Matthew Willson is an award-winning Canadian actor, director, producer and financier of the arts with more than 500 stage performances to his credit. A versatile and talented character actor, he also boasts numerous TV and film credits. He also finances several projects including as the sole individual financer of the National Theatre School Drama Festival. Matthew shared fantastic advice and insight on being an actor, director, and producer in Canada and some great auditioning tips since he has been a casting director for his own projects. We also talk about our love/hate relationships with social media, the joy of podcasting and he makes a case for why I should listen to Howard Stern.
TRANSCRIPTION:
Hello and welcome to episode 26 of Sing! Dance! Act! Thrive!
Matthew Willson is an award-winning Canadian actor, director, producer and financier of the arts with more than 500 stage performances to his credit. A versatile and talented character actor, he also boasts numerous TV and film credits, including roles in Rookie Blue, Murdoch Mysteries, The Strain, Arrival and Queer as Folk. Through his production company, Willson Entertainment Productions, he has produced, directed and starred in several cutting-edge short films.
He also finances several small and large scale film and television projects across Canada and this past year, Matthew has become the sole individual financier of the National Theatre School Drama Festival (previously Sears Festival), which has trained Canadian celebrities such as Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. Matthew is an industry expert that has been involved in the Canadian film and art community at every level.
Matthew shared fantastic advice and insight on being an actor, director, and producer in Canada and some great auditioning tips since he has been a casting director for his own projects. We also talk about our love/hate relationships with social media, the joy of podcasting and he makes a case for why I should listen to Howard Stern. I don’t want to, I don’t like him, but maybe I’ll give it a try. I hope you enjoy it.
Diane Foy 0:01
Welcome to the show.
Matthew Willson 0:03
Hello, thanks.
Diane Foy 0:04
What have been some of your career highlights?
Matthew Willson 0:07
Oh, boy, mostly theater. I love the theater. I come from the theater. So some of my biggest highlights were some of my own things that I have produced in film and the theater. But I do not know if I have any, mostly highlights. I have a few Lola.
Diane Foy 0:27
Yeah. We could talk about that too, because, you know.
Matthew Willson 0:31
Well, yes.
Diane Foy 0:32
There are always struggles along the way.
Matthew Willson 0:34
We all certainly have those, unfortunately. Yeah, I think a lot of the stuff that I have done independently that I am really proud of, yeah, probably most the stuff that I have done independently.
Diane Foy 0:46
Yeah, in film? Or have you done theater that you have created as well?
Matthew Willson 0:52
Mostly film that I have created myself. A little bit of theater, you know, some fringe stuff that then ended up doing quite well, you know, you did not think it was going to do as well as it does. And then all of a sudden, boom, it really takes off. And that is like catching lightning in a bottle.
Diane Foy 1:10
Yeah, yeah. So you are in a film right now on Netflix called American Hangman?
Matthew Willson 1:16
American Hangman, yes with Vincent Kartheiser and Donald Sutherland.
Diane Foy 1:22
Wow. And what was it like working with them?
Matthew Willson 1:25
I never met them.
Diane Foy 1:26
Oh, well there you go.
Matthew Willson 1:28
Yeah, they had all their stuff in one single solitary room, very quickly. And then they were released, they were wrapped. And they shot most of the film after they had all the principal stuff done with the principal actors. I was an executive producer on the film, too. So it was interesting. Considering I never met them. I did not work with them nor did I meet them.
Diane Foy 1:50
Right.
Matthew Willson 1:51
I am the executive producer in the film. And I had a nice little role in the film, but I never met them. He was in and out. Both actors were in and out.
Diane Foy 1:59
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 1:59
I could have. But you know, they were working. Yeah.
Diane Foy 2:03
Yeah. And so anything else about that film that you would want to share?
Matthew Willson 2:08
Yeah, well, it is doing very well on Netflix. And I think that the reason is doing well on Netflix is I, we believed that it was going to be the demographic would be to a group, mostly in America. Not conspiracy theorists. But you know, people who feel that the, the justice system is failing the people of America. And of course, you know, you turn on any news channel, and we see this every night. And that film was not designed for that reason. But it certainly has filled that gap. It is doing well as it is 5th most trending film on Netflix and as an independent movie.
Diane Foy 2:55
Yeah. And it is probably the type of movies at Netflixer’s kind of binge on, right?
Matthew Willson 3:02
Yeah, exactly. And that is what is happening. You know, I follow the stuff on the Twitter and in all the socials, and people really are genuinely liking the film a lot.
Diane Foy 3:14
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 3:15
It is not I am not gonna say that I am surprised, you are not surprised. But I will say that. We were not really expecting to take off quite like that. We did not even know it was going to be released on Netflix. We knew it was going to be released on Netflix, but we did not think it was going to be until October, November. Maybe September, the fall, and all of a sudden, they did not even tell us it was just there. Yeah, yeah, like really?
Diane Foy 3:37
No lead-up. Hey, it is on. Let’s go.
Matthew Willson 3:40
Yeah, yeah.
Diane Foy 3:41
That is kind of the way everything is released now, though, too. Isn’t that like music? Sometimes it is just like, hey, Beyonce, say dropped another album. Here you go. No lead, it is just there.
Matthew Willson 3:48
Yeah, exactly. We were quite shocked I mean, we will take it but we wanted to you know, as a publicist, you want like some warning [ see you are up for it ]. But listen, it is better than the alternative. Like really, and truly, it could never be released or released you know, at a horrible time. You know, like when the hockey season starting offer baseball season is in playoffs or so yeah, this is good.
Diane Foy 4:16
Yeah, it is interesting way that they are releasing now. And I guess it kind of feeds our instant gratification that we are all in now. It is like, we do not want to wait. If you tell me about an amazing film. I want to see it now.
Matthew Willson 4:30
Well, as an executive producer, I wanted it out last year.
Diane Foy 4:33
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 4:36
So I am very, very happy that it is out.
Diane Foy 4:39
So what got you into this? What first drew you to acting as a child? Did you start young?
Matthew Willson 4:45
Yeah. I am 46 now. And when I was a kid, I really had a lot of trouble at school. I could not focus. I think, you know if my parents knew then what they know now they would have sent me to an art school. But I grew up in a really small town, there was just there just was not that. So I started getting involved with theater. And I really, I really was drawn to the theater. I really liked the camaraderie the theater to me is like a temple. It is, I am not a religious person, but it is my church. It is my feel very safe there. And I was just really drawn to the theater. I like the actors. I like learning. I like rehearsing. I like performing. That is what was really, what really drew me into the theater was the camaraderie and I love to perform. I love to learn.
