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#148 Stranger Things with 010 Christian Ganiere

When being an entertainer runs in the family it’s never too early to join in. At 1 1/2 years old Christian kicked off his career and at 13yo is celebrating a role in season 4 of Stranger Things. 

My guest, Christian Ganiere and I discuss:

  • Christian Ganiere’s early start in the entertainment industry
  • How a Subaru commercial made him instantly recognizable at just 5 years old
  • Setting records as the youngest Emmy presenter ever
  • The unique experience of working alongside his famous writer and director parents
  • Behind-the-scenes of working on a popular soap opera
  • The bone-chilling story of a closet on the set of Grey’s Anatomy
  • Christian’s dream of joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe
  • Landing a role on the hit series Stranger Things as 010
  • Working with co-star Matthew Modine (Papa)
  • Exploring fan theories, including the infamous Eddie Munson theory
  • The exciting world of Comic Cons and Cosplay
  • Being honored with the Presidential Humanitarian Award by President Obama for his charitable work
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Our Guest, Christian Ganiere

Hashtag Fun: Jeff dives into recent trends and reads some of his favorite tweets from trending hashtags. The hashtag featured in this episode is #WhenStrangerThingsHappen from @HangoverTags. Tweets featured on the show are retweeted at @JeffDwoskinShow

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CTS Announcer 0:01

If you're a pop culture junkie, who loves TV, film, music, comedy and other really important stuff, then you've come to the right place. Get ready and settle in for classic conversation, the best pop culture interviews in the world. God's right, we circled the globe. So you don't have to. If you're ready to be the king of the water cooler, then you're ready for classic conversations with your host, Jeff Dwoskin.

Jeff Dwoskin 0:31

All right, Al, thank you so much for that amazing introduction. And you get the show going each and every week, and this week was no exception. Welcome, everybody to Episode 148 of classic conversations. As always, I'm your host, Jeff Dwoskin. Great to have you back for what's going to be a strange episode. Stranger Things are happening. So I'm gonna turn everything upside down and hopefully set everything the way it's supposed to be and keep it as classic as possible. Our guest today is Christian Guinier. 10 from season four of Stranger Things. That's right, grab your magic eight ball. Should you be listening to this episode? Decidedly. So the magic eight ball has spoken ladies and gentlemen, Christian Kinnear at 13 years old has done more than I have done at my age. He rocked a Subaru commercial at five years old. I'm putting a link to it in the show notes. It's one of the funniest commercials of all time and likely you've seen it Christian has had reoccurring roles in Grey's Anatomy, the Bay has been seen a 911 Criminal Minds Days of Our Lives about a boy multiple movies or joggin. Stranger Things. We're talking presidential humanitarian awards, we're talking everything and that's coming up in just a few seconds. But first, I just want to remind you of last week's amazing episodes, we've got a ton of amazing episodes waiting for you if you're just tuning into the podcast, but last week legendary comedian Robert Klein and one of my favorite comedians Joe star joined me in episodes 146 and episode 147. If you love comedy, the combination of both those episodes will blow your mind. Alright, so check those out after my amazing conversation with Christian Guinier. Get ready. We talk Stranger Things and so much more. It was so fun to talk to, and you're gonna love it. Enjoy. Alright everyone, I'm excited to introduce you to one of the fastest rising stars in the world. You've seen him and about a boy rekindling Christmas Grey's Anatomy Days of Our Lives and most recently, as 10 and a TV show you may have heard of Stranger Things. Welcome to this show. Christian Gagnaire Hey,

Christian Ganiere 2:58

ah, hi. Hey, welcome.

Christian Ganiere 3:00

Thank you. I'm glad to be here.

Jeff Dwoskin 3:02

Good to have you here. I wanted to start off with one thing real quick. Just one thing. What do you see? Close your eyes and tell me what you see. Don't force it. Let it come to you. Just like we practice. How? Well it's supposed to be a dog supposed to be a dog or a dog looks like that. Yeah, well, it's It does, doesn't it? Yes. Well, I've never been much of an artist All right. That was fun. Thank you. Man so awesome. I I'm really excited to talk to you about Stranger Things but I kind of want to build up to that so cool to be part of something so huge and pop culture but Christian I know you I know. You come from a family of all your all your families in entertainment your dad your mom. I think your sisters at one point. So how did you get started? I've heard you interview so I know it was in a diaper commercial. I know you've done so much more sense, right? So tell me how that was compared to Stranger Things were in the robe.

Christian Ganiere 4:02

Well, now that I know that diaper commercials going around, I probably got to stop that. Oh, as everybody's gonna know. Well, you

Jeff Dwoskin 4:09

were a baby. So it's all right. You're just like, what one why don't ya so? Yeah, I mean, what else would you know? How many options does a baby have? I don't know. You know, so,

Christian Ganiere 4:19

um, Pampers Huggies, right. Yeah, that's a round day,

Jeff Dwoskin 4:23

right? You're running running the gamut. You cornered the market and what you cut at that time. So what age were you when you're like, Oh, I'm I'm an actor. I this is what I do. This isn't what everyone does. Obviously, we're in it right from the very beginning. Like when we aware that this was all your friends didn't necessarily show up on Grey's Anatomy occasionally.

