sometimes more on my show, my show here.
653
,230 --> 00:30:17,340
But do you, do you, uh, do you have
some of those Puerto Rican recipes
654
,340 --> 00:30:18,259
you're making for your daughter?
655
,260 --> 00:30:18,530
I mean,
656
,530 --> 00:30:20,759
Ashley Jay Sandberg: We go
back at least once a year.
657
,800 --> 00:30:22,459
And so she definitely gets it there.
658
,459 --> 00:30:26,070
And then I've at my grandmother made
a certain pasta salad that I make.
659
,119 --> 00:30:29,420
I've learned how to make pasteles,
which are really hard, but it's
660
,420 --> 00:30:31,540
like a, it's almost like a tamale.
661
,900 --> 00:30:33,360
But based with a plantain.
662
,640 --> 00:30:35,590
So it's usually stuffed
with the meat inside.
663
,950 --> 00:30:37,180
So it's really delicious.
664
,200 --> 00:30:39,980
So I've made those for her and then
the rest, she's going to have to
665
,990 --> 00:30:43,800
go when we visit my family, uh,
back East and she'll get her fair
666
,800 --> 00:30:45,320
share for my aunts and uncles.
667
,820 --> 00:30:48,650
Marc Preston: And your partner there with
your, uh, your husband, what does he do?
668
,650 --> 00:30:49,110
What's his.
669
,150 --> 00:30:49,509
Ashley Jay Sandberg: Yeah.
670
,509 --> 00:30:51,480
So he's a doctor of physical therapy.
671
,490 --> 00:30:56,660
So he has a practice in Santa Monica and
Beverly Hills and it does vestibular.
672
,670 --> 00:31:02,510
So balance, vertigo, um, You know,
and, and has, you know, which is great
673
,520 --> 00:31:04,310
because he can go on the road with us.
674
,350 --> 00:31:07,650
He can have other therapists to see
the patients and then he can help very
675
,650 --> 00:31:08,169
Marc Preston: cool to
676
,169 --> 00:31:09,280
Ashley Jay Sandberg: see, see us.
677
,280 --> 00:31:12,419
But he's very patient and it's very
interesting because a lot of his
678
,419 --> 00:31:15,999
patients are people who have been in
the industry and are older, about 70
679
,000 --> 00:31:18,280
percent are geriatric that he sees.
680
,310 --> 00:31:21,720
And so they like that he can talk
shop with them when he's in there.
681
,485 --> 00:31:25,695
Because he knows enough about the
business through me that he, you know,
682
,695 --> 00:31:29,035
can often talk about it with his,
uh, his clients and his patients.
683
,135 --> 00:31:31,465
Marc Preston: You hear about the actors
like, Oh, they do their own stunts.
684
,475 --> 00:31:34,664
And I'm like, well, like you hear
about them years later, it took a toll.
685
,735 --> 00:31:37,114
Keep those stunt people employed, you
know, because they're what they're doing.
686
,265 --> 00:31:40,935
So if you were to kind of go down a
very, very short list of things that
687
,935 --> 00:31:45,244
you're like, okay, this is the type
of movie I would really love to make.
688
Future Projects and Genre Preferences
,274 --> 00:31:49,990
Be it story, be Character, be it maybe
special effects or a genre or whatever,
689
,990 --> 00:31:52,730
what is something that you're itching
to kind of get out there and do,
690
,040 --> 00:31:56,169
Ashley Jay Sandberg: you know, I really
love the fantasy space and finding,
691
,709 --> 00:32:00,740
you know, Isaac and I have been sitting
and kind of talking about what is next.
692
,740 --> 00:32:02,199
What's the next thing we want to do?
693
,209 --> 00:32:03,489
And it is looking at.
694
,710 --> 00:32:05,710
Is it, you know, hints of sci fi?
695
,940 --> 00:32:09,610
Is it, you know, like I said, fantasy, but
always grounded in the human experience.
696
,620 --> 00:32:13,920
So I think that's really, and it's
a world that we can really build and
697
,920 --> 00:32:15,469
can build additional ones from it.
698
,500 --> 00:32:19,350
So something I'm looking for, you know,
franchise right now to see, you know, what
699
,369 --> 00:32:24,690
can we keep on making and, um, and really
in that kind of falling in that family
700
,690 --> 00:32:28,685
space, I would say like PG 13, which was
what I love about Twisters is that, you
701
,685 --> 00:32:32,240
know, You know, my daughter's eight, if
I felt comfortable with her seeing it,
702
,240 --> 00:32:35,010
I'm not telling all the other parents of
eight year olds that they can see it, but
703
,010 --> 00:32:39,980
it is something that I feel families can
experience together and go and watch, uh,
704
,980 --> 00:32:44,469
and have, you know, and I think that's
important now making time for people.
705
,520 --> 00:32:45,540
Marc Preston: I couldn't agree more.
706
,540 --> 00:32:48,980
Uh, that's one of the things that PG 13
movies, just you don't see many of them.
707
,660 --> 00:32:52,960
On the same token, you don't see many
really good of the good old fashioned,
708
,980 --> 00:32:55,280
uh, Judd Apatow rated R movies anymore.
709
,620 --> 00:32:57,510
You know, I'm like, those are
two things we need to bring back.
710
,510 --> 00:33:00,890
Those kind of rated R movies
and the PG 13s that are kind of
711
,900 --> 00:33:02,549
the adventure kind of things.
712
,549 --> 00:33:06,509
You know, as far as inspiration,
are you looking maybe at books?
713
,530 --> 00:33:08,989
Do you look at previous works?
714
,999 --> 00:33:11,330
Where, where does that
spark of interest come from?
715
,510 --> 00:33:14,970
Or like, you know, what kind of genre
you want to do, but where are you pulling
716
,970 --> 00:33:16,420
that from if you want to find something?
