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Joshua Hunt: Trying to Get My Face Everywhere
48 Plays5 months ago
Aaaaand we're Back for Season 2!
For my first guest of 2026 I have Actor and Writer, Joshua Hunt!
We talk about the films he made as a child, getting into acting and film making at University, Taking a break AND coming back to Acting as real life responsible adult!
We also talk about the films he's been in like Not All Men and Internal Vacancy AND Between the Shelves, a film he's written as part of Newcastle Film Club's most recent film challenge.
Then we wrap up by getting INTO IT with some Steven Spielberg talk and some genuinely lovely advice from Josh from anyone considering giving up on acting.
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Transcript
Season 2 Introduction
00:00:19
Speaker
Hello and welcome to What Makes You Tick Season 2. This is a conversation podcast where I, Ryan Watson, speak to actors, writers, filmmakers and a range of other artists from the northeast of England and sometimes beyond. I talk to them about what they do, how they make it work and the media that inspires them to
Introducing Joshua Hunt
00:00:33
Speaker
do that work. Today I'm speaking with Joshua Hunt.
00:00:35
Speaker
Josh is an actor and writer who's appeared in short films, like a ridiculous number of short films. just in 2025. These include Fido's Day Out, The Prop, ah It's Time, Not All Men, and Internal Vacancy. He's also been in feature films such as John Ghost, Normality, and Bet on Dwight, as well as making and various appearances in everything from web series, stage, music videos, and even adverts for a cinema chain that I visit regularly. Finally, he's also written a short film that's going to be part of the Newcastle Film Club Feature Short Film Challenge,
00:01:10
Speaker
and that's called Between the Shelves. Josh, how's it going? It's going great. Thank you very much. That was quite the intro. just you've You've done so many things, like even just this year. I'm saying this year because it's currently 2025, but it will when this I looked on your spotlight and I was like, man, you've really worked
Podcast Origins and Connections
00:01:29
Speaker
this year. Yeah, the last three, two, three years, I've just been trying to get my face everywhere. I'm very happy to have you on because it's like, I feel like I kind of know you, but feel like I know you more since I started doing my podcast. Yeah, remember when your podcast kind of, it just popped up one day and I was like, what makes you tick? Is it about clocks? Is it a Tourette's Awareness podcast? I don't know. Oh, Dan Lemon's on it. Oh, I'll give it a listen. And in the end, we just kind of messaged about it to tell you how great it was. And I think we just kind of went from there, made a couple times. Are enjoying it? me that's good like it really gets me like talking to people i've not always been like the most natural you know when i see someone just like quickly and it's it's nice to have someone put it as like it's nice to have a structured format to talk to somebody yeah yeah yeah understand but um yeah so as i mentioned in the intro i've seen you perform more than any other person who's been on my show oh wow I went to the cinema a lot of times in, were around November 2024, wasn't it?
Cinema Competition and TikTok Auditions
00:02:32
Speaker
It was, yeah. We filmed that in October and then it was literally a quite quick turnaround and it went on to the big screen and like, yeah, November. Yeah, it was. November till the beginning January or something.
00:02:45
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, what where were it? What did you what did you tell me about? It was basically for Joe Public to kind of do. um we um it was on the Cineworld app and I was just on it looking to see what to go and see because I go to the cinema quite regularly.
00:03:02
Speaker
um And yeah, and it was like it just had this kind of it it said it was like a competition. And what you need to do is you need to upload like ah kind of an audition piece to either Instagram or TikTok.
00:03:15
Speaker
um And so I didn't want to do it to Instagram because I've got a lot of people on Instagram. was like, well, I don't really want them to see it because it's it's probably going be really cringy. So as I was like, I uploaded a TikTok because I don't have as many people on there.
00:03:28
Speaker
So I did. And what i did was um it was kind of because they asked some questions um for the for the piece. And you just basically had to answer the questions. And the all they wanted to see was if you were if you were comfortable on camera, because if you weren't, then... you're not going to do well on the big screen so um so yes there's questions and what i kind of did was um uh you know put a title card on my videos with each question and then i would a video of me kind of answering it but as each question was answered i was on my way to the cinema so i was like what one in my kitchen one put me coat on one in the car one and then eventually i get to the cinema and i'm there so then they emailed me like a few weeks later saying come down to london we'll we'll shoot it
00:04:08
Speaker
It kind of blew my brain when I'd seen, because I think you posted on Instagram about the other week. Yeah, year ago. I was just like, whoa, that was... Yeah, but no, that's amazing. You mentioned in the advert, I watched it again before we did this. You mentioned Moana and the Mufasa Lion King. Do you have to like them films or are you allowed to... No, you don't necessarily have to like those films. They hadn't come out at the time. So, yeah, they just said, to say these lines.
00:04:40
Speaker
So I said them. and I saw the films. And I was like, oh, okay. Yeah, I mean, especially, like I don't think I saw Moana 2. Do you know what? I didn't, I don't not like them. I think the Mufasa is very average is what I'll say. i don't think, I don't like to be necessarily negative about stuff. um it You know, it was fine.
00:05:03
Speaker
I took my little girl. She liked it. What can I do? You know what mean? And actually I kind of enjoyed Moana 2. Moana 2 was meant to be a Disney Plus series before it was a film and you can tell.
00:05:16
Speaker
And so like I was watching it I was like, oh, so that's when that episode would end. And that's when that episode would end. But yeah, it's a pretty good film. I imagine that experience is slightly changed by, you know, like going with a child as well. Like I was just in a stage where I'd just go to the cinema every day by myself after work.
Early Acting Interest and Influences
00:05:33
Speaker
um So I guess, I mean, I guess the, the, the first sort of main question I always ask everyone is, can you tell me about your background? How did you come to acting? Is it, is it recent thing or? and No, it's, um it's been a long, long time in the making, I guess. So I,
00:05:50
Speaker
so I mean, i've I've always loved film, always loved film. and Since I was, I can remember, since I was a five-year-old, I loved everything about film. i loved, um I was obsessed with camera movements. I was obsessed with editing, writing, writing.
