The BraveMaker Podcast

We’re going deep into the real, raw truth of screenwriting with Hilliard Guess — writer, producer, podcaster, and director. From breaking into the industry to surviving the writer’s room, Hilliard is here to spill it all.With credits on Deadly Class (SYFY), the award-winning digital series TICKER, Amazon’s CROSS: AFTER HOURS, and the upcoming coming-of-age film MERMAID!, Hilliard knows what it really takes to make it in Hollywood.He’s also the longtime host of Screenwriters’ Rant Room, a WGA advocate, and a voice for underrepresented writers across genres. Expect real talk, wild stories, and serious insight.Watch the weekly LIVE stream on ⁠⁠BraveMaker ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Follow BraveMaker on social media:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#BraveMaker #BraveMakerPodcast #Screenwriting #TV #BlackWriters #Live

BraveMaker Podcast with special guest Kathryn Smith-McGlynn!Kathryn Smith-McGlynn is an award-winning actor, writer, director, and producer whose powerhouse performances span theatre, film, and television. She’s graced the stage in acclaimed productions like HENRY V (The Old Globe), FAIRVIEW and SWEAT (Capital Stage), and DISGRACED (San Jose Stage), and shined onscreen in The Surrogate, Mazerunner: The Scorch Trials, The Best Man, and series like Better Call Saul, Grey’s Anatomy, and The Cleaning Lady.She’s also the force behind The Green Room podcast, a platform amplifying Black artists, and the writer/director of COME AWAY WITH ME, a play for youth about Harriet Tubman’s legacy.Join us for a powerful conversation on the intersections of art, activism, and representation.Watch the weekly LIVE stream on ⁠⁠BraveMaker ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Follow BraveMaker on social media:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#BraveMaker #BraveMakerPodcast #LIVEstream #KathrynSmithMcGlynn #Actor #Director #Producer #TheGreenRoomPodcast #WomenInTheatre #IndependentFilm #BlackArtistsVoices

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🎙️BraveMaker Podcast -- Casting & Character with special guest Jane Flowers!Jane is a casting director based in Los Angeles who began her career as an actor, earning her MFA from UCLA before transitioning to casting in 2011. She’s been on a mission ever since: helping actors book roles and shine on screen.Her recent credits include Way of the Warrior Kid (Apple), Die Hart Seasons 2 & 3 (Roku), DreamQuil, Big Mike’s Cabin, and Cursed Friends (Comedy Central). She also cast Calamity Jane for the Warner Bros series REFRAMED: NEXT GEN NARRATIVES, now streaming on HBO MAX.In 2024, she was nominated for two Artios Awards for her work on Daisy Jones & The Six and Die Hart Season 2. Jane’s favorite part of the job? Creating a safe, collaborative space for actors to explore and discover.🎥 Join us for a conversation about casting, collaboration, and building creative careers in Hollywood. Don’t miss it!Watch the weekly LIVE stream on ⁠⁠BraveMaker ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Follow BraveMaker on social media:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#BraveMaker #BraveMakerPodcast #CastingDirector #JaneFlowersCasting #DaisyJones #DieHart #HBOmax

BraveMaker Podcast -- Micro-Budget Filmmaking with special guest Noam Kroll!Noam Kroll is a Los Angeles-based narrative filmmaker and creative entrepreneur best known for his incredibly DIY approach to the craft. His micro-budget features Shadows on the Road, Psychosynthesis, and Disappearing Boy have earned acclaim at international festivals, and he’s not stopping there.As the founder of Creative Rebellion, Noam has led projects for major brands like Google, NBC/Universal, and Warner Bros Technology. He also educates and inspires fellow filmmakers through his blog, podcast Show, Don’t Tell, and newsletter Micro-Budget Weekly.Currently in post-production on his fourth feature Teacher’s Pet, Noam joins us to talk all things micro-budget filmmaking: building a career on your terms, staying scrappy, and turning constraints into creative power.Watch the weekly LIVE stream on ⁠⁠BraveMaker ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Follow BraveMaker on social media:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#BraveMaker #BraveMakerPodcast #LIVEstream #NoamKroll #MicroBudgetFilmmaking #IndieFilm #CreativeRebellion #ShowDontTell #IndependentFilm #DIYFilmmaking #FilmmakingTips #BraveStories

