Larry Saperstein: Prioritizing Wholeheartedness

Had an amazing conversation with actor, singer, dancer Larry Saperstein about life, showbiz, and the importance of doing your best rather than trying to be the best.

The interview was recorded on Dec. 14th, 2020 Larry who was in Utah just before the holidays shooting the second season of "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,"

"It's not about being the best, it's about doing it graciously and wholeheartedly."

"Just because I'm going through a two month period where I don't have any ideas, doesn't mean I'm not creative."

Larry Saperstein plays "Big Red" on "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series," a reinvented take on the two-time Emmy Award-winning "High School Musical" franchise, for Disney+. Most recently, he portrayed the role of Timmy in the first season of BET’s "First Wives Club." Saperstein can also be seen opposite Kiernan Shipka in the film "Fan Girl," directed by Paul Jarrett. Formally trained as a dancer and vocalist, Saperstein has starred in several regional musicals including "Oliver!," "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Miracle on 3th Street.” 

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Transcript

Larry Saperstein Episode

Mon, 2/1 10:20PM • 34:11

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

people, tap dancer, pandemic, dance, life, feel, season, years, moment, months, film, tap dance, journey, grateful, long, new york, tap, home, broadway show, live

SPEAKERS

Lisa Hopkins, Larry Saperstein

Lisa Hopkins  00:00

This is the stop time podcast. I'm your host, Lisa Hopkins, and I'm here to engage you in thought provoking motivational conversations around practicing the art of living in the moment. I'm a certified life coach, and I'm excited to dig deep and offer insights into embracing who we are and where we are at. My next guest stars in the Emmy Award winning Disney plus series High School Musical the musical on which he plays big red. Most recently, he portrayed the role of Timmy in the first season of BTS First Wives Club, and can also be seen opposite Kiernan shipka. In the film, fangirl. He is formally trained as a dancer and vocalist. And side note, I can vouch for the fact that he's a wonderful tap dancer. He has also starred in several regional musicals, including Oliver Fiddler on the Roof and Miracle on 34th Street. It is with great pleasure that I welcome Larry sapra Steen to join me today on stop time. Larry, welcome. It's so great to see you.

Larry Saperstein  01:05

Hi, thanks for having me.

Lisa Hopkins  01:07

Oh, my gosh, it's my pleasure. So where where are you spending most of your time these days?

Larry Saperstein  01:12

Well, right now I'm in Salt Lake City, Utah, where we film our show. And we're just in the midst of filming season two, and it's been a wild ride. So

Lisa Hopkins  01:22

yeah, seriously, how long have you been there? Well, so

Larry Saperstein  01:26

we started shooting the season before the pandemic. So I, I mean, obviously, you know, I've lived here on and off for almost two years now. But we started shooting this season in February. And then we stopped in March. And then I moved back here in September. So I went back home to Long Island. And then I moved back here in September, and we started back up in like October. So yeah, so we've been kind of going ever since.

Lisa Hopkins  01:56

Oh, wow. That's really interesting. So you were in the midst of was it season one or Season Two?

Larry Saperstein  02:03

You were season two, Season One is already it? Is there.

Lisa Hopkins  02:06

Yeah. Okay. So, how Tell me about that. What was that, like when you sort of had to shut down and go home?

Larry Saperstein  02:13

I think, you know, we shut down relatively early in the grand scheme of things. I think Disney is, you know, very proactive. And so they pulled the plug, before we really knew what this thing was, it was like still, early in March, when when we got our shutdown. And so I think at the time, we were just a little confused. And, and we also really thought that we were only going to be gone for, you know, a month, maybe we thought that, you know, everyone was just gonna stay at home and do their thing, and it wouldn't get too bad. And little did we know that this would become like, the entire year of 2020. But the good thing is that I think we were all going through it together. And by all I mean, like the entire world, the entire, like, entertainment community, you know, nobody knew that property's gonna shut down for over a year. Nobody knew, you know, all of these things. And so I think we're just one very small part of a larger, larger, global pandemic, you know?

Lisa Hopkins  03:14

Yeah, no, for sure. For sure. And there's something it's kind of, I mean, not to minimize it. But there's something about that idea that we're all in it together, right, pardon the pun, but literally, that sort of kind of normalizes it, at least a little bit. Right. Yeah,

Larry Saperstein  03:29

exactly. Yeah.

