This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:06] Robert Peterpaul: Hello, beautiful people. Welcome to The Art of Kindness, where we have compassionate conversations with artists from all areas of the entertainment industry who are using their voice to spread joy and make this big spinning planet in the sky a better place to be. I'm Robert Peterpaul, and I'm so glad you're here.

[0:36] Robert Peterpaul: Happy April. I hope this episode finds you well. And if you're not well, if you're not at your best, I don't blame you. There's a lot going on in the world right now. I've been asking myself over and over again, how can I stay balanced in a world that is off balance? I don't know the answer. I mean, if you know the answer, please email us at ArtofKindnessPodcast@gmail.com or on social media at Art of Kindness Pod or at Robert Peterpaul. You like the way I just kind of slipped my stuff in there, huh? The little promo. But seriously, I think if I had to choose something for me, it all starts with gratitude. You know, those days where I'm feeling low and like everything is wrong and nothing is going my way.

When I just take a moment to really think about the things that I have and what I'm grateful for, it all brightens. You know, the sun comes out a little bit. It's kind of like a magic trick. So if you want to join me in thinking about listing some things you're grateful for, you know, go on and grab a pen or open up the notes app in your phone. I'll wait. Go for it. Go, go. Come on. You got it? Let's do this. Come on. Okay. Just think about maybe three things you're grateful for. Start off with that. A really major point for me right now is my health. I am so grateful for my health. I think obviously that's a hot topic given what we all just went through and are still going through. So that's definitely one to think about.

Of course, you know, nothing is more important than your loved ones, so we gotta give our loved ones some credit there. That's something to be grateful for. And there are countless things, you know, your home, your shelter, the food you're able to eat every day. Just on a basic level, we have a lot to be grateful for. It's actually a wonderful morning exercise, so right when you wake up, think about three things you're grateful for, and it kind of starts the day on a much more positive note. I think we've talked about it on here before. Gratitude just recenters me, and I hope that that helped you a little bit today, wherever you're listening. And speaking of gratitude, I am grateful for you!

Thank you for tuning into our show once again. Today's guest is the amazing Adrian Martinez. You'll no doubt recognize this modern-day character actor from one of your favorite TV shows or movies. Seriously, peeps. With over 100 television and film credits to his name, Martinez has been hustling through the industry for a while now. Some standout roles include The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, opposite Ben Stiller, Casa de mi Padre, opposite Will Ferrell, I Feel Pretty as Amy Schumer's Office Buddy Mason, Elliot the Dogcatcher in the CGI and live-action reimagining of Disney's Lady and the Tramp, and the film Focus opposite Margot Robbie and Will Smith. I feel the need to note that Adrian does talk about experiencing kindness from Will while on the set and working on that movie.

This was recorded well before the great Oscar's debacle of 2022, and I wanted to leave it in as a reminder that humans are indeed complex. On the television front, Adrian recently starred in ABC's crime drama series Stumptown, and in the CBS All Access Comedy, No Activity, produced by Will Ferrell and Funny or Die. Adrian was also a series regular on NBC's The Blacklist: Redemption. During our interview, we dive into his directorial debut, I Gilbert, a drama feature that he wrote starring himself, Dascha Polanco from Orange is the New Black, and Raul Castillo from Looking. The movie is currently available on demand. Without further ado, please enjoy the amazing Adrian Martinez.

[4:25] Robert Peterpaul: Hello. Adrian, hello!

[4:27] Adrian Martinez: Hello, Robert.

[4:29] Robert Peterpaul: I feel like I just saw you because we watched Office Christmas Party over Christmas with my family.

[4:34] Adrian Martinez: That's quite a movie.

[4:37] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah. But honestly, we can say that about so many of your movies because you're such a recognizable actor, and you really just created such an incredible career for yourself. And I want to get into that, and of course, your newest project, I Gilbert. Just to start out, I know you probably get a lot of compliments and people just coming up to you on the street all the time recognizing you from random stuff. So I would love to know how are you at accepting compliments when you receive them.

[5:03] Adrian Martinez: Uh actually, you know, I've gotten better at it, you know, because at the end of the day, they're just saying, We see you, which is the theme of my movie is people connecting and actually seeing each other on a human level, and not just on social media where it's all these, let's just say exaggerations of these perfect lives without really knowing who these people are. So when someone comes up to you and they say, Hey, I saw you in this or that, I'm very receptive and I always find a compliment to return to them because I think it matters.

