Indie Film Tribe: Filmmakers/screenwriters/directors/actors Creating Socially Conscious Content

So this episode is a bit of a departure from the Indie Film Tribe norm, but as an artist, I think you'll find this episode very interesting! Sourabh Kothari is an Indian man who grew up in China and spent most of his life here in the US. He has been a storyteller for some of the world’s largest brands, and his team was nominated for 2 Emmy awards when he was working in Silicon Valley at one of the world’s largest tech companies. Now he is the co-founder of IntentWave, where he’s building artificial intelligence that can sense emotions. At his company Intent Wave they’re building artificial intelligence that can sense human emotions through wearables like your Apple Watch. This allows us to create digital empathy, because we can reflect back to each person their own personality. Their own natural emotional and behavioral patterns, their own decisions, and ultimately what’s causing their stress, their pain, and how to start making small behavioral changes to be happier and healthier. To Learn More Please

Actor, Writer_Producer Lita Lopez shares her journey to producing, writing and starring in her first film project, THE GOOD BALLOON. The Good Balloon brings out of the darkness two debilitating struggles that almost all of us will face at some point in our lives, but very few really know how to talk about - GRIEF & Mental Illness. When it hits your life, it can truly feel like you've been run down by a bus and all the light has gone out of the world. That's how our guest Lita Lopez was feeling on one dark day when this miracle story happened. Please visit: https://www.seedandspark.com/fund/the-good-balloon#story     

As you may or may not know I did end up taking a break from the podcast, you can hear about it Season 3 Ep #1, so this week’s episode was actually recorded a few months ago. What ended up being such a surprise, when I pulled up the filmmakers website to prepare for this email, it was such a wonderful surprise to see that his film has picked up so much traction since the last time we spoke. It’s interesting because when I interviewed him, he and I were both pretty frustrated about our first feature film not being accepted into many/any film festivals. He was struggling, I was struggling, and it’s so wonderful and fascinating to see how we both are now in a completely different place. Life is nuts, but this is such a lesson in having faith, patience and believing in your project. #TheGodInsideMyEar

Allison Volk is an award-winning writer, film producer and actress. In 2017 she wrote, produced and acted in her second feature film, Deany Bean is Dead, a darkly comedic story about a woman who tries to win back her ex-boyfriend at his engagement party - without revealing that her boss' dead body is in the trunk of her car! Allison has written and produced six short films and written several plays which have enjoyed production in Los Angeles and New York, one of which took the Denise Regan Wisenmeyer Award in 2010. In 2014 her first full-length play, Rite of Seymour, enjoyed production at the Son of Semele Ensemble in Los Angeles and her second full-length play, Sonnets, Songs & Sorry, Will's Been Dead 400 Years! premiered in 2016 as part of Shakespeare Orange County's summer season.  She is currently in pre-production for a short fantasy/drama called What Katie Did that will shoot in Colorado in August 2018. Her dark action comedy feature script Tiger Woman recently won Best Screenplay at the Utah Film

I've brought back talented actor Becki Dennis from episode #8 ! In that episode she talked about being a plus size actor in Hollywood and shared her amazing journey from Boston to Los Angeles. check it out if you haven't, it's awesome! One of the reasons I love bringing back guests is because you get to witness their progress as they move forward in their careers after hearing the "behind the scenes"  interview on the podcast. At the time of our last interview Becki had booked roles on THIS IS US, SPEECHLESS and a handful of other shows, and now about a year later, oh my gosh you guys, this woman is on fire! I found this episode to be incredibly inspiring for oh so many reasons. Her work ethic is undeniable, her focus, positive mindset and kindness are traits that I find to be truly admirable.

Her short film Muted (on HBO) is about a black family struggling to draw in law enforcement and media attention to their missing daughter. Brandi Nicole Payne not only wrote it, she also stars in it alongside Chandra Wilson of Grey’s Anatomy, and Malcolm Jamaal Warner. An all star cast on her first self produced short film! And of course it’s an award winner. Watch it here now:  http://www.mutedthemovie.com/ Brandi is currently finishing up her time with the HBO Access Diversity screenwriting program and she is also getting ready to make her directorial debut! Click Here for more info: http://www.alohashortfilm.com What makes her even more inspiring is the fact that she is also an actor, a mother of three, a wife, and she even has a part time day job! If you ever feel like you don’t have enough time or resources to bring your dreams into fruition, you may be inspired by this tremendous lady. No excuses!  

