Oct 9, 2026 · 59 min · 9 segments
This episode features filmmaker Michael Gier, an award-winning filmmaker dedicated to telling stories of service, sacrifice, and resilience with many of his films revolving around the survivors and…
Michael GierGuestJoanne ButcherHostUm, you know, one of the things I always think about acting, and ac- actors- ... are, are very passionate about their, their craft, and I understand why.
Um, but one of the things that I find difficult when I think about acting is the lack of agency, and I don't know if that was an experience you had as an actor, but I feel as though, um, [laughs] obviously a director gets to be in charge, and an actor-
What, what, how, how do you see the difference between being an actor and a director in that sense?
Well, I, I mean that the a- the, the actor is sort of given the direction and told what to do.
Right? Whereas a director gets to tell what to do and gets to, you know, uh, make tho- all those kind of decisions.
And it is, you know, at least when I direct, you know, it, it's, it's kind of a little of both, you know.
I like to see what the actor brings to it because many times they'll bring something better, you know.
Um, but other times, you know, I have something that I think is gonna work better, so I'll, I'll ask the d- the actor to go in that direction.
Um, and then sometimes that allows me to help them make their performance better as well.
Um, but I do really enjoy working with great actors, especially actors that are versatile-
so that I can give them direction, and they can make the adjustment, and then we both go, "Wow, that was amazing." [laughs]
[laughs] Um, who, who is your favorite actor that you have been able to work with?
Um, you know, one of the things I always think about acting, and ac- actors- ... are, are very passionate about their, their craft, and I understand why.
Um, but one of the things that I find difficult when I think about acting is the lack of agency, and I don't know if that was an experience you had as an actor, but I feel as though, um, [laughs] obviously a director gets to be in charge, and an actor-
What, what, how, how do you see the difference between being an actor and a director in that sense?
Well, I, I mean that the a- the, the actor is sort of given the direction and told what to do.
Right? Whereas a director gets to tell what to do and gets to, you know, uh, make tho- all those kind of decisions.
And it is, you know, at least when I direct, you know, it, it's, it's kind of a little of both, you know.
I like to see what the actor brings to it because many times they'll bring something better, you know.
Um, but other times, you know, I have something that I think is gonna work better, so I'll, I'll ask the d- the actor to go in that direction.
Um, and then sometimes that allows me to help them make their performance better as well.
Um, but I do really enjoy working with great actors, especially actors that are versatile-
so that I can give them direction, and they can make the adjustment, and then we both go, "Wow, that was amazing." [laughs]
[laughs] Um, who, who is your favorite actor that you have been able to work with?
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