Matt Drago

Matt Drago is an actor living in Los Angeles. Best known for his role as Fabian in SOMEWHERE IN MONTANA, he has appeared in a variety of other projects including Disney’s Counting Scars viral video, What Would Jesus Do: The Journey Continues, Ridley Scott’s Prophets of Science Fiction, and the popular audio drama podcast No Other Way. You can find all of his content via his website mattdrago.com.

Transcript

Intro Song

Rob Valincius: We are live, uh, for me and you. It sounds like it's a thirsty Thursday, which I haven't had one in a little while. So, uh, before I even say anything, brother, cheers.

Matt Drago: Cheers,

Rob Valincius: Uh, welcome to the drink o'clock podcast. I'm your host, Rob Valincius. I have the pleasure of having, uh, now I probably should ask you how you say your last name.

So I'm just going to fucking wing it. Matt Drago.

Matt Drago: Drago. But that's okay, because Rocky IV is Drago, and it happens to be one of my favorite movies. Russian is Drago pronunciation, and Drago for the Sicilian, which is me.

Rob Valincius: Awesome. Alright, I'll take it. Now, uh, Matt, you're an actor, you know, currently living in Los Angeles. Um, I know you have a upcoming movie somewhere in Montana where you play the role as Fabian. Um, you've done a couple different things with, uh, looks like what, Disney's Counting Scars viral video. What Would Jesus Do?

The Journey Continues. Ridley Scott's Prophets of Science Fiction. Um, you're in an audio drama, which I love, called No Other Way. Like, I'm big into, uh, audiobook dramas. I fuckin I love

Matt Drago: They're awesome, yeah.

Rob Valincius: Um, and, you know, they've gotten really good lately, too, so we'll get into that. But, um, I know you're into some other stuff.

Karate, um, you're a sports fan, dude. Welcome to the podcast,

Matt Drago: Dude, Rob, thank you so much for having me. Looking forward to drinking with you and having a good conversation.

Rob Valincius: So, I mean, let's start with the the obvious one here. What's I mean, what's Los Angeles like right now with with after all the craziness or is it still kind of freaking out over there?

Matt Drago: Yeah, it's been quite a month to be perfectly honest. But as I sit in my house right now, it is pouring outside. So we are grateful for the rain right now. My wife and dog and I had to evacuate once we were close enough to. Like a warning zone and a lot of people from the east coast specifically, because I'm originally from the east coast, too.

I even had to explain it to my dad, you know, it's like, like, don't think of it. It's just like these, like, little campfires that are, like, coming up here and they're like, it's the winds. It's it's the Santa Ana's. Um, sometimes they'll hit 70, 80 miles an hour and it becomes like these fire NATO. So I always say that there's like three parts of it.

There's, you know, the winds, which are basically the fuel to the fire. And then there's essentially like what burns, which then goes into the air, which then you breathe, right? Which is a whole other issue. And then the last part of it is you don't want to be the last to evacuate because if you're the last to evacuate, man, it can be.

Um, just, uh, really dangerous. Right. And then you're in your car, not in your house. So it's those three elements that make it, um, you know, pretty scary. Uh, but, uh, LA is a great city, man. It really doesn't get the credit it deserves. I believe, um, you know, we're, we're LA until, cause again, I'm an East coaster.

So even growing up, like I was like, Oh, that's like, we're all like the dreamers go and like, everybody's about themselves and blah, blah, blah. You see something like this happen and you realize that L. A. Strong means L. A. Strong. This is a, uh, you know, an old, uh, American city. And yeah, it's built on dreamers, but dreamers are fighters.

Don't sleep on dreamers. I always say that to people like, you know, dreamers are fighters and fighters come together for each other. And it has been really beautiful to see our city, which is again, the biggest county in the country is L. A. County. A lot of people don't know that. So it's a massive area.

And, uh, just to have people come together to do really extraordinary things, um, is, uh, really, really inspirational.

Rob Valincius: Yeah, look man, um, I, I don't know if that, if I, maybe I am a dreamer, I'm, I'm an idea guy.

Matt Drago: Nice.

Rob Valincius: I consider myself maybe a dreamer cause a lot of times I'm trying to think up, you know, uh, something new, something to do, something to create. Um, and I've been that way since, uh, since I was a kid, you know, I, I, uh, used to draw a lot.

I was big in, uh, to drawing shit, um, big in a, you know, Dragon Ball Z and, and the cartoons and stuff growing up and uh, it was a way for me to kind of, um, escape, you know, like I could, and, and there was nothing wrong, it's not like I was abused, yeah, like I didn't have like a, like a shitty, you know, uh, family or anything, it's just, I think, uh, I think everybody needs a little of that escape, like, and um, that's why I appreciate what you do as an actor because you, you get to, um, I think for, for us as the audience, you get to see a side of you, and this is just my opinion, maybe you can tell me if I'm wrong, right?

I think, uh, a lot of the times when actors are portraying roles, even if it's a character that, that is evil or whatever, there's always a piece of you in that character. That you, that you kind of give to that character, and I really appreciate that because it also lets you explore the different sides of your psyche as well.

Matt Drago: Yeah, you have to relate to your character and, you know, uh, if it's a character that is far off from, Maybe who you are in your real life, you know, we'll go to the, you know, opposite end of the spectrum, like, uh, a psychopath, right? Which is actually what I play in. Um, what would Jesus do? The journey continues.

And I was actually told, um, even after, uh, I wrapped on that, that, uh, the director actually came up to me and said, Uh, Matt, I made a mistake and, and I was like, what? No, I think the film came out great. What are you talking about? Like, I loved it, you know, and he's like, no, man, we should have used you more.

Like, you really brought it. And it was because that character and kind of being, um, like a psycho bully, like just somebody that's really unhinged. Gave me the freedom to, um, dive deep into, uh, those types of people, right? And to kind of do my research and to, um, understand, like, the things that are, um, you know, not clicking inside of them, um, or clicking, I guess you could say.

Uh in in their minds to make them act and react that way. So there's just um a lot of escape like you said with your drawings and dragon ball z and um, you know, uh, because I I I know a lot of animators and and it's just it's Art is escape, like, you know, acting is escape, uh, telling stories, whether it's, it's with, uh, you know, a pencil and a piece of paper, um, with a typewriter, like, my wife's a writer, um, I say typewriter, but I got her this really cool Bluetooth, like, keyboard that, like, looks like a, you know, old school typewriter, um, I'm saving up because I

Rob Valincius: I loved old school typewriters, dude. I had one growing up.

Matt Drago: Dude, I'm saving up for, like, I want to get her, like, a really nice, like, you know, like, just the one that you have to, like, you know, like, one that, like, it'll take her, like, 20 years to write a book someday.

Rob Valincius: I mean, there's nothing like clicking the keys. You know, you're hearing the and it's just, I don't know, man. It's like a, it's like a cool feeling until you fuck up until you, you, you, you're meant to click F and you clicked G and you're like, ah, damn it. Um, but that's

Matt Drago: it's all, it's all an escape. Yeah.

Rob Valincius: Yeah, I mean, look, I, I think, um, but I, I think it's, I think it's good for people, you know, whether, and, and everyone has their own coping mechanisms.

Um, but, but I think for me and, and even the audience, I mean, it also lets you into the mind of, of, you know, like a psychopath, you know, what, what that would be. And, uh, you know, look, we, we love, I love psychopath stuff because I'm not a psychopath, but it really lets you see. What the crazy is like, we, we love Dexter.