BraveMaker Podcast -- How To Direct Female-Centric Feature Films with special guest Traci Hays.Traci Hays is best known for bringing female-centric stories to the forefront, and her fourth feature, ON THE RUN, is no exception—landing on Tubi’s Most Liked List as her third installment for FOX. Her international dark comedy MY BLOODY GALENTINE is also streaming on Tubi, and her psychological thriller BLOOD, SWEAT, AND CHEER, starring Tammin Sursok (Pretty Little Liars), was named one of Tubi’s Top 10 Originals by Vulture and Screen Rant.Before stepping behind the camera, Traci built a decade-long career in production design on features like A Little White Lie (starring Michael Shannon and Kate Hudson) and Amazon's Emmy-nominated DARK/WEB. As a director, her award-winning short FREDERICK won 20 awards after premiering at Dances With Films, while 40ISH gained recognition at Cannes’ Short Film Corner.Don’t miss this conversation about storytelling, women in film, and navigating the evolving entertainment industry.Watch the weekly LIVE stream on ⁠⁠BraveMaker ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Follow BraveMaker on social media:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#BraveMaker #BraveMakerPodcast #LIVEstream #WomenInFilm #IndependentFilm #TraciHays #FemaleFilmmaker #TubiOriginals #FilmmakingJourney

🎬Join Tony Gapastione for a conversation with filmmaker Peter Curtis Pardini!Based in Austin, TX, Peter has made several documentaries about the legendary rock band Chicago, including Now More Than Ever: The History of Chicago, released by CNN Films in 2017. His passion for documentary storytelling has fueled his journey into narrative filmmaking, where he explores human idiosyncrasies and irony.His latest film, Man Goes on Rant, will be released on April 8th on VOD, Blu-ray/DVD, and TVOD—don’t miss the chance to hear about his creative process, filmmaking journey, and what’s next!Watch the weekly LIVE stream on ⁠⁠BraveMaker ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Follow BraveMaker on social media:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#BraveMaker #BraveMakerPodcast #LIVEstream #Filmmaking #Documentary #IndependentFilm

Join our engaging BraveMaker Podcast conversation -- Making Short Films: VIRGIN and STEADY.Welcome our guests:Ramone Menon, a filmmaker from Bangalore, India, currently based in Los Angeles, California. Ramone has crafted a niche in genre cinema, particularly horror intertwined with social commentary. His film "Virgin" adds to his portfolio of thought-provoking films that challenge traditional narratives. His works have been showcased at major film festivals worldwide, including the Oscar-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival and others such as LA Shorts and Brooklyn Horror.Joey Rogoff, Founder and Executive Producer at JoRo Productions. Starting with a strong foundation in social media content that captivated millions, Joey has pivoted to producing narrative films that aim to leave a mark on its viewers. His inaugural narrative project, 'Guardian Angel,' set the stage for his production house and was followed by the critically acknowledged 'Steady.'Brian Yuran, Partner at JoRo Productions and a recognized writer-director. Brian has a history of creating films that resonate deeply with audiences. An alumnus of the prestigious Newhouse School at Syracuse University, he has consistently brought to life stories that explore the human condition through unique lenses. His latest project, 'Steady,' featuring Tate Donovan, explores the redemptive power of new relationships formed under unusual circumstances.In-Depth Look at the Films:VIRGIN directed by Ramone Menon, brings a daring reimagining of the nativity story set against a backdrop of horror. The film, which premiered at FilmQuest, delves into the psychological and supernatural elements that might have surrounded the historical event, using a blend of Aramaic dialogue to enhance authenticity.STEADY, co-directed by Brian Yuran and Joey Rogoff, portrays the life of Cody, a teen struggling with personal demons, who finds guidance and friendship in Kasey, a former boxer facing his own battles with Parkinson’s disease. This film not only navigates the challenges they face but also highlights their journey towards mutual healing and empowerment.Watch the weekly LIVE stream on ⁠⁠BraveMaker ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Follow BraveMaker on social media:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠#BraveMaker⁠ ⁠#BraveMakerPodcast⁠ ⁠#PatrickCaligiuri⁠ ⁠#TVProduction⁠ ⁠#BehindTheScenes⁠ ⁠#ContentCreator⁠ ⁠#Filmmaking

