-
10 Questions with ... Billy Donnelly
May 26, 2020
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Former college radio DJ/personality - 90.5 WVUM - University of Miami; Former traffic anchor/producer - 610 WIOD and 940 WINZ - Miami/Ft. Lauderdale; Former writer/critic/columnist - InfamousKidd.com, Ain't It Cool News, This Is Infamous, JoBlo.com; Former podcast host - This Is Infamous Radio, Intelligent Wrestling Conversation; Former A/V manager/staff - Alamo Drafthouse; Current podcast host/executive producer - Getting Old Quickly
1. You've gone from radio to movie reviewing to podcasting. First, the radio part: Way back to the U or even earlier, what prompted you to go into radio? Why radio?
Growing up in the 80s and into the 90s, there was an easy connection with both radio and TV. Remember... those were the days when MTV actually played music videos. And so between the radio stations (having grown up in the NY/NJ area, you had everything) and TV, that's where you got to check out what was new, what was cool, what was next for you. However, radio was always more accessible. You could call up a radio station and request a song and actually get to talk to the person you were hearing on the air. How cool was that?! There was a personal connection between the audience and the broadcaster that was immediate, that didn't exist in any other form of media that I just loved. That aspect always drew me in. And then, of course, Howard Stern. The power he had in compelling an audience to listen to everything he had to say and hang on every word was incredible to me. He transformed radio. If you had any sort of interest in radio, you wanted to be the "next" Howard Stern, which was an impossible endeavor. There could only ever be one of him. That didn't stop many imitators from trying though.
2. Let's talk about your new podcast -- what prompted you to do this particular kind of show, and what do you hope people will take away from listening to it?
I had done podcasts before, and they always revolved around "stuff" - pop cultures, movies, TV... hell, even professional wrestling. But after while, you get bored talking about it, and often it winds up feeling more like an obligation to talk about these "things." You quickly get burnt out or feel like you're just going through the motions. Plus, you start to lose passion for the thing you loved so much you wanted to start a podcast about it anyway. Constantly staying up-to-date and consuming it all the time - it loses its luster. And let's face it... there are countless podcasts like that, where everybody has an opinion, and so I needed to do something different. So when I had the idea for Getting Old Quickly, it came for a number of reasons. All the "stuff" podcasts felt so trivial at this point. I mean, we're dealing with life and death during Coronavirus... did it really matter what movies had shifted their release dates? Or what my opinion was about this new TV show everyone was binging?
Then, around January, I started therapy for myself - who I am, why I am the way I am, why I do the things I do, etc. Couple that with a recent bad workplace environment where I really learned that a lot of people had a good amount of issues that they never wanted to address, and I came to the conclusion that maybe I could take the things I had learned from therapy - about myself, about my emotions and experiences, about how I cope - and share it with others for everyone's benefit. I found that people have these feelings and these problems, but they never talk about them. They've long been told they shouldn't share those things, that they're private... or they fear they'll be laughed at, or judged, or that no one is listening. They internalize it all, and they wind up carrying all that weight themselves, and it's too heavy for anyone. And so what I hope people would take away from Getting Old Quickly is that I'm trying to help break some of those walls down. I want to let people know it's okay to feel those things and to struggle with the things you're struggling with, but also that you're not alone. We all battle these things, and the more we get them out in the open and discuss, the more easily we identify and understand one another. That can only lead to more help.
3. As someone who's done a bunch of podcasts, first, what appeals to you the most about podcasting?
Nowhere else can you do what a podcast does. There are too many restrictions, or too many opinions, or too much input from others, and it then limits or changes the vision you once had. A podcast is like YouTube in that anyone can be a creator... or at least it once used to be like that. Now that the bigger names and the corporations figured out how to monetize them both, it's harder for the little guy/gal to break through against the larger brands. However, it still presents an outlet for anyone with a voice to be able to creatively express themselves about anything they desire - be it relationships or finances or philosophy. It's out there, and you can find it. Granted, that also means there are too many podcasts, making it difficult to cut through some of the noise...but I'd rather have more people with a platform than fewer.
4. Let's talk movies for a second, since you were a nationally-known (and feared) critic for years: Do you think the pandemic is going to change the movie-going experience forever? What will it take for the public to go back to the multiplex, or will they, as some surveys are saying, just get used to staying home and watching on TV, and how, if that happens, do you think it'll affect the kind of movies we see (for example, will it mean big budget franchise movies will die off, or will they be the only movies to make it to theaters)?
Oh, for sure. There's no question about that. I don't quite know what the future looks like though for this to even remotely get back to being what it once was. First off, people have to feel comfortable going back, and I think we're a long ways away from that. Granted, you have people who are desperate to get out of the house and do anything. We've already seen them sort of ignore social distancing recommendations and masks even. But, even if they were the norm, there's nothing to see. The movie studios have way too much invested in their features to release anything to the public that doesn't give them a good chance of turning a profit. Not with the threat of a 2nd or 3rd wave out there, or with heavily reduced capacity at theaters, even if they were to open now. So I don't know what the answer is to making people feel better about going to the movies now, other than a vaccine. Besides, attendance has been declining for quite some time. The general public has been turned off to the moviegoing experience, between talkers and texters and people using their phones to check their Instagram during the movie, that just watching things at home regularly isn't much of a stretch. Look... I got TROLLS WORLD TOUR and SCOOB! to watch with my family, and I didn't find I was missing anything by not being able to see them in a theater. And I know there are many who refuse to subscribe to that, because the theater is a sacred experience. However, as TVs continue to get better and sound systems to get better, that gap is starting to narrow. And, if I'm able to lose myself in those worlds I see on-screen from the safety and comfort of my own couch, without the anxiety of who might be sitting two seats away from me, or if this theater was properly cleaned ahead of time, then so be it. It is what it is.
