Chris Diamantopoulos | From “Red Notice” to Prime Video’s “The Sticky” | A Sweet Toast to Dionysus

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Chris Diamantopoulos:00:00:01

And so I watched him as he talked and then the journalist

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00:00 Chris Diamantopoulos joins Story & Craft

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asked him, would you do it, Mr.

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Disney?

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Would you, would you do

a little of the voice?

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And he went,

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oh boy.

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And I watched what he did

with his, with his body.

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I watched what he did with his face.

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I thought, oh gosh, maybe I could do that.

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Announcer: Welcome to Story and 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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Back again.

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Welcome.

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Thank you so much for stopping back by.

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Uh, if this is your

first episode, welcome.

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My name is Marc Preston.

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And, uh, today we are sitting down with.

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Actor Chris Diamantopoulos, you might

know him from movies like George

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Clooney's The Boys in the Boat.

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He was also the bad guy in Red Notice

with Ryan Reynolds and Dwayne Johnson.

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He's been in The Three Stooges.

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Heck, he's even been the

voice of Mickey Mouse.

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And of course, we talk about that

as well as his new show, The Sticky.

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He co stars with Margo Martindale.

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It is on Prime Video.

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Watched a few episodes over the weekend.

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Very cool show.

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Chris is such a talented guy, uh, both

on stage and with a TV film, uh, also

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voiceover, he's done tons of animation.

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He is a great chat and

I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

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Uh, Hey, by the way, if you would do me

a favor, pop on over to storyandcraftpod.

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com slash rate.

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Hey, do me a favor, drop a review, if

you will, on your favorite podcast app.

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It helps folks to find the show.

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So, you know, leave some stars, a

review, but make sure to follow the show.

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That way you get notified every

time there is a new episode.

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And, of course, the website.

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We got everything up there from

past episodes to all of our guests.

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You want to find out more about them.

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Uh, and it's just a cool way to reach out.

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Drop me a note.

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You can even leave me a voicemail.

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So, let's go and jump right on into it.

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I really enjoyed this chat.

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Very talented actor.

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Is Chris Diamantopoulos day

right here on story and craft.

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01:53 Chris's Role in Red Notice

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Hey man.

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So good to connect with you.

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I just.

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Watched you the other night.

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I was watching a red notice.

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Love, love your character.

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You had this, uh, sexy Euro

forest Whitaker thing going on,

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which I just like that sound.

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Yeah.

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I love,

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Chris Diamantopoulos: you know,

where that voice comes from.

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Actually, that's a, it's the ultimate,

uh, this is a great actor story.

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Uh, when I auditioned for the

role, um, the character was okay.

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So originally the character was

supposed to be Antonio Banderas,

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but, uh, something happened from a

budgetary and schedule standpoint.

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He couldn't do it.

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So.

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When the audition came in, they wanted

a Spanish or a Latin American bad guy.

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And, uh, I didn't feel comfortable.

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They want to put some boots.

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Well, I didn't feel comfortable doing

that only because I knew that, you know,

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there are great Latin actors out there.

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And for me to go in and impersonate

that just didn't feel right.

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So I am Greek.

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I speak Greek fluently.

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It's my first language.

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So I went in and I made them Greek.

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And I changed all of the Spanish

stuff to Greek and director loved it.

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Ross and, Marshall Thurber

absolutely loved it.

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And so when we talked about when I got the

role, he was like, look, let's make this

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guy kind of portly and he'll make him kind

of a, you know, bloated Greek billionaire.

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And I love that idea.

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And then about two weeks in before

production started, I got a call

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from him saying flag on the play.

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And I think we're going to

have to find another actor.

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And I said, why?

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He said, well, Ryan just did a

movie and the main bad guy in

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his movie was a portly Greek guy.

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And when we went through the

script recently, and he just saw

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that change, he said, I it's, it's

just too close to something I did.

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So he said, I'm really sorry, Chris,

we're gonna have to find someone else.

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I said, no, no, no, no,

no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

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I was actually going to call you because I

thought, ah, the bloated Greek billionaire

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that's been done a million times.

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Let's make this guy a Viper.

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Let's make him of, uh, he said,

yeah, but what, where's he from?

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What's his voice?

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I said, well, he's of

indeterminate European origin.

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No one knows.

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He just popped on Interpol when he was 18.

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He goes, what does he sound like?

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I said, well, his vocal cords were cut.

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Paralyzed because his father tried

to strangle him when he was a boy.

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Marc Preston: Oh, that's right.

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Yeah.

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And

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Chris Diamantopoulos: so it was, it was

me trying to save my job and finding a

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way to make a non, non specific European

voice that, uh, uh, created that.

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So necessity breeds invention, Marc.

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Marc Preston: Well, the other

thing is I kind of dislike you

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because we're about the same age.

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I think I got like one or two years older.

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That was more than 73.

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Okay.

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75.

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Um, you, you're in way too good of shape.

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You're like the gym, man.

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I'm like, you're sort of like the totem

of where I'm trying to get to right now.

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You know, both.

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You're there,

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Chris Diamantopoulos: man.

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You look good to me.

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You look very good

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Marc Preston: to me.

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You eat well, you exercise.

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You know, it's funny, my youngest was,

went off to college, so now I'm an empty

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nester and I moved down to a little

Island in South Texas called South Padre.

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I'm kind of going for the

Jimmy Buffett lifestyle.

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I love it.

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And one of the reasons why I moved

down here is to be more active,

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literally walks on the beach every day.

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And I think that's really kind of

where I'm trying to get back to is just

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walking more and then get easing into it.

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And, uh, my kids are in way better shape.

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They're all looking.

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They're more athletic than me.

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So like, um, I was talking to my cousin,

like, I'm sorry, I've got, I got three,

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got a 21 year old daughter, uh, who's

about to graduate from, uh, uh, Loyola,

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New Orleans, going to be a teacher.

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My son's there.

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And I think he's moving and want to be

a psychologist and my, uh, baby diva, my

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18 year old daughter, Emma is going to

small university and, uh, Uh, Boca Raton.

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Oh, wait, wait a minute.

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Oh God.

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She's going to be 19 in a couple of weeks.

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When I'm thinking I'm staying the

same age, they keep getting old.

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I know you feel like a reverse.

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Uh, yeah, but, uh, but

no, I really enjoyed it.

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That's one of the things to me, you are,

I don't like to use the phrase chameleon.

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I don't think that's.

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But you really have a nice, to say

you have range would be a gross

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understatement, you know, going

from, uh, you know, three stooges

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to, to that, um, was that a, is

that like a Neumann you got there?

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It's a Neumann.

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Chris Diamantopoulos: Yeah.

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Yeah.

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So I have a Neumann.

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I also have a Sennheiser,

uh, 416 next to it.

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Just depends on what I'm recording.

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I like the Neumann because And

I've got it on this sort of Omni,

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so that if I'm moving around,

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Marc Preston: that's, that's the

same thing I got in my booth.

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Actually, I've got a booth right here.

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Uh, I got a four 16 cause I do

mostly promo and actually it's funny

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cause I know you, uh, I saw you were

in, uh, the Kennedy's, you played

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Sinatra and I was actually the

voice of reels channel at the time.

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And that was like a really

big deal for the network.

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It kind of put them, it was over the edge.

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It was a big show for them.

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Yeah.

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And, uh, you have

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Chris Diamantopoulos: a great promo voice.

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I did promo all through.

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I mean, basically from:2001

to 2008, I was, I did a ton

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of promo in New York City.

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That was my, my bread and butter.

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05:59 Voice Acting During COVID

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Marc Preston: During Covid, were

you doing a lot of the animation

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from home, you know, when you

couldn't go in, or did you have that

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set up and, uh, kind of a screen?

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Yeah, so

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Chris Diamantopoulos: yeah, I, um, I

did a lot of animation before Covid.

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Uh, we lived, you know, I

started doing animation.

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Quite regularly in about 2004 is

when it really sort of began for me.

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Uh, and I lived between New York and

LA and, uh, you know, between 2004 and

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2020, you really weren't doing stuff from

home booth, even if you had a studio,

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you were always going into studio.

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Um, because the producers were all

of a little bit different generation.

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They were still used

to wanting to see you.

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That's right.

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They wanted you, they wanted you there.

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Um, which was great.

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You know, there was a

great sense of community.

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Um, I was living in New York.

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And I had a few series going a few

animated series going at the time and

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COVID hit and I didn't have a booth

in my apartment in New York City and,

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um, I lost, I lost a bunch of work

because they needed to, to pivot to,

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uh, uh, a way where they had talent

that had, you know, studio space.

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So we moved.

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Not for this reason, but we

moved back to Los Angeles.

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And one of the first things

that I did was I took the risk

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of building a proper studio.

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I have a proper studio.

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Oh yeah.

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Yeah.

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You didn't,

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Marc Preston: you didn't

get a pre made booth.

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You actually kind of, uh,

retrofitted a space in your home.

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I took an

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Chris Diamantopoulos: actual building.

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And, and, and, you know, it was, I

guess, uh, I don't know, a guest house

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or something, but I turned the whole

thing into a proper studio, a recording

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studio, and also, um, a taping studio

for me to be able to make, you know,

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self tapes, you know, I'm an actor and I

have to get work and when George Clooney

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wants to see an audition and it's COVID

and you can't Go and do that someplace.

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You gotta, you know, I have speakers here.

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So I hire someone to be a reader and

it sounds like they're in the room

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and it looks like I'm doing a scene.

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So yeah, I and I and by virtue of

building this space, I was able to record.

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You know, probably 14 or 15

series over the last few years.

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Marc Preston: That is so awesome.

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The kids, when they were young, I just

wanted to be home with the kids and,

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uh, so, so my daughter, she is not

phased at all about the thing I do.

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She's not the least bit impressed,

you know, so I have four

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Chris Diamantopoulos: kids.

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I know, I know the drill

and being home is important.

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That's one of the reasons that the

studio was super important as well was,

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you know, making sure that if I'm going

to be, you know, doing recordings for

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six, seven hours, eight hours a day

that, you know, I could pop out and.

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Give them a squeeze, make them a

quick sandwich or whatever it is.

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Isn't that the greatest though?

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Isn't that

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Marc Preston: the greatest thing

where you can actually be doing your

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thing, but it's all kind of there,

you know, and it kind of gets.

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It's

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Chris Diamantopoulos: a, it's,

it's beyond a blessing, man.

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I mean, it's, it really is.

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It's a, it's a pinch me kind

of thing because it really

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doesn't, doesn't get much better.

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Although I will say that after doing

that for, A long time, you know,

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for a couple of years, you don't

mind going to a set occasionally.

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Oh, no, no, no, not in the least bit.

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No, no, no.

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Let's, uh, let's go.

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Let's, uh, how old are your kids?

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Uh, 14, 11, five and two.

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Oh, okay.

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So you've got a good spectrum.

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Mine is all kind of packed in there.

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We, we were, we had a, we had a couple of

couple, a couple of false starts there.

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And, uh, But, uh, yeah, no, it's lovely.

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There's sort of an act one and an act two.

249

09:01 ,480 --> 00:09:04,120

The older two are good pals and

the younger two are good pals.

250

09:04 ,130 --> 00:09:04,810

So yeah,

251

09:05 ,120 --> 00:09:06,900

Marc Preston: my, my, my

oldest two get along famously.

252

09:06 ,900 --> 00:09:11,109

The youngest one is just, she is,

she is a, uh, she is a man out.

253

09:11 ,750 --> 00:09:12,729

She does her thing.

254

09:12 ,880 --> 00:09:15,089

That's the best way to put it

in, but you're in LA right now.

255

09:15 ,089 --> 00:09:15,549

Correct.

256

09:15 ,599 --> 00:09:16,319

That's where you live in.

257

09:16 ,370 --> 00:09:16,630

Yep.

258

09:16 ,849 --> 00:09:17,159

Okay.

259

09:17 ,220 --> 00:09:17,449

Yep.

260

09:17 ,490 --> 00:09:18,140

In Los Angeles.

261

09:18 ,160 --> 00:09:18,410

Yep.

262

09:18 ,660 --> 00:09:22,030

I also saw, and I, this was not a

deep dive in your resume, but I did

263

09:22 ,030 --> 00:09:24,670

see, uh, my kids loved watching 24.

264

09:24 ,670 --> 00:09:28,770

I cannot for the life of me, why

I can't lock in and remember.

265

09:29 ,410 --> 00:09:30,610

What you did on 24,

266

09:30 ,660 --> 00:09:32,150

Chris Diamantopoulos: I was

the chief of staff to, uh,

267

09:32 ,160 --> 00:09:33,860

Cherry Jones's, uh, president.

268

09:33 ,870 --> 00:09:36,060

It was, it was in the last season of 24.

269

09:36 ,060 --> 00:09:39,899

And I, uh, I mean, I was, uh,

instrumental in trying to basically

270

09:39 ,900 --> 00:09:41,479

trying to bring it all down.

271

09:41 ,499 --> 00:09:43,600

I was a pretty, pretty hateful guy.

272

09:43 ,810 --> 00:09:44,050

Fun.

273

09:44 ,060 --> 00:09:44,909

That was a lot of fun to do.

274

09:44 ,910 --> 00:09:45,340

Actually

275

09:45 ,410 --> 00:09:49,780

Marc Preston: seemed like a fun show to

shoot, you know, because we had a ball.

276

09:50 ,225 --> 00:09:54,585

So as far as what you're doing right

now, uh, what's kind of the mix kind of

277

09:54 ,615 --> 00:09:59,435

compared to on camera, uh, film and TV

to VO stuff you're doing for animation.

278

09:59 ,435 --> 00:10:01,324

Or do you, do you all, by the

way, do you also do video games?

279

10:01 ,324 --> 00:10:02,574

Have you found yourself in that realm?

280

10:02 ,684 --> 00:10:04,754

Chris Diamantopoulos: Yeah, I

just did a star Wars video game.

281

10:04 ,755 --> 00:10:06,895

Uh, I, I do a little of everything.

