The S.H.I.T.T.S Podcast
The S.H.I.T.T.S Podcast
Resilience and Storytelling: Actor Matt Drago on LA Wildfires and 'Somewhere in Montana'
Episode Summary:
Join us for an inspiring and heartfelt episode as we sit down with the incredibly talented actor, Matt Drago, to discuss his upcoming film "Somewhere in Montana" and his personal experiences during the recent Los Angeles wildfires. Matt shares his challenges of pre-evacuating with his wife and dog due to the fire, highlighting the resilience and strength of the LA community. We delve into the transformative power of storytelling in both sports and the arts, exploring Matt's passion for acting and the joy and sense of community he found in supporting his beloved Rams. Throughout the episode, we take a behind-the-scenes look at the indie film world and the camaraderie and collaboration that emerged during the making of "Somewhere in Montana." Join us for a conversation that celebrates the spirit of storytelling, community, and connection.
Episode Highlights:
- Discover the impact of the Los Angeles wildfires on the community as actor Matt Drago shares his personal experience of pre-evacuating with his loved ones.
- Explore the power of storytelling in both sports and the arts, as Matt reflects on his passion for acting and the joy he found in supporting the Rams.
- Gain insights into the collaborative journey behind the making of "Somewhere in Montana," as we delve into the challenges of shooting in unpredictable weather and the lasting connections formed among the cast and crew.
- Reflect on the transformative influences of childhood imagination, favorite films and actors, and the importance of strong writing in storytelling.
- Uncover the personal stories and anecdotes that underscore the dedication and adaptability required in the indie film world.
- Celebrate the sense of community and solidarity that emerges during difficult times, highlighting the true spirit of Los Angeles as a city of dreamers and fighters.
Tune in for an episode filled with inspiration, connection, and celebration of the power of storytelling in the face of adversity.
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Yo, what's the deal? What up y'all? This, your boy, monsta Rob, with the Shits Podcast, where we are either shooting the shit, starting some shit or picking up what shit left off. Once again, I am your host, monsoons DeRod, the coolest cat you heard thus far, aka DJ Booty Rubber like no other. If you don't believe me, man, go ask your mother. Hey man, I would like to thank y'all for checking it out, checking out Chiz Podcast and tuning in Yo, this week we have a very special, very special guest to the podcast and, like I tell you all the time, any guest that's on the podcast is a very special guest.
Speaker 1:So this person is no exception to the rule. My next guest he is a phenomenal actor and he has a phenomenal movie coming out called Somewhere in Montana. So for the people in Montana I know it gotta have something to do with y'all. You know what I'm saying. So, with no further ado, please give a round of applause. If you're driving, don't take your hands off the wheel. You know what I'm saying? Clap with your elbows. I don't know how you're gonna do it, but give a round of applause for the one, the only, matt Drago, y'all.
Speaker 2:Hey Monsoon, Thank you so much for having me on your show today. That was a killer intro man. I love it. I love it. Looking forward to having a great conversation with you today. Yes, sir, How's it going? I'm good man, just trying to stay safe with my wife and my dog. We're getting a lot of. Obviously, the fires in LA have been just kind of turning our world upside down.
Speaker 2:But we're a strong city. I say this all the time. La is a city full of dreamers, but that doesn't mean that we're not fighters, because dreamers are fighters right, and the way that we've pulled together has been extraordinary the past two weeks. I can't say that enough. I know a lot of people that are first responders and firefighters and just true heroes. So, sending constant thoughts and prayers their way, they're keeping us all safe and then, just you know, doing a great job at that. So we appreciate them.
Speaker 1:And definitely sending prayers your way, man, If you don't mind me asking were you. Was anything of yours like really affected severely, or something like that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean, I'm an East Coaster originally so I did uh, pre-evacuate. Um, last night I was in a hotel with my wife and my dog. Um, you know, we we had uh, a Hughes, the Hughes fire, which is up in Castaic. Um, that just came on really quickly and, uh, it's really the wind gusts.
Speaker 2:A lot of people you know that are from the East coast don't understand the impact of these fires and why they're so dangerous, and a lot of times it comes down to the fuel, and the fuel is the wind. It's also getting to these structures because, you know, when something, when a fire takes a structure, there's us had essentially gotten to half the size of the Eaton fire within just about five hours my wife and I just kind of, you know, said let's, let's just go to a hotel for the night, just in case, because it happens quick. I mean, you know it's, it's, it's the fires, it's what goes into the air, what you're breathing in. And then the third part of it is, uh, is the evacuation. I mean, if you evacuate at the last minute with everybody else, that can be dangerous too.
Speaker 1:So yeah.
Speaker 1:So it's yeah yeah, la traffic is already bad as it is, you know. So just to think about people trying to hurry up and get out of there on top of how bad the traffic is, um. So I want to ask you, man, like in your opinion, how has, um, that sense of community been like? Have you felt that? Have you felt like people were pitching in to help their fellow man, or do you feel like people were really just all about themselves and just so in a panic that it was hard for them to think about another person?
Speaker 2:There are so many misconceptions that I even had, being an East Coaster and living in New York for a while, about LA. You know, la is a strong city and people really do look out for each other. We're a spread city, right, because it's the county of Los Angeles is actually the biggest county in the country, believe it or not. So our, so our city is is big, it's wide, it's vast, but what has happened in the past two weeks has been just incredible. People have been about each other and there are so many examples of that. One that my wife told me about the other day was in Altadena. People were just donating new clothes, pitching in however they could, right For teenagers specifically, that were, you know, just losing their whole wardrobes, because that's a lot of their identity, right.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, I was thinking about that. I was thinking about that.