Christian Ganiere 4:44

Well, it took a little while because I was home schooled. So I was never really around other kids that weren't in the business. So whenever I would meet other kids my age, it would always be in like acting class or some somewhere like that. And so I was kind of used to being around actors. So it was a while I, it was like, the levels like 10. I started to, I started to realize I was like, Oh, I don't like an actor. And like, not many other people are like that. Because like when I'd say to my family members, they're like, that's so cool. And I was like, Oh, I guess that is pretty cool. I guess not everybody gets that chance. So yeah, it's Iran like 10.

Jeff Dwoskin 5:23

And how old are you right now?

Christian Ganiere 5:24

I'm 13.

Jeff Dwoskin 5:25

You're 13. All right. When I was 13, all I had accomplished was my Bar Mitzvah. And I couldn't even talk to people. So you're, you're like, way ahead of wherever I was. I, I've seen clips of you and you know how to work red carpets. So it's pretty cool. So do you love being an actor? Are you glad this is is your path, and this is where you want to go?

Christian Ganiere 5:46

I mean, I wasn't Stranger Things. So I'm enjoying it very much right now.

Jeff Dwoskin 5:51

That is the greatest thing ever. But you've done a lot of cool things. I mean, looking at your your resume, it's a super impressive resume. Yeah, Grey's Anatomy days of our lives. And then you rocked the world in the Subaru commercial, which is one of the funniest commercials, I think, ever. I mean, it's like it's such a funny commercial. Do you remember it? Like, or do you like, because you're 13? You did that when you were how old? Five? Yeah, I was fine. So it's are you able to like remember all these experiences, I know you're fortunate enough to have it all videotaped, and it's all captured. So you can now you have like these movies of everything you've done. But how much of that Subaru commercial? Do you recall,

Christian Ganiere 6:29

I remember about everything. Like I mostly remember, like right before the scene, and then after they said, actually, like, that's how much I remember of it. So I remembered them like setting up in me just observing everything. Because I have never been in the driver's seat of a car. So I was like, Dude, this is so cool. And at one point, a PA was in the car with me. And that just started pressing all the buttons. I was like, was this there was this there was this there was this there was this? And they were like, Okay, you need to stop pressing buttons. The cars gonna like blow up. And I was like, oh, okay, but I remember a lot of

Jeff Dwoskin 7:09

that's cool, because I can't remember things that happened two weeks ago. So it's I just, you know, I'm curious, like, you know, like, especially when you're young I, a lot of times, I'll talk to someone who was on a TV show 40 years ago, right. And some have very clear memories of it. And some are like Jeff, it was 40 years ago. That was a long time I but that that Subaru commercial is just so funny. And so and I think the greatest thing about that commercial is as you get older, you're gonna appreciate how hilarious it is even more, because your parents probably love it on a completely different level than you love it. Because it's so funny the way you're doing everything. Every frustration that you have while driving is just captured in that commercial and by you. You're quite the act as really, really good. Really good. I'd love to um, gosh, I'm gushing. Okay, but you're also in a workday commercial you've done home goods do you like doing commercials are those like how you fill the gaps between your grades and your your Stranger Things and stuff like that? It just is at an ongoing thing where you're auditioning for commercials?

Christian Ganiere 8:07

Yeah, I like doing commercials. They're nice in short, so they're fun to do. But yeah, I genuinely like doing commercials because then afterwards, all my family's like, wait, I just saw you on TV. And then they started freaking out. So it's super cool. That is

Jeff Dwoskin 8:23

really good. And you won an award right for that Subaru commercial bass performance and a TV commercial young actor and actress 2016 Young Artist Award. Yes. So that's cool. And then you've won other awards two year part of an award. No more goodbyes. That's a movie that your dad wrote and directed. And your mom wrote James and Rebecca. Is it cool working with your parents?

Christian Ganiere 8:45

Oh, yeah, that was interesting. Whenever I was on set with them, it always be them taking me to sit so then being the director and my mom being the writer that was interesting to see that and saw Yeah, it was fun. And that's why we went back and did another movie no money to buy VHS, but the two together so I always find it super

Jeff Dwoskin 9:07

fun. So your mom and your dad must love working together and then do they just write parts for you? Is your mom oh my god, this is perfect for Christian this is where we're going? Because it must be cool being able to work with your family because a lot of times people actors, you hear stories like oh, you know they're away from their family or something like that. Well, you probably go with a guardian but that must be cool. Like so do you have to treat your dad and your mom different on the Saturday your dad when he's a director? Dad I don't want to do it that way.

Christian Ganiere 9:34

Typically, typically when I'm working as an actor, I'm pretty serious and I make sure to my role right? I do ask for snacks once in a while.

