
Actor Dimitri Leonidas from Apple TV+'s "Foundation" and Peacock's "Those About to Die" joins us on Story & Craft.
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Actor Dimitri Leonidas from Apple TV+’s “Foundation” and Peacock’s “Those About to Die” joins us on Story & Craft.
Dimitri plays Hober Mallow in “Foundation” and stars with Anthony Hopkins in Roland Emmerich’s “Those About to Die.” We talk about his path from child actor, his Cypriot heritage, losing his mother at a young age, and training for chariot racing. He also shares his interest in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and photography.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
Dimitri Leonidas joins Story & Craft
Dimitri’s Background and Family
Acting Career Beginnings
Filming Foundation
Life as a Child Actor
Pursuing Acting as a Career
Travel and Filming Locations
Choosing the Right Horse for the Role
Training with Chariots
Reflecting on Roman Life
Food and Craft Services in Rome
Current and Future Projects
Creative Pursuits and Interests
STAY IN THE KNOW
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CONNECT WITH MARC
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- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcpreston
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Full Transcript
Part 1
Dimitri Leonidas:00:00:00
He called me and he said, uh, well, I'm, I'm short staff here.
2
Dimitri Leonidas joins Story & Craft
,530 --> 00:00:06,659
I need someone to come in and, you
know, help unload these containers.
3
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Can't you just tell him you nip over
for a bit and let me just check in
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with Apple, dad, if they don't mind
putting the whole shoot on hold.
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Announcer: Welcome to Story Craft.
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Now, here's your host, Marc Preston.
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Marc Preston: All right, here we
are, another episode of Story Craft.
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Glad to have you.
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Thank you so much for swinging back by.
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If this is your First episode, my
name is Marc Preston, glad to have you
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checking out the show for the first
time of what I hope will be many times.
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And of course I want to thank you.
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I really do appreciate folks coming
back by checking out the show.
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Appreciate the notes I receive and
it's just very cool to have you be a
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part of great chats kind of like today.
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Featuring the very talented
actor, Dimitri Leonidas.
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He's in the new series
called Those About to Die.
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It's a Roland Emmerich series on Peacock
with the very talented Anthony Hopkins.
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And Dimitri, you probably know him
from shows kind of like, uh, Foundation
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on Apple plus he plays Hober Mallow.
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One of my favorite shows over the
last couple of years, uh, really
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enjoyed the chat with Dimitri.
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We covered his experience from
being a child actor all the
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way up to Those About to Die.
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Now do me a favor if you would don't
forget to please follow the show Whatever
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app you use to listen to story and craft
a follow it Make sure to leave a few
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stars if you would a little review It
does help people find the show and if
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you follow the show you get notified
every time we have a new episode Roll
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out, uh, don't forget Go to story and
craft pod.com, everything you could
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possibly want to know about the show,
our guests, uh, even reach out to me.
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That is the best way to do it.
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Once again, story and craft pod.com.
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Alright, let's get after it.
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Uh, today, Dmitri Leon Day,
right here on Story and Craft.
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How are you doing today, Dmitri?
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Dimitri Leonidas: I'm great.
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I'm really well.
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Yeah.
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Thank you.
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How are you now?
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I'm doing wonderful.
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Marc Preston: Just so I know
how to say, is it Leonidas?
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Dimitri Leonidas: Yeah.
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Ah, very good.
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Very good.
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Great.
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I mean, my dad always sort of
despairs because people say Leonidas.
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I think the film 300, um, had a big
influence on how people were saying it.
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And, uh, it was, uh, quite annoying to
him when we'd do interviews or something
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and he'd watch it and they'd say Leonidas.
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Um, and he was always like,
why don't you correct them?
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I thought I just, because it's certain
things you've got to just leave that.
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Um, but yeah, yeah.
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Leonidas.
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Dimitri's Background and Family
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You're in the UK right now, correct?
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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I'm in London.
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Yeah.
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And we've, we've just started our summer.
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It's been a really late one, but most
of June was shocking amounts of rain and
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gray sky, and, uh, it's finally broken.
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And now, you know, London is, is,
it's just the best when the sun's out.
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It's, uh.
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It transforms the city.
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Um, so yeah, great.
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It's, it's, it's really
nice here right now.
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Marc Preston: Now is your
family with Leonidas?
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I'm assuming it's a, it's a Greek descent.
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Dimitri Leonidas: Yeah.
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Cypriot from, from, uh, from Cyprus.
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My dad was, was born in Cyprus and
he moved to London when he was young,
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you know, four or five years old, his,
his parents moved over here, um, with
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his, you know, brothers and sisters.
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His parents eventually moved back.
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They've both passed away now, but,
um, they moved back to Cyprus,
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uh, you know, after they retired.
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And, um, and him and his
brothers and sisters all stayed
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here and raised families here.
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So, uh, yeah, yeah.
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Cypriot heritage.
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And then I sometimes wonder why, you
know, cause Cyprus is like a paradise.
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And I think, why did you come here?
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We, you could be on the beach, but,
uh, you know, London is a lot more
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opportunities, especially when he
moved in, in the seventies, you know,
86
Acting Career Beginnings
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Marc Preston: what kind of work did,
uh, what, what was his vocation?
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Dimitri Leonidas: So, uh, when he was a
younger man, my dad was an electrician.
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Um, and he then went
into, uh, fruit and veg.
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He was, he was a green grocer and
then more wholesale fruit and veg.
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So he was sort of delivering,
um, fresh fruit and vegetables
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to restaurants around London.
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And that grew a little more into
disposable goods, serviettes, you
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know, plates, cups, um, soft drinks.
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And, uh, and that is his
little sort of empire.
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He's still, he's still working.
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He's got a warehouse in, in Wembley,
sort of the industrial park in Wembley.
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And, uh, sometimes when I'm,
you know, if I'm not working,
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I'll go and give him a hand.
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He'll, he'll give me a sort of
call on a random, you know, day in
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the week and, and, uh, asked me to
go and help unload some shipping
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containers or something that's come in.
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So
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Marc Preston: you, so you're
basically discount labor for him.
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Dimitri Leonidas: Yeah.
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I mean, the funniest, the funniest
one was I was in Ireland filming
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foundation and, uh, He called me
and he said, uh, where are you?
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Where are you?
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I said, I'm, I'm in, I'm in
Ireland that I'm, I'm filming.
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And he, he was like, Oh, I said,
why is everything all right?
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Well, I, well, I'm, I'm short staff here.
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I need someone to come in and,
you know, help unload these
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containers on Monday and Tuesday.
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I said, well, I'm, I can't.
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I'm in Ireland, dad.
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Can't you just tell him you nip over
for a bit and let me just check in with
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Apple dad if they don't mind putting the
whole shoot on hold for a few days so I
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can go and unload the container for you.
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Um, all right, well, don't worry about it.
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And then, you know, you know,
we, uh, we got off the phone,
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but no, he's, he's funny.
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You know, he's funny.
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Filming Foundation
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Did
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Marc Preston: they shoot all of the
foundation in Ireland or just the,
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the, uh, the parts you were in?
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Dimitri Leonidas: It was actually
just two weeks in Ireland and
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then, um, two weeks in Ireland.
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And then, uh, we were in Tenerife
for, I think, five or six weeks.
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Um, and then we sort of bounced around
the other Canary Islands, Port Aventura.
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And, um, like America, I had no idea they
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Marc Preston: had such a, uh,
well, I can make a somewhat exotic
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location, you know, shooting.
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It's not like they were in Atlanta,
Georgia or something, or there, you know,
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when you got that project, did you kind
of like go, well, what exactly is this?
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You know, it's based off a book, right?
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The, uh, Asimov, Isaac Asimov.
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Dimitri Leonidas: Yeah.
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Yeah.
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I mean, I was aware, aware of the book.
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I I'd read some of those
sort of sixties sci fi.
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Um, books in the past,
you know, like Philip K.
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Bick and, um, some Ray Bradbury.
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And, and I was into that stuff.
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I'd never really read any Asimov.
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Um, so I did read the foundation series
in preparation for this, for the show.
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And was.
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Totally blown away by them.
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I mean, the story is that Elon
Musk, you know, when he sent that
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Tesla into space, I think there's
still a Tesla orbiting earth.
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He put a copy of foundation
in the glove box.
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Marc Preston: Really?
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I didn't know that.
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Dimitri Leonidas: Yeah.
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So there's a copy of foundation
floating in space, which is kind of
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apt given the nature of the show.
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Um, and Asimov was, was, I think
he had done a ton of research
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into the Roman empire and the
collapse of the Roman empire.
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And then.
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Writes a show that is like the
Roman Empire, but in spikes.
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It's the collapse of a,
of a, of a civilization.
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Um, and he pulls a lot of the stories
from how the Roman Empire fell, you
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know, it begins at the sort of the
peripheries and, and, and equally
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something going wrong in the center.
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And, um, and he just mounts
it as a giant space drama.
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Um,
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Marc Preston: you're right.
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That does have a lot of, uh, Roman
empire ask, you know, uh, yeah, you
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know, that's supposed to be a theme that
you're kind of sticking with, I guess.
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Dimitri Leonidas: Yeah.
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I mean, you know, to go and do sort
of Roman empire in space and then do
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the act of Roman empire was like a
sort of Twin, twin stories in a way.
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Marc Preston: Foundation.
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Uh, I didn't know what to expect.
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It's one of those shows I
watched the first episode.
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I was like, I don't really know how
to get my head around this just yet.
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But the more I got into it, it was
just really, you know, enjoyable.
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Dimitri Leonidas: I think, I think
a lot of people have said that.
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I think the books are so dense
and the ideas in them is so vast.
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The scale is so big that I think it's
hard for the first series and those first
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few episodes in the first series to, to.
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Lay down the foundation, so
to speak, of what you're doing
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because the books are so expansive.
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I mean, you turn, you know, you turn a
page and, and Asimov is jumping 150 years.
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And so everything that you've just
read, all this investment that you've
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just made in, in the characters
and in their particular stories.
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actually become just
sort of dust in the wind.
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It's like it's gone.
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You're moving on again.
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And there's some element of that story
that is important to tell you to thread
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into the next timeline 150 years later.
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And so by the time you finish with the
book and you sort of step back, the
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scale of time that Asimov is dealing
with in those stories is, is, is sort
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of quite a breathtaking scale, really.
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Um, and so I think the show in its,
in its, you know, in its early stages,
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did have to kind of and the audience
have to kind of get through some like
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expositional moments where you're going.
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You guys need to know this, this and this.
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And now that you know that we can kind
of go and I think season two hits the
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ground running a little more because
so much stuff has been established
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that you just You can you you kind of
just can can you know run off with that
200
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Marc Preston: momentum?
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I believe i'm totally caught up.
202
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Was there a uh, is there another season?
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Dimitri Leonidas: There is a third season
Um that's shooting now in in prague.
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They're finishing up.
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Um Yeah, yeah, I I I will see how
many they go, but yeah, there's,
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there's a third season that's,
that's finishing, you know, wrapping
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shooting, I think in August.
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Yeah.
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Marc Preston: I, I kind of enjoyed
your, uh, I, I did enjoy your character.
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There was a very Han Solo
esque vibe about your, uh,
211
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character, which I, which I like.
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Dimitri Leonidas: Yeah.
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Apparently Hobo Malo is, is
the inspiration for Han Solo.
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Um, really?
215
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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He, he, That's the story
that, um, David Goyer told me.
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And actually, you know, there's
some online threads about that,
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that, that Hobo Mallow is, is the
inspiration for those sort of Han Solo.
220
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Marc Preston: I'm learning
all kinds of things today.
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I did not know that.
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Dimitri Leonidas: Um, I think foundation
is a, is a sort of, uh, a tectonic
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plate of a, of a story that a lot of
sci fi has, has built on top of, um,
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yeah, it is right at the base of so
much, you know, sci fi post the fifties.
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It's, it's one of those, uh,
Foundational, um, you know, uh, sources.
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Marc Preston: There's one of the,
there's one of the show, the expanse,
227
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another kind of vibe similar to
that, both featuring Jared Harris.
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Of course, he seems like such an
interesting, he's just an interesting
229
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guy to watch just one more note
on the foundation, kind of what
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was the filming of that, uh, like
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Dimitri Leonidas: it's, it was incredible.
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I mean, I agree with you about Jared.