[5:40] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, wow, you've perfected it because that's one thing that a lot of people I talk with have struggled with, and I know I struggle with. You want to compliment them back when they give you this nice language gift or whatever it is, however you want to phrase it. And it can be hard when you don't know the people, especially. So good for you. I mean, you can just look at someone and you can see where they're at, like how they're dressed, how they speak, that they just interrupt the meal, or did they wait until the meal is done, which is important. You know, they give off clues.

[6:09] Adrian Martinez: Yeah.

[6:10] Robert Peterpaul: Well, you're a great observer, so I'm sure you're really good at picking those up, which I want to obviously talk about further. But what does kindness mean to you before we kind of dissect it through the lens of your career?

[6:22] Adrian Martinez: Kindness means to me the willingness to be thoughtful and generous to someone with absolutely no expectation of it coming back. It's a gift, it's the willingness to give someone a gift and let that be enough and just let it land. I was thinking about you today, and here, I brought you these roses. That's it. Am I expecting a bouquet of roses in return? No, I'm not. But it's important to just give something, and that's to me what kindness is, it's just that generosity, that thoughtfulness, and you just put it out there and you put a smile on somebody's face and you let that be enough. And the irony is, of course, is that I get back so much more than I feel I give.

[7:07] Adrian Martinez: Yeah. People are always so receptive to an act of kindness, and then without even knowing or expecting it, you get back something that you hadn't anticipated, just that sense of connection.

[7:21] Robert Peterpaul: It goes back to that word. I think you put that so well, and that is something that is pulsing throughout the theme of your new movie. The research actually shows that people that are kinder and are happier and are nicer to others in their life actually have better lives. And just on a simple example, people that smile, we find them more quote unquote attractive. So the research literally backs up what you're saying. And it is so simple and easy to be kind. But do you think growing up you witnessed a lot of kindness? Or is it something that you look back on now and feel like you've really learned and I guess made a priority as you've gotten older?

[7:55] Adrian Martinez: It's interesting because the people that I knew growing up and that are still in my life are the people that relentlessly gave me acts of kindness. The friends from school, the thoughtfulness that they afforded to me. It just sort of stayed with me. And at the time I wasn't really mindful of the fact that they were being kind. I just like was just grateful. Um, but I didn't really articulate it to myself, wow, they're being kind, and I must now be kind to them. And I hope I can stay with them and they can stay with me my whole life. No, it just naturally evolved to a point where it became something that was reciprocated and they're still in my life because you'd need that.

[8:40] Adrian Martinez: I mean, I remember reading The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell. He basically sort of like dissected different cultures from all over the world. And when he was talking about Indian culture, I remember he would say that there's something called the net of gems, where it was a metaphor for the world and everyone in it. If you look at a net of gems, it's gorgeous. But if you take one gem out and you look at it, it's nice, but when you put it back into the net of gems, one gem reflects off the other. And the collective is more powerful and more glistening than just one alone. And it really became for me an example of how to live. It's important to live in that net because we're all interconnected. So the kindness I give out to you is reciprocated to me. And together, there's a collective kindness that illuminates the world. That's the goal.

[9:39] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah. Wow. You're just dropping knowledge left and right. Give me even further, because I made my fiancée watch in timeline order the Marvel movies, and we finished Endgame last night, which I won't spoil for people that still haven't watched it, but just on the same level, it's like once they have all those stones, there's so much more power than one on their own for the inner geek in me to come out. So I think that's a really cool example. You mentioned the people that are still in your lives are the ones that really gave you these acts of kindness. Do you have any stories that stand out that you think affected, I guess, more so the trajectory of your career in the arts?

[10:15] Adrian Martinez: Well, it's interesting because I started I Gilbert 10 years ago. I wrote it 10 years ago, and it was my first film script, and I was nervous about it because the first time you do anything, you're not really sure how it's gonna play out. And I have been doing a play at the public theater with this writer, a terrific writer, Jose Rivera, who got an Oscar nomination for a script he wrote called The Motorcycle Diaries based on Che Guevara's young life. And he was certainly a mentor. And he wrote all these award-winning plays. And he invited me to be in one. And so I dove in, I did my best. And then he would ask me to do a reading here and a reading there of his plays. And then one time I volunteered that I was working on a script.