00:06:07
Speaker
um I would reenact like Jurassic Park my front room my parents to watch. And yeah, absolutely loved it. I would i would perform puppet shows for them all to kind of gather around magic shows. Just like watch, just watch me basically. Watch me. Yeah. And i I used to like read scripts and I would like, to I would sometimes turn my favorite kind of books into scripts. And one day I'll make these. And I never obviously didn't.
00:06:37
Speaker
And yeah, I just, I just, and I was really interested in acting um as a, as just an art form, I guess. And I did it a in school for GCSE drama.
00:06:50
Speaker
And it was the, cause we had a performance from people and then I realized it was weird. It was like, The nerves, I couldn't handle the nerves at the time. And I was like, oh I don't know if I actually like this any like anymore. I was like 16 at the time. and me granddad was a performer as well. He would um he he did like you know stage and and theater and like music and stuff as well. But ah but yeah. and i So I kind of put it on the back burner after my GCSEs. I was like...
00:07:21
Speaker
I think I'm going to yeah and concentrate on behind the scenes. I do um ah so i did media. I did TV and media when I went to college and when I when i went to uni. And I kind of... Because, like I said, I'd always been interested interested in you know making films. I made my first feature film when I was 13 with my mates, just with a little video camera. I mean, we made loads of films with my dad with mid dad's video camera. I broke so many video cameras. that' right We have a film.
00:07:50
Speaker
We have, so I'm going on a complete tangent here. We have a film where, um, I'm running along a live field and we always would, it was always world war two films. That's what we were interested in making world war two films. I don't know why. And I'm running around, around a field and my mate behind the, obviously he's acting, he's got his gun out and he's like, this is bumpy ground. So everyone be careful. And then i just fall over and just, the camera just breaks, it completely smashes up. So yeah. But then my dad brought me one myself and, uh, But anyway, yeah, so I did and media in in and uni. And then i think it was it was that it was at Sunland Uni, and my mate was like, do you want to kind of just
Career Reignition and Support
00:08:27
Speaker
be in my film? Just be in it, because I need someone to be in it. So was like, yeah, I know.
00:08:32
Speaker
And then I was like, oh, no, this is what I love doing. This is this is it. I like being in front of a camera. I like acting on film. So, yeah, I did that a lot. And do you know you know Rob Carr? You've had him on your show? Yeah, yeah. I met him.
00:08:47
Speaker
Must be about 17-ish years ago. um I met him at uni and he was, obviously he was a media student. and We weren't on the same course, I don't think. I think he might have been a year below me or something like that. And I was in like quite a few of his films. I think we ah did about four films together maybe. and So yeah, and that was it. That was it. That was kind of like, oh yeah, this is what I love doing. So when I left uni, I thought, right, okay, I'm going to try and find, you know, find places to make, be in films and do do that. But there was just nothing around. There was just nothing around up here anyway. i saw i did um a National Youth Film Academy when I was 25.
00:09:27
Speaker
ah where we went down to London, we made ah it was like a two week course, and we made basically a short film when I was the lead actor in our short film. And and it was great, you know, and but then then we came okay back home and again, I'm like,
00:09:41
Speaker
Now what? There's nothing around. like I was an extra. did I got into extra work through NE14. And ah yeah, i was an extra George Shentley, Vera, ah Victoria for ITV. And yeah, I was just, I loved being on set. I just didn't know what was going on. And there was the Theatre Royal. I did the Theatre Royal for a bit, which was a 10-day course. a ten Sorry, 10-week course. That was fun and that that kind of got me out of my comfort zone and to do a bit of stage. and then And then I took a little break because I got married and had a kid. And you've got to do it.
00:10:13
Speaker
So I did. I took a little break and and then eventually I think my little girl was about two or three. And I thought, i want to try and get back into that that acting thing that I loved. Do you know what mean? So I am ah signed up, I saw, oh yeah, it was a, have you heard of Knockin' Nash? Oh, it sounds familiar. They were doing, it was, they were doing in Newcastle, again, it was like a screen, it was a screen acting course. thought that's perfect for me. That's what I want to do. I want to do screen acting. So I signed up for that. and And it was, it was a week and it was quite, was quite pricey to be fair, but it was good. And I, you know, I really wanted to do it. So I thought, you know, I'll just pay them and I'll go for it. And then two days into it, got food poisoning. And I was so ill. And I remember messaging the guy and was like, look, he like, oh, no, it's fine. You can come in. You'll be like, you'll be all right. was like, you really don't want come in.
00:11:07
Speaker
I have a knuckle fit state. And I took that as that's the universe telling me not to not to do it, not to go and act. I think I was 32 at the time. And I was like, that's the end it. I was just saying, there just there, that's it. no And then that week I was kind of just scrolling on my phone and I saw this advert for something called the actor's warehouse.
00:11:28
Speaker
And it was weird. It was like, do you want to be an actor? And I was like, yes, I do. And so ah ah ah so I'm looking at it and I'm like,
00:11:39
Speaker
what And it's it's all because of the algorithm, you know, the algorithm. the I always think of the algorithm as like, you know, your grandma, when you tell us tell her that you like something, and so she gets you for every business. That's the algorithm. That's such a good way. Yeah. But this time it worked out for the best because i looked at it and I was like, I clicked on it and I was like,
00:11:58
Speaker
And I said, sign up here. and Our lead guy will give you a call. I mean, it could have been a scam for all. I know that it was. It was. Again, it was quite pricey. And and it was just like a it was again, it was another course, but it would teach you everything like how to make a CV, how to use social media to your advantage, blah, blah, blah, blah.
00:12:17
Speaker
Again, it was it was pricey, but I had an i had an interview with the with the guy. Well, not an interview, it was more of a chap. And he said something to me. He said, and flash forward, you're 80-year-old.
