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Video: Grey's Anatomy's Will Martinez Reflects on the Power of Art and Resilience
Jul 18, 2025
In this video, Will Martinez, who played the lead role in the 2025 Oscar-nominated short film A Lien, shares how the film's message resonates during a time when undocumented communities continue to face increasing hate and bigotry. He opens up about the responsibility artists have to reflect the times—and how A Lien gave voice to stories too often ignored!
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0:00
Hi everyone, welcome to Survival Jobs, a podcast in collaboration with Broadway World and the Broadway Podcast Network
0:07
My name is Samantha Dawn Tutsolo and this is my boy, Jason A. Coombs
0:12
And this episode is powered by WelcomeToTimesquare.com, the billboard where you can be a star for a day
0:19
Jason, how fun we were on the billboard. I know, that was so iconic
0:24
We were a star for a day. I was a star for a day. You were a star for a day
0:28
We all were stars for a day. We love that. That was so cool
0:33
It was cool. We love it at the Welcome to Times Square studio. I'm so grateful to be here
0:37
Me too. I was just going to say something that was crazy. Say it
0:41
There was like this like racist person like giving hate speech. So I was like, oh my God, hopefully you can't hear this on the audio
0:50
They were like, you know those like crazy people. Wait, while you were taking a photo in front of the billboard
0:56
Oh yeah, I was doing video. because i know you can like i know you can like you can like you know like when you have the video
1:03
you can just like pause it take a good photo yeah so i had on my tripod but this guy was being like
1:08
these guys are like on a megaphone and i was like i hope you can't hear it so i was like i can't post
1:12
any audio because i didn't hear i watched that video i didn't hear okay good because i was like
1:16
yeah well i'm sorry your new york city experience got tainted by crazies new york city that's like
1:23
Times are shitty, but I'm pretty sure it can't get worse. It's a comfort to know when you're singing the Hit the Road Blues
1:32
New York, gonna be a pleasure cruise. And that was us performing live from the musical
1:39
Maybe you've heard of it? Yeah. Do anybody like Talk Bomber anymore? I feel like that's just a classic
1:43
I don't know, Jason. So we're coming to, you know, we're in the thick of the summer
1:49
What's your favorite part about the summer? um you know we were talking about this and we're like talking about it's like summer plans like
1:55
what do you do i'm like i don't really do anything i always have a film fest in september so i'm always like sweating and crying getting ready for the film fest yeah i had a pretty shitty summer
2:06
last year so i'm sort of just hoping to relax throw myself on the beach maybe read some books
2:13
just really relax it's been kind of a crazy spring a a crazy busy begin to the summer
2:20
right start to the summer again i'm tired um so i'm just really looking forward to like
2:25
some some r&r some rest and relaxation right i do love the beach i love like a beach snack i love
2:34
bringing a cooler with like a sandwich and some high noons i used to love the beach when i was
2:40
younger now i just i love a pool now i can't stand all the sand everywhere and like just give me the
2:46
pool give me the chlorine so i do agree but i do want to say we're from connecticut obviously for
2:52
the listeners who are faithful you know we're you know we're from connecticut if you're tuning in
2:56
we're from connecticut um the beach in norwalk connecticut is nice and they have something called
3:02
the splash pad for the children oh okay but i do go on the splash pad when it gets a little warm
3:06
because i'm not going in long island sound and getting seaweed in between my toes yeah yeah anyway
3:12
guys we're just excited about the summer we wanted to chat about our summer vibe and right jason's
3:17
gonna be sweating and crying apparently and i'll be at the swash and i hope you guys all come to
3:22
the bridgeport film fest in september yes let's talk a little bit about it yes because our guest
3:26
will martinez i actually met him because of the film fest he was a half film the first year of the
3:32
film fest and we just like connected and like kept in touch the last couple years and now he
3:37
was on our show yeah and he's great you know also if you've been a faithful listeners listener of
3:42
ours you'll know that i'm absolutely crazy and i like crazy about gray's anatomy got so crazy
3:48
obsessed i think maybe two years ago and i watched it's actually mentally unwell i watched the entire
3:53
series like up until it was present in like three or four months which by the way if you know gray's
4:02
anatomy you know those are long episodes and there's a lot of them there's like 20 something
4:07
episode i couldn't stop i was so hooked right it's really kind of wild i mean that's a it's a
4:15
great show like uh it's a perfect show it's it's the story the stories the acting it's like some of
4:22
the best tv that exists so all that to say is that will our guest today is on gray's anatomy season 19
4:29
as a reoccurring role uh and no spoilers but not sure that he's gonna be i don't know who knows
4:35
what will happen in the storyline. He might. Yeah, you never know. He didn't die, I don't think
4:40
Well, you got to watch, I guess. You got to watch. I got to catch up. But yeah, come to the Bridgeport Film Fest
4:46
Yeah. Save the date. Save the date. Put in your calendars right now, September 12th through the 14th
4:50
I will be there. I feel like I'm not looking at the right camera. It doesn't matter. Forgive folks who are watching live
4:56
I feel like we are coming live from a high school journalism class
5:02
like the way we're staring. for those of you just listening we're crazy today but anyway we're crazy we're in the studio we're
5:09
in the welcome timesquare.com studios cheers we love will we love the bridgeport film festival
5:14
we love summer and we love Grey's Anatomy and enjoy this episode y'all enjoy this episode cheers
5:19
well welcome to survival jobs a podcast this has been a long time coming I am a crazy Grey's
5:28
Anatomy fan so Jason for years has been like we got to get well on we got to get well and I was
5:31
like, I love Grey's Anatomy, and I love Will. Got to get him on. I feel like it's been years
5:36
It has been. We've been talking about it for a while. Yeah. I'm happy to finally be here
5:40
Thank you for joining us in the studio on this gloomy, gloomy Tuesday. You're bringing some light to the gloom
5:46
Literally, he's wearing this amazing shirt. It's popping on camera. Like, go Will
5:51