And his act of kindness was to invite me into his writing group for free. Meeting every couple weeks. And I would bring in different scenes from my script. And the different writers in the group would read different characters, and I would get to hear the dialogue. And then I would get notes from these very smart people on how to improve the script or what they felt was missing or what they felt was strong. And that was the beginning of I Gilbert. And it happened out of an act of kindness because really Jose validated me as a writer. He didn't say, Oh, you're just a beginner, you know, I don't really know. He said, No, just bring it in. Let's work on it. Let's dive in. And that's something that now, 10 years later, has led to the release of the movie. So it's all interconnected, but it began with him being kind enough to say, Welcome.

[12:00] Robert Peterpaul: Well, I would even take it a step back further and say it began with you believing in yourself enough and opening up enough to actually tell him about the project and put it out there because that alone is really hard for people, I think.

[12:11] Adrian Martinez: Yeah.

[12:11] Robert Peterpaul: Well, it does take courage to live the life you want. For me, it became a choice between courage or just feeling haunted by the talent that I knew was there and that I wasn't living up to. So I sold my property in New York and I financed my own movie that way. And I told my kid the good news is that he's making a movie. And the bad news is you're not going to college. Sorry. I'm okay. I've since made that money back. But initially it was a terrifying risk to just dive in. But I had to be kind to myself. I had to honor my dream. I didn't want to live the life of someone haunted by his talent.

[12:56] Robert Peterpaul: Do you think that's what gave you that belief in yourself to take that chance? Because again, it's really hard for people, especially in a world now more than ever, where actors, writers really have to create your own work before someone else is gonna bring you a part of their bigger or high-profile project or whatever you want to call it. And I think people have these ideas, but it can be so scary to be vulnerable and actually write it, create it, and then follow through and pitch it out, or just make it yourself. So do you have any advice for that?

[13:25] Adrian Martinez: Well, I would only say that everybody's scared. Yeah, whether it's a beginner or whether it's someone who's just won an Oscar. I remember I was doing publicity junket for this movie I did with Will Smith and Margot Robbie called Focus. And we were in Buenos Aires, and most of the questions went to Will, of course. And I was astounded by the questions, which were like, your last movie really wasn't a box office hit. Do you feel like you need this movie to be a hit to counterbalance the fact that your last movie was a flop? And I thought to myself, you've got to be kidding. Because the context of Will Smith is that he has made billions with a B of money for these various different studios.

[14:19] Adrian Martinez: And he has proven himself a thousand times over. He has nothing left to prove. So the very question was ridiculous. So it just goes to show you though that people are scared for him. He doesn't let on that he's scared about being a box office, like staying number one and all this. But it doesn't end. Like in this business, you always have to keep proving yourself. But you can't let that debilitate you into thinking that you're not enough, because of course you are.

[14:49] Robert Peterpaul: That's wonderful advice because if you don't think you're enough at, you know, a level like me, who's auditioning and trying to book something, then you're not gonna think you're enough no matter, you know, it's just gonna keep going. You're gonna keep wanting and chasing that next thing. And I love that you brought up these ridiculous questions because that's part of the reason I started this podcast after having worked for various magazines and celebrity news TV shows over the years. I was astounded too by these questions. And when you look at our society, it's like you are what you put out there in a way, and we've built a society where salacious and negative headlines are really what sells.

And so, you know, even though there are these acts of kindness and wonderful people out there, unless you're Dolly Parton saving somebody on the set of your Christmas movie, which was a wonderful article that I read and didn't even get that much attention, by the way, you know, you're not gonna be spotlighted that much. So I think that's cool that you picked up on that.

[15:42] Adrian Martinez: I have so many questions on I Gilbert and the people that you've worked with, but just to kind of truncate the CVS receipt that is your amazing resume of acting in different projects over the years, it's so long. What I find really interesting is that you cut your teeth on being such a memorable co-star or day player where you don't necessarily get a ton of screen time, but over the years you've just really left your mark and become so memorable. I know for me, those auditions are sometimes the hardest to nail because you know you have a couple lines and you want to play the truth of the character and kind of just be yourself, but then you also want to be memorable and maybe flex your skills. Do you have any tips on how you've created these memorable performances when you haven't had that much screen time?