Join our conversation with Patrick Caligiuri, an award-winning producer, writer, and content creator behind some of TV’s most thrilling reality shows, including The Amazing Race, Big Brother, Naked & Afraid, and American Idol!Most recently, Patrick served as Co-Executive Producer for Fight to Survive (Roku) and The Quest (Disney+). With over 20 years in the industry, he’s mastered the art of authentic storytelling and creative innovation in unscripted television.Beyond television, Patrick shares behind-the-scenes insights as “Producer Patrick” on social media, offering a peek into the evolving world of unscripted content.Watch the weekly LIVE stream on ⁠⁠BraveMaker ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Follow BraveMaker on social media:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠#BraveMaker #BraveMakerPodcast #PatrickCaligiuri #TVProduction #BehindTheScenes #ContentCreator #Filmmaking

🎬 Join us for an inspiring conversation with filmmaker and producer Ramfis Myrthil!Ramfis is a powerhouse in independent film, dedicated to championing stories by BIPOC, women, and LGBTQ+ creators. His journey started with a short film premiering at Cannes, leading to award-winning features like Cicada (2021) and the Tribeca hit Bad Like Brooklyn Dance Hall (2023), produced alongside Shaggy.His most recent short film, RICKY (2022), premiered at Sundance and is now in development as a feature. As an advisor for Sundance Film Institute’s Collab program, an adjunct professor, and a mentor for rising filmmakers, Ramfis is passionate about educating and uplifting the next generation of storytellers. His newest venture, Ramfis Productions, is dedicated to empowering Caribbean filmmakers and underrepresented voices worldwide.🎥 Whether you're a filmmaker, film lover, or just curious about breaking into the industry, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss!Watch the weekly LIVE stream on ⁠⁠BraveMaker ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Follow BraveMaker on social media:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠#BraveMaker #BraveMakerPodcast #LIVEstream #Filmmaking #IndependentFilm #DiversityInFilm #Sundance

Join Tony Gapastione and Priscilla Lam conversation.They share insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and how this trip impacted the BraveMaker team.Don’t miss this post-Sundance breakdown!#BraveMaker #PodcastLive #Sundance2025 #FilmFestival

Watch the weekly LIVE stream on ⁠⁠BraveMaker ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Follow BraveMaker on social media:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠#BraveMaker⁠⁠ #Sundance2025⁠⁠ #FilmFestival⁠⁠ #THIRD ACT

Join Tony Gapastione and Priscilla Lam as they chat with Rachel Alig, star of the Sundance 2025-selected drama Omaha.Dive into the making of this emotional film that follows siblings Ella and Charlie on a cross-country journey with their father after a family tragedy — only to discover that not everything is as it seems.Welcome our special guest, Rachel Alig, an award-winning actress known for her performances across film and television. With over a decade of experience, Rachel has portrayed a wide range of characters, captivating audiences with her depth and versatility. Her notable projects include leading roles in films such as The Cleaning Lady (2018), where she played Shelly, and At Granny's House (2015), portraying Rebecca Torrance. She also starred in First Blush (2020) and Ghostline(2015).Don’t miss this inspiring discussion about Rachel’s career, her approach to complex roles, and the creative journey behind Omaha, premiering at Sundance!Watch the weekly LIVE stream on ⁠⁠BraveMaker ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Follow BraveMaker on social media:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook#BraveMaker#Sundance2025#FilmFestival#Omaha

Join our conversation with the special guest, Erin Brown Thomas. Tony Gapastione and Priscilla Lam host this episode about Making the Sundance Selected episodic project: CHASERS.Welcome our guest, Erin Brown Thomas, creator, director, and storyteller extraordinaire. Erin shares how her unique perspective and single-shot filmmaking style brought this bold, visually striking pilot to life.With its mix of drama, comedy, and surreal twists, CHASERS explores the lives of ambitious creatives navigating the fine line between ambition and exploitation. Watch the weekly LIVE stream on ⁠⁠BraveMaker ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Follow BraveMaker on social media:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook#BraveMaker#Sundance2025#FilmFestival#Chasers