In honor of Black History month, this week I thought it would be fitting to shine a light on an incredibly inspiring black filmmaker. This incredible woman is a powerhouse that is doing amazing things! When we talk about history, we look to the past which is very important, but I am also interested in shining a spotlight on folks that I feel are making history or are on the brink of making history in big and in small ways. The amazing lady that I had the pleasure of interviewing this week, is not only a talented filmmaker but the creator of the Make a Film Foundation, the Commercial Diversity Directors Program and so much more. I bring to you...Tamika Lamison! In this episode we discuss everything from the state of black projects in Hollywood today, Creating your own content, Diversity and representation in film and the value of screenwriting and directing contests/programs. Please feel free to share! Makeafilmfoundation.org Lastlifethefilm.com Intro Music: Out of Order https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/ou

Manifesting Your Mission in 2018 Welcome to Season 2 of the Indie Film Tribe podcast! I thought it would be super appropriate to bring back award winning actress, who is also the CEO and Founder of the New Hollywood to help get us set up for success in 2018! She has been running a goal group for kick ass creators for over a decade and really knows her stuff. Listen now! If you need help with setting your goals, check out Brianna's latest guide book MANIFESTING YOUR MISSION : CLICK HERE Want to learn more about her non-profit The New Hollywood, CLICK HERE and TAKE THE PLEDGE!

So in this final episode of season one, I discuss the importance of not allowing a lack of money to be an obstacle in creating your projects.   I also talk a little bit about what I am going through right now with my film projects, and last but certainly not least, I am also inviting  you to help me make Season #2 of the Indie Film Tribe podcast even better than Season #1! Please click here to answer a few questions. I want to heare from you and make Season 2 even better! CLICK HERE NOW~

 One of the things that I really enjoy about doing this podcast is that I get to experiment and try new things. This week I  interviewed a former client. She came to me about a year ago because she wanted to produce her own project. She had never produced before, but was dertermined to take her acting career into her own hands by producing and starring in her own short film! This is part #1, of what will hopefully be a three part journey. In part one we focus on the beginning of her journey: from the idea to self produce, to her actual on set production days! I’ll let her introduce herself: Hi! My name is Kristi Roosmaa. I am an Estonian-born singer/actress living out my dreams in New York City. I got my start at age 5, performing in Estonia at a bread making factory. I was immediately hooked, and I have been singing and performing ever since. I have been fortunate enough to enjoy an amazing career so far that has included such highlights as performing as a soloist at Carnegie Hall and singing the iconic role

Mathilde has been a Sundance Channel Shorts Contest finalist, a co-leader of the FilmShop collective and a member of the Independent Film School's writer-director lab. Her latest short film PETA PAN stars Independent Spirit Award nominee Nisreen Faour. She co-created ALMOST ANONYMOUS, a web series about a support group for celebrity lookalikes (Best Original Concept, NYC Web Fest 2016).  Mathilde also produces animation videos; she has received two Pulitzer Center grants and has had her work featured in a number of publications, including French newspaper Le Monde. When the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists received thousands of leaked documents about Luxembourg's complicated deals with corporations, her tax haven explainer was translated into seven languages and featured on the websites of ICIJ's media partners around the world.  Mathilde is a Teaching Artist for the New Victory Theatre and Roundabout Theatre Company as well as an Instructor of Film for the School of the New York Times.

Actors DISCOVER What to Write About in three steps:      1. WHY: Why make a short film and how will you use it to advance your acting career. CHARACTER: What type of character do you need or want to play? TOPIC/THEME: Write on a topic or theme that’s important and matters to you.   Download the companion pdf at IndieFilmTribe/whattowrite

Rico E. Anderson, an award winning actor, the oldest of 11 children on his mothers side and the 3rd of 4 children on his fathers side was born in Seaside/Monterey, CA and raised on the south side of Chicago as well as the San Francisco Bay Area. It was in Chicago where Rico's love for the arts began.  Rico's selected film and television credits include The Orville and Rosewood on FOX and Young & Hungry on Freeform. Other selected works include, The Mick, Grey's Anatomy, The Fosters, NCIS, Modern Family, Criminal Minds, K.C. Undercover, Two and a Half Men, Mike & Molly, 2 Broke Girls, Days of our Lives, The Bold and the Beautiful, Murder in the First, Sullivan & Son, Justified and The Shield. Rico's breakthrough role was in the 2005 Academy Award Winning short, "Mighty Times: The Children's March" portraying civil rights activist, Shelley "The Playboy" Stewart. This period piece was Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson (Marvel's The Avengers, Star Wars Trilogy) and Sam Elliott (The Hulk, The Big Lebowski)

