Funny Man MARK BELTZMAN

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COMEDIAN, ACTOR Jason Schwartz relaxes with Actor & Maui Improv co-founder MARK BELTZMAN — You’ve seen him in dozens and dozens of movies and TV since the 1980’s, Second City TV vet shares his personal side and also some life & acting tips! 12-16-2019

Summary & Transcript

1. 1. 1.     Summary of the Video Transcript with Timestamped Sections

• [00:00 → 02:12] Introduction and Context of the Show
  The host, Jason Schwartz, opens the show from Maui Neutral Zone, introducing the atmosphere and purpose behind the eclectic mix of guests featured on the program. He explains that although the guests range widely—from politics to music and homelessness—all are united by a common theme: the island of Maui and its potential as a model for self-sustainability and community collaboration. Jason hints at a broad vision where diversity and cooperation on Maui could serve as an example for the world. He also briefly mentions a planned interview with Jeff Hisle about his experiences with Osho Bhagwan Rajneesh and references the Netflix series Wild Wild Country for context.
• [02:12 → 05:54] Introduction of Mark Beltzman and His Background
  Jason introduces Mark Beltzman, an accomplished actor, comedian, and improviser, noting his extensive filmography found on IMDb, including recognizable titles and some lesser-known works. Mark is described as a “yes man” with a broad creative repertoire, including acting, music, and improv. The conversation turns to Mark’s roots in Second City, the legendary Chicago-based improvisational theater group, which celebrated its 60th anniversary on the day of the interview. Mark shares that he was with Second City from 1985 to 1991, highlighting it as a formative, continuous workshop experience that teaches important life and performance lessons. Jason connects the history of Second City to Saturday Night Live, emphasizing its significant influence on American comedy.
• [05:54 → 13:09] Mark’s Work with Maui Improv and Philosophy of Improv
  Mark explains his role as co-founder of Maui Improv, which has been active for seven years, and shares details about the local improv scene, including drop-in improv sessions held weekly in Kihei and Paia. He discusses how improv teaches core life skills such as being present, listening, supporting your partner, and replacing overthinking with responsiveness. Mark calls improv a “greatest drug,” describing how it brings joy and transformation to participants, often changing their outlook in just a few hours. He emphasizes that these skills improve personal relationships and professional interactions, making people better parents, coworkers, and community members. The camaraderie and supportive nature of the Maui improv community is featured as a key highlight.
• [13:09 → 23:10] Personal Life, Professional Balance, and Law of Attraction
  Mark shares that he has been married for 37 years and recently relocated permanently to Maui, appreciating the stability and community there. He discusses the possibility of continuing acting work remotely while nurturing the local arts scene. The conversation shifts toward the Law of Attraction, a philosophy Mark embraces, influenced by Abraham-Hicks teachings. He explains the principles of asking the universe for what you want, practicing the art of allowing, and maintaining a positive mindset to manifest goals. Mark likens this practice to exercising a muscle that requires consistent effort and patience. The discussion reflects his holistic approach to life, career, and creativity, blending practical advice with spiritual philosophy.
• [25:50 → 28:42] Community Announcements and Sponsorships
  There is a break featuring community announcements, including conservation efforts to protect Maui’s coral reefs by encouraging reef-safe sunscreens, programming on KAKU 88.5 FM such as the Grateful Dead radio show, and wildfire prevention messages from Smokey Bear. These interludes emphasize the station’s role in supporting local culture, environmental awareness, and community engagement.
• [28:42 → 34:58] Mark’s Career Overview and Acting Philosophy
  Back on air, Jason and Mark discuss his extensive acting career spanning over 40 years, including film, television, theater, musicals, and voiceover work. Mark shares how he started modeling and acting through serendipitous connections in Detroit, ultimately gravitating toward comedy as a natural outlet growing up in a Jewish family where humor was a defense mechanism and a form of connection. He talks about the joy and passion that keep him engaged with performance, describing acting and improv as creative energy outlets that feed his soul. Mark also reflects on being recognized occasionally but enjoying the anonymity that allows him to live a balanced life.
• [34:58 → 43:37] Improv as a Life Skill and Community Builder
  Mark elaborates on improv’s transformative power, describing how it fosters presence, authenticity, and connection. He highlights two key tenants he teaches:

1. Growth happens outside your comfort zone, and improv deliberately pushes participants into that space.
2. Focus on what works—cultivate what makes you smile rather than constantly trying to fix what’s broken.
   He emphasizes the value of these principles in everyday life and relationships. The discussion also touches on the benefits of men’s groups like the Mankind Project, which provide emotional outlets and accountability for men, contrasting these with the challenges posed by internet anonymity and virtual communication, which can foster bullying and disconnection.

• [43:37 → 50:11] Reflections on Media, Storytelling, and the Future of Entertainment
  Jason and Mark converse about the evolution of media and storytelling, noting how technology has transformed communication and recording, sometimes with unintended consequences. They reflect on how most stories told in film and TV boil down to a limited number of core plots, leading to frequent remakes and reboots. Mark shares that creativity involves reimagining old ideas in new ways, akin to the phrase “old wine in new bottles.” They discuss the importance of supporting local arts communities, with Mark expressing enthusiasm for promoting and merging Maui’s acting and improv scenes to strengthen the cultural fabric of the island.
• [50:11 → 55:33] Future Projects, Community Engagement, and Contact Information
  Mark talks about upcoming projects, including a potential film shoot in early next year and hopes to work on popular local productions like Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I. He expresses excitement about deepening his roots in Maui’s creative community and continuing to teach improv. Jason affirms how valuable Mark’s presence is to the island’s arts scene. Mark shares his social media handles and invites people to join Maui Improv drop-in sessions, emphasizing the accessibility and fun of improv as a lifelong practice. The segment closes with encouragement for the audience to engage with local theater and improv offerings.
• [55:33 → End] Closing Remarks
  The host and guest thank each other and the audience, reinforcing the spirit of collaboration and community that the show embodies. The episode ends with warm aloha and music.

