American Masters: Creative Spark

In this episode, Tyler James Williams gives a masterclass on his own acting technique: studying people, building characters, and finding the humanity behind every performance. We talk about his love for New York, how “Men In Black” made him fall in love with art and entertainment, and the care he has poured into creating the character of Gregory Eddie on “Abbott Elementary.” The Emmy-winning sitcom recently wrapped its fifth season, with Williams stepping into the director role again. After three decades in the industry, he’s looking beyond his own career, toward the next generation of young talent, drawing on his experience as a former child actor to help create a more empowering path for the artists who come next.

Singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus has been building up to this moment her entire career. With her new album, “Forever Is a Feeling,” she is ready to write about love. Coming off the heels of a Grammy Award-winning run with her supergroup, boygenius, Dacus has signed a major label contract with Geffen for her solo work. In this episode, Lucy Dacus talks to us about growing up playing house shows in Richmond, Virginia, how her religious upbringing has shaped her today, and how she put together the music and lyrics that form her most romantic songs to date. American Masters: Creative Spark is back with new episodes! For the very first time, you can now watch the podcast! Video is the new audio, after all. Starting this season, you can watch our new episodes on Spotify and YouTube.

Author Min Jin Lee talks to us about the power of the social novel. Her epic historical fiction novel, “Pachinko,” is frequently cited as one of the best books of the 21st century. Lee’s exploration of the immigrant experience, identity and empathy has a timeless quality that feels as relevant as ever in our current moment. In this episode, Min Jin Lee breaks down her nearly 30-year journey in writing the novel. She describes how the many obstacles and detours in her life only further helped to clarify her vision. We explore why she needed to move to Japan to really understand the Korean immigrant experience at the center of “Pachinko.” Through first-person interviews and deep research, she shows how “our curiosity is what is going to, in the end, allow us to have a higher quality” of love for each other.

Singer-songwriter Conor Oberst talks to us about the joy of making music. He describes his music and artistic mission as both a “release of negative feelings” and “a way to rejoice.” With their new album, “Five Dice, All Threes,” Oberst’s work with his band Bright Eyes is as emotionally expressive as ever. He breaks down the collaborative process behind that record and the joy it brings to simply have fun making art with friends. In this episode, we also learn about Conor Oberst’s history as a prodigy of the indie music scene. He has been making music since he was 13 years old and first catapulted to international recognition as a teenager through his work with Bright Eyes. Talking to us from his hometown in Omaha, Nebraska, Oberst describes coming of age in a regional music scene that made room for all genres of music. That freeform environment laid the groundwork for bands like The Faint, Cursive and Bright Eyes to blossom together in the 1990s. It’s a communal spirit that is still central to Conor Oberst’s creative process to this day.

Actor Minnie Driver talks to us about how she took on the role of one of the most powerful women in history. In the Starz series, “The Serpent Queen,” she plays Queen Elizabeth I, who reigned over England and Ireland for nearly 45 years in the 16th and 17th centuries. It’s a role that demands a larger than life presence, and Driver explains how she brought her own physicality to the part and also a sense of humor to add new dimensions to the iconic figure. She talks about the joy of acting in period pieces, and reminds us to “never underestimate the power of dressing up,” even if the corset can be a little too tight at times. In this episode, we also learn about Minnie Driver’s upbringing and the unique educational path that led her to become a multi-hyphenate actor, writer, singer-songwriter and podcaster. Driver describes the profound impact that reading and performing Shakespeare had on her in her youth. She explains the creative process that was instilled in her at this age that led her towards an eventual Oscar nomination for her work in “Good Will Hunting,” and further commercial and critical success in projects like “Grosse Pointe Blank,” “The Riches,” and “Will & Grace.”

Singer-songwriter Jewel talks to us about her love of learning and the joy of making art across multiple disciplines. She recounts her journey navigating a traumatic childhood and channeling its challenges into better understanding herself. She reminds us that “trauma does change us, but we get to choose how it changes us.” Jewel talks about how the internet gives “power to the creator” and the importance of her having a direct relationship to her community and listeners. She describes a “sacred contract between the art and the participant” and shares memories of when her music has created powerful connections. Then, she breaks down her creative process behind her recent art exhibit at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. It’s called “The Portal: An Art Experience by Jewel.” Jewel tells us how she created the show as a way to merge her interests in music, visual arts and behavioral health. She describes curating a collection of fine art, including pieces by artists like Mickalene Thomas, Ruth Asawa, and Genesis Tramaine, among others. She also describes producing her own works for the show, including a hologram, a painting, a sculpture, and even a 200-piece drone show. You can learn more about “The Portal: An Art Experience” here: https://crystalbridges.org/news-room/jewel-presents-immersive-art-experience-at-crystal-bridges-museum-of-american-art/

We're back! Our first new episode drops Thursday, July 25th, and every other Thursday after that. First up: Joseph Gordon-Levitt talks with us about his creative process as an actor who is able to mold himself to any and all film genres, including this month's new film, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. How do the world’s finest artists – from actors to musicians and beyond – create work that moves audiences? What challenges do they overcome in their creative process? American Masters: Creative Spark explores what makes a master by interviewing artists and cultural icons from the worlds of music, comedy, poetry, film, and more about their work. Featured guests this season include actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, singer-songwriter Jewel, playwright turned filmmaker Annie Baker, singer-songwriter Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes, writer Taffy Brodesser-Akner, and more.