Diane Foy 5:33
Right. So how if you were not in an art school, how did you start getting some training or getting into it?
Matthew Willson 5:40
Community theater.
Diane Foy 5:41
Community theater, yeah.
Matthew Willson 5:42
Community theater and people ask me all the time, how they can get involved, and I tell them community theater. It is a great way to learn. You will do good work, you will also do some pretty crummy work. But you will do some really good work in community theater, where chances are you are going to play some of those roles elsewhere.
Diane Foy 6:00
Right. And it is a good training ground and working with other actors.
Matthew Willson 6:04
You are always working with different actors, you are always working with different directors. For the most part, you are not getting paid, but you are not paying anything.
Diane Foy 6:12
Right.
Matthew Willson 6:13
And you could you know, there have been some great actors in the community theater.
Diane Foy 6:16
And how old were you when you started?
Matthew Willson 6:18
When doing community theater? When I started really getting serious was when I was about 20.
Diane Foy 6:25
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 6:26
Before that, I was just kind of kicking around. But after I was about 20. I got cast in a play. And I started to get like, Real Reviews. And the stakes were higher, and there was some money to be made. And that is when I took things a lot more seriously. And I think people took me a lot more seriously too like I was not going away.
Diane Foy 6:50
Right. Right. And you had made the decision that that is what you wanted to do with your life, your career?
Matthew Willson 6:56
Yes, it is one of the things that I want to do I do other things. But that is one of the things I really want to do is I really want to work as an actor. You know, as I have gotten older, I still love to act. I love the performance. I also have been drawn towards directing and doing other things in the arts, but I love to act. It is you know, it is something that it is kind of in my DNA like I say to my wife, I cannot really it is like a hobby, this is a kind of a way of my life like I need this outlet?
Diane Foy 7:28
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 7:29
I think I am going to do a play in the winter. And it will be the nice big role that I have been wanting to do in the last while. So I am looking forward to that. That will be, I need to stretch and you do some stretching you know, I have been doing some film work and TV work, and it is going to be nice to get back on the boards.
Diane Foy 7:47
Yeah, yeah. And so since you work in, in all film, television, and theatre. What are some of the differences in working in those different formats?
Matthew Willson 7:58
Well, I find that the theater, I do believe that on just genuinely more comfortable. But I mean, you know this, it is just hard to explain, like, you are on stage, you have six weeks to rehearse? Or do you have two weeks to rehearse it? And then granted, you are, once you are live, it does not stop.
Diane Foy 8:19
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 8:20
I have for two hours, night after night after night after night after night. But in film, everything moves so slowly on so you can take a little bit more time to learn. But it is very quick. I mean, if you do not, if you do not get at rehearsal, it is done. Like they shoot it and it is done. And that is very hard, I think for most actors to really wrap their head around, because you know, you kind of get used to some things in a way. And then it all changes. The stakes are very high in both instances, I find. But again, every time I walk into a film set, I am very nervous. I am very anxious. But very apprehensive. Going into the theater or, you know, I have got probably done what we are about to do, you know, so I take it a little more in stride, I guess.
Diane Foy 9:07
Interesting.
Matthew Willson 9:09
But I find the very same thing with the other actors and the directors. In the theater, you are in it for much more of a long haul. Yeah, but in the in, in TV and film. It just moves so fast. You know, you shoot so quickly, and then you are on to something else.
Diane Foy 9:25
Right, less time to really rehearse? And get into the character?
Matthew Willson 9:31
Yeah, and really hone things and really get comfortable with things. Yeah, it is so quick.
Diane Foy 9:37
Whereas theater, you also get the energy of, you need to get it down by opening night and then it is live and then you got the audience there giving this energy back.
Matthew Willson 9:47
And there is nothing like that.
Diane Foy 9:49
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 9:49
It does not maybe if you are a musician, or a dancer, you know, you get that energy. And stage actors certainly get that energy back. And there is nothing like that. I do not care what film set you are on working in front of a live audience, much difference.
Diane Foy 10:07
Yeah. And then also film and TV, you have to wait so long to see it.
Matthew Willson 10:13
Yeah, right? You do.
Diane Foy 10:14
Well, when did you shoot this film?
Matthew Willson 10:16
But then again, in theater, you never get to see yourself.
Diane Foy 10:19
True. Yeah.
Matthew Willson 10:21
The only people I have ever seen the Rolling Stones are the Rolling Stones.
Diane Foy 10:24
Yeah. So what are some of the challenges that you have faced in your career? It is hard to make a living at this. So,
Matthew Willson 10:31
It is hard to make a living.
Diane Foy 10:32
What are some advice maybe for the downtimes? How do you keep going?
Matthew Willson 10:37
Well, but first of all, work, like have a real job. So you really do have money.
Diane Foy 10:42
Right.
Matthew Willson 10:43
And I tell people to still stay involved with reading, reading a lot of scripts or reading a lot of plays, reading a lot of screenplays. One thing that I wish that I had done as I wish that I had written, I never wrote anything, you know, I am from the generation that if you were an actor, you were an actor. And now that is not the case, people starting out in this industry, they will be an actor, and they will still write stuff, and they will shoot stuff and they will do what are they called web casts?
Diane Foy 11:13
Right like web TV shows or web shows.
Matthew Willson 11:18
Yeah, you know, web series.
Diane Foy 11:19
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 11:19
There is so much more. And I think that it is very, very common for people not to know what to do with their product now. Before I would either go to video or theaters or nowhere. And now there are so many, so many opportunities to share your stuff. The main thing is, I think that people should just work. Get together with some people, shoot stuff on weekends, really learn about the craft of whatever you are doing, whether you are shooting or rehearsing, or, or performing or writing and get a nice little nucleus of people in that nucleus of people who quite often change. And you will be working with somebody on a project who is also an actor, and then they like you as an actor, and they write something and they write a role for you. There is so much spin-off now it is six degrees of separation. Like, everybody starts to know everybody, because not everybody is just an actor anymore. Everybody gets to do everything.
Diane Foy 12:19
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 12:19
So I wish that I had written. And that is one piece of advice is in creating my own materials. It has been fantastic, being in charge of my own stuff. You know, creating my own film and executive producing is certainly opened up a lot of avenues and a lot of opportunities for myself.
Diane Foy 12:41
Yeah, it is a lot of opportunities that are happening right now. It is kind of cool that you cannot just go oh, well, no one is hiring me. Now, it is like, well then create something. If nobody is casting your type of whatever type of actor you are, then create something get together something.
Matthew Willson 13:00
Yeah.