Jeff Dwoskin 9:44

Right? You should demand the snacks so you did so did you did your dad in a point. I know he's listening. Did your dad a points say that you needed to calm Papa after Stranger Things is that ever come up? Well, just carry

Christian Ganiere 9:59

may have gotten to politics but

Jeff Dwoskin 10:02

it's funny because like slowly you started to build up TV families right where you have TV, moms, TV, dads, all that kind of stuff for no more goodbyes. How was it working with Eric Roberts?

Christian Ganiere 10:12

Oh, yeah, he was lots of fun. Oh, super fun acting with them, especially the first scene we did a one was crazy. It's like, three people started crying. And the first thing we did together, though, oh, it was pretty intense. But it was fun. It was super nice. And then something interesting happened. After we were done with the movie that it was like a little bit after we did that. We flew out to Atlanta to shoot Stranger Things. And when we got on the airplane to go out, we saw Eric Roberts. And we were like, I was like, Mom, is that Eric Roberts? It looks exactly like him. And my mom was like, oh, yeah, cool. And I was like, No, Mom, you need to look at me. I'm like, 100% Sure. This is Eric Roberts. And then my mom looked in. She was like, Oh, wait, yeah, that is at home. I was like, what what are they going to Atlanta for? I was like, that's super awesome.

Jeff Dwoskin 11:06

So funny. So no more goodbyes is at a recent movie that just won an award at Santa Fe Film Festival, right audience choice best feature film or so that's cool. So that's your most recent collaboration with your your mom and dad

Christian Ganiere 11:19

about next year. So I'm super excited for that. Very cool. Oh,

Jeff Dwoskin 11:23

so I've had some trivia, this was in your bio to ASR but you're the youngest presenter ever at the Emmy Awards at age seven. Did you get a cool bag or like swag bag for for presenting at the Emmy Awards? Do they get that did presenters get that like cool stuff? I always heard about that. Like you get like and there's like amazing like, oh, they Oh, it's a car and it's

Christian Ganiere 11:43

cool. Yeah, one one year they they actually had your pods they weren't giving now but it said the Emmys on it and stuff like got what year is it was like the 90th Emmys or something like that. I forgot they were given away air pods separate one I thought

Jeff Dwoskin 11:59

that is a nice air pods per hour air pods? I'm not sure. So maybe air pods at the time. So I so you were the youngest ever presented the Emmy Awards. And then I found on your dad. Hey, just need to take a quick break. And thank everyone for their support of the sponsors. When you support the sponsors. You're supporting us here at Classic conversations. And that's how we keep the lights on. Now back to my interview with Christian Guinier. I was just about to reveal some trivia I had found about his father, a trivia on your dad, he was the youngest keeping the youngest theme going youngest recipient of the Eagle Scout awards from the Boy Scouts of America at age 11. And this is the best part, they will always hold this distinction because they change the way it works. And so it'd be impossible for anyone else to ever get it at that age. Boom. Pretty cool. So you each have that I couldn't find anything that your mom had on the youngest any words that she may be in that category. But that was funny. Digging that out. I love digging stuff up while I'm going around so all right and then rekindling Christmas. That's another movie did with with your parents, your mom wrote and your dad directed very cool. So of all the TV shows you've been on, like Grey's and Daisy your lives and what's your favorite show that you did like in terms of David's or your lives or Grey's Anatomy like and then the bay? There? You had multiple multiple episodes? Couple on 911. So do you have any like, what's your fondest memory? Like where you can have more than one but like Grey's Anatomy, I was Grey's Anatomy that shows been on forever? That shows probably older than you right?

Christian Ganiere 13:38

You know, I was looking at the season smiles like 15 seasons day, late. Each season takes about a year to come out. My gosh, the show's older than me. So yeah, I thought the same thing as well. Grace anatomy, the one thing I loved about it is they had to do chest compressions, because I was like dying, I think, I don't know if they had to do chest compressions on me. And so because of that, they can't actually do that to me, because it could break my ribs. So what they did was is they took a mold of my face and my chest. And man, let me just tell you that mold like that whole process of a mold was funky. It was weird. But after we were done, they filled it in and they made like I made like a body double of me and it looked the exact same. Like it was so identical to me. It was crazy. Like the amount of detail they even had, like my veins lined up even I was like whoa, how did you get that? Well, how did I How did you know? What where's the caribou? How did you do this? I was very I was very surprised on how realistic it was but it was super cool. That's what I love.

Jeff Dwoskin 14:50

That's incredible because I gotta tell you, I don't know how you how you did that I because when they put a surprise shove straws up your nose or something like that so you can breathe. Yeah Do you ever go to the dentist and get like, something with your teeth or that you know, they have to do a mold of your teeth? I can't do that. 60 seconds of that. I feel like I'm like drowning. I can't breathe. I couldn't even imagine an entire face thing. I think like a summer camp once we did, like, paper mache masks or something, it just I just can't do it. So kudos to you. That's, did they let you keep it? What did they do with it after you got this thing?