717
,805 --> 00:33:19,265
Ashley Jay Sandberg: A lot of it
comes, you know, what is pre existing
718
,275 --> 00:33:24,245
IP out there like books articles that
have come out So we're i'm actively
719
,245 --> 00:33:27,814
reading all the time And checking,
you know, what rights are available.
720
,814 --> 00:33:32,475
What are some new series that are coming
in and a lot of times You know, you can
721
,475 --> 00:33:37,105
have a completely original idea that
we, you can get and make, but a lot
722
,105 --> 00:33:40,315
of times it's really great, especially
with the studios to have, you know,
723
,315 --> 00:33:43,185
I, a built in fan base based on IP.
724
,194 --> 00:33:46,295
So I, right now there's a project that
we're based at, you know, it's two
725
,295 --> 00:33:47,955
short stories being blended together.
726
,964 --> 00:33:51,975
That was currently being written
for us and for Isaac and right.
727
,975 --> 00:33:55,285
And we're also just kind of reading
a bunch of books right now to see
728
,285 --> 00:33:56,995
if we can find that sweet spot.
729
,005 --> 00:33:58,555
Can we develop it into something?
730
,795 --> 00:34:00,665
that could be a big epic adventure.
731
Casting and Actor Preferences
,745 --> 00:34:02,815
Marc Preston: Do you ever,
as a producer, do you look at
732
,815 --> 00:34:04,875
maybe casting like this actor?
733
,675 --> 00:34:08,165
I can see them carrying
this kind of a project.
734
,265 --> 00:34:10,485
I want to find, you know, do you
ever look at the actor first?
735
,485 --> 00:34:10,515
I
736
,755 --> 00:34:12,614
Ashley Jay Sandberg: mean, all
the time I'm always watching
737
,614 --> 00:34:15,705
people and like, Oh, you know,
I'd love to see them in this role.
738
,774 --> 00:34:18,959
For example, Daisy, uh, is really great.
739
,380 --> 00:34:22,260
Comedy will you generally see
her in more serious roles?
740
,260 --> 00:34:25,770
So it's, it's kind of looking
at, okay, what other range can we
741
,770 --> 00:34:27,450
see these actors performing in?
742
,750 --> 00:34:31,230
And for me, I also love finding
actors who are on the up and up and
743
,230 --> 00:34:33,420
like, what, how can we push 'em over?
744
,420 --> 00:34:35,850
Like let's get 'em to be the IT person.
745
,850 --> 00:34:35,940
And
746
,150 --> 00:34:38,670
Marc Preston: like here in Chika, I
mean, I saw her, there was this movie,
747
,670 --> 00:34:40,565
she was, I forgot the name of it, was
748
,565 --> 00:34:41,400
Ashley Jay Sandberg: it Totally alert?
749
,520 --> 00:34:41,970
Marc Preston: Yes.
750
,970 --> 00:34:42,690
Yeah, totally killer.
751
,080 --> 00:34:46,170
She's just got this kind of spark to
her, you know, and again, you know.
752
,730 --> 00:34:49,990
I know you're trying to do Glen
Campbell, uh, Glen Powell, not Glen
753
,990 --> 00:34:51,420
Campbell, totally different people.
754
,420 --> 00:34:52,120
Glen Powell.
755
,460 --> 00:34:53,530
I know you're doing him a favor.
756
,530 --> 00:34:55,690
You know, he kind of is having
a hard time getting work lately.
757
,750 --> 00:34:59,979
He's got that kind of handsome guy
swagger, but at the same time there
758
,980 --> 00:35:04,340
is he, he can, he's funny too,
which is kind of nice to see some
759
,379 --> 00:35:05,940
leading guys out there like that.
760
,130 --> 00:35:09,080
But when you're coming together with
an idea, who do you powwow with?
761
,110 --> 00:35:11,320
Like, Oh, you know, I got this idea.
762
,320 --> 00:35:12,370
What do you think?
763
,380 --> 00:35:15,925
Who, who's kind of your, Objective
voice in your life that you
764
,925 --> 00:35:17,275
speak with about your projects,
765
,375 --> 00:35:17,715
Ashley Jay Sandberg: right?
766
,715 --> 00:35:22,314
So I well, there was a woman her name
is melissa goodall and I had hired her
767
,315 --> 00:35:27,894
early on at kennedy marshall and um And
have seen her, you know blossom in her
768
,895 --> 00:35:32,685
career, but she is always kind of You need
that person, that voice of reason, and
769
,685 --> 00:35:35,425
I'm like, does this sound right to you?
770
,445 --> 00:35:38,195
And I really, you need that
one person you can trust.
771
,195 --> 00:35:42,765
And I know that when someone also has
a similar taste to you, it also helps.
772
,765 --> 00:35:46,295
I definitely want people in my circle that
don't think like I do, because I want them
773
,295 --> 00:35:49,455
to maybe show things to me that I maybe
wouldn't naturally gravitate towards.
774
,915 --> 00:35:54,135
But you always need that one person that
you're, that you can have a short, you
775
,135 --> 00:35:56,065
know, quick, can you take a look at this?
776
,065 --> 00:35:56,625
Do you agree?
777
,625 --> 00:35:57,905
I think this is what I see in it.
778
,905 --> 00:35:59,665
And she's generally my go to.
779
,945 --> 00:36:03,714
And now, as I progressed in my career
and my collaborations with Isaac and
780
,715 --> 00:36:08,574
then another associate named Doug
that's working with us, we oftentimes
781
,835 --> 00:36:13,575
Discuss internally together and,
uh, you know, I'm thinking this is a
782
,575 --> 00:36:15,135
project that I liked from a while ago.
783
,145 --> 00:36:18,065
Would you guys be interested if I
bring it back and kind of seeing
784
,075 --> 00:36:21,395
if what, you know, if my fingers
on the pulse, right with things.