Go Will. Go Will. Go Will. We're cheerleaders. So I want to congratulate you again on Alien, right
5:59
Alien, yeah. Alien? Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's how you pronounce it, yeah. How? I think I always say it wrong every single time
6:05
I'm like always nervous to say it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Everybody's like, they don't know because there's a space between the A and the M
6:09
So it's like, but it's a play on the words. Right. Yeah. Because I was saying, oh my God, because Alex Morcinudo is from my hometown
6:18
And I was like, oh my God, A-Lion. A-Lion. I was like, oh my God, A-Lion is nominated for an Oscar
6:28
Yes, nominated. Sorry I interrupted you. No, it's okay. Nobody even knows what we're talking about
6:32
Yes, so your short film that you starred in, and did you help produce it
6:38
I saw your name. Executive producer. Yeah, I saw your name in the credits. I saw you, I saw you
6:43
We watched it today, this morning. Made me freaking cry again because of what's happening in the world
6:48
It's very, very timely. Yes, just to get our listeners up to date
6:54
Say it again. Alien, yes. Alien. Alien. Alien. Like, it's alien. Yeah, well, yeah, so it's a play on words
7:01
It's like alien, but then it's spelled. I'm leaving. It's like having a lien on, you know, these immigrants that are here
7:10
but then it's also illegal alien as well. So it's a play on those words
7:14
I understand. Don't listen to me. We're 2000 and late. But anyway best live action short film nominated at the 2025 Oscars this year That huge Yeah it was huge We I mean we didn expect it we filmed it so long ago it felt like it felt like three three and a half four years ago and um you know it did a
7:38
it did great on the film festival circuit and we kind of thought after that you know it was
7:42
kind of lived its life yeah and then we heard that it got on the long list
7:46
we're like for the oscars the long list for the oscars and i didn't really even know what that
7:50
was at that point yeah but i was like that's cool and then we got on the short list and that's when
7:56
sam the director started calling us and he was like well this looks like this could be a possibility
8:00
and then that's what did how did you react to that i'm like this is this is insane yeah yeah
8:06
yeah so that's when we started paying attention and uh i remember that morning when they did the
8:11
they announced the oscar nominees i mean i was cooking breakfast on my way to go to work and
8:17
I'm like cooking breakfast and I just have it there. And then they announced us first for that category
8:22
And I was just ecstatic by myself just making breakfast. And then I'm like, I have to go to work after
8:27
I know. It's just crazy. That's the life of an artist, right? That's wild
8:31
Like you could be at the top of your art and then still have to go to your survival job
8:35
And it's like, oh, man. You're going through these like problems at work and you're like, oh, my God
8:40
You're like, I'm going to the Oscars. So you went to the Oscars
8:44
Yeah, I got to go. Yeah. We're going to get all into that. Yes, of course. I'm sorry. I'm sorry
8:48
No, it's okay. But we want to go back to survival jobs, which is the name of our show, which is the theme
8:54
of our show. Did you have a favorite survival job or a memorable moment from a survival job that
9:00
you want to share with us? Yeah, no. So, I mean, I've had a few
9:05
Honestly, the best part of the survival jobs have been the friends that I've made from
9:10
them because it's all different walks of life because everybody's kind of dipping in and
9:14
out of those jobs. But there's some that you stay with. there's something that you don't so I mean I worked at uh I did sales for a gym uh for a little
9:22
bit like a luxury gym and okay me and this this one guy we kind of just met and we've just like
9:29
hung out and then I ended up leaving pretty pretty early on but we have stayed in touch and all of
9:34
that we're like pretty close friends now so it's like those those parts of it are cool right but
9:39
sometimes the hours and all of that and just all of it it's just like exhausting and it's just like
9:46
I want to just get paid to do what I love and then just be able to focus on that
9:51
Wouldn't that be something? Yeah. Do you ever have a survival job, an experience
9:57
or maybe somebody you've met, like you just talked about meeting different people, that prepared you for one of your roles
10:04
Yeah, I mean, trying to think. Let me see. Because I've had so many
10:10
I mean, I started with sales. I started doing in sales. And then..
10:14
Very Michael Scott of you. Huh? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I started in sales
10:20
And then after that, what did I do? I've done so many things. I've worked at a couple gyms
10:25
Right. I'm trying to think of, I can't, like, off the top of my head
10:30
I'll get back to it. Well, yeah, circle back. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Circle back, yeah. Something's going to pop in my head for sure
10:36
Well, you've appeared on so many major shows. FBI, Manifest, Law and Order
10:41
This is a Law and Order girly right here. Yeah. organized crime, the blacklist
10:46
What do you remember about your first, like what was the first network job you booked and like what was that feeling like
10:51
Yeah, so the first network job I booked was FBI. Wow. And I remember it was, it's a little intimidating
10:59
because you walk on set and it was a whole, a murder. So the police are gathered there
11:04
but there's also all the people that witnessed the murder that are there. So it was just so many people
11:09
And then I have to go in there and I have to go in there and say one line
11:15
And honestly, to this day, that's still the worst for me. When you have to just pop into a scene, say a line, and then leave
11:22
there's kind of like no context. There's no warm-up. What was the line? I forget
11:27
I'm just telling the cops that, oh, we saw the suspect go this way
11:33
or whatever, the FBI agents that are there. And I come in and I kind of tell them that
11:37
They ask me a question, I answer it, and then I leave. Yeah. But you have the whole day just thinking about that one
11:44
The one line. You start saying it so many times that it doesn't even sound like English to you anymore
11:47
Right, right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Especially when it's like your first network thing
11:53
I imagine you're like, oh, my God, like the stakes are so high. Yeah
11:57
So many different kinds of inflections you're working to put on that one line. Oh, yeah, yeah. Like an audition, right
12:01
You're like, oh, I remember I had one for what show was it? I can't remember what show, but my line was batteries dead because they were filming a scene
