The DMF With Justin Younts

Justin Younts
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Film Interviews
  • Updated Weekly

The DMF with Justin Younts (Discovering Meaning in Film & Acting) is an acting and filmmaking podcast for actors and creatives. Host Justin Younts explores acting technique, audition tips, casting insights, career strategy, and the craft of film and theatre. Featuring actors, casting directors, and filmmakers, DMF delivers real-world advice to help you book roles, build your reel, and grow as a professional actor.

  1. Aug 5

    DMF Episode 344 — Mel Mack (Part 3): Crying on Cue, Daily Routines, and Jack Nicholson Stories

    Welcome to The DMF — Discovering Meaning in Film and Acting. I'm Justin Younts, and in this episode I sit down with Mel Mack for part three of our conversation. This one gets into the things actors don't always talk about openly, starting with crying on cue. We get into the different ways actors get there, from external aids like menthol to genuinely tapping into real emotion, and why it's worth being honest with yourself about which one you're actually using. We also talk routines, morning and night, and how much they shape a performance. Meditation, fitness, the small habits that keep you grounded before you step in front of a camera. From there it's special skills and the risk of overstating them on a resume, audition prep, and a detour into the music and movies that shaped us — Taylor Swift, Jack Nicholson, Chinatown, and Uncut Gems. In this episode we discuss: Crying on cue and the techniques actors use to get thereMorning and night routines, meditation, and fitnessSpecial skills and the risk of overstating themAudition preparationJack Nicholson, Chinatown, and Uncut GemsHow to reach Mel Mack Acting StudioMel Mack Acting Studio: https://melmackactingstudio.com/ 00:00:00 - Crying on Cue 00:01:57 - Daily Routines, Meditation, and Fitness 00:06:26 - Special Skills and the Risks of Exaggerating 00:09:37 - Books, New York, and Audition Preparation 00:11:42 - Music and Taylor Swift's Influence 00:16:10 - What Mel's Watching 00:16:31 - Jack Nicholson, Movie Legends, and Being an Extra 00:19:28 - Chinatown, Marty Supreme, and Uncut Gems 00:20:51 - How to Reach Mel Mack Acting Studio #ActingTips #CryingOnCue #JackNicholson #TaylorSwift #AuditionPrep #ActingPodcast

  2. Aug 3

    DMF Episode 343 — Mel Mack (Part 2): Are You Sabotaging Your Acting Career Without Knowing It?

    Welcome to The DMF — Discovering Meaning in Film and Acting. I'm Justin Younts, and this is part 2 of my conversation with acting coach Mel Mack. Mel and I get into the biggest obstacle she sees actors running into right now, especially since the pandemic and the rise of social media: misinformation and self-doubt. She's watched actors get talked out of their own confidence by comments from people who don't actually know what they're talking about, and we talk about why doing your homework on who you're learning from matters as much as any class you'll take. We also dig into why so many actors set goals that are too small, and why Mel pushes the actors she coaches to think bigger and get specific about what they want. From there we get practical: networking with actual purpose instead of just collecting contacts, the preparation and mindset it takes to walk onto a set or into an audition room ready, and why the perfectionism trap so many actors fall into with self-tapes works against them instead of for them. Mel also breaks down why training never really stops, no matter how far along you are. If you've ever felt like the industry was talking you out of your own confidence, this conversation is for you. In this episode we discuss: The biggest obstacle facing actors today: misinformation and self-doubtWhy Mel coaches actors to set bold, specific career goals instead of small onesNetworking with purpose and building real fans in the industryPreparation, adaptability, and staying present in the sceneSelf-tapes and the perfectionism trapWhy actors have to keep training, no matter where they are in their careerWhat actually happens on a film set, and how to prepare for itUnderstanding direction and staying presentGoing off book and training consistentlyStaying the course without shortcutsBringing newness and wonder to every sceneGuest: Mel Mack, acting coach and author of 101 Acting Tips Mel Mack Acting Studio: https://melmackactingstudio.com/ Timestamps: 00:00:00 - The Biggest Obstacle Facing Actors Today 00:02:21 - Setting Bold, Specific Career Goals 00:04:54 - Networking with Purpose and Building Industry Fans 00:07:01 - Preparation, Adaptability, and Staying in the Scene 00:10:05 - Self-Tapes and the Perfectionism Trap 00:12:23 - Why Actors Must Keep Training 00:14:31 - Preparing Actors for the Reality of a Film Set 00:15:18 - Understanding Direction and Staying Present 00:17:26 - Going Off Book and Training Consistently 00:20:12 - Staying the Course Without Shortcuts 00:21:14 - Bringing Newness and Wonder to Every Scene #Acting #ActingCoach #ActingTips #ActingCareer #AuditionTips #SelfTape #ActingStudio #Hollywood #Podcast