785
,395 --> 00:36:24,485
And generally I feel like
my taste is, has been.
786
,815 --> 00:36:28,725
You know, I, I, good, you know, I
think this casting has been, you
787
,725 --> 00:36:32,235
know, I've, like you said, Karen
and Shifka, uh, she's awesome.
788
,235 --> 00:36:34,525
She's someone I would absolutely
love to work with again
789
,525 --> 00:36:35,615
and find a project for her.
790
,615 --> 00:36:38,005
She's like, you will love her in our film.
791
,365 --> 00:36:41,369
Um, and yeah, but you need those things.
792
,370 --> 00:36:43,070
Those are my people, really.
793
,250 --> 00:36:43,790
And occasionally my husband.
794
,700 --> 00:36:47,380
Marc Preston: If you were to look back at
making this, what was the big takeaway?
795
,390 --> 00:36:50,970
Like, what was something that,
that phrase, man plans, God laughs.
796
,970 --> 00:36:53,230
That one thing you're like, Oh, this
is going to work just like this.
797
,240 --> 00:36:54,670
And you're like, Oh no, it did not.
798
,130 --> 00:36:56,870
But what's one thing that
did kind of surprise you?
799
,870 --> 00:36:58,529
That was kind of like a happy surprise.
800
,539 --> 00:36:58,919
Oh my gosh.
801
,309 --> 00:36:59,629
Ashley Jay Sandberg: We have.
802
,295 --> 00:37:01,815
Yeah, there's so many.
803
Filming Challenges and Strikes
,825 --> 00:37:04,485
Well, we really for us, I
think shooting in Oklahoma.
804
,875 --> 00:37:09,365
Um, it wasn't the first choice for studio
because, you know, the incentives there
805
,365 --> 00:37:10,635
are different and we're really working.
806
,655 --> 00:37:13,664
I will say Oklahoma was great and
working, giving us incentives so
807
,665 --> 00:37:14,715
we could bring our business there.
808
,715 --> 00:37:18,675
You know, we looked at Georgia,
but, you know, you can't replicate
809
,684 --> 00:37:20,594
the planes and the landscape.
810
,224 --> 00:37:21,524
Marc Preston: You
811
,525 --> 00:37:22,224
Ashley Jay Sandberg: just can't.
812
,225 --> 00:37:26,365
So when we were scouting and we went,
did our due diligence, you know,
813
,365 --> 00:37:30,375
scouting Georgia, uh, We went to Oklahoma
when we got there, we were like the
814
,435 --> 00:37:33,035
cloud, the sun was setting just right.
815
,035 --> 00:37:36,764
Like that was a beautiful,
like the skyscape was amazing.
816
,194 --> 00:37:39,475
And we're like, this is
where we have to film.
817
,495 --> 00:37:41,354
And I think that was one of those moments.
818
,354 --> 00:37:44,654
And, and we, you know, rolled up our
sleeves and the credits to the studio.
819
,655 --> 00:37:46,685
They really helped us
make it happen there.
820
,735 --> 00:37:50,335
Um, we were able to hire
You know, some local crew.
821
,335 --> 00:37:54,005
We had to ship a lot of people in, but
we were able to do a trainee program
822
,005 --> 00:37:56,035
and really help them start to build out.
823
,055 --> 00:37:59,625
I think what, uh, you know, the
film business could look like there.
824
,045 --> 00:38:04,974
Um, this we, you know, in
thinking about it, we filmed in
825
,974 --> 00:38:06,595
Oklahoma during tornado season.
826
,925 --> 00:38:10,745
So, you know, that was an
interesting choice when we're there.
827
,745 --> 00:38:13,940
And anytime the sky looked Perfect.
828
,940 --> 00:38:15,610
Like this is the perfect sky to film.
829
,620 --> 00:38:19,660
We knew thunder and lightning was
coming and we do have to shut down
830
,680 --> 00:38:23,480
every time that there is lightning for
30 minutes until the lightning stops.
831
,010 --> 00:38:26,230
Uh, it is less than, you know,
we, I think it's say the double
832
,230 --> 00:38:28,230
check with six miles or 13 miles.
833
,270 --> 00:38:32,469
The number is for a slipping my mind,
but, uh, that part was challenging
834
,469 --> 00:38:35,879
and really kind of keeping to
our schedule and making our days.
835
,199 --> 00:38:41,390
But our crew was so on top of it and
really wanting to make this All work and
836
,390 --> 00:38:45,120
work for Isaac and Isaac was creative and
how he shot things that we were able, you
837
,120 --> 00:38:49,460
know, to stay on schedule The hardest part
I think is that we had two strikes happen
838
,460 --> 00:38:53,629
while we made this film So we had a writer
strike happen right before we started
839
,710 --> 00:38:53,980
Marc Preston: Oh, and
840
,800 --> 00:38:58,039
Ashley Jay Sandberg: so that means
no changes to the script Uh, you
841
,039 --> 00:39:02,049
know if any changes happened in
the film the actors were doing it
842
,059 --> 00:39:04,100
like improvised on the set spot.
843
,450 --> 00:39:08,340
Um, and, you know, people were looking
to shut down productions and, you
844
,340 --> 00:39:11,510
know, we did everything above board
and really, we kept our production
845
,510 --> 00:39:12,780
going through the writer's strike.
846
,780 --> 00:39:15,900
And then with 12 days left,
we were hit with the writer's
847
,900 --> 00:39:17,410
strike or the actor's strike.
848
,090 --> 00:39:20,079
And so that was another thing.
849
,079 --> 00:39:23,360
So our whole goal was, can we finish
this movie before the year's over?