00:12:29
Speaker
um and you're just you know you're sitting there you've got you you know you've got your grandkids around you blah bla blah are there any regrets in your life is there anything that you wish you would have tried and i was like you know what yeah that's it's just to be an actor that's what i wish i would try and he was like then i think you should go for it um so what so but ah i'd already um like forked out quite lot money from knocking nash so i was a bit skinned So I was like, I don't know if I can afford it. so i was talking to my mom about it and she was just like, look, we'll give you the money if it's what you want to do. We'll give you the money. And you know, ah ah like my mom and dad are great with stuff. Like they just, they've always been so supportive about it. um
00:13:12
Speaker
Even when I didn't believe in myself, you know, my mom and dad always kind of believed in me. ah So that they did, they gave me the money for it and I did this course and it did, it showed me how to make save a CV, how to social media to my advantage. Because people were like, make an actor's Instagram account. and I'm like, an actor's Instagram account? like what like who do I think I am making an actor's Instagram account you know what I mean but I did and it was the best thing I could have possibly done because then I started getting like I signed up to say it inspired me to sign like things like Star Now I got a few student films on the back of that and I i would just go to every networking event that I could possibly find um yes I was with ah
00:13:49
Speaker
you know, joined Newcastle Film Club and met
Joining the Actors Forge
00:13:52
Speaker
all those guys. And then ah emailed like local production companies. And then I was and then I would I would just kind of start getting roles and then people would start reaching out to me. And I'm like, oh do you want to come out and be in this? I'm like, yeah, absolutely. um And then i met a few actors on on set for a Terabithia Pictures production. And they start talking about something. I don't know if you've heard of it. it's called the the Actors Forge. Never, never heard of it. Yeah, I didn't know what that was. So yeah, so then they they told me about that and was like, oh, okay. So I emailed Dan Lemon and yeah, and then and here I am. It's really interesting because it's, ah I mean, first of all, when were you at Sunderland Uni? I think I must have been there slightly after you. What year were you? I started in 2010. So i that was my third year. I finished in 2011.
00:14:40
Speaker
Oh, okay. Oh, so we would have crossed over then. We would have crossed over. Okay. No, but it's like really interesting sort hearing your whole story because it rings so true, like even down to doing drama at school. And I remember when we had to choose our GCSEs and I didn't choose drama because I thought it were only girls who do drama. It totally is, isn't it? It's like, I can't do drama. I'll get beaten up or something. Yeah, well, that's it. And then I don't know. And it's like one of them things where it's like just such a sort of, it seems silly now. I remember when, because it was, for me, it was, I was in year 10. So I did a bit earlier. It was like after school kind of drama course. And eventually what you would, you would get your GCSE early basically. And I remember I signed up and two of my mates signed up as well, but they kind of dropped out.
00:15:29
Speaker
as it went on and uh i was like nah i'm sticking this out i'm just gonna do it and then yeah and i got the gcse um which was good me and my friend ended up doing it in a level but it were like it was almost this thing like i think we were still the only boys and it were like it was almost as if we couldn't take it serious like we were sort of doing our own silly voices and all sorts of stuff it were like we couldn't take it seriously because like being in um in because i went to ah straight out of school i went to peter lee college and um my lecturer there so i did tv media but my lecturer there he was adamant because i was you know he was adamant that he wanted me on the stage and he was like i'm gonna get you in out and i was i was adamant saying i do not want to do stage i really do not want to do stage and i and now i'm like
00:16:15
Speaker
should have not been listen to it It's this weird thing I almost, I feel like sometimes it's like, it's like almost like you have to, maybe, maybe if, if I did, or you like really went through when you were younger, you would have fallen out of it and not been. Yeah, maybe. I mean, who knows? You know what I mean? Yeah. Yeah.
00:16:33
Speaker
Just keep going and see what happens. Yeah, um but ah the other thing, I just wanted to go back to the thing about the actor's Instagram, because that's funny. Even when I was messaging you to organize this podcast, I didn't even realize I wasn't talking to you on your actor's Instagram. I was like, is that something I should do? I definitely recommend. I mean, if you want to do on your normal Instagram, that's absolutely, yeah I just think it's just good to have kind of, it's almost like, um sounds almost like a business account, I guess, you know, like, um just to kind of separate the two. Like I keep my, like my personal ones kind of private.
00:17:10
Speaker
and And then then and i have to confirm people for that one. Whereas anyone can just follow me actors Instagram one if they want, you know what i mean? I just think it's a good thing to have and you put all your things in one place and then, you know, Yeah, it's a nice, I guess, way of keeping things separate. I'm never sure if there's someone from the Actors Forge. I'm never sure if it's okay to add to their regular Instagram. Just out of the way, like, yeah. Out of the way, do it. So, you know, so you started doing the courses. We're at the Actors Warehouse. Yeah, so did the online course. And then eventually the Forge. At what point in sort of doing these courses did you start to go for roles in, like, short films and things?
First Student Film Experience
00:17:53
Speaker
um Well, I guess, because ah obviously I did my the National Youth Film Academy, so I think that's like the first kind of role I've got on my spotlight. And then ah I think the next one, so that was in 2015, and then I think the next one's like 2020, where i got cast in a short film, and then I was, yeah yeah, Standing Up, I think it was called, yeah. That was through someone I knew. I'd met on, like, a set like when I was, like, an extra. And she got into, like, I've got this, someone's looking for this role, do you want to be in i was like, yeah, okay. I did that one, and then that's when, like, after that, kind of took my break when I got married and a kid. And then joined the Actors, did Knock and Nash in the Actors Warehouse 2022.