Lisa Hopkins  03:31

No, that makes perfect sense. So I'm curious. I'm really curious to know about that, that space like that. That transition, if you don't mind talking about it, like between, you know, when it got shut down, and you were kind of, you know, probably in the groove, right of what you were doing? And then yeah, yeah, go go for I mean,

Larry Saperstein  03:47

I mean, usually, so usually, it takes us about, like, an episode or two to, like, get back into the groove, because, you know, you're shooting and you have to sort of find find it again. And, and, you know, you're in this new environment. And so, you know, this happened season one, and it happened season two, and so we were really just, we really, were just starting to get into the swing of things and starting to, you know, fall back into who our characters were, and what the storylines were, and all those things. And then to sort of get shut down and go home was just like a crazy thing. I was very lucky. You know, my, I, my parents live on my island, and I immediately just went to their house. And at the time, I also still had an apartment in Brooklyn that I was sort of floating back and forth between. And you know, it was, it was just a crazy summer. A lot of people that I know that were living in the city, you know, moved out until a later date, like, you know, so many people moved and aren't moving back until this is all over and I sort of did a similar thing. The lease was up in July and we sort of packed up and went our separate ways for now and and so that was a that was a lot You know, sort of shift in my life, a lot of things definitely shifted, and for the next couple of years is is different, you know, I thought I thought we would finish this season in July, you know, if there was no pandemic we would have wrapped in July, it would be airing now, you know, and I would be back in New York trying to, I don't know, do a Broadway show, do something in between seasons or something like that. But instead, we're sort of still in it. And, you know, we'll be done soon, you know, we still have basically another like month and a half left. But once once we're done, then, then I'll get a nice break. But I probably won't be going back to New York, I'll probably go to the west coast, because it's just a little bit more easily accessible, especially if I come back here for a third season. Hopefully, we get that hopefully.

Lisa Hopkins  05:51

Yeah. And that's knowing you that, you know, I don't know you that well, but knowing that you're very connected to New York. Yeah, that's, that's a pretty big decision for you, right?

Larry Saperstein  06:00

Yeah. Yeah. I also think one of the great things about the pandemic, and I've noticed this with a lot of other people is like, it's given people the opportunity to say, there's no other time in my life, that I will be able to do this, do this particular thing, you know, like, so, for example, for me, I am always being brought back to New York, because I, I'm a theatre person, and I'm a dance person. And obviously, the top world, the tap dance world is largely based in New York. And, you know, there's a lot of opportunities there for someone that performs on stage, you know, or who loves performing on stage? Well, in this particular situation, there is no stage, and there's no performing on stage right now. And so, for me, I've always been a little nervous to give up those opportunities, and to go to LA, to try to look for something new. But right now, I'm of the mindset of like, when else am I going to be able to try this? And when else am I going to get sort of the kick in the but that I need to, like, try that new thing. And so for me, I think it's been really a great opportunity to sort of reflect on the situation and think like, Okay, well, you know, we're going to be done here in a couple of months. And theater will probably not be back for another three or four months after that. So that gives me a great period of time to go and try that. Try living there for three months, however long and see if I like it. And if I like it more than I can stay, and if I hate it, then I'll leave.

Lisa Hopkins  07:39

Yeah, well, perspective is everything right? Yeah, you don't really know until you until you go and sort of check it out. I love that you were able to sort of pivot and see the opportunity that was presented by by Yeah, this sort of status of, you know, the, the rhythm has changed, you know, the rhythm is has literally changed.

Larry Saperstein  07:58

But yeah, and I think that's, I think that's what we're all having to do, in just our personal lives and in our creative lives. You know, so many people that, that work on stage or that, you know, teach dance classes or, you know, they make their living off of being in social situations have had to figure out how to, how to adapt. And I think that is like, the the sort of mantra of this time is that is that like, adapting and shifting perspective?