850
,820 --> 00:39:28,630
Can we make this release date that we
have coming up and everything we did
851
,860 --> 00:39:33,539
was working to get this release date,
which is means once we've stopped for the
852
,540 --> 00:39:39,839
strike, we went into editorial and edited
Isaac and Terry Shropshire, uh, edited
853
,839 --> 00:39:42,460
as much as they could with what we had.
854
,660 --> 00:39:46,150
So that way we can make our VFX
turnovers to keep our release date.
855
,440 --> 00:39:47,980
You know, with the hope
that we could keep it.
856
,980 --> 00:39:51,900
So it was a lot of, you know,
problem solving and staying positive.
857
,080 --> 00:39:54,730
Marc Preston: You're earning all
kinds of stripes on this, on this film
858
,730 --> 00:39:57,449
here, you know, kind of like saying,
well, I got, I got my strike stripe.
859
,449 --> 00:40:00,289
I've got my, you know,
different locations right now.
860
,289 --> 00:40:01,740
We're, we're, we're, we're meeting now.
861
,749 --> 00:40:03,780
Me being a Texan, we've
got a thing with Oklahoma.
862
,109 --> 00:40:05,830
It's kind of like begrudgingly,
all right, they're fine.
863
,360 --> 00:40:08,640
But, um, there was a joke
when I was growing up.
864
,650 --> 00:40:10,880
It's like cross the red
river, you need a passport.
865
,335 --> 00:40:13,515
But I've done my love
for my Oklahoma friends.
866
,515 --> 00:40:15,215
But where exactly in
Oklahoma did you film?
867
,225 --> 00:40:16,935
Ashley Jay Sandberg: Yeah, our
home base was Oklahoma City.
868
,955 --> 00:40:20,575
We use what was prairie surf studios.
869
,585 --> 00:40:23,095
That was where our sound stages
were right in the heart of the city.
870
,835 --> 00:40:27,194
Um, and everything would really,
when we went on, we were about 30
871
,585 --> 00:40:31,335
percent on stage, 70 percent on the
road, and the majority was it in
872
,345 --> 00:40:34,915
the Oak, like an, at least within
45 minutes around Oklahoma city.
873
,430 --> 00:40:39,555
We did a few in pa shoot in Pawhuska,
which, where they was, where they uhhuh,
874
,630 --> 00:40:41,520
you know, shot killers of the flower moon.
875
,040 --> 00:40:45,315
Um, we shot up on Drummond Ranch
and that was about two hours.
876
,355 --> 00:40:46,355
I know exactly where you Yeah.
877
,360 --> 00:40:48,880
Two hours outside of, uh, Oklahoma City.
878
,120 --> 00:40:49,915
So that's really Park.
879
,915 --> 00:40:50,115
Marc Preston: Oh yeah.
880
,115 --> 00:40:51,970
Because that's, uh, that's
re Drummond's place, right?
881
,970 --> 00:40:52,330
Ashley Jay Sandberg: Yep.
882
,710 --> 00:40:55,800
It was, we, we filmed
on Ford's the brothers.
883
,205 --> 00:40:58,065
Marc Preston: Oh, okay.
884
,065 --> 00:40:58,465
Okay.
885
,835 --> 00:41:01,695
So you didn't get, you didn't get any
good, uh, craft services from her.
886
,695 --> 00:41:01,815
Okay.
887
,835 --> 00:41:03,535
Ashley Jay Sandberg: No, but
we stayed in town, right?
888
,535 --> 00:41:07,545
Where that, that, you know, where hotel
was right by her shop, the pioneer woman.
889
,555 --> 00:41:09,134
Marc Preston: You know, I,
I'm very excited to see it.
890
,144 --> 00:41:11,515
I will say that I will excited
to see it in the theater.
891
,014 --> 00:41:14,724
Uh, even though it's a 35 minute
drive for me, I will go buy my
892
,725 --> 00:41:16,415
ticket to go see it because it's, um,
893
,945 --> 00:41:17,455
Ashley Jay Sandberg:
promise it'll be worth it.
894
,505 --> 00:41:19,255
Marc Preston: Very excited.
895
,255 --> 00:41:20,845
And, and this is such a neat place.
896
,340 --> 00:41:24,330
Kind of a project for,
especially for Gen X kid.
897
,340 --> 00:41:25,560
You know, that was kind of a big movie.
898
,560 --> 00:41:30,940
It was, uh, when did it was at
96, 96 was when it came out.
899
,330 --> 00:41:32,720
So I've waited a long time.
900
Seven Questions Segment
,820 --> 00:41:42,779
Before we get going, I got something
I call my seven questions that
901
,779 --> 00:41:43,949
I always like to ask everybody.
902
,959 --> 00:41:44,909
It's just a little extra fun.
903
,990 --> 00:41:46,570
A few questions, but the first one.
904
,765 --> 00:41:48,585
What is your favorite comfort food?
905
,885 --> 00:41:51,665
The thing that, you know, even makes
you feel good on a bad day, or maybe
906
,665 --> 00:41:54,055
you're having a great day, just like,
ah, I just want to go add to it,
907
,155 --> 00:41:54,525
Ashley Jay Sandberg: you know?
908
,535 --> 00:41:57,614
Yeah, that's a really good
question, but I will say pizza.
909
,995 --> 00:42:02,205
I'm like, uh, you know, and I'm,
there's a place, uh, called Great White.
910
,215 --> 00:42:06,124
It's a restaurant not far from our
house that has really great pizzas.
911
,135 --> 00:42:09,855
And so, um, That's
probably would be my pick.
912
,025 --> 00:42:11,875
Marc Preston: Are you are
you a thin crust person?
913
,875 --> 00:42:13,975
Are you a uh, deep dish person?
914
,005 --> 00:42:16,335
Ashley Jay Sandberg: My
husband's from chicago.