1. 1. 1. Key Insights and Themes

• Community and Collaboration: The show centers on how diverse individuals and disciplines—from politics to comedy—converge on Maui to create a resilient, self-sustaining community that can serve as a global model.
• Improv as a Life Practice: Improv is not just performance but a tool for personal growth, better relationships, and presence in everyday life. Mark’s teaching emphasizes support, being in the moment, and focusing on positive growth.
• Career Longevity and Balance: Mark Beltzman exemplifies a successful, balanced career as a working actor and comedian who enjoys anonymity, creative freedom, and a fulfilling personal life.
• Philosophy of Creation and Attraction: The Law of Attraction and the art of allowing are integral to Mark’s approach to life and career, highlighting the importance of mindset and consistent effort.
• Local Arts Growth: There is a strong focus on nurturing Maui’s improv and theater communities, building bridges between different performance groups, and encouraging local talent to flourish.
• Reflections on Media and Storytelling: The discussion recognizes the cyclical nature of storytelling in media, the impact of technology on culture, and the ongoing need for creativity and reinvention.

1. 1. 1. Summary Conclusion

This engaging interview with Mark Beltzman offers a rich tapestry of insights into the life of a veteran actor and improviser dedicated to community building and personal growth. Through stories of his career, philosophy, and local involvement, viewers gain a deeper appreciation of improv as a transformative art form and the vibrant creative culture flourishing on Maui. The conversation balances humor, wisdom, and practical advice, inviting audiences to embrace presence, collaboration, and joy both on and off the stage.

1. 1. 2. Transcript

00:00

good morning everyone it’s 11 o’clock on Monday I am here this is the Maui neutral zone I’m with Mark beltzman [Music] [Music] [Music] no any man soul [Music] that is moment of doubt a nebula watch this hand [Music] nature of and sympathy for the devil that is a very funny possible combination but the truth is that pretty well the kind of sums up people don’t know what I’m doing why am I having all these funny different guests of all kinds how do they all relate it’s like jump into my

01:30

brain and come on out and see what’s in the box of Cracker Jacks and that’s not true because I’ve got guests that span from politics and homelessness and movies and God knows everything in music and art and all kinds of issues but when we put it all together it spells one thing our island of Maui and together we can be an example to the world about all kinds of people working together and making it a better world locally and then we’ll clone it and put it out in the world our self sustainability models

02:12

what I’ve been talking about for a lot of years today I was supposed to have a Jeff Hisle I met Jeff Hisle gosh knows almost 30 years if not 30 years ago on Maui he and his wife m’dear were doing a stand-up comedy thing and an act at casanova’s is it still kissing overs it’s yes he’ll cast a notice 30 years later and Jeff just came back from a trip and we were gonna talk about his time and we will one of these weeks very soon with Osho Bhagwan Rajneesh in India and also in Oregon there was something

02:51

that you should watch on it’s on Netflix I think wild wild country that talks about it’s about six part deal to give you an overview so you can better appreciate that show there are many people from that community here on Maui some you know like nikhil ananda but other ones you don’t know you know a guy named er of cats you know the Larry Feinberg once said you know scratch a Hindu scratch a Buddhist find the Jew they’re all over but they’re called jew booze i am here with a face we all know and love

03:28

a name that we all are beginning to realize that’s mark beltzman he as much of a part of our American history if you’ve watched film I mean when I looked through his little many of you know what I am DB is that’s a an online movie thing Internet Movie Database so when you put mark beltzman in and you check out his filmography your look in the first news thing Billy Madison wasn’t in there an Adam Sandler movie then you see another one pat and asking you can tell he’s a pan off Sookie’s complaint and

04:06

nafs Keys complaint how come I haven’t seen that one and I’m sailor wasn’t in it maybe they didn’t get the distribution maybe it was on a thing when do you have a place where we can find all your stuff mark called the internet yeah pretty much yeah you can download or stream any of that stuff well mark beltzman is yes man that uh and i’m happy to be here thank you Jason yeah I guess I’m I want you to jump in all the time because uh-huh I am this turned on by having someone of your

04:40

tremendous talent and so thank you you know if I read your history and I’m not reading because I can’t see terribly well you made but it’s because glasses are dirty at second city some people are younger today is second city sixtieth birthday believe it or not yes today is the day happy birthday second city does people know what second city is anyone ever heard of Saturday Night Live you have but before there was a Saturday Night Live there was a second city still is yeah and that was where Chicago yes it was a

05:13

birthplace in Chicago it was originally the compass players from the University of Chicago and they became the second city when a author named AJ Liebling from New Yorker magazine wrote an article about Chicago calling it the Second City to New York and that’s where they took her name with 1959 so today is a 60th birthday Wow and a little history lesson that’s a great history lesson yes indeed well I know that if they started in 1960 you started in 1960 in a different way 1959 ii said he started I just turned 59 so