282

10:06 ,925 --> 00:10:13,485

I, I, you know, Broadway and, uh,

you know, um, feature films and

283

10:13 ,525 --> 00:10:18,535

television and streaming and animation

and commercials and endorsement and

284

10:18 ,545 --> 00:10:20,495

promos and the whole nine yards.

285

10:20 ,504 --> 00:10:20,874

If.

286

10:20 ,935 --> 00:10:25,575

If I can add value and I have time,

then I'll find a way to do it.

287

10:25 ,625 --> 00:10:27,625

Um, yeah, I agree with looking at it.

288

10:27 ,725 --> 00:10:28,045

Marc Preston: Yeah.

289

10:28 ,125 --> 00:10:28,405

Chris Diamantopoulos: Yeah.

290

10:28 ,455 --> 00:10:29,345

Yeah, no, truly.

291

10:29 ,345 --> 00:10:34,134

And, and, and it's, uh, it's just a matter

of, uh, it's really sort of what's out

292

10:34 ,135 --> 00:10:37,675

there and it all sort of shifts, you

know, sometimes it's very animation heavy.

293

10:37 ,675 --> 00:10:42,115

Sometimes, uh, it's, you know,

time is more spent doing work

294

10:42 ,115 --> 00:10:43,555

as a series regular on a show.

295

10:43 ,955 --> 00:10:45,315

Sometimes it all sort of.

296

10:45 ,930 --> 00:10:49,089

Takes a beat and there's not much

happening and it's time to sort of

297

10:49 ,089 --> 00:10:51,699

reflect on what I really want to be doing.

298

10:51 ,699 --> 00:10:56,030

I mean, I think in all facets

of life control is an illusion.

299

10:56 ,030 --> 00:11:01,210

So the notion that I can control

what comes to me in this chaotic

300

11:01 ,690 --> 00:11:06,050

and amorphous business is

that's a very special illusion.

301

11:06 ,060 --> 00:11:09,980

So I try to just not take

myself too seriously and I try

302

11:09 ,980 --> 00:11:11,850

to allow myself to be open.

303

11:12 The Sticky: A Unique Show

11:12 ,280 --> 00:11:16,005

Um, And, uh, you know,

oftentimes, you know, the sticky

304

11:16 ,005 --> 00:11:17,035

is a really great example.

305

11:17 ,375 --> 00:11:19,315

When I first saw the script,

I thought it was great, but

306

11:19 ,355 --> 00:11:20,445

there was nothing in it for me.

307

11:20 ,695 --> 00:11:24,835

The character that I ended up playing

was written just slightly differently, a

308

11:24 ,835 --> 00:11:27,524

little older, and I didn't see him as me.

309

11:27 ,955 --> 00:11:32,085

When I read a second draft, I thought,

Oh, You know, this is interesting.

310

11:32 ,085 --> 00:11:34,865

I want to be a part of this world and

maybe there's a world where that character

311

11:34 ,865 --> 00:11:36,535

adapts a little bit and I could play him.

312

11:37 ,065 --> 00:11:39,575

But then I realized they didn't,

they weren't interested in seeing

313

11:39 ,585 --> 00:11:42,165

me because they had, they had an

idea that was completely different.

314

11:42 ,535 --> 00:11:45,414

And so it took like a year and a

half for me to finally say, Hey, you

315

11:45 ,415 --> 00:11:46,844

guys really need to meet me on this.

316

11:46 ,845 --> 00:11:47,574

All right, we'll meet you.

317

11:47 ,585 --> 00:11:47,964

We'll meet you.

318

11:47 ,964 --> 00:11:51,035

And, and they met me and we

all sort of clicked and it was

319

11:51 ,045 --> 00:11:52,565

like, Oh my gosh, this is right.

320

11:52 ,620 --> 00:11:54,149

Blumhouse,

321

11:54 ,329 --> 00:11:56,579

Marc Preston: this, this is

more of the horror genre.

322

11:56 ,579 --> 00:11:57,130

Am I right?

323

11:57 ,510 --> 00:11:58,349

I'm looking at Blumhouse.

324

11:58 ,359 --> 00:11:58,620

Chris Diamantopoulos: Yeah.

325

11:58 ,640 --> 00:12:04,309

So Blumhouse, uh, definitely made their

name in the horror genre, but they, you

326

12:04 ,309 --> 00:12:09,149

know, they go from horror into intriguing

into dramatic and, you know, they, they've

327

12:09 ,150 --> 00:12:13,459

got, they've, I think, look, Blumhouse is

a, is a fascinating and innovative studio

328

12:13 ,709 --> 00:12:19,020

and it's Blumhouse through Jamie Lee

Curtis, um, which, which is also just this

329

12:19 ,040 --> 00:12:21,850

extra beautiful little spice on this show.

330

12:22 ,090 --> 00:12:26,600

Not only is she in the show and she's

terrific, but as a producer and as a voice

331

12:26 ,600 --> 00:12:31,179

on the show, um, she was instrumental

in making sure that the vibe of this

332

12:31 ,630 --> 00:12:36,279

world that we haven't seen before this

criminal underbelly in Northern Canada,

333

12:36 ,289 --> 00:12:41,130

this notion of maple syrup, these ne'er

do wells, these buffoons, this insanity,

334

12:41 ,320 --> 00:12:42,780

that it all sort of comes together.

335

12:42 ,780 --> 00:12:45,750

And I think there's something really

special about a show like this in

336

12:45 ,750 --> 00:12:48,700

a 30 minute format in six episodes.

337

12:49 ,145 --> 00:12:51,655

It gives us everything we want

without feeling like we have to commit

338

12:51 ,655 --> 00:12:53,795

to something that's just going to

take weeks and weeks and weeks to

339

12:53 ,795 --> 00:12:54,275

Marc Preston: watch.

340

12:54 ,475 --> 00:12:56,855

Did you tap into your Canadian

roots with a little bit of

341

12:56 ,895 --> 00:12:59,064

Canadian dialect as a character?

342

12:59 ,385 --> 00:13:00,204

Chris Diamantopoulos: No, no, no.

343

13:00 ,205 --> 00:13:03,115

If you see the show, you'll realize I'm

actually playing an American on the show.

344

13:03 ,365 --> 00:13:06,295

Uh, so yeah, not playing

a Canadian on the show.

345

13:06 ,535 --> 00:13:10,535

Um, I play a low level.

346

13:11 ,425 --> 00:13:13,125

mobster esque guy.

347

13:13 ,135 --> 00:13:17,695

Who's, you know, uh, finds himself in

the, from the Boston area, up in Northern

348

13:17 ,695 --> 00:13:21,405

Canada, collecting, uh, you know,

the, uh, milk money for his employer.

349

13:21 ,735 --> 00:13:27,594

And, um, Margo Martindale plays

a local maple syrup farmer.

350

13:27 ,825 --> 00:13:33,384

And we realize in the show and from

this show that in, in fact, in reality,

351

13:33 ,664 --> 00:13:37,775

there is an association, a maple syrup

association that controls the global

352

13:38 ,275 --> 00:13:45,215

Supply and demand of maple syrup,

and they store these giant vats and

353

13:45 ,225 --> 00:13:49,905

giant oil drums of maple syrup that

are priced at thousands of dollars

354

13:49 ,905 --> 00:13:54,365

a drum, uh, in, in this, in these

warehouses that are largely unguarded.

355

13:54 ,734 --> 00:14:01,205

And so, uh, through desperation,

greed, and, you know, just a general

356

14:01 ,245 --> 00:14:05,335

feeling of larceny, our characters

get involved in the scheme to steal.

357

14:05 ,725 --> 00:14:07,635

Millions and millions of

dollars worth of maple syrup

358

14:07 ,635 --> 00:14:08,705

and sell it on the black Marcet.

359

14:08 ,985 --> 00:14:10,535

Marc Preston: You mentioned

something that they come up with

360

14:10 ,715 --> 00:14:12,285

a Blumhouse, like different ideas.

361

14:12 ,285 --> 00:14:14,955

And yeah, that's, I like being pleasantly

surprised by something like that.

362

14:14 ,965 --> 00:14:16,255

I haven't seen something like this before.

363

14:16 ,255 --> 00:14:17,405

That's always fun.

364

14:17 ,405 --> 00:14:17,735

Yeah.

365

14:18 ,175 --> 00:14:18,475

Yeah.

366

14:18 ,475 --> 00:14:19,195

That'll be, it'll be fun.

367

14:19 ,195 --> 00:14:20,085

You, I think you'll enjoy it.

368

14:20 Greek Heritage and Family

14:20 ,305 --> 00:14:23,424

As far as, uh, the Greek heritage, which

of course, me being a Jewish kid from

369

14:23 ,425 --> 00:14:27,785

Texas, for whatever reason, in my family,

uh, for everybody's birthdays and events,

370

14:27 ,785 --> 00:14:29,095

we always went to Greek restaurants.

371

14:29 ,095 --> 00:14:29,375

So.

372

14:29 ,820 --> 00:14:29,960

Great.

373

14:29 ,960 --> 00:14:32,300

When I think of my comfort food

as a kid, it's always Greek food.

374

14:32 ,440 --> 00:14:32,840

I love that.

375

14:33 ,060 --> 00:14:33,620

I love that.

376

14:33 ,630 --> 00:14:33,920

I think,

377

14:34 ,070 --> 00:14:35,820

Chris Diamantopoulos: I think the

Greeks by and large would feel

378

14:35 ,940 --> 00:14:38,930

happy to hear that statement because

the Greeks all over the world

379

14:38 ,940 --> 00:14:41,529

Marc Preston: just want to

feed people pure comfort.

380

14:41 ,529 --> 00:14:44,900

And I remember the guys that, uh, and

Dallas's Costas cafe, the brothers,

381

14:44 ,970 --> 00:14:49,970

uh, there was a guy Zissy and they

owned it, but it's all one big family.

382

14:50 ,000 --> 00:14:52,620

So every Greek restaurant in the Dallas

area in one way or another, they're

383

14:52 ,620 --> 00:14:54,140

all related from what I understand.

384

14:54 ,405 --> 00:14:54,635

Yeah.

385

14:54 ,635 --> 00:14:58,194

Now are your folks, uh, kind of

first generation in Canada or?

386

14:58 ,194 --> 00:14:58,454

Yeah.

387

14:58 ,454 --> 00:14:59,824

I spoke, I spoke Greek

388

14:59 ,824 --> 00:15:00,295

Chris Diamantopoulos: in the house.

389

15:00 ,295 --> 00:15:01,225

It's my first language.

390

15:01 ,565 --> 00:15:07,095

Um, my mother and father emigrated

from Athens in the, uh, early 1970s.

391

15:07 ,465 --> 00:15:14,005

My dad, uh, went to Toronto, Canada

to, um, to, uh, study business

392

15:14 ,005 --> 00:15:15,334

and get his master's in business.

393

15:15 ,714 --> 00:15:21,745

Um, and my folks were sticklers

for us learning proper.

394

15:22 ,725 --> 00:15:26,465

grammatically accurate Greek,

both modern and ancient, actually.

395

15:29 ,175 --> 00:15:34,705

It was very, very important to them

that we, um, identified culturally as

396

15:34 ,715 --> 00:15:39,065

Greek, as well as embrace, you know,

living in Canada and being Canadian.

397

15:39 ,394 --> 00:15:46,275

Um, and it was, I think, by virtue

of speaking Greek first, that my ear,

398

15:46 ,275 --> 00:15:54,015

um, Was given the opportunity to train

itself to recognizing different sounds,

399

15:54 ,365 --> 00:15:57,155

different timbres, different textures.

400

15:57 ,435 --> 00:16:01,765

And I think that's sort of where

my mimicry and my understanding of

401

16:01 ,775 --> 00:16:05,009

tone and pitch and voice came from.

402

16:05 ,270 --> 00:16:07,210

Uh, manipulation really sort of began.

403

16:07 ,510 --> 00:16:10,430

Marc Preston: I don't know any Greek

at all, except for what's on the menu.

404

16:10 ,530 --> 00:16:14,750

It was always great hearing the guys talk

to one another, you know, it always felt

405

16:14 ,750 --> 00:16:18,800

like, uh, even if they were arguing, it

always felt, that's just the way it hit

406

16:18 ,809 --> 00:16:21,769

my ear, you know, but I got it, but I

got to know, I ended up talking food at

407

16:21 ,770 --> 00:16:23,409

least once or twice, but I got to know.

408

16:23 ,469 --> 00:16:26,800

Did you inherit the recipes

and the cooking vibe, or,

409

16:26 ,819 --> 00:16:28,060

you know, Oh, my, my parents

410

16:28 ,060 --> 00:16:28,900

Chris Diamantopoulos:

are both great cooks.

411

16:28 ,900 --> 00:16:30,420

Now we weren't in the restaurant business.

412

16:30 ,420 --> 00:16:32,850

My dad actually ran a Greek radio station.

413

16:33 ,100 --> 00:16:35,849

He advertised for all the local

companies and he did a radio show.

414

16:36 ,169 --> 00:16:38,010

Beautiful voice, Malifluous voice.

415

16:38 ,390 --> 00:16:41,859

Um, it's really where I, I probably

got a lot of my, my vocal talent from.

416

16:42 ,240 --> 00:16:46,939

Um, but my mother and father are great

cooks, very simple, what they call spitiko

417

16:46 ,940 --> 00:16:51,970

fajito, which means, uh, like home cooked

stuff, nothing fancy, but, uh, Oh, yeah.

418

16:51 ,970 --> 00:16:52,670

Everything delicious.

419

16:52 ,670 --> 00:16:56,670

I mean, look, simple hand cut French

fries and olive oil, a little bit of

420

16:56 ,710 --> 00:17:02,099

oregano and thick, uh, coarse sea salt,

um, lamb chops with just a squeeze

421

17:02 ,099 --> 00:17:04,829

of lemon, uh, coarse black pepper.

422

17:05 ,060 --> 00:17:10,010

Um, a perfect, uh, horiyaki salata, the

village salad, which is just, you know,

423

17:10 ,349 --> 00:17:17,339

vine ripe tomatoes, a nice healthy dose of

olive oil, um, uh, cucumbers, big kalamata

424

17:17 ,349 --> 00:17:20,470

olives, feta cheese, uh, red onion.

