Meet Randall Park, the multi-talented artist who has captivated audiences with his comedic acting, writing, producing, and directing skills. Hailing from Los Angeles, Randall is not only known for his comedic prowess but has also ventured into the realms of producing and directing.
Meet Randall Park, the multi-talented artist who has captivated audiences with his comedic acting, writing, producing, and directing skills. Hailing from Los Angeles, Randall is not only known for his comedic prowess but has also ventured into the realms of producing and directing. His journey in the entertainment industry began during his time at UCLA, where he co-founded the LCC Theatre Company, which has since grown to become the largest Asian American college theater group in the country.
I first discovered Randall's talent when a friend shared a link to the hilarious web series, IKEA Heights, from the Comedy 101 web series. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend checking it out at the link I left below! Since then, Randall has left his mark on various shows such as The Office and Veep before landing lead roles in Fresh Off The Boat and Blockbuster. His performances have also extended to both the Marvel and DC franchises, with his portrayal of FBI Agent Jimmy Woo in the WandaVision series generating a significant online campaign for a spin-off series centered around his character.
One of Randall's most notable accomplishments, in my opinion, was his co-writing and co-starring role in Netflix's rom-com Always Be My Maybe alongside Ali Wong. His portrayal of the romantic lead showcased his nuanced and hilarious performance, solidifying his talent as both a writer and actor.
In addition to his own success, Randall is also committed to amplifying Asian American and underrepresented voices in the industry. This dedication has led him to co-found Imminent Collision, a production company aimed at providing a platform for these voices. Together with his friends from the LCC Theatre Company, Randall is working towards creating meaningful opportunities for marginalized communities.
Most recently, Randall ventured into directing with his debut feature film, Shortcomings, a subversive romantic comedy that played in competition at this year's Sundance Film Festival. The film tells a relatable story about messy people who happen to be Asian American, providing a refreshing perspective to the genre. It was at Sundance that I had the incredible opportunity to meet Randall during a panel on directing your first feature film. I was thrilled when he agreed to share his directing journey with me on Blissful Spinster, and our conversation was filled with open dialogue, insightful advice, and inspiring anecdotes. I’m so excited to bring you my conversation with Randall!
Follow Randall’s Production Company - Imminent Collision on: Instagram
Shortcomings is still in theatres this week - GO SEE IT!
Learn more about the Blissful Spinster Podcast and connect with Cris on the website, Instagram
Check out IKEA Heights on YouTube
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19. RANDALL PARK - Director, Writer, Producer, Actor
[00:00:00] Cris: Hi, and welcome to Blissful Spinster. This week's guest is director, writer, producer, and actor, Randall Park. Just a little note, this episode was recorded back in March, well before either the WGA or SAG went on strike. Randall lives in Los Angeles and is not only a sought after comedic actor and writer, but more recently he's branched out into both producing and directing.
[00:00:18] Cris: While attending [00:00:20] UCLA as an English major, Randall and some friends founded LCC Theater Company, which has since grown to become the largest Asian American college theater group in the country. That's pretty cool. I first learned of Randall when a friend of mine sent me a link to a hilarious Comedy 101 web series called Ikea Heights.
[00:00:35] Cris: If you haven't seen it, do yourselves a favor and click the link I've left below and enjoy. [00:00:40] Since his Comedy 101 days, Randall has made memorable appearances on shows like The Office and Veep before landing leads in Fresh Off the Boat and Blockbuster. Randall has also worked in both the Marvel and DC franchises.
[00:00:51] Cris: with his role as FBI agent Jimmy Woo's appearance in the WandaVision series sparking an online campaign to have a spinoff series based on his character. Most [00:01:00] notably, in my eyes, Randall co wrote and co starred in Netflix's rom com Always Be My Maybe with Ali Wong and delivered a nuanced and hilarious performance as the romantic lead.
[00:01:10] Cris: In addition to his own success, Randall is also committed to amplifying Asian American and underrepresented voices in the industry. This dedication has led him to co found Imminent Collision, a production [00:01:20] company aimed at providing a platform for these voices. Together with his friends from the LCC Theater Company, Randall is working towards creating meaningful opportunities for marginalized communities.
[00:01:29] Cris: In his latest adventure, Randall directed his first feature film, A Subversive Rom Com Shortcomings. A great film relatable story about messy people who happen to be Asian Americans. [00:01:40] Providing a refreshing perspective on the genre. Amazingly, it played in competition at this year's Sundance Film Festival.
[00:01:46] Cris: And it's currently in theaters now. So if you can go, you should really go check it out. It was at Sundance this year, which was my first time going and it was so amazing, that I got to meet Randall. At a panel he was on about directing your first feature film. And I [00:02:00] was thrilled when I asked if he'd share his directing journey with me on Blissful Spinster.
[00:02:03] Cris: And he said yes! We had a wonderful chat, and Randall was so open and generous with his insights and advice, and I'm really, really excited to bring you my conversation with Randall. So however you found this podcast, thank you for tuning in, and please enjoy this week's episode. Hi, Randall. How are you doing?
[00:02:19] Cris: [00:02:20] I'm good. How are you, Chris? I'm pretty good. Thank you for agreeing to be on my podcast. It's pretty exciting for me. Of course, happy
[00:02:26] Randall: to, happy to.
[00:02:28] Cris: So we met at a panel for Sundance. I was in the audience and you were on the panel. That's right.
[00:02:34] Randall: That's right. Yeah. We talked afterwards and you were very nice and, and it was great to meet you there.