05:54

there you go I remember a year when I remember I was like hey I can be 59 but I was born in and but I saw numbers Jason I just know that when I think of comedy mm-hmm when I saw you first time I saw a mark that I was in person I was sitting at the Maui improv little that I know that in ki a they have a little Theatre in as ekiz Plaza yeah oh it’s what we use the pro arts theater in the exec of shopping center yeah the pro lights didn’t years ago we remember and it was a disco but that was for us older yeah it was pro

06:35

our theater but now has become a great haven for a wonderful town amazing talent here in my way for sure but now you started did you not you were a co-founder of that I was co-founder of Maui improv seven years ago actually February I’ll be seven years and been coming back and forth ever since yeah so second city many years ago yes I were like second city from 85 to 91 now that was probably a fun experience is like I think hm-hmm a constant workshop yeah it is well it’s life lessons it’s the same

07:13

thing we still do and continue to do when improv and it’s all stuff that you should be doing in life anyways make your partner look good you look twice as good be in the moment replace thinking with listening just the tenants of everyday human behavior that we all should practice but when you film it and or your audience watches it you become a production so yes you’ve been in oh I’m sure you I don’t think you probably counted but you’ve been in many many motion pictures you can do a lot of

07:46

stuff on stage as well yeah yeah a lot of movies television theater musicals improv plays I’ve done it all and I love doing it continue to do it it’s a creative source energy we’re all creative source energy and I love dabbling and all my creative endeavors whether it’s music I play the tuba or act or improvise or perform in movies and television I just love spreading myself to them too thin always always now you when I first heard your name was – tuba guy – bizarre yes remember I have

08:27

a show called – bizarre where I invite other artists come play their music they just have to write me a tuba part to play along with them we’re gonna get that going here in Maui pretty soon do you do you you get them to write parts for you right yeah you just sort of improv right yeah yeah no I love that I love to read music I can read you know chord charts or actual note charts or we can just figure out what to play along together but yeah it’s really fun show and I get some in LA I get amazing

08:56

people to come play and I’m sure here on Maui there’s a lot of talent waiting to be tapped so I’m looking forward to that well we’ll have you back here if you wanted yeah for sure absolutely would love that actually I was thinking about that I wondered you know sometimes I’m just I’m just adding my own two cents you can tell me if it’s true well three cents but go ahead three cents cut up sometimes when you’re someone’s into comedy and you see them in comedy when

09:25

you see them off camera off they’re very quiet and they’re very different kind of a person they explode in front of the camera it’s like I remember doing an interview with lono years ago I want to music guys you know and I was in a very crazy med bed but when they hit that red button it was like out of a switch yeah sure do you find that to define most comedians are quiet off-camera I think everybody’s different you know it depends some people are very shy in real life and very expressive and

10:04

outgoing when they’re on stage and some people it’s in the reverse and some people are you know afraid of improv but our brilliant actors so you know everybody’s got their little quirks and their strengths and weaknesses but I think people like you know I mean um is it Maya Angelou said when somebody shows you who they are believe them so on stage or off we’re all who we say we are well you know you say that so matter-of-factly yeah but I know most people aren’t they to be able to come

10:41

out with a statement like that and you know as comfortable and calm and delivered takes a lot to give a simple answer you know yeah you wonder what goes behind an answer for someone to say that to me you know shows me great depth mmm because I you know I’ve been around all kinds of people in the entertainment industry and they all unique they’re very very unique but sure I have found some of the people that I have spoken to off-camera they have that the the wheels are grinding that you don’t see on the

11:24

camera some people are really good I really enjoy that when I when I first saw you in improv but your face because I know that I knew I saw you in many things mm-hmm can’t help if you go to movies you’re gonna see mark beltzman and attempt to look up his name BLTs e ma and mark got up on IMDB and then start going to these movies Mo Money yeah lands mm-hmm you have a great career I been very fortunate make my living as an actor in movies and television for over 40 years and nobody knows who I am unless I tell

12:04

them so it’s a it’s great you know I get the best of both worlds that’s really that’s true isn’t it mmm that you you’ve had all the experience and the great experience but you don’t have to fight them off at the supermarket because it’s right it’s a double-edged sword I mean with more Fame comes more money but I’m perfectly happy doing what I’m doing where I’m a doing it yeah the whole key to life is to enjoy where you’re at while you’re there I think that’s an

12:36

important lesson for all of us we’re all trying to get somewhere else or we’re all living in the past or in the future trying to figure out what the next move is and the key is you know round dots be here now joy the moment I was just gonna say you know we deliver the same message that’s your improv thing yeah it is absolutely and you said it earlier you said it so it’s you know like it comes right off mm-hmm if you make your partner look good you look doubly good yeah set them up that’s right you want

13:09

to take care of your partner first and like any good relationship that’s the way it works you know I’ve been married for 37 years and it’s beautiful yeah it’s been a great road and she’s a great lady and we just recently relocated here to Maui permanently and I’m really enjoy him not having to leave I buy you a dancing back and forth yeah yeah is just kind of turning a new leaf a new chapter here and I figure if I can wait by the phone and work a few times a year I can do it from here and there’s a

13:50

lot of work for me here and Maui and profs going really strong really excited about the future of Maui improv and if you’re ever interested in coming to check it out we have a show at pro arts theatre that Jason was talking about which is in two weeks on the 29th Sunday the 29th of December 2019 yes 7:00 p.m. so or 6:30 I think we’re going to do an improv exam so come out to that come check it out which really is a good time and we also have drop-in sources drop-in every Sunday night at