425

17:21 ,045 --> 00:17:21,595

Marc Preston: Fantastic.

426

17:21 ,974 --> 00:17:24,545

They talked about the Mediterranean

diet as being really good for you.

427

17:24 ,545 --> 00:17:27,145

But I used to, uh, I still, I,

I'm trying to pick it back up down

428

17:27 ,145 --> 00:17:28,835

here, but grew all of my own herbs.

429

17:28 ,845 --> 00:17:29,254

That's one thing.

430

17:29 ,274 --> 00:17:30,905

I got that from Greek cooking.

431

17:30 ,905 --> 00:17:31,955

Cause there's always freshers.

432

17:32 ,384 --> 00:17:33,965

And that's really the kind

of thing that set it off.

433

17:34 ,395 --> 00:17:35,615

And my favorite, one

of my favorite things,

434

17:35 ,615 --> 00:17:36,944

Chris Diamantopoulos: Avogadro Lemona.

435

17:36 ,944 --> 00:17:40,749

That means it's, it's a, it's an, it's

an egg lemon basically where they beat

436

17:40 ,750 --> 00:17:42,890

The egg white, the lemon is delicious.

437

17:43 ,130 --> 00:17:44,590

We would have that when we were sick.

438

17:44 ,600 --> 00:17:46,570

It was the kind of thing that would,

you know, nurse you back to health.

439

17:46 ,570 --> 00:17:48,450

It's sort of the Greek,

you know, chicken soup.

440

17:55 ,610 --> 00:17:57,209

Marc Preston: What about

your wife's heritage?

441

17:57 ,210 --> 00:17:58,900

Is she by any chance Greek as well?

442

17:58 ,970 --> 00:18:01,789

Chris Diamantopoulos: Well, she is

now, but she was, she was born and

443

18:01 ,789 --> 00:18:03,470

raised in Guilford, Connecticut.

444

18:03 ,500 --> 00:18:05,900

We met, um, 22 years ago.

445

18:05 ,900 --> 00:18:09,010

Um, Uh, she, uh, she's a polyglot.

446

18:09 ,090 --> 00:18:12,970

She studied, uh, European history

at Penn and she, so she speaks

447

18:12 ,990 --> 00:18:14,500

fluent Spanish and fluent German.

448

18:14 ,819 --> 00:18:18,620

Uh, and she took a course of, uh,

modern Greek at Columbia while we were

449

18:18 ,620 --> 00:18:20,509

dating and now she speaks fluent Greek.

450

18:20 ,530 --> 00:18:20,919

Really?

451

18:20 ,970 --> 00:18:28,865

Um, Yeah, I married up Marc . Um, uh, she

is, um, she converted to Greek Orthodoxy

452

18:28 ,865 --> 00:18:32,435

when we got married, and so we could

raise our kids in, in the faith as well.

453

18:32 ,795 --> 00:18:35,885

And, um, but she's, no, she's

as American as Apple pie.

454

18:35 ,885 --> 00:18:38,885

Becky Newton, you know, she's on a

show right now called the Lincoln

455

18:38 ,885 --> 00:18:40,175

Lawyer, and she's about as good as

456

18:40 ,175 --> 00:18:41,285

Marc Preston: someone

can be on television.

457

18:41 ,315 --> 00:18:43,235

That's one of the shows that's

on the list, you know, there's

458

18:43 ,235 --> 00:18:44,195

so much stuff out there now.

459

18:44 ,195 --> 00:18:46,745

I got my little list of things

I, uh, that I, that I wanna see.

460

18:46 ,745 --> 00:18:46,835

Sure.

461

18:46 ,835 --> 00:18:47,945

And it's, it is definitely one of them.

462

18:48 ,215 --> 00:18:51,044

And, uh, I think, yeah, my kids

always loved going in new Orleans,

463

18:51 ,054 --> 00:18:53,695

uh, the, every year they'd have the

Greek food festival at the church.

464

18:54 ,044 --> 00:18:58,444

And my daughter, uh, loved the,

the ice cream and the, uh, uh, the,

465

18:58 ,504 --> 00:19:01,714

with the baklava, you know, they

kind of, so you can tell I haven't

466

19:01 ,714 --> 00:19:02,684

had anything to eat today yet.

467

19:02 ,684 --> 00:19:05,414

So, you know, you're killing me

over here, but, um, all right.

468

19:05 Early Acting Career

19:05 ,434 --> 00:19:09,444

So, so when did the acting thing, when did

all the creative stuff kick off for you?

469

19:09 ,444 --> 00:19:12,975

Was that kind of in high school, was

that all on already on the agenda

470

19:12 ,975 --> 00:19:14,284

or did that come a little later?

471

19:14 ,284 --> 00:19:14,344

Yeah.

472

19:14 ,575 --> 00:19:15,055

No, Marc,

473

19:15 ,055 --> 00:19:16,125

Chris Diamantopoulos: I started acting.

474

19:16 ,215 --> 00:19:18,265

I've been acting for 40

years professionally.

475

19:18 ,265 --> 00:19:19,935

I started acting when

I was nine years old.

476

19:19 ,945 --> 00:19:24,964

Uh, I displayed, uh, an affinity

and a proficiency with regard

477

19:24 ,965 --> 00:19:26,695

to performance and entertaining.

478

19:26 ,695 --> 00:19:31,505

And so my parents, uh, despite their

lack of knowledge of within the field

479

19:31 ,824 --> 00:19:34,924

decided that, you know, they should

try and help nurture that talent.

480

19:34 ,924 --> 00:19:38,324

So they signed me up for a

kid's acting class on weekends

481

19:38 ,324 --> 00:19:39,815

and an agent found me there.

482

19:39 ,815 --> 00:19:42,605

And I started doing some, uh,

television work in Toronto.

483

19:42 ,605 --> 00:19:47,605

And, uh, shortly thereafter, I, uh,

really started getting involved in

484

19:47 ,615 --> 00:19:49,635

music and singing and stage performing.

485

19:50 ,055 --> 00:19:54,215

Um, and so I started, um, auditioning

for professional productions in Toronto

486

19:54 ,215 --> 00:19:57,805

and then quickly started doing some

big national tours in the States.

487

19:57 ,824 --> 00:20:01,294

And I landed on Broadway, uh,

worked on Broadway for several

488

20:01 ,294 --> 00:20:05,344

years and I met my wife, uh, while

I was working on Broadway, but.

489

20:05 ,539 --> 00:20:07,600

She was not working on Broadway.

490

20:07 ,600 --> 00:20:09,389

We met on the subway in

the middle of rush hour.

491

20:09 ,579 --> 00:20:09,899

Really?

492

20:09 ,909 --> 00:20:14,090

And then, um, Well, when you met on the

subway, did you both know what each other

493

20:14 ,090 --> 00:20:15,929

Marc Preston: did or was it

just, you had no clue about what,

494

20:16 ,249 --> 00:20:17,239

Chris Diamantopoulos: Oh, we were kids.

495

20:17 ,289 --> 00:20:19,009

I was, I was 25.

496

20:19 ,019 --> 00:20:20,679

She was 21 straight out of college.

497

20:20 ,679 --> 00:20:25,264

And we just started chatting and, uh,

And, and then we ended up moving to Los

498

20:25 ,264 --> 00:20:27,225

Angeles together and pursuing this career.

499

20:27 ,624 --> 00:20:28,274

Marc Preston: That is awesome.

500

20:28 ,274 --> 00:20:29,044

It's very symbiotic.

501

20:29 ,054 --> 00:20:33,064

You know, that thing where she, you know,

y'all both could do your thing together.

502

20:33 ,064 --> 00:20:34,305

That's, that's really wonderful.

503

20:34 ,305 --> 00:20:37,884

I mean, the fact that especially you

being able to work at home and she,

504

20:37 ,885 --> 00:20:40,914

she understands your workflow and if

you've had a not great day, you know,

505

20:40 ,915 --> 00:20:44,284

creatively or so, you know, so it's

probably like a lot of unspoken stuff.

506

20:44 ,305 --> 00:20:47,784

You can kind of read each other as

creatives, you know, are your, any

507

20:47 ,784 --> 00:20:50,534

of your kids kind of aiming in this

direction you think, uh, or are

508

20:50 ,534 --> 00:20:52,345

they like, no, It's hard to tell.

509

20:52 ,355 --> 00:20:52,815

You know, they

510

20:52 ,815 --> 00:20:57,405

Chris Diamantopoulos: definitely, uh,

the great thing about kids is every day

511

20:57 ,534 --> 00:21:00,794

they discover something new and then

they allow you to discover something new

512

21:00 ,794 --> 00:21:02,564

about them, particularly at these ages.

513

21:02 ,984 --> 00:21:10,194

Um, they're showing, uh, uh, desire

and skill in so many different facets.

514

21:10 ,194 --> 00:21:10,879

So it's, it's hard to tell.

515

21:11 ,020 --> 00:21:12,380

It's really hard to say.

516

21:12 ,380 --> 00:21:15,780

I think, you know, Becky and I

will sort of nurture whatever

517

21:15 ,780 --> 00:21:17,090

direction they end up going.

518

21:17 ,360 --> 00:21:22,010

Um, you know, we have both of us having

been in this business as long as we have

519

21:22 ,010 --> 00:21:25,450

been, have a healthy understanding of

how challenging this can be, but you

520

21:25 ,450 --> 00:21:27,309

know, every business has its challenges.

521

21:27 ,309 --> 00:21:29,359

Every endeavor has its challenges.

522

21:29 ,359 --> 00:21:33,779

So as long as their heart's in it for the

right reasons and, uh, they, you know,

523

21:34 ,180 --> 00:21:36,510

They go into it with, with a clear mind.

524

21:36 ,520 --> 00:21:36,820

I'm,

525

21:37 ,010 --> 00:21:37,900

Marc Preston: I'm open to it.

526

21:38 ,340 --> 00:21:41,490

A lot of luck in that your folks

were at the outset, very, uh, they're

527

21:41 ,490 --> 00:21:44,030

encouraging out of the gate, you know,

a lot of, you know, a lot of folks have

528

21:44 ,030 --> 00:21:45,460

parents like, why are you doing this?

529

21:45 ,460 --> 00:21:47,110

You know, very rare, very

530

21:47 ,110 --> 00:21:48,500

Chris Diamantopoulos: rare

for Greek immigrants to, to,

531

21:48 ,549 --> 00:21:50,260

to feel that way as well.

532

21:50 ,269 --> 00:21:53,700

They, you know, they would have wanted

me to be a doctor or a lawyer or an

533

21:53 ,700 --> 00:21:59,900

accountant, but they were, uh, to their

credit, they were very, very, um, uh,

534

22:00 ,535 --> 00:22:02,195

Marc Preston: They were very

open, which was terrific.

535

22:02 ,205 --> 00:22:05,645

So how did you make that

segue on stage to on camera?

536

22:05 ,645 --> 00:22:08,414

Was that something that was

a seamless thing or was, was

537

22:08 ,414 --> 00:22:09,595

that kind of your North star?

538

22:09 ,615 --> 00:22:13,475

Was that ultimately where you were wanting

to go or just kind of ended up that way?

539

22:13 Inspiration from Film and TV

22:13 ,645 --> 00:22:19,649

Chris Diamantopoulos: So I always

knew, uh, that I wanted I knew I

540

22:19 ,649 --> 00:22:20,879

wanted to perform and entertain.

541

22:20 ,879 --> 00:22:22,540

I mean, when I was a kid, I

wanted to be a movie star.

542

22:22 ,540 --> 00:22:23,459

I didn't know what that meant.

543

22:23 ,509 --> 00:22:25,469

I just watched movies and I

knew how they made me feel.

544

22:25 ,469 --> 00:22:27,530

I'd go to the movies with my

father and I felt something.

545

22:27 ,840 --> 00:22:31,489

You know, when you watch TV at home,

it's just kind of, but when you go to

546

22:31 ,490 --> 00:22:33,730

the movie, there's something special.

547

22:33 ,730 --> 00:22:34,609

We're all in that room.

548

22:34 ,609 --> 00:22:38,719

It goes dark and it's, it's loud and,

and you're in the world and you're

549

22:38 ,739 --> 00:22:41,820

in the story and then you, the movie

finishes and, and it's just There's so

550

22:41 ,820 --> 00:22:43,920

much to talk about and how you felt.

551

22:43 ,920 --> 00:22:47,130

And, and then for weeks I'm

play acting at what I saw.

552

22:47 ,130 --> 00:22:48,330

And I'm now that person.

553

22:48 ,330 --> 00:22:51,790

And that experience is just,

that's, that's a holy experience.

554

22:52 ,440 --> 00:22:54,450

Marc Preston: Well, that, well, at

that age, no, when you were young and

555

22:54 ,470 --> 00:22:57,810

when you were, you were, your juices

were flowing, what were you watching?

556

22:57 ,810 --> 00:23:01,039

What were the things that were like

grabbing you actors or films or directors?

557

23:01 ,089 --> 00:23:01,709

Yeah, I was.

558

23:01 ,800 --> 00:23:04,389

Chris Diamantopoulos: Greatly

inspired by the works of Danny

559

23:04 ,399 --> 00:23:07,980

Kaye, the court jester, the secret

life of Walter Mitty, five pennies.

560

23:08 ,350 --> 00:23:11,760

I love Darryl Flynn, uh, the

adventures of Robin Hood.

561

23:12 ,000 --> 00:23:14,790

Uh, obviously, you know,

anything Harrison Ford did.

562

23:14 ,790 --> 00:23:18,989

I remember seeing, uh, Roger Moore

and Moonraker and thinking, wow,

563

23:19 ,579 --> 00:23:21,030

I want to, I want to do that.

564

23:21 ,370 --> 00:23:25,350

Um, but then I remember my father

coming home with a, a beta.

565

23:25 ,605 --> 00:23:28,795

Uh, tape of Amadeus and he said, you

know, this isn't really a kid's movie

566

23:28 ,815 --> 00:23:31,895

and he left it there and the next

night my brother and I watched Amadeus

567

23:31 ,895 --> 00:23:33,734

and I remember just thinking that F.

