Hollywood Confessional

We pick up right where we left off last episode: the first AD just pulled a real gun. This raises a storm of questions about safety measures, responsibility, and ethics. We unpack this incident, empathizing with the line producer's reaction, and explore the gray areas of accountability when guns make their way onto a film set. In this whirlwind of conflict, controversy, and collective action,...

A producer walks onto a movie set and takes out a gun. Why? Our confessor has a lot to say about that. In this week's episode of the Hollywood Confessional, we hear the first part of an intense behind-the-scenes tale from a Second AD on an independent film where a run-and-gun approach led to a dangerous situation. We discuss safety on set, the importance of engaged leadership, and how group d...

Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes in the world of commercial production? Tune in to this episode of The Hollywood Confessional as we hear stories about the immense pressure of juggling time, budget, and creativity while producing commercials.  We have three stories this week: a worldwide search for a model, a client who didn't understand that English and Spanish are different langu...

INT. MAJOR AGENCY - TV LIT DESK - DAY (2007) A dedicated ASSISTANT discovers a plan detailing exactly when all support staffers will be let go to save the agency money during the 2007 Writers Strike. Join us in the confessional booth as we hear this support staffer’s tale of seeing exactly how much their agency valued support staff… and their clients. In a parallel to some actions taking place dur...

Ever felt like you were just another horse being traded in the entertainment business? Join us this week as our confessor shares their story of becoming a hot commodity as a writer... and then losing steam. Through the emotional rollercoaster of selling a pilot and several pitches but never getting anything made, they uncover some invaluable lessons about creativity, self-belief, and various ways...

Who knows what really goes on behind the scenes in Hollywood? Crew members, that's who. This week, we're sharing a confession from a lighting technician who has worked on dozens of films and TV series, witnessing some intense safety issues and some jaw-dropping work environments. We hear stories of rigging across mountaintops and frozen waterfalls, almost killing someone with a tree, and...

Fellowship and festival season is upon us! And as we continue to support #WGA writers in their efforts to make Hollywood a happier place, we also celebrate the intrepid spirits of all those who dare to enter competitions. This week our confessor navigates the trials and tribulations of festival season successfully... only to learn that even when you win, it's not all laurels. Thanks for tunin...

TRIGGER WARNING: This week's story involves drug use. If this could be distressing to you, please skip this episode and join us next week. “I’m at a party. Somebody goes into their pocket and pulls out five or six pills. And I take all of them, and I eat them. About 15 minutes later, I’m not feeling good. I think I’m about to throw up. I’m by the sink. I look in the cupboard, and there’s a fi...

Ever thought about making your own movie? Maybe considered the advice “If you want to be a filmmaker, just shoot a film!” It sounds simple. But take it from our confessor: Do-it-yourselfing can be a dangerous (and expensive) business! In this week’s confession, we hear from a gung-ho aspiring director who gets tired of waiting for something to happen in their career and decides to take action to a...

Money. Fame. That nagging feeling that you might have given up everything you believed in to get the one thing you wanted.  In this week’s confession, we hear from a feature film writer who experienced all this and more. Well, maybe not the fame part. And… not a ton of money, now that we think about it. But they definitely sold out for a glimpse of Hollywood glory. “The whole ‘artist’ thing – what...

Hustlers will stop at nothing to make it in Hollywood. So what happens when something stops them?  In this week’s confession, a determined up-and-coming actor decides to break into the business by any means necessary. Stealing passwords, going through garbage – they’ll do anything to achieve their goal. And at first, the hustle pays off! “I would go from casting office to casting office with a bag...

What if you got your first big break in Hollywood at age 24… and then didn’t get another for 25 years?   In this incredible first confession of our second season, we hear from a fearless aspiring filmmaker who scored a job directing a studio feature film when they were barely out of college. But as thrilling as it sounds, the experience wasn’t what they expected…   "One day about halfway thro...