Lisa Hopkins  08:27

Yeah. Oh, 100% I'm curious to know, what your biggest challenges have been so far. Is there anything that you've really faced that you've

Larry Saperstein  08:36

Yeah, I don't know, if I ever approached it as like a challenging time, which is, which is hard. But I also, I sort of have been able to recognize some of my own privileges and some of my own things that I've been very lucky to have, you know, like, I had a home to go to I had a place that had an extra bedroom for me, I had like, a mom that can cook me food, you know, for for six months, or however long. And I was really able to, to sort of work on other things that I never really worked on before. Like, for example, I couldn't I couldn't really tap dance which was which was a hard thing because I you know, I love going to the studio and and dancing and taking class and I and then especially after coming here in September, I don't have any you know, floors here and I am also in an apartment so I really haven't been able to dance nearly as much here in Salt Lake so I've had to sort of put that on the on the backburner for a little bit but I learned how to play the piano. So that was sort of my my substitution for creativity and, you know, working in music and dance and, and one day I'll I'll be so happy to get back in the studio. I'm sure I'll need a little bit of brushing up. I'm sure won't be So, as great as they were, you know, last March, but But yeah, I think it's just a, it was just about, like, trying to find those substitutions, finding other things that were able to fill that void.

Lisa Hopkins  10:15

Yeah. And it's interesting, because certainly, I'm sure working on a series like that, as you said, You're pretty busy too, right?

Larry Saperstein  10:23

Yeah, yeah. And, and, you know, the craziest thing is, it is a musical show, right? Like, I do get to tap dance in the show, I do get to sing in the show. And I'm so lucky that my show is a musical show, because that is what I'm good at. And that is what I love to do. But it's also a TV show. And like, you know, the nature of television and film is that you're not doing the same thing every day. So if I was on Broadway, you know, there'd be the scene, and then there'd be the dance. And I would get to do both of those every day. But in, in television world, like, I only dance, you know, or sing on my show, once a month, maybe, right. And then like, every other day, I'm just doing scenes, which is like, wonderful. And I love acting as well, you know, acting is probably right up there. I love being an actor. But in terms of practice, and in terms of, you know, being a good musician, and being a good dancer, you know, some days I walk on set, and I don't say a word, or don't have any lines, but I'm there for eight, nine hours, you know, just sort of giving reactions because I'm in the scene, but the scenes not about me, or whatever it is. And that's part of the job. But you know, I would love to be dancing every day. But that's just not the nature of the job. And I you know, so that has been an adjustment really, you know, over the last two years. So I wouldn't say that that's a real like, pandemic thing that has just been a life adjustment. Because previously, before I before I went into this show, I was going to dance class once or twice a week and then doing school, you know, and so I had tap dance was like such a fixture of my life. And then coming here, it's less about tap dance and more about, you know, being an actor.

Lisa Hopkins  12:13

Yep. No, that makes sense. And as you pointed out, I mean, consistency is not there. I mean, it's, it's probably even harder. So then when you are asked to dance on the show, you probably recording it all day long to get a million times then not again, right? Exactly,

Larry Saperstein  12:29

exactly. Like we have a you know, we shoot a dance number. It's like, Well, today is the day of the dance number, and you're gonna do it 100 times. Yes. Make sure that you get it right as many times as you can. And if you mess up, that's okay, too. But, you know, yep,

Lisa Hopkins  12:42

that's gonna be done. Never again. Yeah, yeah, no, it's definitely a very special skill. Amazing. No, I hear you. That's, that's really cool. What I was gonna say is the fact that you were able to, to make that pivot like to playing the piano, as you said, and that kind of thing. Was there a moment before then where you felt like, I don't want to say victimized, but in the energy work that I do, we call you know, we talk about a victim level of energy, where we feel like stuff is happening to us. And a lot of us felt like that during the pandemic, right? I mean, naturally, we would, yes, because we couldn't control it. So I'm just curious to know, before you made the pivot, I'm curious about that space, like where you were, like, you know, before you got enough energy to sort of be clear headed enough to go Wait, there are other things I can do.