[16:27] Adrian Martinez: I guess, even especially with the audition for it back when I don't know if you still have to audition, but back when you had to.

[16:32] Adrian Martinez: I get offers a lot. Yeah, but I figured television too. So it's a mixed bag. And I'm open to both because the whole point is to keep moving and keep going. But before I answer your question, I do want to add this one little anecdote about Will Smith because it's about kindness. It was my first day on Focus, and the scene took place in an ambulance, and they had lights right above me. I was in a polyester suit. There was no air in it at all because, you know, fans would make sound, and that can't happen. And Will Smith was sitting over me, and Margot Robbie was on the other side, and the whole scene is them flirting with each other while I'm just laying there, like, you know, dead man. And I was sweating, I was sweating my butt off, and Will took out of his back pocket his personal handkerchief, and he just dabbed the sweat off my forehead.

Oh, and he didn't say anything, he just did that, and he just put it away. And I knew from that very simple act of kindness, I knew in that second that I was gonna be safe on this movie, and that he had my back. And it led to me doing some of my best work on film. Thank you, Will Smith. Love is an action verb, you know? And I'm sure you've probably experienced the opposite too, so which made you maybe value that moment even more.

[17:55] Adrian Martinez: I have. But that stays with me when I think about him. To answer your question, listen, the character doesn't know that he's a day player. The character is the character. And for that one minute or two minutes of screen time, you're the star. You're the one that everyone is watching. So that's my approach. I don't think of it as anything less or more. It's a character. That character has a backstory like anybody else. I make sure there is one. I always try to make the character my own, whether it's a full lead role like I Gilbert or a supporting role like Focus or whatever it is. Each character is a three-dimensional person, and that's my approach. And then I make sure I learn my lines as much as possible, and then I dive in and I really try to dissect how I, Adrian, can make this particular character different than how anyone else would do it.

And so I dig deep into my imagination where most of my work comes from. And I really try to come up with a physicality or a voice or something that makes my interpretation of this role unique. And that's what starts the journey.

[19:06] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah. And you succeed in that. I forget what movie it was, but wasn't there a part where you're always eating an avocado or holding an avocado?

[19:13] Adrian Martinez: That's a good example. It was with Will Smith. Uh no, Will Ferrell, Casa de mi Padre. And it's interesting because that's just it's called like the psychological gesture of and it's basically like you just think of a prop or something that's to you represents who this character is. And because it takes place in Mexico, although we shot it in Simi Valley, California, I just thought about this guy always like using an avocado, like when he's nervous, he eats the avocado. When he's confident, he grabs the avocado and plays with like I just saw it. And I approached the director about it, and he said, Wow, that's that's that's an interesting choice. Let's put it in there. And you see it in the movie, like every once in a while, I'm like taking up the avocado, like yeah, but it just kind of like connected me to the role, and it was funny when it's a comedy.

[20:11] Robert Peterpaul: Um so it worked.

[20:13] Adrian Martinez: Yeah, that's really smart. I think when you can endow a prop with meaning and have something to physically kind of ground you in the scene. And then what I also love is that I think I read or heard somewhere for you acting really boils down to is it five R's?

[20:26] Adrian Martinez: Yes, Robert, you know, Robert wrote the right. Reveal, relax, remember, rip, and risk. And I can go into it now if you want, or not. But it's been very helpful to me.

[20:39] Adrian Martinez: Yeah, I think the rip one, maybe if you want to well, the rip is the most important one because it's basically you are ripping out your choice from your soul. Like in tango music, and I got to study a lot of when I went to Buenos Aires, all I did was go see tangos, and they have something there called a duende, which is when you perform from the most sacred part of your heart and soul, and you just like rip out your creative choices, your voice. You get as primal and as raw and as revealing as you possibly can. That's the duende. That's from the sacred place from where they sing and perform. And that is the challenge for the actor when he auditions or when he performs, is to make sure that the scene you're doing is coming from that Duende, from that sacred place where you've got nothing left to give because it's there already. That's the Duende, and that's the rip.

