The Actor’s Guide to the End of the World

Affleck, AI, and the Secret to Juggling Your Side Hustle

Happy Holidays! This is episode 10 of The Actor's Guide to the End of the World and we saved the best for the last of the year! Today we’re diving into AI this week which is a point of concern for many in Hollywood, but Ben Affleck’s surprising comments on AI have gone viral and might encourage a lot of filmmakers. Will AI upend traditional Hollywood as we know it? Will it replace actors and creatives altogether? Are we in control of what we watch or are we the ones being controlled?
E-Kan and Rían will tackle all these questions and more, including the challenge and opportunities that AI will provide in the future and why we still need regulations. They also will talk about why traditional Hollywood is usually seven years behind and who really is winning the streaming wars. Then they get on a deep conversation about actors’ sometimes difficult relationship with money, personal stories about juggling their side hustles over the years, and lessons they’ve learned along the way. And what we can learn from Silicon Valley tech entrepreneurs about pursuing their passions and aspirational words from Colman Domingo.
New episodes every Monday!
Follow us wherever you find your podcasts, including Apple, Spotify, YouTube, Substack and on all social media at @actorsguidepodcast
 
Ben Affleck on How AI will and will not impact Hollywood - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07XJicGWMVo
Hidden Gems: 
Slainte Cold Plunge (Dublin)-
https://slaintesaunas.ie/
IKEA weekly food deals and all you can eat buffet..?!
 
Time stamps:
(00:00) Intro
(03:30) Affleck on AI 
(08:25) Will customers really want generative AI?
(15:00) Customers might win but they won't be happy
(17:11) Hollywood is seven years behind
(19:00) Will traditional media be replaced by AI?
(20:00) How can actors manage their side hustle? 
(25:45) Rían talks about the mindset shift that happened for him
(28:00) E-Kan shares what his father thought about his career
(32:00) E-Kan talks about the blind spots when you have blinders on
(35:00) Inspiring words from Colman Domingo
(37:00) Hidden Gems
 

Biggest Winners of 2024, Broadway, Keanu, and Making Art Accessible

Episode 9 of the Actor's Guide to the End of the World and it's the holidays! The guys discuss the biggest risks of the year and who really won in a turbulent year for the industry, including Shogun, The Substance, Kneecap, and others. They also discuss the things like David Zazlav selling 30 million dollars of Warner Bros Discovery stock, whether studios have any idea what they're doing, and examine what makes a film bad. Rían saw an incredible play in Dublin while E-Kan shares some stories watching Laurence Fishburne, Sam Rockwell, and Jeff Daniels on Broadway, some lessons he learned, and the time he went around NYC looking for Keanu Reeves. They get on a conversation about the importance of making art accessible for all walks of life and economic backgrounds and James McAvoy's comments on the subject.   
New episodes every Monday! We want to hear from you- email us at actorsguidepodcast@gmail.com, Follow us wherever you find your podcasts, including YouTube and Substack and on all social media @actorsguidepodcast!
https://qz.com/david-zaslav-wbd-stock-1851725550
"It's Always Your Bleedin' Own" (Dublin) - https://projectartscentre.ie/events/its-always-your-bleedin-own/
https://deadline.com/2024/11/wolfs-sequel-demise-jon-watts-george-clooney-brad-pitt-no-longer-trusted-apple-1236186227/
James McAvoy on the "Class Ceiling" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDwRkzJPkSA&t=65s
Hidden Gems:
Gabe and Max's Internet Thing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPsUmhqncAg
Discounted Broadway NYC tickets: https://www.broadwaybox.com/discounts/the 
Time stamps:
(00:00) Intro
(03:37) Zazlav sells 30 million dollars in stock of WB
(06:05) Biggest Winners of 2024
(09:30) Why award shows and film festivals matter
(12:22) Studios don't know what they're doing
(15:12) The biggest bet of 2024
(17:35) What does it mean when a movie is bad?
(19:45) Rían talks about "It's Always Your Bleedin' Own" play
(24:00) Why E-Kan loves Keanu Reeves and on seeing American Buffalo
(26:00) James McAvoy talks about the importance of making art accessible
(27:00) When E-Kan saw "To Kill A Mockingbird"on Broadway
(29:00) Hidden Gems
 

SAG Health Plan Lawsuit, and Is the Golden Globes the Sketchiest Award Show?