Larry Saperstein  13:28

Yeah. Well, I was actually in a very interesting position, because I still had schoolwork to do. I was doing school remotely, actually, pre pandemic anyway. And so then when everything went remote, I was like, Okay, well, I still have to do this work. So there was like, papers that I was writing and things that I was doing. And I was actually, in the early stages, feeling grateful that I had the time to do those things and put in the energy that I needed to put into them. Yeah, so I graduated college in May. And my thesis was to write a short film, essentially. And so what I was really lucky with was that, like, it was initially going to be a short film. And then because I had extra time, I turned it into a feature length film, you know, so to fully to fully expand and to fully flesh out that idea. And so, so I think I was always really approaching it from like, I have to try to do these things. I think that from the moment that I arrived home, I had like this laundry list of things that I wanted to try to do. And I don't know if I did all of them, but I definitely did some of them. I think I think it's actually very interesting. I almost feel more, more that way more in that victim state as things started to go on longer because I almost felt like I was running out of steam. And then it was like, well, I you know, I wanted to write a song and I did that. Okay, well, I want to To learn how to play piano, and I'm doing that, but that's a long journey, you know, like learning how to play piano takes years. And so I've been playing for eight months, okay, that's great. But But now I'm like plateaued because I can't take lessons. So it was the running out of steam for me. And then just trying to remind myself that just because I'm going through, like, a two month period where I don't have any ideas, doesn't mean that I'm not creative. Yeah,

Lisa Hopkins  15:23

thank you for sharing that. I mean, that's very insightful of you to to recognize that. So yeah. No, no, I mean, it's super, super cool. Because it sounds like being busy is very important to you like, and I don't mean busy for busy, Nick. But But being productive.

Larry Saperstein  15:40

I I love, I love working. I love, love, love. You know, we're here, I live in Salt Lake City, Utah to work. So for me, I'm like, I want to be doing something for this production, every single day that I'm here. And if I have to, you know, if I have to go to set at 7am and leave at 8pm. And I mean, I think that God gives me a purpose, right. So like getting up and going, going to do my, my thing, my skills every day is is really important to me. And that's and I think that comes from like my new york sensibility. Like, I think, you know, it's the grind. And I and I love that that's like part of who I am. So yeah, so it was trying to figure out how to do that without leaving my house, basically. Yeah.

Lisa Hopkins  16:28

I understand why you do it. And I'm hearing that you get a lot out of it. Because Yeah, but tell me more about why it's important for you to be in the grind to be all in. Yeah,

Larry Saperstein  16:39

I think it's not necessarily a conscious thing. I think it's more just like, that is the energy that I have surrounded myself with for most of my life. And I think it's very much like a New York thing, the people that I've been around and you know, the people that are good at what they do, they they work really damn hard. And they you know, they work every single day. And so I will always find myself getting down on myself, if it's like been a week, and I didn't do you know, any of the things that I think are important, like, you know, pre pandemic, if I didn't go to class for two weeks, because I had a show in school that I was working on, or if I had a production or, you know, whatever homework, even, like sometimes I couldn't go to class because I had a big project that was due on Thursday. So I couldn't go to class on Wednesday night, you know, and I would just always find myself getting angry with myself, because I think like, I've always learned that, like, if you want to be good at something you have to, you have to do it all the time. And so I never want to let my skills fall. And that's really tricky. When I have a lot of skills. I'm an actor, I'm a tap dancer, I try to be a vocalist, I try to be, you know, a musician, I try to be an artist to try to write. So there's all these different things. I'm always sort of indexing trying to think like, Okay, well, what is the thing that I haven't done in a while now. And so now I need to brush up that thing. Like, maybe I need to write, you know, for this week, because I haven't written anything in a couple of months. And so like, my sort of journey over the last, maybe four or five years, since I've been like an adult in quotes and adults is like, what are the things that really, really make me, you know, passionate? And how do I hone in on those things, and also forgiving myself for letting the other things slip, because I can never be good at everything at one time. So I've been trying to allow myself to say like, Okay, well, this year of my life, or this month, or this six months, I am a tap dancer, or I am a musician or I you know, and it's okay that the other things will fall because at a certain point, I will, I will be good at them again. And I think the other thing too, is like I've actually been going through this mental journey over the last, this is a very recent sort of thought process is like, I recognize that I am not the best tap dancer in the world, right and I will never be the best tap dancer in the world. However, I have to be able to give myself credit for what I am doing, which is like tap dancing on a TV show that is, you know, massively accessible to the general public, and inspiring people that have never tapped us before or maybe never seen a boy tap dance or you think dancing is for girls or whatever, like inspiring those people. And so I'm starting to give myself credit for like, what is this actually about? And what am I actually trying to do and it's not about being the best. It's about doing it graciously and doing it wholeheartedly and helping it live on and so that's what I've been trying to hone in on.

