The Hollywood Makers

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.....

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’Hoff...

Episode by Anna Poghosyan Enrique 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...

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,...

In our episodes of The Hollywood Makers, we’re looking for the same thing: people who are actually inside the changes happening in the media industry right now. This week’s guest, actor George Finn, is exactly that. George stars opposite Michael Bisping and Cuba Gooding Jr. in Atlas King, a crime thriller he didn’t just act in, he helped build it from the inside with his brother, director Nika Agi...

What does it mean to bring authenticity to a character when your own cultural identity becomes part of the process? Actor Keanush Tafreshi joins Mona on The Hollywood Makers to talk about it. From theater stages to sharing the screen with names like Richard Gere and Michael Fassbender in The Agency, Keanush opens up about playing Hassan Zamani with vulnerability and complexity instead of stereotyp...

What happens when two childhood friends run into each other on a Hollywood set and decide to throw a small “pop-up” film screening in a Soho loft? You expect maybe 20 or 30 submissions from local friends. Instead, you get hit with a tidal wave. Seventeen years later, the Soho International Film Festival has evolved into one of New York City’s most passionate, fiercely loyal hubs for independent ci...

This episode, Mona sits down with EDM artist Joey Cash for a raw, no-filter conversation about what it actually takes to build a music career on your own terms. Joey talks about his path from classical violin to guitar to full-blown electronic music, and how “Are You Kissing Anyone” first put him on the map, even though he now calls it his least favorite song. The conversation gets real when Joey...

New Hollywood Makers episode is up. Valeria sat down with her film school friend Amanda for a conversation that unpacks post grad life in this industry in a way that feels honest, not scripted. The title comes from a moment in the episode where they get into typecasting: the actors we keep seeing cast in the exact same role, versus the ones who actually surprise us. It turns into one of those tang...

An Episode by Anna Poghosyan A fake Instagram account just surpassed Warner Bros’ own marketing campaign, and nobody saw it coming. On this episode of The Hollywood Makers, host Anna Poghosyan sits down with Diego Andaluz, the marketing consultant behind it, who has worked across A24, Warner Bros, Neon, and Warner Music Group, to unpack exactly how it happened. Watch the full interview to know how...

In this episode of The Hollywood Makers, Mona sits down with Audio Prophecy, a DJ with over 20 years of experience and a practicing pediatrician based in Boston, for an honest look at what life in DJ and nightlife culture really looks like beyond the highlight reel. Audio Prophecy opens up about how his love for music was born during a childhood of constant movement, from Iran to Istanbul to Los A...

Three New Voices. Three Elite Universities. One Shared Obsession here at The Hollywood Makers... 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

From Tijuana to Hollywood: How Truth Becomes Art - with María Jimena Gastelum What happens when you grow up belonging to two worlds at once, crossing a border every morning just to get to school, absorbing two cultures, two languages, two ways of seeing life? For actress María Jimena Gastelum, that became her superpower. In this conversation with Rossy E. Eguigure, María Jimena shares her journey...

In this episode of The Hollywood Makers , Rossy E. Eguigure connects with Chicago filmmaker Will Adams to analyze the "DIY" ecosystem of modern cinema. From his start as a camera operator to founding Lokekey Productions, Will shares how he bypasses industry gatekeepers to produce high-impact, satirical content like Tube-E Movie . Discover why he believes human imperfection is our greatest defense...

We’re working with AI prioritizing Humanity, across all our productions and communities. ✨ @rxmediaproductions, production company with decades producing for @discovery @mgmplus @natgeotv @telemundo @eentertainment @pbs @univision @cnn @nbc, independent productions, and much more, creating stories that make people cry, laugh, think, entertain, enjoy, heal, and above all unite…to enjoy life. ✨ Th...

The Hollywood Makers is a real-talk podcast about what’s really happening in media and entertainment, who’s rising, who’s falling, and what it all means for storytellers and brands. In this episode, host Claudia Cano-Asbjornsen brings her signature ‘Ones to Watch’ segment, the insider picks you won’t hear anywhere else. From a galactic adventure to a raw, stripped-down drama, a film that wrestles...

Marketing strategist Carin Mazaira has worked with Netflix, Disguise, and Leica, and now she's on her own terms. In this episode we talk about uniting storytellers with technology, launching the Women in Virtual Production LA chapter, producing for the HPA Tech Retreat, and why community has always been her superpower. A must-listen for anyone navigating today's media industry. Watch the full epis...

Who Controls Hollywood ... Netflix Steps Back... This week, Hollywood's biggest story wasn't on a screen, it was in a boardroom. Netflix walked away from Warner Bros. Discovery. Paramount moved in. And the ripple effects for creators, studios, and audiences are just getting started. Plus: UK publishers are fighting back against AI. Residente is making his directorial debut, with Bad Bunny leading...

Welcome to The Hollywood Makers ! In this episode, host Claudia Cano-Asbjornsen discusses vital signals in the entertainment industry that indicate a major recalibration of culture and technology. The 2026 Super Bowl halftime show’s focus on Spanish-language performance sets the tone for mainstream integration of diverse cultures. Claudia also explores the transformative impact of AI technologies...

From historic Oscar nominations to the rise of micro-dramas and AI quietly transforming production workflows, Hollywood is quietly recalibrating. In this episode, Claudia Cano-Asbjornsen reviews the latest trends, breaking down the stories, surprises, and shifts shaping the entertainment industry today, and what they mean for filmmakers, creators, and audiences alike. Subscribe and join our commun...

As we begin a new year at The Hollywood Makers , I wanted to open with a conversation that reflects the heart of this community: creators who think long-term, work across disciplines, and understand the responsibility that comes with storytelling. Christine La Monte is one of those voices. With a career that spans studio marketing at Universal, Disney, and Orion, and an expansive body of work as a...

If you had to sum up 2025 in the entertainment industry. It was a year that kept surprising and challenging people, both creatively and financially, but also emotionally. It was a year where it felt like just when you caught your breath, something else happened. There was another headline, another layoff, or another reminder that this industry that we love is deeply impacted by the world around it...

Awards season is here, but the biggest stories go far beyond trophies. On today’s episode of The Hollywood Makers , host Claudia Cano-Asbjornsen breaks down the Golden Globe nominations, the major snubs and surprises, and what they reveal about power, taste, and visibility in today’s industry. Claudia also dives into the Film Independent Spirit Award nominations , celebrating the filmmakers workin...

This is the second part of Glori’s conversation with Dr. Albert Bermonte where he continues sharing about the mental struggles that hold actors and creatives back. In this episode, they discuss: How to handle negative feedback and separate personal worth from criticism The power of saying “no” and maintaining integrity in a competitive industry Building a social circle that supports your growth Na...

In this new episode our host Glori Anyeneh sits down with Dr. Albert Bermonte, talent agent, psychology professor, and author of Rise Above the Script . Together, they unpack the hidden mental hurdles actors and creatives face every day. Among other topics, he discusses about: • self-sabotage • fear and worst-case thinking • imposter syndrome • comfort vs. growth • how your environment affects you...