Strip The Script

Jazz Lintott
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  • Film Interviews
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What does it really take to build a life in the creative industries? Strip The Script goes beyond the credits, premieres and polished success stories to uncover the real experiences behind extraordinary creative careers. Hosted by award-winning actor and producer Jazz Lintott, each episode sits down with leading actors, filmmakers and creators for an honest conversation about the moments that shaped them — the breakthroughs and rejections, the risks, relationships, sacrifices, mistakes and mindset that rarely make it into the traditional interview. From navigating rejection and self-doubt to handling success when it finally arrives, Strip The Script explores not only what our guests achieved, but who they had to become along the way. Season One features conversations with Katherine McNamara, Mena Massoud, Steve Carr, Adjani Salmon, William Stanford Davis and Jimmy Akingbola — six very different careers, with lessons that reach far beyond the entertainment industry. No formula. No perfect path. No script. LIVE UNSCRIPTED.

Episodes

  1. 2d ago

    Abbott Elementary's William Stanford Davis: The Rewards Of Never Giving Up!

    Before becoming the beloved Mr. Johnson on Abbott Elementary, William Stanford Davis was told his audition for Friends was terrible. His agent subsequently dropped him. Years later, he's an NAACP Award-winning actor and fan favourite. But the journey between those two moments was anything but easy. In this deeply personal episode of Strip The Script, William sits down with actor and host Jazz Lintott to reveal the reality behind his remarkable career — from struggling to pay rent and having cars repossessed to the unexpected phone call that changed everything. William opens up about: The Friends audition: How devastating feedback and losing his agent became a turning point in his career. The hidden cost of acting: Financial hardship, rejection and the moments he considered walking away. Abbott Elementary: How a guest appearance became a series regular role, and the emotional moment Quinta Brunson shared the news. Lessons from Hollywood: What Oscar winner Martin Landau taught him about acting, preparation and letting go of the outcome. The secret to longevity: Why he believes preparation, persistence and having a life outside acting are essential to surviving the industry. When Jazz asks William whether he ever considered quitting acting, his answer is extraordinary: "Every day." Yet he kept going. This is a conversation about rejection, perseverance, finding your purpose and refusing to let somebody else's opinion determine your future. Subscribe to Strip The Script for honest, unfiltered conversations with actors, filmmakers and creators about the moments that shaped their lives and careers. Hosted by Jazz Lintott. Season One | Episode 05 | Guest: William Stanford Davis 00:00 Introduction: The Rewards of Never Giving Up 02:33 First Spark: Sidney Poitier and the Magic of Cinema 04:20 Finding Your Way Without a Roadmap 05:09 When the Student is Ready: Moving to LA 06:02 The Friends Audition: Turning Rejection Into Fire 10:58 Martin Landau's Lesson: It's Always Just a Rehearsal 12:19 Theatre Makes You Good: The Importance of Stage Work 13:57 Your Instrument: Mind, Body, and Human Behavior 22:32 Abbott Elementary: I Forgot I'd Even Auditioned 24:45 When Rejection Feels Personal 25:11 The Cost of the Dream: Ramen Noodles and Repossessed Cars 26:59 Stay Out of the Results: Advice for Young Actors 28:52 Preparation Separates Those Who Last 41:29 From Guest Star to Series Regular 45:00 Recognition vs Being Seen: What Success Really Means 49:12 The Roller Coaster Never Ends 51:16 If It Happened Earlier, I Would Have Messed It Up 52:14 The Business of Acting: Networking and Social Media 56:20 Self-Tapes and the Loss of Collaboration 59:00 Final Wisdom: Don't Quit and Do the Work

    Abbott Elementary's William Stanford Davis: The Rewards Of Never Giving Up!

  2. Oct 6

    Adjani Salmon: “I Was £10,000 Down and Thought We’d Messed Up” — How Dreaming Whilst Black Became a