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I always think there's sort of part of
me that always thinks whatever he's in.
234
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I always sort of give the show more credit
knowing that he's in it because he's just
235
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one of those actors that you go he is
great and anyone anytime someone chooses
236
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him, I sort of trust them immediately
because He's got some qualities about
237
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him But when he's cast right you just
can't really imagine anyone else doing
238
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it and so I had some scenes with him
lovely hard working I mean, he had sort
239
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of, he's playing the founder of psycho
240
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Marc Preston: history.
241
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So he's almost like an AI character
for lack of a better way of putting it.
242
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He's kind of like a real
person slash AI, you know?
243
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Dimitri Leonidas: Yeah.
244
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Yeah.
245
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And, and has endless amounts of sort of
dialogue to learn, which you watch him
246
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just sort of turn up and deliver it.
247
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And it's great every take.
248
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And, uh, Occasionally he'll sort
of forget a line and all right,
249
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sorry guys, let's go again.
250
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And I'm just watching it going, how are
you not, how are you, you know, you're
251
,670 --> 00:12:28,550
doing it once every eight takes is, is,
is a pretty good hit when you're just
252
,560 --> 00:12:30,290
sort of running dialogue like that.
253
,709 --> 00:12:37,019
Um, but, um, but yeah, the show, David
Goya, you know, screenwriter, director,
254
,459 --> 00:12:42,619
producer of the show, um, is, is just
one that has this infectious energy.
255
,619 --> 00:12:44,379
And he's one of those guys that.
256
,820 --> 00:12:49,420
You really appreciate in our industry
because you go he's such a hard working
257
,420 --> 00:12:54,660
individual that it it really boosts,
you know, the reason 500 people turn
258
,660 --> 00:12:58,770
up and from crew and actors and stunts
and everything is because someone
259
,780 --> 00:13:03,819
like him puts in so much legwork
Um, he's producing several things
260
,819 --> 00:13:05,549
at once and writing several things
261
,870 --> 00:13:08,359
Marc Preston: I never understood how some
of those folks do that where they can
262
,370 --> 00:13:12,210
have multiple plates spinning at once I'm
like, okay, it would take up all my energy
263
,210 --> 00:13:17,480
just to think of one, you know Yeah, as
curious is kind of going back Were you an
264
,480 --> 00:13:20,849
only kid or did you have a big family or
kind of kind of where'd you fall in there?
265
,140 --> 00:13:25,714
Dimitri Leonidas: So, um, I've got three
sisters It's the title of a Chekhov plate.
266
,005 --> 00:13:29,255
Um, so I guess I was destined to
be an actor, but, um, yeah, two of
267
,255 --> 00:13:30,645
my sisters act as well, actually.
268
,655 --> 00:13:34,075
Steph, my older sister,
and Georgina, the youngest.
269
,085 --> 00:13:35,285
She was in Harry Potter.
270
,085 --> 00:13:36,885
Oh, really?
271
,964 --> 00:13:37,244
Okay.
272
,275 --> 00:13:42,145
And yeah, yeah, and Steph has done,
you know, loads of sort of cool movies.
273
,165 --> 00:13:42,505
Well, was
274
,505 --> 00:13:44,485
Marc Preston: this part of
your life for your family?
275
,485 --> 00:13:47,795
Was the theater or was acting part
of what you were up to when you
276
,795 --> 00:13:49,635
were, uh, when you were young?
277
,735 --> 00:13:52,115
Or was this something y'all
just all happened into?
278
,285 --> 00:13:54,145
Dimitri Leonidas: It was quite weird.
279
,145 --> 00:13:57,855
My sisters were, were sort of into
like singing and dancing and were
280
,865 --> 00:14:02,275
going to these lessons and, and they
eventually got into acting with,
281
,325 --> 00:14:06,095
I think the dancing stuff stopped
and acting became the next fad.
282
,115 --> 00:14:11,745
And, and so they were going to, it was,
I, when I say sort of classes, it was,
283
,144 --> 00:14:18,035
um, it was a room above a pub in Wembley
and the lady that run the class, you could
284
,035 --> 00:14:19,615
sort of, you know, drop your kids off.
285
,215 --> 00:14:25,355
Um, after school and leave them there
for an hour or two and uh, and the lady
286
,355 --> 00:14:29,995
that run the class would sort of teach,
you know, basic drama skills at that age.
287
,995 --> 00:14:34,515
It was, it was more sort of acting games,
um, sort of improvisation and stuff.
288
,515 --> 00:14:37,534
And I, I didn't really,
I had no interest in it.
289
,944 --> 00:14:40,515
Um, but my mom was sort
of encouraging me to go.
290
,515 --> 00:14:43,925
I think she felt quite bad that I was just
sort of hanging around the back of his
291
,925 --> 00:14:47,505
pub, kicking a ball around for an hour
and a half while my sisters were doing,
292
,505 --> 00:14:48,735
you know, their These drama classes.
293
,755 --> 00:14:54,495
So I eventually went to one of them
and, and it just, it just clicked.
294
,495 --> 00:14:55,465
I loved it.
295
,595 --> 00:15:02,034
Um, I found I had a confidence doing
sort of improvisation, um, that I
296
,035 --> 00:15:03,264
didn't know where that came from.
297
,264 --> 00:15:08,054
It just, it just was something I really
enjoyed and, uh, used to think about.
298
,054 --> 00:15:11,545
It was only once a week after school on
a Thursday and I'd spend the rest of the
299
,545 --> 00:15:15,865
week sort of wondering, Oh, what would
happen, what's going to happen next week?
300
,865 --> 00:15:17,355
You know, the, this excitement of.
301
,430 --> 00:15:24,215
The spontaneity of improvising and,
and, um, This sort of stored energy that
302
,215 --> 00:15:28,955
you have as a kid suddenly all clicking
and just requiring you to, to, to
303
,975 --> 00:15:29,365
Marc Preston: work.
304
,585 --> 00:15:32,625
Well, kids all, you know, all kids
have that sense of play already kind
305
,625 --> 00:15:34,155
of built in, you know, it's an avenue.
306
,365 --> 00:15:38,445
Well, you said this was taking place,
uh, in a, in the back of a pub, you say?
307
,895 --> 00:15:40,904
Dimitri Leonidas: Yeah, it was,
uh, initially it was just a
308
,905 --> 00:15:43,175
room above a pub in Wembley.
309
,405 --> 00:15:48,314
Um, and as, as the sort of years
passed, They found slightly more, I
310
,314 --> 00:15:50,925
guess, appropriate venues to host.
311
,374 --> 00:15:51,555
I was about
312
,555 --> 00:15:53,754
Marc Preston: to say, that's gotta
be really interesting given the,
313
,854 --> 00:15:57,064
uh, uh, things that happen at a pub,
you know, to be able to have a lot
314
,064 --> 00:16:00,054
of, it's quite festive, you know?
315
,064 --> 00:16:00,365
Yeah.
316
,574 --> 00:16:00,824
Dimitri Leonidas: Yeah.
317
,824 --> 00:16:01,155
Yeah.
318
,374 --> 00:16:01,604
Marc Preston: No.
319
,605 --> 00:16:05,164
When you were in school, were you, uh,
was this, was this kind of like your
320
,165 --> 00:16:09,435
outlet or were you also doing like sports
or other kinds of activities as a kid?
321
,445 --> 00:16:14,154
Dimitri Leonidas: Yeah, I guess I w I
wouldn't say I was the sportiest kid.
322
Life as a Child Actor
,155 --> 00:16:20,459
I mean, I played football and, and,
uh, Um, you know, I, I, the, the
323
,459 --> 00:16:26,339
acting thing kind of, I had a few
jobs when I was a teenager, but I
324
,350 --> 00:16:28,939
never really wanted my friends at
school to know about it too much.
325
,939 --> 00:16:33,259
It was one of those things that
was more a reason that you might,
326
,979 --> 00:16:38,709
you know, get picked on or, um,
it just wasn't something that I, I
327
,709 --> 00:16:40,239
wanted people necessarily to know.
328
,060 --> 00:16:45,399
Um, and then obviously I was away
for sort of six, seven weeks.
329
,400 --> 00:16:48,139
There was a TV show I
did called Grange Hill.
330
,480 --> 00:16:51,439
Which is a, um, a school show.
331
,470 --> 00:16:53,260
It's a, it's a, it's about a high school.
332
,370 --> 00:16:57,620
It's very well known in the UK cause it
was a sort of working class high school
333
,680 --> 00:17:03,180
show, um, that had been running for when
I was in, it had been on for 25 years.
334
,180 --> 00:17:03,519
Kind of thing.
335
,519 --> 00:17:04,800
It was this long standing show.
336
,800 --> 00:17:09,640
And, and, uh, and so I was, we'd film
most of it over the summer holiday, but a
337
,640 --> 00:17:11,160
few weeks would run into the school year.
338
,819 --> 00:17:15,020
And so when I went back to school, some
people would ask what I was doing and
339
,339 --> 00:17:17,109
rumor got out that I was in this show.
340
,109 --> 00:17:17,240
And.
341
,155 --> 00:17:20,974
And I remember one kid
saying, you're just lying.
342
,984 --> 00:17:23,055
You're just saying it so
that people respect you.
343
,055 --> 00:17:26,244
And I kind of thought, good,
let everyone think I'm lying.
344
,595 --> 00:17:29,645
Um, because it just, it just
kept people off your back.
345
,675 --> 00:17:32,024
You know, attention in high school,
that sort of attention was not.
346
,124 --> 00:17:32,294
Was
347
,295 --> 00:17:35,574
Marc Preston: the show already
out or was this, uh, or was
348
,085 --> 00:17:36,225
Dimitri Leonidas: it?
349
,274 --> 00:17:39,985
The show was long running, but the
stuff I had filmed wasn't out until
350
,125 --> 00:17:42,225
the sort of next term kind of thing.
351
,264 --> 00:17:45,995
So we'd film over the summer
holidays and into the, the, the,
352
,145 --> 00:17:47,275
the beginning of the school year.
353
,899 --> 00:17:52,560
And then it would come out sort of, I
guess, I guess in a few months time and,
354
,560 --> 00:17:55,740
uh, and then once it was out, it was
kind of this weird thing where people
355
,740 --> 00:17:59,460
were watching it and, and there's a
sort of weird response to, to being.
356
,780 --> 00:18:03,450
In a show when you're at school like that.
357
,450 --> 00:18:04,714
How
358
,714 --> 00:18:05,979
Marc Preston: old
359
,660 --> 00:18:10,540
were you roughly when,
when you were shooting?
360
,550 --> 00:18:10,630
I
361
,630 --> 00:18:12,349
Dimitri Leonidas: mean, I
would have been about 12 or 13.
362
,420 --> 00:18:12,640
Oh,
363
,650 --> 00:18:12,900
Marc Preston: okay.
364
,900 --> 00:18:13,140
Dimitri Leonidas: Okay.
365
,450 --> 00:18:14,480
I was, I was quite young.
366
,480 --> 00:18:15,719
So it was kind of weird thing to do.
367
,719 --> 00:18:20,179
And, and, and, uh, you do feel
like you're sort of coexisting in
368
,180 --> 00:18:24,639
two different worlds, you know,
high school life and, and all the,
369
,779 --> 00:18:26,579
the trimmings that come with that.
370
,619 --> 00:18:31,620
And then a professional
environment, um, that is.
371
,654 --> 00:18:36,834
Uh, that, that has its own sort
of peculiarities, really, of
372
,834 --> 00:18:44,564
being on Tenny and a certain,
um, whirlpool of, of that world.
373
,745 --> 00:18:50,435
Um, and seeing sort of kids, you know,
having their eyes sort of, like, open to
374
,435 --> 00:18:52,575
the idea of maybe, you know Being active.
375
,575 --> 00:18:55,505
I mean, I never saw it that way, but
I remember some people, you know, you
376
,505 --> 00:19:00,145
could easily get carried away in, in,
in that it, you know, some of the kids
377
,145 --> 00:19:04,535
that went, that were in the show were
from more drama school background.
378
,595 --> 00:19:06,714
So this was something they
would have been planning.
379
,754 --> 00:19:06,865
I
380
,865 --> 00:19:09,734
Marc Preston: always imagine over
there that it's more people start
381
,735 --> 00:19:12,575
in theater, you know, kind of,
that's kind of the cliche idea.