915
,375 --> 00:42:21,005
So I definitely experienced the deep dish
pizzas, but I am a thin crust pizza I
916
,015 --> 00:42:24,065
Marc Preston: think they're two different
things equally noble, but I when I
917
,094 --> 00:42:26,840
think pizza I always think I'm with you.
918
,350 --> 00:42:31,940
Now, if you were to sit down, you want
to talk story with three people, uh, sit
919
,940 --> 00:42:37,720
down, have coffee for a few hours and
it would be living or not three people
920
,720 --> 00:42:40,980
that you would love to sit down and
chat with who, who would those folks be?
921
,390 --> 00:42:42,149
Ashley Jay Sandberg: This is really great.
922
,240 --> 00:42:46,400
Um, I would say one, I always said I'd
want to sit down with Michelle Obama.
923
,775 --> 00:42:48,015
That is one for me.
924
,135 --> 00:42:51,855
Um, just to hear, you know, like
kind of, just kind of spitball ideas.
925
,855 --> 00:42:54,165
And I think after reading
Becoming and everything she's
926
,165 --> 00:42:56,624
done, I think she'd be really
fascinating, interesting to talk to.
927
,085 --> 00:43:00,135
Marc Preston: Um, she actually has a
good sense of humor too, you know, kind
928
,135 --> 00:43:02,075
of a, you know, she's sharp, you know,
929
,595 --> 00:43:04,255
Ashley Jay Sandberg: um, who
else would I, I would want to
930
,255 --> 00:43:05,605
sit down with Marilyn Monroe.
931
,020 --> 00:43:09,020
I think she just had an interesting,
you know, I feel like she was really
932
,020 --> 00:43:13,630
progressive in who she was as a person
and Just kind of want to hear more
933
,630 --> 00:43:17,490
about what her experience was like
here and also You know kind of talk
934
,490 --> 00:43:19,990
story with you know Different stories
and projects and what drew her to why
935
,990 --> 00:43:24,149
she said yes to the projects that she
said yes to And who else would I want
936
,150 --> 00:43:26,240
to sit down with this is a question.
937
,420 --> 00:43:29,300
I think of my third person um
938
,865 --> 00:43:35,445
It would probably be, I think I would sit
and it might be a wild ride, but probably
939
,455 --> 00:43:39,525
Alfred Hitchcock because I do have a
love for the horror, the horror space.
940
,625 --> 00:43:43,675
And I just saw again recently
psycho on the big screen and it
941
,675 --> 00:43:45,894
was just so amazing and well done.
942
,905 --> 00:43:47,135
So I think that would be my third.
943
,165 --> 00:43:47,315
Marc Preston: Yeah.
944
,325 --> 00:43:50,195
I, I love it when they do that,
when they do the re releases, I
945
,195 --> 00:43:51,405
wish I could get to more of those.
946
,405 --> 00:43:55,335
I'm just not in a place where that really
happens, but I, when I was in Southern
947
,335 --> 00:43:56,805
California, that was pretty cool.
948
,805 --> 00:43:59,335
You know, you see something
like last time it was on screen
949
,335 --> 00:44:00,925
was decades ago or something.
950
,075 --> 00:44:01,185
Yep.
951
,575 --> 00:44:05,205
Now, the next question I got for you
is, uh, let's go back to a young Ashley.
952
,805 --> 00:44:07,955
Who was your first celebrity crush?
953
,955 --> 00:44:08,985
Ashley Jay Sandberg: Who was my first?
954
,494 --> 00:44:10,895
I think it was, it was Tom Cruise.
955
,075 --> 00:44:13,395
My first celebrity crush.
956
,545 --> 00:44:15,005
Marc Preston: I don't
know what he's doing.
957
,005 --> 00:44:16,885
He, he does not age normally.
958
,985 --> 00:44:17,275
I don't know.
959
,275 --> 00:44:18,205
He's in his sixties now.
960
,215 --> 00:44:18,945
He still looks the same.
961
,945 --> 00:44:19,345
I
962
,345 --> 00:44:20,144
Ashley Jay Sandberg: don't know.
963
,145 --> 00:44:24,905
I was, I just remember watching Risky
Business and Cocktails with my one aunt.
964
,034 --> 00:44:27,974
And I was like, who is this
person when I was younger?
965
,974 --> 00:44:31,274
And it was, you know, he left
an impression on all of us.
966
,575 --> 00:44:32,065
Marc Preston: Very good.
967
,075 --> 00:44:35,515
Now, if you were to be living on an
island, let's say it's an exotic island,
968
,515 --> 00:44:36,885
somewhere nice, somewhere you want to be.
969
,885 --> 00:44:39,895
It's not, you're not a cast
away, but you're going to be
970
,895 --> 00:44:41,645
there for a year, no internet.
971
,645 --> 00:44:47,925
So you need to bring one DVD with you of a
movie and one CD with you, uh, for music.
972
,305 --> 00:44:52,225
And you say you got one album and
one DVD, one album and one movie.
973
,225 --> 00:44:53,305
What would you bring with you?
974
,495 --> 00:44:57,205
Ashley Jay Sandberg: Right now, the
DVD I would bring with me would be.
975
,155 --> 00:44:59,565
I think I'd bring Raiders with me.
976
,675 --> 00:45:00,615
Marc Preston: The original one, right?
977
,615 --> 00:45:00,634
The
978
,635 --> 00:45:01,135
Ashley Jay Sandberg: original.
979
,205 --> 00:45:01,815
Marc Preston: Or the, yeah.
980
,015 --> 00:45:03,395
Ashley Jay Sandberg: The first,
yeah, Raiders of the Lost Ark.
981
,395 --> 00:45:04,265
I'd bring the first one.
982
,805 --> 00:45:10,595
Um, and soundtrack, or like music, I
would say I have to, I'm not plugging it
983
,605 --> 00:45:14,565
because it's our film, but our soundtrack
to this new movie, the Twisters album
984
,574 --> 00:45:16,705
is pretty fantastic with amazing art.