[00:02:39] Cris: [00:02:40] So I was wondering, How did your journey start? I know a little bit from
[00:02:43] Randall: the panel, but Oh gosh, journey my journey of life? Or my journey of As a
[00:02:48] Cris: filmmaker. Let's stick to filmmaker. We'll have drinks later, at some point, and you'll tell me your life story.
[00:02:57] Randall: Filmmaking, let's see, I would say the [00:03:00] start of my filmmaking endeavors probably happened while I was in middle school and I, a bunch of my friends and I would make videos.
[00:03:11] Randall: This was before, way before YouTube or anything like that, but we would just do it for fun. Make our own little shorts and like. Run around the streets, filming [00:03:20] everything on one of my friend's cameras that their parents owned and, and they took it without asking. And we just run around the city shooting stuff.
[00:03:29] Randall: And then we'd go home and watch it and just be so excited. And that we, we didn't really edit though. That was just like shooting stuff and doing funny [00:03:40] things. on camera and uh, and experiencing the high of playing it back. And I think that's probably where this seed was planted. Uh, and then many, many years later after I graduate from college and started pursuing a career as an actor, you know, there was a lot of times when it was just slow [00:04:00] and Couldn't get an audition, couldn't get, you know, there was just no movement in my, like, professional pursuits.
[00:04:07] Randall: But thankfully at that point, the, uh, technology had advanced so much and, and getting a camera was more accessible. I didn't have, I didn't need, like, a friend with rich parents who had a camera. I would shoot stuff with my [00:04:20] friends just like I did back in Middle School. school, this time we had editing software and we're writing scripts and we're directing our own little projects and web series.
[00:04:28] Randall: And so, and I, that was when I first thought, Oh gosh, I might have a good knack for this making videos essentially. And that kind of planted the seed as a [00:04:40] possible thing I could do down the road.
[00:04:41] Cris: That's cool. Um, I grew up in, um, in Mexico city. Oh yeah. Yeah. And we didn't, so I think I'm a little older than you.
[00:04:49] Cris: I'm 52. Mm-hmm. . And my entry point was reading and writing. Yeah. 'cause I didn't have, my dad had a big beta cam, but he always took it to, he managed a race car team. Oh yeah. It was [00:05:00] never home . Yeah. But yeah, I remember writing a, a moonlighting spec script. Oh my gosh. Very early on. Wow. It was like in eighth grade.
[00:05:08] Cris: That was the first thing I was attempting to, to emulate, to try to figure out.
[00:05:12] Randall: Yeah. Yeah, for sure. I mean, I think before that, before I was, like, actually shooting stuff, I was writing stuff in college. [00:05:20] Plays, and eventually I would try writing some screenplays and would get halfway through and realize I didn't know what the hell I was doing.
[00:05:28] Randall: And then try it again, and maybe even finish one, but just, like, looking at it, and it's like, oh, gosh. I... Do not know this, the craft behind this. I'm just like writing, uh, and [00:05:40]would eventually kind of over time pick up things and learn and read books and all that. Yeah.
[00:05:46] Cris: Yeah. It really is in the, the attempting and doing.
[00:05:49] Cris: To me, any script that is finished is a success. Yeah. It could be crap, but you have managed to do something that 95% of people
[00:05:58] Randall: don't do. I [00:06:00] agree. Yeah, totally. It's a huge accomplishment. It is very hard to write. And finish a script. So yeah, just to do that. And even starting and failing to finish, I think, is a part of the, if you could learn from it, you know, if you could learn from it, it's a part of the process.
[00:06:15] Randall: And I think, uh, it's, it's, If you could see it in that positive way [00:06:20] and keep going after that, then it's a good thing. Yeah.
[00:06:23] Cris: So you mentioned theater and I'm interested cause I actually have two degrees in theater, my undergrads in technical theater and English creative writing and my grad school, I have a master of fine arts in theater technology, but I did all of that in service of being a better [00:06:40]writer, if that sounds weird, because I figured if I learned how all of.
[00:06:44] Cris: For parts got put together, I would be able to communicate all the artists that were about to make my vision, right? Yeah. I find a script to be a conversation. I know people call it a blueprint. I call them conversations. They're conversations with everyone, whether it's [00:07:00] the actor, the cinematographer, the director.
[00:07:02] Cris: Yeah. Right.
[00:07:03] Randall: That's a great way to put it. Yeah. I never thought of it like that.
[00:07:06] Cris: Yeah. When you were, I know that you founded a student theater group. Well, you were at UCLA, correct? Is it still running? Still running. That's amazing. Yeah. How did that come about? Was that out of a need for an outlet? Was there not a [00:07:20] group that you guys fit in?
[00:07:21] Cris: Was it like your friends when you were in middle school and you just wanted to create something to create things with each other? What was that
[00:07:27] Randall: about? Well, it was, so I was at UCLA and, uh, you know, they have a great theater program, but I was never a part of that theater program. I didn't. It just wasn't really an option for me, just coming from my [00:07:40] background and the thought of getting into a good college and then going to a theater program at that college was just not even, you know, my parents would, it wasn't an option.
[00:07:52] Randall: Uh, so I, I, you know, with the pressure of. Becoming a doctor or a lawyer. You know, a lot of things that immigrant [00:08:00] families want for their children because they come here for a better life and they, and for opportunity and what a great opportunity you're in college, you know, go on a path that's a little more predictable and a little more safe.
[00:08:12] Randall: But I had this inkling of wanting to do creative things, you know, like I did in middle school when I was making those videos and goofing off with [00:08:20] friends. And so I found myself in this limbo. I was really good at math sciences, and I thought that's where I'm supposed to go. But at the same time, I had this real inkling to, uh, to...