14:26

the synagogue in Kihei and there’s another drop in on Wednesdays at Heritage Hall and paia they both start at 6:30 and you just show up and pay 15 bucks and you can try improv out for yourself what great fun yeah it really is a good time do you have people that get dragged there are kicking and screaming or you mostly have volunteers that know once again there’s a little bit of both I mean mostly it’s people coming of their own accord but a lot of people especially newbies and for us

14:55

people have never done improv are very very trepidatious at first and they show up and kind of want to sit in the back and not participate and then we get them involved in you know three hours later they’re leaving with a huge smile on their face and enjoying every second of it and then they keep coming back it’s it’s addictive I think for me improv is the greatest drug in the world you know I mean III admit I like to have an occasional puff I like to have a drink every once in a while but nothing gets

15:28

me higher than performing and doing improv and being in a room and watching people transform in just a couple hours through having fun that’s what it’s all about isn’t that wonderful yeah it’s magical and becomes like a family yes it’s great community for sure every you’re on a project I’m sure it feels like that but people get you get into improv you really like you said about the support ya really get to experience just how powerful those simple simple rules are yeah it’s uh it’s it’s magical

16:04

experience and like I said it’s just life lessons it’s stuff that you should be doing it makes you a better parent and makes you a better coworker it makes you a better lawyer a better doctor it’s just really you helps you evolve as a human being no matter what you do or who you’re in relationship with it’s a powerful tool Maui improv I mean I can’t tell you how many times it’s been seven years where Arielle says it’s Sunday night want to go I’ve never said no I have been four

16:37

years yeah you know check it out if you haven’t been to Maui improv on Sunday night 6:30 so then at 6:30 yeah on occasional I don’t know how you schedule them the 29th of this month yeah well there’s droppings every Sunday at at that temple the synagogue and key hey you can’t there’s only one synagogue it’s Beth Shalom but except for the last Sunday of every month there’s a show so we don’t do the drop-in but we do a perform at pro arts theater which is in the exec of shopping center right next

17:11

to Taco Bell with many of the people that might well be in your classes yes absolutely everybody gets a chance to come get up on stage and show us what they learned yeah that’s great no I know when I looked up there I see all these people I know you know yeah guys so Helen crits ler up there and Haiku Helen she’s great I love Helen she’s been a trouper and one of the first people that showed up on day one and has been there ever since like you said it’s it’s a really solid community of people and it’s all local

17:44

people and it’s just a great way to connect to the community through other means besides you know whatever you do for a living or it’s just a great social gathering and being in it is very fun I mean watching it is fun mmm but being in it is really we gotta get you down there Jason’s gonna come jump bush or jump in one of the drop-ins and check it out I remember years ago the Maui Arts and Cultural Center was still a gleam in our eye and I am I’m not an old story I’ve only been here thirty years but I

18:20

remember the fabulous Marcia Kelly I mentioned there to who she was the coordinator of events there at the Mac but before that she was the quintessential comedian and improv gal with Sally Daniels you bet if they knew you were here we’ll get them out of that yeah out of the closet let’s merge the community I wanna you know I want to my one of my goals here is to cross-pollinate the acting community in the improv community and that way will triple our community and support each other the best we can there’s some cry

19:02

you know we just need to bridge the gap because people don’t quite understand that the key element and Tenant of improvisation is acting so even if you don’t want to be an actor you can still do improv and also it really supports the idea of acting I’ve been doing movies and television for you know like I said 40 years and nothing supports me better as an actor in front of the camera than having these improv skills and a foundation to stand on it’s really powerful stuff do you find yourself

19:37

jumping into every role with enthusiasm oh when you have a role sure you know I even Curb Your Enthusiasm I saw that little piece with Larry David yeah what do you do there I was in the pilot for that show but yeah this you’re enthusiastic because you’re doing something you love how fortunate are we to be able to do for a living something that we love doing so it really never feels like work so yeah you’re you’re really in through see a stick about it I mean it’s just an exciting place to be and like I said

20:16

it’s just my passion in life to be able to perform the whether it’s music or comedy or improv or acting in movies and television do you find you ever do voiceover Kyle oh sure yeah I’ve done voiceover so a lot of commercial voiceovers and stuff like that cartoons is that something you can do from here I guess you could do oh sure yeah absolutely you know you can do any of that kind of stuff people have said I had one guy said to me you should be reading books I listened to you reading

20:46

books yeah they ensure you have a great voice maybe I get to read some books that way yeah just put together a real and you know get yourself an H and get yourself out there you’re missing the boat if you don’t get out there all right pursue it well maybe I’ll ask you off-camera where to find an agent how to go about that you know in this it used to be things were a to be now at the Internet I am not really sure what’s going on yeah see such huge seas of numbers people is it who you know

21:21

business or uh you know if they find them on the years ago they talked about Schwab’s drugstore remember the old thing them at the at the counter at on Sunset Strip at yes that’s right and now it’s like okay we’ll find you at at voiceover comm well see what category do you want to be well we need someone to speak Western let’s see here do you want a far western or a close western we have two thousand voices here so I’m sure there’s got to be a different way well you know you you want to narrow it down