382
,675 --> 00:19:17,200
Everybody's studying Shakespeare
out of the gate, you know, Was
383
,200 --> 00:19:20,350
it received like, or people
thinking, Hey, this is really cool.
384
,350 --> 00:19:22,820
Or were they, you know, being
that age, things are awkward
385
,820 --> 00:19:25,280
enough as it is, where they kind
of, were you getting singled out?
386
,280 --> 00:19:28,650
Like, okay, this, this punk over here
thinks he's something special, you know?
387
,750 --> 00:19:31,950
Dimitri Leonidas: Well, I remember getting
out of the train station one day and going
388
,060 --> 00:19:38,230
to school and some guy, these guys in
hoodies saw me and were like, you know,
389
,230 --> 00:19:42,840
swore at me and you're that, you know,
guy off the telly, give me your phone and
390
,840 --> 00:19:44,789
sort of tried to, to sort of surround me.
391
,789 --> 00:19:47,590
And, and, I kind of
just carried on walking.
392
,590 --> 00:19:52,450
But so for me, it really wasn't
something that I, I was proud of it.
393
,520 --> 00:19:57,010
I was, I felt great about being in
it, but the sort of social status that
394
,010 --> 00:20:00,919
came from it, um, was not something
that I was in an environment where that
395
,330 --> 00:20:03,349
would necessarily put you up higher.
396
,035 --> 00:20:04,875
in the hierarchy.
397
,875 --> 00:20:10,425
I mean, um, it felt great to be in the
show and it was a sort of privately.
398
,425 --> 00:20:14,684
I was beginning to sort of see
that there was an opportunity
399
,685 --> 00:20:16,075
here for a career in it as well.
400
,084 --> 00:20:19,364
I was like, okay, it came out of nowhere
that, you know, getting this job.
401
,824 --> 00:20:25,114
Um, the lady that run these drama classes
above the pub, she had these connections
402
,115 --> 00:20:29,495
to certain casting directors and, and
she'd said to my parents, look, I would
403
,495 --> 00:20:31,625
like to put Dimitri up for some stuff.
404
,625 --> 00:20:32,289
I think he'd be great.
405
,570 --> 00:20:33,280
You know, do it.
406
,530 --> 00:20:34,300
How would he feel about it?
407
,460 --> 00:20:35,770
How would you guys feel about it?
408
,159 --> 00:20:38,590
And, um, I was, of
course, like, Yeah, great.
409
,629 --> 00:20:40,179
You know, so I did some extra work.
410
,690 --> 00:20:44,370
Um, often there's sort of like
crime shows that were on telly.
411
,629 --> 00:20:48,520
They would want, you know, sort of
street, more urban kids as extras in the
412
,530 --> 00:20:53,380
background, and they would go to this
this, um, this sort of drama class after
413
,380 --> 00:20:57,420
school because she had a lot of kids from
local estates that she had just helped
414
,045 --> 00:21:03,525
Prepare to go into, you know, almost, you
know, credit to her, but through osmosis,
415
,575 --> 00:21:05,435
just being at those lessons, you kind of.
416
,820 --> 00:21:09,460
You did have this sort of preparation
to go in, even if it's just to do a
417
,460 --> 00:21:11,999
few days of extra work, you know, was
418
Pursuing Acting as a Career
,000 --> 00:21:14,109
Marc Preston: your mind shifting in
the direction of like, okay, this
419
,110 --> 00:21:17,939
may be what I want to do when I'm a
grownup, you know, or were, were you
420
,949 --> 00:21:19,589
still thinking this is cool for now?
421
,589 --> 00:21:23,280
And, uh, there's something else on
the agenda that you were thinking that
422
,319 --> 00:21:25,100
would be really cool to do for a living.
423
,229 --> 00:21:27,090
What, what was your aspiration?
424
,440 --> 00:21:30,150
I know it's only 12 and 13 years
old, but we're thinking there was
425
,150 --> 00:21:32,540
something else you wanted to do as well.
426
,590 --> 00:21:36,155
Dimitri Leonidas: No, I think,
I think I, I started to realize,
427
,225 --> 00:21:40,375
like, that I, I really enjoyed it.
428
,345 --> 00:21:46,834
I, I think it's hard because
looking back, I go, what point
429
,844 --> 00:21:49,415
did I really solidify in my mind?
430
,895 --> 00:21:51,725
And it's hard to identify exactly.
431
,755 --> 00:21:58,285
But I think at that time, I remember
thinking there is a potential, you know,
432
,285 --> 00:22:02,175
because it's so, when you, at that,
at that time, going into acting felt
433
,255 --> 00:22:05,345
like something that other people did.
434
,785 --> 00:22:09,200
Um, I'm Putting yourself in an
environment where you're doing it and
435
,200 --> 00:22:12,400
then you're watching yourself on telly
and you're going, Oh, this is what it is.
436
,680 --> 00:22:15,610
It's like the process is already
something I'm undergoing.
437
,640 --> 00:22:20,700
You learn your lines and you turn up
and you have long days of filming,
438
,729 --> 00:22:22,980
but these, this is what the job is.
439
,980 --> 00:22:29,630
And so it kind of pulled away the mystique
of, of, you know, film and television and
440
,630 --> 00:22:31,880
actually felt like something quite real.
441
,270 --> 00:22:36,980
Um, and I think that
calcify in my head as, as.
442
,564 --> 00:22:38,885
something I really wanted to do.
443
,105 --> 00:22:44,915
And so I continued to sort of pursue
it and, and, you know, move up through,
444
,955 --> 00:22:46,764
through different agents and stuff.
445
,764 --> 00:22:47,965
And I didn't go to drama school.
446
,965 --> 00:22:50,624
And as you say, that is the
traditional route very much still
447
,915 --> 00:22:55,674
in the UK is, is learning your, your
craft through, um, through drama
448
,675 --> 00:22:57,384
school and through theater training.
449
,924 --> 00:23:01,475
And so having not done that, I always
felt a little bit like, am I missing out?
450
,765 --> 00:23:05,085
What, what am I not, you know, I'm, I
haven't gone through formal training.
451
,105 --> 00:23:06,795
I'm just sort of winging it.
452
,320 --> 00:23:13,159
But I guess I had the advantage of having
some experience and knowing what the
453
,159 --> 00:23:15,820
ins and outs of the day on set entail.
454
,879 --> 00:23:17,620
Marc Preston: Yeah, but it
definitely was a job in your mind.
455
,620 --> 00:23:20,530
You could kind of see this as being
a vocation because I hear, you know,
456
,530 --> 00:23:24,530
some younger kids, some child actors
I'd spoken with over the years,
457
,919 --> 00:23:28,250
they've said, you know, they, it was
kind of fun for them, but they didn't
458
,260 --> 00:23:32,190
really perceive it as, Oh, I can make
a living doing this thing, you know?
459
,190 --> 00:23:34,359
So that was, that's kind
of a nice little epiphany.
460
,359 --> 00:23:36,360
And did you stay in school?
461
,630 --> 00:23:40,080
Like, as things progressed, you know,
12, 13, did you stay in school or did
462
,080 --> 00:23:43,200
you start getting a lot of, a lot more
work and we're doing the kind of the
463
,750 --> 00:23:45,590
onset where they call the tutoring?
464
,600 --> 00:23:48,629
Dimitri Leonidas: Yeah, I mean, I mean,
there was, whilst we were doing the
465
,629 --> 00:23:52,209
show, there was, there was tutoring,
but I was, I was in school, you
466
,209 --> 00:23:55,800
know, um, I, I did college as well.
467
,940 --> 00:24:04,060
Um, so I kind of went through as far as I
felt was, was sort of, I should in terms
468
,060 --> 00:24:06,089
of formal education, you know, academic.
469
,089 --> 00:24:06,139
Right.
470
,520 --> 00:24:07,300
education.
471
,490 --> 00:24:11,880
Um, I went to college, but I sort of
knew in the back of my mind, I was
472
,880 --> 00:24:13,550
going to try and take a swing at acting.
473
,590 --> 00:24:17,670
I was going to try and get a slightly
better agent off the back of having done,
474
,020 --> 00:24:19,760
you know, a few bits of television work.
475
,390 --> 00:24:25,859
Um, and, and, you know, at that point
it's, it is, they're the hardest years
476
,860 --> 00:24:33,270
really, where you're sort of like, you
know, trying to figure out how realistic
477
,270 --> 00:24:38,455
it is, knowing that there's an element of
it's, Up to the sort of gods in a way, you
478
,455 --> 00:24:41,905
know, there's so much your uncertainty.
479
,004 --> 00:24:42,405
Yeah.
480
,844 --> 00:24:47,264
And, and, and, you know, my dad, you
know, as I explained the sort of in the
481
,274 --> 00:24:52,104
background of all that is sort of building
his, his business and, and I think was
482
,135 --> 00:24:56,694
quite keen for me to sort of go in into
that and take over what he'd started.
483
,694 --> 00:25:01,315
And so, you know, uh, I had to
sort of try and juggle those things
484
,674 --> 00:25:05,145
and, uh, I mean, he's extremely
supportive now, but understandably.
485
,125 --> 00:25:11,495
You know, telling my Greengrass, the
dad that I want to go into like acting.
486
,504 --> 00:25:14,624
Marc Preston: What did your mother,
was she also a Cypriot or did
487
,624 --> 00:25:15,924
he meet your mother in the UK?
488
,985 --> 00:25:17,095
Dimitri Leonidas: They met in the UK.
489
,155 --> 00:25:21,584
Um, and, and you know, it was my
mom, I guess, who really was sort
490
,584 --> 00:25:26,265
of encouraging us to sort of try
these things, you know, try and go
491
,265 --> 00:25:29,075
to these extra curriculum activities.
492
,075 --> 00:25:34,594
And so my sisters were doing bits of
singing and dancing, as I said, and, um,
493
,324 --> 00:25:36,864
And she passed away when I was young.
494
,875 --> 00:25:40,484
My mom passed away when I was 13.
495
,765 --> 00:25:44,904
Um, so it was kind of mad, you know,
like three sisters and myself and my dad,
496
,904 --> 00:25:49,364
all trying to figure out how to proceed,
you know, because you're, you're, you're
497
,334 --> 00:25:55,345
beyond the sort of tragedy of it is,
is the absurdity of it, which is like.
498
,114 --> 00:26:00,384
Now what like and and you know coming
to terms with it in just a sort of
499
,384 --> 00:26:08,514
everyday way And it and and so, you
know In that sort of chaos, I think
500
,514 --> 00:26:10,284
you grow up quite quickly in your head.
501
,315 --> 00:26:10,964
You sort of go.
502
,014 --> 00:26:11,854
Okay Well the
503
,855 --> 00:26:14,224
Marc Preston: acting that that was right
about the time you were doing this show
504
,224 --> 00:26:18,154
me the acting had to been somewhat of
a Escape for you at least a little bit.
505
,194 --> 00:26:18,665
Dimitri Leonidas: Yeah.
506
,755 --> 00:26:21,340
Yeah, it was Yeah, it was.
507
,370 --> 00:26:28,060
And, and I think it was like kind
of schizophrenic in my head in
508
,060 --> 00:26:33,689
a way that I was already trying
to not bring the acting part.
509
,839 --> 00:26:36,320
It was not something I was
bringing into the school too much.
510
,320 --> 00:26:38,889
And then in the background of
that, with my mom, there was
511
,899 --> 00:26:41,109
like a third narrative going.
512
,110 --> 00:26:45,760
And so I think I got used to, I think
as you get older, you used to, you do
513
,760 --> 00:26:47,760
naturally have several parts of yourself.
514
,189 --> 00:26:49,730
operate.
515
,170 --> 00:26:53,370
And I think quite quickly, I
sort of had to dissect parts of
516
,370 --> 00:26:55,840
myself and go, this isn't useful.
517
,110 --> 00:26:59,600
You know, I mean, I remember my sister
saying to me, she was like, try and
518
,600 --> 00:27:04,170
not let what's going on with us at home
affect what you're doing on the job.
519
,225 --> 00:27:07,534
And I thought it was a really
mature thing for her to say.
520
,544 --> 00:27:12,885
It was like, and I totally understood why
she was saying it, but, um, you know, so
521
,885 --> 00:27:19,435
it was a lot of like, very quickly learn,
learn to, to, to adapt to environments
522
,435 --> 00:27:21,745
that are changing and, and, um,
523
,965 --> 00:27:23,145
Marc Preston: Yeah.
