Kevin Costner (@modernwest) is an internationally renowned filmmaker. He is considered one of the most critically acclaimed and visionary storytellers of his generation. Costner has produced, directed, and/or starred in memorable films such as Dances with Wolves, JFK, The Bodyguard, Field of Dreams, Tin Cup, Bull Durham, Open Range, Hatfields & McCoys, and Black or White, among many others. He has been honored with two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and an Emmy Award.
This episode also features Jon Baird, the author and illustrator of the novels Day Job and Songs from Nowhere Near the Heart. He is the co-developer, along with Costner, of the Horizon miniseries.
Their first book collaboration is a beautiful tome — The Explorers Guild: A Passage to Shambhala. Kirkus described it: “With its colorful cast, exotic locales, and intertwined fates, the book slowly addicts. A rousing throwback whose spinning plates never stop, even at the end.”
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Did you enjoy this podcast? — If so, don’t miss my conversation with Arnold Schwarzenegger. In this episode, we discuss psychological warfare and much more. (stream below or right-click here to download):
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QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What was your favorite Kevin Costner movie and why? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Enjoy!
Selected Links from the Episode
- The Explorers Guild: Volume One: A Passage to Shambhala
- Watch Neil Gaiman’s commencement speech, Make Good Art
- Connect with the Explorer’s Guild:
Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
- Learn more about Agitainment and Rick Ross:
Website | Instagram | Facebook
- Learn more about Kevin Costner’s project to build a monument in order to tell The Story of the Bison
Show Notes
- The origins of Kevin Costner [6:01]
- On being raised in a conservative Baptist family [8:08]
- Work ethic and lessons learned from his father [16:46]
- The near-death experience during Costner’s first audition [23:56]
- The story behind being cast for The Big Chill [33:26]
- Kevin Costner’s self-talk for the the seemingly impractical goal of being an actor [36:01]
- Advice for his younger self [40:06]
- On his scariest scenes [40:56]
- Explaining the ‘let us suppose’ scenes in JFK and working with Oliver Stone [45:46]
- How Kevin Costner deals with burnout [48:46]
- On managing the challenging aspects of fame [56:31]
- The story behind Dances with Wolves, working with Michael Blake [57:46]
- Mistakes made as a young director [1:06:25]
- Why write The Explorers Guild? [1:11:00]
- Jon Baird and the origin of The Explorers Guild [1:12:00]
- The aesthetic thinking behind The Explorers Guild [1:19:10]
- The process of working together to create The Explorers Guild [1:21:30]
- Describing the ideal reader for the book [1:26:30]
- What type of writers have most influenced Jon Baird’s storytelling [1:29:50]
- When Kevin Costner thinks of the word “successful,” who is the first person who comes to mind and why? [1:40:50]
- Kevin Costner’s favorite documentary [1:42:40]
- Overcoming bad habits and equestrian stunt work [1:44:05]
- Important historical figures for Kevin Costner [1:47:50]
- Telling the story of Tatanka [1:48:50]
- If you could have one billboard anywhere, where would it be and what would it say? [1:50:45]
- Advice to his 30-year-old self [1:51:20]
- Kevin Costner’s ask of the audience [1:52:15]