Speaker 2:So powerful stuff like that. You know that one really resonated with me, obviously, all of the pictures that you see. I'm an avid sports fan, I'm a Rams fan and what they did this year even though they came up a little bit shorter against the Eagles, they gave us something to believe in and I just love. I love that franchise, I love that organization. You know what they were able to do in Arizona it's the second time in NFL history that there has been a home game that hasn't been played at the home stadium in the playoffs. So you know, just that night with with Andrew Whitworth getting up there, man of the year, you know, just that night with Andrew Whitworth getting up there, man of the year. You know there are just so many really wonderful things that they gave us this year in terms of an escape away from. Because I do say that like I think sports can lift you up, just like art can lift you up.
Speaker 2:It can take you away from the pain momentarily and yeah, it's just been beautiful man, it's been just constant. You go on Instagram and sometimes you see, like man, this world is like in chaos. But other times you scroll and you hit a couple of things like within your local area of the world and you're like we have a shot, man, we really do and you have hope you have hope, so so.
Speaker 1:So, speaking of the arts man, I want to ask you um when, at what age did you think you you got the acting bug? Like you caught the acting bug.
Speaker 2:Yes, sir, um, you know, I, I, I get this question a lot and the simplest way I can put it is, uh, it was inside inside me at birth, man, I felt like this was something that I wanted to do. I was that kid that didn't need a lot of you know, toys or, um, you know a lot of things. I just needed my own mind, my own creativity, my own imagination, my own imagination. I grew up in rural Virginia. My mom and dad moved from New York City, you know, and so with my friends, like I just like created like little scenarios and it just felt like early on, it felt like in my life that this was going to be the way that I could impact the world, because you all always kind of like have to question yourself right, and be like how is it that I can, you know, do my best for the world. And it felt like storytelling was that and you know I tell this all the time because it's a great one One of my first paid gigs and I was a teenager, so like dinner theater was a big thing in my area because in Virginia there wasn't a lot of TV and film at the time.
Speaker 2:And first paid gig but wait, waited tables at the same time so very humbling at the same time where you'd be up on stage but then you'd be taking people's order. Um and uh. There was a woman that came up to me, probably in her mid to late 70s, and I was playing uh, little Patrick in Mame, which is a very like mother-son uh driven uh show. That's just beautiful. And I had a real life auntie Mame, which is a very like mother son driven show. That's just beautiful. And I had a real life Auntie Mame in my life. So it was a really cool show to get to do.
Speaker 2:And she said you know, matthew, I really wanted to thank you tonight because, you know, it made me realize that I really need to do a better job of connecting with my son. And it was in that moment yeah, it was in that moment where I was like, wow, there's like real power in what we do as storytellers, as collaborators. And then you get to the next part, where you go to New York city and you know you pound the pavement and you're around your people, right, cause a lot of it is your tribe, right, the people that like get you that, you get them. Um and uh, it's, it's collaborative right. I think that's where I've gotten to in in the next part in my life is just just loving the collaboration, cause there's so many masters of craft in this industry and people that really love it for all the right reasons, and, yeah, it's just stuck with me since I can remember.
Speaker 1:Oh, wow, so so. So, speaking of masters in the industry, who is? Who is one of your favorite actors?
Speaker 2:Ooh, I have so many. I mean I love like the Rockies, I love the Godfathers. You know I grew up with with people that could flip on a dime. You know, like Robin Williams, mrs Doubtfire is definitely a movie. Being a child of divorce, like I bet that that last scene just always gets me that like I can't not cry. Hook is another one with Robin Williams, like I can't watch that movie and not cry.
Speaker 2:But yeah, I mean, they're just. I'm just a film buff because I just like love what films can do and I love how they resonate um over time, like sometimes you feel like you need to go back to that film.
Speaker 1:You know what I mean. Like you're like.
Speaker 2:I haven't seen that one in a while and I feel like I need it right now and I just feel like, um, you know, so much of of film is legacy driven. It's forever and uh, and I just feel like it can make uh impacts in really big ways. Uh ways especially, you know, as as as as people need them Right, because they are stories that resonate with people and, yeah, I think there's nothing better in the world than telling a great story.
Speaker 1:And I'm a real, I'm a really big fan of good writing, you know like. So one of my favorite series, uh, was the rest of development. Yeah and um, good one.
Speaker 7:I really liked it.
Speaker 1:I'm a huge jason bateman fan too, um, so I really liked it because of the writing and I liked it because, uh, I think when, when the writing is good, it can be the smallest thing. That's hilarious. You know what I'm saying Because you thought about it. You know what I'm saying. Like, that means you were really connected to the material. So that small thing it related to you and that's why it evoked that type of emotion from you. What is so? I know you said you have a lot of favorite actors. Can you narrow it down to one favorite movie though? One or two favorite movies?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I love the Rockies. You know it might be a little ironic that Rocky IV, the bad guy's name, is Drago and I'm Drago the Russian version Right.
Speaker 2:But I always felt like from humble beginnings that you know it's that that classic underdog story. It's getting in the gym at 4 am and, and you know, just fighting for something. And I felt like I fought for a lot of things to keep this dream alive in my life and and you know a lot of things that aren't glamorous, right, I was the number one task rabbit in LA at one point because I was, you know, taking any job I could, whether it was helping people with yard work or you know, cleaning up their house or you know painting you know a room in their house, and you know it just always kind of gravitated towards what do I need to do to keep the dream alive? Because a lot of people don't realize that you need to fight for your dream. It's not something that's given, it's something that that's earned Right.
Speaker 2:And so you know, rocky did that Right. He was the underdog, he wasn't supposed to have it Right and did that right. He was the underdog, he wasn't supposed to have it right and it was just like it wasn't just up here, it was, it was here it was in his heart um it was in his heart yeah, so rocky for sure.
Speaker 2:Um, you know, it might be um a little bit more irony, but I do love the godfathers, you know.