[21:40] Robert Peterpaul: I guess that's part of it too with the five hours. But have you found there's certain things that kind of get you there? Whether you're doing a big emotional scene or whether you're just doing a couple lines, like I'm doing an episode next week with television show called New Amsterdam. It's on NBC.

[21:54] Adrian Martinez: Just auditioned for that.

[21:56] Robert Peterpaul: Did you take my part? No, I'm just kidding. It's the role of a doctor, which is cool. And I have one scene that's pretty meaty with Ryan, and one scene that just kind of like, you know, exposition, just like go that way or something like that. But whatever it is, I really try on the day to just get myself into a place where I feel safe, where I can really just kind of like be in tune with myself, be kind to myself, make sure I'm not eating anything too carby. I don't want to be belching the whole day. I make sure that's hard with crafty sometimes.

[22:29] Adrian Martinez: Right. Or I make sure that I'm just like I'm in my trailer, and I'm just focused. I put on some jazz on my headphones, and I really just try to find myself into a place where I'm connected with myself as much as that can possibly be. And that's the foundation.

[22:48] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, I'm gonna call that the handkerchief approach, feeling safe. How Will Smith gave you that hanky. So many people over the years have been lucky to work with you, and you've been lucky to work with just some incredibly regarded people in the industry, from Tina Fey to Amy Schumer to Ben Stiller to Dascha in your new film. Do any stand out to you as really I guess even this would go with the directors or the EPs on set? Do any stand out for you as creating a really positive environment that you then wanted to try and emulate when you were in charge on set?

[23:23] Adrian Martinez: Yes, I mean I always think of Sydney Pollock who directed me in a movie I did back in the day when I was starting out called The Interpreter, and I was nervous. It was the first time that United Nations allowed a movie of that scale into their hollowed ground. And I was nervous. Sydney Pollock came up to me and he was like, Listen, Nicole's a good actor, and she's got you. So just understand that you don't have to be perfect here. You just have to breathe and do your best. Because we've got the time and it's a safe place. So don't worry about it. And I was like, yep, okay. Thank you very much. I just I let that kind of sink in for myself, and my problem was on that day I wasn't breathing. And it's also so simple, but taking a deep breath and really breathing just helps you connect to that part of you that you're gonna need to perform.

[24:43] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah.

[24:44] Adrian Martinez: When you see an actor forcing his performance or messing up an audition, it's because he's not breathing. She's not breathing. And I wasn't breathing on that day. And then I started to breathe after he said what he did, and I found my center, and then I was able to do the same. His kindness, his generosity is something that stays with me.

[25:04] Robert Peterpaul: Wow. That's incredible. I'm sure you see now as a director, maybe when you watch people's auditions, that I've noticed is that a lot of times actors will just exhale and let out all the air right before their audition. Have you seen that? They're like, and then they start the scene. And that's kind of exactly the opposite of what you're saying is we have to remember to take the breath in and breathe. Or you know, it depends on the character, but I think that's really great advice to kind of highlight too.

[25:31] Adrian Martinez: Yeah, and a lot of times, uh, well, everything's kind of like now I audition when I do audition on self tapes and on Zoom. If it's a callback, it's on Zoom now.

[25:48] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah.

[25:49] Adrian Martinez: But when I used to have to audition in person, I remember some casting directors really just trying to just like whip right through it and not really even ask if the actor was ready to go. They would just jump into the first line. And I would always interrupt and say, I'm sorry, I just need a moment. I just need a moment. And I don't mean like take a three minute walk. I mean, just like step back, take a deep breath, look at your dialogue, and then go. And you have the right to do that as the actor. You have the right, and a casting director worth their salt will give you that opportunity because they want you to do their best work. You know, they're not there to make you feel. I just sometimes they just get they're running late or they get sucked up in the machine and you know, let's go, let's go, let's go. But it's up to you, the actor, to just reclaim your space and say, I just need a moment.

[26:53] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, that's really important. I think a lot of people are afraid to advocate for themselves, especially when it might seem like the person on the other side of the table isn't rooting for you and they're eating their lunch. But usually they're just doing the best they can with the crazy schedule that they have too. So taking that second to just recenter everybody I think is never a bad idea.