As for the type of movies we see, hmmm... You're still going to get your STAR WARS and your Disney and your Marvel movies (not lost on me that they all are owned by The Mouse). You may even get a return to the more moderate-budget dramas that they don't make anymore, because turning a small profit is better at this point than the risk of putting all your eggs in one basket and chasing billion-dollar revenues with your super-blockbusters. Then again, those movies may die off even more, because, if people are going to put their health on the line to go see a movie, they want to know exactly what they're getting and they are going to want it to be a sure thing.
5. What other podcasts do you listen to and why?
Marc Maron's WTF. It is essentially the godfather of all podcasts, and it is similar to the Howard Stern approach. Be authentic. Be real, and, because of that, it allows boundaries to come crashing down with his interview subjects. And you get a real sense of who he is and who they are. It never feels like it's about promoting something. I It feels as if you are a fly on the wall, getting to witness a deep, thoughtful conversation.
And, being a wrestling fan, I love The New Day - Feel the Power. Those guys have such great chemistry, and, once again, it's not forced. They are incredibly genuine, and, because of that, their enthusiasm is infectious. Not only are you drawn in by the stories they tell, it's how they tell them that really hits the mark.
6. Who are your influences, inspirations, and/or mentors in podcasting, radio, and/or criticism?
I already mentioned both Howard Stern and Marc Maron. They are key to proving that personality and authenticity counts. Too often people are trying to unpack this show-in-a-box or fit a particular formula, and while that's great for the people who never want to take any sort of chances, those aren't the types of shows or people that are remembered. They're just so generic. I gravitate towards the opposite of that. I still remember hearing Scott Shannon and the crews of 92.3 K-Rock and Q104.3 and Z-100 growing up on the radio, so the fond memories of radio they created during my more formative years have obviously stuck with me. Doc Reno provided me with a great deal of guidance when I was first starting out and believing I had the ability to take on the radio world. As far as criticism, Roger Ebert is one of those guys I can point to and say he helped develop my love of movies, and then, as I moved more into the blogosphere and online outlets, someone like Drew McWeeny, who I knew was willing to stand by his thoughts, no matter what, was greatly admired and respected by me.
7. You're offering discussion and advice about this on your podcast, so... What are you doing during the pandemic to keep your spirits up and your mind at ease?
I had to cut myself off from news coverage. That helped as a start. I was watching wall-to-wall Coronavirus in the beginning, wanting to know what was happening, wanting to stay informed and prepared. Then, after while, it just became repetitive, and it was all bad. The numbers kept climbing. The chaos and disarray kept spreading. The toilet paper kept disappearing, and it was affecting my mood greatly. So I shut that off, and I allow myself a little bit of time every day to scroll through my newsfeed, in order to keep apprised of anything important I may need to know... but otherwise, that's my limit. I've been working out regularly. Exercise has helped me strive to get at least something accomplished most days. Also, every night, since this thing started, our friends Drew De Four and Kin Curran have been performing from their basement on Facebook Live, basically bringing their piano bar experience to life in our living room. I take that time to spend with my wife, and it's become part of our routine. The interactive chat has allowed us to have contact with other humans and make some friends along the way, but it's been a welcome constant for us every night.
In addition, I've accepted the fact that there are good days and there are bad days, and all I can really do is hope the former outnumber the latter. It sucks out there, and some days that's going to really weigh heavily on you. But the key is not to deny it. It's to allow yourself to feel that - whether it's sad or upset or angry or frustrated. If I'm feeling down, it's just going to be a down day. If I'm feeling good, I'll try to ride that wave to get more than the basics done for the days ahead. But I know I'm not dealing with it alone.
8. Of what are you most proud?
I'm proud of my kids - who they are growing up to be, and, more immediately, how they are handling all the changes thrown at them. I'm proud of my wife for being the caring and compassionate person she is, always trying to make the world a better place. And I'm proud of this new podcast. Out of all the work I've ever done, this project feels the best.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ___________.
...music. Sometimes you just put it on in your car to help get you from one place to another. Sometimes it's just on in the background. However, being able to hear different songs or artists these days that can help accentuate my mood and explore my feelings - something that might pick you up, or allow you to sit with your sadness, or tell you a story - has shown just how much I need it more than ever.
10. What's the most important lesson you've learned in your career so far?
The status quo is hard to break away from. People are risk-adverse as the rule, and so it is always going to be an uphill climb to want to try something different or get that new idea approved. However, the world needs disruptors and agitators and those who aren't afraid to rock the boat or make waves or any other aquatic metaphor you want to apply here. That's how we find the things that are truly special. But it's the bold and the brave that are the ones willing to take those leaps. Everyone else who follows later is just a copycat trying to ride on the coattails of your success.
Oh, and micro-managers are truly the worst.
-
-