Speaker 2:Uh, francis ford coppola uh masterpiece and and I just love the dynamic of it, I love like the beginnings of it, I love the just the character of Michael Corleone and just kind of the impossible situation that he's thrown in and obviously Pacino just being one of the true greats right in the industry, it it's just there's just so much going on. And so I took a lot from him growing up. And he actually used to live across the street from me in New York City. So you know there were a couple of times we'd go to the same diner and finally I went up to him one day because he's a very quiet guy and you know I just said I'm just gonna be humble, but and you know, I just said I'm just going to, I'm going to be humble, but I'm just going to, I'm just going to say hi. And you know I walked by and I said you know, just kind of going out, like literally walking away.
Speaker 1:I'll have a great day.
Speaker 9:And he looked at me and he said you too, you know, and it was like, it was just like you know, it was just kind of that moment of connection.
Speaker 1:And that's enough. You know what I'm saying, like it doesn't have to be a long, drawn-out conversation. It's just somebody you respect, somebody that's motivating to you, and it's like just the fact that he acknowledged that you were there. It's cool. I met Prince. I met Prince before and, yeah, I met Prince in Minneapolis. Man, wow, it was at his club, it was at his club and a buddy of mine pointed him out. He was like man ago prince. You know, so I'm. You know I'm not trying to be starstruck, but main recipes, you can't help but to be starstruck. You see, sometimes you can't help it.
Speaker 1:Yep right, you know so he's a short dude man and he was with two tall, beautiful women, beautiful like I think they was twins. If they wasn't, they look similar. Anyway, I had my CD at the time and I was trying to give him my CD so he could check it out, and he rejected it so politely, so politely. He was just like and I respected that. You know what I'm saying. He rejected it. He was put his hands out, shook my hand and, honestly, bro, I was cool with that. I was cool with that.
Speaker 2:I get that. I get that too, because I mean a lot of times as a as an artist, you do have to, like, put yourself out there, right and um and I can already tell I'm talking to a fellow artist here, so it is it's, it's that you know just bravery and that courage to keep putting yourself out there and you know, even though, like he, you know, passed on it or whatever, you know, it was that moment of connection that you still took to heart and obviously somebody that you look up to. So those moments are what fuel you, right as an artist.
Speaker 3:So, that's.
Speaker 2:that's a really cool story. I like that Speaking of stories.
Speaker 1:Speaking of films, I want to talk about somewhere in Montana, right Um, can you give the people not too much, but let's let them know what the what the movie is about, without telling too much about it.
Speaker 2:For sure. Uh, it's a story of the times. It's a story of the times in that it is very politically and socially charged. Right, I'm a West Coast director and you know my friend, graham McTavish, plays an incredible Montana rancher and the story really dives into legacy. My legacy is film and making film and my family is that, my cast and my crew.
Speaker 2:You know I'm a fighter of my dreams, right, and obviously you can already tell in talking to me that this is very much you know the vein of who I am as Matt, right, and you know Graham is also driven by his legacy. His legacy is a more simplistic one but still beautiful in that he, you know, really fights for his ranch. His ranch is going through a tough time and he needs the money from my production to continue. You know his dream and his livelihood. So we're put in an impossible situation because we're different people and we need to find a way to work through it. And it explores a lot of those dynamics of mutual respect and what it is to really fight for your legacy and come together as a people. So a story of the times and just so proud to be a part of it.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay, it sounds very interesting, very interesting, especially with everything that's going on, especially with everything that's going on currently. You know, I don't know, for some people that's a sensitive subject, depending on you know.
Speaker 2:So, um, it's sensitive, uh, brandon smith, uh, the writer and the director of the project. So an extraordinary, uh you know just way to go about this film was that we got to develop and collaborate this character of fabian together on zoom, just like we're on right now, and go scene by scene. But he really did that with the whole cast and crew. I mean it was a very family driven project. I say this all the time Crews are what makes films great. A lot of actors should do their work in pre production. But it's really cool.
Speaker 2:And I got to see the credits for this film, just realizing, like I knew everybody's name on the credits and they were all my friends and uh, the crew just sacrificed so much to make this film. Uh, it is, it's just a, it's a, it's a conversation starter as a film because, like I said, you know these are two people that would never be put in the same um place at the same time and uh, and yet, and yet they are. But I think the dynamic that Brandon really wanted to showcase is there is a way to work through it and and we do need each other, and mutual respect is the highest form of love that you can give another person, and if you just get to know another person and don't cancel them, for you know a couple things, and, and, and, and, and, redemption it's a redemption story. So there's just really so many facets of this film that are just so powerful and so pertinent to the times that we're in today.
Speaker 1:I love how you break it down. I honestly do, man. I love how you break it down and like, make it. You make it so relatable, you know, and I feel like that's what, for me, that's what make uh films even better when there's a uh. That's, that's the story. Well, definitely the story to it. Um, but when you, when you can really get into it, when you really can get into it, and not saying that you have to sell it, but just just the way you explained it was truly awesome.
Speaker 2:When I got into acting. Honestly, this is the type of story I had always dreamed of telling, and for a film like this that I'm a part of, to come out with where we are right now as a society in this country.
Speaker 2:You know, it's powerful and it's one of those things where I always say like I'm glad it got a theatrical release, because it's an indie film right, and a lot of indies don't get to theaters anymore but it's a conversation starter. I really do feel like it's like those two minute conversations where maybe we all can do a little bit better right now and it really starts with love and compassion and really seeing each other, like those two minute conversations where maybe we all can do a little bit better right now and it really starts with love and compassion and really seeing each other. And I really do think that when we're connected with our positive, good emotions, like really from our hearts, not from our heads, I think that there's a path forward for all of us.
