From Suarez's Basement - A Communication, Media, and the Arts Podcast: Recent Episodes
Francisco J Suarez
Are you looking for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes sneak peek from some of your favorite TV shows, movies, play, musicals, concerts, and more? Then, From Suarez’s Basement is the podcast for you! Our goal is to build a bridge between YOU, the audience, and those experts in the Communication, Media, and Arts fields. Our mission is to keep you informed, educated, and entertained by having meaningful conversations with the professionals who make the magic happen! In each episode, we welcome a new guest to speak about media industries’ present and future states, their work, and other essential matters. We want to welcome you to our family, and if you really like what we are doing, don’t forget to subscribe to our audio and video podcast in the links below for new episodes bi-weekly.
The Basement’s guest this week is the award winning actor, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee! Professor Suarez and Lee discussed Lee’s early acting years as a main character in the well known show, Kim’s Convenience. Lee goes in-depth about the struggles he had with embracing his character, Appa; as well as the difficulties the show had with getting on air. Later on, Lee talks about his most recent work on the hit live action version of the TV show Avatar: The Last Airbender. If you are a “Last Airbender” fan, then this is a must watch episode!
This week, the very talented film producer Sarah Dowland visited the Basement! In the episode, Professor Suarez discusses Dowland’s career transition from visual effects to her work as a film producer, as well as her definition of visual effects and the effect she thinks AI will have on the film industry. Later on, they discuss the documentary she has been producing which was released earlier this year called Sue Bird: In the Clutch and how she came to work on this film. If you want to learn more about the intricate art of filmmaking, then this is one episode you can’t miss!
Don Winslow, a one-of-a-kind author, was this week’s guest in the Basement! Throughout the episode, Professor Suarez and Winslow talk about his life as a private investigator before becoming a well-known author, as well as the concept of “writer’s block” and how he suggests writers overcome it. Later on, Winslow discusses the last book in his most recent book series, The Danny Ryan Trilogy. The finale of the series, City in Ruins, was released at the beginning of April 2024. If you are a sci-fi fantasy reader, then this is a “must add” to your reading list!
Emmy Award-winning Songwriter, Music Producer, and Non-profit Leader, Hughie Stone Fish, and his equally talented brother, Avery Stone Fish, visited the basement! These two gifted brothers funded Stone Fish Studios to create more than just visual storytelling, they are both true artists who use their talent and video production company to innovate through music, painting, screenplay writing, and many other art forms! In this episode, we had the fantastic opportunity to talk with Hughie and Avery about art's importance in developing a healthy society and what art is. In addition, they talk about their non-profit art organization in the Central New York region.
The incredible Daniel Goldfarb, a two-time Emmy nominee, was this week’s guest in the Basement! In this episode, Professor Suarez and Goldfarb talk about the intricate work behind writing for a television show, as well as what makes a good script. As he talks about this, he also gives fantastic advice to anyone looking to become a screenwriter, regardless of where you are in the process of learning. Later on, they discuss Goldfarb’s hit TV show on Max, Julia. From researching how to embody Julia Child herself to casting her character, everything you want to know about Julia is here, and you don’t want to miss it!
The Basement’s esteemed guest this week is the fabulous actor, Noah J. Ricketts! In the episode, Professor Suarez and Ricketts have an in-depth discussion about what acting means to Ricketts and how he goes about getting into the characters he plays. Later on, Ricketts’ discusses his most recent work in his role as Frankie Hines in the new television miniseries Fellow Travelers. He also takes the time to detail how his character is a revolutionary for the queer and drag communities at the time that the show takes place in the 1950s. If you want to get a behind the scenes look at the actor who embodied such a powerful character, then this is the episode for you!
Patrick Howe, a five-time Emmy award winning production designer, is FSB’s extraordinary guest for this week. In this episode, Professor Suarez and Howe have an in-depth discussion about the intricacies of the work Howe does as an on-set designer, as well as the time management skills that are a must-have while working in both the theater and film industries. Howe details all these aspects while talking about his most recent work on the world-renowned TV show, Only Murders in the Building. If you’re an “Only Murders'' fan, then you don’t want to miss this episode!