[00:08:34] Randall: And I found that there were a lot of other, particularly Asian American students at UCLA in the [00:08:40] same boat. These people who were pursuing these medical degrees and law degrees or math science degrees, but they really wanted to goof off and tell stories. And so the theater company that that I co founded with two other friends in similar positions was this Asian American theater company [00:09:00] for folks like us who were wanting to explore this other side of life that none of us really thought was an option because of the paths.
[00:09:09] Randall: That we were expected of us. And so that was the kind of initial impetus for starting this theater company. And, and also because at the time I had fancied myself a playwright, [00:09:20] wrote this full length play and my, my two friends had written. Full-length plays and we wanted to see them performed on stage.
[00:09:27] Randall: And we weren't a part of the theater program, so we're like, how do we do this? Let's just form a theater company. And, and so we did, and, and it just kept going and going until we graduated and has since kept going.
[00:09:37] Cris: That's amazing. Yeah. Well, and I could only [00:09:40] imagine, I, I, I assume your friends were also Asian American, right?
[00:09:43] Cris: Uh, yeah.
[00:09:44] Randall: I mean, most of them it was, you know, there were others in the company as well, but it was predominantly Asian American. Yeah. Well,
[00:09:50] Cris: were most of your stories. I mean, I, I don't mean, I know I went to University of Illinois, Champaign Urbana and did we have students of color? Yes. Yeah. Was [00:10:00] it predominantly white?
[00:10:01] Cris: Yes. So that must've been a great outlet for you to create. Cause I just, I think those outlets are so important. I want to hear those voices. I don't want to be the only voice.
[00:10:10] Randall: Yeah. And you know, the great thing about it was we were writing our own original material too. So we were, we, we were. The stories ran the gamut.
[00:10:19] Randall: They [00:10:20] were there. Some of them were very inherently Asian American about themes that we find a lot in kind of Asian American stories about family and, and different generations and the immigrant experience. But then also we just have like other, you know. Rom com stories on stage and some semi [00:10:40] dramatic stories, you know, we mostly, or especially in those early days, we mostly geared just naturally geared towards comedy, but we had dramas.
[00:10:47] Randall: We had, we, and we got to play everything because of that. And it was such a fun, just the creative time for all of
[00:10:54] Cris: us. So you started as a writer then wanted to see it. And then you [00:11:00] were performing, were you directing and performing? Was everybody, was it like every all hands on deck? Yeah,
[00:11:05] Randall: we had to, you know, we had folks who were just directing.
[00:11:08] Randall: We had folks who are, are performers and we had folks who wrote and then we had folks who kind of did a little bit of everything. And, and I was one of those. Who did a little bit of everything, but [00:11:20] initially my thought was I was not going to act. I just wanted to write and direct and, you know, there were always like little parts to fill.
[00:11:26] Randall: And so, I, you know, I'd end up in those little parts and those parts got bigger and eventually I thought of myself as a performer as well.
[00:11:35] Cris: And so initially when you started performing, you had no training then? No training. Did you [00:11:40] get training later or you just self-taught basically ? Uh,
[00:11:45] Randall: yeah. I, I got, I mean, eventually I would take classes and get training after college, but while we were there, we didn't know what the hell we were doing.
[00:11:54] Randall: We, we didn't have training, we didn't have, we didn't know like how to write really how to write a [00:12:00] play. We just wrote it and we just did it and, and. Weren't even aware of the rules. And, and I think that was really good for us at that time because it, I don't know, it just allowed us to be daring and, and we made all the mistakes and, but, but we had this attitude about us that, you know, I, I've been [00:12:20] trying to recapture since where it just, we just did not care.
[00:12:23] Randall: It was very like, I don't know. It's, we were very free.
[00:12:26] Cris: Yeah, I, I remember my undergrad. Me and a couple of friends started the student theater group, which I then got to direct things that I wrote. I was the first student that was actually allowed to write something for the main stage. [00:12:40] And then my senior thesis was a play I'd written and directed.
[00:12:46] Cris: But, um, in grad school, I ended up being the technical director for the armory, which was the space for the students, right? So they had their main stages and there was this group that you may. I'm assuming you've run across him or no him, but Nick Erman. Yeah. [00:13:00] Started it. Yeah. Nick was, I wanna say he was a year or two.
[00:13:03] Cris: He might have graduated the year before I got there. Okay. His name was still certainly around. Yeah. And you know, come around, but he, and I believe it was a friend of his, Joe faus and maybe a couple other students started the Defiant Theater, which Oh yeah. Which I bring up because that's the energy that you get.
[00:13:19] Cris: [00:13:20] Yeah. And you know, and I think in those days, Nick. Fancy himself a very well trained actor, and it wasn't till later that the comedic timing of his, which is very unique, kind of started to surface, you know? He might've been more surprised than anyone else about that. But yeah, there's this freedom [00:13:40] when you're young, if you're allowed to just, Play.
[00:13:42] Cris: Yeah. And
[00:13:43] Randall: try. Yeah. In a lot of ways, like the, uh, starting that kind of rogue theater group on campus was so much better for me and for a lot of us who've gone on to, to stay in creative on a creative path. Because if we were in the theater [00:14:00] program, I think we would have been very, I don't know, we would have felt very, we, we, we probably wouldn't have felt that comfortable.
[00:14:05] Randall: Number one, a lot of us. Yeah. And a lot of us would have felt boxed in by the rules. I think what we needed, especially for where we were at in life at that time, was to not worry about that and to just freely just [00:14:20] express ourselves because a lot of us Did come from these families that weren't, didn't encourage that.
[00:14:25] Randall: So it was really, uh, yeah, it was really a, a very, uh, fun time. That's great.