Lisa Hopkins  19:57

Hmm, amen.

Larry Saperstein  19:59

Yeah,

Lisa Hopkins  19:59

no No, that's, that's really beautifully articulated.

Larry Saperstein  20:02

You know, I also think we're also our own worst critics all the time. It's like, when I actually sit back and think about the people that I've tapped dance with, and this and the circles that I've been in, in the community that I'm in, I am, I am at that level, but in that circle, I'm not the best. And that's okay. You don't mean like, like, I have to, I have to realize, like, I actually have done the work. And like, when I look at the, when I look at the full spectrum, you know, I'm, I'm, I'm not at the bottom, you know, I am a tap dancer, right? Like I am, I am a professional tap dancer, and I have to be proud of that accomplishment. But then it's so hard when you're in, you know, when you're in the circle that you're in to, to not look at the other people in that circle and say, Oh, well, this person, you know, this person has much better timing than me and this person is, you know, is always is always has cleaner sounds than me or, or this person is a better, you know, improviser than me. And I do that. And I think we all do that with everything, right? Like, you know, when I think about acting, and I think about, like the people that are in my show, it's not about being the best in that circle all the time. Sometimes it's just about allowing yourself to be proud of yourself for being in that circle.

Lisa Hopkins  21:13

It sounds like, there have been a lot of what what I would say, limiting beliefs around maybe what successful in any realm look like, right? Yeah. And then an awareness because you because you are multifaceted. You've seen the best, if you can play there's the best anywhere, but you've seen you've seen very high level, people in all the areas that you're interested in your life and that you also practice, it's interesting, cuz you said like indexing yourself like that, it sounds like you apply that same, same kind of categorization of yourself that you do to other people, you put them in, you index them in the best, that's maybe just the way your brain works, in order to understand right where you are and stuff and that, and that's interesting. And, you know, there's probably a lot of opportunity in there. And it sounds like you're already embarking on that journey. With this idea, idea of permission may not be the best, but to throw maybe to throw away the, the idea eventually that there even is a best and that if, if the journey is just the journey, and you do your very best at any given moment, which is what you described PS, when you said I'm here, and I'm here to work, and I'm not going to bitch about getting up at seven and working for 12 hours, because I'm here when you're very all in. 

Larry Saperstein  22:25

Yeah, I think that that is just what I personally need. For my mental health. Yeah, you know, like, like, everybody is different. But I think that is my train of thought and not inner monologue that gets me to a place where I can allow myself to relax, and say, like, I'm doing the thing, you know, I'm trying to do it to the best of my ability. And if today, I only played piano for 15 minutes, that's okay. It's better than if I didn't do it at all,

Lisa Hopkins  22:56

you know, allowing yourself to just just play the piano a little bit, rather than not playing at all, because you couldn't give all give it as all is huge for you.

Larry Saperstein  23:06

Yeah, yeah. I mean, I think that, like, I always want to be seeing progress within myself. And I always I, you know, I think I have a tendency to compare myself to other people. And I think we all do. And so what, what has been my journey for, you know, definitely this year, but but probably probably before this year, too. But definitely, as this year was progressing was like, you know, figuring out that, like, I'm surrounded with amazing people. And I'm really grateful for that. And I can learn something from each of them. But I don't have to be as good at them all the time. So it's allowing myself to recognize that, you know, we all have something different to bring to the table, and that's okay.

Lisa Hopkins  23:51

Mm hmm. That's awesome.I love that. Yeah. What is your definition of living in the moment?

Larry Saperstein  23:56

I don't know, if I always do, I think that's a it's a hard one for me. Because I think that is like, maybe the whole point of happiness and like, being able to be comfortable with what you have and where you are. So maybe that's my definition, you know, being being able to be comfortable with what you have and where you are, and not to be striving for, for things that are down the line. But I think that's a really hard thing, especially in this industry. Because you're always searching for the next thing, right? Like you're always on the grind to be like, Okay, well this, you know, this Broadway show is closing in three months, and like, I need to work after that. So I think like, that is maybe like the eternal struggle of show business. Right. And and I think that is maybe a large reason why so many people struggle, you know, with, with their happiness and, and comfort but then, you know, then there's there's a lot of people that that are able to feel grateful for what they have in the moment and and I admire those people. A lot.