  3. Jul 31

    DMF Episode 342 — Mel Mack: What an Acting Coach Sees That You Don't

    Welcome to The DMF — Discovering Meaning in Film and Acting. I'm Justin Younts, and in this episode I sit down with Mel Mack for the complete interview. Mel is an acting coach, casting director, actress, and author of 101 Acting Tips, and coaching is really the thread that runs through everything she does. We start with where she's from — Buffalo and Medina, New York — and how she found acting before making the leap to Hollywood, Florida, and eventually Los Angeles with no map for how the business actually worked. What stuck with me most was Mel's take on boldness and analysis paralysis — how so many actors talk themselves out of the choice that would've booked the room, and how she coaches actors out of that pattern. She's blunt about the gap acting schools leave in actors' training: technique gets taught, the business side almost never does. That gap is exactly why she started her own acting studio — the same instinct that carried her through booking Will & Grace and working with Madonna. We also get into what it actually means to bring your authentic self into a room, why bigger choices are easier for a director to work with, and how she coaches actors to adapt their skills across mediums. If you've ever walked out of an audition knowing something was off but couldn't name it, this conversation is for you. In this episode we discuss: Why she started her own acting studio, and the gap in acting education that led her thereHow she coaches actors out of analysis paralysis and into bolder choicesCoaching actors on bringing their authentic selves into the roomWhy bigger choices are easier for a director to work withCoaching actors to adapt their skills across different mediumsBreaking into Los Angeles and learning the business the hard wayBooking Will & Grace and working with MadonnaGrowing up in Buffalo and Medina, and the move to Hollywood, FloridaGuest: Mel Mack, acting coach and author of 101 Acting Tips Mel Mack Acting Studio: https://melmackactingstudio.com/ Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Mel Mack 00:00:41 - Growing Up in Buffalo and Medina 00:02:15 - Discovering Acting and Moving to Hollywood, Florida 00:04:09 - Boldness, Risk-Taking, and Analysis Paralysis 00:11:48 - Breaking into Los Angeles and Learning the Business 00:13:05 - Why Acting Schools Don't Prepare Actors for Auditions 00:16:11 - From Audition Struggles to Starting an Acting Studio 00:17:57 - Booking Will & Grace and Working with Madonna 00:21:03 - Helping Actors Bring Their Authentic Selves 00:23:57 - Adapting Acting Skills for Different Mediums 00:24:28 - Why Bigger Choices Are Easier to Direct #Acting #ActingCoach #ActingTips #AuditionTips #ActingStudio #CastingDirector #WillAndGrace #Madonna #Hollywood #ActingCareer #Podcast

  4. Jul 8

    DMF Episode 341 — Tiffany Little Canfield (Full Interview): Casting Wicked, Ariana Grande & Oscar Recognition for Casting Directors