[00:14:30] Cris: Yeah. So what did you learn from your theater experience and from those early days of just going out to create things that serves you now, [00:14:40] whether it's in your acting or your direct, cause you produce, you write, you do like you.
[00:14:44] Cris: You're still that kid I look at right now, you know,
[00:14:47] Randall: yeah, totally, totally. I think it, I think it really, I mean, it's it, especially in retrospect, you know, you learn that it's all the same thing, no matter what, like stage you are at in the business [00:15:00] or the, or on your professional journey, it's ultimately all the same thing.
[00:15:04] Randall: Nobody really knows. Everyone's just guessing. Everyone's trying their best. There is no right or wrong, or you know, as long as you're doing your best to come from an honest place, it's like just as [00:15:20] valid as anything else. And I don't know, the, it. The one thing about the industry, uh, what the film TV industry is, is it's just so fear based, at least in the, amongst the folks wearing the suits.
[00:15:32] Randall: And, and so the tendency for the artist is to get affected by those outside fears. And it starts to [00:15:40] get in the way of that freedom that you have, that you always had. To express yourself. And it's a constant reminder to keep that spirit alive and to kind of tell your stories and to best to not compromise those things based on the fear of whatever it may be.
[00:15:55] Randall: I mean, I get it. It's like, you want to make a living and you want to, uh, [00:16:00] you want to work. Yeah. Uh, so I think it's really about finding that balance, but never losing that spirit.
[00:16:06] Cris: Yeah. So you've done a whole lot, whether it's TV or film you're in. And by the way, uh, uh, WandaVision. One of my favorites, and you don't have to tell me, but I hope they are [00:16:20] making you a series, but when you look back at all of that from whether it was going after what made you happy in college and starting a theater group, you know, and trying to work through that to messing around with your friends to make things and then turning that into an acting career, which is now turned into [00:16:40] everything else.
[00:16:40] Cris: Yeah. What would you, what do you think, um, Uh, 16 year old Randall would say to you, would you even imagine what's gone
[00:16:48] Randall: on? No, 16 year old me would be like, who are you? What, you know, when I was 16, it was not to take your question too literally, but when I was 16, I was, you [00:17:00] know, even though I was making stuff with friends, it was so beyond my imagination to, to even think of pursuing a career in this business.
[00:17:09] Randall: It wasn't even something I wanted because it wasn't even. An option to think about it really. It was, it was, yeah, it wasn't even a dream really, because it wasn't [00:17:20] an option. I didn't know anybody, even though I was born and raised in LA, I didn't know anybody in the business. And they were always like, cause I went to Hamilton high school in LA and.
[00:17:30] Randall: They did have this like arts music academy, and there were a few people in that music academy who had parents who were this or that, you know, but I wasn't in that school, you [00:17:40] know, I was in the, a different school at the high school and none of us had any connections to anybody, you know, uh, so even though I was in LA, it felt like I, that felt another continent, you know.
[00:17:53] Randall: Um, so yeah, I, I think I would, if I just be dumbfounded at that, who I was to [00:18:00] become later, you know, uh, also I was a real shy kid, uh, and I'm still pretty shy person, but back then I was, I was really shy. I was very comfortable around like my friends and, but the thought of, I don't know, being in front of a camera, even, you know, even to this day, when people take.
[00:18:17] Randall: Photos of me, if I'm like on a red carpet or something, I [00:18:20] feel so uncomfortable. It's just so not natural for me. And, and I marvel at people who feel comfortable in front of, you know, so yeah, it's, it's pretty wild that I ended up here, but, but it's great. You know, it's great. I just followed my heart, you know, at a certain point and, uh, and it just miraculously brought me here.
[00:18:39] Randall: So cool. [00:18:40]
[00:18:40] Cris: I have a, I've got a surprise question that wasn't on the list. Sure. So oftentimes when I have somebody that. Either I have a friend who I know likes that person, or whatever, I'll ask them if they have a question. My, my friend, uh, Carl Hansen, who's also, he's a, he likes to call himself a timed film director.
[00:18:55] Cris: He really likes doing the 48 hours. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, those are fun. [00:19:00] Yeah. And then he works at, his day job's working at Fox Sports 1. Oh, cool. As a producer for documentaries. But he said, um, Uh, he's gonna take you back. He's like, he'd love to know what your experience was like making Ikea Heights Which I remember when that came out.
[00:19:14] Cris: I think it was him who sent it to me But yeah, we both kind of watched it and laughed our butts off The [00:19:20] balls you all had to do it What was your involvement and how did you all evade store security and staff while shooting the scenes and did that impact? What kind of impact did that have on your performance, if
[00:19:33] Randall: at all?
[00:19:33] Randall: Um, okay. So Ikea Heights, maybe some background for people who don't know. Well, I, so I was a part, so while I was [00:19:40] pursuing this acting career and not getting anywhere, uh, this is well into my adulthood. I, again, you know how I had mentioned that I had access to cameras. I had access to the tools to make things.
[00:19:52] Randall: And, uh, and there was this filmmaking community called Channel 101, where it was basically you'd make a, like a five minute. [00:20:00] And then, and at the end of the month, you'd screen it in front of an audience. And if they like, if they voted for you, then you'd get to make your next episode. And then you bring the second episode the next month.
[00:20:08] Randall: And if they voted for you, you get to make the third. So you have one, it's kind of a time thing too. You have one month to make your next episode and you're competing against other shows. And it's this great, really great community that [00:20:20] Dan Harmon was one of the creators of it. And, uh, and so I was a part of that community and I was always making stuff, my own projects, but I was also helping other people with their projects.