Lisa Hopkins  25:00

Yeah, have you can you think of a time when when you've kind of been in that zone,

Larry Saperstein  25:03

I think maybe maybe during this year, I was able to sort of relax and feel grateful for the things that I had. Because I was able to recognize that I was really fortunate other people, you know, lost their jobs, and I was able to come back and still be working. And so I'm very, very fortunate. And so I think this if there was ever a year to sort of take a little bit of inventory and see how things are going and check in, I think this was the year and I think that that's how I've been feeling.

Lisa Hopkins  25:33

What do you know will be true about you, no matter what happens? Well,

Larry Saperstein  25:37

I know that I'm a very loyal person, I tried to keep friendships in my life, you know, as long as possible. I think that's been something that as I'm getting older, I've been able to really look back on and say, Wow, this person has been in my life for 14 years. And I'm 22, you know, so that's a huge deal. And so I think my goals for myself is to always stay grounded, no matter, no matter how famous I get, no matter how much I work or don't work, because that's what's gonna keep me able to, to keep floating along. I take

Lisa Hopkins  26:12

no, for sure. What What does grounded look like for you?

Larry Saperstein  26:16

Well, to me, I think it's very important to have friends that are not in the industry. Like, it's important to have people that are never going to be, you know, famous, right? Like, one of my, one of my, you know, greatest closest friends is a psychology major, right? And she's like, gonna go be a therapist, and that's what she wants to do. And so I think, for me, it's about making sure that I have other people in my life that, that see things from a different perspective. Because that, because I think that was, but then it's also about making sure that I have people in my life that see things from my perspective, because sometimes I need that. So it's about it's about the balance.

Lisa Hopkins  26:52

No, no, that makes sense. That makes sense. So if your life was like an open stage, and you were the writer, director, and the principal player, what story would you create for yourself?

Larry Saperstein  27:03

I don't know.  Well, there were definitely be dancing involved. I mean, I'm sure it'd be some kind of tap show. I don't know, I think I think my my sort of journey has been a story of finding myself and like finding my own comfort and happiness. And I think that would be maybe the maybe the primary plot is like some sort of just a just like an emotional, a self emotional journey, I think is, is where I'm at right now.

Lisa Hopkins  27:35

I love that. Yeah.

Larry Saperstein  27:36

I mean, I tend to see the world in stories, like regardless of whether or not they're on a stage. And to like, in my mind, like, this is a chapter of my story. This year is a chapter of the global story. I tend to see the world in those chapters in those moments.

Lisa Hopkins  27:54

Yeah, no, that makes sense. No, that makes makes really good sense. What would you say is your strongest attribute?

Larry Saperstein  28:00

I don't know. Maybe my maybe my strongest attribute is, is my sort of dedication and like professionalism, I take what I do really seriously, and I tried to, to always do my best. And if I'm, if I ever have a day where I didn't feel like I did my best I, I get down on myself, which is maybe not the best, but it's a reminder that I that I really do care about what I do. Hmm,

Lisa Hopkins  28:25

yeah, yeah. And that really resonates, I'm sure, in your work and the people you work with, as well as the people that you just live with and love in your life. Yeah, no, that's super beautiful. Where do you see yourself in five years?

Larry Saperstein  28:39

Well, hopefully, in five years, I, you know, we rode this show out for as long as we could have possibly done it. You know, and hopefully, I've done something else that has allowed me to continue in the business. I want to make sure that after this show, I still work and still do as much as possible. Maybe Maybe I'll have done a Broadway show. Maybe I'll have, you know, produced a film that I wrote or something. But yeah, that's kind of that's kind of the the journey,

Lisa Hopkins  29:12

ya know, for sure. What about like, further down the line? Like, what about 10 years when you're like all of 32 years old?

Larry Saperstein  29:19

I mean, I would love to maybe this is more for further than 10 years, because I know that this is a sort of life journey. I would love to to be a showrunner on a television show. That's like, that's a great goal. There's a lot of responsibility. And that's like a full time job. And I would love to sort of explore that, that journey a little bit more.

Lisa Hopkins  29:41

That's very cool. What about 50 years from now? What do you want to accomplish? 