The BraveMaker Team is heading to the Sundance Film Festival 2025! 🎉 Join Tony Gapastione and Priscilla Lam as they share insights on how to make the most of the festival and maximize your experience.Don’t miss this conversation and stay tuned for updates from our Sundance adventure!#BraveMaker#Sundance2025#FilmFestival

This episode will explore how creatives can set professional goals and stay on track to achieve them.Join to get ideas, tips, and inspiration for a successful and fulfilling year.Watch the weekly LIVE stream on ⁠⁠BraveMaker ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Follow BraveMaker on social media:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook#BraveMaker#BraveMakerPodcast#Podcast

BraveMaker Podcast with special guests Juliana Folk and Fearon DeWeese! Join our FIRST conversation in 2025 hosted by Tony Gapastione! Meet our special guests, Juliana Folk and Fearon DeWeese, the powerhouse team behind Ashella Productions!Juliana is an actress, producer, and writer with a knack for creating opportunities for diverse voices. Between acting, developing her script Namasté B*tches, and launching Napa Valley StreamFest, she’s always got something exciting in the works.Fearon spent years directing and producing, including leading roles at Napa Valley, Mill Valley, and Sundance film festivals. Her award-winning pilot UnCredited showcases her talent for storytelling, and she’s gearing up to direct her first feature, Country Roots.Watch the weekly LIVE stream on ⁠⁠BraveMaker ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Follow BraveMaker on social media:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook #BraveMaker#BraveMakerPodcast#LIVEstream#Filmmaking#FilmFestival#entertainment

We’re pumped to have Christopher Cobbs as our guest! Christopher’s story is one for the books. From singing church hymns as a kid to studying vocal music at the Oakland School for the Arts, he’s been chasing his creative spark from the start. After earning his degree in Broadcasting at San Francisco State, he launched ItsCobbsProductions and brought some amazing projects to life—like the stage show The Gift and the web series Big Girl Blues, which landed on Keke Palmer’s KeyTV this year. Oh, and did we mention he’s also worked with Disney Streaming and the Golden State Warriors Studio? Talk about wearing a lot of hats! Christopher’s all about creating art that inspires young people to dream big and go for it. Come hang out with us and hear from a guy who’s making waves in entertainment. And doing it his way. Join BraveMaker’s conversation hosted by Tony Gapastione and Priscilla Lam. Watch the weekly LIVE stream on ⁠⁠BraveMaker ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow BraveMaker on social media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠ #BraveMaker #BraveMakerPodcast #LIVEstream #Filmmaking #music #entertainment

Join us for a conversation hosted by Tony Gapastione and Priscilla Lam as they welcome filmmaker, producer, and podcast host Alrik Bursell! Alrik is an award-winning filmmaker behind feature films RED SNOW and THE ALTERNATE, boasting fresh ratings on Rotten Tomatoes. With over a decade of experience in commercial film, working with brands like Comcast, HBO, and the NFL, Alrik brings a wealth of knowledge about the art and business of filmmaking. As the co-host of the podcast Making Movies is HARD!!!, Alrik has explored the triumphs and challenges of independent filmmaking through over 500 episodes and 500k downloads. Whether you're a filmmaker, film lover, or simply curious about the creative journey, this is an episode you don’t want to miss! Watch the weekly LIVE stream on ⁠⁠BraveMaker ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow BraveMaker on social media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠ #BraveMaker #BraveMakerPodcast #LIVEstream #Filmmaking #music #entertainment

BraveMaker Podcast with special guest Shia Smith! Welcome our special guest, Shia Shabazz Smith, a filmmaker, screenwriter, poet, and educator whose work celebrates and authentically represents diverse communities. Shia is a powerhouse storyteller with accolades from the Moondance and Tribeca All-Access competitions and is a three-time Sundance Screenwriters’ Lab Stage Two finalist. Her short films, like the poignant Dawn and the humor-filled Curdled, showcase her ability to weave powerful narratives. A Cave Canem Fellow, award-winning poet, and educator, Shia’s passion for storytelling extends to empowering young minds. Tune in to hear Shia’s journey, creative insights, and passion for impactful storytelling. Let’s celebrate the art of authentic narratives together! Watch the weekly LIVE stream on ⁠⁠BraveMaker ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow BraveMaker on social media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠ #BraveMaker #Podcast #LIVE #Stream #Fundraising