On Production

We’re joined by Tara Hein-Phillips, CEO and co-founder of Jolt—a film distribution company using AI, data, and performance marketing to reinvent how independent and documentary films find their audiences. With a background as Chief Product Officer at Sundance, where she launched the first virtual festival and co-founded Sundance Collab, Tara brings a rare blend of creative sensibility and digital...

We sit down with Steven Fishman, a veteran in entertainment payroll and a Wrapbook team member. With more than 26 years of experience at companies like Media Services and Cast & Crew, Steven brings a wealth of institutional knowledge to the conversation. He shares the story of how he broke into the industry on Sunset Beach , and how he’s since played a key role in serving nearly every format—f...

We sit down with the filmmakers behind the indie horror feature Dream Eater —Jay Drakulic, Mallory Drumm, and Alex Lee Williams—to break down how they turned weather limitations into creative fuel. Shot in just nine days on a modest budget high in the snowy mountains of Quebec, Dream Eater pushes the boundaries of DIY horror. The team shares how they used the weather, location, and constraints to...

We sit down with filmmaker Elliott Hasler about the making of Vindication Swim, a period sports drama inspired by Mercedes Gleitze—the first British woman to swim the English Channel in 1927. Shot over three years entirely in open water, the film demanded extraordinary perseverance from its cast and crew, with lead actor Kirsten Callaghan performing all her own swims and no visual effects or body...

We sit down once again with Will French from Fallbrook Financial Services, a pioneering figure in film tax credits and global production finance. Will has overseen hundreds of projects and is widely regarded as a thought leader in the intersection of film, policy, and economics. During the last conversation, we laid important groundwork on international incentives, tariffs, and the cost structures...

We sit down with Ida Lee Henderson, a veteran production accountant whose career spans blockbuster films like Planet of the Apes and acclaimed series like Brothers and Sisters . Beyond her on-set work, Ida Lee is also a respected mentor and educator, having trained countless accountants through her School of Production Accounting. In this conversation, Ida Lee shares what drew her to the industry,...

We sit down with Amy Denning Winfrey, a highly regarded payroll accountant whose career journey took her from production assistant to supervising payroll accountant. Winfrey shares candid insights into the world of payroll accounting, reflecting on the challenges, responsibilities, and often-overlooked importance of this critical role in film production. The conversation explores the evolution of...

We head to Fort Worth, Texas—a city that’s quickly becoming a key player in the film world. We sit down with Taylor Hardy, Commissioner at the Fort Worth Film Commission and Director of Video Content at Visit Fort Worth, to explore how this once-overlooked city has transformed into a go-to destination for major productions like 1883, Lawmen: Bass Reeves, and even music videos from artists like Ken...

We dive into the gritty and electrifying world of independent horror filmmaking with director and producer Joe Begos. Known for his visually arresting style and commitment to practical, in-camera effects, Joe shares the unfiltered story of how he built a career outside the traditional studio system. Joe walks us through his unconventional path, from early childhood fascination with horror to the d...

We explore the evolving landscape of interactive storytelling with Elliot Wolf, executive producer of Prime Video’s On Call and co-founder of Wolf Games. With a strong background in television and a deep appreciation for narrative craft, Elliot shares how he’s bringing storytelling into new territory with Public Eye , an upcoming AI-assisted daily murder mystery game. Designed to offer players a f...

We explore how technology is transforming filmmaking workflows with John Trefry, CEO of 4WT Media. John shares how his early experiences building content teams at tech startups like Mahalo and DocStock shaped his unique approach to production—one that merges creative storytelling with the operational efficiencies of the tech world. The conversation dives deep into how modern tools are being used t...

We sit down with Emmy-winning TV producer Clara Plestis, whose work as an executive at Smart Dog Media, helped redefine what family-friendly television can be. Clara has been instrumental in shaping formats that blend high-concept experimentation with broad appeal, from AI-powered dating shows to variety competitions. Her work demonstrates that entertainment aimed at mass audiences doesn't have to...

