Episode Ninety-Nine: John Cassini & Tony Dean Smith

The YVR Screen Scene Podcast

We’ve packed two interviews into our milestone 99th episode! First up is a fascinating and wide-ranging catch-up with actor-producer John Cassini. John – who was recently nominated for three Leo Awards for acting – discusses his recent spate of passion projects (including Daughter and Volition), sharing screen-time with his brother Frank and wife Jenn MacLean Angus, and creating art in the age of COVID-19. We’ve also got a comprehensive conversation with Volition director and co-writer Tony Dean Smith (interview begins at 1:01:29). Volition tells the story of a broken man named James (played by Adrian Glynn McMorran) who has been clairvoyant for most of his life. As the film opens, James is pulled into a sketchy diamond scheme with a couple of experienced criminals (played by John and Frank Cassini) and their dim but brawny friend from jail (played by Aleks Paunovic) just as he’s fallen head over heels with an infinitely cool woman (Magda Apanowicz) and begins to have premonitions of his own grisly murder. Volition has been a success on the film festival circuit and hits streaming services on July 10. Episode sponsor: Fish Flight Entertainment