[00:20:29] Randall: It was one of those types of worlds where you just kind of, it's automatic filmmaking community. And, and there were some friends who had this idea to shoot a soap opera using [00:20:40] the sets of an Ikea store in the store during business hours. And, uh, this very melodramatic kind of soap opera with the customers just walking around while we, we shot without anyone's permission.
[00:20:53] Randall: And, uh, so we, so it was very fun because it felt like, again, like those days when I was in middle school and we were just so [00:21:00] rebellious and just making ridiculous things. And here we were, here I was in my like early thirties. Uh, shooting the soap opera in an Ikea with these customers just staring at us.
[00:21:10] Randall: And that being in the shot, like in the background, you see these customers just watching us. And eventually, yeah, we'd get stopped by the workers. What [00:21:20] are you guys doing? Why are you, like, getting into this argument in the couch section of the store and filming it and we would just stay in character and try to incorporate the workers into, you know, but eventually, you know, we were again, we were there every month because our show just kept getting voted back and they caught when these guys are like, they [00:21:40] didn't even ask permission.
[00:21:40] Randall: They're using our store. And so we had heard that our photos were in the security room. If you see these people and like, they literally Told us they were going to arrest us the next time we come back. And, uh, so we'd have to constantly change. So like there is an episode where we're like, okay, we got to do it all in one take the whole episode, one take, no cuts, [00:22:00] you know, and just so that we could shoot it all at once and then get the hell out of there because the security was on us.
[00:22:05] Randall: And then eventually it got so bad that we had to go to the Carson Ikea, because the one in Durbank was like, they, as soon as we pull up in the parking lot, we'd see them watching us. So we went to the [00:22:20] Carson Ikea and then eventually they caught wind pretty soon. And, you know, so it was like this really crazy, wild idea, but we'd always incorporate the workers into it as much as we can and try to find creative ways around the problem.
[00:22:34] Randall: trying not to get caught. And, and that was fun and such a great lesson in independent [00:22:40] filmmaking because it's like, you just got to work with the restrictions. And there were so many restrictions uh, on that, on that show. And then eventually we just ended it because it just became too difficult, but we made a lot of episodes and it was great fun.
[00:22:53] Randall: I just
[00:22:53] Cris: remember when it first came out, some of the funniest things is watching Like somebody with like a mouth open, like, [00:23:00] you know, in the background while you're having a fight
[00:23:02] Randall: or. Yeah, and they did some write ups on it. They did some write ups and I think they interviewed like the head of Ikea who made a comment about it and was like saying that these guys shouldn't, they shouldn't be doing that.
[00:23:15] Randall: They should, they should at least ask for permission. It was, it was fun. It was really
[00:23:18] Cris: fun. Well, you mentioned [00:23:20] Independent Film and I don't know if you know of a producer called John Killick. But he's, he did Spike Lee's, um, and he was on Team Deacons a couple years ago. And, and he said something as, cause I'm on the path of trying to get my film off the ground.
[00:23:34] Cris: Right. Um, and he said, let your obstacles guide you, which I love. And I'm [00:23:40] wondering how obstacles and or challenges that you've faced throughout your career, how you've let those guide you. It's a great
[00:23:45] Randall: question. Totally agree. And I think, I'd like to think that I lived up to that quote, but I know, I, I know that it's easier said than done.
[00:23:58] Randall: I think, [00:24:00] gosh, I don't know. I just, I, I find that for me, When I first started acting, it was about, it became about, I just want to act. Like, I'm not getting paid to do this, no one's hiring me, that's the obstacle. But so how do I just keep acting? We have these cameras, I have some friends, let's just make stuff.
[00:24:19] Randall: [00:24:20] And then that would teach me filmmaking. And we need an editor. Well, you know, I've never edited before, but I'll edit. And that taught me editing. Screenplay structure all that came out of this kind of time when I just was not getting any paid work and I think if if you have a goal and Someone is blocking you from that [00:24:40] goal Find a different way to do that goal and the goal was never to make money The goal was to act or to tell stories or to that was the goal and and there were Always opportunities to do that.
[00:24:51] Randall: But I often couldn't see those opportunities cause I just wanted that validation from the industry. But eventually I would realize, Oh gosh, I could [00:25:00] do this stuff. And, and, uh, and with no budget and, and put it online and someone may see it. Someone might not, but at least, at least I'm not getting depressed while I'm making it.
[00:25:12] Randall: Well,
[00:25:12] Cris: at least you're getting it out. Right.
[00:25:14] Randall: Yeah. Getting it out. Yeah. And, and so much of like those times, those channel one on one years. [00:25:20] And for me, it like really planted the seed for eventually directing a feature. Like I look back on, on. Experience those experiences and think, Oh my God, like I, it's the same thing.
[00:25:33] Randall: It's the same thing. Yeah.
[00:25:35] Cris: That's amazing. Well, I'm going to skip forward to that because you brought up the [00:25:40] directing. So I mentioned ahead that we met at Sundance. It was my first time there. I'd, I'd never had the time when I had the time. I didn't have the money when I had them. And finally, so I have a producer attached to my film.
[00:25:50] Cris: It's like, no, you got to come. We were supposed to go last year. Yeah. Got canceled. And so they gave me a discount for this year. So I'm like, okay. Oh great. You know, [00:26:00] and I almost didn't get into that panel, which you don't know. Oh, I didn't know that. I thought I had RSVP'd and I couldn't find the barcode and whatever, but the security guy felt bad for me.
[00:26:09] Cris: I wheeled my way in .