Christian Ganiere 15:25

You know, is that same thing? And then they were like, oh, probably not. It's a really expensive to make. We could use it as like a background character in the future. So one thing they said is we could either use as background but I was like, Okay, well, what about after that? You just can't throw it away. And they were like, No, we let me show you. And I was like, it's a little strange to say that. And they took me back to this closet. They opened it. And it was like a storage closet. It was really big. Like, it was like, I'd say 20 feet both ways. So it wasn't it wasn't like a small closet. It was a big one. In the opening. It needs just body molds of like, all different people from all the seasons. And then there was just like a random baby on there. I was like, but I remember vaguely the random baby. That's why I remember the most, but it was very big. And they opened it and I was like, Wait, you guys keep the molds of everyone and they're like, Yeah, that's what we do with it. And almost like to this closet is creepy but so cool. And so yeah, that's what I was so sad that I didn't get to keep it but I was like, awesome. They have a closet of all

Jeff Dwoskin 16:38

so your body double might end up in a future episode. And then you gotta like decide whether you get to get residuals for that.

Christian Ganiere 16:46

I don't know.

Jeff Dwoskin 16:49

We're gonna we're gonna have to talk to your lawyer after I make sure that you get all the money you all the residuals you deserve that scene that you're describing that closet though is sounds freaky. It sounds like sounds like we're already at the Stranger Things conversation. Seems like a scene that you could pull. Oh, I can see where the baby would be the freakiest. Oh my god. All right. It'd be funny if you also recognize people. Oh my god, there's

Christian Ganiere 17:17

like, Oh, hey, can I get a photo? Can I get a CT? What's up with this?

Jeff Dwoskin 17:24

Hey, I've all your of your friends that you've come up with acting they use mentioned earlier? Like any of them breaking out like you and any of them? You know? Do you have any that are there? Or do you have to kind of keep it on the down low? How super famous you're becoming?

Christian Ganiere 17:39

Yeah, Sanaya. She's been doing very well. And so nice. Sydney, she's been doing very well. I'm just excited to see how much she's blown up. So I'm really excited. That's

Jeff Dwoskin 17:49

really cool. I must say MSB fine. When you have like the group that you came up with, and then you know, boom, like, like, I'm excited that I'm talking to you now. Because when you become even more super famous, I'd be like, oh, you know, have you back on the show? Oh, we talked when he was 13. Yeah, it's like back then. So this is. So keep making this even more exciting for me is what I'm saying. Keep doing good. So days of our lives. I don't want I haven't watched I don't really want I haven't watched any soap operas ever. But a lot of drama and those type of shows, I'm sure. Was that fun kind of atmosphere to kind of be on because those aren't? Aren't those shot like live? Like is that? Isn't that a different experience than like most TV shows that you would have been on? Yeah,

Christian Ganiere 18:30

the biggest difference about it is they have five cameras all set up to do one tape. And you got two tapes. You got the rehearsal, and then you get to shoot it. And then you're done. Just two takes, because they have all the camera angles, all right. And they already know when to switch the cameras, which I thought was interesting is they didn't just shoot it from all angles, and then edit date all together. No, they had this camera. And then this one would go off and this one would go on. This would go off this one would go on like they knew exactly when to go to each camera angle. I just thought that was super cool. And they were very talented. Yeah,

Jeff Dwoskin 19:09

I gotta imagine they probably have that down like crazy. Having because they probably been doing it for like 30 years or something like that. Right?

Christian Ganiere 19:17

Like, I was so impressed. If I ever get that job. I'd be so scared. I'd be like, press the button. Press it, but don't press it. Don't press it too late. Don't be like shivering. I'd never be able to eat KFC otherwise my fingers would be greasy. And I'd be like, Oh, let me grab my drink. And then I'd spent like press it and I'll be like, Oh, what do I do? So,

Jeff Dwoskin 19:39

so funny.

Christian Ganiere 19:39

I thought I was super impressed. That

Jeff Dwoskin 19:41

is really cool. That was really cool. Was it exciting when like an IMDB one of the things that you went from like 31,002 I think you're at around 5000 or something like that now, so I don't even know what that means. Like I'm on IMDb too because once I was in this thing, you know I heard of it anyway. But my number, just put it in contrast your 5000. I'm in Don't, don't get in press 588,000, which is I think I'm right behind you. I'm right behind you a few people in between us. A few 100,000 People in between us.

Christian Ganiere 20:14

I mean, like 500,000 is higher. So technically, you have the bigger numbers. So that's more impressive.

Jeff Dwoskin 20:21

Oh, I think it's the opposite. This is like golf. The lower the number, the more impressive just by I appreciate your point of view. So but as your star meter goes up or down, I guess which is good, right? I mean, George Clooney might be a one, something like that. So it's that how actors influence is rated like they're all we got to get this guy, you know, as he's on the rise, like, Is that is that actually seen? I don't know. Like, you know, what the star meter does? I imagine it's good, right? It means good things. Good things are happening. Is everyone like, Oh, I see you're starting to get you an audition or something?