Diane Foy 13:01
Like even how Nicole Kidman and a lot of the actresses are doing it now charting their own production companies and creating projects for themselves because nobody is casting actors over 40. They are like, well, we will create our own thing.
Matthew Willson 13:16
Yeah, well, you know, when I was really, I found a real turning point when there is so much focus on diversity. And there should be.
Diane Foy 13:25
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 13:26
But I am blonde and blue-eyed. And, you know,
Diane Foy 13:30
It was a white male.
Matthew Willson 13:31
Yeah on the white male, and all of a sudden those things just kind of stopped. And was it a little bit of the reverse effect? Like suddenly guys like me, we were just not getting cast.
Diane Foy 13:41
Right.
Matthew Willson 13:41
So I realized I started to have to produce my own stuff. And I did, and I am glad I did, or else I would not be doing very much Sundays.
Diane Foy 13:49
Yeah, for sure. You are also involved in the National Theatre School Drama Festival? Tell me about that.
Matthew Willson 13:56
Yeah, it was formerly the Sears Festival and I was involved the series festival when I was a kid, a little kid. And, and it was, it was important to me when I heard they were having some trouble and they were not going to continue. They were looking for sponsors to keep the festival relevant throughout the country. So myself, I have a production company called Wilson Entertainment Productions, and the Stratford Festival, and I, at see and myself, came together and looked after things financially, for them for a while so the festival could continue.
Diane Foy 14:35
And it is a festival for kind of up and coming actors? Actors like they are learning?
Matthew Willson 14:39
Yeah, high schoolers, ice breakers, and it’ is from coast to coast. It is a great, great avenue. And when you do when you take part in the Sears festival, you know, when you are a teenager, it is a big deal. And I did not want you know, that to go away.
Diane Foy 14:57
Yeah, it is important to keep Arts in schools as well, well, and that seems to be the first thing that gets cut.
Matthew Willson 15:02
That is cut. And we are witnessing that in Ontario, and probably other provinces, too. And, you know, I did not want that to happen. It was important. The arts were very important to me, and I did not have an arts program in my school. So I wanted to keep it relevant and for some students.
Diane Foy 15:19
Have you always worked in Canada? Or have you gone elsewhere?
Matthew Willson 15:24
No, every single solitary time that I am being considered for casting abroad, I think while I am not getting that. It is not going to work out.
Diane Foy 15:36
No.
Matthew Willson 15:36
No, it has never worked out.
Diane Foy 15:38
So you have not, did not move to LA and try and make that thing?
Matthew Willson 15:42
No, I like Canada and I have a business here. I have a couple businesses here. And I have a family here. And, you know, my work fair amount, I work a fair amount. And I you know, I have got an American feature on Netflix that I am one of the executive producers on I do not know if we necessarily have to go to another country to work.
Diane Foy 16:04
Yeah, yeah.
Matthew Willson 16:05
But listen, I am not it is up to some people to do that and that is fine. I just that was not really for me.
Diane Foy 16:11
I do hear that as maybe it is an excuse that some actors make that. You know, Canada does not have the culture, the theater culture.
Matthew Willson 16:22
But certainly do not have the star system.
Diane Foy 16:25
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 16:25
Nor do I think they have, nor do I think they ever will.
Diane Foy 16:29
Right.
Matthew Willson 16:29
But I will tell you something, having watched this for the last number of years, it is changing. It is beginning to change. People have said that for a long time, but people with especially since Netflix, you a lot of these shows like Workin’ Moms and Shiit’s Creek were being taken a lot more seriously. And people say I do not care where it is shot. If it is funny, it is funny. If it is dramatic, it is dramatic. If it is good, it is good.
Diane Foy 16:55
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 16:55
And Canadians are producing good work and that is truth. So I think that things will change. I just do not think they will ever be a real just legitimate star system within Canada.
Diane Foy 17:07
Right, yeah. Because it has been the same conversation for 30 years or more, you know.
Matthew Willson 17:12
Yeah. But not to have a star system in Canada is very Canadian.
Diane Foy 17:16
I know.
Matthew Willson 17:18
You know, we will just continue to do good work and good film and good TV and good theater when we never really have a star system.
Diane Foy 17:24
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 17:24
And I would much rather have good product and just famous people.
Diane Foy 17:32
That is also probably just our culture too. Because, you know, a lot of celebrities say when they come here, no one really bugs them. We may see superstar celebrity walking down the street. We just go hey, there is so and so. Down the street.
Matthew Willson 17:48
Yeah, exactly. That is exactly it. Yeah.
Diane Foy 17:51
If you had a choice of what your next next project would be, would it be film, TV or theater?
Matthew Willson 17:58
Well, TV intrigues me but it intimidates me because I think it is like the Wild West. I think it is a real moving target TV nowadays, but I would love to do something in television. It I do not know what will ever happen with film. The film I think I hope that film will be like in the in the 70s and the 80s where it is more meat and potatoes writing directing and performance without a lot of CG and effects. You know, how many Fast and Furious movies can we have? And people think that those are great.
Diane Foy 18:34
Yeah. You know I think it was that maybe when it is all kinds of fast action and and effects it gives you a reason to go to the theater. Whereas it is hard to get people to actually go to the theater see a film now.
Matthew Willson 18:52
It is, and, you know a lot of those movies that do well at festivals, and at award shows, they do not have a big long run in theater.
Diane Foy 19:03
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 19:05
But I would love for a resurgence and film to be like that. But I think TV is where it is at. And I think that streaming things like on YouTube is, is beyond that, I think that that is a real, something that people will consider more and more often is just posting things on YouTube, and hope that it gets an audience and if it gets an audience, they will make money.
Diane Foy 19:27
It is happening more for the music industry, like a lot of musicians have discovered that they can just do it themselves and release it. So more and more actors and directors, producers, writers are like, well, we can just do it ourselves.
Matthew Willson 19:41
Do it ourselves. Yeah, like I yeah, that is exactly it. And, and and I mean, it is being seen as being seen a lot more on YouTube and a lot of other places. So I think that people will end up putting things on YouTube more and more all the time.
Diane Foy 19:55
Do you have a kind of group of people that you tend to collaborate with, often? Or is it always someone new?
Matthew Willson 20:03
Yeah. I think that, you know, I have had a group or had groups of people. And then every time we go to do something, you know, somebody is busy. So we will use somebody else like, oh, yeah, well, maybe we will use them again. And we will use that woman and then next time we will use a different guy on something else. So I guess kind of both. There is always a bit of a continuous nucleus that we use. But you know, if somebody wants to cast you as an actor, I think you are going to go. Doing my own stuff I like using. I like being faithful. But in the same token, I like using new people is that makes any sense. I know when I cast, when I cast something. I always cast somebody that I do not know. I think it is important as a director, and I have been in that position where you just cannot get in the door. You cannot you know, it is very cliquey.
