The Staffa Corner
Greg Staffa created The Staffa Corner Podcast to provide listeners with a Staffatarian look at entertainment and life. Focusing on honest conversation, Staffa’s podcast is an appreciation of those he finds interesting in and out of television and film.The journey taken by Staffa in the industry started more than 8 years ago writing for Your Entertainment Corner. Motivated by the desire to become more knowledgeable in his field, he leveraged his learned and acquired knowledge and skills and earned himself the opportunity to interview celebrities such as Pierce Brosnan, Ethan Hawke, Martin Freeman and Seth Rogan among others. Setting up his own in home studio, Staffa is branching out into podcasting while continuing to write for YEC. An unsung hero recognized by The St. Cloud Times in 2013, and a Staffatarian to the core, Staffa spent several months in 2010 on a 48-state road trip transforming the perception of homelessness. During this time, he handed out over 1,000 pairs of socks and hundreds of cups of coffee to the homeless, before he finally settling down in St Cloud Minnesota. By July 2020 Staffa’s journey came full circle having bought a home. To his credit, he still finds time to help others. Staffa is able to build and maintain incredible working relationships, an attribute that has contributed greatly to his success. Consequently, actors, writers and directors among other TV/film stars are always open to guest. He has covered red carpet premieres for films like Stuber and Booksmart among other star studded TV premieres.
The Staffa Corner
Tara Pirnia Talks About Her Directorial Debut At SXSW With Switch Up
One reason I created The Staffa Corner podcast is because we’ve witnessed a decline in our ability to engage in thoughtful debates and maintain civil discussions. When someone disagrees with us, our reflex is often defensiveness.
As a TV/film critic, it is easy to write a negative review, post it, and swiftly move on to the next critique.
Recently, I had the opportunity to screen Switch Up, which premiered today at SXSW. Although there were several positive aspects, my thoughts on the film leaned toward the negative. Let’s face it—we tend to gravitate toward criticism. When I had the chance to have the film’s director, Tara Pirnia, on the podcast, I eagerly accepted.
We engaged civilly during our 45-minute conversation, and I enjoyed talking to her. Did Tara concede her mistakes and align with my perspective? No, but that wasn’t the goal. Sometimes, a civil disagreement doesn’t alter viewpoints. Instead, it fosters a deeper understanding of differing opinions.
I sincerely appreciate Tara’s willingness to join the podcast, especially considering it was recorded just 24 hours before the release of her first feature film.
Switch Up premiered at SXSW March 10, 2024 and will likely be making the film festival rounds. You can read my review here.