Christian Ganiere 20:58

Oh, yes. Sometimes it's not all the time. I mean, it's pretty rare. But I think they really cast you depending upon if you are playing a kid, if you're, if you look like the parents, you know, sometimes I've seen actually that it doesn't matter about your looks that they liked the kids so much. But he didn't. He looked nothing like their parents. So they fired the parents and gotten new ones. And I was like, Whoa, it was really like that actor. So I thought that was interesting, but mostly depends on if you look like if you look right, and they feel like that's you for the role. Sometimes they'll be like, I don't know if that's, I don't know if we want you for this role. But we'll offer them this role, because we think there'll be really good for this one. I've had that happen a couple of times. And also, some mostly just depends on acting it like

Jeff Dwoskin 21:51

if you could focus on one particular thing, meaning, like, get on a TV show, like an ongoing now like not like a guest star like I have your own show, or just focus on movies. I know, I know, people do both now. And it was okay to go both back and forth. But where do you like want your career to focus? As you're moving forward? Would you rather be like the movie guy? Or is it you think it's fun to kind of do a TV show and settle into a character for hundreds of episodes? You know, that kind of thing? You

Christian Ganiere 22:20

know, movie or TV show? As long as I'm in the MCU as long as I'm in a Marvel movie. I don't care, man. I'd love both.

Jeff Dwoskin 22:28

All right. All right. So all right, right, right. Because all right, that's a good answer. Because now with Marvel, you can get a Disney Plus series and then expand to the ISO well played. Hopefully with that answer. Is there any characters or superheroes that in the MCU that you've thought about that you'd want to play? From

Christian Ganiere 22:46

a very young age? I never really caught my hair. And I was always pretty riled up. So I always thought of myself as young thought. So I don't know young Thor play the part

Jeff Dwoskin 22:56

of me kind of cool. Oh, yeah, that would be good. That would be like a Disney plus the origin story of Thor. Yeah. I can see that. I saw pictures. Yeah, you had quite a head of hair versus your Stranger Things. Do but one more thing before we talk about Stranger Things, which I thought this was incredible. The presidential Humanitarian Award, you got this from Obama and President Obama and 2017 or work with inner city after school programs, like Simi learn and nonprofit organizations like the Salvation Army apart? One question is, how did you get involved in doing so much charity work at a level would get the President's attention? And then, you know, is it a family thing? Do you guys all kind of do that? Or like what inspired that? I think it's amazing. And then then I'll ask you questions about actually getting the award.

Christian Ganiere 23:48

Yeah, I've always just want to help people. My father's he kind of got me into that and made me realize it from a very young age, that not everybody has what I have. And so I wanted to help them with that. And, in fact, a little and so what we did is we usually keep canola bars, or like crackers or something in our car. And whenever we see homeless people prepare for now in Bookstart, they'll help them

Jeff Dwoskin 24:15

some that is amazing. And then what was the ceremony like just kind of getting that medal and all that kind of stuff? Yeah, a picture with the President. I take it I'm sure.

Christian Ganiere 24:25

I was. Eight. So I was just excited to be at a new fancy room. I was like, dude, fancy room, spiral stairs. I'm going crazy. Oh, I was just glad to be there. I didn't even know all this, therefore. And I was afterwards I was like, wait, I'm getting an award. And then my dad told me and I was like, Oh, that's so cool. We it's from the President. Oh my gosh, I feel like I'm royalty. But yeah, that was super exciting. So

Jeff Dwoskin 24:53

when I was in high school, I think it was high school, or a teacher once told me said if you can get a picture With the President get a picture of the President and you put it on the wall. It doesn't matter which President right, it just, it's you and the President. And that's something that stays on your wall. Like because like, that's like the coolest thing. I was like, you know, in terms of being able to meet the leader of the free world, so I'm very jealous. I've yet to meet a president I've met. I've met people, but not so anyway, that's, that's really cool. And thank you for doing all that. And it's awesome that your parents instilled that in you. That's, that's amazing. So very cool. Sorry to interrupt this amazing conversation with Christian Gagnaire. We have to take a quick break. And now we're back with Kristian Guinevere. Hopefully you didn't get so inspired that you ran off and did charity work and you're not finishing and that you are here listening the end of the conversation because we got the Stranger Things. Oh, Stranger Things, conversations coming up. All right now. All right. Let's talk about this show you were on recently with let me look up the name of it again. Stranger Things I believe it's called.

Christian Ganiere 26:02

Yeah, maybe I don't really recall that. Woman or

Jeff Dwoskin 26:07

you have no memory of it. Well, let's talk about before you got on the show, because you are in season four, play 10. And were you a fan of the show prior?

Christian Ganiere 26:16

Cool. Yeah. I love the show. I went to the season two premiere.

Jeff Dwoskin 26:20

Really? That's really cool. Right? So you loved Stranger Things. So season two, how old would you have been in season two versus when you shot season four? What's the time difference there? Roughly?

Christian Ganiere 26:31

I'd say? Yeah, about 10 is 1011. Yeah, I was alright.

Jeff Dwoskin 26:38

So how did how did you become aware of what was the audition process like for for the role of 10 is the role of 10. The one you originally went out for like was that? Did you go for this role? And this is when you got or was it? You know, like, like you mentioned earlier, sometimes you can go in for something else.