524
,145 --> 00:27:25,395
And that, that time of life
is awkward enough as it is.
525
,405 --> 00:27:26,504
So that had to be, you know,
526
,675 --> 00:27:26,804
Dimitri Leonidas: at
527
,784 --> 00:27:30,594
Marc Preston: least you had your, your,
your father, your sisters there did, you
528
,594 --> 00:27:34,834
know, you know, you haven't me growing
up as an only child, I have three kids.
529
,834 --> 00:27:36,165
I live vicariously through them.
530
,174 --> 00:27:37,504
What's it like to have siblings?
531
,504 --> 00:27:40,435
You know, because as an only
kid, I had a dog, you know, that
532
,435 --> 00:27:42,014
was about as close as we got.
533
,344 --> 00:27:43,135
One last question.
534
,135 --> 00:27:46,485
I, I always ended up talking to
food at least once every episode.
535
,844 --> 00:27:50,095
And one of my, some of my favorite
food is from that, uh, Part, you
536
,095 --> 00:27:55,045
know, the, the ri the, the cuisine
is very, very much similar to Greek.
537
,045 --> 00:27:55,345
Don't they?
538
,345 --> 00:27:57,985
Don't they have like li long lifespans?
539
,985 --> 00:28:00,535
Isn't that kind of a cprt thing
because of the way they eat, or, yes.
540
,715 --> 00:28:01,315
Dimitri Leonidas: No, you're right.
541
,320 --> 00:28:05,695
There's, there's a Greek island where
it has the oldest living inhabitants.
542
,700 --> 00:28:08,905
They're all living till like 110, 115.
543
,905 --> 00:28:10,735
And, and it's exactly what you say.
544
,610 --> 00:28:12,490
It's olive oil.
545
,490 --> 00:28:13,530
It's fresh fish.
546
,879 --> 00:28:15,429
It's seasonal vegetables.
547
,509 --> 00:28:18,554
Marc Preston: Is your father a
cook or was that something he did?
548
,554 --> 00:28:20,379
I mean, does he know how
to make some of these?
549
,399 --> 00:28:21,229
No, it's the answer
550
,770 --> 00:28:22,149
Dimitri Leonidas: to that.
551
,189 --> 00:28:25,769
I mean, he, you know, he,
um, he loves his food.
552
,919 --> 00:28:30,300
My dad, um, he's not, he's not
necessarily a good cook, but he's sisters.
553
,329 --> 00:28:35,640
So my aunties, um, would always sort of
bring Greek food around, you know, Easter.
554
,310 --> 00:28:37,760
Marc Preston: He'll provide the groceries.
555
,770 --> 00:28:39,290
Dimitri Leonidas: He'll
provide the groceries, yeah.
556
Travel and Filming Locations
,620 --> 00:28:39,630
I
557
,880 --> 00:28:42,166
Marc Preston: was curious, have you
stayed, uh, have you always kind of lived
558
,166 --> 00:28:46,389
in the UK, or have you tried living in
LA, or have you kind of moved around,
559
,390 --> 00:28:47,850
or has this always been your home base?
560
,190 --> 00:28:51,129
Dimitri Leonidas: This has always been
my home base, although over the last, I'd
561
,130 --> 00:28:55,880
say, sort of 10, 12 years, I've probably
spent half of that time working abroad.
562
,440 --> 00:29:01,559
I always seem to get jobs that are like
6, 7 months abroad, and I've been really
563
,559 --> 00:29:03,029
fortunate that it's been you know.
564
,409 --> 00:29:07,539
I spent like a year in Malta
filming a TV show and really
565
,669 --> 00:29:09,439
six, seven months in Berlin.
566
,800 --> 00:29:14,560
Um, uh, a few months in Barcelona,
the job, the jobs that I I'd
567
,560 --> 00:29:18,350
landed over the last decade or so
were predominantly filmed abroad.
568
,359 --> 00:29:21,559
So it was, it was always
nice to come home.
569
,560 --> 00:29:21,929
Actually.
570
,929 --> 00:29:25,879
I, I, I love traveling love, you
know, it's, it's something that
571
,889 --> 00:29:28,639
I do even in, in my off off time.
572
,649 --> 00:29:33,260
But, um, Getting to do that with
work is, is, is a real privilege.
573
,510 --> 00:29:33,980
Oh, that's,
574
,040 --> 00:29:34,940
Marc Preston: that's pretty awesome.
575
,940 --> 00:29:38,359
I mean, that's one of the things I always
wanted to do is, is have a gig where I
576
,359 --> 00:29:42,380
can be able to travel, you know, and being
able to go, you're not just traveling
577
,460 --> 00:29:46,719
to like, like LA or again, we'll say
like Atlanta, Georgia and the U S you're
578
,720 --> 00:29:48,570
going to some kind of nice exotic places.
579
,579 --> 00:29:51,270
So it's, you know, those about to die.
580
,270 --> 00:29:52,540
Where did y'all shoot that?
581
,590 --> 00:29:55,580
Dimitri Leonidas: So we shot
that in, in Italy, in Rome.
582
,750 --> 00:29:56,230
Oh, really?
583
,230 --> 00:29:56,730
Okay.
584
,080 --> 00:29:57,540
Yeah.
585
,689 --> 00:29:57,979
Yeah.
586
,979 --> 00:30:04,045
And they have, um, the studios there,
Chinichita, and uh, and also some sets
587
,065 --> 00:30:05,765
that was, were outside of the studio.
588
,375 --> 00:30:12,375
There was a remake of Ben Hur a
few years ago, and for that film,
589
,375 --> 00:30:14,685
they had built Circus Maximus.
590
,045 --> 00:30:17,825
Um, and that set is still there.
591
,244 --> 00:30:21,574
And so Yeah, it's an
amazing set, actually.
592
,574 --> 00:30:27,074
And for the chariot racing and training
that I had to do, and also for filming,
593
,074 --> 00:30:30,430
we were using That Circus Maximus set.
594
,920 --> 00:30:31,510
Um, yeah, it's
595
,510 --> 00:30:32,800
Marc Preston: funny you say
that cause I was watching it.
596
,800 --> 00:30:36,850
I was thinking, well, of course there,
I'm sure there's some element of CGI
597
,850 --> 00:30:39,870
cause you can't just recreate Rome,
you know, can't rebuild Rome, but,
598
,170 --> 00:30:43,570
but I'm going, okay, this guy really
looks like he's doing some horse stuff.
599
,915 --> 00:30:47,385
You know, so, you know, so the, what
kind of training did you have to go
600
,385 --> 00:30:51,215
through to kind of prepare yourself
to have a team of four horses?
601
,245 --> 00:30:51,715
Yeah.
602
,785 --> 00:30:52,175
Yeah.
603
,465 --> 00:30:53,665
You know, how did, how did you do that?
604
,695 --> 00:30:55,725
Dimitri Leonidas: So we, we were
called out, the sort of charioteers
605
,735 --> 00:31:01,475
were called out to Rome a little
earlier and, and were given a sort of
606
,475 --> 00:31:06,045
intensive training, which involved a few
things at first, it was like going to
607
,055 --> 00:31:08,635
stables and spending time with horses.
608
,635 --> 00:31:14,610
And, and, uh, my character has,
um, There's a few scenes with,
609
,640 --> 00:31:18,090
with a horse in the show called
Inchitatus, which is a real horse.
610
Choosing the Right Horse for the Role
,100 --> 00:31:22,569
It was a famous horse in Rome and, uh,
so because of that, they were like,
611
,600 --> 00:31:25,759
we need to sort of match you with the,
with the right horse for these scenes.
612
,690 --> 00:31:29,729
And, um, so one of the first things
I had to do was go and like spend
613
,729 --> 00:31:30,920
time with a few different people.
614
,310 --> 00:31:33,620
potential in Chitatus horses.
615
,170 --> 00:31:40,919
Um, and you know, the first one I,
I, I met was this veteran actor horse
616
,919 --> 00:31:44,249
that had been on a bunch of like
films and television shows and was a
617
,249 --> 00:31:49,200
bit older and a little bit more, um,
you know, a little bit more subdued.
618
,200 --> 00:31:50,820
He was used to being around people.
619
,239 --> 00:31:52,350
He was used to being on set.
620
,350 --> 00:31:55,030
So it was kind of easy to
groom him and deal with him.
621
,650 --> 00:31:58,020
But something about it
just didn't feel right.
622
,050 --> 00:32:00,590
It was like, it felt
too easy or something.
623
,590 --> 00:32:04,775
And then it In the end, you know, we
went for this other horse called Silaro.
624
,785 --> 00:32:09,505
My first encounter with him was just,
I was in complete awe, it was huge,
625
,505 --> 00:32:15,905
this huge muscular horse that, um,
seemed completely like unimpressed.
626
,060 --> 00:32:17,096
And, uh, and
627
,096 --> 00:32:20,549
Marc Preston: it seems like an interesting
matchmaking thing they're doing here.
628
,830 --> 00:32:22,290
You know, with you and a horse,
629
,180 --> 00:32:24,830
Dimitri Leonidas: you know,
they wanted it to feel right.
630
,860 --> 00:32:25,270
I think.
631
,280 --> 00:32:30,310
And, and, you know, when I got back,
you know, after the day I, Roland, the
632
,310 --> 00:32:32,550
director, he was asking me, he was like,
so what happened with those horses?
633
,590 --> 00:32:34,900
And I said, there's this one
horse that is just so terrifying.
634
,250 --> 00:32:36,830
It's like super intimidating.
635
,840 --> 00:32:39,600
It's like this sort of dragon sized horse.
636
,950 --> 00:32:44,050
Um, that, uh, it's never done
any sort of television work.
637
,050 --> 00:32:44,320
It's.
638
,345 --> 00:32:49,645
So it's not, um, accustomed to sort of
being on set or anything, but the horse
639
,645 --> 00:32:54,045
is so sort of intimidating, um, and
impressive looking that I just thought
640
,045 --> 00:32:56,495
it has to be, it has to be this horse.
641
,765 --> 00:33:01,154
And that's, that's who we went with and,
um, yeah, and then, and then, you know,
642
,154 --> 00:33:03,065
slowly getting us used to the chariots.
643
Training with Chariots
,095 --> 00:33:08,785
We started off on, on carriages and
just where you sort of sit and go on the
644
,785 --> 00:33:10,435
carriage and go around Circus Maximus.
645
,345 --> 00:33:15,575
Then upgraded to actual chariots,
which, which were terrifying at first.
646
,575 --> 00:33:17,435
It's like standing on a skateboard.
647
,165 --> 00:33:22,414
Um, Roland really wanted to sort
of go with a sort of more sporty
648
,445 --> 00:33:24,124
design chariot that was very small.
649
,825 --> 00:33:29,705
Um, and very sort of fast looking
and therefore not the safest.
650
,785 --> 00:33:35,295
Um, so, you know, it's like standing on
this sort of little, little skateboard.
651
,675 --> 00:33:36,585
With, I would say it
652
,585 --> 00:33:40,065
Marc Preston: sounds kind of like, even
in just kind of watching the, they,
653
,075 --> 00:33:42,724
they weren't these really robust things.
654
,725 --> 00:33:46,114
They were just kind of like just a couple
of wheels, a little thing to stand in.
655
,115 --> 00:33:47,375
And it's, yeah.
656
,125 --> 00:33:50,845
Dimitri Leonidas: Um, and then
four giant Hungarian stunt horses
657
,865 --> 00:33:54,950
that are like, You know, when they
want to go, they just want to rip.
658
,010 --> 00:34:01,219
It's like, it's the feeling of, of those
horses at full power is, is phenomenal.
659
,339 --> 00:34:05,850
It's like, it's, it's like an
earthquake at the end of your hat.
660
,860 --> 00:34:08,599
It's, it's just, I mean,
those guys are crazy.
661
,600 --> 00:34:10,439
The stunt guys are absolutely crazy.
662
,439 --> 00:34:13,479
Those Hungarian boys that
actually were doing the races.
663
,920 --> 00:34:18,450
And then you think like, they're crazy,
but the guys in Rome 2000 years ago,
664
,490 --> 00:34:22,500
doing the races without all the specific
equipment that they have for the horses
665
,500 --> 00:34:23,740
today that make it a little more.