[27:14] Adrian Martinez: It's being kind to yourself.

[27:16] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, there you go. Well, one thing I think somebody that could have maybe learned some lessons in being kind to themselves. Well, we wouldn't have had a movie necessarily, but with I Gilbert, just to have a trunky transition into your film. I really loved hearing about the inspiration for the movie. Would you mind just kind of summarizing the moment? I guess it was ten years ago.

[27:36] Adrian Martinez: Yeah. I was on the subway and minding my business, and this guy just walked up to this attractive lady and just started taking photos like right close to her face. And she was like, What the hell are you doing? She felt defended. She was being violated. This man was in her personal space for no reason. And then he just very calmly got off the train on the next stop. And it haunted me. Like I just wanted to know what happened to this guy that he thinks that he can do that. Like he felt it felt so dehumanizing, not just to her, but to himself, that he would just be able to do that without any fear of consequence or any concern for how she would experience this. It just started really messing with my head. Like, who is this person? And because I see it a lot. I've seen it a lot. And then, you know, now I have a teen.

[28:35] Adrian Martinez: Incredibly, uh, I have a teen daughter, and I was like, who is she gonna pick out of this group? Like, I mean, like, where is this going? And I felt like a story needed to be told about disconnection and about people in the underbelly of society who have broken skills and, you know, are out there doing things that they shouldn't be doing. But why? Like, I feel like it all has to be unearthed and examined, and we live in a culture that doesn't want to do that, but it keeps happening more and more. And so "iGilbert" is just an attempt to explore what that's about. And at the same time, hopefully, uh, give an allegory of what happens when people live disconnected lives and the consequences of it.

[29:28] Adrian Martinez: Hmm. And I think really some of the best stories are the ones that start with questions like that, and that certainly could play into the success of this world that you've created, which unfortunately, even though it started ten years ago, I think is even more relevant today than perhaps it was, you know, which is wild. Like the disconnection you're talking about. I mean, on so many levels, somebody going up and taking a picture of somebody they don't know is very similar to people posting mean things or videos about people they don't know online and just not caring, and that lack of kindness. It's just so crazy to me. And feeling invisible and then using the technology to fill that void and feel safe, like we were kind of talking about before. It just rings more true than ever.

[30:11] Adrian Martinez: So I guess looking back on the origin of the story and now with its release, do you see anything major that you changed in that vein over time or like amped up, or was it something that you were just astonished to see didn't really need much changing?

[30:25] Adrian Martinez: Yeah, I mean, uh, you know, obviously the pandemic has put a lot of hot sauce on disconnection. Um, I like that. Well, no, I don't like that, but I like that phrase, the hot sauce. It's a very difficult time. And my one practical kindness tip that I have is to literally call and text someone. First call, you'll probably get a voicemail, and then follow up with the text. I do that with one person a week, with someone I have not heard from in a while, and I just check in because it's so easy to not want to talk to anyone, you know, and it becomes something that just kind of like creates its own negative energy. But to have that kindness and to just kind of like reach out and just call someone and say, "Hey, just thinking about you.

I remember when we met, uh, give me a call, I'm home at this hour, or you can call me at this time. Um, would love to hear from you." Click. I mean, I've had some of the best conversations with people just by doing that, you know, just by just kicking off that conversation. People want to connect. Sometimes we just need a nudge.

[31:42] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, I completely agree, and I think that's a wonderful tip that everybody should rewind and listen to again and then maybe do it again. And what's interesting too is that you're kind of helping to aid the issue by using something that's a bit part of the disconnection problem, which is, you know, people sucked into their phones and always watching entertainment instead of connecting with other people. But you're using art in entertainment that someone might be watching when they're alone to then inspire them. Maybe by the end of the movie they're thinking, "I don't know why, but I feel compelled to reach out to somebody." So I think that's an amazing thing about your film too.

[32:15] Robert Peterpaul: Well, thank you for making it. Did you do anything, you know, specific on set, kind of like we touched on before, to make people feel a bit more safe and comfortable now that you were in the position to do so?

[32:27] Adrian Martinez: I mean, I feel like it's interesting because it touches upon what I said earlier, which is that I spent all I could to feed them really well. I think that's the most important. But I fed them very well. Some really good Spanish food and some really good other kinds of food, you know, not just pizza, you know, like pizza's kind of like code for I gotta feed you.