985
,754 --> 00:45:16,844
You
986
,845 --> 00:45:18,005
Marc Preston: got to tell
me who's on it though.
987
,125 --> 00:45:22,585
Ashley Jay Sandberg: We have Luke Combs,
Tucker Wetmore, Laney Wilson, Jelly Roll.
988
,765 --> 00:45:27,765
Megan Mulroney, Bailey
Zimmerman, um, Reland, Shania,
989
,205 --> 00:45:29,675
Miranda, they're all on there.
990
,845 --> 00:45:32,425
Marc Preston: You've just listed
all of my daughter's favorites.
991
,435 --> 00:45:33,485
We'll make sure, I'll get
992
,485 --> 00:45:35,445
Ashley Jay Sandberg: you, make sure
we'll get you a copy of the soundtrack.
993
,535 --> 00:45:36,255
We'll be out soon.
994
,285 --> 00:45:37,266
Marc Preston: All of
that, that's very kind.
995
,266 --> 00:45:39,793
Yeah, Luke Combs is, what a,
what a great singer he is.
996
,793 --> 00:45:43,735
So how, Just as a little quick side
note, did you have any hand in that?
997
,735 --> 00:45:43,915
Or did you,
998
,375 --> 00:45:46,755
Ashley Jay Sandberg: I was an executive
music producer on the soundtrack.
999
,905 --> 00:45:49,005
So we worked really closely with Atlanta.
Speaker:1000
,015 --> 00:45:51,644
I was working with Kevin Weaver
at Atlantic records and his team,
Speaker:1001
,644 --> 00:45:56,005
they did Barbie and with our music
execs, Mike Noblock, Rachel Levy.
Speaker:1002
,325 --> 00:45:57,245
Over at universal.
Speaker:1003
,245 --> 00:45:58,775
And we kind of was an Isaac.
Speaker:1004
,835 --> 00:46:02,135
Uh, he's also an executive music
producer on the record and we work
Speaker:1005
,165 --> 00:46:05,704
really closely to get the artist
and make sure the songs fit with
Speaker:1006
,704 --> 00:46:07,115
the scenes that we're using them in.
Speaker:1007
,305 --> 00:46:09,704
Marc Preston: I know my
daughter is a big fan of Zach.
Speaker:1008
,715 --> 00:46:10,115
Brian.
Speaker:1009
,124 --> 00:46:10,364
Ashley Jay Sandberg: Yes.
Speaker:1010
,435 --> 00:46:11,245
We love Zach.
Speaker:1011
,275 --> 00:46:14,464
He really, we're trying to make
it work and he's an Oklahoma guy.
Speaker:1012
,525 --> 00:46:17,344
But, um, he's not on this
one, but I, I love that.
Speaker:1013
,345 --> 00:46:19,215
Marc Preston: I think
it's with Warner, I think.
Speaker:1014
,305 --> 00:46:19,715
Ashley Jay Sandberg: Yeah.
Speaker:1015
,735 --> 00:46:21,895
Marc Preston: And I'm, I'm trying to
speak with him because I know my daughter,
Speaker:1016
,895 --> 00:46:25,845
who's actually the voice of my show has
not even heard an episode, but I'm like,
Speaker:1017
,845 --> 00:46:29,185
you know, what are we going to have Ryan
on when he's like, maybe I'll listen.
Speaker:1018
,185 --> 00:46:29,715
I don't know.
Speaker:1019
,725 --> 00:46:31,914
But, uh, but all the folks you
listed, that's going to, that's going
Speaker:1020
,914 --> 00:46:33,414
to be a damn good album, actually.
Speaker:1021
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That's wonderful.
Speaker:1022
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Uh, so we, we got that locked in.
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We know you're going to the Island with
now, uh, if we were to say from the
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,355 --> 00:46:41,150
time you get up, It's time to go to bed.
Speaker:1025
,810 --> 00:46:43,370
Definition of a perfect day.
Speaker:1026
,390 --> 00:46:45,280
The component parts of that perfect day.
Speaker:1027
,640 --> 00:46:47,020
What would those things be?
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,270 --> 00:46:48,960
Ashley Jay Sandberg: Oh my gosh,
Marc, you're asking like really
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,020 --> 00:46:50,179
great, thoughtful questions.
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,190 --> 00:46:53,580
I think for me, if this, let's
say if it's a, a weekend, I'll
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,580 --> 00:46:54,679
say these are my good days.
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,679 --> 00:46:56,549
I'll say, or like my free days, but it is.
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,975 --> 00:46:58,885
You know, my, my family's very routine.
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,885 --> 00:47:01,015
The dog comes in to wake us up for food.
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,025 --> 00:47:04,285
Then my daughter comes in and kind of,
we're all in, in the room together.
Speaker:1036
,285 --> 00:47:08,594
And I think would probably be going on
a hike or doing something altogether and
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,594 --> 00:47:10,494
then getting a really good breakfast.
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,545 --> 00:47:12,315
Um, I love bagels.
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Is
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,415 --> 00:47:13,454
Marc Preston: coffee a part of that?
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,535 --> 00:47:14,525
Ashley Jay Sandberg: Oh, absolutely.
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,525 --> 00:47:15,285
I forgot that.
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,965 --> 00:47:16,895
So I would have a
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Marc Preston: morning.
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,575 --> 00:47:18,715
That's one common theme.
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,725 --> 00:47:19,305
Most people.
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,305 --> 00:47:22,895
I remember speaking to, uh, Billy
Magnus and he said, he put it best.
Speaker:1048
,895 --> 00:47:24,855
He said the ritual of making
coffee in the morning.
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,855 --> 00:47:27,934
I'm like, yeah, that's something I
really, you know, everybody's like, Oh,
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,935 --> 00:47:28,964
I've got to have that cup of coffee.
