As an actor, Peter Vack is known for his work in television series such as “I Just Want My Pants Back (series lead),” “Mozart In The Jungle,” and “Love Life,” and recent independent films like “PVT Chat,” Eugene Kotlyarenko’s “The Code” and his virtuoso turn as an evil version of “Peter Vack” in “Actors” (written, directed, and co-staring his sister Betsey Brown). As a filmmaker, he has gotten a reputation for demanding an “all in” approach from his performers. His first feature, “Assholes” (called “the most disgusting movie ever”), won a jury prize at SXSW, and his latest, “www.RachelOrmont.com,” described as a “psychedelic techno-satire about growing up in captivity,” just premiered in September and is already on the fast track toward “cult hit” status. On this episode, he describes his belief that an actor has to develop a pure, almost religious faith in their ability, fueled by positivity and joy. He explains why “intellectual homework” doesn’t help him at all anymore, how incorporating a “toxic method” approach when playing a toxic “method actor” actually worked for him, what being “a player on the field” and “embodying the energy” mean for him as a director, why the best practice an actor can do is actually outside the work, and much more.

Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.

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(Photo by Marcus Maddox)

Jack Dunphy is a writer, filmmaker, animator, actor and podcaster. His shorts have played in festivals around the world and his latest, “Bob’s Funeral,” won Best Nonfiction Short Film at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. As an actor, he starred in Peter Vack’s “Assholes” and Caveh Zahedi’s legendary, unfinished, 24-hour retelling of Joyce’s “Ulysses.” He can soon be seen in “Paradise and Lunch,” the new film from Jordan Tetwesky and Joshua Pikovsky, and "Anything That Moves” from Alex Phillips. His wonderful new podcast, “Revelations with Jack Dunphy,” in which he talks about his struggles with addiction and mental illness with fellow artists, is out now on the Talkhouse network.

Even though he draws on his real life so much in his work, Jack talks about his difficulty with playing a version of himself. He explains why authenticity shouldn’t be a brand but a necessity, what it means to be a “three chord” actor, how fame would negatively impact his addiction management, and much more.

Listen to "Revelations with Jack Dunphy" here. It's fast becoming one of my favorite podcasts.

Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.

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Jaclyn Bethany is an Emmy award winning filmmaker, writer and actor based in New Orleans, Louisiana. She has been committed to creating art and telling stories exploring complex women, the intimacy of female friendship, sisterhood and queerness from the female perspective. Some upcoming film projects include "Delusion “- a short film in collaboration with Adult Film NYC, “In Transit,” written by Alex Sarrigeorgiou and featuring Jennifer Ehle and Francois Arnaud, and “All Five Eyes,” which she co-wrote with Greta Bellamacina, featuring Bellamacina and Honor Swinton-Byrne. In this episode she talks about her role as the Co-Artistic Director of The Fire Weeds, a female driven immersive theater company based in New Orleans, and her endeavor to present new theater, and new approaches to old theater, in a place where “new” takes some getting used to. She also discusses what she learned as an actor that helps her directing, why she’s so fascinated by Tennessee Williams, the importance of a “child-like” approach to the work, and much more.

Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.

Follow Back To One on Instagram