    Welcome to The DMF — Discovering Meaning in Film and Acting. I'm Justin Younts, and this is the complete interview with casting director Tiffany Little Canfield of Telsey Company — known for her work on Wicked, Mean Girls, and more. All three parts together. Tiffany grew up in Sacramento, got serious about acting early, moved into directing, and eventually found her way to casting — where her background on both sides of the table changed how she reads actors and approaches every project. This conversation covers all of it. We start with her path into the industry, the casting process, what actors consistently misunderstand about auditions, the impact of self-tapes, and why training never stops mattering. From there we get into the specific casting stories — A Most Violent Year, Miss Sloane, Margin Call, and Wicked. Tiffany gets into how Ariana Grande was cast as Glinda, the casting of The Wizard, Madame Morrible, and Bowen Yang, and what the process looked like on a production of that scale. We also get into casting controversies, diversity in casting, and what Tiffany actually thinks about how those conversations play out in the industry. She talks about the Academy finally establishing a casting branch and what that recognition means for the profession. We close with upcoming projects, Inside the Actors Studio questions, what she's reading and watching, and her thoughts on The Lost Daughter. In this episode we discuss: Tiffany's path from acting to directing to castingThe casting process and what actors get wrongSelf-tapes and the reality of modern auditionsCasting Wicked — Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum & Bowen YangCasting A Most Violent Year, Miss Sloane & Margin CallCasting controversies and diversity in the industryThe Academy finally recognizing casting directorsUpcoming projects including Only Murders in the Building and Paradise00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:14 - Guest Introduction & Early Life 00:00:38 - Influence of Early Life on Career 00:02:23 - Transition from Acting to Directing 00:03:14 - Professional Training and Realization 00:04:26 - Decision to Shift from Acting 00:06:09 - Transition to Casting 00:06:21 - Casting Experience and Realization 00:09:04 - Getting into the Industry 00:09:29 - Similarities between Casting Directors and Actors 00:13:26 - Role of Directing Degree in Casting 00:13:26 - Understanding Actors 00:15:13 - Misconceptions about Acting 00:15:40 - The Art and Craft of Acting 00:17:26 - The Importance of Continuous Training 00:22:02 - The Shift to Self-Tapes 00:24:32 - Challenges in the Industry 00:26:52 - The Power of Subtle Acting 00:28:36 - Working with the Telsey Office 00:29:52 - Casting 'A Most Violent Year' 00:30:48 - Casting 'A Most Violent Year' Continued 00:36:26 - Casting 'Miss Sloan' 00:39:09 - Casting 'Margin Call' 00:41:30 - Casting 'Wicked' 00:46:19 - Casting 'Wicked' Continued: The Role of Glinda 00:49:54 - Casting 'Wicked' Continued: The Role of the Wizard and Madame Morrible 00:55:26 - Casting 'Wicked' Continued: The Role of Boq 00:57:04 - Recognition of Casting Directors at the Academy Awards 01:01:30 - Future Plans 01:01:42 - Upcoming Projects 01:02:15 - Daily Routines 01:03:09 - Physical Fitness and Meditation 01:03:48 - Current Readings 01:05:11 - Music Preferences 01:05:39 - Current TV Shows 01:06:42 - Recent Movies 01:08:34 - Contact Information 01:08:57 - Conclusion #DMF #TiffanyLittleCanfield #CastingDirector #Wicked #ArianaGrande #TelseyCompany #Oscars #Academy #Acting #Casting #Filmmaking #Podcast

  5. May 31

    DMF Episode 340 — Tiffany Little Canfield (Part 3): The Academy Finally Recognizes Casting Directors & What It Means for Film