Paul Leary, a talented electronic musician and a professor at SUNY Oswego, is our special guest this week on FSB. Professor Suarez had the opportunity to ask Leary about what music means to him and the ways in which students can be successful in any industry they choose in the future. Later they discuss electronic music and the process he undergoes, as well as Leary’s first-ever album. Be sure to check out this latest episode!
Diego Vicentini, talented Venezuelan filmmaker, is our special guest to kick off FSB's newest season. Professor Suarez had the opportunity to talk with Vicentini about his debut and overnight success of his first feature film, Simón. The film has been chosen to represent Venezuela at the 38th Goya Awards. In this conversation, Suarez and Vicentini also discuss film-making cost and distribution, film marketing and promotion as well as exciting and very personal upcoming projects for the Venezuelan film director. Be sure not to miss this engaging conversation!
British actor Marcus Rutherford visited the basement! On this occasion, we had the pleasure of talking with the actor who brings to life the character of Perrin Aybara in the acclaimed Amazon Prime miniseries The Wheel of Time. Not only is Marcus a first-class actor who has built his career thanks to his talent and hard work, but he is a lovely human being and worthy of the success coming his way. We spoke about his love for acting, his beginnings, his connection with the role of Perrin, and his upcoming projects. This inspirational conversation is a must-listen for those pursuing acting as a career and The Wheel of Time fanatics!
In this new episode of From Suarez’s Basement, I had the unique opportunity to pick the brain of Dennis Lehane who is the writer behind the acclaimed limited series on Apple TV “Black Bird.” In our conversation we explore Dennis’ impressive career as a novelist with more than twelve novels successfully published and four of them adapted for film and television. We spoke about creative writing and the process of adapting a novel into a script. Specifically, how he adapted the memoir of “Black Bird” into a TV series as his role as writer and showrunner of the show. You won’t want to miss this one!
Imagine graduating at the top of your class from the Psychology school at the prestigious Harvard University and deciding, right after, to move careers to become a stand-up comedian. It sounds like a joke, but it isn’t. Our special guest for this episode, the successful stand-up comedian and comedy writer Harrison Greenbaum, did this, and it has paid off big time for him. Harrison has his own stand-up comedy show in Las Vegas as part of the famous Mad Apple by Cirque du Soleil, performing seven nights a week. He also writes for Comedy Central Network and participated in America’s Got Talent. In this episode with Harrison Greenbaum, we explore the roots of comedy, its relationship with human behavior as well as the importance of discipline to become a better comedian. Don’t miss this great episode of From Suarez’s Basement! You will love it!
Emmy-Award Winner for her talented work as a costume designer on the television series "The West Wing," Lyn Paola visited us in the basement. We spoke to the designer about her latest Netflix project, Queen Charlotte, and what it means to work on such a large-scale project. She explained the intimate relationship between character development, acting, and her work as a costume designer. "Only when an actor puts on a costume will the real success of your work as a designer be uncovered," Paolo says. She is also well known for her work on Netflix's hit TV show "Inventing Anna." Don’t miss this new episode of From Suarez’s Basement.
Professional actor and fine artist Joseph Lee visits Suarez’s Basement to narrate his journey from being a young, creative child in school plays to landing a lead role on a top Netflix show. Acting can be one of the most challenging things to learn, and Joseph Lee reassures everyone that it is not only a natural talent, but a craft to be mastered. Lee goes on to discuss the importance of creativity and mindset in this introspection-filled, deep-diving episode of From Suarez’s Basement.
Professional cinematographer John Sorapure visits Suarez’s basement to discuss his start in the film industry as a technology geek, all the way to working on projects that are projected to be some of the highest grossing films of 2023. Cinematography is a very complex artform, yet Sorapure doesn’t hold back to describe his unique perspective and experiences as a practicing cinematographer and how he has been able to express his creativity in the industry.
Professional cinematographer Andrei Bowden-Schwartz visits Suarez’s basement to cover a plethora of topics such as his gritty start in the arts and film as an intern, his definition of cinematography, and all of the factors to the successful projects he has helped produce. Bowden-Schwartz shares valuable insights and information on the film industry and how to get a foot in the door!
