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The Actor’s Guide to the End of the World: Daily Summaries Delivered
by actorsguidepodcast
Two actors, E-Kan Soong and Rían Sheehy Kelly talk acting and Hollywood in a way people understand. Dive into the most interesting headlines you need to know from the ever changing Hollywood industry as they share hilarious stories and insights from on set and off, and find joy along the ride. Frank, informative, and entertaining conversations for those in and out of the industry. All the world’s a stage, and this stage is on fire... but you know E-Kan and Rian are going to have a laugh either way. Watch and listen to new episodes every Monday wherever you find your podcasts! Follow @actorsguidepodcast on all social media, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Substack for all the best moments from the show. Follow E-Kan @ekansoong and Rían @riansheehykelly on Instagram
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- 1 weeks ago27 min
Award Shows Were Invented to Bust Unions
Welcome to the Actors Guide to the End of the World Podcast, Episode 97! It's Emmy's are here, and we go back into Hollywood history for a fun fact - In the 1920s, MGM's Louis B. Mayer had a plan: distract Hollywood's talent with medals and trophies so they'd never organize. "The best way to handle moviemakers was to hang medals all over them," he said — and just like that, the Academy Awards were born, not to celebrate artists, but to keep them from unionizing. It worked... until it didn't, and the fallout led directly to the founding of SAG. Now with the Emmys here, this year brings even more confusion, as they cut several categories including some acting categories from the main telecast and had them in the technical awards weekend which the unions did not take lightly. Hear the highlights from the first weekend that was cut from the main telecast like Betty Gilpin's epic awards speech and other things you might have missed... unless you're watching FXX where it was aired (?). Also DTF St. Louis which E-Kan worked on had an impressive night winning six awards, including Best Writing and Directing, and Supporting Awards for David Harbour and Linda Cardellini. E-Kan says, "It was an honor just being nominated." Meanwhile, a federal tax incentive for film production has been spouted by Trump again and praised by SAG-AFTRA itself — and it has Hollywood picking sides. Tune in for the history nobody talks about and the news everyone's arguing about. Support the Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ActorsGuidePod New episodes every week! Follow @actorsguidepodcast wherever you find your podcasts. Please like, follow, review, and rate if you can. @ekansoong @ríansheehykelly Show Links- Emmy's cut categories - https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/emmys-removes-categories-telecast-supporting-limited-acting-1236814429/ Betty Gilpin's award speech - https://youtube.com/shorts/jblrzakwOmQ?si=skb7P5pILKBiJKdm SAG-Aftra statement - https://www.sagaftra.org/sag-aftra-statement-federal-production-incentives Awards were made to bust unions - https://forward.com/culture/film-tv/395706/louis-b-mayer-created-the-oscars-to-combat-hollywood-unions/ Hidden Gems: Laemmle Theaters "The People of Pompeii" play (Los Angeles)- https://theatricum.com/the-people-of-pompeii/
- 2 weeks ago32 min
Coyote vs. Acme,' the Film WB Didn't Want to Release, Just Beat an 88-Year-Old Legend
Welcome to the Actors Guide to the End of the World Podcast, Episode 96! This week, Ridley Scott said "I'm an influencer, not a filmmaker" — at 88 years old. Seriously. We break down what he might have meant (spoiler: He's not getting on TikTok). He is releasing a new film this weekend "The Dog Stars" opening same weekend as success story "Coyote vs. Acme" — the Will Forte- John Cena film Warner Bros. tried to erase for a tax write-off in 2023, only for fan support and Ketchup Entertainment to rescue it. Two movies, same release weekend, wildly different journeys and we'll see how the 88-year old influencer fared. The guys dig in and Rían talks about why that is so refreshing. Along the way: E-Kan breaks down the real math behind why studios shelve finished films, Rían shares why he hates brutal film critics, what it means for actors when pedigree and prestige stop guaranteeing an audience. A episode about legends, underdogs, and the industry's short memory for both. Support the Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ActorsGuidePod New episodes every week! Follow @actorsguidepodcast wherever you find your podcasts. Please like, follow, review, and rate if you can. @ekansoong @ríansheehykelly Show Links- Ridley Scott "I'm an influencer" - https://variety.com/2026/film/news/ridley-scott-not-a-filmmaker-im-an-influencer-the-dog-stars-1236841083/ Coyote vs. Acme Success story - https://www.inc.com/jelinda-montes/warner-bros-tried-to-bury-coyote-vs-acme-the-controversy-became-its-best-marketing/91396214 Hidden Gems: Tigh'n Alluis Sweat Lodge (Dublin) - https://tighnalluis.ie/ "Fierce Conversations" by Susan Scott Time Stamps: Intro Ridley Scott is an influencer Coyote vs. Acme shelved for tax write off Word of mouth and fans rescue Coyote vs. Acme As good as “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” Who wins - Coyote vs. Acme or Ridley Scott? Brutal film critics are the worst No one knows anything Hidden Gems