We watch, you know, everything Dexter. Um, you know,

Matt Drago: I knew two friends of mine that are in the new Dexter right now. The, um, you know, the, the, the prequel, uh, Dexter in including, uh, Carlo, who actually plays the big bad that basically set all of this in motion. Right. Um, uh, Carlo Mendez, like he's a, a friend. We actually, um, I have his manager now. And so it's, it's a very tight knit group, but, um, Dexter is, uh.

It's such an IP, you know, the intellectual property for, uh, that character and, and, and I actually was on set, um, in a little featured background role, um, when I first came to LA, uh, that was the last, uh, episode of the original Dexter series and, and, and I actually got a moment where I got to act with Michael C.

Hall and there were no words to it, but essentially, yeah, Um, and it got cut. So, like, I learned, you know, I've learned a lot of lessons early in my career. And again, I roll with the punches now, but it was still a really, I always look at it. Like, what was the day? Like, what, like, what did that day give me?

Because again, you can't concentrate on. Um, the final result, you can't concentrate on what will happen. You have to like, embrace like the fact that you're there for that day. And I got this scene with Michael C. Hall, and it was really cool. I even got to be in the group picture. I'll have to dig that up one, uh, dig that one up and see if I can tag you or something and show it to you, but, um, it was so cool because basically, I guess I looked enough like his older brother, Eric.

Um, that they basically had this scene where he's at the church and he's like, starting to see things, right? Because he's like, freaking out at that point. And we have this scene, and it was just such a cool acting moment, like, regardless of whether it made it in the show where I'm walking down the street and it's almost like he's.

Seeing his brother so it was gonna cut to me and to like his brother and like he doesn't know what he's seeing but it was really cool because I'm like looking I'm looking and looking and then all of a sudden he's on the other side of the street and I just like stare him down and I'm just like looking squarely.

So so we're like, locking eyes and like, we're like, there's like this moment of and then like, you know, there's that quick cut and and and he's seeing. Just me on the street, like reading my paper or something like that and like looking up and, you know, so it was like a really cool, like, little acting moment with him.

And even across the street, I'm like, damn, this guy is like, he is bringing it because he is. He's very soft spoken. Um, you know, but, but, but intense and, and it's just, it's fun when you get those roles that are so unlike you to essentially, like, just dive deep into what makes those types of people, uh, click because it's, it's showing another side of humanity.

And so that's what makes, uh, the journey ever fun as an actor.

Rob Valincius: The the wifey she loves what's his name Patrick Gibson the guy that plays Him as a young kid in the new original sin. He's really good. He brings

Matt Drago: did his homework for sure.

Rob Valincius: he brings Dexter Very very well. I don't know about the casting for his sister like she plays her really well It's like she's not like she's not doing a bad job but It's just, Deb is a, Deb was a weird character for the whole series.

I feel like it's hard to replicate her. I thought it was going to be hard to replicate Dexter, but he just nails it. And of course, Christian Slater is Christian Slater. You know, he's, he's fucking great. Um, but it's been, uh, it's been cool. And we're excited to see the, you know, the, the new show. But that's pretty wild that you know some people, uh, you know, in it.

And you've, you've worked with him. That's cool.

Matt Drago: I do just be yeah, just being on set that day knowing because the emotions were high because you have to remember. I mean, like, when you are living in that world, the original Dexter show, what was it? Like, 778 seasons, something like

Rob Valincius: There's a lot of seasons.

Matt Drago: a lot of seasons. And so, like, because it was. Literally one of the last days.

I mean, it definitely was the last episode, but it was one of the last days of shooting where I happened to, you know, get to act with Michael C. Hall. You could tell like, there was a lot of like sadness, like, you know, like, it was definitely like, um, you know, coming to an end. And that's why they did that group picture because.

Um, you know, it was one of the last times that they were all together because it was a big day. So there were a lot of people there because, I mean, sometimes you have maybe a scene with just Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter, you know, David Dias or whatever, you know, so this one was such a, um, a big day, um, in terms of location that everybody was there.

And I just. happened as an extra with a little featured part to get into this picture. And I'm like, you know, right there with like people that really I admire, but, um, it was just really cool. Cause a lot of people that day were really reflecting on what the journey meant to them. And I think that really spoke to me.

As an actor, because it really is, and I say this all the time, but it's true. It's no bullshit, like, the journey is the destination. Like, you have to embrace the journey, because you'll have little days like that, and then maybe your scene will be cut. But like, I got to act with Michael C. Hall. I got to be on set with a bunch of great actors in one of the most iconic shows of all time.

And I happened to be there, like, the last episode. So. You know, sometimes you take your wins like, you know, in, in the ways that you don't think you will. And I think if you have that humility, it goes a long way in this industry.

Rob Valincius: Oh, yeah. I mean, that's something who cares if like, you know that you were there, you know, and you were in those photos. And I mean, Um, I looked it up. So it was, it was eight seasons. I mean, I can imagine, um, all the planning that went into the first season alone. And then, you know, so you're talking over eight, eight years, you know, of, of people being together all the time.

So, and I know he was a writer on, on the show as well, right? Did he create it or was he a co creator?

Matt Drago: Now, Clyde Phillips is the creator, but he got, you know, producer credit as he became. You know, just really iconic in the role. And I mean, you know, it's, it's the same thing with, with the prequel. I mean, like, they had to get his voice in there. Like, they had to get, like, his dialogue. Cause I mean, he's just like, it's, it's, it's listen, it's, it's really hard sometimes when you find a role that, like, connects with you or that you connect with on such a deep level.

And people see that. Um, to break away from it, I think, uh, when he was in six feet under, I think, you know, that was a role that was similar. But Dexter, like, just, I mean, it's, it's one of the most perfect casting choices of all time. In my opinion, I can't imagine that role done any other way. And I think that.

You know, that's something that you actually try to do as an actor, and it's something that I'm starting to wrap my head around a little bit more is that the roles that are that are meant to find you will, will find you, um, and, and, you know, talking about somewhere in Montana, I, I feel the exact same way about Fabian Verdugo, and you don't even know it in the moment, but sometimes you realize it over time, like, Wow, like I, I really understand this character and, and I see what this character has done for me and in my life.

And, um, you know, I just hopefully other people see it that way too. But, uh, it is pretty cool when you, when you realize like, oh, wow, like this role actually was meant to find me in some way.

Rob Valincius: Now let me ask you this, because this is something that, for me, I think I was always intrigued with. Um, because you, you get, I think, two different sides to it, right? How do you feel about that syndicated show, right? What's it, four seasons and then it's syndicated?

Matt Drago: Used to be five. Yeah, it used to be five, but it's changed so much with streaming, dude. It's so different now.

Rob Valincius: Um, how do you feel about You know, getting into like, like obviously people see Michael C. Hall. They see Dexter. Um, now I guess that's called, I guess what type casting, right? Um, you see, uh, Daniel Radcliffe. You think Harry Potter? Um, and I know that he's done everything he can to distance himself and be in other crazy roles and way different things.

But how do you feel as an actor about? Things like that, roles like, like iconic roles, because I know you get some people that just want to say, nah, you know, fuck it. I don't want to be involved in that. I want to go the other way. But then you have some people that like, tend to just like, I think Michael C.