568

23:33 ,735 --> 00:23:37,345

Marie Abraham's performance was

marvelous, One of the greatest, most

569

23:37 ,355 --> 00:23:38,825

terrifying things I'd ever seen.

570

23:39 ,205 --> 00:23:44,925

So my inspirations were as varied as

the roles that I've ended up playing.

571

23:44 ,975 --> 00:23:46,115

It's why I've never,

572

23:46 ,514 --> 00:23:48,264

Marc Preston: Abraham was the

first to kind of get you feeling

573

23:48 ,264 --> 00:23:51,414

something like it, like there was

a, there was a visceral reaction.

574

23:51 ,425 --> 00:23:54,195

Chris Diamantopoulos: I mean, it

was certainly from a, from a, uh,

575

23:54 ,225 --> 00:23:56,054

massively dramatic standpoint.

576

23:56 ,125 --> 00:23:57,054

Uh, sure.

577

23:57 ,074 --> 00:24:00,245

But there, I mean, the inspirations

came from so many different

578

24:00 ,245 --> 00:24:02,485

places and so many odd places.

579

24:02 ,485 --> 00:24:06,234

I mean, one of my biggest

influences were the three stooges.

580

24:06 ,424 --> 00:24:09,654

Their level of humor, their

level of timing and commitment

581

24:09 ,664 --> 00:24:11,534

to the bit, it was fantastic.

582

24:11 ,804 --> 00:24:14,784

Marc Preston: Um, well, that's a

full arc of experience for you.

583

24:14 Landing the Role in The Three Stooges

24:14 ,784 --> 00:24:17,794

I mean, did you have to chase

that role to be, you know, uh,

584

24:17 ,804 --> 00:24:19,524

mo, uh, did you, did you chase it?

585

24:19 ,534 --> 00:24:21,884

Or did they look at you going,

you're the guy, you're the guy.

586

24:22 ,294 --> 00:24:22,974

What do you think, Marc?

587

24:22 ,975 --> 00:24:23,924

You think I walked in and they

588

24:23 ,924 --> 00:24:25,099

Chris Diamantopoulos: looked

at me and said, you're the guy.

589

24:25 ,260 --> 00:24:26,500

I think you're talented enough.

590

24:26 ,500 --> 00:24:30,290

They might've been, took me about,

took me about six months and about 14

591

24:30 ,290 --> 00:24:32,159

auditions, a lot of begging and pleading.

592

24:32 ,159 --> 00:24:35,069

And there was, there was really,

there was no way that that was going

593

24:35 ,069 --> 00:24:36,829

to happen, but, but somehow it did.

594

24:37 ,090 --> 00:24:38,949

I was an unknown actor at that point.

595

24:38 ,949 --> 00:24:40,689

The biggest thing I'd ever done was 24.

596

24:41 ,090 --> 00:24:42,909

And I certainly wasn't the lead of 24.

597

24:42 ,920 --> 00:24:44,340

I'd never done anything comedic.

598

24:44 ,699 --> 00:24:48,885

Uh, Although I knew that I was, you know,

I could, I could work as a comedy actor.

599

24:48 ,885 --> 00:24:50,255

It just hadn't happened at that point.

600

24:50 ,265 --> 00:24:53,695

So it was a big leap of faith on

the fairly brother's part, huge

601

24:53 ,695 --> 00:24:55,925

leap of faith on the studio part.

602

24:56 ,255 --> 00:24:58,015

That was when Tom Rothman was running Fox.

603

24:58 ,544 --> 00:25:03,265

Uh, and it was a confluence of my

strange history with the Stooges,

604

25:03 ,284 --> 00:25:12,905

my, um, encyclopedic knowledge of

their Uh, shorts and, um, and then my

605

25:13 ,305 --> 00:25:19,705

lack of guile and naivete to believe

that they would allow me to pull a

606

25:19 ,705 --> 00:25:23,164

face and morph to play this role.

607

25:23 ,194 --> 00:25:24,779

And it just, it ended up being me.

608

25:24 ,780 --> 00:25:27,260

It ended up happening and two

other actors were offered the role.

609

25:27 ,260 --> 00:25:30,730

They fell out one of them because

he couldn't do the, the impression

610

25:30 ,730 --> 00:25:32,899

of Mo and the other one, because

he wanted too much money.

611

25:33 ,000 --> 00:25:34,730

Marc Preston: I got to say, I remember

growing up, like you said, the

612

25:34 ,730 --> 00:25:37,210

shorts, the ones that were just kind

of in and out is just a few minutes.

613

25:37 ,410 --> 00:25:37,819

I like that.

614

25:37 ,820 --> 00:25:39,700

I thought there was something

kind of cool about that.

615

25:40 ,249 --> 00:25:42,970

But I remember this kind of the rhythm,

the physicality, the physicality.

616

25:43 ,850 --> 00:25:44,270

Really?

617

25:44 ,480 --> 00:25:45,139

And you nailed it.

618

25:45 ,139 --> 00:25:45,969

I mean, that was just like

619

25:45 ,970 --> 00:25:46,250

Chris Diamantopoulos: that.

620

25:46 ,370 --> 00:25:46,720

Thanks.

621

25:46 ,720 --> 00:25:50,100

No, I mean, the thing about the Stooges

that was fascinating was that they, they

622

25:50 ,100 --> 00:25:53,340

perfected their craft on the vaudeville

circuit and the borscht belt too.

623

25:53 ,360 --> 00:25:56,810

You know, I mean, they, they did

live performances for years and years

624

25:56 ,810 --> 00:25:59,599

and years and years and years before

they ever put anything on celluloid.

625

25:59 ,850 --> 00:26:01,384

So the daunting task for, for me.

626

26:01 ,385 --> 00:26:05,785

Us, but when we made the movie was

we had five days of prep, there

627

26:05 ,785 --> 00:26:07,275

was no, there was no rehearsal.

628

26:07 ,275 --> 00:26:12,304

There was no, Oh yeah, it was, it

was, we were shot out of a cannon.

629

26:12 ,335 --> 00:26:17,935

And so, um, I, again, through my

own naivete, not knowing that this

630

26:17 ,944 --> 00:26:19,584

is what I wasn't supposed to do.

631

26:19 ,875 --> 00:26:23,995

I just, uh, uh, uh, uh, took the

bull by the horns and, and, and,

632

26:23 ,995 --> 00:26:25,495

and Sean and will, and I would meet.

633

26:25 ,690 --> 00:26:29,290

The morning before a shoot and talk

about what we might do in a physical

634

26:29 ,290 --> 00:26:32,170

standpoint to supplement what it

says in the script, the Stooges

635

26:32 ,180 --> 00:26:34,659

fight, you know, what does that mean?

636

26:34 ,670 --> 00:26:35,520

What does that look like?

637

26:35 ,530 --> 00:26:38,470

And so we would create these bits

and then show up on set ready to go.

638

26:38 ,799 --> 00:26:41,030

It was really, it was, um, a reMarcable

639

26:41 ,030 --> 00:26:41,650

Marc Preston: experience.

640

26:47 ,045 --> 00:26:48,175

Uh, great actor.

641

26:48 ,205 --> 00:26:48,815

Good guy.

642

26:48 ,905 --> 00:26:49,205

Yeah.

643

26:49 ,205 --> 00:26:49,894

Yeah.

644

26:49 ,895 --> 00:26:51,735

It was interesting

watching the physicality.

645

26:51 ,735 --> 00:26:52,975

Cause that's what I remember as a kid.

646

26:52 ,975 --> 00:26:55,035

I don't really remember

plot lines as much.

647

26:55 ,035 --> 00:26:58,414

I just remember the seeming absurdity,

but the heart in it, you know, but I

648

26:58 ,415 --> 00:27:02,004

know some people are really, really,

really into the three stooges.

649

27:02 ,004 --> 00:27:04,664

It was an inspiration, but to be able

to be in a movie that had to be a

650

27:04 ,665 --> 00:27:06,645

cool full, a full circle thing for you

651

27:06 Reflecting on Career Shifts

27:06 ,655 --> 00:27:07,175

Chris Diamantopoulos: beyond.

652

27:07 ,445 --> 00:27:08,175

It really was.

653

27:08 ,175 --> 00:27:10,705

It was, it was on an earnest.

654

27:11 ,020 --> 00:27:12,520

Marc Preston: Uh, literal dream come true.

655

27:12 ,620 --> 00:27:13,870

You'd been on 24.

656

27:13 ,870 --> 00:27:17,810

So this is kind of like 180 degree

shift, but that's, did you kind of feel

657

27:17 ,810 --> 00:27:20,220

that was when the momentum just started

kind of picking up for you, do you

658

27:20 ,220 --> 00:27:21,760

think, did you use that kind of win?

659

27:21 ,800 --> 00:27:21,990

I don't

660

27:21 ,990 --> 00:27:22,429

Chris Diamantopoulos: think so.

661

27:22 ,430 --> 00:27:22,709

No.

662

27:22 ,709 --> 00:27:23,439

And you know, it was funny.

663

27:23 ,450 --> 00:27:24,899

It was hard to bill me after that.

664

27:24 ,919 --> 00:27:28,039

You know, my, I did a, you know,

it was a 50 million movie for

665

27:28 ,040 --> 00:27:29,534

Fox and I was the lead of it.

666

27:30 ,305 --> 00:27:32,425

I looked like Mo, I didn't look like this.

667

27:32 ,425 --> 00:27:34,595

And if you look at the posters

or any of the trailers or any of

668

27:34 ,595 --> 00:27:36,385

it, you just, it's not this guy.

669

27:36 ,405 --> 00:27:37,945

So how do they sell that?

670

27:37 ,955 --> 00:27:38,245

Right.

671

27:38 Voicing Mickey Mouse: A Dream Role

27:38 ,245 --> 00:27:42,915

So, uh, no, it wasn't necessarily the,

I mean, one thing that it did do was

672

27:43 ,014 --> 00:27:45,975

it caught the attention of someone at

Disney when they were looking to start

673

27:46 ,964 --> 00:27:52,185

a new show based on the original Walt

Disney Mickey mouse, where they wanted

674

27:52 ,185 --> 00:27:56,305

to go back to the root of what Mickey

sounded like, which was Walt himself.

675

27:56 ,345 --> 00:27:59,425

And, um, someone had seen me do.

676

27:59 ,675 --> 00:28:03,845

The Stooges and the Stooges

had that intrinsic thirties era

677

28:05 ,065 --> 00:28:08,105

cadence to it, just by virtue of

the ways that the Stooges talk.

678

28:09 ,285 --> 00:28:11,394

And so they wanted to bring

me in to voice Mickey.

679

28:11 ,464 --> 00:28:16,424

And, um, I was reticent at first because

I have a deeper voice and I, I, you

680

28:16 ,424 --> 00:28:17,865

don't mess with an icon like Mickey.

681

28:18 ,895 --> 00:28:23,065

By sheer luck, um, Tom Hanks had

been promoting his, uh, Finding Mr.

682

28:23 ,065 --> 00:28:25,095

Banks, uh, movie.

683

28:25 ,385 --> 00:28:29,225

And they had all of these, um, Walt Disney

documentaries on television at the time.

684

28:29 ,285 --> 00:28:29,965

And I watched.

685

28:30 ,429 --> 00:28:33,310

A particular documentary where it

showed Disney talking to a journalist

686

28:34 ,159 --> 00:28:36,550

and his voice was very similar to mine.

687

28:36 ,560 --> 00:28:39,969

Very, he had a, there was a base

to his voice, but where his voice

688

28:39 ,969 --> 00:28:44,850

resonated, um, aside from his

regionalism was, was similar.

689

28:44 ,850 --> 00:28:48,150

And I found that intriguing and so

I watched him as he talked and then

690

28:48 ,150 --> 00:28:50,184

the journalist asked him, would

you do it, Mr Disney, would you?

691

28:50 ,495 --> 00:28:51,525

Would you do a little of the voice?

692

28:51 ,525 --> 00:28:53,115

And he went, Oh boy.

693

28:53 ,355 --> 00:28:56,245

And he sort of, and I watched what

he did with his, with his body.

694

28:56 ,245 --> 00:28:59,395

I watched what he did with his face and

I saw what, what, where his larynx went.

695

28:59 ,395 --> 00:29:01,535

And I thought, Oh gosh,

maybe I can do that.

696

29:01 ,624 --> 00:29:07,205

And so, you know, uh, I went in and I

gave it, I gave it the old college try.

697

29:07 ,215 --> 00:29:13,545

And, uh, I mean, that really was, that

was a shift in my life that I would never

698

29:13 ,545 --> 00:29:16,965

have expected that, uh, that is really

just a beautiful blessing in my life.

699

29:16 ,995 --> 00:29:17,965

Uh, You know,

700

29:17 ,975 --> 00:29:19,845

Marc Preston: voicing Mickey

Mouse, you mentioned the

701

29:19 ,855 --> 00:29:20,875

thing about like the thirties.

702

29:20 ,905 --> 00:29:25,015

I always wondered as a VO guy, how

much of that was affected or how much

703

29:25 ,015 --> 00:29:26,655

of that's the way people spoke back

704

29:26 ,655 --> 00:29:26,935

Chris Diamantopoulos: then?

705

29:27 ,105 --> 00:29:29,445

Marc Preston: I've, you know, I can't

get it at a time machine and go hear it.

706

29:29 ,485 --> 00:29:31,735

They're kind of like, uh, those people,

they talk like, you know, the, the,

707

29:31 ,745 --> 00:29:35,005

that if there's that an, an affected

thing that they did, or if that was

708

29:35 ,005 --> 00:29:36,345

just part, it's a great question, right?

709

29:36 ,345 --> 00:29:36,355

I

710

29:36 ,395 --> 00:29:38,615

Chris Diamantopoulos: mean, it's all,

it's like, uh, how, how much of what

711

29:38 ,615 --> 00:29:41,489

they showed us of anything was affected,

you know, how many people spoke?

712

29:41 ,630 --> 00:29:44,680

Slept in twin beds and full

nighties and buttoned up pajamas.

713

29:44 ,690 --> 00:29:45,400

Do you know what I mean?

714

29:47 ,380 --> 00:29:49,260

Who knows what it was

really like back then?