- 3 weeks ago40 min
Is Method Acting Just a "Man Thing"? Kristen Stewart and Anya Taylor-Joy Have Some Thoughts
Welcome to the Actors Guide to the End of the World Podcast, Episode 95! This week, E-Kan updates us on a little follow-up on all the "feelings" talk, and we go even deeper with a few stories that fit right in. Bill Nighy has a terrific story talking with a fellow actor and confessed, he wasn't feeling anything on stage, and has never understood what actors meant about "being in character." The guys dig in and Rían talks about why that is so refreshing. Also, they dive into Kristen Stewart's controversial interview with the New York Times, when she poses a question directed at the macho, chest-beating rituals some male actors perform before emotional scenes, "Have you ever heard of a female Method actor?" This has many layers, and the guys go into a dive on what actors think and don't think "Method acting" is... Lastly, Anya Taylor-Joy puts her two cents in from an interview earlier this year, and argues, "women rarely get to "lose their minds" in the method-acting sense because they don't have the luxury — they can't afford to be difficult on set and have things to do." One of the big questions at the end of all this - is the whole mythology of Method acting actually an excuse for male actors to behave badly? Stick to the end and you'll hear why the guys admit this industry is "embarassing" and how Maya Hawke believes "All actresses are a little more than a woman, but male actors are a little less than a man." For actors, this is a real conversation about process, ego, and what's actually required to do the job - and demythologizes all the headlines that are made just to sell tickets. Support the Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ActorsGuidePod New episodes every week! Follow @actorsguidepodcast wherever you find your podcasts. Please like, follow, review, and rate if you can. @ekansoong @ríansheehykelly Show Links- Bill Nighy on "getting into character" - https://www.instagram.com/reel/Db3elZusAq7 Daniel Day Lewis speaks out - https://variety.com/2025/film/news/daniel-day-lewis-method-acting-easy-target-anemone-1236540269/ Kristen Stewart on Method Acting, NYT - https://www.nytimes.com/video/podcasts/100000010575526/kristen-stewart-on-men-and-method-acting.html Edward Norton- https://www.instagram.com/reels/DcRhM7ORUnp/ Anya Taylor Joy - Women can't be "out of their minds" - https://variety.com/2026/film/news/anya-taylor-joy-women-method-act-assholes-set-1236826424/ Maya Hawke on male actors - https://youtube.com/shorts/dB74AL208NM?si=nuEZZTy_HgrPGk47 Hidden Gems: US Open Fan Week (tennis, NYC) "Big Chicken" Netflix food documentary - https://www.netflix.com/title/81920949
- Aug 20, 202635 min
Hollywood Director Says the Industry Needs More A-Holes
Welcome to the Actors Guide to the End of the World Podcast, Episode 94! It's another wild week in Hollywood, people. A Hollywood Reporter Op-Ed by Hollywood director Joseph Kahn has caused a stir, stating that the industry needs to "Bring back the Hollywood asshole"... E-Kan and Rían dig into this, and question if the reason for our industry's problems is because we need more people shouting in boardrooms. Another bold claim from the op-ed "If studios don't start making more movies about white guys in fighter jets, the box office won't cover the gardening bill"... Does Hollywood needs its monsters back? That also brings us to an update on the Paramount-Skydance Warner Bros Discovery merger. The latest - David Ellison threatens to take Paramount out of California. So let's just say it's not going well. Is this merger even going to happen? Is that a good thing it won't? The guys also discuss why California has a responsibility to keep the industry here too. And for a sliver of hope, none other than Seth Rogen, whose NY Times interview has shed a lot of insight on the current industry from someone who would know a thing or too. One stunning revelation - how making a movie like they did with Superbad would never happen today, and how gun shy and risk averse Hollywood really is. This is the real wisdom for filmmakers and storytellers alike. Support the Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ActorsGuidePod New episodes every week! Follow @actorsguidepodcast wherever you find your podcasts. Please like, follow, review, and rate if you can. @ekansoong @ríansheehykelly https://variety.com/2026/film/news/goodbye-to-hollywood-paramount-california-exit-david-ellison-1236837300/ https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/17/paramount-bond-merger-delay-costs.html https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/bring-back-hollywood-asshole-joseph-kahn-column-1236653278/ Seth Rogen Interview- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt11UnYXzCw HIDDEN GEMS: Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge https://www.cedarrun.org/ Sleep earplugs - https://a.co/d/07kgQE6T Sleep eye mask - Super Sunnies Time Stamps: Intro Paramount threatens to leave California The shocking size of Paramount if merger happens Paramount also asks for a 1.1 billion dollar bond Is it possible to take Hollywood out of Hollywood? The responsibility on California to keep Hollywood Bring Back the Hollywood Asshole The tension between the creative and the executive The executive's job is to make money Nobody knows anything If you wanted to be a creative, why did you become an executive? Seth Rogen's NY Times Interview How Rogen creates his characters and drives his story How movies aren't made like they were before The daunting reality of being a crab on the sea floor Hidden Gems