666
,790 --> 00:34:24,010
Marc Preston: Yeah.
667
,010 --> 00:34:24,850
And paramedics,
668
,429 --> 00:34:28,299
there was one quote.
669
,299 --> 00:34:34,930
Somebody said that, uh, that horse meats
worth more than an injured racing guys.
670
Reflecting on Roman Life
,930 --> 00:34:40,455
Like the cool thing for me was in
watching this was that it was a, um, It
671
,455 --> 00:34:41,875
reminded me a little bit of the history.
672
,875 --> 00:34:44,465
I probably should have paid a little
bit more attention to in school,
673
,765 --> 00:34:46,585
but it was, what was the life?
674
,585 --> 00:34:47,585
What was the daily life?
675
,585 --> 00:34:50,585
What was the ebb and flow for the,
from the peasant folk all the way up
676
,585 --> 00:34:54,704
to the, to the Anthony Hopkins types,
the emperor, you kind of saw it in a
677
,854 --> 00:34:58,174
three dimensions as opposed to just, you
know, something that seems historical.
678
,874 --> 00:35:02,605
Did you have any epiphanies in doing
this or learn something or anything
679
,615 --> 00:35:06,285
about the ecosystem of the Roman life
or whatever you want to call that?
680
,314 --> 00:35:07,795
I mean, was there
something you picked up on?
681
,795 --> 00:35:11,295
You, you were just kind of like,
Pleasantly surprised, uh, to learn.
682
,425 --> 00:35:12,935
Dimitri Leonidas: I mean,
there was this great podcast.
683
,965 --> 00:35:16,885
The friend gave me before I started
called the history of Rome podcast.
684
,515 --> 00:35:20,375
And, uh, it really is phenomenal.
685
,375 --> 00:35:24,224
It started out as a, as a pet
project for him and it, it started
686
,295 --> 00:35:25,945
to build a quite a large audience.
687
,945 --> 00:35:29,325
And then he just commits fully
to, and he quits his job and just
688
,345 --> 00:35:30,835
commits to making this podcast.
689
,835 --> 00:35:30,975
And so.
690
,765 --> 00:35:37,265
I was listening to that whilst, you
know, shooting and, um, there's so
691
,285 --> 00:35:44,744
many really interesting little stories
that, um, I mean, Vespasian was an
692
,744 --> 00:35:46,514
emperor that created public lavatories.
693
,365 --> 00:35:51,674
Uh, and so in, in Rome, in Italy,
they call them Vespasianos, I
694
,675 --> 00:35:52,805
think is the public lavatories.
695
,915 --> 00:35:54,725
He, he, he created those things.
696
,735 --> 00:36:00,515
So there's all these really sort of tiny
little stories and nuggets of, of, Call
697
,515 --> 00:36:06,205
it cool pieces of info that come out,
um, you know, in, in, in researching
698
,205 --> 00:36:10,314
the show and that, that period of time,
I think for me, it was trying to get
699
,315 --> 00:36:14,435
my head around, just they see the world
slightly different to us in many ways.
700
,634 --> 00:36:18,865
You know, we talk about Rome being the
basis of our civilization today, and it
701
,874 --> 00:36:23,705
is in so many ways, the idea of bread
and circus, the politics, the class
702
,735 --> 00:36:29,645
system, all of it is, you know, we can
draw a line from that time to today.
703
,645 --> 00:36:31,264
And so many of these sort of large.
704
,025 --> 00:36:36,015
Um, this sort of large things that
still exist today, but there's
705
,015 --> 00:36:38,715
also an element where they saw
the world so differently to us.
706
,255 --> 00:36:44,354
And that was, was kind of fascinating
that we, we sort of are far more, I
707
,385 --> 00:36:50,344
think, atheistic and, and, and post
sort of cycle, you know, psychotherapy.
708
,345 --> 00:36:50,674
We.
709
,935 --> 00:36:55,815
We analyze our behavior in certain
ways that you have to, you know,
710
,175 --> 00:36:59,265
for a show like this in particular,
you have to be very careful.
711
,265 --> 00:37:03,195
You don't, you're not too clinical
with your approach to these characters
712
,245 --> 00:37:07,615
because somewhere you can sort of squeeze
the ghost and the mystery out of them.
713
,704 --> 00:37:11,044
Marc Preston: There is a quote, um, that
I thought was really interesting, uh,
714
,045 --> 00:37:13,699
that, that they could see the artifice.
715
,300 --> 00:37:17,930
But that's actually what they wanted,
you know, in other words, that's part
716
,960 --> 00:37:19,450
of the theater of the whole thing.
717
,500 --> 00:37:21,190
I think it was with the scene
when you were kind of like
718
,190 --> 00:37:23,430
pulling back and in the race
719
,320 --> 00:37:25,829
Dimitri Leonidas: and then,
you know, and everybody kind of
720
,829 --> 00:37:27,900
Marc Preston: see, okay,
this is some BS, man.
721
,900 --> 00:37:29,060
And we know what he's about to do.
722
,329 --> 00:37:31,879
And it's like, you know, it's
almost like pro wrestling in a way.
723
,580 --> 00:37:32,820
Right.
724
,830 --> 00:37:34,810
But that's part of the theater of it.
725
,220 --> 00:37:36,650
There's so many parallels.
726
,680 --> 00:37:40,610
I mean, you know, it is cool ways,
but also some kind of scary ways.
727
,610 --> 00:37:43,779
You start talking about the ebb
and flow of a, of an empire.
728
,779 --> 00:37:46,639
And if you look at the U S right
now, and there's some, there's some
729
,640 --> 00:37:48,370
interesting parallels, you know?
730
,430 --> 00:37:49,220
Yeah, absolutely.
731
,220 --> 00:37:49,540
Yeah.
732
,955 --> 00:37:52,665
But I'm imagining, I know my
daughter just got back from Rome
733
,665 --> 00:37:54,195
and she went to Umbria as well.
734
,205 --> 00:37:57,335
And, uh, she got back, I was just asking
her all, all the food she had to eat.
735
Food and Craft Services in Rome
,375 --> 00:38:00,445
You know, she, she apparently is not going
to want to have any pasta for a little
736
,445 --> 00:38:02,755
while, but what was food service like?
737
,755 --> 00:38:05,655
What was the craft service like
when you were there in Rome?
738
,805 --> 00:38:06,405
It's incredible.
739
,434 --> 00:38:11,815
Was it kind of your standard TV show
stuff or that was it like some real deal
740
,815 --> 00:38:12,255
Dimitri Leonidas: Italian?
741
,355 --> 00:38:16,665
Marc, honestly, it's like
the food, you know, the food.
742
,445 --> 00:38:23,505
It's the cliche, but it is true,
you know, bad food is insulting to
743
,505 --> 00:38:30,785
Italians and, and they, they really,
you know, they really took care of us.
744
,245 --> 00:38:34,845
The catering team out there
was, I mean, it was just superb.
745
,905 --> 00:38:38,545
I can't, you know, I've been on
some sets where it's like, should
746
,554 --> 00:38:39,985
we just like Uber eat something?
747
,985 --> 00:38:42,524
Because I really don't
want to eat this set food.
748
,525 --> 00:38:46,420
It's just not, it just feels sort of
scary that you might, you know, Eat
749
,450 --> 00:38:50,520
something and not be able to work
for the rest of the day, you know,
750
,530 --> 00:38:52,390
but this was not the case in Italy.
751
,390 --> 00:38:56,950
It's like, and the funny thing is, you
know, as well, not just on set, it's, it's
752
,960 --> 00:39:03,830
the, the sort of places, the restaurants
that, um, sort of a quiet little place
753
,830 --> 00:39:08,180
down an alleyway that you find and you
go in and you're like, doesn't seem to
754
,190 --> 00:39:11,840
be anyone there, but maybe because of the
time of day and then the pizza they give
755
,840 --> 00:39:13,640
you is the best pizza you've ever tasted.
756
,720 --> 00:39:17,800
And it's like, it's all
these tiny little cafes that.
757
,230 --> 00:39:20,030
Um, they just
758
,030 --> 00:39:20,230
Marc Preston: do.
759
,350 --> 00:39:21,560
Yeah.
760
,560 --> 00:39:25,760
Isn't there like a whole thing,
a whole idea that they may do one
761
,760 --> 00:39:29,380
thing amazingly well, and one place
is known for one thing and you got
762
,380 --> 00:39:30,689
to go over there for that one thing.
763
,689 --> 00:39:35,685
I mean, I would, I would get lost and pick
up, put on, I mean, Ridiculous amount of
764
,685 --> 00:39:37,885
pounds, you know, spending time there.
765
Current and Future Projects
,315 --> 00:39:39,865
So, so what are you working on right now?
766
,895 --> 00:39:41,485
You know, what is coming up for you?
767
,595 --> 00:39:43,345
So you're shooting a series like this.
768
,165 --> 00:39:45,335
Same thing with a foundation.
769
,345 --> 00:39:48,635
Do you ever kind of need like a break or
do you get a little antsy when you're not
770
,635 --> 00:39:51,295
shooting something when you're kind of
like, geez, I want to get back to work.
771
,705 --> 00:39:53,465
Dimitri Leonidas: Working is always great.
772
,475 --> 00:39:58,545
It's always nice to have, to have that,
but I've learned to sort of use the
773
,545 --> 00:40:01,185
time off as productively as possible.
774
,185 --> 00:40:01,525
I think.
775
,075 --> 00:40:06,435
You, especially when you're first
starting out, it's very easy to
776
,435 --> 00:40:11,995
let that time sort of ever way with
anxiety about what's coming next.
777
,995 --> 00:40:13,565
And is anything coming next?
778
,925 --> 00:40:19,625
Um, and, um, when you, you know, when
a job does come along, you sort of
779
,625 --> 00:40:23,575
go, I wish I just sort of did the
things that I want to do in that time.
780
,575 --> 00:40:24,695
I wish I read more books.
781
,695 --> 00:40:29,675
I wish I, you know, went running more, you
know, I like to do some indoor climbing
782
,685 --> 00:40:32,565
and, um, Brazilian jujitsu and, and.
783
,000 --> 00:40:35,600
You kind of don't do any of those
things, especially when you're starting
784
,600 --> 00:40:38,260
out because you've got no money and
you're like, you're trying to sort of,
785
,260 --> 00:40:42,370
I don't know how long this sort of pay
packet has to last to pay your rent.
786
,380 --> 00:40:47,129
So you sort of don't branch out into
your other interests until you somehow
787
,129 --> 00:40:49,429
feel a little more secure and you're
never going to feel totally secure.
788
,430 --> 00:40:49,709
I think.
789
,250 --> 00:40:51,440
Um,
790
,550 --> 00:40:53,120
Marc Preston: yeah, I remember
a long time ago, I think I
791
,120 --> 00:40:55,320
was speaking to John Favreau.
792
,410 --> 00:40:56,870
This is going 20.
793
,260 --> 00:40:58,590
I don't even think of
how long ago that was.
794
,120 --> 00:40:59,740
I'm getting older.
795
,010 --> 00:41:02,539
Um, but he said something that's
like, yeah, you know, whenever a
796
,539 --> 00:41:04,239
movie or a show raps, I'm out of work.
797
,360 --> 00:41:05,940
I never really framed it like that.
798
,940 --> 00:41:06,489
Like, Oh really?
799
,490 --> 00:41:08,059
I guess you're, I guess you're right.
800
,230 --> 00:41:11,280
As far as projects go, what, what
kind of things do you have coming up?
801
,280 --> 00:41:14,940
Or even, you know, what kind of
things are you looking to want to do?
802
,150 --> 00:41:17,720
You know, coming up here, uh, is
there anything you haven't done that
803
,730 --> 00:41:21,700
you're like, I would really like to
grab ahold of a project like this.
804
,730 --> 00:41:22,510
What would that be?
805
,630 --> 00:41:27,820
Dimitri Leonidas: Um, I mean, I, I feel
very fortunate in the last few years
806
,820 --> 00:41:33,720
to have been on a range of, of projects
and shows that are all quite different.
807
,920 --> 00:41:40,810
Um, you know, from sort of sci fi
to war dramas, um, to, to sort of
808
,830 --> 00:41:45,710
modern day to like ancient Rome, I
kind of had to sort of stop when this
809
,710 --> 00:41:46,860
job finished and look back and go.