[32:55] Adrian Martinez: Yeah, granola bar for breakfast, pizza for dinner. Yeah, some rice and beans on set, and we got really into it. Um, I know I have all these hyphenates in this movie, but the reality is that the casting crew carried me the 20 days that we shot this movie time and time again. Um, I felt either exhilarated or I felt despair or I felt frustrated because things happen. People leave the movie if they find, you know, greener pastures. Uh, or sometimes you get a location and then you lose it, and now you're scrambling, or the wardrobe got lost on a truck, or you like all this stuff happens. And it was my first movie. I had done some shorts in college, but this is the first one full length. And you know, I feel everything as a person.

And whenever something would go wrong on set, I would really feel it. And you know, Cynthia Hargrave, who was my co-producer, um, she would talk me off the edge, and she was very supportive. Certainly Dasha and Raul and other actors in the cast were there for me, and we got through it. So the kindness came in both directions.

[34:14] Adrian Martinez: Yeah. And what an amazing thing to add to your already incredible collection of projects that you've worked on. And I hope you feel really accomplished because, you know, looking back on your life, maybe it's hard to see it from where you are now, but so many people look up to you and wish they could do what you have done. So you're just contributing in so many ways to the arts and thinking about that and this specific experience. Do you have any thoughts on how we can all make the industry a bit kinder going forward into other projects? Maybe big blockbuster ones with really big sets where things can sometimes get lost in the shuffle.

[34:49] Adrian Martinez: Yeah, I mean, it's I uh, I was on the national board for SAG-AFTRA for four years, and I introduced a mentoring program where you can call your favorite star and you would get a 10-minute call with them, and when it would just be about them inspiring you or encouraging you to keep going. For me, that would be like Daniel Day-Lewis. I mean, I would love to work with Daniel Day-Lewis. So I would get 10 minutes. Can you imagine speaking or being spoken to by Daniel Day-Lewis telling you to keep going or what he did when he had moments of despair? Like it would just, I'm hoping that that takes flight, but I think that would be a nice systemic way of helping all the actors out here in the struggle to just get a pat on the back from someone they truly admire. So we'll see how that plays out.

[35:46] Robert Peterpaul: That's incredible. I was looking into this foundation called Side Time. Have you heard of them?

[35:51] Adrian Martinez: No.

[35:51] Robert Peterpaul: It has a similar idea, but I don't think it would have the backing like a SAG-AFTRA would. So maybe there's some way they could combine, but they have a lot of different people on there from actors to directors who will donate their time depending on the length of the phone call. People donate to a specific organization, I guess, close to the person's heart. So I know that was doing pretty well over the pandemic, but not on a huge scale like the SAG-AFTRA one would do. So I love that and I hope that that happens and appreciate you for putting the thought into it.

[36:23] Adrian Martinez: Yeah. It would be like a free version of Cameo. Do you know Cameo?

[36:27] Robert Peterpaul: Yes.

[36:27] Adrian Martinez: So instead of you paying $200 to talk to Carrot Top, you'd be able to, Carrot Top would donate 10 minutes of his time to talk to you and tell you, "Hey, look at me, I'm Carrot Top, but I'm making a living and I'm doing great."

[36:44] Adrian Martinez: And yeah. And I think people want to give back. You know, people who have been very successful, like they want to give back. They just, they're so busy, uh, you just have to remind them that, "Hey, uh, here's an opportunity for you to be kind and give back." And, uh, nine times out of ten, they're gonna say yes.

[37:05] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah. In my experience. Back to I think what we kind of touched on before too, which is that we don't hopefully do these things to get kindness back, but I think that this would be a wonderful way for these titans and people in the industry that are very successful like yourself, yeah, to kind of get some of that love back and understand that they're actually making a difference because I know again that tunnel vision can probably affect some people, or sometimes there's so many people roaring at you that you can't even hear just one person, if that makes sense. So I hope that happens. Before I let you go, I do have a surprise game if you're down to play.

[37:36] Adrian Martinez: Yes.

[37:41] Robert Peterpaul: Okay, it's called the compliment game, because we haven't given you enough already. And basically, I reached out to somebody in your life for a quote about what they love about you. I'm gonna read you that quote, and then you have to guess who said it.