    What does it really cost to turn an idea into something that changes your career? In this episode of Strip The Script, Jazz Lintott sits down with Adjani Salmon, creator and star of the BAFTA-winning Dreaming Whilst Black, to unpack the years before the breakthrough. Adjani talks candidly about putting his own money into the project, reaching a point where he was £10,000 down and wondering whether they'd made a huge mistake, and why he kept going when quitting would have been the easier option. They get into the reality behind building Dreaming Whilst Black, the difference between talent and actually creating opportunities for yourself, the sacrifices that come before recognition, and why sometimes you have to back your own belief long before anybody else does. This is a conversation about risk, persistence, creativity and what success actually costs before anyone knows your name. In this episode: • The £10,000 gamble behind Dreaming Whilst Black • Why Adjani thought they might have messed it all up • Turning a self-funded project into a BAFTA-winning series • Why talent alone isn't enough • The personal cost of pursuing an idea • Learning to back your own creative instincts • What actors and filmmakers can learn from building their own work Strip The Script — Live Unscripted. 00:00 Introduction: From Frustration to BAFTA-Winning Success 03:22 Jamaica Made Me: Growing Up in the Caribbean 09:36 Caribbean Values vs Western Capitalism 15:36 The First Spark: Falling Into Filmmaking 20:41 Saying Yes When You Have No Idea What You're Doing 24:21 Learning Through Mistakes: The Edit Suite Education 29:06 Moving to England: Film School and Code-Switching 30:56 Architecture as a Philosophy of Design 41:39 What Film School Doesn't Teach You 47:34 The Cost of the Dream: Two Years and £10,000 52:13 Delusion Backed by Strategy 58:41 The Artist's Responsibility to Speak Truth 1:00:13 Fail Fast and Publish the Work 1:03:14 What's Next: Season 3 and Beyond

    Adjani Salmon: “I Was £10,000 Down and Thought We’d Messed Up” — How Dreaming Whilst Black Became a

  3. Sep 29

    Steve Carr: “Eddie Murphy Said, ‘I Would Never Do That.’” Directing Hollywood’s Biggest Comedies

    Steve Carr has directed some of the most recognisable comedies of the last 25 years — working with Eddie Murphy, Ice Cube, Kevin James and some of the biggest names in entertainment. But his route into Hollywood was anything but conventional. In this episode of Strip The Script, Steve sits down with Jazz Lintott to unpack how he went from designing album artwork and directing music videos to being handed Next Friday — despite never having seen Friday. Steve tells the story of stepping onto an $80 million movie with Eddie Murphy and immediately having his directing instincts challenged, what Ice Cube taught him about comedy, and why filmmaking leaves very little time for self-doubt. They also discuss the Public Enemy artwork that began on a diner napkin, what Steve looks for when auditioning actors, why one performer can stand out among a thousand, and the mentality behind a career spanning music, film and television. In this episode: • Breaking into filmmaking without waiting for permission • Directing Next Friday without seeing Friday • Working with Ice Cube • Being challenged by Eddie Murphy on Daddy Day Care • What directors actually look for in auditions • Why “you have to make your day” • Public Enemy and Steve's beginnings in music and design • Learning by doing rather than waiting until you feel ready Strip The Script is a series of unfiltered conversations with actors, filmmakers and creators about the craft, psychology and reality behind creative careers. Hosted by Jazz Lintott. Presented by BetterHelp. Get 10% off at BetterHelp dot com slash actorflow10. Subscribe to Strip The Script for new conversations every week. 00:00 Introduction: No Time to Doubt Yourself 01:48 From Def Jam to Hollywood: Was It Intentional? 05:03 The Art Students League and Early Beginnings 05:49 Free Lunch at Def Jam: Starting The Drawing Board 09:12 Bringing Authenticity to Hip-Hop Album Design 11:56 Managing DMX and Learning to Deal with Talent 13:38 Public Enemy, Fear of a Black Planet, and Six-Hour Waits 16:34 The Slick Rick Opportunity: First Music Video 17:33 Yelling Action and Cut Indiscriminately 21:19 Music Videos: Telling Stories, Not Just Performance 22:26 Moving to LA and Joining Propaganda 24:20 Brett Ratner and the Next Friday Opportunity 25:04 Pitching Ice Cube While Burping Diet Coke 26:01 Now What Do I Do? Landing Your First Film 30:10 Making Your Day: No Time for Doubt on Set 37:43 Eddie Murphy Said 'I Would Never Do That' 39:42 Russell Simmons: Put Your Dick on the Table 42:55 From Culture to Commerce: The Studio System 50:28 Learning Leadership from Ice Cube 54:33 The Rocket Ship Scene and Standing Your Ground 57:35 Casting: What Directors Really Look For 58:32 Self-Tapes vs. The Room: A Director's Perspective 1:01:09 Jacob Vargas: The Only One Who Got the Comedy 1:03:42 What's Next: The Naughty Listers and Breaking Up Mom and Dad 1:05:03 Advice for Filmmakers: Just Do It 1:07:05 Write to the Scale You Can Produce

    Steve Carr: “Eddie Murphy Said, ‘I Would Never Do That.’” Directing Hollywood’s Biggest Comedies

