DIRECTOR'S CUT: DAVID DASTMALCHIAN meets Cinema Therapy and talks iconic roles
How does an actor get into the psychology of their character?
Licensed therapist Jonathan Decker and filmmaker Alan Seawright are joined by special guest, David Dastmalchian, to launch a new series, Psychology of an Actor. They ask David about his experiences as an actor and how he gets into the psychology of a character. David shares his mental health journey and how it has shaped his life and career. They start with his first-ever role in The Dark Knight (!) and work through his career as David lets us into his process. But they talk so much that they only get through part of David’s extensive career. Subscribe to see another episode with David in the near future, as soon as the strike is over.
This episode was filmed during the Writer’s Strike.
According to SAG-Aftra, independent film reviewers are welcome to discuss movies that have already come out. These films were produced under previous contracts and wouldn’t be affected by any changes resulting from the strike.
Any praise for the films we discuss is praise for the writers, actors, directors, and so many other artists and craftspeople who made them. Without their labor, we wouldn’t be able to watch our favorite films together. Without their labor, our show wouldn’t be as impactful. Without their labor, our show wouldn’t exist.
We support their strike efforts. If you’d like to support them as well, go to www.entertainmentcommunity.org.
This video was not made using any studio-provided screeners or materials.
Comments (22)
I literally JUST finished watching Late Night with the Devil, and whoa, WOW, absolutely amazed at David's craft. I'm coming back to this video now to get a little more grounded in reality after experiencing the film's incredible, deliciously unsettling sense of unreality that he helped create. So cool to get his insights on his own process combined with your broader expertise in film and psych!
I decided I needed to come back and watch this first before watching the latest one! I am newish to your channel (late last year) and am definitely obsessed. Thank you for such wonderful conversations, it really is a genuine privilege to hear from people such as yourselves and a storyteller such as David. Your willingness to be vulnerable is, I think, what makes everything you share so powerful.
I just had an epiphany. Since my parents didn't do a perfect job raising me I have some trauma and baggage. I always try to be what I needed when I was young for the kids in my life, but I forget to talk to my inner child the same way. I am too critical, why cant I do this, I should have learned this already. I am sure my therapist has told me some form of talk to your inner child, but it didn't occur to me till now to apologize to my young self that everything wasn't always good. To treat myself the way I treat kids I know are hurting.
This was amazing! When the strike is negotiated and he can come back on, I would love to see a mini series with the three of you. Maybe have the release of episodes spread out over a few months as not to quickly saturate the channel, but it would be so great. Psychology of an actor is such a wonderful idea!
So freaking good. BABA YAGA!! 🤣🤣
this is the content i am so proud to support: therapeutic artistry. thank you for providing a warm environment for unique humans like Dastmalchian to shine. "And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same." 🥰
We're so grateful for your support!
When I tell you I screamed when I saw this episode come out. David is so iconic
SAME!
This was such a great video. Thank you, guys!
Absolutely loved this. Unrelated to the director's cut, on the YouTube release, Jono, I know you have a lot to get said in your sponsor segment, and it's so important! I would hope in the future it could be slowed down just a bit. This episode's segment felt like either you were embarrassed to be plugging yourself, so you rushed through it, or the whole thing was the 'micro legalese' at the end of radio commercials where they admit to over promising in the main ad. You deserve to plug yourself and the good work you're doing. If it's a matter of people's impatience with sponsor sections, maybe trim just a bit. You deserve to not sound frantic. You're doing great and I appreciate you and everyone at CT for all the good being done.
Good feedback, thank you!
That is a great episode. I love listening to actors and directors talk about their process and the craft of filmaking/storytelling. It's a great idea, please more of this ! Maybe a psychology of a director episode (other than Alan of course who already shares so much with us , thank you Alan)
Thanks! We're working on getting some directors on upcoming episodes (and more actors, too!)
He's from Kansas too!!!!!!!!!!
Guys, can you please talk about Lightyear and how it's Actually a good movie if you stop trying to force the new Buzz into the personality of the old Buzz? My toddler is obsessed with this movie and I've watched it 2 dozen times in as many weeks and I'm convinced that it's a legitimately good movie in its own right. It suffered from unfair expectations in the shadow of Toy Story, but it has really good writing and acting and the story is solid.
I agree. Unfairly maligned. Honestly, probably should have just stripped out the references to Toy Story and made it its own thing, and it would have been better received?
So first: he is amazing, I loved this episode. Second, Jono, your comment on effective clergy was 👌. I am a lay minister (so clergy in the casual sense, but laity in my own tradition) and you’re so right! I am not a mental health professional. To add a similar point, we also need therapy, because we can definitely have the same temptation, to use the people we serve to fill our own emotional or relational needs
Well thank you! And blessings to you in your work!
I’m listening to his story, and I’m wish I could’ve utilized the school counselors both growing up and in college. It wasn’t until my last semester that I finally got around to talking to someone.
Oh, he's great! I love his work! 🥰
Omgggg wowwww