Hall embraced it, you know? And he's like, this is who I am. I love this show, and let's do as many seasons or as many different variations of the show as possible. Um, you know, what's your thoughts on that?

Matt Drago: Yeah, I'll give you an interesting one. So, um, I studied with the great Sam Christensen and, uh. And he, he, he passed away a couple of years ago, but he was extraordinary, uh, in New York City. And, um, he really gravitated, uh, towards me and, and me to him as well because of what he taught. And I think he could tell that I was really searching for something.

So what he, um, taught, uh, kind of, uh, surpassed acting. I mean, it correlated with acting. I was actually studying with his friend, Terry Schreiber in his studio at the same time. And he had Terry got. You know, Edward Norton is start and he became like a grandfather to me and a great acting teacher, but he'd bring in different people like Sam to kind of fill in the gaps and teach different aspects of, um, acting and what Sam did as the casting director of mash.

I mean, he had this, uh. Extraordinary memory. I mean, some of these casting directors do like, they like see and mash actually have a lot of guest stars, like a lot of parts coming in and out. And so he go to off broadway off opera. He was talking about, like, he used to scout people at the public theater downtown in New York City.

Um, and just remember, oh, that's the guy that does that, you know what I mean? Or has this type of energy or that? And so because he like studied that from a casting director standpoint for so many years in casting mash and again, you can look that one up, but I think that show was on like almost two decades.

Right? So, you

Rob Valincius: long time.

Matt Drago: long time. And so, because that shaped him, he was like, okay, what is it that I'm seeing here? Right? Because he's seeing all these different actors that are giving off all of these different things. And so we came up with the word the word is that it's it's the characters myth or the actors myth and the myth is essentially what they're giving off that.

They don't even have control of as you're talking to me right now. You're probably getting vibes for me as a person. Right? So it's like, it's, it's, it's like, If you were a casting director, like what, how would you see me? Like, would you see me in that role? No, not so much, but you might see me in that one.

Or I would like to try him in that role, but I'm not really sure about it. If he's not right for that, maybe I'll try him over here. And that's what Sam did. Sam brought in so many different people over so many years that he essentially created this whole idea around it, which was the actor's myth. And, you know, my myth, uh, I'll just tell you on the show is, is, is essentially what he called it was the gift of returns.

He said that my character is, uh, or my myth as a person, because again, the, the, the actor myth and the person are one and the same. And that's another thing. It's like, you can't. You can't hide what you give off like it's just the way that you are viewed sometimes and that's the same in regular life, too.

So it actually kind of helps you as an actor, but it also helps you as an artist, too, because some people come across arrogant. Some people come across really sweet. Some people come across, you know, like whatever. Right. And so it essentially gives you the freedom to say, okay, this is how people are viewing me.

And I can either embrace it or I can reject it and rejecting. It's always the wrong way to go. Because again, you want to be a working actor. So you want to embrace how you're viewed and how you're seen. So my mess is the gift of returns the gift of returns, meaning that I. Give a lot like I give like a lot of energy.

I give a lot of passion. I'm Sicilian So I talk with my hands, you know, which I have to try not to do when I'm on set because you know We can't help it. It's like, you know, so it's it's it's like this this this gift of returns and and what he What he said to me, because I mean, I was having trouble with it.

Um, a lot of times, like, uh, a lot of people said that I did read as arrogant and, and, and, you know, I was upset about that because I'm like, no, Sam, like, I'm not arrogant. Like, I, I'm a, I'm a student of the game. Like, I, I, like, I love, like, being around actors and he said, no, Matt, you're missing the point. And I'm like, what do you mean?

He's like, I'm not telling you that you're arrogant. I'm telling you that that's how sometimes you come across. It's not a bad thing because arrogance, if we look at that word, maybe we don't really understand what the full word means. Right? You know, obviously arrogant means something, but but you need to reshape that.

It's not who you are. It's how you come across. So lean into it. What is arrogance? It could be pride. It could be, you know, like hubris, right? It could be a lot of the roles that we see in shows over and over again, like, uh, you know, CW, the, the, the, the, the boyfriend with the heart of gold. Well, he's cocky as shit, but like, he's like, he's probably gonna have a moment where he.

Gets it or, you know, it's probably it's probably when he gets the girl to where he like, you know, is a little bit softer. Right? So it's it's this incredible program that that I worked with him. And, you know, he actually said that, um. One of those, you know, myths is, is, uh, somebody that he actually knew personally in, you know, when he was alive was Tom cruise.

And he said that that was his meth too. And that's what he gave off, you know, that just kind of gift of returns. Like, he gives so much and like, as a person, but

Rob Valincius: can see that.

Matt Drago: that's how he, that's how he rubs off too. So he, he, and he told me that. Because he wanted me to understand that that success was there, but it was at a point in my life where I was kind of rejecting who I was in a way, or not embracing how I was being seen.

And it really unlocked the door for me to be okay with being more passionate, which again, sometimes gets classified as being selfish or self centered or, you know, being a diva, right? Or whatever it is. And so, again, it really, um, you know, got me to the point where I'm like, yeah. I am passionate. I'm an Italian guy.

You know, I'm proud. Yeah, like that's okay. And if that's the way that I've seen, then instead of backing away from it, maybe I need to lean into it and see what happens. And then roles like Fabian Verdugo come along, right? And Fabian is an L. A. filmmaker. He's passionate about his art. He will fight tooth and nail for his dreams.

But he also is, um, somebody that'll go down with his own ship. He's somebody that takes care of his family. His cast and crew are his family. He will fight for them. And so, like, when I think about, like, that moment in time where I studied with Sam Christensen, like, what a gift he gave me, because he gave me the freedom to be what I was being viewed as.

And so, you know, I think when I, when I think about actors, it's in that same way. It's like, Michael C. Hall is a cool guy. Like he's so cool, right? He's like so down to earth and like, like a total team player and, and very chill. Um, and he plays one of, if not, I think the best psycho killer of all time. So there you go.

You know what I mean? So it's, it's, it's, it's, it's that myth that goes along with, with, uh, with acting that I feel like, uh, really opened the doors for me in my creative journey and my acting career.

Rob Valincius: That's interesting. Yeah, I know, I guess I never really thought of it like that where you kind of, um, lean into the, I guess your main personality trait or you're something that you don't even realize that you're, you're giving off. And, uh, I mean, there's, I mean, there's so many different shows and movies and stuff now that I feel like it, you know.

It doesn't matter how you are, but if you can portray the role or portray those traits and that's what they're looking for, you have a good shot of getting the role, right? I mean, to a certain degree. I mean, there's, there's also still a lot of people that are acting. I'm sure there's, you know, um, it's not, not necessarily a field where there's, you know, too few of like nurses or something, but, um, let's, let's talk a little bit about growing up, man.

I want to know,

Matt Drago: 1 thing I wanted to tell me, I want to go into that, but there's 1 disnomer where, like, you don't want to be typecast as an actor. Right. But I actually think that, um, as I, as I got into L. A. specifically. It's not all bad to be typecast because if you are that person that does that very specific thing.

You'll work over and over again being that type of character and and honestly, if it's a kind of character that you really enjoy playing, then that's really fun to yes, it's fun to flip the switch. It's it's fun to, you know, see if you can. And actually, uh, Brandon Smith from somewhere in Montana wrote me a completely different character for his next film coming out, which I think is so cool that he sees my range, even though I play a very Oh Um, passionate director.