Larry Saperstein  29:45

Well, I don't know. I mean, I hope that I have a giant family. And I hope that I'm respected for the things that I've done in my life. Yeah, I just want to know that I made a difference, but I want to know that through my words, And through the things that I did I like made a difference to people and like the industry and made something better.

Lisa Hopkins  30:06

Yeah, that's beautiful. But is there anything else like any other career that's not arts related? Is there anything else that you'd love to do? If If you could lead a million lives?

Larry Saperstein  30:17

Yeah, um, you know, so I've always, you know, wanted to, you know, be a teacher or like, there was a, there was a brief period of time where I was like, I could do, you know, I can learn how to do computer programming, or I think one of my passions was like, feeling smart. So weird, weird way to put it, but like, I really just loved like, learning new things and, and gaining a new understanding of things. So something that would allow me to do that, I think, you know, would, would fulfill me and in a similar way, you know,

Lisa Hopkins  30:49

yeah, so I'm just gonna say "what makes you" and you're just gonna say what comes to your mind. So ... I'm gonna say, what makes you hungry?

Larry Saperstein  31:01

A long day of work?

Lisa Hopkins  31:05

What makes you laugh?

Larry Saperstein  31:07

I don't know if you've ever played jackbox games? (No.) They're like these games that you play with friends and you like, play them on your phone? And that you did a lot of people coming up with like, random answers for like, silly prompts. And those recently have been making me laugh a lot when I played them with my friends. 

Lisa Hopkins  31:24

What makes you cry? 

Larry Saperstein  31:28

Maybe loneliness.

Lisa Hopkins  31:31

What makes you feel inspired?

Larry Saperstein  31:34

Honestly, the people I'm surrounded by, you know, like, I'm surrounded by so many incredible inspiring people, and they really helped me move forward.

Lisa Hopkins  31:43

What frustrates you?

Larry Saperstein  31:46

maybe feeling like I am not doing enough? 

Lisa Hopkins  31:51

What motivates you?

Larry Saperstein  31:52

 The desire to like, be better at what I'm doing? 

Lisa Hopkins  31:55

What makes you mad? 

Larry Saperstein  31:57

Dishonesty or, or sort of like a breaking of trust.

Lisa Hopkins  32:04

And what makes you grateful?

Larry Saperstein  32:06

By I'll just say my job, my I love, I love my job. And I'm constantly reminded that I'm lucky to be here. And that's like, a really wonderful thing.

Lisa Hopkins  32:15

mm..yeah, I'm gonna ask you, what are the top three things that happened so far today? 

Larry Saperstein  32:22

Well, I didn't do much today, we had a little cast zoom check in just because we do on every week, just to make sure that we're all doing okay, just because when we're on set, we don't really get to, you know, interact as much. So zoom call is like a nice way to just check in for like, a half an hour and talk about nothing, talking about whatever we want. So that so I did that today. And you know, I felt good when I woke up this morning, and I had some oranges. And so I feel so good.

Lisa Hopkins  32:54

So you've got your health!

Larry Saperstein  32:56

Yeah, you know what I'm gonna do for the rest of the day. But I guess we're only going up.

Lisa Hopkins  33:00

What are you most looking forward to?

Larry Saperstein  33:02

Honestly, right now, because we're in the thick of it. I'm looking forward for like this season of my show to be released. I think people have been waiting for it for a long time. And it's been a hard year. And it'll just be like a really nice marker for the things that we were able to accomplish during this crazy time.

Lisa Hopkins  33:21

Yeah, no, absolutely. You guy's have been working really hard to get this done. (Yeah.) It's gonna feel amazing! Yeah, no, that'll be a joy.That'll be a joy.  Listen, I'm so I'm so grateful for you and for taking the time to be in the moment with   me today, Larry, really.

Larry Saperstein  33:34

Thank you for for having me! 

Lisa Hopkins  33:36

It's been my absolute pleasure. I've been speaking today with Larry Silverstein. Thanks for listening. Stay safe and healthy everyone and remember to live in the moment.  (outro) In music, stop time is that beautiful moment where the band is suspended and rhythmic unison, supporting the soloist to express their individuality. In the moment, I encourage you to take that time and create your own rhythm. Until next time, I'm Lisa Hopkins. Thanks for listening.