https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/dsa7s9/ansonfinal2.mp3
EPISODE SUMMARY:
Anson Williams, known for his amazing work both in front of and behind cameras, is an entertainer and philanthropist using his platform to promote change and spread awareness on important issues. In today’s episode, we sat down with Anson to discuss one of his latest films, Harvest Times, how he went from actor to director, his connection to Dr. Heimlich, and the future of his career.
First, we asked Anson about Harvest Time, a film he directed and acted in. He told us that when approached with the script, he was interested in the purpose behind the screenplay. The writers didn’t just want to cast anyone; they were specifically looking for actor duos from sitcoms to see how they would perform as different parts in different genres. The film delves into the complex relationship between two brothers, Anson’s character and his costar Don’s, and is shot in a way that makes the audience feel as if they’re watching a home movie. Anson said he enjoyed the entire process and was grateful to work with Don, whose advice he sought throughout filming for both directing and acting tips. Harvest Time has been in the festival circuit and won numerous awards so far, and Anson even wants to develop more films with different sitcom and comedy actor duos. Anson acted as both actor and director on Harvest Time, and when asked about how he shifted from on screen to off screen work, he spoke about his experience and the difficulties of changing career paths. He stated that even when acting, he was always drawn to the writing and directing side of television and film. He started working with Ron Howard on developing multiple projects, including the film Skyward starring Betty Davis, and learned about the challenges that come with being behind the camera. As a producer, Anson felt that he wasn’t able to be as involved as he’d like, so shortly after, he shifted to directing. While on sets, he would shadow directors as they worked, giving him firsthand experience and lessons about his craft. Anson took the skills he learned from shadowing and applied them to his own directing, and while he said breaking into directing was initially difficult, he now has numerous projects under his belt with more on the way.
Anson has many stories about his time on the hit series Happy Days, but one of his favorites that he shared with us is the startling connection between Happy Days and the Heimlich Maneuver. Anson explained that Dr. Heimlich, the man who created the Heimlich Maneuver, is actually his cousin. He’s given him various pieces of advice, including sharing with Anson the importance of keeping lemons with him when driving. After sharing a scary experience where he fell asleep behind the wheel, Dr. Heimlich told him that if he ever started feeling tired when driving again, sniffing a sliced lemon would help wake him up. One day, after being invited to speak on a talk show, Anson decided to bring Dr. Heimlich with him in hopes of spreading the word about the Heimlich Maneuver. Dr. Heimlich sat in the studio audience, and when Anson told the host about the Heimlich Maneuver, Dr. Heimlich was invited on camera to do a demonstration. Weeks later, Dr. Heimlich was invited onto Johnny Carson’s show to discuss the Heimlich Maneuver, and after that, the Heimlich started to become famous. Anson emphasized that without Happy Days, he never would have gotten the chance to do a talk show, which never would have allowed Dr. Heimlich the platform to discuss the Heimlich Maneuver.
Hollywood now looks a lot different than it did decades ago, and when asked about his opinions on the shift in entertainment, Anson discussed the role social media played in the changes. When Happy Days was on air, there was no social media or paparazzi frenzies, so the actors on set didn’t feel like big stars. However, ¼ of the population tuned in to Happy Days on its air days, so while they did not feel like celebrities, the actors were world famous. Finally, we asked Anson about the future of his career and if he has any upcoming projects. He shared that he has a few shows currently in development that are close to being greenlit, and that he hopes to continue working in the production side of television and film.
Anson Williams
Anson Williams, best known for his role on the hit show “Happy Days”, has established himself as not only an actor but director, businessman, and philanthropist. Recently, Williams was honored by Congress, the California State Senate, the City of Los Angeles, the LAPD and first responders nationwide for his life-saving efforts to end drowsy driving. Because of Williams’ work, laws been enacted in multiple states that give drowsy driving the same penalty as a DUI. Williams also created all natural Alert Drops, a product that wakes you up and helps decrease instances of drowsy driving.
In this episode, we discuss…
- [0:01] Bossa Bars
- [0:47] Guest Introduction
- [4:53] Start of Interview
- [5:34] Harvest Time
- [10:27] Anson’s Process of Going from Actor to Director
- [19:09] The Heimlich and Happy Days
- [30:20] Shifts in Hollywood
- [34:59] The Future of Anson’s Career
- [39:35] Closing Thoughts
- [40:17] Outro
Useful Resources:
Anson’s IMDb I [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0930041/]
Anson’s Twitter I [https://twitter.com/ansonw4real?lang=en]
Anson’s Facebook I [https://www.facebook.com/anson.williams.9]
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