He kind of wants me to be like a cold, you know, hearted bad guy in the next one. I'm like, yes, you know, because it was like, you know, this is, this is, this is, uh, you might not like this. And it's like, but you're going to play the bad guy in my next movie. I'm like, are you kidding me? Fuck. Yeah. Sign me up.

You know what I mean? Like, that sounds so fun. So I, I just wanted to do a tag on that one before we go into the backstory because, uh, I really do. I think, uh, yeah. Sometimes when you, when you get typecast, especially in film and TV, that medium specifically, because it's so close, it's so intimate with the shot and things like that, it can really open up some doors for you as an actor, because you realize, like, again, what your myth is, because that's how people are seeing you and that's how they want to see you and you achieve greater when you're just leaning in on how you're being viewed and how you're being seen as an actor.

Rob Valincius: I will tell you this. One of my favorite things, um, I love reading. I do a lot of audiobooks now, because I drive a lot. You know, it's like, I have a two hour drive, basically. An hour to work, an hour home. Um, I love anti hero books. I love, like, I just eat it up. I love books about the big bad guy, but you learn the backstory of Why that guy is bad and then you you start to sympathize like oh shit like This guy just had it really fucked up.

Now, obviously it doesn't, uh, correct the stuff that they do as the bad guy, but, um, it just, it changes your psyche of thinking, and, and for me, it's the same thing with, like, the world we live in, right? Everybody has bad days, and you might run into someone that's having a bad day, and they flip you off for no fucking reason, or they cut you off, and, and for me, it's learning to recognize that in real life.

Sometimes it's hard, because you're like, ah, fuck you too, buddy, you know? But Um, it, it, it, it kind of teaches you to also, um, empathize, I think, um, and recognize those things. Like, maybe that guy just had a really, or that lady had a really shitty day, and I need to let it, I need to let it go,

Matt Drago: yeah,

Rob Valincius: Um, but that's, I just love that anti hero backstory, I love it.

Matt Drago: me too. It's my favorite. I mean, I think in many ways in real life, like a lot of heroes, um, you know, obviously, like, we're not all perfect. Right? And so, like, there's always going to be parts of us that, you know, I think it's beautiful to show people's imperfections. Right? So the anti hero for me. Um, is a sweet spot that I'd love, love to live in for a long time because in many ways, um, we are protagonists and antagonists of our own stories, right?

You know, we have, you know, even if we're good people, we have bad moments. We're all humans. So, um, yeah, the anti hero definitely speaks to me too.

Rob Valincius: but that's cool that you're going to get to play the bad guy. So you'll be able to kind of, you know, uh, implement your own little backstory to it. Uh, that'd be interesting to see how, how you, how you kind of navigate through that.

Matt Drago: it's going to be fun. I'm looking forward to that one. Yeah.

Rob Valincius: Uh, but yeah, talk about growing up, man. Like, um, you know, tell me a little bit about, I know you're from the East, you know, the East coast. Talk about a little bit of, you know, about, um, your, your early days and then, you know, what, what got you into acting? I know everyone kind of has the, I don't want to say an origin story, but you know, what, what, what got you there?

And you're like, you know what? I'm going to LA, man. I I've interviewed a couple of actors and they always have that moment where they're like, Bucket, I'm going to LA. You know, they go to LA.

Matt Drago: Yeah. No, I, um, it is for me. Um, you know, humble beginnings. I grew up in rural Virginia, um, you know, mom and dad divorced when I was for mom remarried my. Best friend, uh, my Papa Chazz, my stepfather, uh, he passed away a couple years ago. I miss him, but he taught me a lot about, um, yeah, thank you, sir. I appreciate it.

Um, you know, it, it, it was something that, um, you know, his relationship for me taught me how to love acting. Um, because I, I, I knew from a young kid, like I knew I loved. Creating and stories and he loved food. He was a chef. And so he worked at the original Marriott in Hume, Virginia, Marriott Ranch. He's used to serve the Marriott Thanksgiving dinner and what I loved so much about him and just valued for from his passion and food, you know, because we used to talk what's called food porn together, you know, and, you know, and it was just like, it was so fun to hear him talk about food.

Like, he literally make you salivate talking about anything about food. Um, but it's because he could

Rob Valincius: We watch a lot of Food Network. A lot

Matt Drago: Knock, uh,

Rob Valincius: We love it. Love it.

Matt Drago: It's incredible, but but what he did specifically like in in his food practice, because I mean, he he'd be a shotgun chef. He would go in and work at an Indian restaurant or work in fine dining or a French cuisine restaurant or, you know, like, I mean, he had had so many jobs in his career.

Um, that he always talked about, like, bringing food to everybody. And, and that was always something that really resonated with me, is he's like, you know, son, I could make this dish and I could make it 9. 99 or I could make it 99. 99. You know what I mean? Same exact dish, different ingredients, obviously, but you build the flavors, a little bit more of this, a little bit more of that.

And like, so he really made food for everybody. And, you know, hearing him talk about food really resonated with me growing up because, you know, I saw that passion in him and he was such, you know, it was just, you know, my, my closest friend that I, you know, just gleaned so much from his passion and put it into my acting.

And so, for me, it was, um, you know, getting on stages, uh, you know, we didn't really have TV and film and in rural Virginia, uh, growing up. So local theater, um, you know, probably did like. 15 or 20 shows in the local theaters and and then my first paying gig was actually dinner theater Which I gotta tell you rob is a humbling job, right?

And it was like one of my first jobs and what's so cool about it is You know because I did three shows at riverside dinner theater played mogli and jungle book and hansel and hansel and gretel And then little patrick and mame is you know, you're on stage you're doing the show Um, and then you're serving tables and clearing plates and refilling drinks.

And I think it taught me from a really, yeah, it taught me from a really young age, like 14 or 15 years old, that, like, this dream was going to be work, like, if I wasn't willing to work for it, then I shouldn't do it. And, um, and I think that's really kind of what gravitated me towards, um, New York City, because I was like, I don't mind the work.

I don't mind sacrificing, um, I'm a fighter. Like, I grew up on the Rocky movies. So, like, I was like, I don't care. Like, count me the fuck out. Like, I'll show up. I don't care. You know, like, go for it. Like, that, that will fire me up. Um, you

Rob Valincius: attitude man,

Matt Drago: Hey, man, it's a, it's a lot of sports attitudes. You know what I mean?

It's, it's, it's even like, it's, it's, it's a dynamic nature, you know, even. Yeah. In this Super Bowl and listen, like, you know, I, I, I'm a Chiefs fan and a Rams fan, you know, so it was heartbreaking for me to see that, that, that, that, that, that the Chiefs didn't show up. I mean, it showed up 3 years ago in the 1st 1 and that was a great game.

It, it, it sucks to get to that point and to have it not be a good game, but like. Kudos to the Eagles. Um, you know, their, their front four beat, beat, beat our front four. I mean, that's really what it came down to. And anybody that knows football now that we're, see, this is why we're going, we're going to go on a tangent all day, brother.

This is what's going to happen. Like, like, like, you know what I mean? I don't even know what the question was anymore, but we'll, we'll get back maybe to another tangent, but like the front four, I mean, you know, the trenches, right. It's anybody that knows football knows that it's, it's, it's, it's, it's wonder lost in the trenches.

