The Actor's Journey and Work Ethic

• 💡 John C. McGinley shares his early career experiences, including working as a waiter before graduating from NYU's graduate theater program.
• 💰 He highlights the financial realities for actors, emphasizing the constant need to work and the incentives for taking "forced calls" on film sets.
• 🎭 McGinley discusses his early theater work, understudying John Turturro in "The Deep Blue Sea," and how this led to an audition for Platoon.
• 🚀 His first major break, a small role in "Platoon," was delayed for two years due to funding issues.

Acting Philosophy and Craft

• 🧠 McGinley subscribes to John Malkovich's acting philosophy of inviting characters to become him, rather than trying to become the character.
• 🎯 He believes this approach reduces the "lie" of acting, as actors know themselves better than any character.
• 🗣️ The importance of auditioning as a skill set is stressed, with the understanding that rejection is personal and can be damaging.
• 🌟 McGinley introduces the concept of "Elvis dust" – a combination of being in the right place, doing homework, and having self-esteem – which makes an actor stand out.

Stand Against Evil and Career

• 📺 McGinley discusses his new show, "Stan Against Evil," on the IFC channel, describing it as "Archie Bunker fighting witches."
• 🧙 The show is set in a New Hampshire town where the protagonist, Stan, must battle 172 witches.
• ✍️ He praises the show's writer, Dan Goor, a former head writer for "The Simpsons."
• 🎬 McGinley emphasizes the importance of having strong material on the page to elevate a performance, rather than relying solely on an actor's "bag of tricks."

Personal Reflections and Social Commentary

• 💔 The passing of comedian John Candy at 45 deeply impacted McGinley, highlighting the brevity of life and the importance of living fully.
• 🗳️ He shares his thoughts on the 2016 presidential election, comparing Donald Trump to a "New York Irish mutt" and discussing the potential implications of both candidates.
• 🇺🇸 McGinley expresses a desire for a more centrist political approach and questions extensive military spending.
• 🔫 He discusses gun control, advocating for restrictions on automatic weapons while supporting the Second Amendment.

Raising a Child with Down Syndrome

• 💙 McGinley shares his experiences raising his son, Max, who has Down syndrome.
• 🗣️ He highlights the challenges of postsecondary education for individuals with Down syndrome and the importance of finding programs that foster independence.
• 🗣️ McGinley advocates for compassionate language, particularly regarding the R-word, and emphasizes the need for education and awareness.
• 🏡 He discusses the parental instinct to ensure a child's safety, especially when navigating the world with a child who has special needs.
• 🌟 He notes that Max, despite his challenges, has interests in surfing, art, and music, and enjoys life.