Grammy winning singer and songwriter, Gloria Estefan, visited Suarez’s basement to chat about the powers of music and how she was able to harness her talents and become a multidimensional, successful artist and public figure. From her start in the music industry, all the way to her efforts to inspire people of all walks of life, Estefan lets it all out and spreads her valuable wisdom in this episode of From Suarez’s Basement.
Emmy award winning director from the hit Apple TV series Ted Lasso, Declan Lowney, visited Suarez’s basement to speak about his journey as a film enthusiast, filmmaker, and director. Lowney and Suarez cover many topics from Lowney’s introduction to film since his childhood, the revolutionary and inspiring creative process behind Ted Lasso, and how young, ambitious film enthusiasts can get their foot in the door of the film industry. Listen to this episode of From Suarez’s Basement to learn from an industry insider and to find inspiration for a passion for film.
For the 13th episode of F.S.B, Professor Suarez hosts Sebastian Grey, a profound fashion designer who took the crown of the seventeenth season of Project Runway! Fashionista’s tuning in will adore listening to Grey discuss topics like being a fashion designer in the middle of a pandemic, how clothes stores are becoming electronic, and even what he would teach if he was a professor! Project Runway fans will be hooked into hearing about the processes and the behind-the-scenes reports of the show!
Professor Suarez co-hosts with two students, having famous writer Isaac Oliver on the show. Isaac discusses his recent experiences on being the lead writer for the show High Maintenance. This episode is filled with Isaac’s successes and failures as a writer, along with discussing his works within the LGBTQIA community. Tune in for this episode, as Isaac tackles the entirety of screenwriting!
This week’s episode is quite a treat! Professor Suarez, along with two students, have the pleasure of interviewing the legendary writer/actor Steve Pemberton! Viewers will be thrown right into Pemberton’s decisive process of creating a television program. He tackles every aspect of production in this episode, as he has done it all! Steve has taken part in multiple areas of production-from writing, to acting and directing, Pemberton has a complex background in the industry! Do not miss out on this opportunity to learn from this living legend!
Have you ever wanted an inside look into the production of your favorite show? Well, Game of Thrones fans, look no further! For this episode of F.S.B, Professor Suarez hosts Deborah Riley, Game of Thrones production designer. Deborah dives into depth about her career, and the major changes she has made through it. She also gives us a sneak peek into some of the greatest challenges faced on the set of Game of Thrones. If world building is for you, then you don’t want to miss this episode!
f you’ve been on social media recently, the name Bridgerton might ring a bell for you: Netflix’s latest hit series combines everything we love about Jane Austen’s spine-tingling romances with the best of our generation’s trends, including a string quartet cover of Ariana Grande’s Thank You, Next. This episode, we’re joined by the show’s very own costume designer, who tells us all about how this period piece’s world came to life! From Daphne and Eloise’s dashing gowns, to even Fox’s Gotham series, tune in to learn more about the process of costume designing in the T.V. industry.
If you’re a big Star Wars nerd like the team here at FSB, you won’t want to miss our latest episode with Paul Hirsch – lead editor for some of Hollywood’s biggest film franchises, like Star Wars and Mission Impossible. Come geek out with us as we chat with Hirsch about his incredible career in the film industry, as he tells all about film editing, Hollywood, and your favorite movies.
In an exciting new episode of FSB, we join Professor Suarez and co-hosts Shamus Lobene and Michael Allchin for a thrilling conversation with film and television director, Colin Bucksey. With an impressive lineup of credits, including the hit AMC series Breaking Bad and FX’s Fargo. Bucksey dealsus into all the industry secrets, including his time as a director on sets, the key to well-written scripts, and the truth about working in large collaborative environments like sets.
Prof. Suarez hosts cinematographer Steven Meizler on the show. Co-hosting with his colleague Jacob Dudd, the three arouse a conversation about Meizlers’ experiences with filming the Queen’s Gambit. He elaborates on what it’s like to work as a cinematographer, and how he formulated his work for the Queen’s Gambit. Meizler also gives viewers the inside scoop on what it’s like to work for legends in the industry like Spielberg! If you’re someone who is trying to break into the production industry, this episode is essential for you to watch!