00:18:34
Speaker
And then January 23, I got my first student film. And, yeah, I got my first student film, And I did two student films off the back that I got cast at the exact same time, and one in January and one in February. And the one, yeah, one of them, like, in fact, actually in both them, I've got really like high praise like i remember i think it got to like a film festival in america and they sent us this video of all these like americans basically talking about my performance which was very very surreal and just like talking about how like how much they like the film and how much they like enjoyed me and i was like oh this is ah this is wild so it wasn't it wasn't really long it was just kind of i just kind of just started doing it straight away i thought well there's no time like the present i might as well just keep keep going for it How do you, so, I mean, it's partly, yeah, I heard you saying this the other week when we were ah we were at Dan McQuiz, about um you spend a lot of your time outside your regular day job just sort of working on on acting and and and things. I mean, how do you sort of, I don't want to say how do you fit in, that's the sort of basic way of saying it.
00:19:41
Speaker
It's great difficulty. that it's Yeah, so you do like your nine or five. Well, I make sure that I use like my lunch breaks. is like if i'm you know If I've got lines to learn, if don't know, Forge or all The Shoot, I will learn them on my lunch break. and ill i Or maybe if I'm, i'll I'll try and do something creative on my lunch break. um I don't like just sitting there kind of doom scrolling on my phone. So i yeah, I kind of use that time for that. But then, yeah, like i said, you have a nine to five job. you come it's You come in and it's really hard to balance your work, your family, and then your creative kind of.
00:20:16
Speaker
stuff and I don't have an answer really of how how how you do it. You just kind of, ah like, you just do. That's all I can say. You just do. Yeah, so, like, I'll be sitting down and we I'll be watching TV and there'll be just something my brain telling us, like, you can't, like, do something else. Like, what are you doing? Like, like I hear people, like, you know, I binge watch this show, like eight episodes of this show, and one afternoon I'm like,
00:20:43
Speaker
how did you do that like how i like i like after i can't watch more than one episode of tv like in one so in one sitting because i just in my head's just telling us like you know you know that idea you had for a script like two weeks ago get it written down because like you'll forget about it and yeah um it's a blessing and a curse because i can't relax i can't relax that's what we're gonna ask next so it's it's a lot of like you can't really i mean do you ever Do you ever sort of crack from it and just need need some time to? Yeah, definitely. So like, for example, if if if I've got like a self tape to do, so I've got self tapes come through and I want to get in. And once I've got it done, i think that's my that's my work done for the day. I can now sit down and I'll just not think about anything. I can just crack on. um Yeah. if it Like I say, if I ah if i do if to ever do a bit writing on my work, on my lunch break, then I'm like,
00:21:39
Speaker
okay, and I can kind of relax with that and kind of like, yeah, ill I'll get home and I'll, you know, play with my daughter and I'll, once she goes to bed, I can kind of just switch off. And so it it does happen. It's just, it's's it's it's quite rare. a like I had a good few months. It was quite a fortunate position. I got a decent payout and left my old job. And I had a few months where it was just like, Frida! And And I've just started a new job and it's full time and it's a lot more in the office than I've been for a while. And even just doing this podcast, I'm just like, oh my God, where do find the time?
Balancing Day Job with Acting
00:22:11
Speaker
It's a lot, isn't it? I know, I know, I know. It was sort were you saying it saying a last week? It's kind of nice to just just hear from from other people who are in in similar situations who are managing to do do those things. Because I think... I think like I'm in a job, my bosses won't listen to this, so it doesn't matter. I'm in a job that I don't really care for. Yeah. and i want to get out of it and i think the only way i'm going to do that is if i crack on now and i just like and i just kind of you know work when i'm not working if that makes sense there's a there's a small chance on my boss will listen to this so i love my job yeah absolutely never that metal you were saying before we were probably started recording how much you love your job um
00:22:54
Speaker
So I guess I want to ask a bit about our looking through your spotlight. And I was really impressed by you the description you have on there. It talks about sort of your natural on screen, real and relatable. I think it said you can play a lovable guy or someone a bit darker and unpredictable. And I'm like, I've i've not seen that many things, you but even the stuff I've seen you in, I'm like, that is such a perfect description. because Oh, thank you very much. I can't take credit for that bio. and I will credit Laura Lee Daly on that one. he She was my agent for a for a bit and my manager. So yeah, I'm like, and you know, i still kind of look at her as that and i'm like, Laura, help me with this, please. she wrote so She's going to love it that I've given her a shout out as well. I wish hadn't Well, I was actually, I was sort of going to ask you about, like, I talked to Laura and Chris Darby about Not All Men at the start when I first started the podcast, but I'd not seen it yet. And then I'd watched it at the Femme film Filmmakers. Yeah, yeah. Femme Filmmakers. You know the film, the festival, the online... oh Oh, yes. No, yes. Sorry. Yeah, I do yeah i do know what you mean. Like, you were scary in that, Josh. You were scary. Yeah.
00:24:08
Speaker
Yeah, it was a very tough shoot, but we made it, you know, the we made it lighthearted. Like we had to, you know what mean? Like it was very tough to film, um but we needed a kind of have that bit of relief of, you know, like not joke, obviously not joking about the bloody subject, but like, you know, having a bit of a like a laugh about like, yeah, it was awkward. So we had to kind of,
00:24:34
Speaker
I think like the sort of the the thing that sort of really struck me actually watching it is like you and Laura sort you had this sense of like you were very clearly two people who had an existing relationship. It was sort of like this is not like two strangers.
00:24:50
Speaker
This is like people who know each other. I'm glad you've said that because yeah, like they were they are like the characters in the film. were friends and and i think that's the kind of the the scarier thing about it isn't it like you know it's someone she clearly trusted and invaded that trust and um yeah it was it was a it is it's a scary film after i'd watched our message laura and she was i think she'd said something like it's hard to say you like it but it's like yeah it was definitely successful in Oh, yeah, the the message brought across in such a good great way. And that sounded Laura's direction and Chris's writing. You know what mean? it
00:25:32
Speaker
It was, yeah, it is a brilliant film, and I'm really, really proud of it. There were so many films on your spotlight, and I wanted to... um Yeah, I mean, are there any particular films you've done and that you you want to want to talk
Filming 'Internal Vacancy'
00:25:45
Speaker
about?
