Episode 276: Gary Hawes

Gary Hawes has directed multiple episodes of the most-watched television drama series on the planet (ABC’s hit drama, The Good Doctor). He’s also the director of some critically acclaimed indie projects, including the comedy Leap 4 Your Life, a feature-length mockumentary about a community dance competition starring some of our local industry’s finest, and The Charlie Da Clown Show, a trippy short about the behind the scenes shenanigans of a talk show hosted by a washed up clown named Charlie. Gary has also directed short films featuring big, bold actors like Alan Cumming and Ioan Gruffudd, worked as a 2nd AD on some big, bold films like Sucker Punch, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and Interstellar, and worked as a first AD on big, bold, beloved projects like Once Upon A Time and Cedar Cove. In this fascinating and at times funny episode, director Gary Hawes discusses the The Good Doctor, special memories from the making of X2: X-Men United (Sir Ian McKellen makes great pancakes!), directing for TV vs. directing films, directing “undirectable” actors, and the project that changed it all for him: Gretzky Saves Christmas, the school play he wrote, directed, and starred in at the age of 10. Episode Sponsors: Biz Books + The Drama Class