Middlebrow That's Just My Boyfriend
Nov 12, 2025
Dan and Brian dive into the intriguing world of influencer culture, analyzing Rachel Sennett's HBO pilot, I Love LA, and the nuances of boyfriend dynamics. They also discuss the challenges of brand strategy and how it intersects with acting experiences, including working with Richard Kind. A philosophical twist comes with the exploration of aphantasia—people who can’t visualize—and its impact on personality and creativity. The hosts criticize the entertainment industry's risk aversion in adapting online creators into mainstream media.
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Getting Yelled At By Richard Kind
- Dan Rosen described acting in a Hamptons indie film where Richard Kind yelled at him for eight hours and even spat during scenes.
- He was cast from his Instagram as a unlikeable Brooklyn creative-director character and called a "jagass" on set.
Career Choices Tie To Life Timing
- Dan proposed a theory that actors choose odd projects when personal life events like kids entering college or divorces occur.
- He used De Niro and others as examples of career choices tied to life timing.
Pivot To Brand-Strategy Persona
- Brian Park described his pivot into brand strategy and getting profiled by Eugene Healy for his performative online persona.
- He uses exaggerated character posts to lampoon creative-industry psychographics and earned attention from strategy circles.