00:25:45
Speaker
um So, well, I mean, obviously Not All Men was the big one. um Yeah, i get Internal Vacancy was a fun one. That was a really fun shoot. Do you know Harrison Emmons? It was just me and him, ah like in those crazy, wacky roles. They would just put a camera on us and just kind of like just just do stuff. And we were like, all right, okay. And at the time, I remember thinking...
00:26:09
Speaker
how are they going to edit this film? Cause there's so much shit. And and then I watched it. I was like, that was really good. i't believe i Like genuinely I was, I was ah not that I didn't think it was going to be good, but I just thought that it was going to, i just didn't know how they were going to get around all the, all the, yeah, all the, all the shit. Yeah. So sorry, so what's what what are some examples of the kind of things you are? So that yeah there's one bit where and there's a scene right at the end and when we're trying to think trying to describe the scene without spoiling it. but anyway, me and Harris are in the corner of in the back of the room and the direction was, OK, right. You two, you just need to walk over and stand kind of there. like and and just walk over to the right and stand kind of there. And then the camera's going to pan down on Anna and Jesse and they're going to have a conversation. So we did.
00:26:58
Speaker
and But we get to a wall and we're like we're just like, I don't know what we do when we get to this wall because the camera's kind of still on us. Like you can still see us in the background. So how do we get around this? week ah we So we walked to the wall and then we just like looked at each other and just pretended a kiss and just like what went down under the table. Yeah.
00:27:17
Speaker
know I don't know what else we could, because we could just stand there. thought it'd be funny if we did that. So we did that, like, i think we did it almost every take, but the when they edited it, it you did they cut it out, basically. They were like, nah, that's not good. Okay. Okay.
00:27:35
Speaker
It sounds like sounds like you were having too much fun. We were having too much fun, yes. Too much fun. It was. It was no work and all play. Actually, there's another thing I'd seen. um You'd shared something Instagram. I've always been curious about these things. it were a You and Rebecca Rogan were doing like a role play thing. Yeah, yes. So that was and that was Laura. ah That was Laura's her her her real job. that um Yeah, she organized that. And we just had to, it was like a room full of teachers. um And basically it was kind of us doing like real life scenarios that have happened in, in, um
00:28:15
Speaker
the work environment regarding health and safety and we did about four of them um so yeah so like one was like on the menopause and then one was on like um i think rebecca had like a a sore leg or something and they'd been like she had to get to take the stairs or so i can't actually remember like full details but um but yeah that was that was just something completely different that i'd never done before but um Yeah, the Lord just asked me to do it. And i was like, well, yeah, I guess I'll give it a go. And it it went down really well. Yeah, really enjoyed that. and i do ah What's the kind of experience like versus something like performing on stage? Because I imagine there's similarities, but it's a different type of audience. So on stage, obviously, everyone's watching your acting, I guess, in a way. They're they're watching you for your performance where the tea the that was kind of educational. right over and i get And I guess at the time, it didn't necessarily feel that different. I didn't treat it any differently. you know i just did It was a job that I was hired to do, and I just ah did it that way. um and But yeah, i probably educational over.
00:29:24
Speaker
over the art, I guess. I don't know how to describe that one. It was good. If you ever get a chance to do something like that, I'd definitely recommend It was very rewarding. It was. and Like, at the end, all the... Because I i always imagined those things of, like, oh, just dead cringey and, like, probably cheesy. But at the end, like, loads of the like teachers were coming to me. Like, that was really, like, well done. Like, really, thank you. it was really good to see stuff like that happen because, like...
00:29:52
Speaker
Yeah, you can talk about that all you want, but when you just like see it in a performance, like performance kind of it really hits home a little bit, and ah it was quite nice to hear. So I wanted to talk to you about the... You've written a short film for Newcastle Film Club's Film Challenge. It seems really cool, that film challenge this year.
Short Film Challenge: 'Between the Shelves'
00:30:09
Speaker
Yeah, it's all... it's So like I've been involved with film challenges like for the last like two years or whatever. um um like I'm always popping up in them.
00:30:18
Speaker
and But this one... Like, I thought, I would love to make that. um Yeah, so basically, it's um it's called the Feature Film Challenge. story um And it's just, it's so we're all going to make a short film and based over that kind of like the same theme. Each short film is going to have the same theme and the theme is that the internet has been switched off for ah a year because the big government switch off, they switch the in internet off as and each short film is going to begin roughly a month before the switch on, before it switches back on and then we're going to bring all these short films together to make one big like two hour feature length film, kind of in the same vein as I love actually Pulp Fiction where's lots of different stories that all and then at the end can they all kind of c culminate in into one. and So yes, so mine is called Between the Shelves. And um when this airs, it'll probably will have shot it, I think. Yeah, we'll shoot it on the 22nd of January.
00:31:19
Speaker
um And mine is set... in a library because in that switch off, what are you going to do? You're going to go read books. um And yes, so it's it's it's set in a library. It's about two yeah so it's two people, and a man to woman, and they meet in this kind of library environment. and They strike a little close friendship, like ah almost ah a bond, possibly romantic.
00:31:43
Speaker
and um And yeah, the kind of and it's it's kind of the fear. It's about the fear of will this bond kind of continue once the internet switches back on? Because they're both quite introverted. um They both kind of spent their lives online beforehand. So yeah, so it's just about them and like will they, won't they? what What's going to happen when the internet switches back on? Mm-hmm.
00:32:09
Speaker
When you come out writing in something like this, is it like is it based on sort of how you feel about the internet or is it just something you thought, this would be a cool idea? ah Yeah, it was just, this will be, I like this idea. is there there but it mo deep It's no deeper than that. it's like This would be a good, I like this idea. That's why I like how I write is just, what do I want to see? What would I want?