12:09
and I was like the sound guy in the show. So they're filming a promotional video
12:15
and then the battery dies. I must be like, battery's dead. And I was like, how do you
12:20
If I booked it, so I must have been around. You're like, battery's dead. You know, dramatic pause, right
12:26
Battery's dead. Dead. I have to talk about Grey's Anatomy. I know I was chatting with you
12:34
I am such a Grey's Anatomy stan, like psychotic even. So can you talk a little bit about what that was like to book on such an iconic show
12:43
And you started off as a guest star, right? And then moved to reoccurring
12:47
Well, yeah, it was always going to be a reoccurring guest star. But I actually had auditioned for a series regular on it
12:54
And I was in the running for it for one of the roles of the new interns
12:59
Yeah. And it was between me and I forget who it was
13:03
I think it was between me and Harry Shumjoon for that character. and um great hairy son jr yeah my god but um so wow iconic yeah yeah so like i didn't end up
13:15
getting the role but we uh you know they said obviously they had enjoyed my audition and all
13:21
of that so we i kind of just forgot about it yeah and a couple months later they called and they
13:25
said hey we have this role that's perfect for will it's his if he wants it offer only i was like uh
13:32
Yeah, yeah. You're like, yeah, I do want it. Thank you. You're like, let me think about this
13:37
Let me check my schedule. I don't know. I got some sales to do
13:41
It's like, wait, let me check with my boss. But yeah, no
13:45
And then when they said that, I was like, of course. And I was super excited
13:49
And also, first time getting to film out in LA. I've been to LA before, but I've never filmed out there
13:55
So getting to go out there and film was cool in the studio. Yeah. I know five episodes, right
14:00
uh yeah five or six I think it was six that yeah yeah that is so iconic you know we've had that
14:06
story happen before on on our podcast where someone has auditioned for something else and
14:11
then they'll call back and say actually we have this and I think that's such an important lesson we have a lot of artists listeners that like okay if the thing that you thought was going to happen
14:19
doesn't happen doesn't always mean it was for nothing you know because then it turns into
14:24
something can you give me any Grey's Anatomy tea like any of these people like did you you never
14:30
had like a scene with Dr. Bailey no I'd have any scenes with Dr. Bailey but I got to but I got to
14:35
meet uh Dr. Bailey I got to meet Shonda Rhimes I got to meet Shonda Rhimes I can tell us about that
14:41
so we uh we love Shondaland we are people are regular listeners to our podcast they know we
14:49
love Shonda so please give us the tea She uh well it was kind of post still I mean and in Cali they were kind of still keeping the whole testing for a lot longer on productions And they were doing their readings virtually
15:05
So then for the season finale of that season was the first time that they were doing an in-person reading for like the first time in a few years because of COVID
15:13
And in that table read, everybody showed up. Fun. So Ellen Pompeo was there
15:19
Shonda Rhimes was there. And it was cool. It was a huge roundtable with everybody there
15:23
and she was just reading there, and I got to shake her hand, so that was cool
15:27
Were you chill and like, hey, here I am, it's my job
15:31
or were you nervous? I would be sweating. I would be sweating
15:37
Well, the thing is, too, the table reads that we've done before have all been Zoom
15:42
so I'll go in. It was very casual on the Zoom table reads
15:46
I would show up in my T-shirt. No pants on. Yeah, I'd be hanging out, just finished eating, have some food on my lip
15:52
And then I get there, and it's a whole setup. They have catered food and all of this
15:57
And I was like, I was not prepared for all of this. I thought we were just going to read the scenes
16:02
So, yeah, it was definitely a little nerve-wracking. And it was just cool to meet everybody as well
16:07
Everybody got some photos. But, yeah, no, definitely at first when I walked in, I was like, oh, this is a big deal
16:14
It's crazy. Yeah. Okay, everybody, please go to Netflix, season 19. You're just in 19
16:20
Yeah, just season 19. Yeah, yeah. There's a lot of twists and plots, and Trey is here to get his woman back
16:28
He's trying to fight for his woman. I want her back. No spoilers, but I don't think he gets her back
16:35
You got to tune in and see. You got to tune in and see
16:40
Season 22 now? I believe so, yeah. I have to catch up
16:44
That's wild. I was telling Will before, I watched the first season on a DVD
16:49
I remember getting it from Netflix. Yeah. Or maybe it was two, but it was still like, it was only seven episodes, and it was like
16:55
on DVD. It doesn't happen anymore. Yeah. That's how long ago that was
16:59
Incredible. That's, yeah. You're part of that legacy. You're part of that Shonda Rhimes family
17:04
Shondaland. Shout out Shonda. Shout out Shonda. Shonda's watching, right? There we go
17:10
She's watching. Hey, Shonda. We love, I love your book, Shonda. Cheers to that
17:14
I love her book as well. You're a BS baby. And I love every single show. This is now our third guest from the Shondaland universe
17:20
Is it? Chris Caferro. Chris Caferro. Our girl, Edwina, from The Residence
17:25
Oh, yeah. Okay, cool. Lucky number three. That's my lucky number. Lucky number three
17:30
Cheers. Love that so much. So let's talk about Aline. How did that roll
17:36
Did I say it wrong? I don't know, but I don't think you did. Wait, did I say it wrong
17:40
I don't think you said it wrong. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I don't think you said it wrong. Oh, okay. But I was just laughing
17:43
I was just laughing. No, I'm just laughing at myself because alien, a line
17:49
I don't know what I would say I'm just going to say it with confidence
17:53
and then I got nervous I was laughing at you I'm going to stop talking
17:58
Alan can you mute my mic shout out to Alan Seals in the corner there
18:03
doing our tech theater podcast what days do you drop the theater podcast
18:09
on Tuesdays regularly and then if I have extra I'll do Fridays okay
18:15
leading up to Tony's I got like two, maybe three a week
18:20
It's kind of nuts. So now I'm going to take a break. He's crazy. Okay. Hello. You told me to mute your mic
18:26
Samantha's muted. I was doing a bit before. Thank you. I'm dead
18:31
Let's pick it up. Sorry. So, Will, how did you get cast in this short film that ended up eventually at the Oscars
18:39
two years later? Yeah, that was actually a self-submission. So we filmed it so long ago