21:59

to put yourself in the highest percentage opportunity to get a job for sure I mean when I think about reading books for a living they want me or they want mark beltzman someone goes oh I know that guy’s voice well I’m a big believer in law of attraction you know I don’t know if any of your listeners have heard of Abraham Hicks but it’s a very popular here and if they Hal over I haven’t been listening good right Abraham is a Esther and Jerry Hicks right that’s right yeah and there’s a great book called ask and

22:35

it is given which is like my Bible and it’s just essentially as you are creative Source Energy and you get to create everything in your life whether you want it or not so I’m a firm believer in being creative Source Energy and you get to create it so if you want a job reading a book in a western voice then you create that opportunity get in action start looking at the internet find an agent and pursue that path and you will achieve that goal but you have to put it out to the universe first is what Abraham talks

23:10

about is step one step two is none of your business which means you’re practicing the art of allowing and allowing the universe to deliver whatever it is you’re asking for and then step three is be in a place of allowing which means that you’re in a happy place that you’re centered and you’re willing to accept what it is the universe is offering because very often what happens if we ask for like more money for instance is the one thing we all want more of and you put that out to

23:41

the universe that’s great then get out of your own way and then you go to the store you’re on the internet and you say I can’t afford that well that’s the message that you’re putting out there that’s clearer than the message that of you wanting is that you don’t have so that makes you unhappy which puts you in a position of not allowing that the universe is going to deliver that to you so that’s kind of basically a Cliff Notes version of what Law of Attraction is and how you put

24:09

that message out there get out of your way and then practice the art of allowing but just being in a very happy state and doing whatever makes you smile did that take work to get there just relaxing into it over your oh it takes years and decades of practicing it’s like going to the gym right Jason you it’s a muscle but you can’t buy membership to the gym and go bench past two hundred and fifty pounds the first day you walk into the gym and you can have to get up and go to the gym you’re

24:42

right you can’t sit home it’s not going to work that way but you do go to the gym and you show up you know and not maybe every day but on a regular basis and you start with you know two or five pound weights and work your way up to ten twenty and then eventually it could take weeks months maybe even years before you reach your goal of bench-pressing two hundred pounds but you want to exercise that muscle and Law of Attraction it’s no different than going to the gym and exercising that muscle with heavier and

25:12

heavier weight so you strengthen it and then you become more proficient at just relaxing getting out of your own way and being in a in a allowing state as they say in Abraham terms we are here with Mark beltzman actor comedian extraordinaire extraordinary guy we are going to go to our sponsors and then come on back we’re gonna be talking about all kinds of things so please stay with us I’m Jason Schwartz hang on we’ll be right back the neutral zone with me Jason Schwartz would like to thank Maui

25:50

Arts and Music Association tree makers foundation of Maui for their support since 1991 hundreds of television shows and their Maui arts and music comm website they have champion self sustainability the neutral zone has earned live Mondays at 11 a.m. and replayed Saturday at 7 a.m. on kak u 88.5 FM the voice of maui get a jump of protecting Maui’s coral reefs no need to wait for Hawaii’s new sunscreen water go in effect this is Archie kelapa asking you to make the switch today to sunscreens that do not

26:26

contain reef harming oxybenzone or octant oxy find out about better choices at maui reef start slash sunscreen sponsored with aloha by maui melee marine resource council maui visitor’s bureau and the county of mali office of economic development get a jump on protecting Maui’s coral reefs no need to wait for Hawaii’s new sunscreen water go in effect this is Archie kelapa asking you to make the switch today to sunscreens that do not contain reef harming oxybenzone or octane oxy find out about better choices at Maui reef

27:02

start slash sunscreen sponsored with Aloha by Maui Nui marine resource Council Maui Visitors Bureau and the county of Maui Office of Economic Development The Grateful Dead played a different setlist at every show since no two concerts were ever the same on stage the same goes with the Grateful Dead radio program on kak you 88.5 FM Saturday night at 8:00 and Sunday night at 9:00 it’s dead air it’s an hour of killer recording stories from the taper section tall tales from the parking lot and I’ll throw in an

27:33

interview from time to time hey I’m Corey Daniel Saturday night at 8:00 and Sunday night at 9:00 you’ll get dead air on kak u 88.5 FM it’s a voice of Maui hi I’m Vince Bodhi co-host at the biscuits and gravy show KK you as a listener-supported station this means that all the great programs you hear like mine are supported by you as well as our underwriters if you would like to help keep the voice of the Maui talking loud and clear go to kak UF m dot org slash donate day and gives and don’t miss the

28:04

biscuits and gravy Show Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. on 88.5 FM the voice of gravy I don’t worry forest ranger pitty blade here lending a hand of my dear friend Smokey Bear because for 75 years he’s only said only you can prevent wildfires but there’s a lot more to say like if you book your car honks all dry grass the hot exhaust pipe can start a wildfire so be careful up there go to Smokey Bear calm to learn more about wildfire prevention brought to you by the u.s. Forest Service your state Forester and the Ad Council

28:42

we are back I’m Jason Schwartz here with mark beltzman Aloha this is ka K you 88.5 FM the voice of Maui you can find us on Facebook live you can also go to Maui neutral zone calm and relisted to this show and the other 70 before this because like I said we’re all fit together in one very interesting self-sustained the petri dish III dish [Laughter] and we also can be found on YouTube because you know YouTube is like a library forever and I think this book I don’t know if they have a sweep up after