And, um, Listen, I think what, because I did see that you posted something about the chiefs on your Instagram and I always focus on, um, and maybe, maybe it's just from an emotional standpoint, how you win or how you lose. Because I root for franchises and, and, and, and, and some of the Eagles, I gotta be honest, like, you know, CJ Gardner, Johnson, not cool.

Um,

Rob Valincius: now he's a talker

Matt Drago: Nick, Nick Sirianni saying, fuck the chiefs going like, you know, out, out of like, no, like you don't kick a man while he's down. You don't do that in life and you don't do that in sports. Listen, the chiefs have won three out of five super bowls in the last six years. Um, the only time that they weren't there, uh, was, you know, when, when, when my Rams won against the Bengals, right?

So I've had seven straight years of having one of my two teams in the Super Bowl, which I gotta be honest. Everybody says, like, sometimes, like, it's crazy to have two teams. Well, one's an AFC, one's an NFC, and you got to remember these used to be two different leagues. So, for me, it gives me two teams to root for, but I root for the franchises.

I root for the fact that the Chiefs, I feel like, never do that. I mean, remember three years ago when Mahomes was at the podium and they won the game against the Eagles? And you know, one of the first things he said, I don't want people to forget about like, what a great game Jalen Hurts just had because he was the MVP.

I thought that they were going to give Jalen Hurts the MVP in that game. I thought they should have, frankly, you know, because that that performance was mind blowing. Right? And, and, and

Rob Valincius: total touchdowns. Yeah. Yeah, you

Matt Drago: Four total and he balled out this time too, you know, listen, I love Saquon, I'm happy for him, I'm happy for any champion that acts like a champion, but you have to do it whether you win or lose the game.

You know, because I, I think, like, the press conferences from my homes and, and, and from Andy Reed and it's like, you understand that mentality. You don't kick a man while he's down. You don't go after his ex girlfriend, you know, and, and now, you know, the fact that he's got, like, you know. Personal issues will just say, like, doesn't surprise me because that's like, so again, like, I root for people I root for franchises, you know, based on character.

And I think that that is 1 thing. I always say, you know, like, the, the, the eagles listen, they can listen. You should be happy that you want the Super Bowl because. They, they, they, you won it. I mean, like, there's like, there, there wasn't a bad call. And even Kyle Brat says, 'cause I'm a GFB like fanatic. Right?

Um, you know, Maurice Jones, drew just started following me. Like, I, I like, I I love foot. Like I'm football's my escape, dude. So like, I, I don't know how much, how much time you have, but this is, this is the first tangent. You got me. You got me drinking, Rob. So this is your fault. but, but, but, you know, it's just one of those things where it's like, you know, you really do hone in on just the, the mentality of some of these players and, and that's what you fall in love with.

Like, I fell in love with the Rams this year because, you know, they were a team of, um. New talent, uh, less, less need masterclass and drafting, uh, getting Brayden Fisk and, and, and Jared verse back together. I mean, you talk about that moment where two full grown men are being like, bro, we're gonna play together again.

Like, and they're both crying. Like that is culture. That is what culture looks like in a team. So I always challenge the winners to be winners and to be champions and, and for their fan base to be humble because the reality is I mean, if you, if you want me to fight back on that, well, Mahomes has more Super Bowl wins than the Eagles franchise. Okay, so if you, if you want me to be, if you want me to be a jerk about it, like, I could just say that, but I don't want to say stuff like that because it's not fair to what the Eagles just achieved. I just want champions to act like that. And I want the fan bases to act like that because winning is not easy.

Dude. Getting to the super bowl is not easy. Having, you know, a 17 game season is not easy. Uh, and so I really do. I, I think that we all need to take. a breath around sports because sometimes we take it too personal. I watched new heights. I watched Travis Kelsey and Jason Kelsey. I love those two guys because like they cry and, and they get emotional.

And I think that we need that right now. We need to find the way to be in touch with like our softer side, especially as men, like that is important. And, um, that's actually a great segue if you want to into my character on Fabian Verdugo, but. You lead the way. I'm, I'm rambling.

Rob Valincius: well, here's, here's what I'll say, here's the only rebuttal I have with, I think, and I think this goes with, uh, Garter Johnson, which I don't agree with a lot of the stuff he said, because he's talked, when we didn't re sign him in 22, he talked shit on us, um, I love him because he's a, he throws his body on the line, I, I will say that, but he, he does have a mouth, Um, I will say, I will say some of this might be from when Juju Smith Schuster was talking all that shit on Valentine's Day, uh, and he posted, I, I, I want to say it was a meme about Brad, uh, was a, um, what the fuck's the guy that held in the Super Bowl?

Was it Brad F Brad, why can't I think of it? Uh, Eagles,

James Bradbury. I couldn't, I don't know why I couldn't think of it. Um, he's who, who held you just a minute. Well, he, he posted like a meme. Uh, and it was like, you know, I want to hold you tonight or something. And it was like. And I hate Juju Smith Schuster because of that. Like, I didn't mind him before, but I fucking hate his guts.

And, uh, watching him lose made me feel good. Now, I will say this. Philadelphia, we're, we're passionate about a lot of stuff, and I think sometimes that passion turns into Malice, to a certain degree, for some people. Um, and I will say, Nick has gone above and beyond, Chauncey Garner Johnson, but outside of those two, other than that, I think we were, we were pretty good outside of that.

Like, our offensive line is just a bunch of big dudes that love each other. Um, I will say, Kelsey was crying on 94 WIP today. They made him cry, uh, because he was talking about that struggle because, He loves the eagles and his friends are here, but also seeing his brother who's a future hall of famer, you know, have a bad game and lose 100%.

Yeah, absolutely. Um, so I think, you know, for him, it was a difficult struggle, um, to, you know, who he's going to root for and how he cares. And, um, I think, uh, I didn't see the episode today, but they were taught, there was a clip of the podcast and he's like, dude, you got to understand, like, you don't, Like you helped build that like you deserve to, you know, like you, you kind of implemented a lot of those things and he's like, no, I don't want credit for any of that.

You know, uh, Kelsey was like, those guys did this all on their own. And, you know, Travis is like, no, like you showed like people talk about you still hurts, still talks about you. Like you helped create that room and, uh, he was trying to give him credit for it. So, um, I'm excited to see. Uh, or listen to that podcast, because, um, I think, I'm a little, I'm a little drawn out on the Kelseys right now, because they're just like fucking everywhere.

Uh, but, I, I like that behind the, the scenes and, uh, look at, you know, football and, and, you know, the, the real stuff, the stuff that they're talking about. Um, I actually just missed it, or tonight, I think at eight o'clock, they're going to show the, uh, I guess the mic'd up Super Bowl side of the Eagles. Um, I don't know if you saw this, but Jordan Milata, he's our, our left tackle.

He, during the commander's game quoted Bane from Batman. And it's like probably my favorite moment of the whole season. Cause he's like. You know, we, we, we were up pretty, pretty decent in that, in that game too. But he was, uh, he said, I was wondering what would break first, your body or your spirit. And I was like, I fucking love this guy.

I like, I don't buy jerseys often. I like, I want to go out and buy his jersey. Just, just, just from that. Uh, he's a big, he's a big man, dude. He's six, seven, three

Matt Drago: insane. And isn't he the first, is he the first, um, uh, where's he from again? He's the first. He's the first Australian to win a Super Bowl, right? Or something. He's the first. He's the first something to win a Super Bowl. I just saw

Rob Valincius: he played rugby. He played rugby.

