About this episode

Marc Preston interviews actor and writer Johnny Ray Gill about his artistic journey and cultural influences.

On this episode of “Story and Craft” , Marc sits down with actor and writer Johnny Ray Gill ( “Cross” Season 2 on Prime Video ) for a wide-ranging conversation about Gill’s Portland roots in an all-Black Northeast community, his working-class family, and early artistic start in spoken-word poetry inspired by the film “Slam.” Gill shares how a rites-of-passage program shaped his cultural awareness, how an internship with writer Mike Rich opened doors, and how his path led from USC film school to Temple and then UC San Diego’s theater program. He recounts booking “Harry’s Law,” reflects on hip hop’s shift as commerce overtakes art, and explains why he feels artists owe audiences truth. Gill discusses his climate-focused script “Laying Pipe,” his love of animals and nature, learning Spanish, and the serendipitous way he was offered his role in “Cross.” SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 02:24 From Portland to LA 03:23 Working Class Roots 04:48 Choosing the Arts 08:09 Spoken Word Origin Story 11:28 College Path and Drama School 15:10 Hip Hop and Early Influences 17:10 Art Versus Commerce 20:25 Screenwriting and Truth 22:03 Pitching Laying Pipe 29:45 How Cross Came Together 34:31 Persistence and Knowing…

People in this episode

Host: Marc Preston

Guest: Johnny Ray Gill

Topics covered

• acting
• writing
• cultural awareness
• hip hop
• screenwriting
• nature
• art versus commerce

Keywords

• Johnny Ray Gill
• Cross
• Slam
• screenwriting
• cultural awareness
• hip hop
• nature
• art versus commerce

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: USC, Temple, UC San Diego

Books & works: Cross, Slam, Harry's Law, Laying Pipe

Places: Portland, LA, Northeast

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