Speaker 1:And I love, I love the fact that you keep mentioning the whole concept of being connected, um, and I think that's in my opinion, once again, my opinion, I think that our society is kind of struggling with right now is that whole concept of being connected to your fellow man, um, and that was one of the reasons why I asked you um, how do you think the community came together with the fires that's going on in LA as well? Because that was something that some people may feel like. Well, it may not be affecting me, but it does affect us. You know what I'm saying, and I think that once we all get to a point where we start to realize that, I believe we become better people. As far as the working conditions with making this film somewhere in Montana, how were the working conditions? Like, was it hot there? You know what I'm saying. Was it cold? Like, how was it?
Speaker 2:Yeah, july in Montana, right, Still, the weather, weather can be crazy. One of the crew members said you know, montana, she's, uh, she's the she's crazy. You know she, she, she will, will, will, will change on a dime. It goes back to the crew, though. Um, the crew did such an extraordinary job. If we needed to change from an outdoor scene to an indoor scene just because of the elements, maybe we would have a rainstorm, I mean monsoon. There were times where I'm not even kidding there would be a monsoon that we would see coming over that mountaintop right, and we and we would know, we would know that we had like, maybe 10-15 minutes left of shooting, um, before that like cloud was going to be right over us, right?
Speaker 2:and and the light was there. There were certain times where we really wanted that, like sunset shot. So the togetherness of the cast and crew, in that we all were with each other and we stood by each other, really allowed ourselves to maximize. Mont and Montana. Oh man, it's a, it's God's country up there. Like it's a. As my friend Jonathan Stoddard, who plays Spence in the film, says, it's God's wallpaper. And so, as an actor, as an artist, right, he's, he's, he's, he's a, he's a brother to me.
Speaker 2:Like I became friends with so many of the people in the cast and crew. Graham McTavish is the first person that called me mate. I consider Michelle Heard a big sister to me. She's such a lover of actors and on the SAG-AFTRA board, I just can't say enough great things about this cast and crew. Like we really all became a family and I think it's because we knew from the beginning that we were all telling a story that was bigger than all of us and see the thing, uh, from the beginning, that we were all telling a story that was bigger than all of us.
Speaker 1:Oh and that's. And see the thing, like, the pro and the con to that is when you started to think about mortality at some point. We're not going to be here, but the pro to that is that you created something that will outlive you you know what I'm saying which will keep your name out there, which will keep Matt Drago's name out there, name out there, which keep Matt Drago's name out there. So I don't want to get off topic, but I'm kind of getting off topic, but still on topic.
Speaker 2:Have you ever seen a healthy relationship? Yes, absolutely A healthy relationship. I mean I'll say um, I mean yeah absolutely.
Speaker 1:Um, you know and, and, and there's struggles with what's that?
Speaker 2:Can you describe it? It's based on giving each other space. I would say that is, uh what I think. I mean, I'm a married man, right, and you know there are times where you don't get that much space.
Speaker 2:No, there's going to be well it's. It's. There's going to be things that you both need from each other, right, but if you can give each other space and, um, be willing to go to the other person and say I need this, um, you know, and, and, and that other person's willing to give you, that, like, you have a person in your life that you should never let go, and I honestly feel like that was very much the case with the, with the cast and crew on this film is that there was such space there. And what was interesting about the relationships that I had, specific to this film, is we never wanted to be away from each other. Like we would go on hikes together. We would go hike, you know, up to a waterfall together. We would, you know, go to the lodge and get our meals together. We would go to get breakfast together. We just felt like we really needed each other.
Speaker 2:I feel, like many people in this film, like we're going through a lot in their lives, as we all are, but we really took like solace in this film that we were, you know, in together to just give ourselves like a breath, because there is nothing like waking up and seeing Flathead Lake, up against the mountains and about an hour south of Glacier National Park, and just reflecting on things, I can't tell you the last time I have just like gotten up and like stared at a body of water for an hour before I was even picked up for set. But it recentered me, it recalibrated me and it just was the ultimate gift I can see as like just an actor because I always say this and I mean it I feel like I've already won with this film, just in being a part of it, all the relationships that I developed off screen with these extraordinary people and again, actors don't get enough credit a lot of times. They're some of the most selfless people I've ever met in my life and we would just share things together and we would be with each other and we would be there for each other. And when you go back to your original question, that's how I see relationships is if you can really be there for each other and give each other space and listen. You know, I think that you have hard listening, that's awesome.
Speaker 1:half hard listening, that's awesome. So, as an actor, can you speak about the anxieties, if there are anxieties about auditions and callbacks? Because for a person that's not an actor, I may not appreciate the time spent into preparing for an an audition or the joy that you get when you get a call back. You know what I'm saying. So, as an actor, can you speak about the anxieties about auditions and callbacks and stuff like that?
Speaker 2:For sure. I think the thing that you can do, um, as an actor for the most part is um, you know I'll I'll speak to somewhere in Montana again. It's just, you know, if you find a great script or a great character, just enjoy the fact that you get to put yourself on tape. Um, I was given an audition for this. I'd already read the script three times before I had even put my scene out there, and it's because I genuinely just loved the film, like I already, loved the characters, I loved the message, the words that Brandon Smith wrote on this, like I felt like were exactly what I've always wanted to do and say as an actor. And you know, then the hardest part comes. You put yourself on tape, you do all that work, you enjoy that part of it and truly enjoy that part of it because, truly enjoy that part of it, because then you have to give it away, right, and and and you don't have that control, right. So you know that's. That's step one. And then, a lot of times, there's a step two, where you get to a producer session where you're meeting the director and the casting director and the producers for the next time, but I remember that producer session being about 45 minutes, with Eden Mattson, the producer, and Brandon Smith, the writer director, and Jared Brocksterman, the casting director, and just really being curious about the story. And you know, maybe part of so much of me getting gifted or granted the opportunity to do this role was just the, the fascination of what a big story this was and just really doing my best to be just there for it if it was meant to be. And so you know, I remember that part of it and it felt like it went well.
