Ep. 52 - Max Azulay on 5 Doctors, Carmen and Moony, and Mel Brooks

Explicit content warning

04/03/24 • 57 min

Actor, writer and director Max Azulay leveraged his obsession with filmmaking to create unique, irreverent films armed with his comedic sensibility. The influence of the legendary Mel Brooks seeped in early on in his Suburban upbringing, which happened to take place 40 minutes from New York City, and helped inspire his young creativity. Finding his community of like-minded comedic cinephiles led to several short films which channelled his interests. He moved to Los Angeles to attend Occidental College, after transferring from Sarah Lawrence, his parents’ alma mater, and made a number of short films which led to 5 Doctors, his first feature film. Robert Altman would be proud of the film’s tone, which captured fundamental aspects of Max’s own life, including his high school, a thematic undertone of anxiety, and members of his family. He co-directed the film with frequent collaborator, Matt Porter. In addition to starring in the film, the pair wrote the screenplay alongside Phil Primason for an ensemble cast, including Bobby Moynihan, Jeremy Shamos, Peter Friedman and Eddie Pepitone among several others. In addition, Max has directed and written several short films with his collaborators, including Xander; Lenny; One Mutual Friend; and Carmen & Moony, the latter starring his partner Kate Adams, with whom he is developing his next feature. In our conversation, we discussed growing up near the big city; the influence of Borscht Belt comedy; the path towards his first feature; kleptomania; WiFi; and the through-line of family which runs through his catalogue.

Opening Credits: John Lopker - Embryo Murder I CC BY 4.0 DEED; Caleb Lemon - A Road in the Country I CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED; Jangwa - Jupiter Czar I CC BY 4.0 DEED; Closing Credits: Piki - Clear Blue I CC BY 4.0 DEED.

Previous Episode

Ep. 51 - Elisha Lawson on Syncing Ink, Chicago Improv and Marlon Brando

Elisha Lawson has acted in a number of projects through the years, including Boardwalk Empire, Shades of Blue, NCIS: New Orleans, and Group. In addition to his work on television, he has worked on several plays such as productions of A Raisin in the Sun and To Kill A Mockingbird, where he first met fellow Group cast-member, Ezra Barnes. His latest play, Syncing Ink, was created by playwright NSangou Njikam and will begin performances May 7, with an official opening set for May 19, at the Apollo Theater in New York City. In our conversation, we discussed his German upbringing; the importance of faith in his life’s journey; his improvisational roots as part of Chicago City Limits; the influences of Denzel Washington and Marlon Brando; working with Kara Young on his latest project; and exploring the naturalism of his performances facilitated by meticulous preparation.

Opening Credits: Masteredit - Contemplation I CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED; Masteredit - Reverie I CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED; Closing Credits: Nangdo - Intro I CC BY 4.0 DEED

Next Episode

Ep. 53 - Idan Ravin on Winning Time, The Hoops Whisperer and Kevin Hart

Idan Ravin is the elite NBA trainer who has individually worked with over 100 NBA players, including LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant. When an NBA player realizes a flaw in their game is keeping them from being able to operate at their full potential, they call Idan for assistance. He is known for his unorthodox (no pun intended) training sessions, which tend to prioritize dynamic movement over traditional, stationary drills. Idan’s thumbprint on the league can be seen in so many players, and has affected the culture and style of the league. He describes his notable transition from miserable California attorney to sought-after basketball trainer in The Hoops Whisperer (2015), his best-setting novel, which uses his upbringing and life history to outlay the meticulousness, candid nature and patience which is required to deliver athletic wisdom at the highest level of sport. He is also the author of It Takes Patience and Harmonica, which were both published in 2021. Since then, he has ventured into the world of cinema. He was a producer on the second season of HBO's Winning Time, and has been a creative consultant for sports-inspired national commercials for Nike, Right Guard, Sprite, Samsung, Gatorade, Degree, State Farm, NBA, Wells Fargo, Beats and Door Dash. He has collaborated with brands such as Nike, Degree, Dove Men, Acuvue and HBO to build and execute experiential activations anchored in training and brand messaging, and his unique approach towards training has been featured in several publications including the Wall Street Journal, the New Yorker, Sports Illustrated, Men's Health, and the Hollywood Reporter. In our conversation, we discussed his latest transition into film; the parallels between training NBA players and treating psychiatric conditions; spending an Israeli summer with Amar’e Stoudemire; and the 2024 NBA playoffs.

Opening Credits: pretochines - Dark Fall I CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 DEED; Jangwa - Frumento I CC BY 4.0 DEED. Closing Credits: Trans Atlantic Rage - A REALM IN A OPEN INTERPRETATION I CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 DEED.