18:45
This was before I had representation. So I was just submitting on Actors Access
18:50
And then I got the director, Sam. He went through the submissions himself
18:55
He said he went through a couple thousand for the two roles that were like the starring roles
19:00
Yeah. And then we did a callback via Zoom. We did a chemistry read via Zoom as well
19:08
But, you know, it's kind of weird to do a chemistry read through Zoom. But this was like post-COVID, like right post-COVID
19:15
So it was still weird. but he asked me and Victoria, my co-star, if we'd be willing to go to his backyard
19:21
and kind of do a chemistry read there. So we went. We kind of just talked for a while
19:29
We were there, and we all just got along right off the bat. We were there for like an hour, hour and a half, and then we were about to leave
19:37
And he was like, oh, wait, maybe we should read some of the scenes and what we're here for
19:42
Oh, so you were just hanging out? Yeah, because we were just hanging out. We were having a good time. He's like, actually, let's remember why we all came together
19:48
Well, that's chemistry, right? Yeah, yeah. It's just like, all right. So then, yeah, we read, and then a week later
19:53
he said he wanted us as the lead roles. And then Victoria and I, we met a couple times for coffee
20:01
to kind of get to know each other more, build rapport, and then, you know, like, talk about the characters and the story
20:08
And then I also went out to the park with Cora, the girl that played my daughter
20:13
so that she can kind of like, you know, be comfortable with me. So the day that we went on set, we kind of felt like a family
20:19
And, you know, doing all that prep, it felt nice because when we got onto set
20:24
we did feel like a family. Right. You know, we only shot for three or four days
20:29
But, you know, when we all said bye, we were all like sad. Like, damn, we got to say bye now
20:33
Yeah, you're like, this is my family. Yeah, this is my family, you know. Until two years later
20:39
I know, and then we got to all reunite for that. That was insane. But even working on the project, I've done a lot of short films and little indie films
20:48
and that one felt different. It just felt the amount of precision and attention to detail that everybody was kind of putting into it
20:57
It felt different at the time. I'd never thought Oscars. You're doing a short film
21:02
You're not thinking that. Yeah. But the fact that it made that was nice
21:07
Nice. Yeah, it was great. Just to get, you know, in a nominated film at the Oscars
21:13
At the 97th Oscars. It's crazy. Iconic. So you said that it was only three days of filming
21:20
So what was the whole filming process like? And where did you guys film it? And there were two directors, right
21:24
Two directors, yeah, yeah. So how was that process? Sam and David, yeah
21:28
How was that process with two directors? And what was that collaboration like
21:32
So it was, so we filmed most of it in Jersey in this office that they made it kind of look like an immigration office where we were
21:43
And, you know, they've been doing this for so long. I mean, they're brothers
21:47
They grew up, but they've, you know, been filming projects since they were little
21:51
So it was kind of, you know, when one was kind of focusing on the technical aspect of things
21:56
the other one was kind of talking to us actors and maybe the other actors trying to get that
22:01
but they kind of would flip-flop here and there. So it was a good kind of mix of both
22:05
And also, you know, if us actors weren't maybe understanding something on one end
22:10
the other would come and kind of explain it maybe on a different angle, you know
22:15
So it was cool. And, like, I mean, they worked well together, so it was a nice experience for sure
22:21
I mean, it really was a family affair. Yeah, and then you feel like you're part of the family
22:24
Yeah then you feel like you part of the family so it was nice Isn that so special to you even though you know it was just a three filming process to have that impact of like everybody feeling sad and you feeling like a part of this brotherhood
22:38
That's when the real art is, like, birthed. Well, yeah, and we all, you know
22:44
Sam and I would hit each other up throughout the years before the Oscars thing, so grab a beer and, like, just talk
22:49
Alex and I now, after we went to the Oscars together, Alex and I are hanging out all the time now, too
22:54
but like it was all it was like a great project that obviously
22:57
will be like special to me for sure. Yeah, your first Oscars
23:02
Many more to come. When you watch that film, this guy can act
23:09
Can you imagine if we had a guest on and you're like, this guy actually is not
23:14
that good of an actor but this guy sucks. I've seen better
23:20
We're just here doing the thing. No, because I saw you in a film, how I found you was a film at the
23:25
Bridgeport Film Fest, Kissing Carrowack. Oh, yes. That was a while ago
23:29
That was a long time ago, yeah. That was in our first Bridgeport Film Fest year. What is that
23:36
Someone's angry. Anyway, yeah, so that was a long time ago, and then to see
23:41
how far you've come is really amazing. I hate to say I'm proud of you, because I feel like sometimes people can take that
23:47
the wrong way, but I really am. That's really incredible. I'll take it. Yeah, right
23:51
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, so I was going to say, this film tackles such, for people who don't know, it's about an undocumented person, right
24:00
Yeah. Who is trying to, you know, get things handled the legal way
24:05
Yeah, yeah, the legal way. I feel like you should be saying this. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So he's trying to get his papers illegally, and he's going in for his interview
24:12
Yeah, an interview that you have to go through to get your paperwork, and he's called upon by the government to go through that
24:18
Yeah. But it's kind of honey potted because ice is waiting there as well
24:23
Which is, I was watching it again today, literally this morning, crying because of what's happening in the world
24:29
We're living through, this is such a timely film. Right now in Los Angeles, people are resisting to ice
24:36
And it's crazy though because we filmed this, I said, three or four years ago
24:41
That's what I was going to say. And it's more timely now than it was when we filmed it. And it was when we filmed it as well
24:45
So it's just, obviously it shines light on it, but it's kind of disappointing that it's still relevant all this time after
24:54
And even becoming more and more relevant with all these things that keep on happening
24:58