Speaker 2:And then, you know, a month went by and I got the call from, from Jared, and he had told me I got the part and it was pure elation, but I got to be honest, monsoon, the second that I hung up the phone I kid you not, I I took a breath and I said, okay, it's time to get to work, because that's when you really earn the role Right and and you get, you get empowered by that and I'm not going to say it takes the anxiety completely away from it, but it lessens it a little bit, because if you really do the work and every actor has their own unique process I do backstories, I really like to do any kind of methodology that makes me feel like I'm in the character. For me, a big part of this was in the body of the character. I like to lift weights and, you know, work out and this character I just felt like was very lean. He was so driven that he, you know, forgot to, he forgot meals and he was always like kind of go, go, go. And so I lost 25 pounds very healthily, with an incredible fitness coach, you know, and a nutritionalist.
Speaker 2:And and it brought me to the point where, when I had done all of this work and I came to set even though there might've been that imposter syndrome, you know, getting to work with someone like Graham the second that I met him, he's such a pro, he's such a friend.
Speaker 2:He actually messaged me last night and, you know, asked me hey, I heard that you might be close to the Castaic fires, are you okay? He's a friend. And so when you have that type of professional like Michelle heard, like these seasoned vets that are just going to give back to you and be there for you, I say like the unknown actor or the one that's, like you know, coming up or that's getting their chance right to show what they can do, you are in a constant state of being in a safety net with them, because they will take care of you and they will be there for you and uh, and they were there for me in this project and I just honestly um, I say this all the time, but I feel like I've already won uh being a part of this film, and it's because of the people, it's because of the relationships that I'll have with me from from this point on.
Speaker 1:Um, I gotta be honest with you, matt. It sounds like you're around some really phenomenal people. Man, like for real, I'm happy for you. It's like you was in a very good space and I can just imagine how all that positive energy is going to resonate to the screen and when people get a chance to check out this movie, it's going to blow them away. Man. You hit it on the head. Actually, it's going to blow them away, man. It's going to blow them away. You hit it on the head.
Speaker 2:Actually, I was going to just say one thing, because you actually hit it on the head there when I rapped the last night and I actually my last shot, just so you know, is actually coming out of the movie theater in somewhere in Montana when you see it. That was my last shot that I shot, Okay.
Speaker 2:And when you see it that was my last shot that I shot and the next time that I actually went into that theater, we were doing a screening there, which was really, really cool. So I remember rapping and it's exactly what you just said you hit it on the head. There is that I looked at the cast and the crew that were there that night and I said you know, thank you, because the extraordinary experience of this film was all of the energy that you gave to me and my job was to simply just put it right back into the film.
Speaker 1:So I had to share that because you said it and you felt it. Yeah, no problem. So so I was reading you have your own production company as well, right?
Speaker 2:I sure do. Dragon Hunter Production. My wife's maiden name is actually Hunter, so Drago and Hunter makes Dragon Hunter Productions. Yeah right.
Speaker 3:It kind of worked out.
Speaker 5:She definitely can have.
Speaker 2:She is. She is an incredible writer. She actually is in the fellowship right now for Film Independent. Only five writers got selected for that.
Speaker 2:She's working on her first short film there, our production company has a couple thank you, a couple podcasts under our umbrella company and, you know, the next big fish for us is to do a feature film and, much in the vein of Fabian Verdugo, you know, bringing film to little corners of the world. That's kind of how the character lives on in me and that's what I told Brandon and the gift that he gave me as Fabian, it kind of sparked my interest to say, okay, what can I do as an artist that I feel like will make the greatest impact in the world? And I love my country, right? So I want to bring films to little pockets of the country that feel like they don't have a voice.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, that's awesome. That's what. What were some of the um? What were some of the challenges that you face getting this production company off the ground?
Speaker 2:Absolutely. I mean I always say it's building your team, it is a team sport, like film is a team sport because what you realize when you get into film is just the masters of craft. I mean I can Montana skyline and give it that graininess. You know I can't pack the truck like my friend Troy can. I can't do the lighting like my friend Jason can.
Speaker 2:So it's really just finding the people that you know are going to be collaborators with you, not just for this project but forever, and you see it with a lot of production companies. So that's the challenge is finding people that are part of your vision. Because, again, you see it in this industry all the time, right, you see actors work with the same directors, work with the same writers, work with the same editors, work with the same composers. It's because you build that camaraderie where those conversations get a little bit more succinct, they get a little bit more, you know, almost on like a kinetic level, right, and that's where you go as a production company. It's building your team, it's finding your tribe and then letting people around you be their masters of craft so you can make something special together. That's awesome.
Speaker 1:That's awesome. It's just super dope man um. I'm a big fan of like origin stories, you know I'm saying like I hated that wolverine had to get was. That was your origin story, that made you into the person you are today. What moment would that be?
Speaker 2:I mean, I've been thinking about him a lot recently because I grew up in rural Virginia and my mom and dad got divorced when I was four years old and my mom remarried my best friend. So I was raised by a black man in rural Virginia and he took care of me, he protected me, but what he really gave me was passion, and his passion was food. He was a chef and he was a chef for the original Marriott property, marriott Ranch in Hume, virginia, and my love for acting, I think, stemmed a lot from his love of food, because the way that he would talk about food he jokingly called it food porn.