810
,555 --> 00:41:52,405
If I, someone had told me 10 years ago
that I would have done these things, it,
811
,045 --> 00:41:56,745
I, I would have, you know, grabbed, I
would have said, yes, please, you know, if
812
,745 --> 00:41:59,125
that is, is where I could be in 10 years.
813
Creative Pursuits and Interests
,135 --> 00:42:04,235
So, so I kind of like, I've tried
to sort of go a little more inwards
814
,235 --> 00:42:07,995
and, and figure out what it is I
personally want to do and, and the
815
,025 --> 00:42:12,745
things that really sort of draw sort
of sources of inspiration for me.
816
,745 --> 00:42:16,525
And then it's really bizarre because
that sort of can lead you down.
817
,240 --> 00:42:22,160
Um, a path of like, you know, you
end up with five, six, seven books
818
,180 --> 00:42:26,319
that you're going reading all at
once and, uh, and, um, and that opens
819
,319 --> 00:42:27,780
up more doors to something else.
820
,800 --> 00:42:31,310
And then there'll be some, you know,
eccentric artists that you, you
821
,310 --> 00:42:35,330
discover through that process that you
momentarily become sort of obsessed with.
822
,330 --> 00:42:39,470
And, and so I'm in that world of
just, you know, there's lots of
823
,470 --> 00:42:41,160
things that sort of appeal to me.
824
,170 --> 00:42:41,840
And, and.
825
,345 --> 00:42:48,545
Um, finding time to do it all and, and,
and, you know, read the books that I want.
826
,545 --> 00:42:54,355
And, um, I, I, I bought a, a camera
recently and have been, you know,
827
,445 --> 00:42:59,055
shooting and, and getting to know
the, the intricacies of it and, and
828
,055 --> 00:43:02,200
the sort of the, the, the few lenses
that I bought and playing with them
829
,325 --> 00:43:05,895
and going onto Da Vinci Resolve and,
and learning the editing software.
830
,895 --> 00:43:06,585
And so like.
831
,070 --> 00:43:10,090
For me, it's like I could,
I could do that forever.
832
,490 --> 00:43:14,160
Um, cause I love, I love, I'm
starting to really enjoy that.
833
,570 --> 00:43:21,220
Um, but of course, you know, work,
work is, is, is essential and the
834
,220 --> 00:43:24,760
process of, of like being with
other people and doing it is great.
835
,829 --> 00:43:24,929
Marc Preston: Yeah.
836
,140 --> 00:43:26,079
I know what you mean about that.
837
,079 --> 00:43:26,789
Eventually resolve.
838
,790 --> 00:43:29,630
You can kind of go down a little
rabbit hole, like as if you've got
839
,630 --> 00:43:30,840
a creative mind you want to go.
840
,850 --> 00:43:31,150
Right.
841
,400 --> 00:43:33,825
Dimitri Leonidas: You've got into the
fusion element elements of DaVinci.
842
,825 --> 00:43:33,826
The,
843
,460 --> 00:43:37,160
Marc Preston: I haven't even
gotten into the things, the
844
,160 --> 00:43:39,230
real horsepower of the thing.
845
,470 --> 00:43:39,860
It's insane.
846
,070 --> 00:43:44,630
Most I've done was this most rudimentary,
you know, just a basic editing as it were.
847
,630 --> 00:43:46,190
But I mean, there's so much you can do.
848
,250 --> 00:43:46,550
Yeah.
849
,555 --> 00:43:46,705
Yeah.
850
,060 --> 00:43:50,180
Do you find yourself, uh, like, oh,
next time I'm on set I wanna go hang out
851
,180 --> 00:43:52,190
with a DP and ask him some questions?
852
,430 --> 00:43:55,130
You know, what kinda lenses,
why are you using the lenses?
853
,130 --> 00:43:55,310
You know,
854
,575 --> 00:43:57,265
,
Dimitri Leonidas: exactly that.
855
,120 --> 00:44:03,049
It really is that, yeah.
856
,730 --> 00:44:07,520
Marc Preston: As we, you know,
head towards wrapping up here.
857
,520 --> 00:44:10,990
One thing I do like to do, I have
my, what I call my seven questions.
858
,080 --> 00:44:13,500
I always like to kind of throw
out and just, just a little
859
,500 --> 00:44:14,779
fun, a little extra fun here.
860
,040 --> 00:44:16,480
And we were talking food a moment ago.
861
,480 --> 00:44:18,450
So, that always comes up a bunch.
862
,970 --> 00:44:22,130
Um, of the seven questions,
first one's always, what is
863
,130 --> 00:44:24,400
your favorite, uh, comfort food?
864
,500 --> 00:44:26,930
Dimitri Leonidas: You
know, I love ribeye steak.
865
,369 --> 00:44:29,480
I love ribeye steak.
866
,619 --> 00:44:30,470
It's, um.
867
,510 --> 00:44:36,180
It's, it's a, it's a meal that I
always feel very satisfied that
868
,190 --> 00:44:39,530
the ingredient cooked properly with
some, maybe some, some broccoli, some
869
,530 --> 00:44:43,709
garlic and a little bit of chili,
uh, with the broccoli that, that is,
870
,059 --> 00:44:46,840
that is always super satisfied to me.
871
,840 --> 00:44:50,920
And then, and then, um, you know, on
the slightly, maybe less healthier side.
872
,245 --> 00:44:52,635
A good fried chicken burger.
873
,635 --> 00:44:54,737
you said a fried
874
,737 --> 00:44:55,788
Marc Preston: chicken burger.
875
,788 --> 00:45:00,644
You know, the, the folks are the, the
folks, uh, at your neck of the woods I've
876
,645 --> 00:45:06,764
spoken with, uh, I learned what spag bowl
is that's that's shown up more than once
877
,855 --> 00:45:06,995
Dimitri Leonidas: I
878
,995 --> 00:45:07,695
Marc Preston: can imagine.
879
,695 --> 00:45:08,025
Yeah.
880
,105 --> 00:45:09,245
But of course, being in Italy,
881
,245 --> 00:45:10,374
Dimitri Leonidas: now
882
,374 --> 00:45:13,945
Marc Preston: the second question is if
you're going to sit down, you're going
883
,945 --> 00:45:19,955
to talk story like this, like a few
hours, coffee, you three people, Living
884
,955 --> 00:45:23,295
or not, who would those three people be
that you would like to just have at the
885
,295 --> 00:45:25,915
table with you, uh, for conversation?
886
,035 --> 00:45:30,965
Dimitri Leonidas: Um, David Lean, who,
who directed, uh, Lawrence of Arabia and,
887
,965 --> 00:45:33,434
um, all those, all those great epics.
888
,435 --> 00:45:36,455
Um, I think he'd be fascinating.
889
,485 --> 00:45:38,434
He's a sort of Kubrick
esque for going away.
890
,644 --> 00:45:46,285
Um, and, um, Kubrick, you know, would
be, would, it's always hard with these
891
,285 --> 00:45:50,155
questions because for me, I always go, how
can it not be Stanley Kubrick in a way?
892
,165 --> 00:45:55,120
It's just, You know, his,
his work is, um, you know,
893
,950 --> 00:45:59,190
Marc Preston: what is, what, what is
your, uh, if you have a Kubrick project,
894
,250 --> 00:46:02,439
just like, okay, it's definitive, what
would that Kubrick film be for you?
895
,480 --> 00:46:05,519
Dimitri Leonidas: I think Barry Lyndon,
you know, you sort of go through a process
896
,520 --> 00:46:10,140
of all of them being at some point a sort
of favorite, but Barry Lyndon is maybe.
897
,515 --> 00:46:17,165
Um, the one that I think is
just sort of stunning as a film.
898
,255 --> 00:46:24,294
Um, and he famously designed, uh, he
worked along alongside NASA to develop
899
,294 --> 00:46:30,094
these new lenses that could pick up light
in, um, that could pick up candlelight.
900
,105 --> 00:46:34,845
So he wanted to shoot the whole film in
candlelight, which with the technology
901
,845 --> 00:46:36,625
at the time just wasn't really possible.
902
,635 --> 00:46:40,485
The lenses couldn't, Pick up
that level of, um, details,
903
,545 --> 00:46:42,015
you know, it was just too dark.
904
,305 --> 00:46:46,684
So he, you know, he, he, he gets
NASA to help him out and they
905
,684 --> 00:46:50,144
design a whole new set of lenses
so that he can get what he wants.
906
,424 --> 00:46:52,955
Marc Preston: And all the conspiracy
theories start that he went and, you
907
,955 --> 00:46:54,715
know, shot the moon landing on a set.
908
,764 --> 00:46:55,265
Dimitri Leonidas: That's right.
909
,205 --> 00:46:56,564
That's it.
910
,564 --> 00:46:57,315
Exactly that.
911
,324 --> 00:46:57,614
Yeah.
912
,654 --> 00:46:59,355
Marc Preston: For me, it was
full metal jacket for me.
913
,355 --> 00:47:04,005
It was like a, like an interesting
journey to take, you know, Would you have
914
,005 --> 00:47:05,325
another person at the table with you?
915
,325 --> 00:47:08,205
You can think of that, you know, living
again, living or not, who would that be?
916
,205 --> 00:47:11,655
Dimitri Leonidas: I'm going to
end up with three directors here,
917
,715 --> 00:47:13,005
but I'm going to do it anyway.
918
,064 --> 00:47:17,655
Um, Jonathan Glazer, who, who
directed, um, his first film was sexy
919
,695 --> 00:47:21,685
beast, then birth, then under the
skin and recently zone of interest.
920
,214 --> 00:47:30,365
Um, I just think he's, uh, you know,
each one of his films, they share no DNA.
921
,405 --> 00:47:33,745
Like they don't, You don't know
that there's a Jonathan Glaser movie
922
,785 --> 00:47:35,485
because there's nothing about them that
923
,395 --> 00:47:36,725
Marc Preston: Really?
924
,725 --> 00:47:36,985
Yeah,
925
,985 --> 00:47:40,254
Dimitri Leonidas: I mean, he just
totally caters, even the form of
926
,285 --> 00:47:44,995
the film, to suit the sort of themes
and the requirements of the film.
927
,275 --> 00:47:48,444
I mean, he makes a film every ten years
or something and spends that decade
928
,240 --> 00:47:54,140
I think totally focusing on what the
emergent needs of this project are.
929
,220 --> 00:47:58,480
So by the time it comes out and sees
it, and you see it, they're like
930
,530 --> 00:48:02,250
alien films in a way, because you're
like, there's nothing quite like it.
931
,540 --> 00:48:08,169
He has designed the film in a way that
tells the story the exact way it needs
932
,169 --> 00:48:13,915
to be told, you know, disregarding how we
sort of, You know, a mass audience sort of
933
,915 --> 00:48:17,175
feels about a third act structure and, and
934
,615 --> 00:48:20,784
Marc Preston: I don't know if I'd have
the patience to do a film once every
935
,784 --> 00:48:22,475
10 years, I would be get too antsy.
936
,475 --> 00:48:23,331
Like, I want to get there.
937
,331 --> 00:48:24,616
Dimitri Leonidas: I know what you mean.
938
,616 --> 00:48:25,129
Yeah, yeah.
939
,570 --> 00:48:26,250
It's quite a marathon.
940
,800 --> 00:48:28,380
Marc Preston: So, so that begs a question.
941
,770 --> 00:48:30,520
Are you wanting to direct
at some point in time?
942
,810 --> 00:48:31,490
I think so,
943
,540 --> 00:48:31,970
Dimitri Leonidas: yeah.
944
,010 --> 00:48:32,870
Yeah, I think I would.
945
,520 --> 00:48:39,260
They'd probably be quite sort of small
things that, that I think, I think working
946
,260 --> 00:48:43,989
on, on films with so many people and, and,
and they're kind of, you know, big epics.
947
,609 --> 00:48:49,680
I quite like the idea for now
anyway of, of pairing it all down
948
,680 --> 00:48:56,240
to something very small and, and,
um, and, and simplistic and, and.
949
,980 --> 00:48:59,480
Maybe just for me, just playing
around, as you were saying, you
950
,480 --> 00:49:01,140
know, with Da Vinci and stuff.