Yeah, the dehumanization of people. Yeah, these are families that are being ripped apart from each other
25:05
What do you hope audiences take away after they watch this film? Which you can watch now
25:09
It's a Vimeo short pick on Vimeo that you can watch right now
25:13
yes we'll drop the link in our little notes but um why is films like this so important right now
25:19
well i mean just like you said right there it humanizes it i mean i think if it doesn't
25:25
sometimes there's a lot of people that if it doesn't impact them directly you know they don't
25:29
see what's the big deal you know they'll say but then when you see a story like this where it's like
25:33
these lives are being completely impacted by this in a negative way they're being stripped from their
25:38
families, it helps people relate to it even more and say, oh, wow, I see what the problem
25:45
is with this. I see, now I can relate to it, and now I can start to maybe do a little more research or
25:52
actually start to care because I see how this is a human problem
25:58
And it's not just like, oh, yeah, let's just get them out of it. So I think that's what people will take away from it
26:05
Yeah. It's such a human. And I'm just like, I don't understand how we live in a world where we can treat people in this way
26:12
It's crazy. Which is why art is so important. And the importance of this film, like we've said a million times, is so important now more than ever
26:22
Of course. So to be a part of art that's impactful, I imagine, is so rewarding
26:29
All art is rewarding. But when it's impactful to things that matter, not that all art doesn't matter
26:35
I agree with what you're saying. It's shedding a light on something that we have to make a change for
26:42
something that maybe it could help or bring eyes to it for people that will inspire them to help make a change
26:51
My favorite quote is by Nina Simone who says, an artist's duty is to reflect the times
26:55
which is so, it's like a responsibility. I was watching that talk actually with Lena Waithe and Felicia Rashad
27:03
and they were talking about just a way of being an artist. It's a responsibility
27:07
It is. People think it's just fun and games. And yeah, it could be fun. We could play games
27:11
Yeah, it's fun. We will. We will be playing a game. But there's a responsibility
27:15
And we tell the truth, right? And I think Viola Davis said it. We're the only, I guess, the only kind of job where you get to live a life
27:24
What is it? What is it, Samantha? Yeah, something like that. I was really close to pulling it, like the exact quote
27:29
the only job that knows how to live a life, something like that. Yeah, yeah. I love Viola. Speaking of Shondaland
27:36
Right? Now I know we've talked so much about the Oscars already
27:40
I mean, how could we not? It's so iconic. So when you found this out and then you were like figuring out how are you going and all this stuff
27:48
how did you navigate that and how did you stay grounded in that whole process leading up to going
27:55
Yeah, no, it was insane. I mean, I was reaching out to anybody that might have some experience
28:03
What do I expect? What do I wear? How do I even go about that
28:07
Great. You can't just show up and. Yeah. I can't show up in this hand
28:14
But I actually hit up Alexis Floyd, who was my co-star in Grey's
28:19
and she helped me a lot. She hooked me up with her stylist. Oh, amazing
28:23
So I got to do that. Why you look so sharp? You're a stylist, boy
28:26
Yeah, where I went in and they had suits ready for me there. And I was like, let's try all this on
28:31
Oh, my gosh. That's amazing. Let's go. That was cool. I went a week before the actual ceremony just so I could try to, like
28:39
set up some meetings and do some networking before. And using the Oscars as a way to get myself into some doors
28:46
I mean, when it's hot, you got to act while it's hot
28:50
Yeah, so. But then when I was at the actual ceremony, I mean, we kept me and Victoria
28:56
and my co-star, we kept looking at each other like, we're at the Oscars right now. Because of work that you did
29:02
Yeah. But it's crazy because you're there, and then you start to kind of forget
29:07
You're present, but it's kind of an outer body experience. So you're going back and forth between that
29:11
And you have to look at each other and be like, we're actually here. We pinch each other
29:15
Yeah. It's also something, maybe I already said this, but the fact that you got this job from Actors Access
29:24
and it brought you to the Oscars. Yeah. is so, I don't even know the word, because sometimes as an actor, we get so defeated
29:35
and tired with auditions and submissions, and we think, oh, this isn't going to do anything
29:41
This will never lead anywhere. And you just never know. No. Yeah, and especially, I still work on some short films and things like that, because
29:52
I like to get my reps in and all of that. And you know, sometimes they're smaller budgets and all that
29:57
And sometimes those thoughts creep in my head. You know, I always kind of look back to Aileen, not that I'm expecting anything out of it, because I do like to get to practice, but it's like you do never know
30:08
And you also never know the relationships you're going to make and all of that. It's more important. Yeah, so it's like who you're going to meet, they might be somebody who's a collaborator with you in the future
30:17
I feel like, you know, we can all kind of come up together, so it's kind of cool to see everybody at this level and then slowly, like, you know, you get that, you get this opportunity, and you kind of all help each other out
30:28
What does Issa Rae say? Like, you don't network up the ladder. You network, like, across
30:34
So you go all, like, kind of moving together. And then you guys just move up together. Yeah. Borge
30:38
Yeah. Bless you. Bless you. Salud. Salud. It came right in. It came right in hot
30:47
Okay, so can you tell us, because I know we're going to keep harping about this
30:51
I hope you never get tired of talking about your first Oscars. What is something that us regular folks don't know about it
30:56
Like, was there, like, tell us, like, a secret or something, like, that we would never kind of guess
31:00
So, the best networking area at the Oscars is their smoking section
31:06
Oh, what do you think? That's what, like, there's a specific, like, smoking section, and that's where people go to, like, network
31:13
So, like, I went out, I don't smoke, but I just went out there to, you know, just to see who was out there
31:18
Who was out there? I mean, I've met a lot of international, yeah, no, I've met a lot of, like, international actors, international filmmakers. Yeah
31:25
But it was, and then when we went to the bar on the first floor
31:30