    Welcome to The DMF — Discovering Meaning in Film and Acting. I'm Justin Younts, and this is part three with casting director Tiffany Little Canfield of Telsey Company. This one is about something that's been a long time coming — the Academy Awards is finally establishing a casting branch, officially recognizing casting directors for their contributions to film. Tiffany has been part of the push to make that happen, and she talks about what that fight looked like, why it took this long, and what it actually means for casting professionals who have been working behind the scenes for years without that acknowledgment. We get into what the casting branch means going forward, how casting directors can now advocate for themselves and educate the industry about their role, and why every casting decision — not just the stars — is a creative one that shapes the entire film. Tiffany also talks about upcoming projects including Only Murders in the Building and Paradise. We close with Inside the Actors Studio questions. In this episode we discuss: The Academy finally recognizing casting directorsThe establishment of a casting branch within the AcademyWhy casting directors have been overlooked for so longThe creative role of casting in shaping a film's narrativeCollaboration with directors, producers, and actorsUpcoming projects: Only Murders in the Building & Paradise00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:05 - Recognition of Casting Directors 00:00:28 - The Role of a Casting Director 00:01:18 - The Process and Challenges 00:02:22 - The Journey to Recognition 00:02:38 - The Casting Branch 00:04:34 - Future Projects 00:05:12 - Inside the Actors Studio Questions 00:11:57 - Conclusion #DMF #TiffanyLittleCanfield #CastingDirector #Academy #Oscars #TelseyCompany #OnlyMurdersInTheBuilding #Acting #Casting #Filmmaking #Podcast

  6. May 20

    DMF Episode 339 — Tiffany Little Canfield (Part 2): Casting Wicked — Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, Cynthia Erivo & Jeff Goldblum

    Welcome to The DMF — Discovering Meaning in Film and Acting. I'm Justin Younts, and this is part two with casting director Tiffany Little Canfield of Telsey Company. This one gets into the specific casting stories behind some of the biggest films Tiffany has worked on — and she doesn't hold back. We talk about how Cynthia Erivo was cast as Elphaba, how Ariana Grande landed the role of Glinda, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard, and Bowen Yang. We also get into the casting of A Most Violent Year, Miss Sloane, and Margin Call. Tiffany also shares her thoughts on AI and storytelling — why she doesn't believe technology will ever replicate what a human can convey in a moment, especially in the room. We talk about the art of auditioning, staying in character, and what it looks like to work inside the Telsey office on projects of this scale. In this episode we discuss: The casting of Wicked and the stories behind each roleHow Ariana Grande was cast as GlindaCasting Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Yeoh & Jeff GoldblumCasting A Most Violent Year, Miss Sloane & Margin CallAI and the future of human storytellingThe art of auditioning and staying presentWhat it's like working at Telsey on major productions00:00:00 - Introduction & AI in Storytelling 00:00:37 - The Art of Auditioning 00:01:33 - Staying in Character 00:02:21 - Working with Telsey Office 00:03:37 - Casting 'A Most Violent Year' 00:10:11 - Casting 'Miss Sloan' 00:12:54 - Casting 'Margin Call' 00:15:14 - Casting 'Wicked' 00:15:38 - Casting Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba 00:15:47 - Casting Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible 00:19:03 - Casting Ariana Grande as Glinda 00:26:44 - Casting Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard 00:29:11 - Casting Bowen Yang #DMF #TiffanyLittleCanfield #CastingDirector #Wicked #ArianaGrande #MichelleYeoh #CynthiaErivo #JeffGoldblum #TelseyCompany #Acting #Casting #Podcast

  7. May 17

    DMF Episode 338 — Tiffany Little Canfield (Part 1): From Acting to Directing to Casting & What Actors Get Wrong

