The Ryan Reynolds Rolodex

Media People Newsletter
Written and curated by Victor Genova · August 9, 2024 · Issue #15

Welcome to the fifteenth issue of the Media People Newsletter. Subscribe here if you haven’t already. In this issue:

• Brigitte Sachse from Bee Video Production stops by the podcast

• The Ryan Reynolds Rolodex

• DC Comics President Jim Lee, shares his DC Comics rejection letter

• From the Media People Podcast archives: Paralympian, Joel Dembe [2016]

🔉Brigitte Sachse, Bee Video Production Founder stops by episode 103 of the Media People Podcast. We chat:

🎯Her nomadic childhood
🎯Studying business & french literature in university
🎯A career in public & private media financing
🎯Founding Bee Video Production

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and online at mediapeople.ca.

The Ryan Reynolds Rolodex

Have you seen Deadpool & Wolverine? Probably, given it has grossed $903M at time of writing. But we’re not here to talk box office numbers. We’re here to talk about the glorious cameos gracing this film. Surprise actors portraying even more surprising characters is what makes Deadpool & Wolverine special.

But how did the producers of Deadpool & Wolverine wrangle together such an eclectic cast?

As it turns out, Ryan Reynolds is a master networker. And it was his network that powered an impressive list of cameos—including one actor he had a an [alleged] on-set feud with 20 years ago. [Spoiler the link!]

But don’t take it from me. Director & writer, Shawn Levy, opens up about how Ryan’s previous films made recruiting these actors seamless. [Even more spoilers in this link!]

DC Comics President, Jim Lee: Keep At It

In 1986, an up-and-coming comic book artist named Jim Lee received this rejection letter from DC Comics.

He was told that his work 'does not meet with current DC standards', but that he had some 'interesting stuff' and to 'keep at it'.

Jim Lee is now the President, Chief Creative Officer, and Publisher at DC Comics.

The moral of the story? Keep at it.

From the Media People Podcast Archives: Paralympian, Joel Dembe

A former #1 ranked wheelchair tennis player in Canada, Joel Dembe has represented his county at numerous tournaments across the globe. Notably, the 2012 Paralympics in London and the 2015 ParaPan Am Games in Toronto, where he brought home the bronze medal in front of a hometown crowd.

He recently retired from competition, and sits down with us to chat about what it’s like starting off as an athlete, and then growing into his own personal brand. This episode was published in March of 2016.

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and online at mediapeople.ca