Speaker 2:But the way that he loved and honored food the way he would say. It is like Matt, you know, I could or he always called me son, son, I could build this dish, I could make it, you know, a $100 dish, or I could make it $9.99. Food was inclusive to him. Food was about love. It was about, you know, not showcasing his skills, it was about bringing joy to people. And one of the last days that I got to spend with him you know we're looking over the Virginia skyline on Marriott Ranch's property we talked deep into the night about food and it's a conversation that will resonate with me my entire life and one that I actually brought to my character in somewhere in Montana, because I feel like, you know, he just gave me just such power in my life to, to, to show togetherness and to show passion and to be unwavering in that passion. And yeah, chaz, chaz Green, rest in peace.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's awesome. Rest in peace, man. It sounds like he was an awesome person. He really was.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he really was. He just was one of those people that, like every time he said it and I still hear, like as I'm thinking about it right now, the words I'm proud of you, son. And when he looked at me and he said that, that's awesome.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's awesome. That is, that is awesome, um, all right. So I gotta, I gotta, switch it up a bit, man. So this is the part of the podcast Um and we like to call it um. It's called drugs, right, we like to call it. It's called drugs, right? I'm not going to take any, I'm sorry. I'm not going to take any, Not at all, I'm sorry. Sorry about that. So we're not going to take any, all right, the reason why this is called drugs is because there are four different events, right, so one is a dinner party, okay. One is a house party, okay. One is a pity party, and then the last one is a pity party and then the last one is a ditty party, okay. So I'm gonna name off a drug and you tell me which would people most likely do this drug? It's either a dinner party, a house party, a pity party meaning we're not doing it or a ditty party, which we already know. All right, okay. So the first one is weed.
Speaker 2:Weird. Hmm, Hmm, I'm gonna say God, that could. That's a tough one. That's a tough one. I'm gonna say not a Diddy Party. I'm like trying to go through process of elimination here.
Speaker 8:I don't know.
Speaker 2:I don't think it's a pity party either. Maybe maybe a house party, I would say.
Speaker 1:Yeah, ok, I would go with that, all right. Yeah, the next one, mushrooms.
Speaker 2:That feels like a ditty party. I don't know, I've never been, but I see the news so I assume that probably would be in alignment there.
Speaker 1:Okay, adderall.
Speaker 2:Oh man, Maybe a dinner party Okay.
Speaker 1:Maybe Okay, maybe Okay, gotta stay woke. Gotta stay woke for those dinner parties.
Speaker 2:Molly. I don't even know anybody that's ever taken Molly before, so I don't really even know. Full disclosure. I don't know a lot about drugs. I take my occasional gummy and a drink, but Molly, what does Molly even do?
Speaker 1:I've never taken it, so I would say pity party, so I don't know.
Speaker 2:Let's go with pity party, then I'll go with. I'll go with pity party. Crap, oh man. House party maybe, oh, or ditty party, I have no idea.
Speaker 7:All of the above.
Speaker 2:I have no idea.
Speaker 1:It could go either way it could go. Either way, I don't know, it could go either way. It could go either way. Oh man, All right. Last one All right.
Speaker 2:Acid, I don't know. All these drugs are so crazy that it does make me think of a Diddy party. I don't know.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, cool, cool, cool, cool Yo yo man. I have to say in all due respect, matt, I really do appreciate your time. Man, Very nice talking to you. Is there anything that you want to let the people know where they can find the movie? Get it all out there, man.
Speaker 2:Sure, well, first of all, monsoon, I really appreciate you having me on the show today. This has been an awesome conversation. If you want to follow me and just kind of be a part of all the different things that I've got going on in my life. I can only do so many social media platforms, so find me on Instagram at Matt Drago, m-a-t-t-d-r-a-g-o, at Matt Drago. From there, I've got all of my links there my link tree. It's got my IMDB, it's got both websites, which are my actor website, mattdragocom, my production company with my wife, dragonhunterproductionscom, and all my other links. If you want to follow me on other social media platforms as well.
Speaker 2:As far as the film goes, I will be posting updates to what film, what theaters it comes to. It is a conversation starter, so we really want people to go to the theater and give this story of the times a shot, because I do think this is a really great in-person film to see. If it comes near you, go to the theater, show us your support. We're an indie film, we're a passion project, so that would mean a lot to us and then it will eventually go to VOD or streaming in the future don't know when yet, but take a look for it there and I I will be sharing all updates. So if you want to follow me in my journey as an actor, a collaborator, a husband, a dog, dad, find me at Matt Drago and give me a follow there.
Speaker 1:Most definitely Thank you for your time. I always tell people, man, time is way more important than money, because you can get money back. You can't get time back. So I appreciate your time, man. I appreciate your story, to be honest with you, I appreciate your story and just the conversation with you, man, just outlining that whole sense of community and being connected and how important it is to have that resonate over into your art, your passion, which is somewhere in Montana, which everyone should go see, go, go check it out, um, because you put your all into it, man, you know, and I and I appreciate that, and it was very nice meeting you. Um, yeah, stay away from those ditty parties. Um, we're not gonna, not gonna try to ask it or to molly, because we don't know what that does. So, nah, not at all. But, man, anytime, man, that you, that you want to get back on the podcast, man, very nice to meet you, I'm here and it was very nice meeting you bro thank you, monsoon.
Speaker 2:I appreciate this conversation. It's meant a lot to me. Thank you.
Speaker 1:No problem, Be safe out there, man. Keep that dog safe too, man. I got a little dog over there. He went to sleep on me. Actually, I'm happy that he's asleep. So I do understand the importance of taking care of your pets, man.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, they are your family right. And importance of taking care of your pets, man, absolutely, they are your family right. And there's nothing like uh the love of a little animal next to you all the time. They are uh special for sure yes, yes it is.
Speaker 1:Yeah, anyway, he's knocked out um. Have a good one, matt, and be safe out there bro thank you.
Speaker 2:I appreciate you, mon Mattoon. Thank you, peace, peace.
Speaker 1:Yo hey, y'all Check it out. We're going to do something different right now, man, for the people that's tuning in, I'm going to play some music for my man, dj B-Vax man. So y'all just uh, vibe out, check out the tones, because I love music, um, and I want to keep music incorporated into the podcast, so I'll be back, y'all check out this music and uh, there it is once again, dj be back Once again.