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,964 --> 00:47:29,834
It always starts there.
Speaker:1052
,865 --> 00:47:30,125
Yes.
Speaker:1053
,145 --> 00:47:32,535
Ashley Jay Sandberg: It's like
that cup to get you going.
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,545 --> 00:47:35,095
And then I think we'd be, we're out
the door pretty early in our house.
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,150 --> 00:47:37,960
But go out to do something with
the, you know, whether it goes, we
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,960 --> 00:47:41,600
go up to the Griffith observatory
and go up to, we kind of, there's
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,600 --> 00:47:43,200
a hike there that we like to do.
Speaker:1058
,600 --> 00:47:47,300
Um, so do that, get bagels,
breakfast, come back.
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,300 --> 00:47:50,449
And usually it would entail like either
doing something with family or friends.
Speaker:1060
,449 --> 00:47:53,799
I think definitely a movie in there,
watching a movie, whether, you know,
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,800 --> 00:47:56,970
as a family, hopefully, preferably
something good in the theater
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,970 --> 00:47:59,970
for us to see, and then getting
a really great dinner together.
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,350 --> 00:48:02,640
Um, and then calling it
an early night after that.
Speaker:1064
,649 --> 00:48:04,819
So that's kind of, you know, one of my.
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,150 --> 00:48:06,100
Marc Preston: That seems wonderful.
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,230 --> 00:48:08,710
That is one thing I do miss about
having the little kids around the,
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,720 --> 00:48:11,630
you know, coming into the room and
kind of getting you going in the
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,630 --> 00:48:13,460
morning and they got to be teenagers.
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,460 --> 00:48:15,570
And I was the one up first,
you know, which is odd.
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,970 --> 00:48:21,429
Now, if you're doing this for a living
and this vocation wasn't available to
Speaker:1071
,429 --> 00:48:26,130
you, what could you see that would be
out there where you'd derive joy and
Speaker:1072
,130 --> 00:48:28,090
satisfaction to an alternate career?
Speaker:1073
,505 --> 00:48:30,635
Ashley Jay Sandberg: Yeah, for
me, I think it always, I have to
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,645 --> 00:48:34,615
be doing something creative, um,
and having that ability to do it.
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,625 --> 00:48:41,504
I think I really do love homes and home
design and, uh, you know, furnishing.
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,504 --> 00:48:44,225
And I think maybe it would be doing
something like that, like updating
Speaker:1077
,225 --> 00:48:48,295
homes, flipping homes, uh, maybe
something in that space that's completely
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,295 --> 00:48:49,885
opposite of doing what I do here.
Speaker:1079
,895 --> 00:48:52,585
Marc Preston: But still creative and
still, you know, seeing a project through.
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,635 --> 00:48:53,025
Yeah.
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,305 --> 00:48:55,685
Ashley Jay Sandberg: Yeah,
I check things off my list.
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,875 --> 00:48:58,005
I do find get much joy out of that.
Speaker:1083
,165 --> 00:48:58,655
Marc Preston: Very good.
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,665 --> 00:49:01,245
Now the last question I got for
you is if you were to jump into
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,245 --> 00:49:06,025
that DeLorean going back in time,
you've got you go to see 16 year old
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,074 --> 00:49:07,864
Ashley, you got a piece of advice.
Speaker:1087
,864 --> 00:49:09,175
You got a couple minutes with you.
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,384 --> 00:49:14,054
What would the piece of advice be to
either put you on a better path or
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,054 --> 00:49:16,615
a different path or maybe make that
moment in your life a little better?
Speaker:1090
,615 --> 00:49:18,175
What would that piece of advice be?
Speaker:1091
,175 --> 00:49:18,194
Okay.
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,625 --> 00:49:22,795
Ashley Jay Sandberg: Yeah, I think
it be, um, to be easier on myself.
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I think we're, you know, I think I'm
my own worst critic sometimes and I'm
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,035 --> 00:49:28,474
really, you know, can be hard on myself.
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,474 --> 00:49:33,745
And I would say just, you know, you
know, just not to do that and that
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,745 --> 00:49:35,935
it's okay for not everyone to like you.
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,984 --> 00:49:40,455
You have to make sure you like
yourself and, and, uh, making choices
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,485 --> 00:49:42,275
that feel good and right for you.
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,295 --> 00:49:47,025
And I think that's, I would say, worry
less about the others and really focus on.
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,500 --> 00:49:49,740
What you need to be doing and
what's bringing you joy too.
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,940 --> 00:49:50,780
Marc Preston: You know, it makes me happy.
Speaker:1102
,810 --> 00:49:54,560
So many people say something so very
similar to that, that I speak with, uh,
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,580 --> 00:49:59,440
that, that just go easy on yourself,
trust yourself, you know, take it easy.
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,639 --> 00:50:03,910
You know, I don't know if, if creative
types naturally as youngins, if we're
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,920 --> 00:50:06,410
all just kind of, you know, in our
heads so much, we're really kind of
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,619 --> 00:50:09,370
rough on ourself or, you know, you
know, it's just a very interesting note.
Speaker:1107
,440 --> 00:50:10,650
A lot of folks say that.
Speaker:1108
,650 --> 00:50:13,769
So, uh, but no, I do appreciate
you taking some time out of your
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,769 --> 00:50:15,100
day to sit down with me and.
Speaker:1110
,545 --> 00:50:19,465
My puppy who's passed out finally
after he chooses just now to pass
Speaker:1111
,465 --> 00:50:22,485
out on the floor You know, he's been
running around the whole time Um,
Speaker:1112
,495 --> 00:50:25,984
but I certainly appreciate it best of
luck to you and hopefully we'll have a
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,985 --> 00:50:27,325
chance to connect down the line then.