29:26

you die policy but no I still get notifications on birthdays for people that have died a decade ago yeah so I don’t know how that works it’s just a way to honor them I guess I just you know I don’t erase anybody’s profile or phone number I have a lot of dead people’s phone numbers you know I always wonder that when they say you have too many friends I said well do we have a new category maybe there’s a new category yes but your dead friends you think that would really thin it out of

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there you go for it just friends that are dead to me that’s a whole nother category that’s a group you don’t want to be in we are here with mark beltzman mark bells Minh not only a wonderful actor you’ve seen him in many things but he is also a wonderful and committed partner how many is 36 37 years yeah seven years mm-hmm I was all proud of 25 years with area I’m still proud of that yeah wonderful well you should be proud it’s not always easy but it’s very rewarding it’s very

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good wedding isn’t it yes it’s got a beautiful benefit yeah there’s some amazing magical things to a long-term relationship that you never imagined thousand year acting yeah she does the improv I mean we met through doing acting many years ago in the Detroit Times theater company and then she got out of the business and that became a marriage and Family Therapist and so she’s thinking about maybe hanging up a shingle here in Maui but meanwhile she’s coming to classes and doing improv and

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getting back into it yeah really fun to have around Beverly Beverly oh well I look forward to put a name on that face put a name on that fit Everly Lubin yes and you’re gonna see my partner Ariela you’ve seen her but you’ll see her looking forward to it great yeah you know in the time that we live left we have a pretty good amount of time well I’m wondering if we would like to think to do a piece of improv now we’re doing it we heart go ahead you want to set something up oh my god you do want to

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put something together you think because what I think of sitting with you I mean I know that probably people oh you’re in this movie that movie that’s exactly what they sound like right and they sort of become because they all want to bring to you what you’ve done that really is stuck in their memory mm-hmm yeah you know I probably have a greatest hits you know of scenes you are a demo reel I was watching I really enjoyed well thank you yeah you can find that online as well I found there but no what I usually get is

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hey Don I know you you know did I go to high school with you or they don’t they have no idea very occasionally I get recognized from something I’ve done but more than likely I have to tell them they don’t they have no idea they just think they saw me at the store Starbucks or well here locally I have been on this I guess media television ever since 1992 here locally so I have kids that are like now 40 years old that still remember me some had me as a substitute teacher oh wow the first time they’ve

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ever saw me was on TV then they made me 20 years later Jason Schwartz it’s not like a name that rolls off your tongue you’re Jason Schwartz holy moley a lot of fun that’s great I always tell area you can’t sneak out to the market you think you can see and that’s another thing I have this uncanny ability I was standing at a at the film festival here there was this very beautiful girl next to me and I looked at her I immediately gut that’s Olivia Wilde oh that is very respectful but you know as I’m able to

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find that there you know how do you feel as a star when someone is there do they often respectful well I wouldn’t be able to answer a question how do I feel as a star I don’t think myself as a star but I’m still a fan I’m you know when I see people who I recognize I’m still as excited as anybody else you know that’s why I do this stuff is because I’m a huge fan I love watching movies I love making movies I love being in movies and I love to meet people who I have a deep

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profound respect for other talent and sometimes even their good looks yeah you never know there’s some pretty people in movies out there but yeah it’s just fun to be part of that community as well and I’ve been fortunate enough to you know rub elbows with some very famous and talented people but I don’t really think of myself as a star I don’t get recognized like that but it certainly is fun well like I say in my world I saw you at the Maui improv I immediately spotted you as someone cool thanks a

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star mm-hmm whenever we’ve seen you whether we remembered your name or not you created an impression that lingered in a good way I appreciate that how did you get into this stuff originally well I played tuba I still do you know I have that show too bizarre I was talking about and so when I was a kid I was playing tuba and it just sort of unfolded I have my best friend from high schools named Robert Teachman and his parents had a couple of friends who were photographers and one of them Charlie shriti asked me if he could rent

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my tuba for a lazy boy chair magazine ad and I said sure and he said you want to be in it and I was like yeah and that was like my first acting job believe it or not I actually started out as a model and and I haven’t looked back since that was like in 1980 I think I’ve just turned 20 and then that same friend of mine Rob Teachman his parents had another friend named Amin irani who’s a very famous photographer in Detroit and where I grew up and he actually put me in my first TV commercial which was a bunch of still

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photographs I played Tony Baker the high-low driver drove his forklift into 400 refrigerators and they were having the damage good sale at Highland appliance and so my picture was in the paper and it was on TV and and that was the beginning of my career and I haven’t done anything else since and very fortunate them do you did you gravitate to it comedy oh yeah I mean you know being a short fat bald Jew but not as a man you know well maybe not bald but I was short and fat yeah I mean my family

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there was always a lot of Kabat sitting at the table and of course all the Jewish holidays family would get together and there was a lot of misbehaving I suppose you could say in the most polite terms here on the radio and yeah it just sort of translated into energy from entertaining the family to being an entertainer making jokes you know and finding improv a valuable tool go ahead in my house I had to protect myself comedy you know I’ve stopped the very strong have well it is it becomes for those of us who grew up that way and

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a culture it’s it is a defense mechanism you know I find myself you know Wharton off many of tense situations through comedy and also avoiding in dealing with my own issues very often through comedy so yeah I mean like it’s it’s always a double-edged sword right but for the most part it’s been a valuable tool that I’ve enjoyed and continue to enjoy using just to have fun really I mean that’s what we’re doing right now is just talking how much fun got the fat smiles on our faces and