because we were up a couple floors, and I was just walking by, you know, Bob Iger, you know, the CEO of Netflix
31:38
and they're just walking past me to go get a drink. So that was insane
31:42
You're like, hey, Bob, what you drinking? It's on me. You're like, let me get your drink. It's on me at an open bar
31:47
I got it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I got it. Don't worry about it. What are you getting? Yeah, yeah
31:51
That's so cool. Yeah, I also. God, what's your name? So this was, I was walking and out came, wow, what's her name
32:01
Dakota Fanning. Al Fanning. Al Fanning. Al Fanning came and she walked in front of me and I didn't realize her dress was super long
32:08
No. So I was just like walking and then I stepped on it and she kind of like coiled back
32:13
But she turned around and she was super cool. But then a stylist came running out of nowhere and was like, oh my God, the dress
32:19
Okay, well, the stylist should be closer. Yeah, yeah. To make sure things like that don't happen. Yeah
32:24
But she was cool with it, but I was like, of course I would. Who did you see that gagged you the most
32:30
That you were like, holy shit, I cannot believe I just saw. Let's see
32:35
I saw Denis Villeneuve, the director of Dune and Prisoners and all of that
32:42
When he walked by, I was like, wow, because I love his movies. Yeah. And he did Sicario, too, so I loved his films
32:48
So him going by was cool. Jeff Goldblum was right around us. He was super cool. and uh yeah he's i mean he's the man he walks in and attention's all on him yeah great so um yeah
32:58
that was very cool i'm trying to think if there was anybody else got to see zoe saldana who won
33:02
her first oscar to like first female dominican actress to win so that was that was really cool
33:09
to watch as well yeah um thank you for sharing and for us thanks for letting us who have never
33:15
gotten the chance to go to the 2028 yeah we're gonna go 2028 yeah yeah do they have they should
33:21
really do a podcast can you imagine the answers do like this podcast has nothing to do with
33:27
alan you have three years to get us there yeah alan can you get us there on it thank you thank
33:32
you so much this is a film yeah essentially um so so the acting business is hard it's tough to be
33:40
an artist sometimes you know it's like the constant grind in between survival jobs the
33:44
constant audition right keeping your mental health keeping your physical health it's all
33:48
a lot. How do you stay inspired and how do you stay grounded in between gigs to keep your
33:54
motivation going? Yeah, I mean, I have a great support system. I mean, my family, they've always
34:02
backed me even when, you know, I kind of took a break from acting for a bit and I had a pretty
34:08
stable job and I decided to just go back into acting. I was like, what am I doing? This is what
34:14
I want to do. Why do I keep going back and forth? Let's just go full throttle. And at that point
34:20
everybody a little bit was like, that's risky. That's kind of crazy. What are you doing
34:24
But how long did you start? Sorry to interrupt. How how long did you take off from acting
34:29
So I mean, honestly, in college, I kind of stopped completely. So in college, I was taking classes on
34:33
the side. But I decided to go to school for marketing and information systems instead. And
34:39
then but I knew I was going to get back to acting. I just didn't know how. Yeah. So I decided the
34:44
place I'm going to get a job because I was in school in Pittsburgh. Okay. So I decided to get a job in New York so that I could be around somewhere
34:51
That's smart. So then I worked in sales for a year. We had a pretty decent year, and I was just like, you know what
34:58
I'm going to go first. So I left my job. It wasn't maybe the smartest idea
35:02
It worked out. Hey, I mean, I was just going to say it worked out. It paid off
35:06
But yeah no everybody was a little like that insane What are you doing But now after they seen like it wasn a joke Like I was really you know determined and focused So having that support system is great
35:18
Being able to compartmentalize and having things outside of acting is huge
35:24
Can't have it be your whole personality. Yeah, I have a lot of, I know a lot of actors that are fully engrossed in acting
35:30
Their only friends are actors as well. And all they, they live in, like, the bubble
35:34
and I think sometimes that can kind of hurt you because you start to get burnt out
35:39
You know, you start to not, the love for it starts to disappear because it's just everything
35:45
So I think, you know, having friends outside of the industry as well where you're not always talking about
35:50
what audition you have or what casting director you met. You have other things
35:54
You know, you have other things to kind of enjoy. A little bit more well-rounded. Yeah, so I think just having some things outside of it
36:00
and just like making sure it stays fun. whenever it starts yeah whenever it starts getting a little too serious i'm like i'm here
36:08
because i love this thing if it's not fun it's not worth it so just trying to make it fun i love that
36:13
yeah keep the joy yeah yeah because then what's the point yeah like this is i mean when i'm on set
36:19
that's the best feeling ever so all of this is just opportunities for me to get on set and i know
36:26
that when i'm on set it's all gonna pay off so it's just like let's just enjoy the journey and
36:31
And then we'll see where we get. It's all about the journey. My high school theater teacher used to say it's all about the journey, people, not the destination
36:38
Yeah. And I think also one thing that helped me a lot and I think a lot of other people, I used to have like a timeline
36:45
If I don't get this by this age, then if I'm not here by 30, I'm done acting
36:50
I'll go back to a normal job. And once I let go of that and I was like, listen, this is what I'm going to do
36:56
It's not a matter of if. It's just a matter of when. But when it happens, it'll happen
37:01
And just living in that. Preaching. It helped a lot. Loved that
37:06
Even Alan's snapping. And he hates films in Tribeca. We're getting it
37:13
I got to know where this is coming from, this hater's Tribeca
37:18
It's kind of just a bit. Yeah, I'm just busting his balls. Tribeca always happens when my kids end school, so I can't do any Tribeca
37:27
Oh, that's – okay, I see. So you want to be there. Yes, I want to be there
37:31
I want to be there. When my kids get to college, I can finally go cover Tribeca
37:35
Yeah. So we have one last question, and then we're going to play a really, really fun game
37:40
All right. Hope you're ready. Hope you have your competitive panties on
37:45
