The Curiosity Codex

Act One: Hold On To That Feelin’

TruStory FM — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 03:00:00 -0800

The Codex is open again, and it’s the start of a whole new conversation. Your ardent enthusiast is chatting with stage actress Dolores Mendoza, who just directed her first play. But before we get to that, we’ll talk about her rocky journey to the stage, through a bitter rivalry about Edgar Allen Poe, disappearing in front of her father’s eyes and her special connection to the world’s favorite extinct bird.

Cracking the Spine on 2024

TruStory FM — Sun, 28 Jan 2024 03:00:00 -0800

Welcome back to the Curiosity Codex. Your ardent enthusiast has returned to indulge his obsessions in a brand new season of the award-ignored podcast. But before we start delving deep into the new topics, this episode finds us reading up on where we’ve been and where we’re going.

Chapter 16: 150 Bazillion Mistakes

TruStory FM — Wed, 24 May 2023 03:00:00 -0700

The movie has premiered. Jess Plus None is in the world now and Kyle has seen it. This week, Mandy Fabian is back to talk about the whirlwind of activity leading up the premiere, reflections on the film’s love language, and what it means to just let actors … act.

Learn more about Jess Plus None right here!

A Weaponized Nostalgia Christmas Special

TruStory FM — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0800

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, where filmmakers are going right for your heartstrings with mistletoe and holly clenched in their teeth. But are their intentions dancing with sugarplums or dark as coal? On today’s chapter, special guests Pete Wright and Rob Kubasko join me to revisit the subject of “Weaponized Nostalgia” with an eye toward a selection of this year’s high profile nerdy Xmas projects: A Christmas Story Christmas, Spirited and the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. And we’ll be making a few stops along the way to discuss our personal favs.

Chapter 15: Who Cares About The Trees?

TruStory FM — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 03:00:00 -0700

In today’s chapter, we enter into the stormy seas of post-production. Mandy Fabian gives us an update on the thousand little pieces that contribute to a final film: VFX, the trailer, the website, the score, opening titles, closing titles and the weird world of coloring. But first things first, we’ll talk about her recent return to the stage.

Chapter 14: The Flow Of What Shows Up

TruStory FM — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 03:00:00 -0700

We’ve reached the end of the shoot. But what happens when you call cut for the last time? Mandy Fabian takes us through the frantic last minutes on set, trying to get all the magic she needed before the clock struck twelve. But then what? Now begins the post-production period! Music, sound, color, all of them require their own separate processes. But now, we begin at the ending...

Wars vs Trek: Nostalgia Fan Service vs. Canon Busting Nostalgia

TruStory FM — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 03:00:00 -0700

Star Wars - Obi Wan Kenobi and Star Trek - Strange New Worlds. Two different shows from two different long running science fiction franchises. But each approach their established canons in different ways, and have had polarizing reactions from fans. Rob Kubasko has returned to the Codex to discuss these shows and ask: how should we deal with fan nostalgia?

Chapter 13: A Nerd For Entendres

TruStory FM — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 02:38:25 -0700

Today Mandy Fabian takes us through all the planning that has to happen before a shoot. From shotlists and storyboards, finding out which songs you can use and even what brands you’re allowed to show, she’ll tells me what she’s learned. Plus, we’ll talk about working with actors, including how she directed an actor in a very intimate moment.

Chapter 12: Make It A Playground

TruStory FM — Wed, 25 May 2022 02:31:17 -0700

The time has come to assemble the crew! Mandy Fabian takes us through the process of picking her elite team to make her movie. From assistant director to wardrobe, casting, sound, and the rest. And the most important question: how are you going to feed them all?

Chapter 11: A Certain Guilelessness

TruStory FM — Wed, 18 May 2022 02:03:39 -0700

You’ve got the script, you’ve got the money, but you can’t make a movie without actors and locations. Mandy Fabian is going to give us the inside track on the casting process. And how exactly do you find the right actor during a pandemic? And we’ll get into the joys of location scouting and how bad timing can end up being a good thing. Plus, will she follow the Quentin Tarantino path and cast herself in her movie?