Episode 8 of the Actor's Guide to the End of the World and award season is underway! Golden globe nominations were announced and the guys discuss the notable films this year as well as the show's spotty history and rebuild. They tackle the questions: Are the Golden Globes the sketchiest awards show? Are awards shows relevant anymore? Then they talk about what got them into acting in the first place, their deeper motivations, and the irony that they became performers despite their shy childhoods. They also get to the recent SAG Health Plan data breach and class action lawsuit and why actors need to be careful taking selfies on set. Rían talks about the greatest moment of his career and the ritual he does everytime he books a job while E-Kan talks about the time he made a spectacle in high school… and paid for it. They also dive into the importance of mindset and the key to affirmations and what happens when you dream big. 
New episodes every Monday! We want to hear from you- email us at actorsguidepodcast@gmail.com,
Follow us wherever you find your podcasts, including YouTube and Substack and on all social media @actorsguidepodcast!
Hidden Gems:
8-Bit Christmas (2021)
Buy Nothing Facebook Free-cycle group
Time stamps:
(00:00) Intro
(03:30) SAG Health Plan Data Hack
(07:00) Security Training for Actors
(08:44) Sag Health Plan
(10:34) Golden Globe nominations
(12:25) The sketchiest awards show
(17:40) Are acting awards important to us?
(18:30) The key to affirmations and goal setting
(20:40) Why E-Kan got into acting
(22:00) What drives Rían and why he loves to act
(25:00) The time E-Kan made a spectacle in high school 
(26:15) Rían getting over his shyness
(27:00) The power of mindset
(28:45) Rían shares a special moment with his father
(30:20) Ritual to celebrate the victories
(32:00) Hidden Gems
 

TikTok Ban, Commedia dell'arte, and the Fear of Failure

Welcome to Episode 7 of the Actor’s Guide to the End of the World! This was an eye-opening one. The guys discuss the newest developments of the possible ban of TikTok. Rían talks about doing Commedia dell'arte for the first time, E-Kan shares about starting Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which gets them on a conversation of being a beginner, embracing challenges, and daring to suck.  They discover many similarities between the two and discuss how it has helped them get past their ego and learn to let go. E-Kan shares about his battle with stage fright and why everyone should take an acting class. Rían tells us about a beloved and now-extinct social media app in Ireland, and E-Kan updates us on how his handmade cheesecake was received.
New episodes every Monday! Follow us on social media @actorsguidepodcast and all episodes on YouTube and Substack as well! 
We want to hear from you - actorsguidepodcast@gmail.com and more on YouTube and Substack  - https://substack.com/@actorsguidepodcast
https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-court-ruling-china-6bfd505295ad44126df0544fc083d6a6
https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/fbi-warns-texts-between-android-iphone-users-pose-cyber-risk
Subsconscious BBJ - https://www.subconsciousbjj.com/
Hidden Gems: 
Suay Thrift Store: https://suayla.com/
Corn Exhange Theatre in Dublin: https://www.cornexchange.ie/
 
Time stamps:
(00:00) Intro
(01:27) Beloved Beebo Platform
(02:10) TikTok Ban
(09:40) Rían tries Commedia dell'arte
(17:00) Learning Brazilian Jiu-jitsu
(21:30) Every day on the mat was a day getting better
(27:00) How acting has changed their lives
(30:00) Hidden gems
 

Film Fest PR Disaster, Shows so good we can't watch, and Can an actor watch too much TV?

Welcome to a jam packed Episode 6 of the Actor’s Guide to the End of the World! E-Kan and Rían get into the controversy at the Camerimage Film Festival after its founder made offensive remarks regarding women cinematographers, prompting several top directors and filmmakers to boycott the festival. As award season continues, the guys tackle the questions - Can an actor watch too much TV? Is Social Media changing how we think? They also discuss the importance of being in acting class and how they stay fueled creatively during the holidays as well as share confessions of iconic shows and movies they haven’t seen and shows so good they can’t watch. Then Rian reveals what he watches at night to go to sleep, and E-Kan why he still has a DVD player. The guys also introduce their newest bit to deepen their appreciation for film that everyone can join in. For Hidden Gems, they get into their latest culinary obsessions.
New episodes every Monday! Follow us on social media @actorsguidepodcast and all episodes on YouTube and Substack as well! 
We want to hear from you - actorsguidepodcast@gmail.com and more on YouTube and Substack  - https://substack.com/@actorsguidepodcast
Hidden Gems: 
Baking Cheesecake in the Instapot - https://www.pressurecookrecipes.com/instant-pot-cheesecake-new-york/
Making bread with only yogurt and oats! 1 part yogurt, 1 and a half part oats, 2 teaspoons with baking powder, bake for an hour at 380 F/ 190 C - delicious bread! Sweeten with dried fruit or honey, and don't use Greek Yogurt!
Time stamps:
(00:00) Intro
(02:00) Camerimage Film Festival Drama
(07:20) Notable Women Cinematographers 
(09:15) The creative diet of an actor
(13:00 What we pay attention to is what we care about
(16:30) What do actors work on when not on set
(19:20) How much tv and film should an actor watch?
(21:00) TV shows so good E-Kan couldn't watch
(24:26) Greatest Movies Never Seen
(28:30) Hidden gems
 
 

Free Movies for Actors, Biggest Networking Mistakes, and What Makes Movie Stars So Special