951
,705 --> 00:49:05,375
With sort of more art installation
type things with narrative still,
952
,415 --> 00:49:09,514
but, but just playing around with
image and sound and seeing how you
953
,514 --> 00:49:12,325
can push that, that, that right now
is sort of quite appealing to me.
954
,764 --> 00:49:15,424
Marc Preston: Well, I mean, with all the
locations you get to go, you know, you
955
,424 --> 00:49:21,324
can take a camera around and you know, um,
now next question I got for you is going
956
,334 --> 00:49:25,101
back when you were young, who was your
first celebrity crush when you were a kid?
957
,101 --> 00:49:27,573
Dimitri Leonidas: Mine was,
um, mine was quite a weird one.
958
,573 --> 00:49:28,946
I think about it now.
959
,946 --> 00:49:30,319
Um, it was Gene Seberg.
960
,990 --> 00:49:34,720
You know, the French actress, she was
in a Bouguere souffle, the French film.
961
,780 --> 00:49:37,530
Um, she had a kind of crazy life.
962
,530 --> 00:49:40,080
She, I think she ended up being
assassinated or something.
963
,110 --> 00:49:48,010
She had had an affair with, um, she had
an affair with a politician, I think.
964
,090 --> 00:49:51,260
And, uh, and there's a
mystery around her death.
965
,269 --> 00:49:54,940
But, um, yeah, Jean Seberg,
the French, the French actress.
966
,090 --> 00:49:56,270
She had really short hair.
967
,280 --> 00:49:58,610
It's sort of Mia Farrow
esque in, in roses.
968
,020 --> 00:49:59,350
Oh, okay.
969
,350 --> 00:49:59,999
Okay.
970
,000 --> 00:50:00,170
And
971
,170 --> 00:50:04,165
Marc Preston: I just, And like,
what, what decade was she, I mean, I
972
,175 --> 00:50:05,755
Dimitri Leonidas: guess it
was like French new wave.
973
,755 --> 00:50:10,575
So it would be like, is that
the seventies, seventies, right?
974
,635 --> 00:50:11,045
Yes.
975
,055 --> 00:50:13,075
Marc Preston: That's about,
yeah, I'm learning things.
976
,104 --> 00:50:14,980
I'm like, okay, I gotta go check this out.
977
,980 --> 00:50:18,424
There are so many things that I happily
have not, you know, at my age, I'm
978
,425 --> 00:50:19,455
like, you know, it's kind of cool.
979
,455 --> 00:50:20,535
I haven't checked that out yet.
980
,535 --> 00:50:20,805
Okay.
981
,855 --> 00:50:24,405
Well, there's one more thing that I'm
not aware of and I get to go check out.
982
,405 --> 00:50:27,185
So, uh, and I, and again, I learned that.
983
,505 --> 00:50:32,245
Hey, you've, you, you know, the whole
connection with Han Solo and Hobremello.
984
,415 --> 00:50:35,165
Uh, so that's part of the reason why I
like doing this because I learn things.
985
,384 --> 00:50:39,605
Now, if you're going to be going to
live the next question, you're going
986
,605 --> 00:50:43,495
to be on an exotic island somewhere,
somewhere you really want to be, but
987
,495 --> 00:50:44,555
you're going to be there for a year.
988
,565 --> 00:50:45,645
There's no internet.
989
,144 --> 00:50:50,745
Um, so you need to bring one album
with you, a CD and one DVD, one movie.
990
,775 --> 00:50:54,635
What would that one movie and one album
be that you could, that could ride
991
,655 --> 00:50:56,055
out the year with you on the island?
992
,110 --> 00:51:05,590
Dimitri Leonidas: The album that
springs to mind is, um, an album called
993
,720 --> 00:51:10,770
Oakland Asylum by a band called Y.
994
,339 --> 00:51:13,470
In fact, any one of
their albums I'll take.
995
,990 --> 00:51:17,920
Um, it was an album, their music I
was listening to a lot in my twenties.
996
,190 --> 00:51:23,265
Um, And it, it was just so different
to everything else I heard.
997
,305 --> 00:51:23,565
And
998
,605 --> 00:51:25,605
Marc Preston: like how, what
a genre does, do they fit
999
,855 --> 00:51:26,845
Dimitri Leonidas: really hard to explain?
Speaker:1000
,875 --> 00:51:28,185
I find it really hard to explain.
Speaker:1001
,185 --> 00:51:33,995
Cause it's like, they kind of have
elements of, of like they developed
Speaker:1002
,005 --> 00:51:38,524
something called like cloud rap,
this sort of hypnotic almost, Oh, you
Speaker:1003
,524 --> 00:51:45,084
know, sounds over, um, over sometimes
incomprehensible, you know, lyrics that
Speaker:1004
,084 --> 00:51:47,114
you just sort of almost meditative style.
Speaker:1005
,255 --> 00:51:48,975
And then other times there's a sort of.
Speaker:1006
,440 --> 00:51:54,380
You know, a kind of just, you
know, music band vibe as well.
Speaker:1007
,380 --> 00:51:57,920
They're just sort of playing instruments
and, and, and singing, but they, they're
Speaker:1008
,920 --> 00:51:59,970
from San Francisco, uh, I believe.
Speaker:1009
,100 --> 00:52:05,119
And, uh, if you can get hold of any
of their albums, I, it's so cool.
Speaker:1010
,119 --> 00:52:07,539
They're so sort of life affirming and fun.
Speaker:1011
,880 --> 00:52:10,240
Marc Preston: Um, I definitely,
I definitely be checking out.
Speaker:1012
,240 --> 00:52:13,220
Cause I like, again, I'm learning, you
know, and I've spent some time working
Speaker:1013
,220 --> 00:52:18,100
radio and I got, there are very few genres
that I don't have some favorites in, but
Speaker:1014
,100 --> 00:52:21,890
I like checking out things I've never
heard of before, you know, Cause I have
Speaker:1015
,890 --> 00:52:28,180
a, I think some of my kids think I have
a weird taste of music, but I'm a weirdo.
Speaker:1016
,180 --> 00:52:31,109
I like, I, you know, it's like, I got,
I got the things I like, you know,
Speaker:1017
,070 --> 00:52:36,279
now the next question, if you were
to say, you know, we forgot actually
Speaker:1018
,280 --> 00:52:39,380
what What the, what was the movie
going to be because we knew the album,
Speaker:1019
,390 --> 00:52:40,700
I'm sorry, like brain farted there.
Speaker:1020
,870 --> 00:52:41,970
What would the movie be for you?
Speaker:1021
,200 --> 00:52:43,220
Maybe Chinatown.
Speaker:1022
,590 --> 00:52:44,540
Ah, very good.
Speaker:1023
,580 --> 00:52:46,570
Yeah, that, that, that's a good one.
Speaker:1024
,670 --> 00:52:47,080
Dimitri Leonidas: Yeah.
Speaker:1025
,220 --> 00:52:49,980
Marc Preston: I find myself sometimes
sitting on the sofa going, what
Speaker:1026
,990 --> 00:52:51,779
have I not seen in a long time?
Speaker:1027
,779 --> 00:52:53,810
I would like to go back and
check out like Chinatown.
Speaker:1028
,260 --> 00:52:56,620
I haven't seen that in
20 years, you know, so
Speaker:1029
,930 --> 00:52:58,850
Dimitri Leonidas: yeah, I
mean, it's, it's phenomenal.
Speaker:1030
,850 --> 00:53:01,312
I'm, I'm definitely in the camp
of like one of the best sort
Speaker:1031
,312 --> 00:53:02,329
of screenplays ever written.
Speaker:1032
,620 --> 00:53:05,190
Marc Preston: Uh, now if you're
again for the next question, from
Speaker:1033
,200 --> 00:53:08,430
the time you wake up to the time you
go to sleep, what are the component
Speaker:1034
,430 --> 00:53:09,860
parts of a perfect day for you?
Speaker:1035
,869 --> 00:53:14,010
What elements would be, you know, if
you said this was, this was a great day.
Speaker:1036
,050 --> 00:53:14,590
Dimitri Leonidas: Okay.
Speaker:1037
,830 --> 00:53:15,200
Okay.
Speaker:1038
,240 --> 00:53:20,670
I like to get up and, and leave,
leave my flat quite quickly.
Speaker:1039
,900 --> 00:53:25,085
Um, I just find getting up and
getting out is sort of an impulse
Speaker:1040
,105 --> 00:53:29,475
for me that, that I, I like to do
it just sort of hanging around.
Speaker:1041
,975 --> 00:53:34,085
I can, you know, get into a sort of
like waste an hour on the couch looking
Speaker:1042
,085 --> 00:53:37,665
at my phone or, you know, so I like to
get out and go get a coffee somewhere.
Speaker:1043
,405 --> 00:53:42,534
Um, a nice cafe, you
know, get my coffee in.
Speaker:1044
,924 --> 00:53:47,595
Um, maybe, maybe do some
reading for an hour or so.
Speaker:1045
,805 --> 00:53:54,535
And then, you know, I guess, I guess any
sort of combination or mixture of like,
Speaker:1046
,145 --> 00:54:01,285
um, something active with whether it's
like indoor climbing or playing football
Speaker:1047
,285 --> 00:54:06,344
at a certain point in that in the day,
um, some sort of physical activity, even
Speaker:1048
,385 --> 00:54:07,854
half an hour at the gym or something.
Speaker:1049
,475 --> 00:54:11,175
Um, get all the sort of
stuff done that I need to do.
Speaker:1050
,175 --> 00:54:14,245
I like to get all that done early,
you know, if there's any emails or
Speaker:1051
,245 --> 00:54:16,255
anything I've gotta send, um, right.
Speaker:1052
,555 --> 00:54:17,335
Marc Preston: Yeah, I'm, I'm saying
Speaker:1053
,845 --> 00:54:19,345
Dimitri Leonidas: that, you know, I
just, I just feel like it, it, it can
Speaker:1054
,345 --> 00:54:22,135
linger in your head as the day goes
on, whereas if you get it sorted, I
Speaker:1055
,140 --> 00:54:23,875
go the day the evening is now mine.
Speaker:1056
,325 --> 00:54:27,325
Marc Preston: Um, you, you want
your day doing your thing and the
Speaker:1057
,325 --> 00:54:29,425
only way you get there is getting
all the other stuff outta the way.
Speaker:1058
,430 --> 00:54:29,490
Okay.
Speaker:1059
,490 --> 00:54:29,810
Dimitri Leonidas: Well that's done.
Speaker:1060
,600 --> 00:54:35,170
Um, and it would end with a film,
I guess, you know, and he cooked
Speaker:1061
,170 --> 00:54:39,320
some nice food and, and some kind
of film would be, would be great.
Speaker:1062
,410 --> 00:54:39,770
Yeah.
Speaker:1063
,960 --> 00:54:41,060
Um, so it's not
Speaker:1064
,060 --> 00:54:41,860
Marc Preston: tea, it's coffee.
Speaker:1065
,860 --> 00:54:44,579
Dimitri Leonidas: Actually,
Speaker:1066
,580 --> 00:54:46,560
Marc Preston: that's why my
daughter brought me back from Rome.
Speaker:1067
,950 --> 00:54:51,415
There's two, two bags of, um,
coffee, like a coffee bean.
Speaker:1068
,415 --> 00:54:53,595
So I'm like, I'm raring to get into that.
Speaker:1069
,725 --> 00:54:54,845
My coffee grinder broke.
Speaker:1070
,845 --> 00:54:58,005
So I got to buy another coffee
grinder so I can enjoy that.
Speaker:1071
,405 --> 00:55:00,865
Um, now if you weren't doing the next
question, if you weren't doing this
Speaker:1072
,865 --> 00:55:05,475
for a living, if this wasn't your
vocation, what could you see yourself
Speaker:1073
,485 --> 00:55:07,464
finding joy in doing besides this?
Speaker:1074
,735 --> 00:55:08,105
Dimitri Leonidas: Wow.
Speaker:1075
,184 --> 00:55:12,054
I mean, as, as we spoke about earlier,
you know, because this has been such a.
Speaker:1076
,240 --> 00:55:18,680
Part of my life since I was young, it is
hard to sort of pull out of this time zone
Speaker:1077
,680 --> 00:55:23,069
and this reality and go, what would be an
alternative sort of reality to live in?
Speaker:1078
,070 --> 00:55:28,739
And, and, um, in some ways it's cheating
a little bit because I would like
Speaker:1079
,739 --> 00:55:30,550
to still do something in, in film.