00:32:33
Speaker
um What do I want to watch? yeah and I've never seen that. I'll i'll write it instead. I've got loads of ideas that I want to just and you put down on paper because I'll forget them.
00:32:45
Speaker
How much other writing have you done? So, I mean, obviously going back to when i was a kid, again, I used to write a lot. I used to, yeah, like as I think I said before, take favourite books and I'd like make screenplays out of them. and I used to write like stories. I remember one Christmas day, ah i was like, mean everyone, me whole family were coming over and they were like, oh, hi, Josh. And like, one second, I need to finish this story.
00:33:12
Speaker
Like drinking coffee and like, oh, no. Smoking cigarettes. Yeah, so I always kind of, I always loved that, just being creative with that. Like, this school was my favourite thing, just to write stories. and But I'd never really written, like, anything with the intention of it actually being made. I just thought that was just not a thing that would ever happen. And and then a couple of years ago, I wrote a ah an action comedy.
00:33:40
Speaker
um ah Like, it's like a love letter to buddy cop movies. um ah called Gilbert and Hale. And that is going to and again that i that is going to get made next year, we're Soon. i've as I do with most my scripts, I selflessly cast myself in it. You got to you could he's got to do it. Like the work's not coming to me. I'll make it myself. just making Yeah. So, yeah. So that'll be with me and Harrison Emmons again. um We'll be doing that. Cause that kind of just came from, met on a set, a Terabithia picture set again. We met on, on that. And I was just, we just kind of hit it off. and We just clicked. And I was like,
00:34:27
Speaker
I want to let's work together again. let' I'll write something for us. So I did. And then, I mean, this was 20. This was just yeah. Last year, 20, 24, I wrote this. So yeah. So then we're hoping to get it filmed next year. m But yeah. And then, then again, I've got, I've got ideas for like, got a little horror that I've got an idea for that. I would love to try and get it into terror on the time festival. Oh, nice. Yeah. and I would love to do that.
00:34:50
Speaker
And then the other day I was feeling really festive and a, a, a romantic Christmas, uh, film popped into my head was like i need to write that down as well i suppose oh you were feeling very festive in this uh february oh yeah oh yeah oh yeah oh yeah do you remember the christmas party you know yeah did you have a good christmas did you yeah yeah was a bit odd that day break dancing on the tables maybe this is predictions no it's not predictions it's already happened it's already happened i'm breaking my own fiction Yeah, no, I mean, that sounds really interesting. I look forward to seeing it. Yeah, no. So I guess we're coming towards the end. And I just, I like to end the show talking about the sort films and the media you like. I'd asked you and you mentioned, you gave me top five films, but specifically talked about Steven Spielberg. And to be honest, there's this podcast I really like called Blank Check. And they do a series of films where they talk about directors. And earlier this year, they were going through Spielberg's early films. And I just thought, you know, brought lots of thoughts in my head listening to that. And suddenly I'm like, now is my chance to talk to about Spielberg. Yes!
00:36:08
Speaker
Oh, where do i begin with that man? he's just a He's just a genius. Like, when you think of movie magic, just Spielberg films just come into my head. Like, just everything about them. um E.T., like, that iconic, like, flying across the moon is just like... ah but yeah That is just movie magic in my eyes. You know what I mean? Like, um ah but but he is involved in four of the my top five favorite films. My top five are... I mean, they shock they change all but always, but ah The Empire Strikes Back is my favorite film of all time. like I'll always say, that's my favorite film all time. and But then the other four kind of change roles sometimes. So then then he's got like, you know, Jaws, Raiders Lost Ark, Jurassic Park and Back to the Future, which he didn't direct, but he he did produce. And Hook, the film Hook, right, is probably my least favorite Spielberg film. I don't even rate it as a good film. Okay. I wondered because I didn't watch Hook, but it's widely considered not not a great film. yeah I mean, when i was a kid, don't get wrong, but I rewatched it recently and I was like, you know what, this isn't actually that good. But it is my, the first kind of realisation that these people are actors and this is a job that everyone's doing.
00:37:22
Speaker
That was kind of what I got when ah when ah I remember watching Hook and thinking that and Robin Williams in Hook. I remember watching him and being like, he's just like flying and it's his job. He's just, he isn't paid to do stuff like that. Like I want to, like, I want to do that. So I always credit a Hook as like my inspiration for when, for wanting to be an actor. It was probably, probably the only person in the world who actually has ever said that. But um yeah, like ah I used to,
00:37:50
Speaker
watch documentaries on Spielberg when I was very little, like sick, like the making of Jurassic Park. I would watch over and over again. and Just, i would you know, just interviews with him and just just listening to him talk. I think he's,
00:38:05
Speaker
i think I think he's... I would love... and this is crazy I'm going to manifest this for a minute, all right? I would love to work with him. As crazy as that sounds, just to... just Yeah, I just think he's... hear a lot of, on your podcast, people talking about Christopher Nolan.