[00:26:10] Randall: Oh, nice. That's what you gotta do there into
[00:26:12] Cris: the front row. Yeah. Yeah. . But you had a, a film in, in competition, your firm first, uh, feature [00:26:20] shortcoming. Yeah. What was that like? Cause you're at Sundance with a feature film that's in competition. And I mean, that must have been a little completely different than what's happened so far in your career.
[00:26:31] Cris: And
[00:26:31] Randall: what was that like? Well, that was my first time at Sundance as well. Oh, amazing. Yeah, I had never been. I always wanted to go. Uh, I [00:26:40] had been invited by friends who had projects there like, Hey, you want to come hang out in Utah? And I, I'd always say, no, I'm not going to go until I have a project there.
[00:26:49] Randall: But I meant as an actor, I meant as an actor, I didn't ever think I'd have a film there. And then when we found out that our movie got into Sundance, it was like, I was like, Oh my God, I'm [00:27:00] going to Sundance. You know, I. Just have heard so much about Sundance and read so much about it. And, but I had no idea what to expect because I didn't know how, cause I'd never been there and people would say things and, but it was like, you never know until you're there.
[00:27:16] Randall: And, uh, It was, it was really, it was great fun, but it [00:27:20] was also because I think when you're a director there in competition, it's, I think the experience is very different from other experiences because I didn't get a chance to really sit back and enjoy the festival. Now I didn't get a chance to watch that many movies.
[00:27:37] Randall: I squeezed a couple in, but I, there were, I wanted to see [00:27:40] so many movies there. I was like fascinated by these movies, but I just didn't get a chance because we were in competition. They had us. me and the cast doing these panels all day and interviews and meetings and all this stuff. But I'm not saying that to complain because it was great fun, but it's just a very different experience.
[00:27:57] Randall: And, but again, it was amazing. [00:28:00] That's
[00:28:00] Cris: so cool. The panel you met me at was the last thing. And then I was on a plane back to LA. So yeah. So what kind of projects and characters? Are you, are you attracted to and why? I mean,
[00:28:11] Randall: for me, you know, the types of projects that I'm most interested in or the types of stories I'm most interested in telling as a [00:28:20] director are similar to the kinds of movies that I like the most, you know, just as a viewer and the movies that I love the most are about real people in real places.
[00:28:29] Randall: Grounded, whether they be comedy or drama, just things that could, things that are, things that could actually happen in my own life. You know, those are the stories I'm most [00:28:40] interested in. I like action and, and, I don't know, stories about space and, and monsters and horror and those are all great, but Those aren't my favorite kinds of movies, my favorite kinds of movies are, are generally more intimate.
[00:28:53] Randall: And, and those are the stories I want to tell, whether they be comedy or drama.
[00:28:58] Cris: So how did, and I know [00:29:00] this a little bit from the panel, but how did you directing shortcomings come about and why was this story so important for you to go after and direct?
[00:29:07] Randall: Yeah, just through, you know, as my acting career continued on and it afforded me a lot of opportunities.
[00:29:13] Randall: And one of them was to start a production company. And through that production company, I asked one of my partners, what's [00:29:20] going on with Shortcomings, this graphic novel that had been around since 2007. But I hadn't seen anything done of it. And so he looked into it and found out that it had been optioned by Roadside Attractions, who were producing it, and they were meeting with directors.
[00:29:34] Randall: And there was a script. And I was like, Oh my gosh. Who wrote the script? And they were like, Adrian Tomina, the writer [00:29:40] of the graphic novel. And I had never directed a feature before, but I had directed some TV at that point and had directed a bunch of shorts and stuff. And I thought I had no, no business throwing my, my, my hat in the ring.
[00:29:53] Randall: But, but I was like, I'm going to try because I'm just, I know the story really well. I love this story. I've been obsessed with this [00:30:00] story and it's the kind of movie that I want. to make. And so I pitched myself and my vision and ended up pitching to Adrian and they liked what I had to say. So we came on board and over the next couple of years, we just worked on the script together with Adrian and Adrian and I just finding out different ways to, to modernize it.
[00:30:19] Randall: [00:30:20] And because the book was back in 2007 and he had written the script not too long after that. So the script had been sitting around for a long time. And eventually it was, we had a good strong draft. This was a couple of years after I got on board and we sent it out to get financing and to see who would bite.
[00:30:35] Randall: And, uh, we got financing and once we got financing, it [00:30:40] just became this whirlwind where we were like just moving right away because I had a, I had a limited window. Because of some acting things that I had to do. So it was like, do we make it like now and just as fast as we can, or do we wait until I'm available?
[00:30:56] Randall: And we were like, let's just do it. Let's just do it. So we, [00:31:00] we acted. So it all happened very fast after once we obtained financing and we went right into casting, right into a pre production, went to New York, shot it. Then we were trying to make the Sundance deadline and it just became this mad dash to like get it in a good place for Sundance.
[00:31:18] Cris: Yeah. Like you almost didn't [00:31:20] have time to even think about the fact that you had manifested yourself into a director.
[00:31:24] Randall: No time. Yeah. Yeah. No time to think about it. It was like, and that was probably a good thing. It was probably a good thing. Because, uh, it was just keep your head down and get this thing in the best shape as possible.
[00:31:35] Randall: And, and it was great. It was, it was really, everything happened just as it was supposed to happen.
[00:31:39] Cris: I [00:31:40] think. So cool. So we've chatted a little bit about my film, Alone Girl. It's a coming of middle age story wrapped in a romantic comedy based on me. I'm a very happy single woman in her fifties. And I think.
