(light music)
Hi, Rob, this is Terry from Minneapolis.
Hey, thanks so much for doing the podcast.
I listen to a lot of podcasts and yours is my favorite,
probably because I think you're a very good host.
Like you, I've been sober for many years
and I really appreciate hearing your insights on recovery.
And my question is have you ever played a character
who was an alcoholic or a addict?
And if so, did your personal experiences help with the role?
Thanks so much and keep up the good work.
Well, Terry, first of all, thank you
for super kind words.
And I really appreciate hearing from folks
that they like the show.
It really means a lot to me, truly does.
So thank you for that.
So, bro, I have got a little piece of filmography
for you to go watch to answer your question.
I did a movie, oh my God.
I did a movie called "I Melt with You."
It is a very obscure indie shoestring budget
by the great director, Mark Pellington, who is known
for his music videos with REM and Pearl Jam
and on and on and on.
And it's the story of addiction.
It's a movie about a group of men
who are going through midlife crises
and are on a drug bender together
on an isolated, rented Airbnb on the Big Sur Coast.
I will warn you
that it is the darkest movie you may ever see.
And my character is a doctor
who is also prescribing drugs to people
and I do more pills and blow and drink
and I'm up all night and girls show up
and it's just on and on and on.
And you know, I was probably 25 years sober when I made it
and I felt high.
Shot all night long, three nights in a row.
Music and dancing.
And it was very small crew.
And by the time, there were times when I was like
this feels so real to me.
And sort of to be, if I could be totally honest,
kind of exciting and wildly depressing all at once.
It's not for everyone.
It bears the honor of having the most legendary screening
at Sundance Film Festival.
I think 30% of the audience walked out.
It's one of those movies that when I read the script,
I was like, if we do this right
half of the people in any given audience will walk out.
That's how dark it is,
But it's super good and I'm super proud of it.
But it is not for everyone.
Anyway, so there's that.
And you know, you're always asked to play drunk.
You know, that always happens.
My biggest fear is that they,
when I ask for non-alcoholic beer,
that they give me real beer
and that's happened a couple of times.
But, you know, look, as I've said a number of times,
being in recovery for as long as I have been
has made me a way better actor, way better person,
way better everything.
So anytime I get to hear a fellow brother
or sister out there, checking in,
congratulations on your recovery.
And if, as always, if anybody's out there struggling,
there is tons of hope
and there is tons of successful stories
of people whose lives changed.
And I'm sending y'all prayers.
And thank you for calling.
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