Theatre Play Tackles Reality TV Impact on Society w/ Laura Shipler Chico & Andy McLeod

In this episode, Nick chats with Laura Shipler-Chico and Andy McLeod, the creative minds behind Gooper Dust Productions and their upcoming play, Reality Bites.

The conversation explores their motivations behind founding their theater production company, and the themes of their play ‘Reality Bites.”

“Reality Bites” critiques the impact of reality TV on individuals and society. They discuss the complexities of character development, the importance of tone in storytelling, and the audience's role in the consumption of media.

The episode emphasizes the need for empathy and understanding in the portrayal of real people on screen, as well as the challenges of maintaining authenticity in a curated world.

I hope this conversation enlightens you on the importance of arts as cultural commentary and helps you show up in the world with your eyes wide open.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Gooper Dust Productions

02:44 Childhood Dreams and Career Paths

05:17 The Leap into Acting and Producing

08:21 The Vision Behind Reality Bites

11:17 The Impact of Reality TV on Lives

14:18 Exploring Themes of Consumption and Identity

17:24 Character Perspectives in Reality Bites

20:21 Directorial Approach to Monologues

23:37 The Role of Social Media in Reality TV

26:26 Concluding Thoughts on Reality and Performance

36:12 Character Exploration and Direction

37:25 Patty's Motivations for Joining Reality TV

39:10 The Complexity of Patty's Character

40:29 Tone and Humor in Storytelling

45:25 Reality TV and Identity Crisis

49:23 Post-Show Life and Advocacy

50:25 Authenticity vs. Narrative in Reality TV

55:30 Viewer Complicity in Reality TV

59:17 Final Thoughts on Humanity and Reality TV

Find Laura Shipler-Chico & Andy McLeod here:

Laura Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terranewell

Andy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andymcleod09/

Gooper Dust Instagram: https://www.gooperdust.com/

Indie GoGo: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/off-in-a-cloud-of-gooper-dust#/

Website: https://www.gooperdust.com/

Find Nick Thompson here:

Nick Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/

UCAN Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_ucan_foundation/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EyesWideOpenContent

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickthompson13/

UCAN Foundation: https://theucanfoundation.org/

Website: https://www.engagewithnick.com/