- Aug 13, 202643 min
"Feelings Are Stupid" — Thoughts vs. Feelings
Welcome to the Actor’s Guide to the End of the World Podcast, Episode 93! Warning - we talk about our feelings this episode. Or in E-Kan’s case, lack of… We’re going deep on this one. We start with a famous study on kids who loved drawing. One group was given a reward for their efforts, the other didn't. Guess which group eventually stopped drawing? This episode starts there — and turns it into a hard question for anyone chasing a creative career: are you doing this because you love it, or because you're chasing the reward? What happens when external validation makes you forget why you wanted to do it in the first place? Then E-Kan and Rían dig into what "effortless" acting actually looks like on-camera, and why the second something feels performed, audiences can tell — even if they don't know why. Also a genius note from terrific photographer Matt Kallish that helped Rían during his headshot session. The guys talk about meditation after Rían shares his experience at a Transcendental Meditation workshop, which leads to E-Kan's confession- he thinks “feelings are stupid” and even drops a Marcus Aurelius quote : “The happiness of life depends on the quality of your thoughts.” The guys then go into a deep discussion, do people and creatives get wrapped up in our feelings too much and as E-Kan puts it, "do more harm than good"? Stick to the end and you’ll hear why visualization doesn’t actually work…unless you do one key thing. You're not ready for this one, ya'll. Support the Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ActorsGuidePod New episodes every week! Follow @actorsguidepodcast wherever you find your podcasts. Please like, follow, review, and rate if you can. @ekansoong @ríansheehykelly Kid’s Drawing Study (Over-justification Effect) https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-overjustification-effect-2795386 https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/overjustification-effect HIDDEN GEMS: Mark Manson’s Solved Podcast (Confidence) - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-build-confidence-solved/id1247526593?i=1000774972880 Oettingen study on Visualizations - https://www.simplypsychology.com/articles/visualization-techniques-psychology Smell Scents - https://ausflowers.com.au/en-us?srsltid=AfmBOoqOdQFd_zx3UNCFeACVu0SPkK6eVmFllhyw_QKXypbcjlzlWs51 Time Stamps: Intro Over-justification Effect Acting Industry is not a meritocracy Insights from a Great Headshot Photographer If it feels like acting, it’s off It’s never been about the money Actors don’t get paid to act, they get paid to wait Rían tries a transcendental meditation workshop Feelings are stupid You’ll never be able to control your emotions The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts E-Kan does have feelings Some actors are debilitated by their feelings Feelings are a byproduct of our thoughts Learning to not be pulled around by our feelings Aphantasia - When you can’t remember images, only feelings Hidden Gems
- Aug 6, 202654 min
Odyssey Translator Trashes Nolan's Film — Was She Right? Plus: A Casting Director Roundtable You Need to Hear
Welcome to the Actor's Guide to the End of the World Podcast, Episode 92! E-Kan and Rían have finally managed to get tickets to Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, which just broke box office records — but the translator whose work reportedly inspired the film says she'd be "ashamed" to have written any part of the script. The big question is- was she right? And how can we debate films without getting mean? We break down what worked (the practical effects are unreal — a 60-foot Cyclops puppet without CGI, a camera so massive it took two people to carry) and what didn't. Was it all spectacle and no soul? Then: we listened a casting director panel featuring the top CDs in the industry and got real talk on the state of the industry and era of self tapes - where we are, and where we hope to be. Keep listening - you'll a bomb drop how actors are reportedly using AI to manipulate their audition slates. We don't know what they're hiding, but we have theories. Movie stars, myth, and a little bit of Hollywood chaos. Press play. Support the Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ActorsGuidePod New episodes every week! Follow @actorsguidepodcast wherever you find your podcasts. Please like, follow, review, and rate if you can. @ekansoong @ríansheehykelly Show Links: The Odyssey behind the scenes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cTZ-Pa9vho Emily Wilson trashes the odyssey https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v48/n14/emily-wilson/an-uncomplicated-man Vulture- it feels so good to fight about the classics - https://www.vulture.com/article/the-critics-it-feels-good-to-fight-about-the-odyssey.html The Actor Podcast w/ Risa Bramon Garcia's - Casting Roundtable- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-62-casting-virtual-roundtable-cds-tell-it-like-it-is/id1203009952?i=1000777254691 Hidden Gems: Turtle Nest Preservation site - https://seaturtle.org/nestdb/index.shtml?year=2026&view_beach=73 Save the Cat screenwriting book- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49464.Save_the_Cat