Christian Ganiere 26:55

Yeah, I first started watching the TV show, because my my parents actually, they love d&d, like they used to play all the time. And we still do play sometimes as a family. And so when there was d&d in a TV show, and it was like a sci fi ish TV show, they were like, do we got to watch this. And it was ended up not being entirely about d&d, but mostly about d&d. And it was still good, they loved it. And so they were talking about it so much. And honestly, you know what, I'll watch the TV show. I'll see what it's about what stay then I love it. And so that's how I got introduced to a. So when I got when I auditioned for the role, I pulled 110% of my power to get this. Like, I wanted this role sold back. So I auditioned it. I auditioned for it back in 2019. And then I got a call back, like, a month or two later. And then after that, they were like, Okay, we just need we love what you did we want you it's just been a confirmation from Netflix, to make sure that you're, we can book you. And then I was like, oh, okay, so I'm probably going to, I'm probably going to get the wall of like, 60% sure I was going to get the wall. Then we waited a little while we waited, we waited six months, then they were like, Hey, we haven't dropped you. We are still waiting. And I was like, okay, then another six months, and then they're like, Okay, we're still haven't booked you. We are still waiting. And so obviously do what the heck, I can't tell if they're just saying that which I was starting to get a little doubtful by then. But yeah, a couple of months after that randomly. They didn't even say anything up until then, they just randomly called my manager and was like, Hey, he got the role. So my manager called my mom, and then she was like, Hey, you got the role. And then my mom went over and talked to me. And she was like, hey, you've got the role. And I was like, oh, yeah, funny joke. Haha, I got the role. I don't really get the joke, but okay. And then my mom was like, No, I'm being serious. You've got the wall. And I was like, what? I was like, I don't believe you. You have to call Constance right now. My manager, you have to call it right now. And then I I called her and she was like, Oh my gosh, Kristen, you gotta Oh my gosh, you're like us? And I was like, There's no way so I was freaking out. My manager was freaking out. My mom was freaking out. Everybody was freaking out.

Jeff Dwoskin 29:37

That's amazing. And that would have been a cruel joke if your mom was just joking about that. But that's, that's awesome. That is so so cool. So it's an extra kind of one. You booked a role or reoccurring role on the show. But to you were kind of a fan of the show. Yeah, right. So it's like it's a super extra kind of thing to be a part of Right, you get to fanboy a little bit as well. That's awesome. That's awesome. So what was it like working with? You worked very closely with Matthew Modine. How was Papa?

Christian Ganiere 30:09

He was awesome. He was super funny on set. When I first saw him, it was like, we're like a week into shooting. And I first saw him. And I was I was still 12. So I, I hadn't had my growth spurt. So I was still pretty short, like five, six. So I was like, pretty small, I'd say. I mean, some people say that's tall. But I'd say that was pretty short. And I first saw him. He's like, 6263, I forgot this exact type. But I think he said he was six, three. And so when I first saw him, I was like, This dude's tall. I don't know why, but I probably because he's very skinny. But I was like, Oh my gosh, this dude is so tall. And because I had seen him in the first season. And he was so scary in the first season, because he was like this random authority figure. I was like, terrified that this dude, at first, I was like, I was like, panicking. I was like the students tall. He's intimidating. It's so scary, but then like a week later with the best of buds. So at first I was like, super freaked, but he was so nice and so fun on set.

Jeff Dwoskin 31:20

That's awesome. So because you guys you literally kick off season four episode one. I mean, it's it says scene with you and Matthew Modine and your magic eight ball? Did they let you keep the magic eight ball?

Christian Ganiere 31:33

Oh my gosh, you're giving me all this such good advice. Why don't I think I base? I should have thought of this like, well, for

Jeff Dwoskin 31:41

next time. You call me first.

Christian Ganiere 31:45

I just have to at this point.

Jeff Dwoskin 31:49

I think like if you were to do comic cons and stuff, you could probably bring eight balls and sign the eight balls I bet people like would take that. Even in lieu of like a photo. You know, I mean, like when you sign the photo? I mean, how cool would that be? An eight ball signed by you? A magic eight ball rather?

Christian Ganiere 32:05

Yeah, that'd be awesome. I want enable signed by?

Jeff Dwoskin 32:08

I think I know. So when they can make that happen.

Christian Ganiere 32:12

Right? Who's that? You give me the phone number? I

Jeff Dwoskin 32:14

will right after the show. I don't want to era to everybody. Which other? I mean, besides one through nine? And 11? Did you work with Paul riser? Like who what other kind of? Because I know sometimes like you had scenes very specific was Paul riser around you know who who else was around of the main cast or was while you were filming your stuff.

Christian Ganiere 32:37

Not a lot of people were around because they were shooting up in Poland. Albuquerque, New Mexico, and then Atlanta, Georgia. And we were in Atlanta, Georgia. But the main thing that they wanted to make sure didn't happen was not only because they were in different locations, shooting different things was also that they don't have actors over there if they don't need to be there. Because of COVID. They didn't want anyone there. They want everybody to stay at home and stay safe. And so they were being very cautious with it with everything. So unless they needed to be there, then they just liked it.

