By Paul Salfen, exclusive for AMFM Magazine
In the cutthroat arena of high finance, where deals are struck in boardrooms and dreams are crushed under spreadsheets, Bull Run emerges as a sharp existential comedy that skewers the absurdity of it all. Directed with a keen eye for the surreal, the film stars Tom Blyth (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) as Bobby Sanders, a former pro hockey player turned junior banker, grappling with life’s big questions amid the gilded cage of Wall Street. Alongside heavy hitters like Chris Diamantopoulos (Silicon Valley) and Jay Mohr (Jerry Maguire), the ensemble includes Ashwin Gore (Shameless), who brings his multifaceted talents a to the project.
Adapted from Bill Keenan’s novel Discussion Materials: Tales of a Rookie Wall Street Investment Banker, Bull Run draws directly from Keenan’s own rollercoaster ride in investment banking. Before the book hit shelves, Keenan made waves by quitting his associate gig at Deutsche Bank with what DealBreaker dubbed one of “Wall Street’s Greatest F*** Y’all Emails of All-Time.” That bold exit sets the tone for a story that’s equal parts hilarious and harrowing. Keenan serves as a producer here, joined by Doug Ellin, Karen Baldwin, Howard Baldwin, Andrew Sugerman, and Bill Immerman.
The supporting cast is stacked: Zach Villa (American Horror Story), Jordyn Denning (Pam & Tommy), Helena Mattson (Seven Psychopaths), Trevor Gretzky (Loudermilk), Troy Garity (Ballers), Sam Daly (The Office), and Alyshia Ochse (True Detective). David Newbert handles cinematography, capturing the frenetic energy of finance with a visual flair that amplifies the comedy’s existential bite.
AMFM Magazine caught up with Ashwin Gore in a lively conversation to dive into his role in Bull Run, the film’s origins, and what makes this Wall Street satire a must-watch. Gore, no stranger to wearing multiple hats in Hollywood, shared insights from the set and beyond, revealing the human side of high-stakes hustle and the joy of creative disobedience.
The Interview: Ashwin Gore Unpacks Bull Run
AMFM: Bull Run looked like a blast to make. What made the set so fun?
Ashwin Gore: It all comes down to the director at the end of the day—the captain of the ship. Alfredo created an environment that was a real playground. The script he wrote was just a blueprint, and he gave us permission to play, develop things, and improvise. A lot of the film came out of that. Those sets are always fun because you don’t really know what’s going to happen—that’s the magic. It’s fluid, not structured like some TV shows.
AMFM: Tom Blyth plays the straight man amid all the chaos. What was it like working with him?
Ashwin Gore: Tom’s a really great guy. In this movie, he has to play the straight man with a lot of crazy characters around him, which isn’t easy. It takes skill to stay on path while the wackiness swirls around. It’s a testament to who he is as an artist and as a person—super kind and sweet.
AMFM: Do you have a favorite memory from the set?
Ashwin Gore: We shot this in 2021, so COVID was still happening, and everyone was cautious. My character is the son of an Egyptian billionaire with a manservant he takes everywhere—that whole character wasn’t in the script. It started with this little Asian dude in the first scene. Me and Alfredo said, ‘Hey, this guy was great. What if he’s just there all the time as the assistant?’ It developed from there. That was the moment I thought, ‘This is the kind of set I want to be on.’ It’s about coming up with things on the fly, not being stuck in your ways. That’s how I want to run sets for stuff I’m writing and producing.
AMFM: You’ve been part of so many cool projects. What advice do you have for aspiring actors?
Ashwin Gore: It’s the same advice people have given for eons: Don’t ever quit—you only fail if you quit. Keep doing it, and things will happen. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. But the biggest thing is to hone in on your ‘why.’ Why are you doing this? There are easier ways to make money or get fame nowadays. If storytelling is what your heart and soul are about, understanding that keeps you on the right path and helps you choose projects you’ll enjoy. We can’t control the results—when the film comes out, how it’s received—but you can control your time on set and the journey. Focus on the joy; the rest falls into place.
AMFM: You’ve mentioned a ‘Hail Mary’ moment in your career. What was yours?
Ashwin Gore: It was moving to America. I’m from Australia originally. I did theater there because film and TV opportunities were limited unless you were like Chris Hemsworth—blond hair, blue eyes. After college, I had a choice: Stick with random commercials or go to LA, where I’d always wanted to be. I started fresh—no one knew me, no American credits, never lived there. I came during the 2008 crash, the worst time to set up and find jobs. It was a risk—either it pays off or it’s a slog. It’s been a bit of both. You’ve got to take risks day in, day out, be disobedient to your doubts. Change your story, and you never know what’ll happen. Just like in the NFL—mid-season trades, shake things up.
The Why That Keeps Him Going
Success, he says, isn’t a destination. It’s a daily choice.
“I tell young actors: Don’t quit. You only fail if you stop. But more than that—know your why. There are easier ways to make money. Easier ways to get famous. But if storytelling is your soul? That’s your compass. You can’t control the release date, the reviews, the box office. But you can control the joy on set. The journey. That’s yours.”
Even rejection, he says, is fuel.
“Every ‘no’ is a weird kind of ‘yes.’ It means: Get better. I send a script, they pass—not because it’s horror and they want rom-coms, but because mine wasn’t sharp enough. So I level up. Let go of results. Stay in inspirational dissatisfied action.”
The Billionaire’s Son Who Wanted to Direct
Ashwin’s character in Bull Run is more than comic relief.
“He’s the son of an Egyptian billionaire, stuck in banking—but he secretly wants to make movies. Of everyone in the film, he knows what he wants. And he goes for it. Relentlessly.”
He smiled. “People will laugh at the manservant, the accents, the absurdity. But underneath? This guy’s chasing his passion inside a system that doesn’t care. And by the end, even Tom’s character—Bobby Sanders—has his moment. He says: Screw this. I’m out.”
“That’s the Hail Mary,” Ashwin said. “Every character makes one. And that’s what I hope people take away: Life’s not about knowing what’s next. It’s about leaning into the fear. That’s when the good stuff happens.”
What’s Next?
The industry’s in flux, but Ashwin’s not waiting.
“I’ve got horror films in finance with a directing partner—Weta Workshop’s involved, the Avatar and Lord of the Rings folks. And me and Alfredo? We’re cooking up more off-kilter comedies. I’m writing. Producing. Acting. The world’s my oyster.”
He paused, then added with a grin: “Also, I’ll probably pop up on some TV shows again. You’ll see me.”
The Takeaway
As we wrapped, Ashwin left us with one final thought—something he carried from the Bull Run set into everything he does now.
“This movie solidified it for me: Be disobedient. My audition? I added a whole scene at the end—a mini short film. They loved it. Why? Because I didn’t play it safe.”
He shrugged, like it was the simplest thing in the world.
“Don’t wait for permission. Make the thing. Take the risk. The set will catch you.”
Bull Run hits theaters November 14th. Bring your sense of humor—and your existential crisis. You’ll need both.
Ashwin Gore is an actor, producer, writer, and director. Follow his next moves. You won’t want to miss the play.