- Jul 30, 202630 min
50,000 AI Shows Were Produced in One Month — and the Industry Is Collapsing
Welcome to the Actor's Guide to the End of the World Podcast, Episode 91! This is a must listen if you're an actor - the Vertical Micro-drama boom has taken a turn... China just produced 50,000 completely AI-generated shows in a single month — more than all of 2025 combined — and it's already gutting an industry that is supposed to be Hollywood's next big thing. We break down the current status of an industry that's estimated to be 4 billion in the US by 2030, and whether the same demise is coming for American sets next. Also, the World Cup last month left us with a lot of feelings, mostly E-Kan, the ignorant and new football fan. Rían, football player and fan, gives his perspective on what E-Kan calls a "classless" final, and how he didn't sleep the night of the World Cup final. And of course, we tease The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan's monstrous hit that we can't wait to talk about, until Rían can finally get an IMAX ticket in Los Angeles. Stick around and you'll here which is the very best theater in Los Angeles to see it. Keeping culture alive in a ever changing entertainment landscape, welcome to the party. Previous episodes on Vertical Micro-dramas - Episode 66 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaQ5fYktOK8 audio - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/%2426-billion-taye-diggs-and-the-vertical-drama-takeover/id1776516950?i=1000747822418 Dante Rusciolelli Vertical Drama video -https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZ_AFBOyS3W/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== The Wrap makes a spoof vertical drama for $150- https://www.thewrap.com/industry-news/tech/off-campus-ai-microdrama-see-the-results-storeel/ Vertical Dramas used AI to put actors in sexual situations - https://www.businessinsider.com/actors-sexualized-fake-ads-promote-micro-dramas-tiktok-meta-2026-5 Hidden Gems: Matt Kallish photographer - @mattkallish Emily Wilson's The Odyssey translation- https://www.amazon.com/dp/0393089053?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback Time Stamps: Intro The World Cup Drama The Odyssey The best theater to watch The Odyssey in LA Launching The Odyssey Book Club The Vertical Drama might... bust? SAG Contracts for the Verticals are a problem Shows are putting their actors in sex scenes using AI China produced 50,000 shows using AI in one month Famous Chinese actor leaves industry to sell vegetables The industry is becoming unsustainable Reporter makes a micro-drama for $150 using AI Hidden Gems
- Jul 23, 202640 min
I asked him what he'd do with his life. His answer surprised me.
Welcome to the Actor's Guide to the End of the World Podcast, episode 90! We're back after a small hiatus, and this one goes deeper than we expected. Rían just did his first stage show in years — and we get into what actually changes when you go from screen to stage: no cuts, no second takes, and what it feels like when your scene partner drops their line. That story turns into something bigger — an honest conversation about the illusion of "planning" a career, why we changed our mind about a piece of advice we used to swear by, and what it means to actually be in service of the work instead of the other way around. Then comes the big question: E-Kan and Rían answer what if money and time weren't an issue, what would you actually be doing with your life? The answer wasn't what either of us expected.. Funny, honest, and a little more vulnerable than usual. Welcome back. Did you know we're in Season 2 of the show? And we have new ways to support the podcast! Support the Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ActorsGuidePod New episodes every week! Follow @actorsguidepodcast wherever you find your podcasts. Please like, follow, review, and rate if you can. @ekansoong @ríansheehykelly Show Links: Ethan Hawke interview- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B34ncZbahw Shaan Sharma episode- ep 45 - youtube.com/watch?v=tVcU1eMet00&feature=youtu.be Distress Signals Project - https://www.instagram.com/distresssignalsproject/ Hidden Gems: Young Playwrights Festival - https://www.theblank.com/ypf LA Compost at Sherman Oaks Farmers Market- https://www.lacompost.org/events-1/y88ptsz8dhxmsty-4nfpe-y3dbe-jdbwr-6px5h-tzwjy-bxrk4-jzjz6-4wh2z
About The Actor’s Guide to the End of the World
Two actors, E-Kan Soong and Rían Sheehy Kelly talk acting and Hollywood in a way people understand. Dive into the most interesting headlines you need to know from the ever changing Hollywood industry as they share hilarious stories and insights from on set and off, and find joy along the ride. Frank, informative, and entertaining conversations for those in and out of the industry. All the world’s a stage, and this stage is on fire... but you know E-Kan and Rian are going to have a laugh either way. Watch and listen to new episodes every Monday wherever you find your podcasts! Follow @actorsguidepodcast on all social media, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Substack for all the best moments from the show. Follow E-Kan @ekansoong and Rían @riansheehykelly on Instagram
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