American Muscle | Interview with Joel Veach and Liana Wright-Mark

On this episode of 1st on Film, we sit down with writer-director Joel Veach and actress Liana Wright-Mark to discuss their gritty new indie thriller American Muscle. Veach opens up about crafting the film’s tense neo-noir atmosphere, balancing emotional family drama with crime-thriller intensity, and making his feature directorial debut. Wright-Mark shares insight into building her complex character Maggie, collaborating with the cast, and bringing emotional depth to a story filled with desperation, violence, and buried secrets.Joel Veach is an American writer, director, and producer best known for the indie crime thriller American Muscle, which marks his feature directorial debut. In addition to directing the film, Veach also wrote and produced the project, showcasing his signature character-driven storytelling and gritty neo-noir style. Prior to American Muscle, he wrote the psychological thriller Old Man (2022), directed by Lucky McKee and starring Stephen Lang. Veach has also directed short films, including Guys with Guns, and continues to develop bold independent genre projects. Liana Wright-Mark is a New York and Los Angeles–based actress, writer, musician, and model whose work spans film, television, and theater. She stars as Maggie in Joel Veach’s thriller American Muscle. Wright-Mark previously appeared in Rian Johnson’s Poker Face, Hulu’s Old Man alongside Stephen Lang, and Gary Ross’ Ocean’s 8. A graduate of Pace University’s Musical Theater program, she has also written and produced original stage work, including the award-winning musical Elise. Beyond acting, Wright-Mark has worked extensively in modeling and music, building a diverse creative career across multiple artistic mediums.