715

29:49 Working with George Clooney

29:49 ,520 --> 00:29:53,280

I did, I did, uh, the boys in the

boat with George Clooney last year.

716

29:53 ,340 --> 00:29:59,315

And, um, that was a thirties, uh,

period piece and threading that Needle.

717

29:59 ,315 --> 00:30:02,445

And I played a journalist actually,

uh, and a radio announcer and the

718

30:02 ,455 --> 00:30:03,895

fellow who was announcing the races.

719

30:04 ,185 --> 00:30:08,945

So finding the right balance of what

would have been reasonable back then.

720

30:08 ,965 --> 00:30:11,165

And also what would work

cinematically for today.

721

30:11 ,195 --> 00:30:11,855

That was fun.

722

30:12 ,105 --> 00:30:14,775

Finding that with George, you

know, how far do you want to go

723

30:14 ,775 --> 00:30:17,280

into You know, the year was 1935.

724

30:17 ,280 --> 00:30:17,760

You know what I mean?

725

30:17 ,770 --> 00:30:20,050

How far do you want to go into that, uh,

726

30:20 ,830 --> 00:30:21,420

Marc Preston: to, to thread

727

30:21 ,420 --> 00:30:22,070

Chris Diamantopoulos: that balance?

728

30:22 ,340 --> 00:30:23,540

Marc Preston: He directed it, correct?

729

30:23 ,550 --> 00:30:23,900

He did.

730

30:23 ,970 --> 00:30:24,810

Thank you for reminding me.

731

30:24 ,810 --> 00:30:25,820

Cause I wanted to ask you about that.

732

30:25 ,980 --> 00:30:27,310

That is a, it's a true story.

733

30:27 ,340 --> 00:30:27,640

Correct?

734

30:27 ,650 --> 00:30:27,980

It is.

735

30:27 ,980 --> 00:30:30,140

It's a beautiful, if you haven't

read the book, I would say

736

30:30 ,550 --> 00:30:32,610

Chris Diamantopoulos: that's, that's a,

that's, you should put that on your list.

737

30:32 ,610 --> 00:30:33,600

It's a beautifully written book.

738

30:33 ,610 --> 00:30:33,770

Okay.

739

30:33 ,790 --> 00:30:35,170

Read the book first before singing.

740

30:35 ,170 --> 00:30:37,100

I mean, it's not necessary,

it's not necessary, but it's

741

30:37 ,100 --> 00:30:38,660

such an homage to America.

742

30:38 ,660 --> 00:30:45,530

It's such a, a love letter to what

this country really about to, to the.

743

30:45 ,890 --> 00:30:54,740

The, um, the pain and struggle resulting

in an exaltation of the American spirit.

744

30:54 ,900 --> 00:31:01,190

It's a, it's a really beautiful homage

to what it means to be American.

745

31:01 ,270 --> 00:31:02,070

It's it's lovely.

746

31:02 ,870 --> 00:31:07,000

Marc Preston: It'd be nice if something

old was new again right now, you

747

31:07 ,000 --> 00:31:11,000

know, bring, bring some of that vibe

back would be glorious right now.

748

31:11 ,690 --> 00:31:12,790

So the, you know, so.

749

31:13 ,100 --> 00:31:16,519

As you're progressing, were you thinking,

okay, I'm doing this, uh, you know,

750

31:16 ,520 --> 00:31:19,290

you work at George Clooney and I hear,

you know, I love everything he does.

751

31:19 ,290 --> 00:31:21,870

In fact, when I, when I coached

voiceover students, I always mentioned

752

31:22 ,250 --> 00:31:25,690

thing I love about him is we talk about

brand and who you are, your signature.

753

31:25 ,690 --> 00:31:29,000

We think of Danny Ocean, swab, Devin

air, modern day, Cary Grant, you

754

31:29 ,000 --> 00:31:32,740

know, but the things he's really

notable for, he's a total dolt like

755

31:32 ,770 --> 00:31:37,120

the Coen brothers movies, or when he

steps outside of being a handsome,

756

31:37 ,335 --> 00:31:39,225

Charismatic dude, you know, absolutely.

757

31:39 ,645 --> 00:31:40,695

That had been a great

758

31:40 ,695 --> 00:31:41,405

Chris Diamantopoulos: experience.

759

31:41 ,435 --> 00:31:42,565

Uh, it was reMarcable.

760

31:42 ,605 --> 00:31:45,465

It was reMarcable watching him

work, listening to him, seeing how

761

31:45 ,485 --> 00:31:50,885

confident he was with regard to having

already, uh, sort of seen how he

762

31:50 ,885 --> 00:31:52,585

wants the story to unfold on screen.

763

31:52 ,915 --> 00:31:56,585

It gave the actors a tremendous

sense of peace showing up on set,

764

31:56 ,585 --> 00:31:57,665

knowing that he's got the reins.

765

31:58 ,025 --> 00:31:59,965

Um, and just a lovely guy.

766

32:01 ,105 --> 00:32:01,915

Marc Preston: How does he direct?

767

32:01 ,925 --> 00:32:05,855

Cause I know like a Clint Eastwood's very,

as I say, kind of directs in the camera,

768

32:05 ,865 --> 00:32:08,045

he's like, he gets a scene done moving on.

769

32:08 ,045 --> 00:32:10,215

You know, what, what's

George Clooney as far as, I

770

32:10 ,215 --> 00:32:10,475

Chris Diamantopoulos: mean,

771

32:10 ,485 --> 00:32:10,835

Marc Preston: he's

772

32:10 ,835 --> 00:32:14,635

Chris Diamantopoulos: very casual, uh,

uh, very much in favor of the actors.

773

32:14 ,635 --> 00:32:18,145

Uh, you know, he loves actors

and he, he is an actor.

774

32:18 ,475 --> 00:32:20,875

Um, I never felt like we were.

775

32:21 ,245 --> 00:32:23,965

Chasing the clock like we

were in trouble for time.

776

32:24 ,225 --> 00:32:26,705

It never felt like we were belaboring

something and doing multiple

777

32:26 ,705 --> 00:32:28,235

takes when they were unnecessary.

778

32:28 ,625 --> 00:32:33,745

You know, it also didn't feel like he

was doing prototypical wide medium close.

779

32:33 ,895 --> 00:32:36,815

He knew how a scene was going

to play if the whole thing was

780

32:36 ,815 --> 00:32:37,825

going to play in the close.

781

32:38 ,265 --> 00:32:40,025

He would eschew the wide

and say, I don't need it.

782

32:40 ,025 --> 00:32:41,295

I know I'm going to come right in here.

783

32:41 ,585 --> 00:32:45,715

So there's a, there was something

really beautiful about that.

784

32:45 ,715 --> 00:32:50,905

He, you know, he was really a mentor to

me during those several weeks in London.

785

32:51 Audition Insights and Mentorship

32:51 ,295 --> 00:32:54,665

Um, and I asked him a lot of just,

you know, business questions and

786

32:54 ,665 --> 00:32:56,715

he was always ready with a story.

787

32:57 ,065 --> 00:32:59,465

Um, but one of the things that stuck

with me, one of the things that

788

32:59 ,465 --> 00:33:03,915

he said to me that I found very

profound and very liberating was

789

33:03 ,915 --> 00:33:08,905

that when you're an actor and you're

auditioning, playing with house money.

790

33:09 ,765 --> 00:33:12,645

The casino has given you 10, 000 and

they say, do with it what you will.

791

33:13 ,195 --> 00:33:15,175

Now you may lose it, but

you're not losing anything.

792

33:15 ,535 --> 00:33:17,875

They gave you the 10, 000, who cares?

793

33:18 ,735 --> 00:33:21,775

You may turn it into 20 and you

could turn it into a million.

794

33:21 ,805 --> 00:33:23,185

And that's what an audition is.

795

33:23 ,565 --> 00:33:24,885

You've got nothing to lose.

796

33:25 ,055 --> 00:33:25,755

So go for it.

797

33:26 ,465 --> 00:33:29,675

And, and I, I thought that that

was very simple, but very profound.

798

33:29 ,945 --> 00:33:35,785

And it's definitely indicative

of his casual, but you know,

799

33:35 ,795 --> 00:33:37,275

Marc Preston: hardworking nature, right?

800

33:37 ,760 --> 00:33:39,700

Yeah, I think that's the

hard thing to do as an actor.

801

33:39 ,700 --> 00:33:44,460

And like I say, I work in voiceover folks

and I'm like, go in there, do your thing.

802

33:44 ,920 --> 00:33:45,950

You don't know what they're looking for.

803

33:45 ,950 --> 00:33:48,730

And it's a fool's errand to kind

of assume, you know, but you do,

804

33:48 ,740 --> 00:33:51,500

you try to get down in the middle,

but did you audition for George

805

33:51 ,500 --> 00:33:53,520

or is it like, okay, it was just

kind of like, okay, you're the guy.

806

33:53 ,530 --> 00:33:54,940

I That that works.

807

33:54 ,940 --> 00:33:55,000

No,

808

33:55 ,000 --> 00:33:55,240

Chris Diamantopoulos: Marc.

809

33:55 ,240 --> 00:33:58,420

I, I love, I love the notion that

you think that it ever happens

810

33:58 ,420 --> 00:34:00,970

where someone says, you're

the guy, you know, I, I'm sure

811

34:00 ,970 --> 00:34:01,475

Marc Preston: that a lot of actors,

812

34:01 ,595 --> 00:34:03,250

Chris Diamantopoulos: I think you

were, I think you were that talented.

813

34:03 ,250 --> 00:34:06,040

I've seen you do your thing and I saw

he is like, I know he can do that thing.

814

34:06 ,045 --> 00:34:08,770

I want him, you know, I don't think

it's ever happened for me in life

815

34:08 ,770 --> 00:34:10,470

that someone went, you're the guy.

816

34:10 ,500 --> 00:34:15,200

No, I, I made a tape actually in

this studio, um, for that role.

817

34:15 ,260 --> 00:34:18,665

And look to his credit,

uh, he watched the tape.

818

34:19 ,475 --> 00:34:21,745

And then he gave me the role.

819

34:21 ,935 --> 00:34:24,635

Uh, there wasn't anything

fussy about George.

820

34:25 ,055 --> 00:34:27,995

A lot of directors will see a tape and

then decide that they want to meet with

821

34:28 ,005 --> 00:34:32,405

you or meet with you on zoom or read

again or give you notes for George.

822

34:32 ,405 --> 00:34:36,125

I think I would venture to say that

every aspect of his life is this way.

823

34:36 ,585 --> 00:34:37,495

He's decisive.

824

34:38 ,120 --> 00:34:38,840

That's the guy.

825

34:38 ,990 --> 00:34:39,890

Call him, tell him he got the

826

34:39 ,890 --> 00:34:40,190

Marc Preston: part.

827

34:40 ,340 --> 00:34:44,090

Now is his directing style verbose

giving you lots of exp explanations

828

34:44 ,090 --> 00:34:46,760

or is he very pithy with just a

few words just to get you there?

829

34:46 ,760 --> 00:34:47,720

It's interesting, I found him,

830

34:48 ,050 --> 00:34:52,040

Chris Diamantopoulos: um, you mentioned

the word chameleon early on in this, in,

831

34:52 ,040 --> 00:34:55,250

in this interview, and I think George

is a chameleon in some ways as well.

832

34:55 ,250 --> 00:34:59,590

And his directorial style I think has

a chameleonic essence to it because

833

34:59 ,590 --> 00:35:02,170

there would be some big boisterous

scenes where there are hundreds and

834

35:02 ,170 --> 00:35:06,040

hundreds of extras outside and he

would use his megaphone and use humor.

835

35:06 ,495 --> 00:35:07,855

to motivate and direct.

836

35:08 ,395 --> 00:35:12,965

And then there were some really intimate

sequences where he would ask the crew to

837

35:13 ,275 --> 00:35:17,405

be politely, pleasantly, almost not even

have to, but the crew would recognize

838

35:17 ,405 --> 00:35:19,525

that they would need to sort of bring

it all down as they were setting up.

839

35:19 ,855 --> 00:35:23,665

And he would sort of come

quietly next to the actor.

840

35:23 ,665 --> 00:35:29,145

And I remember them doing this with me and

sitting and sort of sitting with me you

841

35:29 ,145 --> 00:35:30,985

know, just like What do you think, Chris?

842

35:31 ,005 --> 00:35:35,095

You want to, you want to sort of just like

jump into it or, you know, just very like

843

35:35 ,095 --> 00:35:37,865

a paternal, like, take your time, pal.

844

35:37 ,885 --> 00:35:41,715

We, we can do this any way you want, like

almost an arm around the shoulder and,

845

35:42 ,115 --> 00:35:46,605

and I believe in you sort of thing that

just, it just took all insecurity and

846

35:46 ,605 --> 00:35:50,795

evaporated and just allowed me to just be.

847

35:51 ,180 --> 00:35:53,500

I joked with my wife, I was

like, she's like, how was it?

848

35:53 ,500 --> 00:35:57,820

I was like, I just wanted him to, to put

his arm around me and say, I got your son.

849

35:58 ,750 --> 00:36:00,580

Just, just a really, really look, man.

850

36:00 ,600 --> 00:36:02,020

You know, they say,

don't meet your heroes.

851

36:02 ,020 --> 00:36:04,650

Well, if you're heroes, George

Clooney, meet him because he's

852

36:04 ,650 --> 00:36:05,410

not going to let you down.

853

36:06 ,050 --> 00:36:07,780

Marc Preston: I can imagine being

in a room with him and Brad Pitt.

854

36:07 ,780 --> 00:36:08,970

I think that, I don't

think you can go in there.

855

36:08 ,970 --> 00:36:09,820

There's too much charisma.

856

36:09 ,830 --> 00:36:10,900

Oh, it's insane.

857

36:11 ,060 --> 00:36:11,710

Chris Diamantopoulos: Yeah, no.

858

36:11 ,710 --> 00:36:14,110

And, and, and they also,

I haven't met Brad, but.

859

36:14 ,305 --> 00:36:15,825

They seem like good dudes too.

860

36:15 ,845 --> 00:36:16,505

That's the other part.