Jeff Dwoskin 33:19

Did you get to meet Paul riser. No, I did not. Okay, well. Have you ever heard of Have you seen the movie by by love? It's from 1995 I wouldn't expect but if you look up by well, make sure it's okay with your parents. I don't remember exactly what the movie was, but it stars a 1995 version of Matthew Modine and Paul riser. They're in that movie together. Yeah, check that out. Yeah, I Matthew Modine, these are all 80s people. So these are the people I grew up with, you know, Winona Ryder and Matthew Modine and all that kind of stuff. And Paul riser was like one of my favorite comedians and actors. It's the whole cast is it has such a neat, nostalgic feel, in addition to being so cool to watch now was intense for you as an actor. I mean, you're like, shoot these were not the happy scenes in Stranger Things. Right, you're seeing in the beginning is actually that the lead in that introduces the entire massacre of all day? One through a while one through 10. Right. And so our, I won't give it away anyway, but it was that intense to like, do something like this where you die in Iron Man, it's like kind of a lot, right?

Christian Ganiere 34:34

One thing that really helped me was the fact that I was a fan of the show beforehand. So I when I was on set, it made me feel like I was actually there because I had I had it felt a little familiar because I had seen that room before and earlier seasons. And so me being a fan of the show. It was literally like I was there because I was And so that helped me got into my character more. And yeah, the scenes were very intense. But I felt like I really was the character. So it helps me a lot.

Jeff Dwoskin 35:11

That's awesome. So now when you walk around or go to you get recognized as 10 from Stranger Things, right? Used to be the Subaru kid, right? But you'd still get it, you probably don't get as it recognize, because you were so much younger that you're probably twice the height now, right? Hair is different, right? So you still got the face, you still kind of look the same, but like, but from immediate recognition, probably now. Have you done like comic cons or anything like that and got to meet with the fans and all that kind of stuff.

Christian Ganiere 35:39

We're actually going to come back on the 21st to the 24th. And we're doing signings, so we're going to send you okay,

Jeff Dwoskin 35:49

that can be your first Comic Con, then.

Christian Ganiere 35:51

No, we have gone full time. I think I started going when I was like around 10. And then we just kept on going so I've gone through like, a bunch of them. And we usually always pause play, but um, uh, let's see being costume as.

Jeff Dwoskin 36:08

Okay, well, I, I have an idea for Yep. So speaking of fans, right. So there's a fan theory that Eddie Munson character is 10. Right, you've read you've probably read that right? Which probably isn't, you know, because he doesn't have any other than being able to shred a guitar. He didn't seem to have powers later. So maybe, maybe not right. But you this is just something you have to deal with people bringing this up all the time this fan theory,

Christian Ganiere 36:37

you know, I'm okay with them bringing it up. I personally love the character, Eddie. Yeah, I'd love it. If I was saying that would have been awesome. On top of him saying that you have bus fare as a kid, which 10 has also 10 doesn't have any blood on him when he dies, nor broken bones. So who knows the Duffer Brothers may make it happen. But one thing that I read that I thought was so cool was that Eddie Munson was so good at the guitar, they set up the dates. I don't know if they did this intentionally, they probably didn't. It probably is just a coincidence. But the Master of Puppets, the song he played, it was made a week before the day it was in the show, meaning he had a one week to master the master puppets, and play it in juice, do phenomenal on it. And also, they didn't have like nutube back then. So he would have had to play it over and over and over and listen to every single key and do it correctly. So I just thought that was

Jeff Dwoskin 37:48

awesome. That is amazing. It was so cool that much Metallica loved it as well.

Christian Ganiere 37:53

Yeah, I thought that was awesome. Metallica was like, they were super cool about it. And I was like, Wow.

Jeff Dwoskin 38:00

All right. So here's my idea for you. Okay, I know you're into cosplaying 10 Because you're 10. Okay, but just drafting off the conversation we just had. What if 10 You went as cosplay Eddie Munson. Now think about it. Think about divers. I think about like the good starting game pictures and like you want the fan. You want conspiracy theorists to take it to the next level and break the internet. Oh my god, that kid who plays time right. That'd be like a beginner Blaze. 10 Cosplay does Eddie Munson? Yeah, these are theories, you know, boom, there you go. Think about it. Think about it.

Christian Ganiere 38:36

You know, I don't want to start anything. But I think if I did that, they would have to make it to where it's had is Eddie months, and I'm

Jeff Dwoskin 38:44

saying I got it seems like an opportunity seems like an opportunity. You know,

Christian Ganiere 38:51

you're like, the smartest thing. Like you're thinking of all these crazy. That's

Jeff Dwoskin 38:58

why I'm here. That's why I'm here. So I need a break. The internet was a second I saw that. My oh my god. That'd be the greatest thing. Get the pictures are you going? But TMZ got a picture of it. Oh, how did TMZ know this was happening? You know, let get your dad or mom to leak it. You know, boom. As you blow it up. And oh, yeah, that'd be the coolest part. Is that if they write it in because you did that? You'd set the internet on fire. Hi, that would be cool. All right. So what's next for you? Besides Comic Con?