Claire is such a light and shares so much wisdom in this episode. She has been a performer her whole life and a writer / producer for nearly 10 years, most recently producing branded content for Refinery 29, The Atlantic, Huffington Post, Travel+Leisure, Southern Living, Real Simple and more. As a writer/producer her work has been honored at the Telly, Gracie Allen and New England Emmy Awards and screened at the LA Shorts and Arizona Film Festivals.  Claire wrote, produced and starred in Simpatico the Webseries, an interactive show in which the audience determined plot outcomes through online voting,  and is currently a partner and Executive Producer at Craft Collective Films (craftcollectivefilms.com) in New York City. She has appeared Off-Broadway and in numerous other NYC, regional and touring productions and is the writer, producer and lead in the feature film, CARBON, which has been selected as a participant in the Big Vision Empty Wallet Diversity Initiative  and was a semi-finalist in the 2016 Nashvill

Ashley Eberbach is a true gem. She was born in Ann Arbor, MI before moving to Los Angeles in 2004 to build her work as an independent filmmaker. Ashley is an award winning Director for films she has also written and produced. Ashley is a still photographer and music video/commercial director as well with a special interest in fashion, dance/sport, and musician branding. She is currently developing a feature thriller set to shoot in Detroit, MI. Outside of film she is passionate about animal/enviornmental groups, 90’s RAP, and exploring abandoned structures. Burn One Productions believes in giving back. We donate 20% of our Burn One Clothing™ sales to HELP FOR FLINT &  DISCOVER YOU COMPTON, a youth after school program in Compton,CA where we help teach classes in film, photography, and video production. Special thanks to Dion & Dannie Watson for all of their hard work creating this center.  We also urge you to get involved with your local wildlife center.  We donate yearly to The California Wildlife Ce

Noel Orput is an actor, writer, producer, director and an activist who teaches artists who want to create their own content.  He has written and directed eight short films, a Pilot, three web series, and a feature film which will soon be on Amazon.  All of these projects were self-produced. He is also one of the creative producers of ARULA  (Artists Rise up Los Angeles) SHORT FILM FESTIVAL which focuses on FILMS THAT EXPLORE POLITICAL AND/OR SOCIAL ISSUES.

This episode is a re-release of a webinar that I did a while ago. In this episode, you will learn: How to discover the most effective type of project to create for yourself that actually can catapult your career to the next level How to leverage that project in order to get the representation that you want or book your career changing role IF YOU ARE AN ACTOR AND YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT CREATING YOUR OWN CONTENT, THIS EPISODE IS FOR YOU! www.idea2preproduction.com

Emily Best has been on my radar for quite some time and I've been inspired by seeing her company Seed&Spark grow over the years.   Not only is she a remarkable entrepreneur, a film producer but she is the Queen of Fundraising as the CEO and Founder of Seed&Spark. In this episode Emily shares why and how Seed&Spark came about, her new venture with the Duplass Brothers and: How Indie filmmakers can build independent sustainable careers by using Seed&Spark   The importance of building an audience for your film   Engaging with your audience before  you launch, growing your audience outside of the people who are already funding you and rowing your audience after your crowdfunding campaign is complete and so much more!   Tune in, she is fabulous!  www.seedandspark.com

For Jesica, film financing, international sales and producing all serve a passion she’s held on to since childhood: the art of telling a captivating story. A native of the Philippines, Jesica’s obsession with storytelling began at the age of two when she would orate tall tales from atop a bench at the local market. She spent her childhood between the Philippines and California. After graduating from university, she went on to film school, where she developed her passion for producing. Her love of producing took her to her first job at Academy Award Winning production company GK Films (The Departed, Hugo) followed by Lionsgate (The Hunger Games), where she worked with their international sales teams at both companies. The opportunity to move into production presented itself at Arclight Films (upcoming Jungle, Reclaim, Crash), where she is currently Manager of Creative and Operations. At Arclight, she’s learned first-hand, from development to release, how various market forces, creative elements, and producing

Dawn is a member of the Producers Guild of America, SAG/AFTRA, and #WeAreWITI. She is an Award Winning Writer / Director / Producer. Her directorial debut, “The Usual,” was an Official Selection at Festival de Cannes American Pavilion Emerging Filmmakers and screened at ShortsCorner at the Cannes Market, as well as many others (with Producers Sharen Davis, Renee O’Connor and Kumari Bakhru).   Currently she is in development on the feature films “Passing Through” (with Co-Owner / Producer Brooke P. Anderson at Cordova Pictures and with Sharen Davis), “Shanghai Nirvana” and “Sleepers” (with Sharen Davis, Bill Killgore and Richard Lu), and in prep on “Fatherhood” which she wrote, and will be directing and producing.   As a writer, Dawn has written several screenplays, including “Off The Ledge” (starring Brooke P. Anderson (The Perfect Host, Lost) and Andrew Pinon (Singled Out), who co-wrote the film; Zosia Mamet (HBO’s Girls), Jenny Mollen, Nectar Rose, and Anne Ramsay (League of Their Own); “Diamonds & Gun”