Speaker:1080
,979 --> 00:55:37,739
Um, but maybe if, if I had
to remove the film industry
Speaker:1081
,919 --> 00:55:39,549
entirely or like the process of.
Speaker:1082
,220 --> 00:55:42,210
Making films in any capacity.
Speaker:1083
,210 --> 00:55:42,390
I
Speaker:1084
,550 --> 00:55:49,130
really don't know and that's
kind of scary a little bit.
Speaker:1085
,190 --> 00:55:52,360
Marc Preston: Um, that's actually
affirming because uh, Reaffirming
Speaker:1086
,410 --> 00:55:55,809
that you're in the right place, you
know, if you can see if you can't
Speaker:1087
,809 --> 00:55:57,900
see yourself doing anything else,
you know You're in the right place.
Speaker:1088
,910 --> 00:56:01,529
Yes Yeah, you know, um, which I think all
actors have to have because you have to
Speaker:1089
,530 --> 00:56:06,475
go through such an arc of experience At
least early on it's not very lucrative.
Speaker:1090
,475 --> 00:56:09,515
Let's say, you know, well, the last
question I got for you, if you were to
Speaker:1091
,515 --> 00:56:13,985
jump into that quintessential DeLorean
and travel back in time, 16 year old
Speaker:1092
,985 --> 00:56:18,125
you, you're going to sit down and
have, uh, you know, some advice you can
Speaker:1093
,125 --> 00:56:22,785
pass along to make that moment somehow
better or to make the, you know, set
Speaker:1094
,785 --> 00:56:23,995
yourself up a little bit different.
Speaker:1095
,434 --> 00:56:27,215
What would that piece of advice
be that you would offer yourself?
Speaker:1096
,645 --> 00:56:30,495
Dimitri Leonidas: Um, it's always a
good question, you know, and it's like,
Speaker:1097
,510 --> 00:56:37,080
I do sometimes think, you know,
what, what would, what would
Speaker:1098
,080 --> 00:56:38,510
I do differently if you could?
Speaker:1099
,510 --> 00:56:42,889
And, and in some ways I think because
of dealing with certain things when I
Speaker:1100
,890 --> 00:56:49,480
was younger, I kind of had downloaded,
you know, certain experiences just offer
Speaker:1101
,840 --> 00:56:56,420
an abundance of, of, of treasure in
terms of, of, you know, lessons learned.
Speaker:1102
,450 --> 00:56:58,499
And so I think I've
always appreciated that.
Speaker:1103
,220 --> 00:57:03,230
I've always had it in me to sort
of go, you know, don't always
Speaker:1104
,230 --> 00:57:04,350
give yourself a hard time.
Speaker:1105
,360 --> 00:57:07,000
Don't like berate yourself
when things go wrong.
Speaker:1106
,439 --> 00:57:14,000
Um, and so I think, I think my
advice would be just to get going a
Speaker:1107
,000 --> 00:57:15,410
little earlier on the things I love.
Speaker:1108
,460 --> 00:57:16,679
I wish I wrote more.
Speaker:1109
,579 --> 00:57:21,159
Um, I wish I'd got into a
habit of writing earlier.
Speaker:1110
,709 --> 00:57:25,759
Um, I think being able to write
means you're able to think and
Speaker:1111
,759 --> 00:57:26,839
you're able to communicate.
Speaker:1112
,859 --> 00:57:30,519
And I think being able to communicate
puts you at such an advantage.
Speaker:1113
,175 --> 00:57:36,135
Because you're just able to express ideas
to other people and share and, and, and
Speaker:1114
,615 --> 00:57:40,225
I think writing is one of those things
that I kind of always wanted to do a
Speaker:1115
,225 --> 00:57:42,735
little bit and never really committed.
Speaker:1116
,735 --> 00:57:46,164
I think I would jump into that
a little bit earlier if I could.
Speaker:1117
,624 --> 00:57:52,435
Um, and maybe even a few other things
like, you know, I wish I, I discovered
Speaker:1118
,475 --> 00:57:53,865
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu quite late.
Speaker:1119
,895 --> 00:57:56,587
I was, I was like 29 30
when I started doing it.
Speaker:1120
,587 --> 00:57:56,784
And, um,
Speaker:1121
,515 --> 00:57:59,155
Marc Preston: So it's kind of funny.
Speaker:1122
,155 --> 00:58:03,045
Cause like, uh, I was a big fan of Anthony
Bourdain, you know, back in the day.
Speaker:1123
,045 --> 00:58:06,225
I know he kind of came by that late
and then towards the end of his
Speaker:1124
,225 --> 00:58:08,685
life, he was really great shape.
Speaker:1125
,785 --> 00:58:10,294
I was like, maybe that's an idea for me.
Speaker:1126
,294 --> 00:58:13,725
I'm like, I'm too lazy for that, but it's.
Speaker:1127
,105 --> 00:58:15,615
But it's a good on you for that.
Speaker:1128
,615 --> 00:58:19,725
But, but I'll tell you what, uh, Dimitri,
I really appreciate you taking time.
Speaker:1129
,785 --> 00:58:22,855
I'm looking forward to getting,
getting further into those
Speaker:1130
,865 --> 00:58:24,815
about to die as it comes out.
Speaker:1131
,914 --> 00:58:25,935
Uh, July 18th.
Speaker:1132
,664 --> 00:58:28,124
Yeah.
Speaker:1133
,265 --> 00:58:28,585
Yeah.
Speaker:1134
,664 --> 00:58:29,715
I've, I've enjoyed it.
Speaker:1135
,244 --> 00:58:31,035
I've gotten into it.
Speaker:1136
,835 --> 00:58:33,955
And I kind of want to kind of
like pace myself because I have
Speaker:1137
,955 --> 00:58:35,355
this habit of binging things.
Speaker:1138
,365 --> 00:58:36,235
Yeah, yeah, I know that.
Speaker:1139
,435 --> 00:58:37,415
Now it's gone, you know.
Speaker:1140
,675 --> 00:58:37,945
Dimitri Leonidas: Yeah, that's it.
Speaker:1141
,975 --> 00:58:39,805
Marc Preston: Well, thank you again.
Speaker:1142
,805 --> 00:58:40,915
I so appreciate it.
Speaker:1143
,965 --> 00:58:42,335
But, uh, take care.
Speaker:1144
,285 --> 00:58:43,725
Dimitri Leonidas: very much.
Speaker:1145
,605 --> 00:58:46,375
Marc Preston: All right, there you go.
Speaker:1146
,395 --> 00:58:47,675
Dimitri Leonidas.
Speaker:1147
,965 --> 00:58:50,725
It's the new show, Those About to Die.
Speaker:1148
,735 --> 00:58:53,905
It's on Peacock coming out July 18th.
Speaker:1149
,215 --> 00:58:55,165
Very good show.
Speaker:1150
,175 --> 00:58:56,425
Really enjoyed the series.
Speaker:1151
,835 --> 00:59:00,855
It's based again in the Roman
Empire and it is very expansive,
Speaker:1152
,865 --> 00:59:02,435
visually cool to check out.
Speaker:1153
,725 --> 00:59:03,695
Uh, great stories.
Speaker:1154
,735 --> 00:59:05,125
I mean, it's just a fun ride.
Speaker:1155
,135 --> 00:59:06,155
I think you'll enjoy it.
Speaker:1156
,385 --> 00:59:07,015
Hey, do me a favor.
Speaker:1157
,015 --> 00:59:11,349
If you would, don't forget to follow Story
and Craft on your favorite podcast app.
Speaker:1158
,500 --> 00:59:14,460
App drop a few stars if
you would a little review.
Speaker:1159
,460 --> 00:59:15,750
It helps people find the show.
Speaker:1160
,750 --> 00:59:19,710
Plus, if you follow, you get notified
every time there's a new show and we
Speaker:1161
,710 --> 00:59:21,460
have some great ones coming up here soon.
Speaker:1162
,020 --> 00:59:24,930
And also you want to drop me
a note, feel free to do so.
Speaker:1163
,980 --> 00:59:26,510
Go to story and craft.
Speaker:1164
,525 --> 00:59:28,305
dot com.
Speaker:1165
,585 --> 00:59:29,625
Great way to reach out.
Speaker:1166
,635 --> 00:59:30,455
Let me know what's up.
Speaker:1167
,465 --> 00:59:31,845
What are you thinking about the show?
Speaker:1168
,985 --> 00:59:32,795
What are you up to?
Speaker:1169
,885 --> 00:59:33,985
Just reach out and say howdy.
Speaker:1170
,985 --> 00:59:34,925
Always good to hear from you.
Speaker:1171
,135 --> 00:59:35,505
All righty.
Speaker:1172
,505 --> 00:59:36,645
That's it for today.
Speaker:1173
,775 --> 00:59:38,855
Again, thank you for coming by.
Speaker:1174
,155 --> 00:59:41,675
Enjoy having you with me every episode.
Speaker:1175
,690 --> 00:59:42,450
It means a lot.
Speaker:1176
,510 --> 00:59:43,800
So thank you very much.
Speaker:1177
,150 --> 00:59:45,870
I'm going to get on out of
here, grab a bite to eat.
Speaker:1178
,890 --> 00:59:49,210
You go have a great rest of
your day, evening, weekend,
Speaker:1179
,220 --> 00:59:50,340
week, whatever you're up to.
Speaker:1180
,550 --> 00:59:54,030
Thank you so much for making Story
Craft part of what you got going on.
Speaker:1181
,140 --> 00:59:57,660
We'll connect next time,
right here on Story Craft.
Speaker:1182
,940 --> 01:00:00,270
Announcer: That's it for
this episode of Story Craft.
Speaker:1183
,590 --> 01:00:04,950
Join Marc next week for more
conversation, right here on Story Craft.
Speaker:1184
,400 --> 01:00:09,260
Story Craft is a presentation of
Marc Preston Productions, LLC.
Speaker:1185
,255 --> 01:00:12,605
Executive producer is Marc Preston.
Speaker:1186
,015 --> 01:00:15,415
Associate producer is Zachary Holden.
Speaker:1187
,775 --> 01:00:19,085
Please rate and review Story
Craft on Apple Podcasts.
Speaker:1188
,355 --> 01:00:23,805
Don't forget to subscribe to the
show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
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,805 --> 01:00:25,235
or your favorite podcast app.
Speaker:1190
,475 --> 01:00:28,415
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updates and stay in the know.
Speaker:1191
,585 --> 01:00:30,845
Just head to storyandcraftpod.
Speaker:1192
,885 --> 01:00:32,695
com and sign up for the newsletter.
Speaker:1193
,275 --> 01:00:34,015
I'm Emma Dylan.
Speaker:1194
,725 --> 01:00:35,385
See you next time.
Speaker:1195
,555 --> 01:00:37,965
And remember, keep telling your story.
Dimitri Leonidas
Actor
Dimitri Leonidas is a British actor who has worked extensively on stage, television, and film. Up next, Dimitri will star in the Peacock series Those About to Die. Directed by Roland Emmerich (Independence Day) and helmed by Anthony Hopkins, all episodes will premiere on July 18 on Peacock in the US and on July 19 internationally on Amazon Prime Video. The show is described as an epic drama set in the corrupt world of the spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition, exploring a side of ancient Rome never before told — the dirty business of entertaining the masses, giving the mob what they want most…blood and sport.
Dimitri recently starred as Hober Mallow in season 2 of Foundation and in the hugely successful Amblin series Masters of The Air both for Apple TV.
Dimitri’s other TV credits include the Netflix series The One penned by Howard Overman, in which he played the lead role of James, alongside Hannah Ware. He co-led the first 2 seasons of Sky Atlantic's Riviera, opposite Julia Stiles.
Dimitri took to the stage in an adaptation of Ingmar Bergman's Oscar-winning film Through a Glass Darkly., starring opposite Ruth Wilson, directed by Michael Attenborough.
In 2014, following a worldwide search, Dimitri was cast alongside George Clooney, Matt Damon, John Goodman and Cate Blanchett in World War II drama, The Monuments Men, which followed an unlikely platoon on the greatest treasure hunt in history. He followed this with Rosewater, Jon Stewart's directorial debut, in which he starred opposite Gael Garcia Bernal. This led him to be named as one of Screen International's Stars of Tomorrow.