Canned Air: A Tribute to Pop Culture

Welcome to Canned Air! Jeramy, Jack and Randy talk nostalgic pop culture, comics (new and old), and host comic writers/artists on the show, even some voice or screen actors!

Canned Air #570 Midnight & Mac with Writer & Illustrator Bryan Erdy 08/08/2026

Canned Air #569 A Conversation with Jennifer Hale (X-Men '97, Mass Effect, Metal Gear Solid) 07/26/2026

Canned Air #568 A Conversation with Lori Alan (Toy Story, SpongeBob, Metal Gear Solid) 07/03/2026

Canned Air #567 A Conversation with Michelle Danner (Miranda's Law, The Italian, Under The Stars) 06/23/2026

Canned Air #567 A Conversation with Michelle Danner (Miranda's Law, The Italian, Under The Stars) Ever wondered what it takes to coach stars like Chris Rock and Penelope Cruz? Join us for a conversation with Michelle Danner, the legendary acting coach and director, as she shares her journey from a French castle to the heights of Hollywood. We welcome back Michelle Danner to discuss her latest cinematic achievements and her unique approach to the craft of acting. Michelle dives deep into her upbringing in Paris as the daughter of a William Morris Agency executive and explains how those early experiences shaped her artistic vision. We explore her famous Golden Box technique, which empowers actors to find their own unique voice by blending various traditional methods rather than sticking to a single dogma. Michelle also gives us a behind the scenes look at her recent films, including the romantic comedy Under the Stars and the heartfelt family story The Italians. She shares touching stories about working with icons like Donald Sutherland and Andy Garcia, as well as the joy of collaborating with her son on upcoming projects like Starstruck. Whether you are an aspiring actor or a film enthusiast, this interview is packed with wisdom on storytelling, directing, and the importance of honoring a filmmaker vision. MichelleDanner.com AllInFilms.com Instagram: @MichelleDannerLA CannedAirPodcast.com TikTok: @CannedAirPodcast Instagram: @Canned_Air Chapters 0:00 Intro and Welcome Back Michelle Danner 3:15 Growing Up with the William Morris Agency in Paris 7:30 Transitioning from New York Acting to Coaching in LA 11:45 Defining the Golden Box Acting Technique 15:20 Lessons Learned from Coaching Chris Rock 19:10 Working with Donald Sutherland on His Final Film 23:45 Directing Under the Stars in Italy 27:15 The Importance of Food and Culture on Set 29:40 Under the Stars Official Trailer 32:30 The Role of a Director in Script Rewriting 36:00 The Italians: A Tribute to Michelle’s Mother 39:15 The Italians Official Trailer 42:00 Balancing Acting and Directing Simultaneously 46:15 Collaborating with Family on Starstruck 49:30 The History and Impact of Miranda’s Victim 51:45 Miranda’s Victim Official Trailer 53:20 Future Projects: Helios and Party Crasher 53:58 Final Thoughts and Wrap Up If you’d like to show your support, you can either visit our Patreon page at Patreon.com/CannedAirPod, or you can leave us a comment, like, and subscribe! Thanks for watching! #michelledanner #actingcoach #filmmaking #hollywood #actingtips /episode/index/show/88b82a36-e7e8-4ef7-8d51-e462736b2510/id/41782410

Canned Air #566 A Conversation with Leif Tilden (Donatello, Dinosaurs, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls) 06/07/2026

Canned Air #566 A Conversation with Leif Tilden (Donatello, Dinosaurs, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls) I sit down with Leif Tilden, the man behind Donatello in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films. From the legendary Jim Henson Creature Shop to the prehistoric set of Dinosaurs, Leif shares incredible stories from a career spent bringing beloved characters to life through physical performance and puppetry. In this episode, Leif discusses his roots in experimental theater at NYU and how that unique training prepared him for the intense demands of suit performance. You will hear firsthand accounts of what it was really like working with director Steve Barron, navigating the complex animatronics of the turtle suits, and the genuine brotherhood formed between the four actors under the shells. Leif takes me behind the scenes of the hit show Dinosaurs where he played Robbie Sinclair and operated the arms for the formidable BP Richfield. He also opens up about the evolution of his career into directing and location managing, offering a rare look at the logistics of filming in Los Angeles. Plus, some wild stories from his time as a gorilla performer. Whether you are a TMNT super-fan or a lover of practical effects and puppetry, this conversation is packed with nostalgia and industry insights. Chapters 0:00 Welcome to Canned Air with Leaf Tilden 2:15 Early inspirations and NYU Tisch School of the Arts 6:40 Defining experimental theater and storytelling 11:55 The journey to Hollywood and early auditions 16:30 Auditioning for Donatello in Ninja Turtles 21:20 First impressions of the Jim Henson Creature Shop 27:05 A personal connection to comics and superheroes 32:45 Working with world class puppeteers and mentors 38:10 The physical reality of the Donatello suit 44:30 Building a family on the set of TMNT 50:15 Comparing the first film to The Secret of the Ooze 55:50 The shift in tone and production for the sequels 1:00:25 Moving from turtles to Dinosaurs 1:05:40 Bringing Robbie Sinclair and BP Richfield to life 1:11:15 Memories of working with Steve Whitmire and Kevin Clash 1:16:50 The challenges of filming for Disney and ABC 1:22:30 Gorilla suits and a surprising story from Brentwood 1:28:10 Directing Big Love and working with Sam Rockwell 1:33:45 The complex world of location management 1:37:04 Closing thoughts and cowabunga If you enjoyed this look behind the curtain of pop culture history, please like this video and subscribe for more exclusive interviews. Don’t forget to leave a comment with your favorite Donatello memory! #tmnt #donatello #jimhenson #dinosaurs #behindthescenes /episode/index/show/88b82a36-e7e8-4ef7-8d51-e462736b2510/id/41560285