W sit down with Hugh Calveley, founder of Flow Capture (formerly Moxion), to discuss how a personal frustration on set evolved into a powerful cloud-based collaboration platform. From his early days as part of a film crew in New Zealand to building a production tool trusted by industry giants like Amazon Studios, Hugh shares the hard lessons of introducing new technology to an industry known for i...

We dive into the evolving world of content distribution and indie streaming with Bonnie Bruderer, founder and CEO of Binge Networks. A leader in the OTT space, Bonnie shares her unconventional path from corporate marketing and motivational coaching to launching a global streaming platform that champions independent filmmakers. She discusses how her early experiences producing her own talk show led...

We explore the world of script collaboration with Emmy-winning technologist and CEO of Scripto, Josh Kline. He shares how his early work with Digital Dailies revolutionized how directors review footage, and how those lessons now inform his work modernizing script collaboration. He explains the deep limitations of traditional formats like PDFs and highlights how platforms like Scripto bring real-ti...

We explore how artificial intelligence is transforming post-production workflows with Lucas Igel, CEO and founder of Kino AI. A former MIT student and indie documentarian, Lucas shares how his early experiences editing his documentary exposed him to the inefficiencies of traditional editing and inspired the creation of Kino. In our conversation, Lucas explains how Kino’s search mirrors the creativ...

In this special episode of On Production, we welcome back film finance expert Will French to unpack a headline-grabbing development in the film world. Following a recent social media post from President Trump proposing a 100% tariff on foreign-made films, Will offers an in-depth look at the potential impact and consequences for the domestic and global film industries. With decades of experience pi...

We sit down with Jijo Reed, Emmy Award-winning producer and founder of Sugar Studios, a full-service post-production house. With a career spanning over 60 feature films, Jijo talks about how his background as a drummer informs his approach to editing, and how Sugar’s in-house team fosters trust, speed, and synergy. We also explore how emerging technologies like AI are streamlining workflows—while...

Emily Best, founder and CEO of Seed&Spark, shares how her journey from theater to filmmaking led to launching one of the most successful crowdfunding platforms for independent creators. We dive into what makes Seed&Spark stand out, why audience-building is essential, and how creators can build sustainable careers outside the Hollywood system. Emily also gives us a glimpse into the future o...

We sit down with Cary Woodworth, an actor-turned-producer and the founder of Legacy Pictures and Maverick, who has built a career navigating the complexities of global content creation and international co-productions. In this conversation, Cary shares his experiences managing productions across continents. He discusses the leadership skills required to balance creative passion with the logistical...

We sit down with executive producer Kristen V. Carter as she shares how she balances creativity, leadership, and social impact in the media. From producing music specials on PBS and docuseries on HBO Max to working with Kevin Hart and Ava DuVernay, Kristen has built a career rooted in authenticity and purpose. Kristen discusses how she navigates high-stakes productions, makes tough calls on projec...

We explore West Virginia’s emerging film industry with David and Megan from the West Virginia Development Office and Film Office. These industry leaders discuss how the state is positioning itself as an attractive destination for filmmakers through comprehensive support programs and competitive incentives. The conversation dives into the state’s tax incentive program and their extensive location d...

We sit down with Marc Iserlis, Head of Film at Republic, who shares how their platform is transforming entertainment financing by enabling everyday fans to become legitimate investors in film projects. With his background in traditional film financing and current role pioneering crowd investing, Marc offers valuable insights into this new approach to funding creative projects. The discussion explo...

We sit down with Tony Gapastione, founder of Bravemaker, a nonprofit film arts organization dedicated to fostering community dialogue through film. A former actor turned filmmaker, Tony shares how a personal loss led him to create an organization focused on mentoring diverse voices and supporting meaningful storytelling. Tony discusses Bravemaker’s impact on local communities through monthly film...

On this Halloween special of On Production, we sit down with Stephen Follows, a film industry data researcher, to discuss his latest project, HorrorMovieReport.com. Stephen dives into the current surge in horror film production, exploring the factors driving this unprecedented boom and the evolving landscape of the genre. The episode covers a wide range of topics, including the dominance of Americ...