For this week’s episode, Professor Suarez hosts the Academy Award and The British Academy Film Award (BAFTA) 2021 winning best film editor Mikkel E.G Nielsen on the show. Co-hosting with his student Damon Park, the three dive into Nielsen’s recent reactions to being nominated and winning best editor. Plus, Mikkel jumps right into his creative process, breaking down every step for us! If you are a post-production fanatic, this episode is for you!
"The magic of make-believe and character development can't be detached from the importance of the costume design process." These are the words of our special guest to celebrate Halloween week, Jany Temime. No one knows this unique process better than her. She is the mastermind behind the costume designs of some of the most iconic films and television shows including, the worldwide phenomena of the Harry Potter franchise, Skyfall, Gravity, and most recently, her work in HBO's new hit TV show House of the Dragon. Jany took some time off from her busy schedule to speak to us about her incredible career, past and future projects, and the intimate connection between her work and visual storytelling. Don't miss this episode with such a fantastic expert!
Three-time Emmy nominee for her excellent work on Hulu’s The Handmaid's Tale, Costume Designer Natalie Bronfman visited the basement and gave us a master class in costume design and character psychology! Natalie's talents go beyond The Handmaid's Tale as she is also behind the costume design for the second and third seasons of Apple TV+’s See. We spoke about the iconic red cape from The Handmaid's Tale and the intimate relationship the characters' clothes have with the story's narrative. This episode is one of a kind, where you will learn from one of the best costume designers in the entertainment industry.
In the latest episode of his podcast, Professor Suarez invites prominent actor Adam Godley onto the show! Co-hosting with his colleague Steve Mazzoccone, the two dive right into Godley’s career as a prominent actor, starring in large scale works like Breaking Bad, The Great, & Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Adam also dives right into how he obtained, prepared, and built the characters he played in these works. Aspiring actors look no further, this episode is for you!
It's always exciting and fun to chat with someone with such a passion and love for visual storytelling. Jessica Lee Gagne is a well-known cinematographer who is behind the visual world of Apple’s new hit TV show Severance. We talked with Jessica about her love and passion for visual storytelling, her experience behind-the-scenes of Severance, and her work partnership with director and actor Ben Stiller. We also discussed what it means for her to break barriers as a female cinematographer in a male-dominated profession. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from such an inspiring expert!
In this episode, we talk with Emmy nominated cinematographer, David Moxness. Moxness shares his experience with visual storytelling, how he handles creative disputes with directors, and how much of television is edited in post production. Future cinematographers and those that are interested in the entertainment industry should not miss this episode!
Emmy Award Winner for HBO's hit TV show VEEP as Set Decorator; the talented Kimberly Wannop visited the basement. When asked what a set decorator's job is, Kim responded: "To be sure the characters are present in the space even when they aren't physically there, on the set, that is my job." She is not only a master of this complex and meticulous process of decorating television and movie sets, but she is one of the most caring and fun experts we have had on the show. Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to learn from the Set Decorator behind popular TV shows such as The Good Place, Parks and Recreation, Love, VEEP, and For All Mankind.
Having the need to tell a story and see yourself represented in that story is the motivation behind this talented Mexican actor, Luis Antonio Aldana’s work. I had the fantastic opportunity to talk to Luis about his acting career, his latest film “Acuitzeramo,” available now on HBO Max, and much more. Don’t miss this opportunity to watch this exciting and new episode of “From Suarez’s Basement.”
In this fascinating interview with composer Rupert Gregson-Williams, we
have the chance to look inside the composer's creative mind. We explore with him the intimate and irrefutable relationship that the score has with the visual storytelling process; the importance of the relationship between the composer and director to create an excellent score; the different score composing processes between a TV show and a movie; and much more! Rupert Gregson-Williams is behind the score of movies such as “Aquaman”, “Wonder Woman”, the TV show “The Crown,” and many more. Don't miss this great opportunity to learn, be informed, and be entertained by one of the top score composers in the entertainment industry.
In the first episode of Season 4 of From Suarez’s Basement, we talk to John Robert Hoffman, a Director, Writer, and Producer known for productions like Northern Lights, Only Murders in the Building and Looking! Viewers will be entertained as Hoffman shares his expertise across many different lines of work with them. You will learn the differences in writing for TV and film, how to balance different topics in one show, and how to get into the industry. Do not miss an amazing opportunity to learn from an expert!