Chapter 10: Hell Or High Water Time

TruStory FM — Wed, 11 May 2022 02:11:18 -0700

It’s no secret that’s it’s nearly impossible to get a movie made. In today’s chapter, Mandy Fabian is going to give us the strange, twisting path that she followed to be able to make her first movie. From close calls with big name actors to watching a hot script go cold, only to see a cold script get hot, what was the magical sequence that finally got her movie the fabled green light? Plus we’ll go deep into the table read. How? Where? Who? And what do you get from it?

Chapter 9: Who Let Me Out Of The House?

TruStory FM — Wed, 04 May 2022 02:32:21 -0700

In our latest chat, Mandy Fabian and I decided that we’d just talk about writing and let the chat go wherever it led. We’ll discuss our processes, outlines, getting strange ideas that weren’t meant for us, and how to take your family’s drama and make a movie out of it. But first, we venture into the strange shared brainspace that happens when you have a co-writer.

Chapter 8: Get Cool And Start Working

TruStory FM — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 02:12:51 -0700

On today’s chat, Mandy Fabian will talk about her time as a shadow, that is, when she got a chance to shadow direct on a couple of big time television shows. We’ll talk about the differences between directing actors on television, movies and on stage. But first, she’ll talk about crossing paths with a future Oscar winner.

Chapter 7: You Get a Chair When You Do a Feature

TruStory FM — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 02:09:20 -0700

Let’s take this show on the road! Mandy Fabian discusses the fun and adventure that comes along with taking your short film on the festival circuits. We’ll talk about the joys and networking and the gut-wrenching terror of a Q&A when there aren’t any Q’s. But first, we’ll discuss the downside side of binge culture.

Chapter 6: The First Time I Was Ever Wrong • Curiosity Codex

TruStory FM — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 02:02:50 -0700

And: action! On today’s episode, we’ll be discussing the first time Mandy Fabian ever sat in the director’s chair. We’ll talk about the learning curve that comes with making your first short film, dealing with actors and crew who have way more experience than you. Plus she tells me about the worst direction she ever gave an actor. But as today’s chat starts, directing is the last thing she ever wanted to do.

Chapter 5: The Dream Of An Idea

TruStory FM — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 02:39:47 -0700

Chapter Five of my conversation with Mandy Fabian takes us into the hallowed halls of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Then we’re back into the word mines to discuss dialogue, adapting existing properties, and creating a series for the web using stars from TV.

We’re going to be diving deep into the world of a writer, but before we get there, Mandy Fabian tells us of her time at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Then we’ll talk about the ideas that haunt us, co-writing, the joys of dialogue, and the ups and downs of adaptation. Plus we’ll find out which of the Friends Mandy has worked with.

Chapter 4: Mansion Food

TruStory FM — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 02:57:17 -0700

We’ve reached the fourth part of our conversation, so that means it’s time to party. In today’s chat, you’ll hear Mandy Fabian tell us about what a Hollywood party is really like, including an Emmy party. Then we’ll get into more of the writing process as we discuss spec scripts and the joys of the note process.

Chapter 3: Freedom From The Need

TruStory FM — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 02:53:32 -0700

Our chat with Mandy Fabian now takes us to Hollywood, where she gives us a look at what pilot season is like from the inside. We’ll also discuss agents and managers, voice-over sessions, the painful process of auditions, and more.

Chapter 2: The Dharma Of Dominoes

TruStory FM — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 02:34:37 -0700

My conversation with Mandy Fabian continues as we move from Texas to Boston to the city so nice they named it twice: New York. We’ll get into the hustle of trying to start a career; paying the bills, getting an audition, scoring your first commercial and her brush with the Great White Way.

