Behind the Scenes

Jeff Witzeman is the director of the recent film Cancer Can Be Killed, which explores alternative, non-toxic treatment options for cancer. Learn more at cancercanbekilled.com. You can connect with Laura at www.laurapowers.net , on Facebook @thatlaurapowers, on Twitter @thatlaurapowers, and on Instagram @laurapowers44.

Mark Pellington is an American film director, writer, and producer. He worked at MTV from 1984–1990 winning awards as promo producer and created the landmark TV show Buzz. He became a freelance director in 1990 doing videos for U2, Crystal Waters, De la Soul and Pearl Jam. His video for Pearl Jam's "Jeremy" won many MTV awards in 1993. In 1994, his Music Video for Whale's song "Hobo Humpin' Slobo...

Jen McGowan is a director based in Los Angeles. Her first feature KELLY & CAL (starring Juliette Lewis, Cybill Shepherd & Jonny Weston) premiered at SXSW Film Festival where she won the Gamechanger Award. The film was released by IFC Films to rave reviews. Entertainment Weekly described her work as having "the unhurried, naturalistic instincts of Nicole Holofcener or Alexander Payne". McGowan got...

Elliot V. Kotek is an Australian award-winning producer, filmmaker, and photographer, as well as CEO and founder of The Nation of Artists and founder and editor-in-chief of Beyond Cinema. To learn more about his work check out nationofartists.com. He is also the founder and editor-in-chief of Beyond Cinema magazine. You can connect with Laura at www.laurapowers.net , on Facebook @thatlaurapowers,...

Pilar Alessandra is the director of the screenwriting and TV writing program On the Page®, host of the popular On the Page Podcast and author of the top-selling book “The Coffee Break Screenwriter.” She started her career as Senior Story Analyst at DreamWorks SKG and, in 2001, opened the On the Page Writers’ Studio in Los Angeles where she directs her screenwriting and TV writing program On the Pa...

Camille Brown most recent work is the The Nth Ward which tells a story in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. We discussed tips for submitting to film festivals including how to ensure that film festivals actually watch your submission. Learn more about the film at http://www.thenthward.com or watch it on Amazon. You can connect with Laura at www.laurapowers.net , on Facebook @thatlaurapowers, on...

John Trengrove is the director and co-writer of the South African drama film The Wound. The Wound is South Africa's official submission for the 90th Academy Awards, Best Foreign Language Film. It tells a story of a closeted love affair in the context of a rite-of-passage to manhood in the traditional Xhosa cultural group. You can connect with Laura at www.laurapowers.net , on Facebook @thatlaurapo...

Steve La Rue is a veteran television development executive with 20+ years experience having championed such iconic series as Buffy The Vampire Slayer, The X-Files, The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Battlestar Galactica and Farscape. He is also a writer/performer having logged many hours onstage at The Groundlings, Pinata, Muse Literary Salon, and To Whom It May Concern. We discussed what's hot in tv...

Sean graduated from the University of Virginia with a BA in International Relations, and has since lived in Poland working on a doctorate, as a journalist and translator, and finally on starting up one of the leading multiplex cinema chains in Poland – Silver Screen - where he held the roles of CFO and then CEO. After the organization merged with Multikino in 2010, he began producing films with Br...

Mark has enjoyed an unprecedented career over the last 28 years as a first call drummer for world-class rock and pop artists. He has been voted ‘Top 3 Pop-Rock Drummers’ in the Modern Drummer Reader’s Poll. Mark has shared the stage with P!NK on three record breaking world tours as well as numerous other Rock n’ Roll stars. Schulman’s writing/production credits include films, various international...

Gerren is a packaging agent at the Gersh Agency. Gerren was a presenter at AFM and Iinvited him to the show to talk about producing and the changing landscape of filmed content. We discussed what to do and what not to do and how SVODs (streamimg video on-demand platforms) are changing things. You can connect with Laura at www.laurapowers.net , on Facebook @thatlaurapowers, on Twitter @thatlaurapow...