00:38:20
Speaker
And don't get wrong, Christopher Nolan, again, he's another genius. Yes, he does come up a lot. He does come up a lot. Yeah, yeah. But ah Spielberg is definitely my Nolan. um I think with Christopher Nolan, while yes, of course, his films are brilliant, Spielberg's kind of my introduction to film, whereas I don't think my four-year-old will be like, can I watch Inception? Yeah. Whereas I put E.T. on, and yeah, great, you know what I mean? I think there's definitely a thing with Spielberg where even when you're mentioning Hookat, like, I can't say I've ever sat down and watched it, but it's like, it's been on the telly, like, there's a feeling... associated with so many of those films that is that magic kind of have you seen the fablemans yes that's one actually i wanted to talk to you about yeah so i watched that and watching that was like literally i mean it sounds daft it's like literally like watching my childhood like like when he's like you know he's making films he's he made world war ii films especially which is what i used to do used to um put like
00:39:20
Speaker
we used to get planks of wood and put dirt on planks of wood and like stand on them. So it looks like bullets are like flying everywhere. And then I watched the Fableman and he's doing it. And I was like, what? When you were, when you were telling me about that, I didn't want to, I didn't want to stop you, but was like, this is the Fableman. I know, right? Oh my God. So yes, essentially I'm, I am Steven Spielberg. Well, you know, I mean, no, I mean like directing, that's one thing that I've never kind of, I suppose I did it when I was like 13 and we made this little daft feature film. Like was like 90 minute World War II film that we did. We didn't have any editing software. So was literally like, Kurt,
00:40:01
Speaker
Next angle, cut, next angle kind of thing. But yeah, directing is something that I don't know. i mean, maybe one day i would, maybe i would I would like to give it a go, I guess, but it's, it's just, it's a lot pressure in it. It's like a lot trying to wrangle a herd of cats basically to to make a film. But yeah. Like the Fableman, it does such a thing though. Cause I don't think it, like it's about a guy who obviously becomes a doubt like like yeah you director. I really, because i'd I'd been in this stage ah like quite similar to you, whereas, I mean, ah i didn't
Film Inspiration and The Fablemans
00:40:35
Speaker
have children. I did get married, but that went terribly. i might call that out. I'm not sure I'm not sure ah i'm not sure i'm ah putting that in my recordings yet.
00:40:43
Speaker
ah But they we're around this time, so I'd got into just kind of I only go to the cinema and watch Marvel films, and I was not feeling very like personally kind of inspired, just in life. And i just I went to see The Fablemans, and it was just that thing where I was like... This is like just like just seeing how like important it was. like why When I were a teenager, it would be like... Me and my friends would go to town, we'd wander around town all day, and I'd just go to H&B and buy like some film from... like about is usually about 10 years before. feel like teenagers always like films that are just slightly smiley be before their time. just kind of be just like fascinated with all these films and it with this, you know, this, I think you said something similar, you know, where it's like, you kind of want to be involved in it, but it's also seems so far away from anything you could ever like. yeah reasonably do and it was just like watching the Fablemans it just sort of reflect like at this time when I was sort of not feeling too I don't know how like artistically inspired I guess um it just really sort of you know brought a lot of that like sort of back back to me and sort of
00:41:49
Speaker
It's yeah. Reignited a passion. like It's a really good film and I totally agree with it. But yeah, but like, I mean, Jaws, Jaws is a perfect film. It's like, it's literally a perfect film. Like um um I've heard it mentioned on this podcast a few times and good reason. I remember one time at uni, someone asked me who my favorite director was and I said, Steven Spielberg. And they were like, oh, it's such an obvious choice. And i was like, there's a reason why it's an obvious choice.
00:42:13
Speaker
The best there is Like, what are you talking about? I think I kind of did have that opinion for a lot ah for a lot of years. And it is like just sort of coming back to so many of them films now. I'm like, no, these are, there really is a reason. Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
00:42:28
Speaker
I wouldn't be into films if it wasn't for Steven Spielberg. I think he's... he's Even his, like, you know... Saving Private Ryan is just amazing. and this is I haven't thought about this for ages, obviously, as you can so as you can tell. Even, like... It's really interesting watching The Fablemans and then going back through his films, because, like, so many of his films seem to have a reflection of the sort of divorce thing with his parents. that Yeah, yeah. like A lot like even E.T., you know, the dad...
00:42:56
Speaker
in yeah t there's a close encounters even is like ah that sort of disappearing and it's and even catch me if you can i remember re-watching that just after the fablemans and it's almost the same film you know what that's one of the ones i haven't actually seen
Spielberg's Influence on Ambitions
00:43:10
Speaker
oh okay it's on my list it's on netflix is yeah it's it's really good ah especially like with the fablemans in mind it's really interesting to sort of i don't know don't i thought ah ah don't know if it were like This was while his parents were still alive, and so he kind of couldn't quite talk about it quite as openly. It's like, Fairwoman's just...
00:43:30
Speaker
there's this layer that once you've watched the fair woman's, you can't help but see. and see everybody's film Yeah. Yeah. madam So yes, it's very interesting. Do you have any, any final Steven Spielberg thoughts?
00:43:42
Speaker
Some final Steven Spielberg thoughts. I think we've covered, I think we've covered. Yeah. I could probably go on for another 30 minutes, but I think we've covered everything. yeah i guess uh i know i know this is not stephen spielberg himself but i've weirdly gotten to just listen to the jurassic park soundtrack while i'm while i'm working recently it's the soundtrack it is jurassic park like he made me believe dinosaurs were real like for like you know mean like just such a good raiders the lost ark indiana jones ah don't we just list movies with just like and just
00:44:18
Speaker
Yeah. don't know where I was going with that, but yeah. The the first 10 minutes or whatever of Raiders of the Lost Ark is almost just like a film in itself. actually Yeah, it's like a short film. If you show someone that, and it's like, that's everything you need to know about Indiana Jones.
00:44:35
Speaker
um It is the coolest kind of character introduction ever. You know what I mean? That silhouette, which is iconic now, but at the time, and he just walks into it. I even like Temple of Doom, and no one likes that. I like Templar. Do you know what?
00:44:48
Speaker
I don't think there's a bad Indiana Jones film, and that's all five. Oh, even even what were it called? Even... Destiny? inest Dial of Destiny. I watched that, and i was like, yeah, that was... like I really liked that. i was That was just kind of... And to call it nostalgia, I don't give a shit. I liked it. I don't know. I think...
00:45:11
Speaker
Often, I think people on the internet expect everything to be amazing. So if something's pretty good, it's terrible. I'd say I enjoyed watching Dial of Destiny.