Matt Drago: Maybe he's the first. Maybe he's the first rugby.

Maybe he's the first rugby player to win a Super Bowl. It's something like that.

Rob Valincius: Howie Roseman drafted him in the seventh round. And like, I, I owe a lot of, I think we owe a lot of the success of our franchise from Howie Roseman, the. Um, the draft that he did, and I will say this, he's been awful at drafting, like, you know, in 2011, 12, 13, like, he had some pretty shitty drafts, it's, you know, he just wasn't hitting, but the past couple years, man, he's just been

Matt Drago: man, when you, when you, when you got those pics from Carson Wentz, I mean, that got you, uh, AJ, it got you, Devonta, it got you. Did it get, did it, I think, I think it got you Carter and I,

Rob Valincius: Carter,

Matt Drago: and I, and I think it got you, um, uh, uh,

Rob Valincius: Milton Williams. I think,

Matt Drago: was it Quinion? Did it get you Quinion? Or? Um,

Rob Valincius: I think it was Milton cause he was a third round pick, but I mean, they were all, they all had a massive

Matt Drago: yeah, exactly. Exactly. I mean, the only thing that I'll say is I, listen, cause I grew up playing sports and we're going to talk shit. We're guys like, it's like, it's actually, it's like, it's like we can't help it.

You know what I mean? Like, like whatever. But I do think that you have to. Never take it too far. And, and, and that's what I'll say. Like you, you wouldn't see Andy Reed walk off the field in the Super Bowl saying, fuck the Eagles. And, and even the holding thing with Juju is one thing attacking somebody is like, you know, by bringing up like their ex girlfriend, like after the Super Bowl is, is a little bit dark.

So, so what I'm saying is like, never take it too dark. I. Love seeing too much of the Kelsey's because of what they stand for and what they represent, which I think is male strength and vulnerability. And I think if we can be more vulnerable, we, we don't fall into the trap of becoming dark to each other.

And and we're in dark times right now in our country. And so. Those things can get out of hand quickly where you know, if you're talking shit like bro I just like like, you know what? I mean? Like like I dude Did you don't even stand up just stay down? You know what I mean? like like that kind of thing like that that's gonna happen on the field of play like you see that you're talking about the Mic'd up version like i'm gonna watch that too and I love that shit Like I i'm not gonna say that I don't but like just keep it like don't The best way that I can say it because it's not professional to do smack talk like it's not like i'm a professional smack talker It's it's it's that don't don't make it dark.

Don't make it about something that it's not don't boo taylor swift because she's rooting for her, you know soon to be husband and she she she loves travis like Don't don't boo her. There's there's that to me is a little bit like you're you're kind of like missing the point because again I'm a, I'm a, I'm a Swiftie, so like, I'll be honest about that, but regardless of whether you like her music, I mean, what she stands for and what she gives back to people.

I mean, she was paying like bonuses of 100, 000 to the people that were like driving the stage around the country and the world. Um, she, you know, does charity work all the time. And if you've ever been to one of her concerts, and maybe you haven't, it is like this perfect Kumbaya thing where like, People are handing out friendship bracelets and everybody's together and they're emotional.

And as an actor, and as a person, I think that we are always in the best place when we are feeling positive emotions. And I think if we can keep feeling those positive emotions, it's less likely that we'll fall into the darkness of a trap of. Being too critical and being too cruel in the moment, especially when you've just won the Super Bowl, because at that point, you should be, like, popping every bottle of whatever the fuck you can find in your locker room and downing it and and and and partying.

You shouldn't even be worried about the other team at that point. You should be concerned about, like, this party probably won't end until, like, 8 a. m. and that's what I'm looking forward to.

Rob Valincius: Yeah, I agree. I think I think I think you need to leave it on the field. Right? Had the champions mentality. Um, you know, unfortunately, um, yeah, I know Philly gets a bad rap. And, you know, there's, but it's always like one or two bad eggs, you know, um, and that's, that's like, you know, the throwing snowballs at Santa was probably, you

Matt Drago: but not but you know what it's

Rob Valincius: or, it's

Matt Drago: it you know what, you know, here's what I'll say it always starts at the top though sometimes, you know, like the culture is usually built from the top down. It's the same way in acting, by the way, you know, if you've got a director that is like. Literally creating an ecosystem of negativity and like, like that's going to channel right through your actors, your crew.

Nobody's going to want to be there. Nobody's really going to be as, um, together as a unit to tell a great story together. I just like, you would never see Sean McVeigh go after the Super Bowl and be like, fuck the chiefs. I know that guy. He wouldn't do that. He has so much respect. So, you know, respect, you know, to, to go with, uh, the film that I'm in is, is, is, is, is one of the key, uh, ingredients in this film because, you know, I, I play a Los Angeles director and Graham McTavish plays, you know, a Montana rancher.

And we work through that as men. We have conversations actually, like we're having right now. And, um, The reality is, is that I've always found this to be true, is that respect is the highest form of love you can give another person. And, and the thing is, you're never going to agree on anything, right, or everything.

You're never going to agree on everything. But if you can really, like, see the person as, as a person, and you can understand where they're coming from, and, and respect them in a way where you're not being cruel or giving in to the darkness, like, then I feel like there's that path forward. And that's a big through line in the, in the, in this film that I'm in.

Rob Valincius: So, yeah, let's, let's talk about that film. Um, you know, it's called, uh, Somewhere in Montana. You play, uh, Fabian, right? Um, for one, I gotta, I gotta ask you, was, where, where was it filmed? Like, in Montana?

Matt Drago: Whole thing was, uh, shot in, uh, Pulse in Montana.

Rob Valincius: That is so cool. I, we, we joke there's a buddy of mine we work with and he's like if I ever, you know, get some money, I'm just buying a ranch. I'm going to Montana and that's just what I'm doing. And, uh, you know, uh, what's, uh, what's the show? Yellowstone. Uh, we watched a lot of that. Um, and we haven't watched the rest of the new season.

Um, I don't know, it just kind of got weird, but it's a great show. Um, you know, what was it like shooting it, you know, playing him and being out in Montana? That had to be pretty cool.

Matt Drago: Rob, it was incredible. I mean, honestly, like, I always say, like, this, uh, like, I've always, I've already run, won with this film, um, because of what an impact it made, uh, not only on me as, uh, an artist, but as a person. Uh, you know, shooting in Montana is, uh, an artist's paradise. It's, uh, God's wallpaper, right?

And you're just kind of, like, constantly just, um, invigorated by just the beauty of Montana. Uh, we, we shot the whole thing there. We really used the, the, the town and I think what was so special about it was everybody was part of it. You know, like, you know, we go to, like, Graham and I would have, like, our little breakfast at Betty's diners.

We'd go get our bison steaks at the shoe restaurant. Um, you know, we, we, we, we couldn't get enough of each other. And again, we talk about, like, that ecosystem. Brandon Smith, like, created such an ecosystem for, Everybody on set where we really could not get enough of each other. I mean, like, whether we were, you know, um, you know, like, going on a hike or just having really great conversations together.

And I really feel like you feel that in this film. And I feel like it's so important to feel that in this film because, um, Graham and I, for example, we have a 10 page scene. That's just the 2 of us. And it's, Two guys having a conversation just like we are right now, and it goes into all of the hot button topics.