861

36:16 ,505 --> 00:36:17,435

So there's all that charisma.

862

36:17 ,435 --> 00:36:18,805

There's all that handsomeness.

863

36:18 ,815 --> 00:36:21,105

There's all the talent experience.

864

36:21 ,105 --> 00:36:24,945

And, but, but then add to that, that

they, they seem like good natured fellows.

865

36:24 ,945 --> 00:36:27,155

Yeah, it would be, uh, it'd be too much,

866

36:27 ,395 --> 00:36:32,205

Marc Preston: too much for a mere, well,

I think you Hold your own very well and

867

36:32 ,205 --> 00:36:33,635

the stuff I've seen you without a doubt.

868

36:33 ,645 --> 00:36:39,605

I mean, I mean you and in the red notice

Are in red notice without you that the

869

36:39 ,605 --> 00:36:42,235

scene would have been as electric, you

know Cuz you've got Ryan Reynolds who's

870

36:42 ,325 --> 00:36:46,885

I mean, he's an okay looking guy, I guess

and You've got the physicality of Dwayne

871

36:46 ,895 --> 00:36:52,244

Johnson, but it without you it didn't

really have that tension, you know And

872

36:52 ,245 --> 00:36:56,205

it's I love watching people Who don't

have dialogue, but you'd love watch it.

873

36:56 ,205 --> 00:36:57,835

You just like, okay, you kind of lean in.

874

36:57 ,835 --> 00:36:58,965

Okay, what's going to happen?

875

36:59 ,015 --> 00:37:02,235

And that's, I think they did a really

wonderful thing shooting you from

876

37:02 ,235 --> 00:37:05,225

behind without even showing your

face for a good moment to moment.

877

37:05 ,225 --> 00:37:07,045

It's like, okay, what's going on?

878

37:07 ,045 --> 00:37:08,445

And it kind of built up the tension.

879

37:08 ,445 --> 00:37:10,754

So I'm glad you enjoyed it, man.

880

37:10 ,755 --> 00:37:11,525

I really appreciate it.

881

37:11 ,525 --> 00:37:13,075

I love making that now.

882

37:13 ,505 --> 00:37:18,085

You talk about George Clooney talked

about on the, on the menu of guys

883

37:18 ,085 --> 00:37:19,375

and gals you'd like to work with.

884

37:19 ,395 --> 00:37:24,035

Is there, is, is there a director, is

there a type of film, a type of project

885

37:24 ,035 --> 00:37:26,945

that's been itching and you know,

like, okay, this is where I need to

886

37:26 ,955 --> 00:37:29,155

add this to the recipe of my career.

887

37:29 ,615 --> 00:37:30,495

That's a great question.

888

37:30 ,495 --> 00:37:31,025

I mean, look, I

889

37:31 ,025 --> 00:37:32,925

Chris Diamantopoulos: love all

of Paul Thomas Anderson's films.

890

37:32 ,935 --> 00:37:36,595

So, uh, a chance to work with

Paul Thomas Anderson would be a

891

37:36 ,595 --> 00:37:39,755

real, um, a real dream come true.

892

37:40 ,475 --> 00:37:41,845

You know who his dad is, right?

893

37:42 ,430 --> 00:37:43,280

I know who his dad is.

894

37:43 ,280 --> 00:37:43,630

Yeah.

895

37:43 ,660 --> 00:37:43,930

Yeah.

896

37:43 ,930 --> 00:37:44,570

I know his dad.

897

37:44 ,670 --> 00:37:47,190

And I know his wife is, you know, I've

worked with his wife on a few projects.

898

37:47 ,190 --> 00:37:49,620

Uh, Maya and I have done

a few things together.

899

37:49 ,940 --> 00:37:51,180

No, I know all about him.

900

37:51 ,180 --> 00:37:56,270

I've been a, you know, uh, uh, a

distant student of his, if you will.

901

37:56 ,280 --> 00:37:56,810

You know what I mean?

902

37:57 ,250 --> 00:37:57,980

Um,

903

37:58 ,690 --> 00:38:00,740

Marc Preston: His dad has

the greatest outtake reel.

904

38:00 ,800 --> 00:38:02,680

It's 11 minutes of, uh, Yes.

905

38:02 ,780 --> 00:38:03,100

Chris Diamantopoulos: Yes.

906

38:03 ,950 --> 00:38:04,480

I know what you're

907

38:04 ,490 --> 00:38:05,050

Marc Preston: talking about.

908

38:05 ,050 --> 00:38:05,560

Actually.

909

38:05 ,610 --> 00:38:07,050

I, I, I have seen this.

910

38:07 ,370 --> 00:38:07,730

Yeah.

911

38:07 ,810 --> 00:38:08,910

Well, I remember hearing it.

912

38:08 ,920 --> 00:38:11,510

My voice of record back

in 1990, it was our 92.

913

38:11 ,510 --> 00:38:14,309

He said, uh, just go listen

to this as 11 minutes.

914

38:14 ,310 --> 00:38:16,430

He was the voice of, uh,

some different TV stations.

915

38:16 ,450 --> 00:38:19,880

Just the video he did when he was

the voice of America's funniest

916

38:19 ,880 --> 00:38:24,760

home and ABC, uh, he, he used

the Sennheiser four 16 because he

917

38:24 ,760 --> 00:38:26,470

wanted to sit in the booth with.

918

38:26 ,820 --> 00:38:30,210

And this, the, the, the, the banter,

it's like anybody who does voice

919

38:30 ,240 --> 00:38:31,710

or any kind of creative thing.

920

38:32 ,400 --> 00:38:35,650

I remember hearing a story that one time

for Paul, uh, Paul Thomas Sanders for

921

38:35 ,650 --> 00:38:40,560

this, I think he had other kids, um, for

Christmas, he wanted them to have snow.

922

38:40 ,630 --> 00:38:43,230

Cause he was, I would think originally

from Cleveland or something and

923

38:43 ,250 --> 00:38:45,930

being in Hollywood, he actually

paid to have snow machines brought

924

38:45 ,960 --> 00:38:47,290

an overnight cranking out snow.

925

38:47 ,290 --> 00:38:50,100

So the kids woke up Christmas morning,

they had snow on their front yard,

926

38:50 ,100 --> 00:38:51,930

courtesy of a movie studio snow machine.

927

38:51 ,930 --> 00:38:52,910

That's pretty cool.

928

38:52 ,910 --> 00:38:53,563

That's lore.

929

38:53 ,563 --> 00:38:54,543

That's pretty cool.

930

38:54 ,543 --> 00:38:55,100

That's Yeah.

931

38:55 ,100 --> 00:38:55,440

I like that.

932

38:55 ,440 --> 00:38:56,000

I like that a lot.

933

38:56 ,000 --> 00:38:58,630

Besides Paul Thomas Anderson,

who else is kind of on your

934

38:58 ,640 --> 00:38:59,730

Mount Rushmore, if you will?

935

38:59 ,740 --> 00:39:03,300

Chris Diamantopoulos: You know, did

you watch, um, did you watch Shogun?

936

39:03 ,370 --> 00:39:05,690

It was really, really beautifully done.

937

39:05 ,740 --> 00:39:10,030

And um, there's a director that

won the Emmy this year for his work

938

39:10 ,030 --> 00:39:11,810

on that show called Frederick E.

939

39:11 ,810 --> 00:39:11,940

O.

940

39:11 ,940 --> 00:39:12,410

Toy.

941

39:12 ,860 --> 00:39:15,130

And he and I have actually worked

together before on a couple of

942

39:15 ,140 --> 00:39:20,300

things, but he's the kind of guy that

I love on a TV set as a director.

943

39:20 ,640 --> 00:39:23,810

Um, this is a guy with a

specific vision and such a.

944

39:24 ,410 --> 00:39:27,640

Um, calm and quiet.

945

39:28 ,380 --> 00:39:31,470

Way of leading with that vision.

946

39:31 ,830 --> 00:39:34,690

Um, it's guys like that, that

I, that I want to work with.

947

39:34 ,690 --> 00:39:37,940

There's a show, uh, if you watch the

show, slow horses with Gary Oldman

948

39:37 ,950 --> 00:39:39,660

Marc Preston: recently,

that's an Apple TV show.

949

39:39 ,690 --> 00:39:41,480

You know, it's one of

those, you know, yes or no.

950

39:41 ,480 --> 00:39:43,390

I started watching and I

was working on the computer.

951

39:43 ,390 --> 00:39:45,240

I was sitting on my sofa and

I was like, this is one of the

952

39:45 ,240 --> 00:39:46,230

shows I need to pay attention to.

953

39:46 ,230 --> 00:39:46,760

Totally.

954

39:46 ,880 --> 00:39:48,030

I can't like half pay attention.

955

39:48 ,410 --> 00:39:48,710

Yeah.

956

39:48 ,860 --> 00:39:48,980

Chris Diamantopoulos: Yeah.

957

39:49 ,070 --> 00:39:49,790

You got to pay attention.

958

39:49 ,850 --> 00:39:51,630

You got to pay attention

to that one for sure.

959

39:52 ,060 --> 00:39:54,600

But it's, it's a brilliant show

and that's the kind of material

960

39:54 ,600 --> 00:39:56,100

that I would absolutely love

961

39:56 Directorial Aspirations

39:56 ,100 --> 00:39:58,050

Marc Preston: to, You talk

about George Clooney directing,

962

39:58 ,050 --> 00:39:59,020

but what about you directing?

963

39:59 ,030 --> 00:40:02,160

Have you thought about, okay, this, this

is a muscle I haven't flexed yet that I

964

40:02 ,160 --> 00:40:03,840

want to try it out and see how it works.

965

40:03 ,950 --> 00:40:05,330

Chris Diamantopoulos:

Yeah, I have definitely.

966

40:05 ,330 --> 00:40:08,920

And Stooges was sort of the first

time that that came onto my radar.

967

40:09 ,200 --> 00:40:15,510

Um, my involvement in that movie was

much more than just acting as Moe.

968

40:15 ,800 --> 00:40:20,885

Um, because of my Knowledge of the

Stooges in my understanding intrinsically

969

40:20 ,885 --> 00:40:29,015

of what the task was, um, I got my

first taste of what it might be like

970

40:29 ,025 --> 00:40:32,435

if I were to, uh, direct something

that I, that I really believed in.

971

40:32 ,435 --> 00:40:33,885

And I think that's really

what it's going to take.

972

40:33 ,885 --> 00:40:38,945

I think it's going to, I'm going to need

to find a story that I think is the most

973

40:38 ,955 --> 00:40:40,475

compelling story that needs to be told.

974

40:40 ,475 --> 00:40:43,465

And then I'm going to have to tell

it, um, you, you, you had your wife.

975

40:43 ,675 --> 00:40:44,925

Is she right at all?

976

40:45 ,045 --> 00:40:45,745

We both do.

977

40:45 ,755 --> 00:40:47,305

Yeah, we both, we both right.

978

40:47 ,325 --> 00:40:49,305

And, and it's one of those things where.

979

40:49 ,825 --> 00:40:54,595

We're not in any rush, you know, we're

still so, uh, beautifully motivated

980

40:54 ,595 --> 00:40:57,625

by the work that comes to us by

virtue of other, you know, gifted

981

40:57 ,625 --> 00:41:01,625

screenwriters and producers that

were happy doing that work right now.

982

41:01 ,655 --> 00:41:05,295

And I feel like in every aspect of my

life, like when I transitioned from the

983

41:05 ,295 --> 00:41:09,615

theater into television and then when

film found me and then when animation

984

41:09 ,615 --> 00:41:11,155

found me, it was all rather organic.

985

41:11 ,375 --> 00:41:15,345

So I feel like, um, the next step,

uh, with directing will, will

986

41:15 ,345 --> 00:41:17,005

probably also follow in that path.

987

41:17 ,085 --> 00:41:18,385

Marc Preston: Cause it sounds

like you're kind of been more.

988

41:18 ,510 --> 00:41:22,050

Surfing kind of taking it as is the wave

moves and you can't, you kind of have

989

41:22 ,050 --> 00:41:26,780

done a reMarcably wonderful job writing

it because I didn't realize how deep your

990

41:26 ,780 --> 00:41:28,570

resume was and the diversity of stuff.

991

41:28 ,570 --> 00:41:30,790

And you can't, you know, you

gotta be one hell of a talented

992

41:30 ,790 --> 00:41:32,220

guy to, to, to ride that wave.

993

41:32 ,230 --> 00:41:33,540

So good on you, my friend.

994

41:40 ,690 --> 00:41:43,360

Now, as we kind of wrap up here,

I throw my, Seven questions out,

995

41:43 ,400 --> 00:41:44,540

always a little bit extra fun.

996

41:44 The Seven Questions

41:44 ,930 --> 00:41:48,470

First one, one of my favorite, I'm a food

nerd and we discussed it, but I got to

997

41:48 ,470 --> 00:41:51,190

know what is your favorite comfort food?

998

41:51 ,540 --> 00:41:52,370

Being a Greek guy.

999

41:52 ,440 --> 00:41:54,170

Chris Diamantopoulos: Yeah,

it might surprise you.

Speaker:1000

41:54 ,170 --> 00:41:59,840

My favorite comfort food is a

two inch thick bone in ribeye.

Speaker:1001

42:00 ,105 --> 00:42:01,725

A grass fed bone in ribeye.

Speaker:1002

42:01 ,725 --> 00:42:03,645

Yeah, I would reverse sear it.

Speaker:1003

42:03 ,655 --> 00:42:10,835

I'd probably, I'd put it in, in a small

oven for at maybe 300 for eight minutes

Speaker:1004

42:10 ,905 --> 00:42:18,415

and then, uh, iron skillet, big pad of

raw butter, uh, and just sear a minute,

Speaker:1005

42:18 ,515 --> 00:42:23,210

minute, And then maybe 30 seconds, 30

seconds, rosemary on top or something.

Speaker:1006

42:23 ,450 --> 00:42:23,700

Yeah.

Speaker:1007

42:23 ,700 --> 00:42:25,160

Depending on how I'm going to do it.

Speaker:1008

42:25 ,160 --> 00:42:25,390

Right.