00:45:22
Speaker
Do we dare talk about the Star Wars sequels? ah With the sequel? I mean, yeah. ah or you What are your opinions on Star Wars sequels? You know, I really liked Force Awakens. And then, like,
00:45:36
Speaker
I quite liked The Last Jedi. um the things that The things I didn't like about it are actually the opposite of the sort really? and You know, like... Like, my problem with The Last Jedi is that Rey, I want Rey to be this amazing character. Yeah, yeah. The entire film talks about how she's going to be something new. And then a big thing at the end is she lifts some rocks up. And I'm like, I want more Rey. Like, you know, some of the terrible opinions where it's like, oh, Rizal. And I'm like, I want more Rey. I want Rey to be that. That's what I want. Yeah. yeah i I really like
00:46:11
Speaker
the force works on the last jedi you know right now we take it later it's like it's yeah get the there's bits i like there's bits i don't whatever but um yeah i really like that i think the last jedi is really good i really like luke's arc i think i think it's really within his character i think uh he was he was always very kind of he acted with his emotions even in the original trilogy he was just always like that and that's what he does you know yeah went with kylo ren um yeah i think i kind of described it because i like i think luke's arc is really good it could have made him really boring just like with no arc at all he's just amazing superpowers like that would be well boring it would be cool to look at but it would have been boring as shit for a character
00:46:54
Speaker
It's like, it's conflict. And he still is a hero by the end of it. Yeah, he literally saves the day. Yeah, and I don't know i once my friend My friend was very, don't like what they did with Luke Skywalker. And I was like, it's like, sometimes you're young and you can be the one who's going, I want to change things. And then you get older and you have changed things. But then the re responsibility is on you and you make mistakes. 30 years is a long time. People change. And you know,
00:47:24
Speaker
Maybe his ne his nephew was kind of a shit. Yeah. if He was a dick. Like, how well? I feel like if Kylo Ren was your nephew, you might want to kill him at some point. There'd be a split second of you like, should I? The only thing is, I don't own a lightsaber. So, you know, if I did, if I did, I can't say that I would not be in his shoes. Yeah. I don't know what's going in on this, by the way. I'm excited to see what you actually put in. Oh, I'll leave everything in. I just cut some arms out. I just cut arms out. Yeah. Okay, but no, unless you have any quick opinions you want fire out, we'll leave it there.
00:47:56
Speaker
um No, other I think that is, oh, I've got to say, really. and Yeah, were thank you. No, well, thank you. Thank you for talking to me. And um just I always end by saying, do you have anything you'd like to plug? And can you tell us where we can find you?
00:48:11
Speaker
So, yeah, I think, um you know, between the shelves, obviously, we're we're making that. That should, that'll be released. Do you know what? I don't really know when that's be released but we are filming that soon yeah we've got a few obviously my film gilbert hill that's um we're hoping to get shot next next year um i mean i've been casting january's gonna be super busy i'm being i've been casting like short film after short film so you'll find i'll be there somewhere know what i mean my instagram account is think joshua underscore actor
00:48:43
Speaker
It might not be, but it's something like that. If you just put Josh Rohan, I'm sure you'll find me. It'll it'll be tagged in the description. Yeah, obviously. Click on that. and Yeah. And, you know, if I'm around, say hello.
00:48:54
Speaker
and Yeah. Well, no, thank you. Thank you for being on my show again, and a happy new year. is it valentine's day in february the yeah perhaps yeah happy happy happy valentine's day happy um yeah happy february yeah and enjoy february Hey everyone, Ryan here. Hope you've enjoyed the first episode of season two of What Makes You Tick and you're having a nice 2026. I actually have a little bit more from Josh here.
Advice to Aspiring Actors
00:49:27
Speaker
ah He got in touch after we recorded to say that he really wanted to end on some advice for actors, specifically actors who might be considering giving up, um which is a position he has mentioned he found himself in. Yeah, we we got a little bit carried away with our Steven Spielberg chat towards the end. And so he didn't get chance to say that when we initially recorded. But he sent through this voice note that will follow. ah Yes, so what follows is that advice from Josh.
00:49:53
Speaker
Here we go. So I just wanted to end it on a little bit of advice. and Mainly for anyone who, like me, was thinking, you know, the universe against them. And there were signs telling them that they should stop.
00:50:06
Speaker
um And that's ah basically just don't give up. and I know I've obviously got a long way to go and you know I'm absolutely in no way I've made it yet, whatever it is.
00:50:19
Speaker
But m if there's one thing that all creatives, all actors, all musicians, all artists have in common...
00:50:31
Speaker
It's that they didn't give up. um I mean, take breaks by all means. and If things get too much, take a step away. I'm really lucky in that I have such a supportive network, like my wife, my daughter, my parents, my in-laws.
00:50:45
Speaker
ah like Thank God for grandparents. Without them, I wouldn't be able to do half the stuff that I do. But... um Yeah, if you told me the day I got food poisoning at Knock and Nash that in two years' time, not only would I be on Spotlight and have an agent, but I would be part of, like, an entire network of filmmakers and actors in the North East that back then I didn't even know existed, i would never have believed you.
00:51:11
Speaker
and It was literally my dream. And now I have people messaging me, like to asking him for availability, which is just wild. So, yeah, um don't give up.
00:51:23
Speaker
Everything's just around the corner. Leave the house. The phone's not going to ring on its own. Go to networking events, email local production companies, do student films, you know get showreel material and share it on socials.
00:51:37
Speaker
And... air Yeah, have fun while you do it. Like, that's probably the most important part. What Makes You Tick is hosted, produced and edited by me, Ryan Watson. A huge thank you to Adam Sams for the brand new theme music that you are listening to right now. And as always, thank you to Craig Pearson for the show logo. Thanks again to Josh for speaking to me for this episode. Join me next week for my conversation with actress, writer and musician Diane Cullen. And there'll be an early preview of that on Monday if you go to at Makes You Tick Pod on Instagram. Thanks for listening.