Hollywood Faithful! We are back and better than ever. Please join us in Season 2 for higher highs, lower lows, and crazier stories of everything that happens in Hollywood. We'll hear from writers, directors, crew members, people who have found fame, and those still chasing it. It's going to be a wild ride! Hollywood Confessional is a Ninth Way Media production, produced by Meagan Daine a...

You know who they are. Young. Smart. Hungry. Always running around trying to get people to fill out paperwork. Some of these folks find their way from entry-level positions into satisfying careers in the entertainment industry. Others – like this week’s confessor – run like hell.  “At first, I was fine with being in a coordinating role. I thought that was going to be my life. But now I wanted to b...

Hello faithful, my old friends. We've come to confess with you again!  This week we've got a confession from a sound technician who worked with one of the most famous people on earth. But despite the confessor's years of experience and determination to perform their job well, a chaotic set led by a producer who wouldn't listen led to disaster. The lesson here: if your boss sets...

There's no shortage of spooky stories in the weird and wonderful world of Hollywood. This week, we've got two confessions for you. The first is a nightmare pitch session that turns into a dream as our confessor watches his partner take down an old-school creep in front of his assistants. Next up, a Halloween party at a world-famous studio becomes a horror show when a powerful executive m...

Imagine being fired because your bosses are having an affair... and you let slip that you're cool with it. This week on the Hollywood Confessional, we delve into power dynamics in the writers' room, as a financial advisor-turned-writer gets caught in the web of a workplace romance. When our confessor attempts to "go along to get along," they end up in their bosses' crossha...

One of the biggest fears nearly all workers share in the entertainment industry? Being replaceable. Join us this week for two confessions in which Hollywood hopefuls discover just how replaceable they are... and what they can do about it. First up, an actor auditions for four separate roles in a film before being hired in a fifth role and asked to give acting lessons to the person who got the lead...

Are you putting on a happy face and doing what everyone else wants instead of pursuing your own dreams in Hollywood? Do your dedication and people-pleasing make you a target for bullies? Welcome back to the confessional booth! This week, we explore the struggles of navigating the entertainment industry without connections and share powerful stories of resilience and strength from two up-and-comers...

Ever felt stranded in a miserable work environment created by a toxic boss? Join us this week as we share two more jaw-dropping tales from the heart of Hollywood, where power dynamics can be twisted and manipulative. Listen in as we reveal a former PA's confession about a film shoot gone horribly wrong, and how a CEO's bizarre tactics led another support staffer to get revenge. Our stori...

What would you do if a seemingly perfect job opportunity turned out to be an unsettling experience where you became a witness to a potential crime? This week on Hollywood Confessional, we're joined by an anonymous guest who shares their chilling tale of trying to break into the world of entertainment writing... at a minimum wage job with a title that might be too good to be true. Our guest ta...

In a world where Hollywood isn't just a neighborhood, but a universal concept, our Confessors confront the irony of their journey, as Confessor 1 is forced to assist an abusive and manipulative Eastern European oligarch's right-hand man, and Confessor 2 gets a job as a stand-in for a salad-throwing wannabe Hollywood big shot in Vancouver. The Oligarch's Apprentice "The #MeToo m...

What happens when the production office of a reputable network TV show shares its studio space with a softcore porn production? Get ready to hear an absolutely wild tale of hijinks, hilarity, and unforgettable characters from this chaotic environment that will have you questioning everything you thought you knew about Hollywood. We explore not just the outrageous moments, but also the valuable les...

Sometimes when you're in a toxic situation, you don't realize it until it's too late. Other times, you take that situation and work the shit out of it. On this week's episode of the Hollywood Confessional, we have two confessions from entertainment industry newcomers who found themselves in abusive situations. And they have some serious words for their former bosses. Find Me, B...

Welcome to our first episode of the Hollywood Confessional! In this week's episode, we hear confessions from two up-and-comers as they battle condescension, abuse, toxic work environments, and even a car crash on their journeys to gain respect and a foothold in the entertainment industry. Can Lady "I wanted to quit that job every single day. But I kept going, and that ended up bringing m...