All right. So we talked about this world is insane right now
37:50
There's so much happening. We don't have to go into all of it. But, you know, there's a lot happening
37:55
What keeps you sane and grounded? Is there, like, a book or a movie? Do you have a ritual that really just feeds your soul and keeps Will feeling good and ready to kick ass
38:06
Yeah, no. I mean, I do love like I have to either go to the gym with some physical activity as much as I can
38:15
Maybe there's some days I don't doing that. Family is big for me, so spending time with my family and my friends
38:22
And I've noticed sometimes I overwork myself a little bit. So giving myself a day or half a day or something where I can just relax and maybe just try to turn this off
38:36
Because it's like I don't have to do this. I don't have to reach out to this person. I could just sit there and just throw on a TV show and just laugh
38:43
Bloopers. I love bloopers. The Office bloopers. I can watch The Office bloopers at any point and I'm dying of laughter
38:51
That's fun. The SNL bloopers are really good too. I've never watched SNL bloopers
38:56
I have to watch that. There's like compilations on YouTube of like when they break and they laugh
39:00
It's so good. I've seen the Will Ferrells. Yeah, I've seen those. They're so good because they're laughing so hard
39:06
And then you have no other option but to laugh. Yeah. We love a good rot day
39:11
I'm in desperate need of a rot day. Same. You know when you're looking forward to a rot day
39:15
That's when you know you're like, you're doing a lot. Can't wait
39:19
Can't wait for my rot day. When's the rot day? Next week. Next week
39:23
You still got some time. I know. I actually have a while from my rot day, but I can't wait
39:29
Just can't wait. Can't wait. What are you saying? Rot. R-O-T. A rot day
39:35
Like your cheat day in the gym? You're sitting in bed rotting. No, no, like you just let yourself, like you just relax
39:40
You don't do anything. You just rot in your bed. Like your brain rots? Yeah, like you just rot
39:44
Like no skibbity, jail, no cap. What? That's brain rot. When your brain, never mind
39:51
Okay, Alan, yeah, exactly. Whatever you said, yeah. You just put on like trash TV
39:58
You order DoorDash. And you just rock. Well, he's a dad. You really can't do that, right
40:05
Oh, yeah, you can't rock. Sorry. You got to send those kids to there. No rot days for you
40:10
My rots is playing video games with the kids. Hey, that's nice
40:14
That's a version of a rot day. If you're listening, this is your cue to take a rot day
40:19
You deserve it. Love you. Take your rot day That right What the last thing you watched on your rock day I binge Mobland on Paramount Plus It like Tom Hardy new show
40:32
I just binged it. I watched one episode. I was like, I love the mob-type movies and shows
40:39
So I saw the first episode, and then I watched the whole season in a day
40:44
Love the mob. We all love the mob. We all love the mob
40:48
We all love the mob, just to be clear. Wait, and you're on that new show with the guy from..
40:54
John Hamm, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, that's so cool. Yeah, yeah, your friends and neighbors
40:59
Yeah. Yeah, check it out. Is that about it already? Yeah, your friends and neighbors, season one, Apple TV
41:05
Yeah. I keep hearing about that show. Check it out. I saw your IMDb, and I was like, oh, now I definitely have to watch it now
41:10
Yeah, yeah. Everyone's talking about it. It's a very good show. I enjoy it. I'm not just saying that because I'm in it
41:15
I actually enjoy the show, so I definitely recommend it. Is John Hamm nice
41:20
Yeah, yeah. I got to meet him at the wrap party. I didn't have any scenes with him, but I met him at the wrap party
41:26
He was super cool. Everybody on that set was super cool. So we're currently ��
41:29
Shout out to John Hamm. Yeah, we're currently filming season two now. Slay
41:35
Yes, yes. Booked and blessed over here. Booked, busy, and blessed right here
41:39
Well, thank you for coming and chatting with us and talking all things about the Oscars
41:44
and giving us all the inside scoop. Everybody, we'll see you in the smoking section at the Oscars in five years
41:50
No, 2028. Three years. In 2028 in three years. See you then. We'll be nominated for Best Film Podcast
41:57
I believe in you guys. Will will be accepting his Oscar for Best Actor
42:02
I'll be announcing the nominees for Best Film Podcast. Correct. And then you guys will win
42:07
Alan will be there winning Best Tech Design for something. And we're all just going to be together in the smoking section
42:16
Drinking from water bottles with straws. Yep. Yeah. And that's the mic drop
42:22
That's the mic drop. This has been so fun, but like Jason said, we always love to end every episode with a game
42:26
All right. Go ahead, Jay. Can you explain the game? Yeah. So I was trying to think of a game that could just blend the two worlds that we're in right now, right
42:33
So you were at the Oscars in March, and the Tonys was this past weekend
42:38
Yeah. The Tony Awards for theater. So I figured we'd do a little double crowned Oscar and Tony edition, a game about actors winning or not winning Oscars and Tonys
42:47
Okay. So let's see how well you know your actors. And it's just some true or false, just some multiple choice
42:54
And this is the cheat queen right here. So if you need a link, just give her a little
42:59
Okay, okay, got it. But I'm not the cheat queen. I'm very competitive
43:03
He doesn't. He doesn't cheat. I always cheat. Gotcha. I just think, you know, if someone wants to get a perfect score and I can help, why not
43:09
Why not, right? Why not? Why not? I'm a socialist. I like that
43:13
I'm a socialist in other areas, but not in the game. Okay, are you ready
43:17
yeah number one true or false viola davis won an oscar and a tony for the same role in fences
43:25
the film and broadway play as rose maxton maxton was she in the play i know she won
43:33
i'm gonna say yes dun dun dun that's correct it's not because i saw the nada
43:40
oh i didn't even cheat that time you did it oh no i thought you were going like this oh no i was
43:46
just like dancing I think. That isn't, well I'm happy it worked out
43:50
Can you imagine if you thought I was shaking my head no? I think you were doing it subconsciously. I think you were doing it like yes
43:54
Good thing I wasn't dancing like this. Because I would have said balls and then we would
43:58
already have one. Yeah. We're on top though. We're on top. Let's keep it going
44:02
You're on top. Okay. Multiple choice. Which of these actresses, female actors
44:07
has won both a Tony and an Oscar? A, Helen Mirren, B, Nicole Kidman
44:14
or C, Kate Winslet? I want to say... I want to say..
