Matinee Heroes

John and Joan Cusack – September 2017 – CONversations with Craig

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:27 — 20.1MB)

Some panels feel like a press junket with polite clapping. This panel, recorded at FanX Salt Lake in 2017, feels like a family reunion where the relatives happen to be movie icons. From the jump, the room lands on the perfect vibe: not “you were in my childhood,” but “we grew up together,” like distant cousins swapping stories you already love hearing.

• • John talks about playing Brian Wilson and how meaningful it was to feel like they did right by him. He also shares a great detail about working alongside Paul Dano: they did not compare notes, but both found their way in through the Smile Sessions box set.

• • Joan shares an early set memory: she starts as an extra, gets upgraded to a line, and is told to go buy an outfit. She winds up in purple corduroy pants while processing that this is somehow her life now.

• • John tells a story about someone on Twitter posting “cast Joan Cusack more,” and his reaction is basically “correct.” The moment turns into a mini rally, and honestly, the internet should do more of that.

“All I did was look for dignity. It was a constant search for dignity.” – Joan Cusack

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Christopher Eccleston – September 2021 – CONversation with Craig

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:25 — 31.7MB)

Recorded live in Utah after a two year wait, this CONversation with Craig drops you straight into a packed room with Christopher Eccleston and an audience ready to sprint into Doctor Who territory at full speed. Craig kicks things off by digging into Christopher’s take on Fagin in Dodger, including how you approach an iconic role that comes with real baggage. From there it turns into a smart, funny, occasionally sharp Q&A about stepping back into the Ninth Doctor with Big Finish, what it was like recording in isolation during COVID, and why the Doctor’s loneliness is not a side note, it is the engine.

• Chris describes the character in a way that keeps the charm and the danger intact, calling him “a kind of a Robin Hood figure,” but still someone with “a slightly dodgy, no pun intended, moral compass.” He also connects that damage to the Ninth Doctor, which is a neat little bridge between Dickens and the TARDIS.
• He talks about recording during COVID with only a sound engineer, how quickly the character came back, and how audio acting has its own rules. You cannot rely on sprinting down corridors or flailing your arms like a windmill.
• There is a great exchange about villains and what actually terrifies people. Eccleston points out how one story was designed with adults in mind.

“Oh, he’s falling through time. He’s alone as we all are…really. He’s alone.” – Christopher Eccleston

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John Cleese – April 2019 – CONversation with Craig

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:20 — 28.2MB)

Recorded live at FanX Salt Lake in April 2019, this Conversation with Craig is a full panel with comedy legend John Cleese, as Craig finally gets his game time call to step onstage with one of his heroes. From John’s North American convention debut and Craig’s nerves backstage to dry British chaos in front of a packed room, it is equal parts origin story, masterclass in comedy, and gleeful mischief.

• How a would be lawyer with a Cambridge law degree accidentally fell into show business through a student revue that suddenly transferred to London and ran for months.
• Cleese breaks down why you should always write comedy about what you know, how Fawlty Towers grew out of that idea, and how he approached those classic management training videos without ever having lived in a cubicle.
• Candid, rapid fire audience Q and A on Monty Python collaborators, silly walks, roles he regrets turning down, aging, politics, and why he happily pokes fun at everyone, including himself.

“Actually, it’s quite nice being old, because you just don’t give a fuck, you know?” – John Cleese

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Enrico Colantoni – September 2025 – CONversations with Craig

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:28 — 39.3MB)

Enrico Colantoni brought warmth, candor, and craft to the stage at FanX Salt Lake in September 2025, moving from first-time motion capture on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to lived-in stories from Veronica Mars, Flashpoint, and Person of Interest, blending practical acting insights with dry wit, a steady respect for the work, and genuine connection with the audience.

• Enrico recounts his first stab at motion capture on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, cracking up about the clingy gray suit and the pure imagination it takes to act to a green void.
• The infamous Veronica Mars black eye turns out to be a street-hockey souvenir, and the father–daughter magic with Kristen Bell comes from leading with heart instead of tricks.
• Whether commanding in Flashpoint or charmingly dangerous in Person of Interest, he builds every role by finding the human first, even when the character would rather hide it.

“It’s my heart with different language. My heart in a different costume” – Enrico Colantoni

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Rose McGowan and Holly Marie Combs – September 2023 – CONversations with Craig

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:52 — 25.9MB)

Two icons of 90s television and beyond—Rose McGowan (Scream, Planet Terror) and Holly Marie Combs (Picket Fences, Pretty Little Liars)—took the stage at FanX Salt Lake City 2023 for a heartfelt, funny, and wide-ranging conversation that delighted longtime fans. From sharing memories of growing up as child actors to reflecting on their post-Hollywood lives, the panel blended nostalgia, honesty, and plenty of laughs.

• Both McGowan and Combs began working as teenagers, navigating the strange realities of Hollywood at a young age. Combs spoke about finding “family” on the set of Picket Fences, while McGowan described how life in the industry made relationships feel temporary—but also taught her how to bond quickly and deeply with cast and crew.
• The conversation wasn’t just about their acting careers. Combs revealed her lifelong connection to the restaurant world—her family worked in the industry, and she and her husband now own a diner and an Italian spot where he perfected the fries after months of testing. McGowan, meanwhile, discussed her activism and her quieter life in Mexico, where she spends time observing monkeys in the jungle and escaping the chaos of Hollywood.
• The most powerful moments came when both reflected on resilience and inspiration. Combs pointed to co-star and longtime friend Shannon Doherty, calling her “tougher than she’s ever been” as she continues treatment and meets fans with strength and generosity. McGowan praised everyday “quiet heroes”—single parents and working families who inspire her with their perseverance.