Diane Foy 20:57
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 20:57
And I, I am proud to take somebody else on new that does not either have much experience, or an actor that I am not really familiar with. And I think, well, I think I want to get familiar with this person. I think they have a lot to offer. Casting is very important to me, because I know what it is like auditioning.
Diane Foy 21:15
So being on that side, the casting side, do you have advice for actors when they are going to into an audition?
Matthew Willson 21:25
Yeah, a lot. I think that people actors are not normally prepared enough. If we are talking about the theater, so many times, I will be auditioning for a play, like I am holding auditions on directing. And people will either be not familiar with the play at all, or they will not have read it. I always get actors to do a short monologue. And I am amazed at the actors that come in unprepared. And I think I the first impression last. I asked you to do one thing and you cannot even do that one thing. How can I trust you? For two months?
Diane Foy 21:59
Yeah, you obviously do not want it very much if you are just like, you are probably just going to every audition.
Matthew Willson 22:07
Yeah. And then I, and going into a film or TV audition. It is very nerve-racking. You know, you quite often you have driven along ways you fought through traffic, you have paid for parking, you have changed your clothes in the bathroom at the audition house. And you are in the in the room for two minutes at the very, very most, you know, anywhere 30 seconds to a minute is normally your time in there. And it is very stressful. I wish that the people auditioning sometimes had more respect for the people auditioning because it is a nerve-racking experience. And anytime I am auditioning, I like to settle the actors in a little bit. They can ask questions, why not? I think that si important. I think that there has been some shift there where sometimes the casting directors are a little too quick to get you in and out.
Diane Foy 22:59
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 23:00
But maybe that is just me, maybe, maybe they say oh Willson is here, get them out.
Diane Foy 23:04
I could go both ways. I think it is also it no matter what you do in the industry, it is good to have compassion, empathy, to seeing where the other person is coming from, and just be more supportive in that way. Because it is intimidating on both sides. You know, but you also have to have respect for the process and show up prepared.
Matthew Willson 23:27
Yeah, and it is amazing because I am, I want to be very understanding and sympathetic and empathetic towards the actors, because I have been in that position. But man, you gotta come in somewhat prepared.
Diane Foy 23:40
Yeah, you will overlook nervousness or all that other stuff. If when you go on, there you had like no other stuff.
Matthew Willson 23:48
Yeah, like, again, like when you have auditions. I know people are nervous. I have been there. You got to come in prepared. I do not even care if they start and stop the monologue because they are nervous.
Diane Foy 23:58
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 23:58
But show me that you put in the effort to learn a monologue a monologue one minute.
Diane Foy 24:03
What other mistakes do you see actors make when they are auditioning?
Matthew Willson 24:08
Well, there is a whole plethora, but they tell you all about everything that they have done, and how that, you know, like, they almost smack talk the other directors, choices that they would have made in plays, that they were in it, but the director did not want to do things a certain way. And I think, Well, you know, maybe the director had a reason, or maybe you were not prepared. And I see actors come into auditions, sometimes a little too hot, like the little too sure. But once again, quite often, that is nerves. But I can deal with a lot of that the thing that drives me crazy the most, are the actors who are just not prepared to even audition. And then if I give them the role, I move very quickly in rehearsal. So I tell people, you have to be off-book, or you are going to hold us all up.
Diane Foy 25:02
Oh yeah.
Matthew Willson 25:02
And for the most part, actors do come in very well prepared once they learn that I am not messing around. But other than just not being very prepared. Not much really bothers me too much.
Diane Foy 25:19
Does it matter? You know, how they dress what they look like, that kind of stuff?
Matthew Willson 25:23
To me, it does not.
Diane Foy 25:24
But would you say go in for the role you are auditioning?
Matthew Willson 25:29
Yeah. And I am more of a character actor. So I like doing that as an actor. It helps me as an actor. So I think well, it is helping them as an actor, then. Sure, go ahead. I do not know if it is helping me as a director to watch them. But yes.
Diane Foy 25:43
Right.
Matthew Willson 25:43
If you are going to be playing a hillbilly from the 1950s, I think it is great if a guy comes in wearing overalls.
Diane Foy 25:53
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 25:53
No. denim overalls, you know, on a woman’s playing something like the look, we are casting Oklahoma, I love it when she comes in wearing a dress up period. That is great. It helps me and it helps her.
Diane Foy 26:08
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 26:08
And it shows that they have gone the distance to you know, to try a little though. It is always hard when you are auditioning and film or TV for a police officer, because not everybody has a police uniform in the like, do I wear a suit or I use? Wear like a blue button?
Diane Foy 26:25
Are you a rough? Detective police officer?
Matthew Willson 26:29
Yeah.
Diane Foy 26:29
Which kind of police officer are you?
Matthew Willson 26:31
Yeah, I know. It is always tough for that one.
Diane Foy 26:34
So you mentioned that you might do a theater production in the fall? Do you know what that is going to be yet?
Matthew Willson 26:42
Yeah, I am auditioning for a really cool play. It is an Irish play. It is called The Beauty Queen of Leenane. And it is written by Martin McDonagh who wrote Seven Billboards or Three Billboards or something.
Diane Foy 26:54
Oh, that movie?
Matthew Willson 26:56
Yeah, he is a great playwright. I have seen a bunch of his stuff. And I mean, I certainly do not have the role. But I am going out for it. And I really, really want it. I have spoken to the director a lot. I know the director.
Diane Foy 27:08
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 27:09
I do not know whether she is going to give me the role. But I am certainly going to plan on auditioning and, and learn it real well. And hopefully, I will have a good audition.
Diane Foy 27:18
Yeah. So it is kind of cool after talking about casting when you are the casting director, so now you are going out on an audition.
Matthew Willson 27:27
I know.
Diane Foy 27:29
Do you do a lot of that now?
Matthew Willson 27:30
I do. And I will tell you, directing has certainly made me a better actor, not talent wise, but discipline wise, I really see a lot of shortcomings that I had before that I took advantage of.
Diane Foy 27:46
Like not coming prepared?
Matthew Willson 27:49
I was always pretty prepared.
