Brian D. Johnson, Filmmaker, critic

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Brian D. Johnson’s work as a journalist explores art with the insight of not only a passionate observer but also an accomplished artist with a fascination for the human condition.

For almost 30 years Johnson was the staff film critic and Arts writer for Macleans, Canada’s top current affairs magazine. He’s retired from Macleans but continues to submit stories while pursuing his own artistic endeavours.

Brian’s directorial debut, the documentary “Al Purdy Was Here,” is a beautiful piece of work on many levels, I think you’ll really enjoy our chat about the creative process behind it.

We discuss everything from Brian’s easy working relationship with Leonard Cohen to the inspiring story behind the creation of a film celebrating one of Canada’s most prolific poets: Al Purdy.

Incidentally, we recorded last year prior to Leonard Cohen’s passing.

Our conversation begins with the fact that more films than ever are being made in Canada but there are less “Canadian” films.

Show Notes
Al Purdy Was Here website
Al Purdy Was Here on iTunes
The Al Purdy A Frame Association website
Follow @briandjohnson on Twitter
Brian D. Johnson Films website
Words the Literary and Creative Arts Festival: WordsFest.ca

Jeff Goins: Best-selling author

Best-selling author Jeff Goins’s most recent book is “Real Artists Don’t Starve.”

In this podcast you’ll learn how Goins dismantled the myths about what it takes to succeed by examining research about artists including Michelangelo, Gertrude Stein, Picasso, and Twyla Tharp.

If you’re a writer, actor, musician, director, comedian, visual artist or any kind of creator you’ll enjoy the findings from Goin’s research, like why working alone can be a barrier to success or how thriving artists aren’t reluctant to borrow from their influencers and how to effectively manage your time by saying “no” to short term projects so that you can achieve your long term goals.

It’s a great podcast that will help you figure out what might be holding back your career, or provide some actionable tactics to help artists around you.

Show Notes
Real Artists Don’t Starve at Amazon.
For more about Jeff Goins visit https://goinswriter.com/
Follow Jeff on Twitter.

E.B. Smith: Actor

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E.B. Smith grew up with a father who, as baseball player with Chicago Cubs, understood what it meant to dream. The Chicago Cubs hold Major League Baseball’s longest championship drought going from 1908 to 2016 without winning a world series.

Smith’s father understood the value of hard work and practice in pursuit of a dream.

So when Smith’s dream of performing at The Stratford Festival finally came true he took his father on a tour of the Festival theatre to share his joy and excitement of performing in the legendary theatre.

Together they snuck onto the thrust stage and Smith’s father had the opportunity to stand where legendary actors from Brian Bedford and Len Cariou to Maggie Smith and Jessica Tandy have performed.

Looking around the theatre from centre stage Smith’s father said “So this is the big leagues? This is your Wrigley Field,” comparing the Festival stage to Chicago’s legendary baseball park.

Smith’s mother was an academic, in our conversation Smith describes his home life as an eclectic scene with athletes, deep thinkers and a grandfather with a great sense of humor.

Our podcast covers Smith’s path to success, from his home in Chicago to university in Ohio and life as an American born actor working in Canada.

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