    Welcome to The DMF — Discovering Meaning in Film and Acting. I'm Justin Younts, and in this episode I sit down with casting director Tiffany Little Canfield for part one of our conversation. Season 6 is here. Tiffany Little Canfield is the perfect way to kick it off — a casting director who's been on both sides of the table and has a lot to say about what actors are getting wrong. Tiffany's path into casting wasn't a straight line. She started in acting, moved into directing — including work with opera singers — and eventually found her way to casting, where her directing background changed how she reads actors and scene work. That experience in the room as a director is something she brings to every project. We get into what a casting director actually does day to day, what it looks like to interview for those jobs, and how Tiffany thinks about actors differently because of her background. We also talk about the misconception around acting and fame, why continuous training is non-negotiable, how subjective casting really is, what self-tapes mean for the audition process now, and the biggest challenges actors are facing in the industry. In this episode we discuss: Tiffany's path from acting to directing to castingWhat casting directors actually doWorking with opera singers and how it shapes her approachThe misconception of acting and fameWhy continuous training matters at every levelThe subjectivity of casting and what that means for actorsSelf-tapes and how auditions have changedThe biggest challenges in the acting industry today00:00:00 - Introduction and Guest Introduction 00:00:28 - Early Life and Influence on Career 00:00:39 - Journey into Acting and Realization 00:01:57 - Transition from Acting to Directing 00:03:10 - Transition from Directing to Casting 00:09:02 - Understanding the Role of a Casting Director 00:09:45 - Interviewing for Jobs as a Casting Director 00:11:52 - Working with Opera Singers 00:13:21 - Understanding Actors and Scene Work 00:13:37 - Influence of Directing Degree in Casting 00:15:01 - Closing Thoughts on Actor Expectations 00:15:30 - The Misconception of Acting and Fame 00:17:08 - The Importance of Continuous Training for Actors 00:18:47 - The Subjectivity of Acting and Casting 00:22:04 - The Role of Self-Tapes in Auditions 00:24:29 - The Biggest Challenges in the Acting Industry #DMF #TiffanyLittleCanfield #CastingDirector #Acting #TelseyCompany #ActingTips #SelfTape #Audition #Filmmaking

  8. Mar 20

    DMF Episode 337 — Brent Lindstrom: Writing Mistakes, Editing Your Book & Storytelling That Works

    Welcome to The DMF — Discovering Meaning in Film and Acting. I’m Justin Younts, and in this episode I continue my conversation with filmmaker, producer, and author Brent Lindstrom as we dive into the realities of writing, editing, and building a career as an author. Brent shares his journey through writing what he calls “trunk novels” — early works that helped him develop his voice and understand the craft of storytelling. Through this process, he realized just how much there is to learn when it comes to structure, character development, and refining a story. We explore the two primary writing approaches — outlining vs. pantsing — and why Brent believes outlining can help writers avoid writer’s block and create a more efficient storytelling process. In this episode we discuss: • Common writing and editing mistakes authors make• How to edit your book effectively• Outlining vs pantsing in storytelling• Developing characters and narrative structure• The financial realities of being an author• Marketing your book and building an audience Brent also shares lessons from writing his novel “Swing Low, Hangman of the Woods,” including the challenges he faced and how those experiences shaped his growth as a storyteller. This episode highlights the importance of patience, persistence, and continuous learning — whether you're writing your first book or refining your craft as a creative professional. Join us as we explore the writing process, editing strategies, and what it really takes to succeed as an author. 🌐 Learn More About Brent Lindstrom Visit Brent’s website:https://lightmindedarts.com 📖 Check Out Brent Lindstrom’s Book One for the Money, Two for the Soul https://www.lightmindedarts.com/books/one-for-the-money-two-for-the-soul/ 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:08 - Learning Editing and Storytelling 00:00:52 - Two Kinds of Writing: Outlining and Pantsing 00:03:21 - The Cost of Writing and Marketing 00:03:21 - The Importance of Physical Books 00:05:04 - Building an Audience and Brand Recognition 00:10:17 - The Value of Multiple Formats 00:12:56 - Reading vs. Listening to Books 00:15:33 - The Impact of Technology on Reading Habits 00:16:27 - The Shift to Short-Form Content and Its Effects 00:17:09 - The Unique Experience of Reading 00:18:22 - Publishing Strategies with Amazon 00:21:05 - The Future: Writing, Podcasting, and Building a Film Studio 00:24:04 - Conclusion and Call to Action

See All (347)

Trailer

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

The DMF with Justin Younts (Discovering Meaning in Film & Acting) is an acting and filmmaking podcast for actors and creatives. Host Justin Younts explores acting technique, audition tips, casting insights, career strategy, and the craft of film and theatre. Featuring actors, casting directors, and filmmakers, DMF delivers real-world advice to help you book roles, build your reel, and grow as a professional actor.

Information

  • Creator
    Justin Younts
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    347
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Justin Younts
  • Show Website
    The DMF With Justin Younts