Diane Foy 27:51
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 27:52
But you know, there is a lot of things, even when you during the auditions and callbacks and rehearsals and going through rehearsals, and then not so much the run of the show. But I will be the first one to admit that I quite often would not take things as seriously, as I should have. And I never really realized that until I was the director. Once I became the director, I realized how important it is for the, for the actors to stay focused all the time, not just say, well, it is, you know, I am not on for another 16 pages, they should be prepared should be really prepared, you should walk on the stage, totally engaged. And sometimes in the wings, waiting for my entrance, I would not be totally engaged. I would be engaged as a book three feet into the scene. I see that so much more as a director now. And it is not fair to the director. And quite honestly, it is not fair to the production or the company or the cast. Directing has taught me more about acting then than I ever thought it would.
Diane Foy 28:58
And how do you look at it differently as a producer?
Matthew Willson 29:02
Well, that is something entirely different because I want to change it. If I am just producing, it sometimes drives me a little crazy, because I, I want to be looking after the artistic side, and the business side. And you just a lot of time, you have to shut your mouth.
Diane Foy 29:20
As a producer?
Matthew Willson 29:21
As the producer you cannot get too involved in the artistic stuff and be like the general manager of a hockey team, sliding notes under the coaches door as to how he should be running the team.
Diane Foy 29:32
Yeah. I can see that.
Matthew Willson 29:35
Yeah, so it is, you have to tread lightly. But in the same token, luckily, you know, I have worked with good people, and they will take they will at least listen to me, they may not always take my advice. And maybe my advice is not right. But I have been fortunate where people will take me seriously and listen.
Diane Foy 29:53
What is it about producing that you like when it kind of does take away the artistic part of it?
Matthew Willson 29:59
I do not love producing.
Diane Foy 30:01
No?
Matthew Willson 30:02
No, I well quite often do it because I know it will get done.
Diane Foy 30:06
Right. Okay.
Matthew Willson 30:08
Just done my way. Just it will get done. At least if I do it, it will get done.
Diane Foy 30:12
Right.
Matthew Willson 30:13
So that is probably why I produce mostly. It is not because I like it.
Diane Foy 30:19
Just to get things actually completed. How is your role different when you are producer or executive producer?
Matthew Willson 30:28
A lot of time I have seen firsthand where suddenly people treat you certainly differently when you are the money person.
Diane Foy 30:37
Right.
Matthew Willson 30:38
That is about the only difference for me. People kind of treat you differently because you are the money person. But I do not really like that. I remember when I was on set for American Hangman, and somebody said, what the hell you doing over here talking to these guys for lunch? You are an executive producer, get over here. And I said to him, I am m fine. I will have lunch with these people.
Diane Foy 30:57
I want to talk to the crew and hang out because they are my people.
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 31:01
Yeah, I am a blue-collared person. I am just hanging with these guys talking about lights and sound. And we are talking about sports and world events. So you guys are over there and you are talking about the very same thing.
Diane Foy 31:16
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 31:16
And I am just talking to these people. That is one of the differences, you know you go into to a party as an actor and nobody really wants to talk to you. You go into a party and you are introduced as an executive producer in film and suddenly people want to talk to you.
Diane Foy 31:35
How do you introduce yourself if you are at a networking event during TIFF, how do you introduce yourself?
Matthew Willson 31:42
Oh, God, I hate those moments. I really, we all go, but it is really not my scene. I am a small town guy. I would rather be at home.
Diane Foy 31:50
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 31:51
I do not know. Just Matt Willson, film an actor, you know, producer, filmmaker, director, he just all of a sudden you you just sound like such an idiot. So I guess it kind of depends on who you are talking to. It is great when people introduce you.
Diane Foy 32:06
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 32:07
You do not have to make that decision. But you know, the at the end of the day, really, I guess I am all those things. I do a lot of directing. I do a lot of acting, I do a lot of producing, I do a lot of financing.
Diane Foy 32:19
And is it acting is the one that is, is that, would you say that that is the biggest part of kind of your heart?
Matthew Willson 32:27
No. It is what I want to do the most.
Diane Foy 32:31
Okay.
Matthew Willson 32:32
I really want to act more than anything. And I really, really, over the last three years have fallen in love with directing. And I never ever saw that coming, saying, hey, I think I am going to become a professional pilot, like no I am scared of heights. I have no interest in doing that. And I had no interest in being a director. And I sure like directing.
Diane Foy 32:56
And what changed? How did you get into that?
Matthew Willson 32:58
You know, I am not much of a sports person. But I use a lot of sports analogy. And I found that watching hockey, quite often the best coaches were not great players. And I do not think that I was a great actor. I think I was a good character actor. But I did a lot of small parts in a lot of productions. And I would watch the director, but I love to watch, I love to be on set. And I love to be in the theater. And I would just literally hang around, they would say go home, like you are not needed, please go home. And I just wanted to be on the set or, or in the theater and I learned a lot from directing. And I have had really good directors that had really bad directors. And when I started to look at it, I had watch plays and I would think I could do better than that. It would be paced much quicker, it would you know, things would move a lot faster. The casting is not right. The interpretation is just not the interpretation that this calls for it. So eventually, I started to take some chances and directing one act plays and, and I got my confidence but audiences like them. And I found that actors like being directed by me, I could relate. I paid my dues. They knew that I knew what they were going through. And suddenly directing just kind of seemed to really fit my mold. That is really how it started. And I am directing a play in the springtime, called Pig Girls, both the indigenous women being taken in British Columbia.
Diane Foy 34:38
Right.
Matthew Willson 34:38
Very, very disturbing. And it is quite an honor to be harnessed with the responsibility of presenting that play. It is a big play. It is very touchy.
Diane Foy 34:51
And it is something that you got to do, right? Or there is going to be a lot of controversy around it. Do you have?
Matthew Willson 34:58
Yeah we are well aware.
Diane Foy 35:00
Yeah. What are some of the people that you have around you, helping you with that one?
Matthew Willson 35:05
That started just recently, we just had two meetings. So not much has happened. But I will get insulated well with a good stage manager. And we will just start the process getting scripts out to people and getting some audition set. But as of yet, nothing is really set up. It will not be till next spring.
Diane Foy 35:25
Okay, so you see mostly directing in your future?
Matthew Willson 35:30
I see directing and acting. I really want to be acting more in film, and TV. And I really have my confidence right now in acting in film and TV and I want to be doing more of that. I am looking at doing a production that I had be executive producer on with a big director at a Los Angeles but cannot really get into it. That is all I hope that is going to happen. And yeah directing theatre, and I really want to be acting more in film and TV. So and every actor does, and every actor unless you are a working a-list actor, it is your biggest jobs finding your next gig.
Diane Foy 36:07
Are you active on social media?
Matthew Willson 36:11
Yeah, active is enough for a 46 year old guy that works all the time. Yeah.
Diane Foy 36:15
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 36:16
I was not kind of over it.