Chapter 1: The Big Bright Stars In Her Eyes

TruStory FM — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 02:08:27 -0800

We’re shifting gears here at the Codex and trying something new. As a curious person, I’ve always wondered what directing a movie is really like. And I was lucky enough to meet someone who has not only directed a film, but was willing to chat with me at length about the process: actress, director and fellow podcaster Mandy Fabian. But what began as a simple chat became a much more elaborate conversation about the Business of Show, acting, agents, New York vs. Los Angeles and more. So join me as I learn about the ins and outs of the business from someone who has worked their way up through the ranks to get to the director’s chair.

Chapter One: The Big Bright Stars In Her Eyes

Weaponized Nostalgia

TruStory FM — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 02:14:41 -0800

From Ghostbusters Afterlife to Matrix Resurrections, filmmakers are making sequels that look at the original films, and how they were received by the audience, in very different ways. Some are building chapels, while others are burning down the houses they built. From dinosaur-sized remakes to awakening the force, in this episode of the Curiosity Codex, we’re going to chat about this new phenomenon in film sequels.

Our guests are Rob Kubasko and Pete Wright.

A Marvel TV Primer

TruStory FM — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 02:41:01 -0800

In this episode, we answer an outside question: what do I need to watch to be able to understand WandaVision if I’ve never seen anything from the MCU? Our discussion kicks off from there, looping into Falcon & Winter Soldier and Loki’s TV series. Plus a bonus chat about which films can be ignored entirely.

Trek Through The Stars: Part 5

TruStory FM — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 09:00:13 -0700

The last course in our Trek through the Stars, we end with our very first dish, the top of the menu, the choice that brought our little food stand up from nothing. Some say it hasn’t aged well, while others think it’s never tasted better. Either way, it’s important to know where you came from before you can know where you’re going.

Part Five: The Beginning Is The End Is The Beginning

Trek Through The Stars: Part 4

TruStory FM — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 09:00:10 -0700

In Part Four of our Trek through the Stars, we now place in front of you the most popular dish on our menu. But there’s a reason that it’s regarded as a classic. With timeless flavors, enhanced aesthetics and a slew of awards, you can’t go wrong with this selection. Or can you?

Part Four: If You Give Off Signals That You Don’t Want To Belong…

Trek Through The Stars: Part 3

TruStory FM — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 09:00:39 -0700

Our third menu option is for those of a more modern palette, who are willing to take a bit more risk to try and reap the taste rewards. But the cook can be unstable and we’re not sure how the whole meal is going to turn out, but it’s the freshest thing we’ve got on offer.

Part Three: Objects In The Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are

Trek Through The Stars: Part 2

TruStory FM — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0700

Our Trek through the Stars continues here in Part Two, and so does our restaurant metaphor. If our first option wasn’t to your liking, perhaps you’d like to try something a bit more daring, more exotic, something with an intergalactic flair.

Part Two: What If We Stayed In One Place?

Trek Through The Stars: Part 1

TruStory FM — Mon, 31 May 2021 09:00:08 -0700

The Codex is back and this time, we’re headed for the stars! With over 800 stories, Star Trek is one of the most dominant sci fi franchises in pop culture history. But that also makes it nearly impossible for an outsider to know where to begin. Until now. We’re laying out 5 possible options for starting your journey into the Final Frontier.

Part One: Watch Your Head In The Captain’s Cabin

The Riddle of the Snyder Cut • The Curiosity Codex Chapter 1

TruStory FM — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 06:00:17 -0700

“The Riddle of the Snyder Cut”

In our first chapter, we’re preparing for the release of Zach Snyder’s Justice League, a four-hour superhero movie that we were once told was not real and would never exist. But how did we get here? And what do you need to know before you start the stream?

We’re going to look into the history of DCEU and try to provide you with what you need to know as we approach this magnum opus. If you’re a fan of these movies or if you’ve never seen a DCEU movie but want to know what’s the big deal, the Codex is for anyone who is curious.