Speaker 9:DJ B-Bass this morning. If they say what you gonna do today, just say hey, I wanna get paid. Hey, they, hey, they pay that. Hey, they, hey, they pay that.
Speaker 4:We dedicate this to these people out here getting banked, where the pursuit of the money is reality, never front on a click that you can't evaluate. See, I got things out here I need to situate. I got a fresh ass car with some lost paint People walking down the street until they feast. Ay, I got accountants out here having big things. Have to stick it to the crib with the sachet In my room, with the shot, with the big tank. Don't get mad because I'm doing things you just can't. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey what you say? Get this party.
Speaker 10:If you say what you gonna do. Babe, just a sec. Yeah, I wanna get paid, paid, paid, paid, paid, paid. Bounce, bounce. Hit the six. Bounce bounce. One on one, bounce bounce. One on one, bounce bounce. Check, check, check. Yo, I'm making short-term goals. Uh-huh, we'll be right back. I'm one of the best players that done it. Six stitches. The bunny Y'all brothers don't want it. I got the Godfather flow, the Don Juan, the Marcos With the God. Don't get it twisted.
Speaker 5:I'm taking all the time to give you peace of mind.
Speaker 10:You can't knock the hustle, do what you think you want.
Speaker 10:Maybe one day you'll be last seen out of state where I drop my sling. I'm deep in the south, kicking up top game, bouncing on the highway, switching low lanes, screaming through the sun. Roof money ain't a thing. Your worst bid confirmed. Me and my fam rotate like the firm getting down for life. You better learn. While I play with fire, burn. We get together like a choir to acquire what we desire. We do dirt like worms, produce cheese like sperm, select, spread like germs. I got expensive hoes with expensive clothes and I sip on wine to spit venters lower. I don't know. My nigga C-Town.
Speaker 5:My big brother, big league. Hold it down Flamboyant baby for life. We takin' over Comin' to a theater near you, check it out. Come on, check it. Make sure my mic is loud and my production is tight. Better watch me round your girl.
Speaker 5:If you ain't fuckin' the right, you damn player haters, never wanna see me blow Flamboyant entertainment CEO. Yo, the spotlight is mine. You ain't fucking the right. You damn player haters, never wanna see me blow Flamboyant entertainment CEO. Yo, the spotlight is mine. It ain't his. No more.
Speaker 5:When Lee come home, niggas can't live no more. And I'm straight. Keep a Harlem World mind state. I never lounge where you find Jake Surprise niggas like a blind date.
Speaker 5:L rhyme great and I'ma increase the crime rate for old time's sake. Run the crime rate for old time's sake. Run with me and I'ma make you a star. When me and my crew hit the clubs, we go straight to the bar. Leave them empty.
Speaker 5:I cruise through Harlem in the M3. Never pay for parties. Say my name and I'm in free. I'm on some money. G-car shit, superstar shit, selling niggas that wet shit right out the jar shit. I'm dumb, hot. I'll wreck you and your young flock. Keep the gunk. Hot is in one, block 139, nigga, the danger's gone. We quick to put a bullet in the stranger's dome. I'm known to kick a rough rhyme the rocks must shine, you're out. I done took up enough time. Real, no doubt you know we do Flank one for life. No one. Holy y'all, a fool kid, that'll run up in your baby momma. Holy y'all, this fool is mad for y'all. For y'all, I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it Straight up, dj. This one Spray painted pictures on the walls Gettingors man, I have the colors.
Speaker 3:Yeah, spray painted pictures on the walls getting drawn by guns, fat caps known to stop runs when applied to the surface, outlines of earthlings chalked by the handball course in the park. Villain starts a feeling, finish like chilling the air. A soul can be free, not revealing Shape or form. Take the world by storm. Next day display a van Evangel with x-ray vision, seeing good but not being seen, head chopping like a guillotine Opera. Leotine Price snitches, seamless, no tight glitches. A drip's, just your worst nightmare. Mischief with spirits dripping In and out. When in doubt, with poverty, it be hard to see the beauty in the asphalt Odyssey. Obviously, it'll dawn on you when you sleep.
Speaker 7:Hey, to the light. Yeah, we're on, thank you. I profess, and I don't jest, cause the words I manifest. They will take to nature and I will stress upon you the need for you all to lead your minds and souls so you can lead yourselves to peace. I got a real object here. I am a flexor here, cause I select a clear method for all suckers like ball and fall crawl Into the pit of purgatory. I go for glory. I'm taking, inventorying all the tough luck ducks. While I narrate, relate and equate, dictate and deviate. My fate is to be, quote, making history. I use sincerity, but I still bury the doubts and questions Of all the skeptics. I'm kicking cloud heads. I'll even bet this is true. Think nothing's so-so, cause I know Right about this minute. I'm in it. Admit it, I did it for you, cause this is what I've been to so chill while I instill that my armor's fulfilled the proper mission. For us and yo, this is a must. Choose these lines out of my rhymes. I attest. These are the words that I manifest. I manifest.
Speaker 6:I manifest, I'm out. If he a buck fifty, your chance of runnin' is infinity. Slugs, leave a nigga drugged like a chip stood to Mickey. So on the lower, take your Navy Seals and get me when I'm surface. If not chips, then vengeance. The purpose on your team. I pull the curtain a beautiful hurtin' Till my eyes see the blood that mean the creeps start workin'. Niggas never learn and let they eyes keep lurkin'. Have your genital pumping your ex-file workin'. Skip off, skid, mark the street hard, skip the beat. Bitch Nigga, overcooked at me, get no sleep. Only wrestlers in between the blink.