Diane Foy 36:18
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 36:18
But you have to do it.
Diane Foy 36:20
You have to.
Matthew Willson 36:21
You have to.
Diane Foy 36:22
I am usually the one telling you, you have to.
Matthew Willson 36:25
Yeah.
Diane Foy 36:27
I do not care if you do not like it.
Matthew Willson 36:30
I know.
Diane Foy 36:31
What you want to do for a living, you know if given that speech a lot. So, what platform do you say, you thrive at? If you thrive at any?
Matthew Willson 36:42
The Facebook.
Diane Foy 36:43
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 36:45
Yeah, a lot of people are more engaged with me through Facebook, and then Instagram, and then Twitter. I kind of like Twitter better. I like Instagram the least. But I am the most familiar with Facebook.
Diane Foy 36:59
I think me too.
Matthew Willson 37:01
Yeah. Because I think you can post images. And you are not limited to how much you can write on Facebook. And you can post images and videos and write about them.
Diane Foy 37:11
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 37:12
I mean, you can with Twitter, but you are limited to how much you can write. And I do not know, for some reason, maybe it is what everybody started with Facebook. So we know it better. I do not know. If Instagram or Twitter has started first we would be more comfortable with those.
Diane Foy 37:29
I have always been a fan of Twitter. I like it. You sometimes you can connect with people that you would not connect with any other way I find.
Matthew Willson 37:37
Yeah. Okay. Yeah, for sure. Absolutely. And I do find that Yeah,
Diane Foy 37:41
Like as an actor, you can follow casting directors, I love the list feature in Twitter, because you can basically make a list of all casting directors, you can make a list of all media, blogs, and then make sure you never miss those tweets. So.
Matthew Willson 37:56
Yeah, there is that. Yeah. It kind of like, Twitter kind of keeps showing schedule a bit kind of keeps you like your you can let allow it keep you updated that way.
Diane Foy 38:07
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 38:07
Facebook, you kind of got to scroll and try not to get stuck in the back end of the vortex.
Diane Foy 38:13
Yeah or because Facebook also is more personal too so you might get off topic on you are trying to do business. But then all of a sudden, you are in a personal conversation with a friend.
Matthew Willson 38:24
Yeah, I know that happens.
Diane Foy 38:26
That happens on Facebook.
Matthew Willson 38:28
Are you big with the Instagram?
Diane Foy 38:30
I am trying to be. I do not post as often as I should. And I do not post as much of me as I should. But I am getting better.
Matthew Willson 38:42
What do you post when you are not posting you?
Diane Foy 38:44
Well I posted like sometimes my clients and my podcast guests. So there is a lot of images.
Matthew Willson 38:51
That is good.
Diane Foy 38:52
Yeah, I do like, like, cover art of each episode. So I will have a photo of you and the episode cover art. So I will post and there is a really cool thing, might as well talk about it on the podcast. There is a really cool thing about my podcast host. If you click on the player, there is a recast option. And so you can click a 30, 60 92nd clip, and it makes a video for you that you can post on socials.
Matthew Willson 39:23
Oh, I want that.
Diane Foy 39:24
Yeah. So whatever 30, 62nd thing you think is your gold of this episode. You can clip it and post that on social.
Matthew Willson 39:35
I do not think I have never caught 60 seconds of gold.
Diane Foy 39:39
Well, other people choose your gold.
Matthew Willson 39:42
Yes, I have. I have people that choose my gold.
Diane Foy 39:44
Yes.
Matthew Willson 39:45
That is cool. That is great. How has the podcast been going?
Diane Foy 39:48
It has been good. I have kind of done a little hiatus this month, not planned. I justwas so busy with actually publicity stuff and all this other stuff that I do. That I was just like, I need a little bit of a break from the podcast. But meanwhile, I am moving it over to its own website. So because the podcast used to be part of dianefoy.com but now it has its own Sing Dance Act, Thrive domain and that way I can also maybe I can interview the person. But I can always post event news or when you have a play coming up, I could post that kind of stuff.
Matthew Willson 40:26
Right, yeah.
Diane Foy 40:26
I want to post resources. So you know, in industry, people who want to write about their area of expertise, or have resources of how to have different parts of the industry. So you can work more when its own kind of media outlet thing.
And the podcast is the focus. But yeah, the podcast has been great. I love the interview part. It is the editing part that drives me up the wall.
Matthew Willson 40:45
Okay.
Do you edit yourself?
Diane Foy 40:55
Yes. I do everything myself. So that is I do have a backlog of some interviews, but it is just like the editing, I do not want to do it.
Matthew Willson 41:06
You know, I would not want to do that either. The interviewing would, I would like but not the not the editing.
Diane Foy 41:11
Yeah, that is why I love I love talking to people I love. And also I love podcast, because there is no real time limit. A lot of people if you hear an interview of them on a normal, whether it is a TV or radio, you know there is limited time you get the sound bites, you do not really get to know them really well. So I like that podcast.
Matthew Willson 41:33
When did you start with podcast?
Diane Foy 41:34
I think it started airing in end of March.
Matthew Willson 41:39
Okay.
Diane Foy 41:39
So I am on episode 22.
Matthew Willson 41:42
Wow, look at you.
Diane Foy 41:44
Yeah, and has been weekly, except the last few weeks.
Matthew Willson 41:48
And you must get really busy at TIFF.
Diane Foy 41:50
Yeah, so I am going to be working with an actress. That is in a film and I will take her to all those events that you hate.
Matthew Willson 41:58
Yeah. I really do not like them.
Diane Foy 42:02
I love them. But I guess that is why I am a publicist.
Matthew Willson 42:06
I guess I mean, we all do it. But yeah, I really thought I did not like it. And then now I really realize I really I really don’t think I do.
Diane Foy 42:16
Yeah, yeah.
Matthew Willson 42:17
I really do not think
Diane Foy 42:18
You really don’t like it.
Matthew Willson 42:19
I really don’t like it.
Diane Foy 42:22
Well, I think if you manage to get where you want to go career wise without it, then you do not have to, but or it could be at this point, you have paid your dues. Whereas like, I feel like I do not go out as much as I used to because I have paid my my dues. I have done the out every night at every event possible. And got to know everyone in the music industry, the film industry, you know, it is like, so I do not go out as much.
Matthew Willson 42:45
if you could, would you not be on social media?
Diane Foy 42:49
No, I like it.
Matthew Willson 42:50
I do not. I wish I was the point where I did not need to do it at all.
Diane Foy 42:54
Yeah. I do find a lot of artists are like.
Matthew Willson 42:59
Yeah, I really do not be doing it.