Speaker:1009

42:25 ,390 --> 00:42:28,590

It's not, I'm not sure if I would, but

the actual comfort food would be just

Speaker:1010

42:28 ,600 --> 00:42:32,790

that if I was going to have it with

some of my hand cut fries, then I might.

Speaker:1011

42:33 ,145 --> 00:42:36,825

Do rosemary might actually do a little

oregano to take it into the Greek place.

Speaker:1012

42:37 ,215 --> 00:42:40,105

If I was going to eat it later,

I would slice it up, squeeze some

Speaker:1013

42:40 ,105 --> 00:42:43,705

lemon, a drizzle of olive oil,

and that gives it a different sort

Speaker:1014

42:43 ,705 --> 00:42:46,655

of a vibe, but that's, yeah, that

would be my comfort food for sure.

Speaker:1015

42:46 ,825 --> 00:42:48,995

Marc Preston: I have to ask you,

you're Greek, you know, your food,

Speaker:1016

42:49 ,045 --> 00:42:52,635

you, you come from a place of a

family that knows up from down.

Speaker:1017

42:52 ,635 --> 00:42:54,985

I got to know what are

your feeling on Dolmas?

Speaker:1018

42:54 ,985 --> 00:42:58,775

Cause when I, when I grew up,

they were the big warm, you

Speaker:1019

42:58 ,775 --> 00:43:00,205

know, they're just delicious.

Speaker:1020

43:00 ,205 --> 00:43:04,260

But when I moved to new Orleans, uh,

whereas For about 20 years, they had

Speaker:1021

43:04 ,260 --> 00:43:06,850

the small little oily ones, you know,

the little tiny little oily ones.

Speaker:1022

43:07 ,120 --> 00:43:07,480

Yeah.

Speaker:1023

43:07 ,480 --> 00:43:09,610

I like, what is your preference?

Speaker:1024

43:09 ,610 --> 00:43:11,310

What is considered authentic?

Speaker:1025

43:11 ,885 --> 00:43:15,815

Chris Diamantopoulos: I mean, look,

do del change the size and whether

Speaker:1026

43:15 ,815 --> 00:43:20,765

they're served cold or served warm

room temp based on the region, right?

Speaker:1027

43:20 ,765 --> 00:43:24,965

So in the north where my mother's

family is from, they tend to be

Speaker:1028

43:24 ,965 --> 00:43:26,495

more in the way that you like them.

Speaker:1029

43:26 ,795 --> 00:43:30,515

Um, I was never the biggest Dolma fan.

Speaker:1030

43:30 ,755 --> 00:43:34,265

I think when I was a kid, the idea of the

stuffed grape leaf was just not my thing.

Speaker:1031

43:34 ,445 --> 00:43:35,675

, I like the stuffed peppers.

Speaker:1032

43:35 ,675 --> 00:43:39,695

They're called, um, yata, where where

you take a pepper, you hollow it out.

Speaker:1033

43:40 ,625 --> 00:43:45,405

And you put the rice and the really,

Oh yeah, you have to have that next

Speaker:1034

43:45 ,445 --> 00:43:48,945

time you go to a Greek restaurant,

you ask them for yemi stuff, stuffed

Speaker:1035

43:48 ,945 --> 00:43:49,345

Marc Preston: peppers.

Speaker:1036

43:49 ,345 --> 00:43:50,105

They're delicious.

Speaker:1037

43:50 ,175 --> 00:43:51,255

That in Indian food.

Speaker:1038

43:51 ,255 --> 00:43:54,625

I've never mastered the seasoning ratios.

Speaker:1039

43:54 ,625 --> 00:43:57,985

I, it's one of the few foods I really

have to look at a recipe to get it.

Speaker:1040

43:57 ,995 --> 00:44:00,635

You know, it's just, but it's the

grandmothers that make it a little

Speaker:1041

44:00 ,635 --> 00:44:03,165

this, a little of that, you know,

but I haven't quite mastered that.

Speaker:1042

44:03 ,215 --> 00:44:03,555

Chris Diamantopoulos: Yeah.

Speaker:1043

44:03 ,555 --> 00:44:03,895

I think.

Speaker:1044

44:03 ,895 --> 00:44:04,034

Yeah.

Speaker:1045

44:04 ,075 --> 00:44:07,435

I think for you to enjoy it best,

you go to a restaurant, Marc.

Speaker:1046

44:07 ,435 --> 00:44:08,305

I don't, I don't want you cooking.

Speaker:1047

44:10 ,085 --> 00:44:10,455

I do.

Speaker:1048

44:10 ,455 --> 00:44:13,835

Like I tell you, you're not giving

me the confidence of someone that's

Speaker:1049

44:13 ,835 --> 00:44:15,315

going to deliver an authentic,

Speaker:1050

44:16 ,035 --> 00:44:18,745

Marc Preston: I will say

all mastered lamb bar none.

Speaker:1051

44:19 ,095 --> 00:44:21,445

Um, now the next question I got

for you, uh, three people, let's

Speaker:1052

44:21 ,445 --> 00:44:24,015

say you're going to sit down with,

you have a few hours, talk story.

Speaker:1053

44:24 ,155 --> 00:44:25,055

Living or not.

Speaker:1054

44:25 ,055 --> 00:44:25,965

Who are those three people be?

Speaker:1055

44:25 ,965 --> 00:44:32,005

You would love to sit down with

Marcus Aurelius, Frank Sinatra.

Speaker:1056

44:32 ,535 --> 00:44:34,670

And, um, And Jesus Christ.

Speaker:1057

44:34 ,670 --> 00:44:35,030

Very cool.

Speaker:1058

44:35 ,130 --> 00:44:36,590

Jesus has come up a few times.

Speaker:1059

44:36 ,630 --> 00:44:37,590

Uh, never Sinatra.

Speaker:1060

44:37 ,620 --> 00:44:42,029

Uh, Marcus Aurelius actually I was

watching, um, Paul Giamatti and, uh, in

Speaker:1061

44:42 ,030 --> 00:44:45,110

the film he was in, he played a college

professor, came out last couple of years.

Speaker:1062

44:45 ,600 --> 00:44:45,750

Yeah.

Speaker:1063

44:45 ,750 --> 00:44:45,830

Yeah.

Speaker:1064

44:45 ,860 --> 00:44:50,580

And he talked about, uh, uh, the book

meditations and love all the quotes.

Speaker:1065

44:50 ,580 --> 00:44:52,800

I actually just ordered the

book sitting on my nightstand.

Speaker:1066

44:52 ,800 --> 00:44:53,560

I need to read that.

Speaker:1067

44:53 ,620 --> 00:44:55,360

Chris Diamantopoulos: And you know, it's

funny, it's sitting on your nightstand,

Speaker:1068

44:55 ,370 --> 00:44:57,260

but that's what it was intended to be.

Speaker:1069

44:57 ,260 --> 00:44:58,720

You know, it was never meant to be a book.

Speaker:1070

44:58 ,790 --> 00:45:00,880

That was Marcus Aurelius.

Speaker:1071

45:00 ,880 --> 00:45:00,899

Jesus.

Speaker:1072

45:00 ,970 --> 00:45:02,690

Night stand journal.

Speaker:1073

45:02 ,930 --> 00:45:04,820

He wrote his ideas and thoughts.

Speaker:1074

45:04 ,820 --> 00:45:07,440

It was literally a got to

get apples tomorrow morning.

Speaker:1075

45:07 ,670 --> 00:45:09,950

Remember not to be rude to the shopkeeper.

Speaker:1076

45:10 ,210 --> 00:45:13,250

You know, it was like

little things to himself.

Speaker:1077

45:13 ,250 --> 00:45:17,900

Now they get more involved as you go

through and you realize this is the,

Speaker:1078

45:17 ,950 --> 00:45:19,710

this is a brilliant mind at work.

Speaker:1079

45:19 ,720 --> 00:45:23,060

This is a mind that That really, you

know, had something to say, but he

Speaker:1080

45:23 ,060 --> 00:45:25,900

never did you have a quote that sticks

out in your mind that is sort of a,

Speaker:1081

45:25 ,900 --> 00:45:28,360

uh, resonates that you hold on to.

Speaker:1082

45:28 ,510 --> 00:45:32,870

Um, well, I mean, it's, it's, you

know, I'm, I'm diverging from it and,

Speaker:1083

45:32 ,870 --> 00:45:35,660

and, you know, Churchill certainly

used a version of it as well, but

Speaker:1084

45:35 ,670 --> 00:45:37,190

the obstacle is the way, right.

Speaker:1085

45:37 ,190 --> 00:45:37,590

You know what I mean?

Speaker:1086

45:37 ,590 --> 00:45:41,460

Whatever the obstruction is actually

ends up being, ends up being the way that

Speaker:1087

45:41 ,470 --> 00:45:45,210

that's, that's the very definition of,

of, uh, for me of being an actor, right.

Speaker:1088

45:45 ,210 --> 00:45:46,600

It's like, here's this thing.

Speaker:1089

45:46 ,610 --> 00:45:48,090

Oh no, this isn't going to happen.

Speaker:1090

45:48 ,090 --> 00:45:50,270

Or they, they need this

and you can't do that.

Speaker:1091

45:50 ,270 --> 00:45:50,619

Yeah.

Speaker:1092

45:50 ,690 --> 00:45:54,450

All right, well, it's, it's really,

it's, you know, it's the art of living a

Speaker:1093

45:54 ,450 --> 00:45:58,090

judo lifestyle where you take the thing

that's not working and you just sort of

Speaker:1094

45:58 ,440 --> 00:46:00,410

Marc Preston: make it not only

use the energy to your advantage.

Speaker:1095

46:00 ,410 --> 00:46:00,530

Yeah.

Speaker:1096

46:00 ,530 --> 00:46:02,700

My grandfather always, that

was his nickname for me.

Speaker:1097

46:02 ,700 --> 00:46:03,100

Marcus really.

Speaker:1098

46:03 ,700 --> 00:46:06,640

So I've always been kind of

aware of quotes over the years

Speaker:1099

46:06 ,640 --> 00:46:07,460

since I was a little kid,

Speaker:1100

46:07 ,500 --> 00:46:08,360

Chris Diamantopoulos: philosophically

Speaker:1101

46:08 ,360 --> 00:46:08,730

Marc Preston: inclined.

Speaker:1102

46:08 ,730 --> 00:46:09,680

That's what I try to be.

Speaker:1103

46:09 ,910 --> 00:46:13,750

But as a kid, next question, who

was your first celebrity crush?

Speaker:1104

46:14 ,205 --> 00:46:15,135

Chris Diamantopoulos: Alyssa Milano.

Speaker:1105

46:15 ,135 --> 00:46:16,565

I think that sounds about right.

Speaker:1106

46:16 ,695 --> 00:46:17,595

She was on who's the boss.

Speaker:1107

46:17 ,815 --> 00:46:18,855

She was Samantha.

Speaker:1108

46:18 ,885 --> 00:46:20,085

She was the cutest thing I'd ever seen.

Speaker:1109

46:20 ,085 --> 00:46:20,255

Yeah.

Speaker:1110

46:20 ,255 --> 00:46:22,285

She was maybe a year older than me.

Speaker:1111

46:23 ,125 --> 00:46:23,765

Maybe a little more.

Speaker:1112

46:23 ,765 --> 00:46:24,085

I don't know.

Speaker:1113

46:24 ,085 --> 00:46:27,965

I don't know exactly, but I remember,

uh, so she would be my first crush,

Speaker:1114

46:27 ,965 --> 00:46:31,099

but I think the first time I was

ever aware of like va va voom.

Speaker:1115

46:31 ,280 --> 00:46:32,210

Was Moonraker.

Speaker:1116

46:32 ,540 --> 00:46:33,170

Oh, yeah.

Speaker:1117

46:33 ,170 --> 00:46:33,280

Yeah.

Speaker:1118

46:33 ,280 --> 00:46:33,569

Yeah.

Speaker:1119

46:33 ,570 --> 00:46:34,490

I forget who.

Speaker:1120

46:34 ,650 --> 00:46:35,040

Marc Preston: Yeah.

Speaker:1121

46:35 ,340 --> 00:46:38,120

I remember a kid I went to elementary

school with, you know, there was one guy

Speaker:1122

46:38 ,120 --> 00:46:40,210

had like gold or metal teeth or something.

Speaker:1123

46:40 ,620 --> 00:46:43,930

And the kid said, I don't want to brush my

teeth because I want to get all fillings

Speaker:1124

46:43 ,940 --> 00:46:45,220

so I can make my mouth look like him.

Speaker:1125

46:45 ,340 --> 00:46:46,860

So you just eat sugary stuff all the time.

Speaker:1126

46:47 ,120 --> 00:46:50,240

That's one thing I remember about

Moonraker for whatever reason,

Speaker:1127

46:50 ,260 --> 00:46:53,375

uh, things it's People I forget

about until I'm in an interview.

Speaker:1128

46:53 ,375 --> 00:46:55,395

I'm like, Oh yeah, that kid,

what her house teeth are doing.

Speaker:1129

46:55 ,685 --> 00:46:57,355

But the next question I got for

you, if you're going to be on an

Speaker:1130

46:57 ,355 --> 00:46:59,585

exotic island, you got a year,

it's a, it's a beautiful place.

Speaker:1131

46:59 ,585 --> 00:47:01,205

You want to be there, but

it doesn't have streaming.

Speaker:1132

47:01 ,665 --> 00:47:05,285

Uh, but you're going to bring one

DVD, a movie you can watch over and

Speaker:1133

47:05 ,285 --> 00:47:07,555

over and a CD, or I can say a box set.

Speaker:1134

47:07 ,555 --> 00:47:11,505

If you'd like musically a theatrical,

you got just one thing each.

Speaker:1135

47:11 ,505 --> 00:47:13,185

You, you got to stick with the whole year.

Speaker:1136

47:13 ,185 --> 00:47:14,285

What would those things be?

Speaker:1137

47:15 ,080 --> 00:47:15,530

So the

Speaker:1138

47:15 ,530 --> 00:47:18,790

Chris Diamantopoulos: movie would be

Casino Royale a which version of the box

Speaker:1139

47:18 ,790 --> 00:47:23,980

set would be the Daniel Craig version

of the original Daniel Craig Not Marc.

