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Actress Brandy Burkhart shares her journey from pageantry to acting, discussing how playing various characters ultimately led her to discover her authentic self. She reflects on her education at NYU's Strasberg program, her television roles including Heart of Dixie, and exciting projects like her upcoming music EP.

• Started as a shy child who entered pageants to fulfill her princess dreams
• Studied method acting at NYU's Tisch School where she had to overcome her polite upbringing
• Played Cricket on Heart of Dixie, filming on Warner Brothers' famous backlot
• Performed motion capture for Red Dead Redemption as a "zombie prostitute"
• Flew as Mary Poppins for Julie Andrews' lifetime achievement ceremony
• Stars alongside Paul Rudd in the upcoming buddy comedy "Friendship" (releasing May 9th)
• Features in "Rosemary Street," a web series highlighting Baltimore's art and music scene
• Releasing her EP "Just Like This" with the first single dropping June 1st

Check out Brandy's new EP "Just Like This" on all streaming platforms starting this summer!

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Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight? Tim Burton's 1989 Batman transformed not just how we see the Dark Knight, but how Hollywood approaches superhero films entirely.

When Michael Keaton was announced as Batman, fans were outraged. A petition with 50,000 signatures protested the decision. Even Batman creator Bob Kane expressed doubt. Fast forward to today, and many consider Keaton the definitive live-action Batman, perfectly balancing Bruce Wayne's sophistication with Batman's brooding intensity.

Jack Nicholson's Joker performance remains legendary. After negotiating a percentage of box office and merchandise sales (earning him between $50-90 million), Nicholson delivered a villain for the ages - theatrical, unpredictable, and genuinely menacing. His iconic line about dancing with the devil still sends chills down spines decades later.

What makes this film special is how it broke from convention. Rather than beginning with Batman's origin story, Burton introduces him as an established vigilante, gradually revealing his past through carefully placed flashbacks. The film's gothic visual style, Danny Elfman's unforgettable score, and practical effects created a Gotham City that feels tangible and timeless.

Batman grossed $411 million worldwide, holding the record for highest-grossing superhero film until 2002's Spider-Man. More importantly, it proved comic book adaptations could be serious artistic and commercial ventures, paving the way for everything from Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy to today's superhero renaissance.

What's your favorite Batman film? Does Keaton still hold the crown as the best Batman, or has another actor claimed the cowl? Share your thoughts and join the conversation!

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From accidentally stealing the spotlight on David Letterman's show as a teenager to voicing beloved animated characters for two decades, James Urbaniak's acting journey reads like a masterclass in versatility and perseverance.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Urbaniak reveals the unexpected path that took him from New Jersey community theater to New York's experimental off-off-Broadway scene in the late 1980s. With remarkable candor, he shares how challenging theatrical experiences—like performing a 75-minute solo monologue in "Tom Paine"—helped develop his craft before independent filmmaker Hal Hartley introduced him to the different demands of screen acting.

Fans of Adult Swim's cult classic "The Venture Bros." will delight in Urbaniak's behind-the-scenes stories from his 20-year tenure voicing Dr. Rusty Venture and other characters. He recounts the surreal experience of having a makeup artist on the set of an HBO film tell him she was more excited to meet the voice of Dr. Venture than Al Pacino himself—a testament to the profound connection voice actors can forge with audiences.

Urbaniak's philosophy of acting—describing himself as "a skeptic who likes to be surprised"—offers valuable insight into navigating the entertainment industry's inherent uncertainty. Whether discussing his brief but memorable appearance in Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer," his experience playing Robert Crumb in "American Splendor," or his current work on Apple TV+'s "Palm Royale," Urbaniak demonstrates why character actors are often the secret ingredient that elevates productions across all media.

For aspiring actors, film buffs, animation fans, or anyone fascinated by the creative process, this conversation provides a rare glimpse into the life of a working actor who has successfully built a diverse career by embracing opportunities across multiple entertainment platforms.

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