Diane Foy 43:01
Which that is the part that baffles me. Explain this to me. Artists, whether you are musician, actor, is not the point that you want to be a public figure?
Matthew Willson 43:15
No, not my point. No, I do not. Yeah, of course, I want to be successful. But I do not want to based on my tweets. I want my word. Jack Nicholson, Brad Pitt or Leonardo DiCaprio had social media? They do not. Funny Leonardo DiCaprio does, but it is not him.
Diane Foy 43:33
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 43:34
They just let the work speak for themselves. That is what I love.
Diane Foy 43:37
But I think if they were just starting now, they would have to.
Matthew Willson 43:41
Oh, yeah.
Diane Foy 43:43
So that would be the thing.
Matthew Willson 43:46
That I would love to be like so many people like Jake Gyllenhaal. And you know, Angelina Jolie, they do not really have any presence in social media. They are popular enough, I guess.
Diane Foy 44:01
I think they probably gotten into a certain level that the media takes care of it for them like so the media, the paparazzi, they will make sure that their images are everywhere. And, [ you know, they want to say ].
Matthew Willson 44:14
Yeah, I really have no interest in sitting there creating tweets. I mean, I do it. But I would really rather not.
Diane Foy 44:21
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 44:22
I would really rather read the paper. But that is what we do. That is what we do now.
Diane Foy 44:27
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 44:27
We tweet and we do not read.
Diane Foy 44:30
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 44:31
Literally, we tweet and we do not read the paper.
Diane Foy 44:34
Pretty much. We only read the headlines too. Who has time to read an article?
Matthew Willson 44:38
Of course.
Diane Foy 44:40
Headlines it is all you need.
Matthew Willson 44:43
Yeah, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. They are the ones with the time I guess, because they are not on social media.
Diane Foy 44:49
Yeah. But it is kind of what we got to do now. If you can figure out a way of not doing it with social media, go for it. But I find and there is so much that you have to do on socials. Like if you were someone you want to connect with if there was a casting director you were dying to connect with and you had no personal connection. Social media.
Matthew Willson 45:17
Social media is your,
Diane Foy 45:19
That is what I love about it is that people that you did not have the opportunity to meet before, Now you could make happen through social.
Matthew Willson 45:31
Just by creeping.
Diane Foy 45:32
Internet stalking. I love it. That is why you have to list on Twitter and follow them. And it is like, it gives you that advantage at least. But it is also like, as an actor or musician, you have to kind of build like a fan base too.
Matthew Willson 45:53
You have to have a following and what I find happens more and more is people are cast based on how many followers they have. It is going to bring in an audience Believe it or not.
Diane Foy 46:05
True. That is the way it is going with I think that with Instagram for sure.
Matthew Willson 46:10
Yeah, it just shocks me because I think you know, they could be a horrible horrible actor yet they may get cast.
Diane Foy 46:17
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 46:19
They get a lot of followers. Unbelievable.
Diane Foy 46:21
But they would not last very long, I do not think.
Matthew Willson 46:24
Well, you would think but I am telling you people in the…
Diane Foy 46:27
Even the followers it does not, that does not last like whoever influencer of the moment.
Matthew Willson 46:33
Yeah.
Diane Foy 46:34
It is going to be someone new.
Matthew Willson 46:36
I sound like such a curmudgeon. If you go to theater school, influencer be a YouTube sensation. It is just so foreign to me, I guess. But it is what happens.
Diane Foy 46:48
Yeah. Ideally, you have a balance of the both talent and a following.
Matthew Willson 46:54
Yes. There is substance and then there is following.
Diane Foy 46:57
Yeah. If you can only change the world.
Matthew Willson 47:01
Yes.
Diane Foy 47:01
We do not have that power.
Matthew Willson 47:03
If you and I were in charge things would be much different.
Diane Foy 47:10
Yeah. The only thing that bugs me is I love social media when I am at home. Yeah, because I can do that. I am on a computer. I am connecting with people. I actually do not like it when I am out. Okay, I am watching a concert. Can we just watch the concert? Why does it just have their phone up? Yes, I am a little bit like that.
Matthew Willson 47:32
I went to see Iron Maiden on Saturday night, and people videotape a lot. Like you are never going to watch that. Because you know that when you are at home, you play that, it is just like 20 seconds of just loud.
Diane Foy 47:47
Yeah and I am a photographer so I know the photography is gonna be crap.
Matthew Willson 47:53
Yeah. It is going to be awful. So you are just putting your phone in front of everybody’s face.
Diane Foy 47:59
Yeah and you are experiencing it through your phone right now.
Matthew Willson 48:04
Right.
Diane Foy 48:04
The band is right there. So sometimes when I am out, that is when I should be posting on social media and being all Instagram and I am at this fabulous event. But I kind of just want to enjoy the event.
Matthew Willson 48:20
I get you there. Like those people at the Iron Maiden concert. Just you pay $200? What you will get your money’s worth.
Diane Foy 48:27
Yeah.
Matthew Willson 48:28
Because you are never going to watch that video at home.
Diane Foy 48:31
No, I usually take the one photo or one little video just to make social media happy, and then put my damn phone away and enjoy the event.
Matthew Willson 48:41
Yeah me too.
Diane Foy 48:43
Okay, so we are old. That is what we have learned. Basically, the moral of this podcast episode is we are old.
Matthew Willson 48:51
We are out of touch with the new kids.
Diane Foy 48:53
Yeah. We are not cool. I think we are cooler. But anyways,
Matthew Willson 49:00
I think we are more knowledgeable.
Diane Foy 49:01
Yes, they will learn 20 year olds will learn that there is more to life than social media.
Matthew Willson 49:09
That is right.
Diane Foy 49:10
But you still have to be on social media. If this is what you want to do with your life.
Matthew Willson 49:13
What do you think when you are at a coffee shop, and you get handed your hot drink? And you say thank you and they say no worries. You will feel like saying no, I was not worried. I was just saying thank you. Like you were not doing me that much of a favor. For you to say no worries for helping me get the coffee.
Diane Foy 49:32
I have never really pondered that one.
Matthew Willson 49:34
Yeah. Next time an 18 year old says no worries. No. worries. Well, I was not worried about you.
Diane Foy 49:43
Well, the basically the whole time I am thinking do I say no worries?
Matthew Willson 49:48
Yeah.
Diane Foy 49:49
Do I get that? No worries.
Matthew Willson 49:51
Yeah.
Diane Foy 49:51
No problem. I might be a no problem. I do not know.
Matthew Willson 49:55
People do not say quite often they do not say oh, you are welcome. They said no worries.
Diane Foy 50:00
Now I notice it all the time.