[00:31:53] Cris: More people, more women need to see that. Yeah, yeah, of course. But I've taken the rom com, turned it on its head, and you're very [00:32:00] familiar with rom coms and working on them. Yeah. And I just re watched Always Be My Maybe last night. Oh, yeah. I knew I was going to be talking to you, which I loved. And I did wonder why you didn't try to direct that, because I know you wrote it and produced it.
[00:32:12] Cris: Uh, I
[00:32:13] Randall: think because I wasn't really in a position to. I wasn't in a position for Netflix to, to uh, to be okay [00:32:20] with that. But Allie and I were. Good friends with Nanachka Khan, who we thought would be like so perfect to direct it. And she was, and she's just genius and just incredible. But yeah, I wasn't in that.
[00:32:34] Randall: I, and I wasn't even, it wasn't even a thought for me to, you know, at the time. Yeah. [00:32:40] I didn't even think I was going to ever direct a film at that time. That, that came a little
[00:32:44] Cris: later. Well, did you learn, have you learned anything from. Those experiences with rom coms that might help me on my journey with my well, you know
[00:32:53] Randall: I can't wait for you to see shortcomings because yeah, it is a subversion of a rom com as well You know and there's a lot [00:33:00] of rom com kind of elements in it But flipped on its head and I think are you do you mean in terms of rom com specific things?
[00:33:08] Randall: Or do you mean in terms of what kind what do you mean? I
[00:33:11] Cris: don't like are there Traps that should be avoided. Are there things that like I, I too like grounding things in [00:33:20] reality. Like I would call my film an unromantic comedy, but it's also the film that most inspired me or that I look to as I was writing, it was a film called beginners.
[00:33:29] Randall: Yeah. Oh, that's a great movie. Yeah.
[00:33:32] Cris: So there's a lot of, you know, there are more dippy dips than you would normally get in a rom com. But then make, make those high [00:33:40] points I think hit even, or the absurdity hit even harder. That's right. In my mind. That's right. You know? So yeah, I'm just, I'm just curious if, or if there's anything, even as a filmmaker or director, that you're like, well, this is...
[00:33:51] Cris: These are kind of things I learned that I wish someone had told me. I
[00:33:53] Randall: mean, it's not, I would say these are things you already know, but, but it is something that through the [00:34:00] process of, I mean, less so with Always Be My Maybe because we wrote it and we cast it ourselves, but, but with shortcomings and with, I think, especially in these kinds of movies that are grounded and about just real human beings, you know, I think casting is just so key, making sure.
[00:34:17] Randall: That the right people are playing [00:34:20] these parts, I think is, is really key. I mean, we, for Shortcomings, the protagonist, or you read in the graphic novel, is a very complicated character, even more so in the script. So just a very, uh, uh, complicated character and a tough character to kind of follow throughout a story, you know, especially a movie, so the key was to find an [00:34:40] actor who was great, who was funny, but also who just has something about them that makes you want to.
[00:34:48] Randall: of put yourself in his shoes, even though he's not the nicest person. And so it was, it was a long process for us to find that actor. And we found Justin H. Min, [00:35:00] who was, who just had this quality about him where you could really. You know, this character goes on a lot of tirades and very opinionated, but you could almost feel his broken heart behind everything.
[00:35:12] Randall: And, and so it makes him, there's a very kind of human vulnerable quality to this guy who on the page [00:35:20] is actually very difficult. Yeah. And I think that he, that vulnerable quality makes it, and not everyone, not for everyone, but I think for most people, it makes. It feel less like anger and just opinions and sometimes he's a little cruel sometimes he's dismissive Like it comes from someplace and I [00:35:40] think that that's key casting is just so key.
[00:35:43] Randall: Yeah Yeah,
[00:35:44] Cris: we're um trying to because the it's written in this really Which I did on purpose. It's her story. Her name's sam So it's quite literally she's in every But she has this group of friends and then there's family. And so there's this [00:36:00] ensemble feeling, even though it's a story about one person.
[00:36:03] Cris: So it become what I've been told as I'm learning from, cause we finally attached a fairly well connected producer. He's like, this is. It's great. And I don't want you to change a word, but it's hard. It's a hard, it's going to be hard to, to talk to the distributors about this. [00:36:20] And those are the things I want to rail against, you know, like I want, I'm going to say a name here, but we're going after my Rudolph for the lead who is biracial and I want that for the role because my story is about all women, not.
[00:36:35] Cris: Just white women. Yes. Yes. And more filmmakers need [00:36:40] to see beyond what we see in the mirror to put out into stories, right? We need to be those bold people so that everyone can see themselves up on screen. So yeah, I don't. So now it's going to be a hard sell for me as a first time film director to all the actors, I think, [00:37:00] you know, and that I just, I'm like, just get me in the room.
[00:37:02] Cris: I know if they can meet me, they'll see it. They'll see what I see. They'll see why I'm the director of the script I
[00:37:08] Randall: wrote. Yeah. I think that's it. I think, you know, when it's harder to do and harder to pull off, it's probably, it's probably important to be told, you know, it's probably important to get made and, and the [00:37:20] trick will be.
[00:37:20] Randall: getting there and sticking to your guns as much as possible, but also knowing when to let go and when to kind of be, you know, and, and seeing opportunity where you may not have seen it before. You know, I think all of that is important and being loose, but also remembering that, Oh yeah, this is an important story to [00:37:40] tell.
[00:37:40] Randall: And the fact that it's. You know, there's so many challenges and getting there is a clear sign that it needs to be told. Yeah. Yeah.
[00:37:48] Cris: Yeah. I think the same thing. I'm like, and there's every fiber and bone in me is you're going to get this made. Yeah. I've manifested everything. So like this podcast is part documenting all of [00:38:00] this, you know?