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hopefully you’re yeah yeah hopefully you’re smiling along with us yeah I’m you know and I think of people out there in our audience I can’t imagine how they’re not gonna smile when they realize I mean what I’m sitting here I feel like I’m sitting with a someone who has had tremendous depth of experience just then that experience the fact that you bring it into the moment the way you do very powerful very powerful lessons you’ve you’ve shared with our audience here today no well

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thank you I just love you I think we just we teach what we need to learn so I’m just constantly reminding myself through my teaching whether it’s improv or having a conversation with you on the radio of you know what I want to learn how I want to become a better human being and evolve and that’s what we all strive for I mean you and I know each other from another source which is sitting in men’s circle we belong to a men’s team and that’s new to me here on Maui but that’s part of what we go there

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for is to be accountable to be held accountable and to hold other men accountable and that’s what I really love about being in a men’s team serving that a couple of those guys are in fact yeah mankind project is a group that here on Maui I got introduced to I guess a couple of years ago that I actually went through their training but I you know like you did it in Los Angeles different group with different name slightly different charters but right I don’t know if men get together like

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women women are always talking and getting together in circles and seem to be a very bonding group but men sort of this is a special thing like we’re gonna get together and be men together men men men men men oh how was that I was a I’m afraid I’ll email bro Monty Python I think certain things are universal right yeah no it’s it is a really valuable tool another great community that we both belong to and yeah you just function differently men and women of course we know completely different in the way we deal

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with emotions and so it allows us to have an emotional outlet where we aren’t shamed or or made to feel less valued because we’re dealing with our emotions I love that I think that translates to if you want to cry you can cry if you want to be sensitive you can be sensitive and not be labeled in any way we’re a very very accepting group I’m sure that that’s probably you know a good model and not only the mankind project but yeah a lot of these different groups that that are around

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where people share and get personal well sometimes I wonder in this age of internet you know someone can be fluent that being on the internet but they can’t sit across and look in the eye and talk to you right well it’s it’s so fascinating with the advent of the internet and people can be such bullies and have such you know huge brass cojones behind a desk or behind their phone but when it comes to actually looking somebody in the eye and having to deal with those same issues or your

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opinions or your emotions all of a sudden they just hide out and because they disappear right in front of you like a magic trick and I think that has you know not necessarily served as well the advent of Technology and the internet but you know back in my day when I was a kid we showed had changed left over from a daughter not anymore you know everything’s dyin dollars instead of dollars and cents but it’s evolved you know we’re evolving and you got to go with the flow you can fight it

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all you want but it certainly isn’t gonna serve you very well if you if you’re not you know learning and evolving well that’s another really beautiful thing about when you do improv mm-hmm people get be there be present and yeah engage well there’s two really important tenants about what I teach and about about doing improv one is I believe that life happens outside of your comfort zone that’s where growth takes place so doing improv is designed to get you out of your comfort zone to get you

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uncomfortable and if you’re way out of your comfort zone you’re still smiling that’s where huge growth takes place so we want you to come and grow and that’s why we can watch you transform from 6:30 to 9:30 on a Sunday evening or Wednesday evening and watch the smile on your face just grow throughout the evening and you leave because you’ve had some kind of breakthrough or awareness that you didn’t have when you arrived the other tenant of what I teach and what I love about life and Maui improv is figure out

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what’s working and do more of it instead of trying to change and fix what’s wrong we all spend most of our lives trying to change and fix things so our future is better it doesn’t work so how do you know the difference between what works and what doesn’t what makes you smile and one does not we’re all born with an internal mechanism that tells us so you want to figure out whatever it is that makes you smile and do more of it instead of trying to change and fix the parts of your life that don’t work

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because what will happen is if you nurture and grow whatever that is that makes you smile that percentage will grow and it will eliminate or fix all the other stuff that you’ve been trying to change and fix for so many decades more than likely so this is just great to tenants of improv that you’ll come and experience if you show up for a drop-in say I’m gonna say dr. Schweitzer doctor that’s Mangala to you so it’s true it’s yes DC’s a very enriching experience for you are you

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know I like you yes yes there’s your German improv scene right there that was it yes we have a peanut gallery in the outside this is an escape route yeah we have a very interesting audience here I think it couid be and kak you because on radio we’re very low-power radio so how many people see this on radio Alice six six minutes maybe maybe yeah but we spike it we have it it’s up on Facebook live we have it as four more so we’re up to ten now but we have it on our page that’s

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now it’s that’s 12 well so I got off and then someday they will see our show and watch all these fantastic interview 30 years from now they won’t be watching on the internet this interview go hey what back those guys remember that guy he was in a movie I thought it was very different can you imagine before they had things recorded like this I mean the true history versus what’s written in the books well now maybe maybe we can figure out if we get through the fake news yeah I give it out what’s real and what I was

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just watching something you know I forget who said it was a Churchill or somebody said history is just a series of Lies agreed upon that’s really the truth before it was recorded and you could yet you know how did they talk about the modified have been to Jews having a cooperative sandwich it was you bet it was at some point and we were just talking about you know the advent of Technology all that and it’s the same idea right I mean like who knows how it’s altered our minds and changed I mean this thing that

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algorithms and all that stuff really this physiologically changed the wiring of your brain who knows it has it’s a different world I had someone say to me yesterday they were to her manager for a music group and I was gonna say sixties seventies eighties mm-hmm man I can’t believe all these decades I’ve been around beyond sixties seventies eighties nineties Zero’s teens I guess it’s better than not being around for oh well we wouldn’t know so it is I’m taking over at the college a a classical mass