44:20
Alan's fact-checking me. Correct. Yes. Helen Mirren won an Oscar for The Queen and a Tony for The Audience
44:29
That applause was... I liked it. Shout out to Helen Mirren. Okay, number three
44:37
She's in the show Mobland. Oh! I didn't even know her. Guys
44:41
And Pierce Brosnan. It's a great show. We love the mob. I love Pierce
44:44
We love Pierce. We love them all. He's my second favorite Bond. Who's your first
44:49
Daniel Craig. Come on. Okay. Sorry. Sorry. I don't know anything about those films, so I actually have no idea
44:55
Well, I know about Daniel Craig and that one. Huh? I only know those recent ones
45:01
Oh. I don't know about Daniel Craig. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I said, huh? He's like the newest one. He's like ours
45:04
Yeah, he's the newest one. He's like ours. But I think Pierce Brosnan was right before. Yeah
45:08
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Cool. Still, I have no idea. You agree? Number three
45:12
I agree. I sign off. Number three. true or false Lin-Manuel Miranda
45:16
has both has won both a Tony Award and an Oscar did he win an Oscar
45:26
I'm gonna say false correct correct false he's won Tonys, Grammys, and Emmys
45:32
but not an Oscar yet yet but I pretty confident he probably will He been nominated for an Oscar For what Moana Moana yeah
45:43
Is that true, Alan? The music, right? I think. I think he was. I'm confident
45:49
because Moana performed at the Oscars. And I remember them saying something
45:53
about him being nominated. She's not Sally Bowles anymore. She was. I'm so sorry
45:57
Yeah. Moana? The girl who played Moana or voiced Moana. Her name is slipping my mind
46:01
and I apologize. That's all right. But I did see her as Sally Bowles, and she was excellent. Nice
46:07
True or false? Okay, let's hear it. Rita Moreno is one of the few performers in history
46:12
to achieve EGOT status, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and two. Correct. Whoa. You know, you know
46:19
Yeah. One of mine, a Latina. Thank you, thank you, thank you
46:23
A Latina. And last, you have a perfect score. Great. Is that true
46:28
With minimal cheating. Minimal cheating, yeah, yeah, yeah. You say like 25%. 25%. 25%
46:33
Okay, last question. Which of the following actors has not won an Oscar and a Tony for acting
46:40
A, Whoopi Goldberg, B, Denzel Washington, or C, Al Pacino? That they've won nothing
46:46
That they have not won an Oscar and a Tony for acting. For acting. For acting
46:51
Correct. Yeah, it's Whoopi Goldberg. That's correct. Oh, yeah. I mean, yeah. Her Tony is for producing Thoroughly Modern Millie
46:57
Got it, got it. Yeah, yeah. I didn't know that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 100%. I didn't know she
47:01
Yeah. Alan? Alan. He got 100%. Your prize is a VIP invite to the season four launch party of Survival Jobs sometime in the fall
47:14
Do you think that's a bad prize? No, I think it's cool. I'm bummed you didn't get anything wrong because I love sad trombone
47:21
Okay, Alan, let's see if you get an invite. He's paying for it. What do you mean
47:26
He's paying for it but not invited. Yeah, not on the guest list
47:30
We'll have a strict door, just like they did at the Carlisle after party at the Tony Awards 2025
47:36
Oh, well, look at you, Flex. Will, this has been so much fun
47:41
Normally, we're more normal, but I mean, you're pretty normal today. I'm weird
47:46
I'm weird today. I like weird. I'm weird today. Before you go, please drop your Instagram or any socials and how everybody listening can keep up with you
47:55
Yeah, you can follow me on Instagram at WillMartinez07 and tune in to your friends and neighbors, season one now, and Apple TV
48:05
And hopefully you'll be seeing me some other things soon as well
48:09
Yeah, and please go watch him in Grey's Anatomy. It's excellent. He's on FaceTime a lot in Grey's Anatomy
48:13
Yeah. It's the Vimeo staff pick. And Aileen as well, yes. Aileen Grey's Anatomy
48:18
A-lean. A-lean. And if you're tuning in because you are a Will fan and you don't follow us yet, you want to take it away, Jay
48:28
Oh, you can follow us at Survival Joss Pod on Instagram and TikTok and Twitter
48:35
Do we write on Twitter? I be sharing some stuff sometimes. Okay
48:40
I didn't even know we still had a Twitter. There's a lot of content on their Twitter
48:46
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I have no idea. And then you can send us an email
48:50
at send us an email at survivaljobspod at gmail you can request a guest you can give us feedback
48:56
tell us how much you love us and then follow my girl over here samantha tutselo at sammy tuts
49:02
s-a-m-m-y-t-u-t-z and i'm jason a coombs on all the social medias and please rate us like us
49:11
subscribe to us and if you didn't like the show we're not survival jobs we're the theater the
49:15
The theater podcast hosted by Alan Seals. We're all Alan Seals. We're all Alan Seals
49:22
Thank you so much. By the way, is Twitter called Twitter? It's called X, isn't it
49:26
It'll always be Twitter. It'll always be Twitter. I call it Shitter because it's X-I-T-T-E-R
49:33
It's like Shitter. Oh, yeah. Alan, if you're going to guest come on our show
49:36
can you please not use profanity? yeah. Thank you so much, everybody
49:42
Will, you are a star. Can't wait to see you at the Oscars again
49:46
When you win Best Actor And thank you to the WelcomeTimesquare.com studio
49:51
Cheers to them Like and subscribe That's what you say on these right
49:58
That's what you say That's what you do Alright Samantha that was such a great episode
50:04
I love talking with Will It was a long time coming I feel like if we went into our inbox
50:11
There's so many emails being like Hey what about this guy and like links like multiple times
50:15
And, you know, we're busy. We're busy people. Sometimes the timing doesn't work out. We just do a lot of scheduling
50:20
And he's booked and... Will's booked and busy. Booked and blessed. Booked and busy and blessed, man. We love that for him
50:24
We love that for him. So thank you for tuning in, Survivors. We appreciate you
50:28
We appreciate your support. Like we said before, like, follow, subscribe, all those good things
50:34
Give us the love and support and we'll keep bringing you quality episodes
50:38
Right, Samantha Dawn Tetzalo? You said quality episodes and I was like, quality meats
50:41
I love that restaurant. Shout out to quality meats. We love a quality meat
50:47
And catch you next time
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