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Box Angeles

Box Angeles

By: Mike 'Box' Elder
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Join actor Mike 'Box' Elder as he sits down with fellow actors, directors, writers, comedians, producers and casting directors to extract insightful commentary on what it takes to achieve success in both Hollywood and the entertainment industry.All rights reserved Art Entertainment & Performing Arts
Episodes
  • Jessica Brunetto
    Aug 11 2025

    Editor (and director) Jessica Brunetto (Hacks, Adults, Broad City) joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 353. Jessica stops by the bungalow and discusses the intricacies as well as the technical aspects of editing hit shows, her transition into directing, the importance for asking for stuff and making your intentions known, and more!

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    BEATS--

    00:00 - Jessica slates her name.
    00:10 - Introduction.
    02:25 - Why Jess chose editing.
    05:35 - Getting a BFA in directing from SUNY Purchase.
    06:10 - Starting jobs and the editor career ladder.
    10:12 - Coming into Broad City later and how many editors work a show.
    12:11 - Are there editors' rooms on shows.
    13:21 - Editors chain of command and prepping before an episode.
    15:38 - How long to cut an episode and schedules.
    18:54 - Continuity vs good take vs clean audio.
    21:01 - Editing montages.
    24:40 - Approach to individual scenes.
    25:51 - Jess taking her first improv class.
    28:28 - How often is someone over an editor's shoulder.
    30:07 - Editing rituals.
    34:13 - Economics of editing gigs.
    35:30 - Technical questions; software, hardware.
    38:23 - Views on current short form content.
    42:31 - Pivoting to directing and asking for stuff.
    47:45 - Shaking off first impressions.
    48:47 - Coming on to direct Hacks in a later season and establishing a tone.
    54:29 - Who took a chance on Jess.

    The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/353

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    MORE JESSICA BRUNETTO --
    Check Jessica's IMDb.
    Follow Jessica on Instagram @jessicabrunetto.
    Check out Jessica's website.

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    MORE BOX ANGELES --
    Follow Box Angeles on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
    Support Box Angeles on Patreon.

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    57 mins
  • Jonathan Runyon
    Jul 28 2025

    Actor - and commercial session director - Jonathan Runyon (Modern Family, Mad Men) joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 352. Jonathan stops by the bungalow and discusses the economics of being a session director, auditon & callback advice, common things he notices actors doing (and not doing), what the true goal is for commercial actors, and more!

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    BEATS--

    00:00 - Jonathan slates his name.
    00:11 - Introduction.
    02:29 - Acting and working at 200 South La Brea.
    03:11 - Slower commercially right now, but not for non union.
    05:18 - Session director perspective on self tapes.
    09:08 - Being a waiter dating back to studying at the Stella Adler Conservatory in NYC.
    12:00 - The economics and schedule of session directing.
    17:20 - How do you make acting work with session directing.
    20:08 - Working with different offices.
    22:35 - Getting a callback or audition for a session you're suppose to run.
    26:36 - Giving personalized feedback / instructions in auditions.
    31:47 - Actors that booking bringing themselves to the auditions.
    33:59 - Naturally not being "grounded".
    35:28 - Choosing the order auditions are submitted to highlight certain ones.
    39:48 - Ideal time to audition in the session.
    41:34 - Any patterns in auditions?
    43:45 - Real time filtering happening in callbacks.
    46:24 - How actors should enter a callback.
    50:01 - Knowing who the director is at callbacks and a Philip Seymour Hoffman story.
    52:56 - Self sabotaging actors.
    57:25 - Are callbacks more stressful.
    58:43 - Casting directors livestream of the room.
    1:00:53 - Are callbacks the new goal for actors.
    1:03:50 - There is a board with the list of auditions at 200 South La Brea (!!)
    1:04:59 - Who took a chance on Jonathan.
    1:06:37 - Surprised by who books things.

    The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/352

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    MORE JONATHAN RUNYON --
    Check Jonathan's IMDb.
    Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jonathanrunyon.

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    MORE BOX ANGELES --
    Support Box Angeles (and access the audio archives) on Patreon.
    Follow Box Angeles on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 9 mins
  • Alex McAtee
    Jul 21 2025

    Producer Alex McAtee (The Disaster Artist, Sausage Party) joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 351. Alex stops by the bungalow and discusses getting her start as a PA to becoming EVP at Point Grey, the struggles in development, navigating pitches, building trust with collaborators while making sure everyone is on the same page creatively, how The Studio hilariously toes the line between satire and celebration, and more!

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    BEATS--

    00:00 - Alex slates her name.
    00:14 - Introduction.
    02:00 - Emailing people you don't know.
    05:27 - Was producing always the goal.
    06:25 - Moving to LA to be a production assistant.
    11:35 - Starting as an assistant at Point Grey Pictures right after they were founded.
    17:07 - Differences between producing TV and film.
    19:39 - The Studio both celebrating and lampooning the business.
    22:23 - Every pitch is different and every meeting needs a purpose.
    30:40 - Point Grey first look deals with Universal for film and Lionsgate for TV.
    33:46 - "Executive Producer" definition.
    36:11 - Other responsibilites; hearing pitches, being on set, etc.
    39:40 - PGA credits.
    41:37 - Relying on other people as a producer.
    44:13 - The difficulty of making sure everyone is on the same page creatively.
    46:27 - Self tapes.
    50:37 - Harder to green light indie films lately due to talent deals.
    53:12 - Optimism about the industry.
    55:07 - Who took a chance on Alex.

    The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/351

    ---

    MORE ALEX MCATEE --
    Check Alex's IMDb.

    ---

    MORE BOX ANGELES --
    Support Box Angeles (and access the audio archives) on Patreon.
    Follow Box Angeles on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.

    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
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