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media hakuna taking us from the days of the print into now hmm and the last class they had there was called the the last movie was citizen 4 which was the raw Edward Snowden Ohio movie uh-huh we saw the raw footage being put together and we all have to remember you know where all this comes from that simple old communication before the laser capture recording and manipulated yeah could you man I mean how many times have you said to yourself man if they had cell phones and cameras on our cell phones when we were kids we’d all be in

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prison I mean you’re talking yeah but that’s sort of what happened isn’t it young suddenly got recorded now little Johnny is suing his mother and he wants to be where he wants to be expatriate we don’t know what they call a man’s keep sending the money but you had given me any rules that’s right that’s what that mean now do you find after doing so many movies do you ever find that the number of plots gets reduced down you know we hear and when you hear about people studying

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with studying screenplay there are only eight stories and we tell them again and again and again do you find a common theme well that’s why there’s so many remakes is they can’t really come up with new fresh ideas are remaking and rebooting everything under the Sun I guess you know I mean if you really reduce it down it’s probably everything you could possibly imagine was done either on the Jackie Gleason show or the show of shows or you know back in those days Lucy episodes and Gilligan’s Island and

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Brady Bunch I mean they’ve kind of done everything you could possibly do and now we’re just regurgitating rehashing it and putting it in our own words so to speak but yeah there’s a you know limited amount of material we just have to keep reinventing it and so they say you know think out of the box so you want to think of a new way to present an old idea that’s what they always say there’s a great song second city speaking of the 16th anniversary called old wine four new bottles or they write

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of the way around new wine four old bottles old old wine four new bottles new lines for the old charts that’s a great song well I’m certainly looking forward to supporting the community here on Maui the improv community in the acting community and merging those and we have some exciting stuff on tap for next year and I’m told by my manager I have a movie I might be doing I was supposed to be January it’s now been pushed to February so I’m waiting to hear more about that which could be a

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lot of fun and I look forward to that and I just got an agent in Honolulu hopefully I’ll get some work on Hawaii five-o or magnum p.i and pop over the other islands and spread some magic and teach some improv and really looking forward to next year gonna be very exciting well I know Maui is a richer place by having you here all the talk oh thank you Jason appreciate that just a little time I’ve gotten to know you I appreciate you know thanks buddy and like I say you know comedy on camera but a very beautiful

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and sensitive man here off camera who shows you know your depth like I say yeah you are very sensitive and loving man it just is very apparent I appreciate that Mahalo as we say here in Maui well you know I am NOT a few minutes left I I really many times I come you know with things that I want to talk about with a guest but I just I just know that as a seasoned actor there are so many talented people everywhere I bet you gotta say as much as you got talent it’s been good fortune cuz it’s amazing how

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many people are out there yeah trying to get these few roles that we’re talking about Maui has animate have you seen many Maui productions yeah quite a few there’s a lot of talent here in Maui really just saw Matilda at the e out theater last week it was really really great production directed by Jennifer rose and and my friend John Williams was in it and it really impressed with the talent here on Maui and pro arts is putting together some great stuff they have a little Christmas play coming up

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next week I believe called The Reluctant Alf and we’re going to audition and do some stuff at those places as soon as I can and I’m sure you encourage everyone to get out there there’s a lot of beautiful things going on but Maui has some very very talented people and shows well that they’re going to be if they haven’t they’re gonna be happy to know you’re closer around here to the try to grab you today let’s make some Maui magic people yeah love it so what I think of

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the future on Maui I and I think of the future on Maui with you more than acting I know that I see you as really I want to say you’re opening new doorways here but I’ve seen even in the the people that you get into your improv here some of the people here that are really approaching things in a new way through through your improv when you’re not here you have others doing it but I imagine it’s just not the same without you you really are unique well thank you you know we definitely want to just you know

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share whatever we have to offer to support this community and I wanna I want other people to benefit from it I I’m I’m a huge fan of sharing you know not only the knowledge but the wealth and everything that comes with it’s like we should all be enjoying and how do people get in touch with you what’s a good way oh I’m on all the social media platforms you know Twitter at mark beltzman and Facebook mark beltzman there’s a Mark beltzman actor fan page I have a personal page there’s too bizarre

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mark beltzman of the art of allowing improv page and all those platforms yeah a lot of Facebook stuff you can just do google my name and you’ll find me on just about every social media platform there is Instagram and you can look at my stuff and my real and get in touch with me and ask me about anything you want and come check out the drop-ins yeah Sunday’s in Kihei at the synagogue and Wednesdays taught by Matt brass was a great improviser out here on the island and he teaches the Wednesday’s up

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in Fayette Heritage Hall at 6:30 to 9:30 as well and those are both just 15 bucks just show up maybe 15 bucks and enjoy and fun life yes and he’d have some fun well thank you for joining us here mark I you won’t have any specific itinerary I appreciate you jumping in Gulu and being here on zero notice yeah well I’ll hopefully have you again and I look forward to coming down and joining the improv great I love Facebook things we’re gonna be doing together great Jason oh thank you for having me and everybody come

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down and check it out come to the show on the 29th pro arts theater next to the Taco Bell in the is Equis Shopping Center Sunday the 29th at 6:30 well we only have a few seconds left which is just perfect cuz that’s all we have enough to say thank you guys for joining us thank you Mark for joining us thank you sir it’s a new ledger [Music]