I mean, we're talking about religion. We're talking about gender equality. We're talking about politics. We're talking about all the things that you would expect from a conversation between two opposing worlds, but. It's at a place in the story where we start to see each other and we start to understand each other.

And for me, this process of even being up in Montana and being around these people really fueled my ability to tell this story. Because, uh, and I'll tell you a quick story about the moment where I just fully understood the power of, uh, of this story and, and, and just what this story was about. I was, um, so we shot on on an active cattle ranch impulse in Montana.

And when I say, like, an active cattle ranch, an active cattle ranch. Okay. And, uh, it was about 45 minutes away from, like, the town. And, you know, when your friend buys a ranch, I mean, like, you better know which way is right and left. Because if you take a right, you're going. You're going to be 15 miles down the road in the wrong direction.

I mean, it's like, there's no way I would ever be able to find this ranch unless I was driven there. Like, it's, it's in the middle of nowhere, but it's so beautiful, dude. It's so beautiful. So

Rob Valincius: I would love the scenery. I mean, you know, I'm in this, I I'm outside the city, but you know, it's city living, you know, it's, you don't get to see, you know, the, the cool wildlife and the, the trees and hills. And you just don't see that shit here unless you're like drive an hour towards like, you know, the, uh, the Amish country.

Matt Drago: Yeah, and Brandon used all of it, too. That was what was so cool. Like, he would use, you know, the lake. He would use the ranch. He would use the barbershop. He would use the local bar. Like, he used so much of it to pay homage, um, and that was one thing that we, you know, heard, um, you know, for a lot of feedback from the town was how important it was for them to shine a, you know, A light on their little corner of the world, which I think is a big problem with what we're having in our society right now is people feel like they don't have a voice and they don't feel like they're being seen or heard.

And so I feel like good art can do that. And I feel like this story definitely does that. So back to this picture. It's actually on my Instagram and it's just a. You know, like off screen picture of just four people, but it really was a moment that resonated with me because it made me understand the full impact of the story.

So, the picture is of Brandon Smith, the writer director me playing the director. So, the 2 directors, uh, Graham playing the Montana rancher and David, who actually owned the cattle ranch that we shot on and, you know, uh, Montana. A lot of the people up there. Yeah, they're, you know, maybe different than me.

Maybe they, um, you know, maybe they have differences, but Just getting to be a part of that six weeks and becoming such close friends with so many people up there and starting to understand their lifestyle and, and, and really starting to develop a true love for them, um, you know, as a small little town is so many people that, like, work with their hands and, you know, just want to kind of enjoy their life, um, was, uh, really captivating for me.

And, uh, I remember one day on set, you know, we're, we're at the cattle ranch and I looked at David, the, the, the owner of the actual cattle ranch. And he knew Rob exactly what I was saying when, um, when I said it, I asked, I just asked him one simple question and I said, um, David, how do you do this, you know, because I've been eating steak my whole life.

And he knew exactly what I meant. I said, how do you do this? And he looked up at the sun in this moment. You have to understand that people in Montana. I mean. Yeah. They're very succinct. You know, 23 today. Yep. All right. Uh, dinner at six. Yeah, I'll see you there. You know, it's it's very quick, you know, right?

Like conversations and and I said, how do you do this? And it was the first time and the only time I ever saw him get emotional. He looked up at the sun and he said, oh, it's still hard. And it was that moment that I was like, oh, wow, need each other, like, despite our differences, despite what we may disagree on, you know, this or this or that, like, there is more that could connect us than could ever divide us. But we have to let each other in. That's the secret sauce. We have to let each other in because I need him.

I can't do it. He does. Maybe he can't do what I do. Right. But it's like we need each other. Right. Maybe he needs me for that story to let him escape. We were talking about escape earlier with your Dragon Ball Z. Right. It's like it's it's it's it's finding ways to escape. But that's beautiful. Right. I mean, like, I have animators and they like, literally, like, just when they feel like they're flustered, like they go and they just draw something.

That's beautiful. I love that you're

Rob Valincius: little kid. Me little kid. Me. Now I'm now this is my escape is drinking and talking to people.

Matt Drago: it's a great escape though, right? Because we're having a great conversation. We're going all over the place as I knew we would, right? Which I love, right? And, and, and we're both drinking. I mean, this is, this is, this is like us hanging out at the bar, you know, but, you know, having a good conversation.

These conversations

Rob Valincius: organic. It's organic and it's not fake. And I think for me, authenticity is tough. And I'd imagine you would agree with with the world we live in right with Acting, social media, I mean, you know, uh, I, I, I couldn't imagine, uh, being in your shoes because you have a lot of actor friends, right? To a certain degree.

So, um, you know, uh, I'd imagine you have to like sort through, um, things to, I, I don't know, I don't have actor friends, so I guess I can't, uh, relate, um, what it's like to have actor friends, but, um, the social media side of it I think is rough because you just see all these smiling people and that's just not the world we live in. You know, you're not happy 24 7,

Matt Drago: Yeah, 100%. That's a great point. Rob. It's like the reality is you are very outward facing as an actor. You know, people see the red carpets. They see the awards. I gotta be honest. Like, like most actors. Don't like that's not why they got into acting like if you told me like, you know, my wife and I can go to an award ceremony and it's a cool event and there's an open bar.

Of course. Like, that's great. You know, and there's going to be a war

Rob Valincius: had me at open bar.

Matt Drago: like, you know what I mean? Right? Exactly. It's like, it's like, obviously, like, we're, we're, you know, we're going to have fun going to that. But. It's about telling stories. It's about trying to make an impact with stories. It's a, it's, it's, it's about telling human stories, right?

Which is a whole other topic about AI, right? It's like, you need to make sure that human stories are being told exclusively by humans. Like, that is important right now. And there is a lot of misinformation on social media and we are outward facing. And this is why I do podcasts. Like, this is why I love having candid conversations with you because then you get to.

Cool. Understand me, not just from a snapshot on a social media site or, you know, one line over here, one line, you get the full painted picture of who I am. Right? And so it's a little bit more nuanced because I do think that, you know, in having so many actor friends, actors are some of the most selfless people I've ever met in my life.

Like, they really are, they hold space for you, um, and then you meet people like Graham McTavish, you know, who's the first person that called me mate, you know, I've never been called mate before, which is a Scottish, you know, uh, Scottish, uh, you know, sign of camaraderie, you know, and it was just so cool because after we wrapped.

It's the last thing that he said to me as he was getting into his car, he looked at me and and and again, it was a sign of, hey, we told a good story together. You know what I mean? Like, it meant something to him. It meant a lot to me too. We both knew that. And he looked at me before he got in in the car and he said.

I'll see you, mate. And it meant the world to me because it was like we, we became more than just 2 actors on set together. We became friends. We became 2 people that knew that we were telling a very big story and we had a lot of the conversations off screen that interpreted what we did on screen because that 10 page scene, Rob, I gotta be honest.

It is a masterpiece. It is why I fell in love with this with this story because that scene in and of itself is exactly what we need to see right now is two different alpha men, you know, that are kind of at each other's throats in the beginning that are from two different worlds. Um, and and again, you know, Brandon writes this really interesting dynamic that is very rare in that we are protagonists and antagonists of our own stories.

