The Hollywood Makers

Hi everyone,This week on The Hollywood Makers, Natalia Green brings us a conversation for anyone who has ever felt that Hollywood is changing faster than they can keep up, and wondered where they fit in.She sits down with Alex Falcon, who works on the development side of the industry, for an honest and often funny look at what development really is, and how you get there when every entry-level job seems to ask for experience you don’t have yet. Alex’s path was far from straight. He talks about a first job with unbelievable timing, a place he swore he’d never work, and the moment he realized there was a side of filmmaking he hadn’t known about in film school.Along the way, he takes us behind the scenes of how stories get found before they become household names, what happens between falling in love with a project and actually getting it made, and how you protect what makes a story special when a room full of people has opinions about it. You’ll also hear why a quiet moment at a production company isn’t always good news, and how someone who watches and reads for a living knows when to switch it all off.My favorite part is when they talk about relationships. Everyone says “network,” but Alex admits he struggled with it, and what he says about reaching out and asking “why not?” might change how you think about your next coffee. They also get into why even people who love this industry need a life outside of it, which felt like a good reminder for all of us to take care of our well-being while chasing success.Whether you’re starting out or have been in the business for years, I think you’ll enjoy this look at how film and TV projects actually get made. I hope it leaves you with something to take back to your own path…Subscribe for free to get new posts from Rx MEDIA + CULTURE on the evolution of media and tech, and their impact on our culture. Share and join the conversation! Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: YZDKKXE3P87QBGWQ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rossyeeguigure.substack.com

What does it look like to enter the creative industry right now, when storytelling, technology, audience habits, and career paths are all changing at once?In this episode of The Hollywood Makers, Claudia Cano-Asbjornsen welcomes Natalia Green and Stephany Blanco, the newest Associate Producers joining The Hollywood Makers Media Lab.Coming from opposite coasts and different creative disciplines...Together, they talk about what drew them to media, the careers they hope to build, why genuine collaboration always matters, and what it means to begin making your mark in an industry that’s changing and at a really fast pace.The conversation also turns to one of the biggest questions facing emerging creatives today: where does AI belong in the creative process, and where shouldn’t it? Hear what they have to say...It’s a conversation across cultures and generations about creativity, opportunity, human talent, and the future of storytelling, and also a chance to see the collaborative work happening inside The Hollywood Makers Media Lab, an initiative of Rx Media Productions. Here we support intergenerational creative entrepreneurs who are the new Hollywood Makers building a new world and rules in the media and entertainment industry.🎙️ Hosted by Producer, Writer & Director: Claudia Cano-Asbjornsen 🎬 Featuring Natalia Green from California and Stephany Blanco from Miami, FL🎥 The Hollywood Makers Media Lab | Rx Media ProductionsMusic licensed through Soundstripe. Code: EWRTA5VQOTAJCA0PThanks for being here! Subscribe for free to get new posts from Rx MEDIA + CULTURE. Share this with someone who’d enjoy it. 🎬 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rossyeeguigure.substack.com

In this episode of The Hollywood Makers, host Valeria sits down with veteran stage and screen actor Andy Umperger. His career began in the regional theaters of Richmond and Washington, DC, took him through Broadway in City of Angels, Passion, and the 25th anniversary revival of Company, and landed him in Los Angeles in 1997. Since then he has become a familiar face on screen, from the demon D’Hoffryn on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (five hours of prosthetics in the makeup chair) to Angel, Waco, and The Accountant.Andy talks about why live theater is still his first love, how he makes quick character choices for guest roles, and why he thinks theater training gives young actors an edge. He also gets into what makes a great villain, what it’s like to be typecast as the FBI agent, the DA, or the judge, and how his definition of success has changed over four decades.They also discuss where the industry is headed: shrinking production in LA, streaming blurring the line between film and TV, and what AI could mean for actors. The episode closes with Andy’s recommendations and his advice for anyone starting out: get used to frustration, keep honing your craft, and persevere.The Hollywood Makers is a space for honest conversations about the evolution of media, technology, and the entertainment industry, spotlighting multicultural creatives, both emerging and experienced, who are shaping what comes next.Thanks for listening, and welcome to the community. Subscribe to The Hollywood Makers on Substack, podcast apps and on YouTube so you never miss an episode, and share this one with a creative in your life. We’ll see you in the next one!🎬Thanks for being here! Subscribe for free to get new posts from Rx MEDIA + CULTURE, and share this with someone who’d enjoy it. 🎬 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rossyeeguigure.substack.com

Episode by Anna PoghosyanEnrique Pedraza-Botero went to film school for narrative fiction. Then a documentary class got his attention, and he’s been following real stories ever since.A short about young men and the transactional side of online culture. A film about immigration in Miami that now plays like a time capsule. And a new project that’s moving as fast as the headlines.How do you make a film when the story changes faster than you can shoot it? And what does an immigrant filmmaker from Colombia do with a camera when the news is unfolding on the streets around him?As Hispanic Heritage Month closes, we’re honoring this year’s theme, Unidos, Somos Más (Together, We Are More), with a conversation about community, storytelling, and amplifying marginalized voices.Hosted by THM Associate Producer Anna Poghosyan. Press play.Subscribe for free to receive new posts! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rossyeeguigure.substack.com

This month we’re celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month with a filmmaker whose entire body of work is proof of what happens when you stop waiting for permission (a lo latino ;) In this episode, Anna sits down with director and writer Merced Elizondo (Manos de Oro, And Then Everything Turned Itself Inside Out) to talk about growing up in Dallas, Texas with a house full of borrowed VHS tapes, learning to direct through trial by fire, and why he believes some of the best scenes are the ones that break away from the script. Merced opens up about collaboration on set, writing from a place that’s deeply personal, and what it actually takes to survive the festival circuit as a first-generation filmmaker. It’s an honest, generous conversation about craft, identity, and why he’d rather make one good movie than chase the trend.New episode of The Hollywood Makers is live now!Subscribe for free to receive new posts! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rossyeeguigure.substack.com