[00:38:00] Cris: Yeah. Yeah. And that's how I got, I'm having this conversation, which is how great. Yeah. A year ago, I wouldn't have thought that.
[00:38:07] Randall: Yeah. And we just met, you know, we met briefly at Sundance and it's, it's, and I think that there will be, whether it's Maya Rudolph or someone else, there will be someone who is going to [00:38:20] be the one, clearly the one who's supposed to be in this
[00:38:24] Cris: part.
[00:38:24] Cris: And then I can build, you know, that, that cast around that. Yeah. So there was a. DGA podcast I was listening to and a bunch of directors said that they, some of them said they like to be by the monitor and some said they like to be in Video Village. You're [00:38:40] an actor and someone who's directing now. What do you prefer and what do you think helps?
[00:38:44] Cris: Uh, you know, I think I,
[00:38:46] Randall: for me, it's both. You know, it's not one or the other. At least for this movie, it was both. There were times when I felt like it was better for me to be closer and there were times when I [00:39:00] really wanted to see what we were capturing and some of it was dependent on the location the actual location and the physical kind of parameters and some of it was because I just really wanted to be there with the actors and to or I really wanted to be at the monitor because it was really important that we Get it [00:39:20] just right, whether it be camera movement or framing or, so yeah.
[00:39:23] Randall: As an
[00:39:24] Cris: actor, what do you prefer? Do you prefer the director to be there or? Uh,
[00:39:29] Randall: I don't really have a preference. Like, but that's just my own personal kind of philosophy as an actor. It's very much serve the director. Make sure we get this vision right. And that I am like [00:39:40] being truthful in these scenes while also making sure the director gets what they need, you know.
[00:39:45] Randall: Yeah. Do
[00:39:46] Cris: you have any advice for the listeners out there? I usually, I like people to be able to learn when they listen to this.
[00:39:51] Randall: Yeah, I think everyone's path is different. So it's really the human tendency to compare and to, [00:40:00] to want to be at a place where you think others are. I feel like that's not good and to, to just be outside of your own kind of Whatever, whatever fills you with the most kind of energy and to enjoy and, and creative life, like you want to stay there as much as possible [00:40:20]and the journey will take you out of that from time to time.
[00:40:23] Randall: That's just how it, that's just how it is, but to always remember to get back to that, that passion, because especially with filmmaking, it's gosh, you. You really need to be passionate because it's tough, it's tough, and to not let it get you down to the point where you're no longer [00:40:40] excited about what you're doing, just, you gotta get through those periods and write back at it because, and tell stories that you're passionate about, because again, it gets tough, and if you're not passionate about the story, Then you'll probably want to give up once the obstacles start piling up.
[00:40:54] Randall: Yeah. It's
[00:40:55] Cris: a, it's a commitment.
[00:40:56] Randall: Yeah. Yeah. It's a real commitment. Yeah. But it's so fun. Yeah. [00:41:00] So fun.
[00:41:00] Cris: It's so fun when you're into it. If you look at it in the small steps, that's where you can't look at the, it's going to be on the screen. Yeah. You gotta go, what do I do next? Yeah. Oh my goodness, I got that.
[00:41:11] Cris: Oh, I'm here. And to find. I don't know. I just, I love it. I love all of it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's great. Do you have a, on a turn the tables [00:41:20] moment, which you don't have to, but if you have any questions for me, um,
[00:41:23] Randall: well, I mean, you're about to make this movie that's really important to you. And it's a story that, you know, and I, and I agree with you that you have to look.
[00:41:33] Randall: Just that right what's right in front of you and chip away, but I do think it's nice and helpful to [00:41:40] Imagine the goal or the best, you know, the ideal kind of Situation just briefly to imagine it and to know that it's a possibility What do you see as a really great outcome for this project? I'm on a
[00:41:53] Cris: panel with you at Sundance next year And then it goes on its run if it [00:42:00] gets Noticed for award seasons.
[00:42:02] Cris: That's great. But to me, the success will be if people come up to me and tell me they feel seen or that they understand their sister or mom or girlfriend, brother, that would be true success to
[00:42:15] Randall: me. That's beautiful. Yeah. That's great. Yeah.
[00:42:19] Cris: Yeah. [00:42:20] That's amazing. Thanks for, thanks for putting me in that
[00:42:22] Randall: headspace.
[00:42:23] Randall: Of course. Yeah. You got it. You got it. You got to remember that too. Every now and then.
[00:42:28] Cris: Yeah. And do you have to, to leave everyone? Do you have anything you want to get the word out? Gosh, not really. I
[00:42:34] Randall: mean,
[00:42:35] Cris: nothing immediate. Well, your films might, will be coming out at
[00:42:38] Randall: some point, right? Yes. And I'm not [00:42:40] sure when yet.
[00:42:40] Randall: We're just starting. Uh, to dive into all of that, but we are very excited to, to have distribution. We're, we're, we're with Sony Pictures Classics, which is like very
[00:42:50] Cris: exciting. Oh, amazing. Yay. Thank you so much, Randall. This has been so much fun and I love getting to know you a little bit better and you've got such great things.
[00:42:58] Cris: To impart to everyone.
[00:42:59] Randall: Oh, thanks, [00:43:00] Chris. That was a lot of fun. Thank you for having me. Thank you so much
[00:43:03] Cris: for tuning in to Blissful Spinster. If any of these conversations are resonating with you, please subscribe on Apple podcast, Google podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can find Blissful Spinster on Instagram and through our website, blissfulspinster.
[00:43:16] Cris: com. Again, thanks so much for joining me on this journey and until next [00:43:20]week, go find your happy.