Speaker:1140

47:23 ,980 --> 00:47:24,230

No one.

Speaker:1141

47:24 ,900 --> 00:47:30,650

Come on Marc Marc get it together

man for the love of God Yeah,

Speaker:1142

47:30 ,650 --> 00:47:32,360

no, but I heard somewhere you can

Speaker:1143

47:32 ,360 --> 00:47:37,425

do a good Sean Connery though the quest

for the grail It's not archaeology.

Speaker:1144

47:37 ,675 --> 00:47:38,955

It's a race against evil.

Speaker:1145

47:39 ,185 --> 00:47:41,965

The Nazis will cover the Grail

and the armies of darkness will

Speaker:1146

47:42 ,105 --> 00:47:43,565

march all over the Earth forever.

Speaker:1147

47:43 ,795 --> 00:47:44,765

This is an obsession.

Speaker:1148

47:44 ,905 --> 00:47:45,935

I never understood it.

Speaker:1149

47:46 ,085 --> 00:47:46,555

Never.

Speaker:1150

47:46 ,735 --> 00:47:47,455

Neither did Mom.

Speaker:1151

47:47 ,465 --> 00:47:48,265

Oh, yes, she did.

Speaker:1152

47:48 ,865 --> 00:47:49,795

Only too well.

Speaker:1153

47:50 ,425 --> 00:47:51,775

She kept her illness from me.

Speaker:1154

47:52 ,315 --> 00:47:53,735

And all I could do was mourn her.

Speaker:1155

47:54 ,315 --> 00:47:56,825

Okay, uh, I gotta do the golf clap.

Speaker:1156

47:57 ,065 --> 00:47:58,585

You gotta get the golf clap on that, man.

Speaker:1157

47:58 ,615 --> 00:47:58,845

Awesome.

Speaker:1158

47:59 ,975 --> 00:48:00,485

That's wonderful.

Speaker:1159

48:02 ,025 --> 00:48:03,590

Um, Uh, let's see.

Speaker:1160

48:03 ,610 --> 00:48:06,200

And then, uh, the record

would be a Sinatra come fly.

Speaker:1161

48:06 ,200 --> 00:48:06,880

Very nice.

Speaker:1162

48:06 ,880 --> 00:48:07,510

Marc Preston: Very nice.

Speaker:1163

48:07 ,880 --> 00:48:08,670

Um, yeah.

Speaker:1164

48:08 ,700 --> 00:48:12,960

Now, uh, from stem to stern, beginning to

end, from the time you wake up to the time

Speaker:1165

48:12 ,960 --> 00:48:16,590

you go to sleep at night, what are the

component parts for you of a perfect day?

Speaker:1166

48:17 ,250 --> 00:48:17,620

Okay.

Speaker:1167

48:17 ,620 --> 00:48:19,000

The component parts for

Speaker:1168

48:19 ,010 --> 00:48:20,150

Chris Diamantopoulos: me of a perfect day.

Speaker:1169

48:20 ,220 --> 00:48:22,770

Um, all right.

Speaker:1170

48:23 ,280 --> 00:48:27,870

I would say waking up without

someone needing me desperately

Speaker:1171

48:27 ,930 --> 00:48:30,170

to do something immediately.

Speaker:1172

48:30 ,630 --> 00:48:34,970

Uh, you know, no children in any sense of.

Speaker:1173

48:35 ,430 --> 00:48:37,450

distress needing something.

Speaker:1174

48:37 ,580 --> 00:48:39,710

So I wake up and, well, no one needs me.

Speaker:1175

48:40 ,230 --> 00:48:40,930

That's pretty cool.

Speaker:1176

48:41 ,430 --> 00:48:45,420

Um, I get to sit out on the deck and

get a little morning sun and maybe have

Speaker:1177

48:45 ,420 --> 00:48:47,710

a cup of coffee peacefully and quietly.

Speaker:1178

48:47 ,960 --> 00:48:49,410

Then I get to come downstairs.

Speaker:1179

48:49 ,750 --> 00:48:51,560

And make everyone

breakfast, including myself.

Speaker:1180

48:51 ,780 --> 00:48:52,300

That's fun.

Speaker:1181

48:52 ,300 --> 00:48:54,470

And the, and the chaos and

the craziness can ensue.

Speaker:1182

48:54 ,990 --> 00:49:04,300

Um, I'm able to take, uh, the dog and

my wife and I take the dog for a stroll.

Speaker:1183

49:04 ,330 --> 00:49:09,115

And we just sort of catch up on the,

uh, On what we might have missed

Speaker:1184

49:09 ,275 --> 00:49:11,585

over the course of the days that we

might be might have been working.

Speaker:1185

49:11 ,945 --> 00:49:14,775

We plan out what we're

going to make for dinner.

Speaker:1186

49:15 ,275 --> 00:49:19,375

I take a brief sojourn to

come to my studio and record

Speaker:1187

49:19 ,765 --> 00:49:21,205

a fun little bit of animation.

Speaker:1188

49:21 ,605 --> 00:49:24,915

I have to finish up quickly

because I have to run.

Speaker:1189

49:25 ,120 --> 00:49:30,270

To Culver studios to do a reshoot on

one scene for a movie that I'm super

Speaker:1190

49:30 ,270 --> 00:49:32,900

excited about that's coming out, but

it's only going to take a couple hours

Speaker:1191

49:33 ,100 --> 00:49:36,320

and it's perfect because on my way home

from Culver, I can stop at the Marcet

Speaker:1192

49:36 ,460 --> 00:49:41,630

and pick up the perfect ribeye, uh,

and some nice, uh, little tidbits for a

Speaker:1193

49:41 ,630 --> 00:49:43,730

little, uh, crudité and a little salad.

Speaker:1194

49:44 ,120 --> 00:49:45,730

Um, come home.

Speaker:1195

49:46 ,015 --> 00:49:47,555

Kids tell me school was great.

Speaker:1196

49:47 ,925 --> 00:49:49,295

The fire's roaring.

Speaker:1197

49:49 ,655 --> 00:49:51,745

We've just gotten the

little ones to sleep.

Speaker:1198

49:52 ,055 --> 00:49:53,235

I make a beautiful dinner.

Speaker:1199

49:53 ,235 --> 00:49:57,725

We sit, we eat, and then we all chill

out watching Survivor or Shark Tank.

Speaker:1200

49:58 ,155 --> 00:49:58,515

Marc Preston: There's a perfect.

Speaker:1201

49:58 ,515 --> 00:49:58,915

Very good.

Speaker:1202

49:58 ,915 --> 00:49:59,205

Very good.

Speaker:1203

49:59 ,205 --> 00:49:59,645

My friend.

Speaker:1204

49:59 ,645 --> 00:50:00,875

Last question I got for you.

Speaker:1205

50:00 ,875 --> 00:50:01,845

A 16 year old.

Speaker:1206

50:01 ,845 --> 00:50:04,675

You, you're going to go, you're going

to jump in the DeLorean and go see him.

Speaker:1207

50:04 ,845 --> 00:50:07,755

Piece of advice to either make

that moment a little bit better or

Speaker:1208

50:07 ,755 --> 00:50:09,175

put you on a different trajectory.

Speaker:1209

50:09 ,175 --> 00:50:12,965

What's the piece of advice

to 16 year old you stop

Speaker:1210

50:12 ,965 --> 00:50:14,275

Chris Diamantopoulos:

asking if they like you.

Speaker:1211

50:14 ,865 --> 00:50:16,335

It doesn't matter either way.

Speaker:1212

50:16 ,905 --> 00:50:20,145

And if you ask and get the honest

answer, you're really going to

Speaker:1213

50:20 ,145 --> 00:50:21,625

be disappointed with that answer.

Speaker:1214

50:21 ,805 --> 00:50:22,215

So just

Speaker:1215

50:22 ,225 --> 00:50:22,715

Marc Preston: carry on.

Speaker:1216

50:22 ,785 --> 00:50:23,295

Awesome.

Speaker:1217

50:23 ,295 --> 00:50:23,615

My friend.

Speaker:1218

50:23 ,615 --> 00:50:24,255

Thank you so much.

Speaker:1219

50:24 ,305 --> 00:50:26,145

Uh, you've been generous with your time.

Speaker:1220

50:26 ,155 --> 00:50:29,105

Um, go have a great weekend and, uh,

hopefully we'll catch up down the line.

Speaker:1221

50:29 ,275 --> 00:50:29,715

Appreciate it.

Speaker:1222

50:29 ,965 --> 00:50:31,685

Thanks for your time and your generosity.

Speaker:1223

50:33 ,605 --> 00:50:33,785

Okay.

Speaker:1224

50:33 ,785 --> 00:50:34,235

There you go.

Speaker:1225

50:34 ,265 --> 00:50:35,925

Chris Diamantopoulos.

Speaker:1226

50:35 ,975 --> 00:50:37,425

What a cool dude.

Speaker:1227

50:37 ,705 --> 00:50:40,795

Uh, stage TV film voiceover.

Speaker:1228

50:40 ,795 --> 00:50:42,145

He is doing it all.

Speaker:1229

50:42 ,325 --> 00:50:44,415

Like I mentioned, he

is kind of a chameleon.

Speaker:1230

50:44 ,625 --> 00:50:47,445

You know, he does things from

being the bad guy in the movie

Speaker:1231

50:47 ,445 --> 00:50:49,685

Red Notice to being Mickey Mouse.

Speaker:1232

50:49 ,745 --> 00:50:52,845

I really enjoyed sitting down

with him and I appreciate you

Speaker:1233

50:52 ,845 --> 00:50:54,275

stopping by to check it out.

Speaker:1234

50:54 ,475 --> 00:50:58,225

Again, the new show on Prime

Video is called The Sticky.

Speaker:1235

50:58 ,455 --> 00:51:01,135

It is funny, really cool,

something kind of different.

Speaker:1236

51:01 ,145 --> 00:51:03,895

I enjoyed a few episodes over

the weekend and this week I'm

Speaker:1237

51:03 ,895 --> 00:51:05,165

going to finish up the series.

Speaker:1238

51:05 ,175 --> 00:51:06,245

So, check it out.

Speaker:1239

51:06 ,265 --> 00:51:06,925

Good stuff.

Speaker:1240

51:07 ,115 --> 00:51:09,155

Hey, do me a favor as I always ask you.

Speaker:1241

51:09 ,295 --> 00:51:10,715

If you would, a little love.

Speaker:1242

51:10 ,775 --> 00:51:15,725

Pop on over to story

and craft pod.com/rate.

Speaker:1243

51:16 ,015 --> 00:51:19,195

That's story and craft pod.com/rate.

Speaker:1244

51:19 ,465 --> 00:51:22,795

Uh, just go ahead and leave a

review, drop some stars, if you will.

Speaker:1245

51:22 ,825 --> 00:51:25,495

It's a great way for people

to find story and craft.

Speaker:1246

51:25 ,495 --> 00:51:28,975

And of course, uh, when you're on the

website you can find out everything

Speaker:1247

51:28 ,975 --> 00:51:32,665

you could possibly want to know about

the show, past guests, past episodes.

Speaker:1248

51:33 ,390 --> 00:51:34,240

It's all right there.

Speaker:1249

51:34 ,240 --> 00:51:34,662

Storyandcraftpod.

Speaker:1250

51:34 ,662 --> 00:51:35,085

com.

Speaker:1251

51:35 ,085 --> 00:51:40,156

And of course, don't forget to

like and follow Story and Craft.

Speaker:1252

51:40 ,156 --> 00:51:44,160

That way you get notified every

time a new episode comes out.

Speaker:1253

51:44 ,440 --> 00:51:44,720

Okay.

Speaker:1254

51:44 ,740 --> 00:51:46,840

So I'm going to jump on out of here again.

Speaker:1255

51:46 ,870 --> 00:51:51,290

I so appreciate you making whatever I

got going on part of what you've got

Speaker:1256

51:51 ,300 --> 00:51:52,870

going on, no matter what you're doing.

Speaker:1257

51:53 ,085 --> 00:51:56,835

Exercising, walking the dog, or

maybe, you know, kind of what I enjoy

Speaker:1258

51:56 ,865 --> 00:52:00,855

doing, listening to podcasts in the

car whenever I'm, uh, driving about.

Speaker:1259

52:01 ,015 --> 00:52:02,405

So, thank you again.

Speaker:1260

52:02 ,505 --> 00:52:05,655

Going to be back in a few days,

another fun episode for you,

Speaker:1261

52:05 ,765 --> 00:52:07,535

right here on Story Craft.

Speaker:1262

52:07 ,535 --> 00:52:10,095

Announcer: That's it for

this episode of Story Craft.

Speaker:1263

52:10 ,405 --> 00:52:14,775

Join Marc next week for more

conversation, right here on Story Craft.

Speaker:1264

52:15 ,225 --> 00:52:19,095

Story Craft is a presentation of

Marc Preston Productions, LLC.

Speaker:1265

52:20 ,080 --> 00:52:22,430

Executive producer is Marc Preston.

Speaker:1266

52:22 ,840 --> 00:52:25,240

Associate producer is Zachary Holden.

Speaker:1267

52:25 ,600 --> 00:52:28,910

Please rate and review Story

Craft on Apple Podcasts.

Speaker:1268

52:29 ,180 --> 00:52:33,630

Don't forget to subscribe to the

show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,

Speaker:1269

52:33 ,630 --> 00:52:35,290

or your favorite podcast app.

Speaker:1270

52:35 ,310 --> 00:52:38,250

You can subscribe to show

updates and stay in the know.

Speaker:1271

52:38 ,410 --> 00:52:40,680

Just head to storyandcraftpod.

Speaker:1272

52:40 ,710 --> 00:52:42,530

com and sign up for the newsletter.

Speaker:1273

52:43 ,100 --> 00:52:43,840

I'm Emma Dylan.

Speaker:1274

52:44 ,410 --> 00:52:45,210

See you next time.

Speaker:1275

52:45 ,380 --> 00:52:47,790

And remember, keep telling your story.