Speaker:1114
,415 --> 00:50:28,035
Ashley Jay Sandberg: Okay, great
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,455 --> 00:50:35,225
Marc Preston: Okay, there you go ashley j
sandberg the executive producer of the new
Speaker:1116
,225 --> 00:50:39,505
film twisters Looking forward to seeing
it coming out this fall Tomorrow, Friday,
Speaker:1117
,505 --> 00:50:41,975
July 19th, it's going to be a good one.
Speaker:1118
,995 --> 00:50:43,405
I think you'll enjoy it quite a bit.
Speaker:1119
,845 --> 00:50:46,615
Also, everything you could
possibly want to know about the
Speaker:1120
,615 --> 00:50:49,215
show is at storyandcraftpod.
Speaker:1121
,075 --> 00:50:50,615
com.
Speaker:1122
,714 --> 00:50:55,194
Um, don't forget if you would to follow
Story and Craft, grab your phone,
Speaker:1123
,205 --> 00:50:58,644
hit the follow button, get notified
every time there is a new episode.
Speaker:1124
,664 --> 00:51:02,224
We've got some great ones coming
up here over the next few weeks.
Speaker:1125
,494 --> 00:51:04,484
Uh, also, uh, if you would.
Speaker:1126
,520 --> 00:51:07,100
Drop a little review in there, some stars.
Speaker:1127
,120 --> 00:51:10,860
It's a great way to help people
find the show and I appreciate it.
Speaker:1128
,100 --> 00:51:14,150
I'm sending you a big virtual
hug for doing that for me.
Speaker:1129
,150 --> 00:51:14,470
All right.
Speaker:1130
,860 --> 00:51:16,420
I'm not, I'm not trying
to make it awkward.
Speaker:1131
,420 --> 00:51:17,330
I just want to give you a hug.
Speaker:1132
,889 --> 00:51:18,269
All right.
Speaker:1133
,320 --> 00:51:18,920
That's awkward.
Speaker:1134
,219 --> 00:51:19,519
Okay.
Speaker:1135
,520 --> 00:51:23,029
So go have a great rest of
your day, evening, weekend,
Speaker:1136
,029 --> 00:51:23,949
whatever you got going on.
Speaker:1137
,949 --> 00:51:27,609
Thank you so much for making
story and craft part of what
Speaker:1138
,609 --> 00:51:29,169
you have going on every week.
Speaker:1139
,630 --> 00:51:30,920
Glad to have you be a part of it.
Speaker:1140
,970 --> 00:51:31,840
Go have a great one.
Speaker:1141
,850 --> 00:51:35,600
We will connect very soon
right here on Story Craft.
Speaker:1142
,880 --> 00:51:38,480
Announcer: That's it for
this episode of Story Craft.
Speaker:1143
,710 --> 00:51:43,060
Join Marc next week for more
conversation right here on Story Craft.
Speaker:1144
,539 --> 00:51:47,410
Story Craft is a presentation of
Marc Preston Productions, LLC.
Speaker:1145
,400 --> 00:51:50,134
Executive Producer is Marc Preston.
Speaker:1146
,135 --> 00:51:53,525
Preston Associate Producer
is Zachary Holden.
Speaker:1147
,915 --> 00:51:57,425
Please rate and review story
and craft on Apple Podcasts.
Speaker:1148
,485 --> 00:52:01,685
Don't forget to subscribe to the
show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
Speaker:1149
,805 --> 00:52:03,275
or your favorite podcast app.
Speaker:1150
,655 --> 00:52:06,565
You can subscribe to, show
updates, and stay in the know.
Speaker:1151
,745 --> 00:52:10,855
Just head to story and craft pod.com
and sign up for the newsletter.
Speaker:1152
,455 --> 00:52:12,355
I'm Emma Dylan.
Speaker:1153
,595 --> 00:52:13,555
See you next time.
Speaker:1154
,705 --> 00:52:16,135
And remember, keep telling your story.
Speaker:1155
,135 --> 00:52:16,795
Come help.
Ashley Jay Sandberg
Executive Producer
Ashley Jay Sandberg serves as Executive Producer of TWISTERS, the highly anticipated Universal Pictures’ film releasing globally on Friday, July 19th. An independent producer, Sandberg was instrumental in shepherding the project to its greenlight and throughout the entire production while on location for the shoot collaborating with acclaimed Director Lee Isaac Chung and the stellar ensemble of top-tier talent in the film. Additionally, Sandberg serves as Executive Music Producer for the upcoming TWISTERS soundtrack.
A visionary entertainment leader, Sandberg joined The Kennedy/Marshall Company in 2011, and was a key member in launching and operating their inaugural television department. Her leadership, creative instincts, and collaborative style propelled her ascent through the organization, leading to her most recent role in Feature Development and Production alongside Frank Marshall. During her tenure, Sandberg successfully managed the overseas production of Universal Pictures hit film JURASSIC WORLD: DOMINION, defying countless challenges to become the first film to resume production amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Other highlights include serving as Associate Producer on the six-time Emmy-nominated HBO Documentary Films’ THE BEE GEES: HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART.
Other notable film projects she was involved with include THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND, the JURASSIC WORLD FRANCHISE, CAMP CRETACEOUS and the JASON BOURNE FRANCHISE for the following studios: Amblin Entertainment, DreamWorks Animation, Universal Pictures, Netflix, and Warner Bros. among others.
Sandberg’s leadership and influence extends beyond her professional achievements. She has worked with Hollywood Radio & TV Society (HRTS.org) as a mentor to younger female executives entering the industry and holds a position as a member of Women In Film. Her expertise has been called on to speak at Netflix’s Hollywood Radio and Television Biopic Panel and at the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree. As Puerto Rican women with a passion for advocating for underrepresented talent, Sandberg is a creative force fostering diversity and shaping the future of storytelling.