  4. Sep 22

    “I Made More Money on Reprisal Than Aladdin” — What Hollywood Success Really Looks Like

    Mena Massoud became known around the world as the star of Disney’s Aladdin — but the reality of what came next was very different from what most people imagined. In this episode of Strip The Script, Mena sits down with Jazz Lintott for an honest conversation about what Hollywood success actually looks like: from secretly applying to drama school and waiting tables, to landing Aladdin, navigating the expectations that followed, and learning why one breakthrough doesn’t guarantee a career. Mena also opens up about money, entrepreneurship and why actors need to think beyond the next role. He shares how his relationship with money changed, why he believes creatives should think like entrepreneurs, and what he has learned about building something sustainable in an unpredictable industry. They also discuss rejection, identity, ambition, resilience, the years before the breakthrough, and what it takes to keep moving when the career you imagined doesn’t unfold the way you expected. In this conversation: • The road to Aladdin • What happened after a billion-dollar movie • Why Mena made more money on Reprisal than Aladdin • Why actors should think like entrepreneurs • Money and financial discipline as a creative • Building a career beyond acting • Rejection, expectation and resilience • Finding your way back to the mindset you had before success Strip The Script — LIVE UNSCRIPTED. New conversations every week with actors, filmmakers and creators about the craft, psychology and life behind the work. Subscribe and follow Strip The Script for more. Sponsored by BetterHelp. BetterHelp: betterhelp.com/actorflow10 ActorFlow: myactorflow.com/signup?ref=STS15 CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction: From Cairo to Hollywood 04:33 Growing Up Egyptian in Canada 09:33 Choosing Drama School Over Medicine 16:12 Waiting Tables and Building the Dream 21:16 Moving to LA: Mindset & Manifestation 23:24 Booking Jack Ryan and the Aladdin Audition 30:17 The Aladdin Pressure: All In or Nothing 32:40 When Success Doesn't Feel Like Success 34:00 What Aladdin Really Cost Him 40:05 Post-Aladdin Blues and Finding the Way Back 48:16 Think Like an Entrepreneur: Building Beyond Acting 52:46 The Self-Tape Era and Industry Competition 1:00:06 Playing Daniel: Faith, Preparation & Collaboration 1:06:27 Advice for Actors: Money, Perseverance & the Long Game 1:09:37 Savoring Every Moment on Set

    “I Made More Money on Reprisal Than Aladdin” — What Hollywood Success Really Looks Like

  5. Sep 15

    Katherine McNamara: From Broadway at 14 to Shadowhunters — What Success Really Takes

    Katherine McNamara has spent most of her life performing — from Broadway at just 14 to becoming Clary Fray in Shadowhunters, Mia Smoak in Arrow, and building a career across film, television and theatre. In this episode of Strip The Script, Katherine sits down with actor and producer Jazz Lintott for an honest conversation about what it really takes to build a lasting career in an industry where talent alone is never enough. Katherine shares the Broadway audition that changed her life, the story behind #WhoIsClary, what happened when she landed Shadowhunters, and why she believes an actor's job isn't simply to book the role. They also explore rejection, resilience, preparation, relationships, the pressure that comes with success, and the mindset that has kept Katherine moving forward since she was a teenager. Strip The Script goes beyond the credits and success stories to uncover the decisions, setbacks and turning points that shape creative careers. LIVE UNSCRIPTED. Hosted by Jazz Lintott. Subscribe/follow Strip The Script for new conversations with actors, filmmakers and creatives every week.

    Katherine McNamara: From Broadway at 14 to Shadowhunters — What Success Really Takes
  • 5 Episodes

About

What does it really take to build a life in the creative industries? Strip The Script goes beyond the credits, premieres and polished success stories to uncover the real experiences behind extraordinary creative careers. Hosted by award-winning actor and producer Jazz Lintott, each episode sits down with leading actors, filmmakers and creators for an honest conversation about the moments that shaped them — the breakthroughs and rejections, the risks, relationships, sacrifices, mistakes and mindset that rarely make it into the traditional interview. From navigating rejection and self-doubt to handling success when it finally arrives, Strip The Script explores not only what our guests achieved, but who they had to become along the way. Season One features conversations with Katherine McNamara, Mena Massoud, Steve Carr, Adjani Salmon, William Stanford Davis and Jimmy Akingbola — six very different careers, with lessons that reach far beyond the entertainment industry. No formula. No perfect path. No script. LIVE UNSCRIPTED.

Information

  • Creator
    Jazz Lintott
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Explicit

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