Speaker 6:My life story was written in blood permanent ink. Killer instinct RIP. I'm gotta think like that Cause. Forever I've been eating them, playing flawless mistakes, never beating them. Some love me, some hate me. Bitches in the head beating them. Niggas wanna ride by the crib or slow Clap motherfuckin' on a real rap show. Watch when the Mac blow Threaten my castle and in a blink, watch how quick life pass you. I'm a stronger motherfucker who wouldn't ever learn. Keep playing with that fire and that's to get drunk. Fuck a little semi-auto With my footers in the grave and giving all y'all Something to be afraid of. I'm a stronger motherfucker who wouldn't ever learn.
Speaker 9:Smoke a motherfucker. Fuck him when they get alerted. He playin' with that vibe, that ass again. Bruh, fuck him. He'll steal me all. Fuck him, he's gonna be great. He givin' all y'all something to be afraid of.
Speaker 9:2000 G. Yo, I need an encore y'all. You should welcome me back. You want a ball till you fall? I can help you with that. You want beef? I can let a slug melt in your hat, cause I'm a wild barbarian. Too hard, I'm scaring them.
Speaker 9:Century 21, solar eclipse. While you listen to the words that I wrote on a disc Alonious, my description is through rag Pants sag down to my feet. Ak is my heat. Eight day in the street Till I lay six feet. Qb PJs and we playing for keeps. Cheating cars and jeeps is my motto. Four fives with the hollows Salons, sits on the nozzles. Pop bottles for those who never hear.
Speaker 9:The best years. We in the bulletproof vest years the aim for the head and chest years. What's your name? Make your name known For the next year. Better rep year. Nasty, nasty escobar escobar Now eat. It's not good.
Speaker 9:Thomas Nastydaq Escova now he is not good diamonds. I let y'all niggas bang my shit before Saddam hits. Look, nasradamus, tell us what time it is. I was the first one on that darn shit. First nigga to sing a hook on some TJ Swan shit. Black ski mask up in the projects, camouflage for clips, run up in your crib. Cop your bitch. Wear the bricks and we loco so broke brown coke don't sell. Spending your money on weed smoke in hotels, hood racks and bullet wound up. Females Got babies for hustlers and niggas in jail Slinging for chips to fiends with burnt fingertips, face heads, kill cab drivers, just for a hit. A week later Sporting Gator's getting thrills. My honey's wearing Gucci high heels. She come and scoot me. I chill. Leave the streets alone for a sec. Hit the sky bar on sunset. Then the sex is so high tech. Nasty, nasty eskimo eskimo Now he is not good Thomas. Nasty, nasty eskimo eskimo Now he is not good Thomas.
Speaker 8:Nasty, nasty, es's go, let's go Now. He is not good now. It's nasty now, let's go, let's go Now. He is not good now. Hey, yo fuck it, wake up. Turn the radio up. What it sucks. Yeah, listen to the cut. It's our style, our style, your style. Stop love you. Hey, yo, nigga, wake up. Let me show you something. Listen to the way they flip the metaphors and phrases. Listen, listen. It's driving me crazy, Cause every time I do a style and flip it kinda simple For the sake, that's fact and do it on the demo, from a demo to a poll. Now a hit on the radio. Next thing you know they'll be doing a video. Same one, same one, concepts, whole nine and crazy similarities through the whole rhyme. I'm not worried, though. I'm flipping hits from the grill and in the underground. Only real stays real. So I'm checking the skills. The skills are kind of hell of y'all. Here come the lords, because we're here to make a kill. Here come the lords. Here come the lords. Here come the lords. Here come the lords.
Speaker 1:Here come the lords. Here come the lords. Here come the lords. Yo Yo yo, yo, yo, yo yo yo.
Speaker 1:Shout out to my man, DJ B-Fax. Y'all, that was his mix man. Y'all give much love and much respect to my man, DJ B-Fax y'all. Hey yo, thank y'all for tuning in to the Shits Podcast. Much love and respect to my guest, Matt Drago.
Speaker 1:Y'all, make sure y'all check out that movie Somewhere in Montana. You don't have to go somewhere in Montana to check it out. That's the name of the movie Somewhere in Montana. Y'all, make sure y'all check it out. Also, man, shout out to anybody that has been supporting the Shiz Podcast we are back. Shout out to my man, Decker Durr. Shout out to the family Bryce, Joey, Jalen, Smoke Dog, anybody, my brother, my mom, anybody that messes with the podcast, Mark G, the Pig Pockets. That's a whole nother story, but it's coming up.
Speaker 1:Y'all I got to leave y'all with this. Make fans, not followers. Followers will get you clout, but fans will get you work. Trust the process. Believe in something. Do something that gets you out of bed in the morning Real talk. Do something to get you out of bed in the morning. Have a passion, Be patient, Be patient.
Speaker 1:Also, man, shout out to two bees in a pod. They come on Thursday nights. Gotta give more info. I'm gonna have them on the show. It's Homewood, Flossmoors radio station, it's awesome. Comes on at 6 o'clock. It's from 6 to 7.30.
Speaker 1:Y'all make sure y'all check them out. What else make sure y'all check out the podcast, the Shiz Podcast, on all streaming platforms Spotify, Apple Podcast anywhere you get your podcast, you'll find the Shits Podcast on all streaming platforms Spotify, Apple Podcasts anywhere you get your podcast, you'll find the Shits Podcast. Find the Shits Podcast on Instagram. Find it on Facebook. It's on TikTok. I guess, thanks to Donald Trump, I fell for it. Yeah, it's on all platforms. Check it out, subscribe. Tell a friend to tell a friend and man, I will ho all platforms. Check it out, Subscribe. Tell a friend to tell a friend and man, I will holler at y'all later. Be good to each other, Get connected, Stay connected, and I'll holler at y'all. Peace, Let me make sure I do this right. I'm trying to say peace and then the end, and then I'll do it, but anyway. I'm trying to say peace and then the end, and then I'll do it, but anyway I'm out.