Matthew Willson 50:01
Yeah, you will now. Interesting talk.
Diane Foy 50:07
Yes. This has been a very odd podcast episode.
Matthew Willson 50:13
Well, this is how I converse most of the time, I must admit.
Diane Foy 50:17
Yeah. This is probably the type of episode I like, when I listen to episodes when they just get off topic and talk to ramble.
Matthew Willson 50:25
Just talk. Yeah, yeah.
Diane Foy 50:28
That is what I love about podcasts.
Matthew Willson 50:32
Do you listen to a lot of podcasts?
Diane Foy 50:34
I do.
Matthew Willson 50:35
Okay.
Diane Foy 50:36
I am not a long term listener. I kind of started listening when I thought, Hey, I should start a podcast. Maybe I should listen to some. But then I got really into it. So just in the last year, I have been listening to podcasts, and my favorite ones. also listen to go what I do, like, what I don not like, what I would put in my own. And my favorites have been for actors, I love 10,000 No’s. He used to talk to more actors. He is kind of moved on. And so I do not listen to it as often. I am sorry, but he is still my favorite. But he is an actor. And he started this podcast called 10,000 No’s. What is his name is Michael something. He was on a scandal. He was going through a period of time where he was not working as much. Scandal. I think it is when Trump got elected. They changed their whole writing for this last season.
Matthew Willson 51:34
Oh, okay. Yeah.
Diane Foy 51:35
And he was supposed to have a bigger part. But then because of the election, they went a different way. So he had less of a part. And so he had no work. So then he started a podcast called 10,000 No’s. And he just always he interviews successful people about all the 10,000 No’s along the way, and how do you keep going. So I found it really,
Matthew Willson 51:55
That is a cool concept. You listen to Howard Stern Show?
Diane Foy 51:58
I do not.
Matthew Willson 51:59
You should. I want you to listen to Howard Stern Show. The best interviewer ever.
Diane Foy 52:05
I have always been kind of turned off by him.
Matthew Willson 52:07
Well, you do not listen.
Diane Foy 52:08
I do not listen to him. No.
Matthew Willson 52:09
No. You can go on to YouTube and listen to like, just like the Lady Gaga interview or the Paul McCartney interviews.
Diane Foy 52:22
Okay. So someone I am interested in.
Matthew Willson 52:25
Yes.
Diane Foy 52:25
Because I am not interested in him. But maybe he will win me over.
Matthew Willson 52:29
He will. Listen to Paul McCartney and Lady Gaga and or just Lady Gaga and you will be really into Howard Stern. You will really like his interviews.
Diane Foy 52:39
Okay. Cool. And what else, there is, for dancers. I love the dance podcast. Same kind of thing. I think what what I wanted because I love all I love. I love acting. I do not do any of it. But I love musicians, I love actors, I love dancers. And that is kind of always want to be around them. So I would listen to these and I would see, there is a lot of good podcasts for actors. There is podcasts for dancers, there is podcasts for musicians. And I think even as a publicist, I have always wanted to kind of meld you know, introduce each other for the different industries because it less separation, because we can learn so much from each other and help each other.
Matthew Willson 53:23
Yeah. Yeah.
Diane Foy 53:24
So that is kind of where I went in to this podcasts of like, I want to include actors, dancers, musicians.
Matthew Willson 53:32
That is great. I am glad you do. That is cool. Good for you. And how long have you been a publicist for?
Diane Foy 53:40
15, 16?
Matthew Willson 53:45
Good for you.
Diane Foy 53:47
Always, always music and film, mostly. But then all other kinds of publicity as well, but mostly entertainment, music and film. And then I’ve started coaching artists in the last couple years, coaching artists on their branding and things like that.
Matthew Willson 54:04
Well, it is very important that you do because a lot of people have no idea what they are doing once they get into it.
Diane Foy 54:10
Yeah, I think I found that people would come to me for publicity, but they were not really ready. They did not have their shit together. And I would tell them all the things that they need to do to get ready, but I was not, I do not know if that was being helpful. So then I would I kind of discovered coaching, it is like, okay, now I can coach you and get you ready. And it has been great for a few that. It is like, coach them on their branding their, you know, what they really want in their life, what their goals are, goal setting and all that. And then we went we go right into publicity, and we are rocking it. So it worked. So I am going to look at more of that soon, too.
Matthew Willson 54:51
Yeah, that is great. Cool. Okay, well, listen, I will not keep you I know you are busy. You got a lot of editing to do.
Diane Foy 54:58
I do.
Matthew Willson 54:58
You got to listen to a lot of Howard Stern. You have to listen all those Lady Gaga interviews now.
Diane Foy 55:04
Okay. So where can people find you online? The place you love to be.
Matthew Willson 55:11
Well, Facebook, Matthew Wilson with two T’s and two L’s and the Twitter is Maddie boys. 5150. And Instagram is just, I think it is just Matthew Wilson, two T’s and two L’s.
Diane Foy 55:26
So the publicist to me would like you to get the same name for all.
Matthew Willson 55:30
I know, but a publicist that I once had changed it and it has been screwed up ever since.
Diane Foy 55:35
Damn.
Matthew Willson 55:36
Yeah.
Diane Foy 55:37
Damn that publicist.
Matthew Willson 55:39
And the publicist.
Diane Foy 55:40
Because then you would like for me, I could say I am Diane Foy pr on all socials.
Matthew Willson 55:44
I am probably Matthew Wilson on all socials, but I really do not know. But my wonderful publicist now will tell me.
Diane Foy 55:51
Yeah, she will hook you up. Well, that is all I got for you. Thanks for spending this time with me.
Matthew Willson 55:56
No worries.
Diane Foy 55:57
And maybe we will see you at the awkward networking events drink?
Matthew Willson 56:02
Yes, I hope so. If you do. please come up and introduce yourself, please. I would like to see you. I like you.
Diane Foy 56:07
Like you.
Matthew Willson 56:09
I do not like most people, but I like you.
Diane Foy 56:11
Oh, good. Good. I like that.
Matthew Willson 56:14
Okay, well, thanks very much. I appreciate your time. And if there is anything else, by all means, just let me know. I do like spending time talking. And this has been nice. So if you need anything else,
Diane Foy 56:24
Okay wonderful.
Okay, cool. Enjoy the rest of your day.
Matthew Willson 56:29
You too. All the best. Talk to you soon.
Diane Foy 56:30
Thanks. Bye bye.
Matthew Willson 56:31
Bye bye.
Seriously? I just realized in editing this that after I said thank you he said no worries! Anyways, for a transcript of this odd conversation visit singdanceactthrive.com/026