[37:56] Adrian Martinez: Wow, okay.

[37:56] Robert Peterpaul: You get three guesses and maybe five yes or no questions. Although, you know, what do I know? I have some hints, but we'll see if I can help you at all. Everyone's beautiful in their own way. It's the compliments game on me. Yay up yay, it's the compliment. Compliment game.

[38:16] Robert Peterpaul: Alright, so when you're ready, I'm gonna read you your quote. Ready?

[38:20] Adrian Martinez: Okay.

[38:21] Robert Peterpaul: "Adrian is a beast of an actor on stage and on screen. I first saw him tear it up on stage in Stephen Adly Guirgis's Our Lady of Twenty First Street, directed by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. Since then, I'll watch anything he's in, and when he calls, I have to answer. His faith in me is something I will always cherish."

[38:49] Adrian Martinez: Uh, Raul Castillo.

[38:51] Robert Peterpaul: Yes!

[38:52] Adrian Martinez: Whoa! You're the first person to get it on the first guess.

[38:58] Robert Peterpaul: Obviously, you know, people know him from "Looking" and a slew of other things, but wow, how'd you know it was him? Has he told you that before?

[39:05] Adrian Martinez: No. Uh, thank you, Raul. I greatly appreciate that. Uh, you're pretty much a beast too. Um, I just put it together because I remember doing that play.

[39:17] Adrian Martinez: It was really an extraordinary experience. And I remember Raul going to see it. Uh, so I just put two and two together. Um, but a lot of people saw it, but for some whatever reason he came to mind. To turn it around, how do you feel about working with him?

[39:34] Adrian Martinez: He is a beast. Let me explain. You saw the movie, right? So that scene between Tony and Jana in the bedroom when they have this big fight scene. That was his first day of work.

[39:47] Robert Peterpaul: Wow.

[39:48] Adrian Martinez: There was no time for rehearsals. They were literally just shot out of a cannon. And he went there. Uh, and he, as you saw, did this beautiful layered performance. And that was like literally like just day one. Like, I said, listen, I know it's difficult, uh, but I need you to go there. And I kept pushing him and Dasha, and I mean, it's a terrific scene, and they were wonderful in it. I'm just so proud of him. But he's a beast because it takes a beast to be able to do that. And not every actor can or is willing to invest so much of himself, but he certainly did. And I owe him one.

[40:35] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, and the two of them are fire in the movie, as are you. Everyone, please go watch "iGilbert" if you have not seen it. Thank you, Adrian, for your time. It's been such a pleasure to get to talk to you. And I wish you the best and just thank you for being such a wonderful example that us actors can look up to in this industry.

[40:53] Adrian Martinez: Thank you, Robert. This is something I'm really glad I did. And you made it very easy.

[40:58] Robert Peterpaul: Thank you so much. I appreciate that. And I hope our paths cross again soon someday.

[41:10] Robert Peterpaul: And now it's time for your kindness tip of the week.

[41:19] Robert Peterpaul: So as the weather outside is getting a bit nicer and the sun is sticking around, or at least it seems to be, I don't know, the weather is so spotty, right? However, it does seem that spring has sprung. And since we're all thankfully going outside a lot more and able to take walks and hang out under the sunshine, maybe go to the park. Your kindness tip of the week is to pick up any trash you see. I know, especially in these times you don't necessarily want to go around touching other people's trash. But if you do happen to see a water bottle rolling around on the ground or a plastic bag flying in the wind, and it's not while watching "American Beauty," it's actually in real life, then you should go over, pick that up, and just throw it in the trash.

You can Purell yourself until the cows come home right after that. I mean, come on, don't we all just hate litter? Instead of, you know, shaking your head at the water bottle at the park, pick it up and put it in the recycling bin. That's all I'm saying, alright? Mother Nature will thank you, and so will I. Speaking of thanking and being thankful, if you're thankful for this podcast, I would love if you left us a five-star review. Please, it really means the world and helps us get the word out there about the show. As always, I'm thankful for you all, and I cannot wait to be back here with you again soon for another wonderful episode of "The Art of Kindness." Until then, please remember everything's gonna be a-okay.