And so it, you know, there's no good guy, bad guy. We're both alphas. We both want things. We're both fighting against the clock and we have to come to, you know, this, this understanding and this 10 page scene really does just such a dynamic way of doing that. Because it really. Does, um, hit it all the bullet points, but it's about listening and Graham and I had some really awesome conversations about the scene because we didn't want it to feel too precious.

We didn't want to fall into any of the actor traps that that you can fall into. We wanted it to be organic, authentic and real. You know, and, and that was a key element that we said, Nope, we're like, we're not going to fall into those traps. We're not going to get too big with it. Like this is, this is about listening.

This is, this is about listening. And so we, um, really bonded through that. And there's nothing like, uh, bonding through sharing a good story like we're doing right now, you know? So that's why I love

Rob Valincius: what was it like? What was it like working with Michelle Hurd? I know she was it So I only know her cuz we're we're obsessed with Law Order SVU It's it's I could we could tell you episodes just from the first five seconds of the show you know big fan of of our of our SVU people, but I know she was in SVU.

What was like working with her?

Matt Drago: Uh, Michelle is like a big sister to me now. I mean, I gotta be honest. Uh, we were hanging out at Palm Springs. Um, Screening about a week, week and a half ago, and I mean, her and her husband, Garrett Dillahunt. I can't say enough about them. They're such a power couple, but, you know, you realize why people are pros and have such an incredible career and duration.

And it's because they really do. They hold so much space for people. I mean, she is. Fire, like she is fiery and very quickly because, um, you know, interestingly enough, as the dynamic goes, she plays my producer and I'm the director and that is sort of a brother relationship, you know, brother sister relationship in real life is the producer a lot of times is the one that like tells the director because they're in like creative world and like, you know, the producers like in, in like, you know, I gotta, I gotta make sure that this can get paid for is, um, you know, cool.

She's that person that they can tell me something directly and I'll be like, okay, you know, like, okay. Yeah. Yep. You're right. You know, so we really had that dynamic. And again, she, um, gave me so many nuggets about, um, you know, how to pursue the rest of my, my career and, and, and my life and, and, and my goals and, and, um, you know, I, I think we really just connected right away.

We're both New Yorkers and our families are New Yorkers. So, uh, yeah. Yeah, she's, um, she's extraordinary. I don't have enough great things to say about her. Garrett. Um, I just actually just. Miss hanging out with them more because they're back and forth between New York and L. A. So every time they're out here, we do our best to get together.

Um, because, uh, yeah, I just, um, she's a lover and an actor. I love her and a fighter for actors. She, she's actually on the sag board. And so, um, because of that, she. Um, is in the front lines of a lot of the stuff that's going on. And I just, uh, I admire her so much for who she is and, um, and how much she's given to, um, so many productions over the years.

Rob Valincius: That's awesome, man. Um, look, we hit the hour mark. Um, I assumed we would go off track. Uh, this was a great conversation. I feel like I got to have you back on.

Matt Drago: Yeah, man, absolutely dude.

Rob Valincius: I'll tell you this. So, um, I don't know if I'm going to do it at episode 150 or episode 200, but so episode 100, I had a Uh, a crew of six or seven people and we were just laughing and drinking the whole time and it was the most fun I've had so maybe I'll try to get you on one of my

Matt Drago: Count me in man.

Rob Valincius: so hard corralling like seven or eight other people,

Matt Drago: Yeah,

Rob Valincius: but it's a, it's a lot of fun. So maybe I'll try to get you back on and we'll do that. Um, before we leave though, I want to make sure. Plug yourself. Um, if you want to talk about, uh, if you got any, uh, projects going on that, that are going to release soon, or I know you got your movie that just came out in January.

Talk a little bit about that stuff before we let you go today.

Matt Drago: Yeah, man. Um, you know support indie films is as what I can say You know indie films don't have the big budget dollars behind them. So, you know if there's a theater near you, um, go see it Um, I will be posting that on my social media. Uh, you know, I really can only do one social media So find me on instagram at matt drago m a t t d r a g o From there, you'll have my link tree.

It's got my actor website, mattdrago. com. It's also got my production website, dragonhunterproductions. com. You've also got my IMDB, uh, that's got my past and future projects. And again, you know, I, I share stuff from my, you know, personal and my career because they're one in the same. So, uh, give me a follow it on at matt drago on Instagram and, um, I'll keep you posted with all of the updates, uh, when somewhere in Montana comes to streaming and VOD.

But if it isn't a theater near you, I got it. I got to stress this. Um, you know, go, go, go to the theater. This is a, this is a talk piece movie. Um, we've had people from the left, the right, go see this thing. They both say the same thing. It meant something to them. It's a big story. It's one of those stories that hopefully can be made over and over again.

That way we can come together more as a country. Um, these are the types of stories that I've always dreamed of being a part of. So, uh, Rob, thank you so much for having me on your show today. It's been a blast, man, and, uh, we'll do it, we'll do it again for either episode 150 or 200.

Rob Valincius: Awesome, man. Look, I appreciate you. I appreciate what you do. Um, keep fighting the good fight. You know, I know it's not easy. I'm, I'm happy that you, you know, you're, you're not displaced and you guys were able to, you know, go back home and, you know, things are. Settling down for it. The rain I'm sure is is big.

Uh, you know, it's, it's snowing here constantly. So, uh, I'd rather deal with the rain than stuff. I hate snow so much. Uh, but my podcast is drink and you're from the northeast. I'm sure you, I'm sure you, you, you remember that. But, uh, my podcast is drink clock pod on all socials drink clock podcast, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Uh, we should have this episode up. Tomorrow. Uh, thank you. I know, I know actors aren't the biggest fans of AI, but I will say it does help me from a production standpoint. Uh, you know, so, uh, yeah, it's, it'll definitely, it helped speed along the process there for me

Matt Drago: I love the tools of AI. Yeah, I mean, my, my wife uses Descript and stuff like that. Like, it's, it's good to use as a tool. You just don't want it to tell your stories. That's the thing. You don't want it, you, you don't want it. Yeah,

Rob Valincius: I don't want to go on a tangent here. I don't think it's, I, I don't, I mean, I don't know, right? Cause I'm, you know, we're human, but I really don't think it's ever going to take our stories because I've, I've seen the songs it creates. I've seen those things that generates, I think it gives a good basis for things, but I don't know if it, if it's ever going to fully, maybe I'm going to watch this in 20 years and be like, you're a fucking idiot.

But, uh, I don't know if it'll ever. Really encompass the human psyche. I don't know. We're crazy man. All humans are crazy. We just you know, you only see You just show bits and pieces of it, you know,

Matt Drago: Yeah, films cost money and, and, and business execs like to cut corners and, and, and, you know, I, I, I do hope that you're right. I mean, the reality is if we are looking back on this episode that we're doing today, 20 years ago, I don't want, you know, uh, the future generation to be like, hey, mom, dad, there's this really weird film that's out right now.

It's got human beings in it. And I don't think that that's out of the realm of possibilities. I really don't, you know, and so, um, I always say like support. Uh, human stories, uh, they matter. Human stories matter. Uh, they're a way to connect us. Um, and, uh, and we need them more now than ever for sure.

Rob Valincius: I agree, man. Well, look you have a awesome night and uh, you know, hopefully have another drink on me over there

Matt Drago: Cheers, brother.

Rob Valincius: Cheers, man. Thank you

Matt Drago: Thank you. 

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