Welcome to the episode 5 of the Actor’s Guide to the end of the World! It’s award season, and the guys talk about the many free screenings and star Q&A’s offered to SAG members and what it was like to hear the biggest stars and creators share behind the scenes of projects like Gladiator 2, the Substance, and more. Also, Rian shares insights from a panel of the top casting directors in Ireland, including the unpredictability of casting and how to navigate it as an actor. They discuss the biggest myths about networking and actors’ biggest mistakes make. Then Rian tells a story of being blown away when he saw Anya Taylor Joy act, which gets them on a discussion of movie stars, what gives an actor that “movie star” quality, and why we are so captivated by them. 
New episodes every Monday! Follow us on social media @actorsguidepodcast and all episodes on YouTube and Substack as well! 
We want to hear from you - actorsguidepodcast@gmail.com and more on YouTube and Substack  - https://substack.com/@actorsguidepodcast
Screening Q&A's on E-Kan’s YouTube channel @ekansoong
Geeky Teas & Games in Burbank, 900 W. Alameda Ave, Burbank is a game store/cafe but also a kitten adoption shelter! Play with kittens!
Dates on Bread (Irish soda bread ideally) and it tastes like cake!
Time stamps:
(00:00) Intro
(01:41) Free screenings for actors
(03:00) Why don't actors take advantage of this? 
(04:50) Scary elevator story and interesting characters
(07:00) Why are we obsessed with movie stars? 
(10:25) Gladiator 2 and why Denzel Washington is the man
(13:15) Paul Mescal and his breakout performance
(13:50) Anya Taylor-Joy blew Rían away
(16:20) Lessons learned from the top casting directors in Ireland
(17:10) Actors and networking
(22:45) Acting is a craft
(25:26) More networking tips and don't be a dick 
(34:00) Hidden gems

Big news for California, What Trump Means for Hollywood and Representation, and Why Art Matters

Welcome to episode 4 of the Actor’s Guide to the End of the World! In this episode, the guys will discuss a new proposal by Governor Newsom boosting CA film TV tax credit to a whopping $750 million, almost double the amount previously. E-Kan also discusses what It was like to go to a SAG W&W meeting (Wages and Working Conditions for the first time) and how it changed his mind on how he looks at the industry. Also we will touch on what the presidential election means for Hollywood, diversity, and a look at what entertainment might look like in the future and share some revelations on dealing with adversity in a volatile industry. Rian and E-Kan share insights on the dangers of entitlement as an actor and then get into a discussion on the subversive nature of comedy.
New episodes every Monday! Follow us on social media @actorsguidepodcast and all episodes on YouTube and Substack as well! 
We want to hear from you - actorsguidepodcast@gmail.com and more on YouTube and Substack  - https://substack.com/@actorsguidepodcast
Holiday Hold-Up - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29704583/
Academy Museum Film Program https://www.academymuseum.org/en/programs/section/films
 
Time stamps:
(00:00) Intro
(02:12) New CA Film Tax Credit proposal
(05:20) SAG W&W meetings
(13:50) More mergers during Trump and what that means for actors
(15:25) Trump vs the unions
(17:18) Will diversity and representation suffer?
(19:15) Conservative art doesn't work
(21:20) Competition and diversity in Hollywood
(23:35) Controlling what you can control
(26:00) Why art matters
(27:30) Hidden gems

23 and Me crumbles with our DNA, Getting Scammed by Big Tech, and Life Changing Moments

Welcome! Episode 3 of The Actor’s Guide to the End of the World! We look into the collapse of 23 and Me and what that means for our DNA and data moving forward and things actors should think about with AI. We also talk about what actors need to know about SAG W&W union meetings for our upcoming Commercials Contract. Rían shares a crazy story about how he almost got scammed by an AI Tech marketing company. Also, the guys open up about recent pivotal life changing moments, including how E-Kan first got on YouTube and how that affected his life and career. They also discuss how fame has changed and been democratized with the internet.
New episodes every Monday! Follow us on social media @actorsguidepodcast and all episodes on YouTube and Substack as well! 
We want to hear from you - actorsguidepodcast@gmail.com and more on YouTube and Substack  - https://substack.com/@actorsguidepodcast
Hidden Gems: 
Cafe Vida - New American cuisine healthy - brunch/lunch/ bowls in Pacific Palisades
85th Anniversary of the Batman character exhibition at the WB Studio Tour
Time stamps:
(00:00) Intro
(01:27) 23 and Me Bankrupt
(03:10) What that means for Actors and AI
(03:45) Rían almost gets scammed
(08:11) SAG Union meetings
(12:40) The moment E-Kan’s life changed
(17:40) Actors don’t only do one thing
(19:10)  Why actors don’t like social media
(21:50) How fame has changed with the internet
(24:35) Rían’s AHA moment
(26:00) Hidden gems