Christian Ganiere 39:30

Yeah, you know, I'm gonna ComiCon as well as I'm gonna have a my mom's spreading a couple of strips. So we'll see how those go. She's always including me and all for sure. Which is amazing. And I love her for that. But I'm having a I'm sure you know horror movie this fall. And I won't be playing the villain.

Jeff Dwoskin 39:50

That's cool. That's exciting. That's pretty cool. That's awesome. So you you've got this enter your home. You got your mom who was like this. He Huge writer, right? And you got your dad, big director, and you're acting, you know, does any of that directing or writing? Is that rubbing off on you? And maybe not this at this moment, but you could see, you could become that triple threat as you go, you know, if you got the writing and YouTube and all that kind of stuff,

Christian Ganiere 40:16

you know, I've always I've always pitched ideas to my mom, and then she'll tell me if they're like, and or if they're good. So some, I was pretty general. I was like, Wait, mom, I've the best movie it ever was aliens invade Earth. At that my mom was like, Oh, hey, yeah, that, that that could work. There's been like, a couple 100 movies about that. But you know, and then I was like, worried. But what if there was earthquakes and volcanoes? I think dinosaurs and then my mom was like, okay, yeah, yeah.

Jeff Dwoskin 40:52

And it's one of those ideas

Christian Ganiere 40:56

will pop. I think, Oh, okay. If I get more specific, and less general, I think I could make

Jeff Dwoskin 41:03

it. Exactly. Well, I can't thank you enough for hanging out with me. This was a lot of fun talking with you. It really was I had a blast. Where can people keep up with you on social media?

Christian Ganiere 41:14

Yeah, you can find me at fishing today. air.com. And that'll, that'll lead you to all my social medias. interviews I've done. We'll probably put this one on. So that'd be awesome. But I'm most active on Instagram. So you can just go Christian veneer on Instagram. sent me a DM

Jeff Dwoskin 41:32

Cool. I'll put all the links in the show notes when the episode airs, so everyone can get a hold. Yeah. And then I'm going to look forward to that. Eddie Munson cosplay photo, I'm going to I'm going to cross my fingers and hold my breath on that one. Thank you so much. I am I'm excited to talk to you now. But I'm even I'm just more excited about all the cool things you have ahead of you. So it's gonna be exciting to to watch your career. So thanks for sharing this moment with me. much appreciate it.

Christian Ganiere 42:00

Yeah, of course. All right.

Jeff Dwoskin 42:02

Thank you so much. All right. How amazing was Christian good near seriously, head over to the shownotes. In the show notes. There's a link to the Subaru ad that depression was the star of when he was five years old. I promise you money back guarantee. It's one of the funniest commercials you will love it. It's hilarious. Also go rewatch season four, episode one that first eight minutes, Christians rockin that first eight minutes with Matthew Modine. He's in a bunch of other episodes also, but adds a real focus with the eight ball and all that kind of stuff kicking things off. Really, really cool stuff. Presidential humanitarian awards so much working with his parents. How cool is that? Dad is the director mom is a writer. So cool. All right. Well, with the interview over I can only mean one thing that's right is divert another trending hashtag from the family of hashtags at hashtag round up. Download the free hashtag roundup app at the iTunes App Store or Google Play Store. tweet along with us. And one day one of your tweets may show up on a future episode of Classic conversations, fame and fortune awaits you. All right. Well As luck would have it hanging over tags a weekly Game On hashtag round up just recently did a hashtag and homage to Stranger Things #WhenStrangerThingsHappen. So how could I resist Christian name 10 on the show Stranger Things hashtag boom. I don't think I had a choice. All right, here's some tweets #WhenStrangerThingsHappen. When Stranger Things happen. I hear Kay bushes running up that hill playing non stop when Stranger Things happen. Eddie Munson shreds. Yeah, when Stranger Things happen. I'm usually nowhere around. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. These are some awesome #WhenStrangerThingsHappen tweets. When Stranger Things happen. Choice A personal soundtrack is important. Gotta stay safe from veck Na, when Stranger Things happen. 80s tunes hit the charts again. That's right as y k Bush is driving around and up 50 fancy cars right now. When Stranger Things happen. Bring out the popcorn. Oh, yes, the dramas are starting. When the Stranger Things happen. Grab a magic eight ball and let it be your guide. Worked for 10 I'm sure it'll work for you. When Stranger Things happen. I just turned my frown upside down. Whoa, I see what you did there. And our final #WhenStrangerThingsHappen tweet. When Stranger Things happen. It's probably because Levin wants our waffles. Oh, right. All right. Go to eat your own #WhenStrangerThingsHappen. Tag us at Jeff Dwoskin show. I'll show you some Twitter love Gosha On Twitter love, all the tweets I read. They're all retweeted at Jeff Dwoskin show on Twitter as well. All right. Well, the hashtag is now complete that can only mean one thing. Oh my god, we're at the end of another episode episode 148 is now complete. I want to thank my special guest, Christian Guinier. And I want to thank all of you for coming back week after week. It means the world to me, and I'll see you next time.

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