“It’s pretty magical that this many people still care about the thing we’re not supposed to talk about.” – Holly Marie Combs

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Brent Spiner and John de Lancie – September 2022 – CONversations with Craig

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 46:44 — 32.6MB)

Two fan favorites from the Star Trek universe—Brent Spiner (Data, Lore, Dr. Soong) and John de Lancie (Q), took the stage at FanX Salt Lake City to swap stories, tease each other, and reflect on careers that stretch far beyond the Final Frontier. What unfolded was a lively, heartfelt, and hilarious panel that explored everything from Breaking Bad and My Little Pony to truth-telling in acting and the evolving humanity of their iconic characters.

• Houston Roots and Astroworld Memories: Spiner began with stories about Houston, Texas, and their early days performing at Astroworld. What started as gunfighting shows quickly evolved into creative theater, with Spiner even co-writing a “medicine show” alongside fellow actor Trey Wilson. The pair reminisced about the unpredictability of live performance and the strange lessons learned under the summer sun.
• Breaking Bad and the Outsider Experience: De Lancie also shared his time on Breaking Bad, where he immediately sensed he was stepping into something special. “You can tell almost immediately whether the show is really clicking when you walk on the set. Everybody was playing at a high level.” As a guest actor, he described the balancing act of finding his place in a family that had already been working together for years.
• Star Trek used philosophy and morality as story engines: Spiner pointed to The Measure of a Man as a defining episode about personhood and slavery, while de Lancie emphasized Q’s dynamic with Picard as a constant battle of wills. Both acknowledged the audience’s role in shaping how they now see their characters and themselves.

“We could not do our work properly if we went up there to lie. We actually are looking for the truth.” – John de Lancie

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Mick Garris – October 2018 – CONversations with Craig

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:34 — 37.3MB)

Recorded live at Horrorthon 2018, this episode of CONversations with Craig features a captivating, insightful, and often humorous conversation with legendary horror filmmaker Mick Garris. From adapting Stephen King’s novels into iconic miniseries like The Stand and The Shining, to creating the influential Post Mortem podcast, Garris shares compelling behind-the-scenes stories from his illustrious career. Whether he’s revealing secrets about working with Anthony Perkins on Psycho IV or sharing his approach to storytelling, Garris delivers wisdom, wit, and an authentic passion for horror.

• King’s Collaborator: Garris dives deep into his frequent collaborations with Stephen King, discussing why their creative partnership works and the unique challenges of adapting King’s deeply personal and often complex stories.
• Perkins and Psycho: An intense and illuminating experience directing Anthony Perkins revealed critical insights into character-driven filmmaking, cementing Garris’s ability to navigate complicated creative dynamics.
• Horror with Heart: Garris reflects on the true power of horror—not just scares, but its capacity to explore profound human emotions, societal anxieties, and personal loss through storytelling.

“Horror has the ability to use social and political situations as metaphor without being preachy. It puts you in touch with fears that feel personal.” – Mick Garris

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C. Thomas Howell – February 2020 – CONversations with Craig

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:16 — 35.0MB)

Recorded live at the Fayetteville Comic Show, this episode of CONversations with Craig features a raw, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt conversation with actor C. Thomas Howell. From his early days as a child stunt rider to breakout roles in E.T. and The Outsiders, Howell shares stories from a career that spans Hollywood classics, cult thrillers, and gritty television drama. Whether he’s recalling a tense lunch with Rutger Hauer or reflecting on what it means to stay authentic in an industry built on illusion, Howell brings humor, humility, and a cowboy’s clarity to the stage.

• The Spielberg Spark: A nervous teen, a pack of Marlboros, and a surprise audition landed Howell a shot at E.T.—thanks to some fast thinking from his stuntman dad.
• Rutger’s Rule: A cryptic lunch with The Hitcher co-star Rutger Hauer revealed a performance philosophy that would shape Howell’s future as a villain on Criminal Minds.
• Cowboy Credentials: Whether it’s wrangling roles or actual horses, Howell proves that sometimes the best special effect is doing your own stunts.

“What I do is bullshit. You’ve got people out here saving lives, man. I play a guy that saves a life.” – C. Thomas Howell

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Star Wars Behind the Scenes: Now it Can Be Told – December 2019 – CONversation with Craig

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 54:53 — 38.2MB)

Recorded live at EmpireCon 2019 in Los Angeles, this episode of Conversations with Craig lifts the curtain on the unsung crew who brought the original Star Wars trilogy to life—Jawas, model-makers, second-unit directors, and yes, Yoda’s actual right hand. From childhood desert shoots to Harrison Ford with a saw, this panel had it all.

• Jawa Justice League: Three OG Jawas—Tim Donaldson, Andrea Wickman, and Fraser Diamond—recall what it was really like filming in Death Valley, sweating through robes, carrying disassembled droids, and surviving desert wildlife.
• Ford v. Falcon: Second-unit director Harley Cokeliss reveals how a frustrated Harrison Ford nearly sawed a hole through the Millennium Falcon during a lighting delay.
• Puppets and Persistence: Mike Quinn, the man behind Nien Nunb and Yoda’s right hand, explains how hanging around the set got him the job—and a footnote in Star Wars history.

“Star Wars is kind of like the genie that just keeps granting wishes.” – Mike Quinn

Want more exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes stories from the people who bring your favorite characters to life? Subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your favorite podcasting platform for more behind-the-scenes stories and exclusive interviews.