Andrew Novick - a Mile-High legend as the man who collects almost everything - forges all sorts of emotional connections to the objects he acquires: either memories, curiosity or interest in the darker side of humanity. He was living in Boulder 20 years ago when JonBenet Ramsey's tricycle fell into his hands after her notorious murder took place. Recently compelled to tackle the unsolved mystery i...

Laura met up with Death by Script director Jason Kessler and lead actor Jonathan Flanders live at the Denver Film Fest to talk about how they brought their movie to life. You can find more about them and the film on IMDB and can connect with Laura at www.laurapowers.net , on Facebook @thatlaurapowers, on Twitter @thatlaurapowers, and on Instagram @laurapowers44.

Carole Kirschner is a senior-level creative television executive with experience at CBS Comedy and as Vice President of Steven Spielberg’s first Amblin Television. She created and developed a curriculum for the CBS Diversity Institute Writers Mentoring Program which is in its 14th year. She is also an entertainment career coach, author of Hollywood Game Plan: How to Land a Job in Film, TV and Digi...

Denver Film Festival is the city's premier cultural event of the fall, with 40000 attendees and more than 250 films: Blockbusters, docs, shorts and indies. DFF40 will present local, national and international independent films, industry panels, workshops, achievement awards, and tributes, as well as a focus on Danish Cinema. Neil Truglio has been with the Denver Film Society for twelve years as th...

Jonathan Wolf is Executive Vice President of the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) and Managing Director of the American Film Market (AFM). IFTA is the global trade association of independent motion picture producers and distributors. Since his appointment in 1998, Mr. Wolf has guided the growth and re-positioning of the AFM, now the world’s largest motion picture business event. Mor...

Jason Marsden is an actor and director based in Nashville, TN. His acting credits include the shows “Boy Meets World”, “Step by Step” & "Full House," as well as feature films “White Squall”, “Mr. Saturday Night” & "Fun With Dick and Jane". As a voice actor he can be heard in “A Goofy Movie”, “Hocus Pocus”, “Spirited Away” and hundreds of animated cartoons. Learn more about him on IMDB or on his we...

Jenni James is the bestselling author of over 35 books, and now 6 screenplays. Her first book to movie, Not Cinderella's Type, comes out February 2018. When she isn't writing, or chasing her kids around the house, you can find her speaking at school assemblies, teaching writing workshops, or speaking at conferences around the world. www.thejennijames.com , on Facebook and Instagram as Author Jenni...

Brian recently became the Chief Creative Officer for Horror Equity Fund, a revolutionary new company that develops, accelerates to market, and funds entertainment projects in the Horror genre arena of the entertainment industry. As CCO, Brian is credited as EP or Co-EP with a number of their baker’s dozen projects. As a writer, Brian has completed well over a dozen feature films including the awar...

Adam Gaines is a professional writer. and published playwright. He has written on both cable and network TV dramas (The Bridge, State of Affairs) and wrote a micro budget feature currently in production. In this episode he talks about working in writing rooms in LA. His ebook Mixtape is available for free download, and he can be found on Twitter @nothing_to_gain. You can connect with Laura at www....

Valentina Valentini is a freelance journalist who was based in Los Angeles for eight years writing about the entertainment industry for the likes of Vanity Fair, Variety, and Mashable. Recently, she put her belongings in storage and began the life of a digital nomad, writing personal essays, travel pieces, cultural and human interest stories and adventurous tales. She will be starting her first bo...

Rainy Kerwin is the award-winning, writer-director-actress of the female buddy comedy, “The Wedding Invitation”. She was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Winnipeg, Canada. Inspired to create more funny roles for women, Rainy penned “The Wedding Invitation,” which was shot with an all-female crew. She honed her directing skills during eight years on staff at an acting conservatory in Los Angeles...

Gailen David is a host and executive producer of the nationally syndicated travel talk show, The Jet Set. Gailen has always loved aviation and flew for 25 years as a flight attendant with American Airlines prior to taking off on a career in television. We discussed television and national syndication. You can find more about The Jet Set at www.thejetset.tv and follow Gailen on Twitter @gailendavid...

Michelle is passionate about helping women connect to their authentic selves, get past their perceived limitations and shine in their lives and careers. Having overcome tremendous obstacles herself, including severe anxiety, self-doubt, recurring negative mind loops and ultimately a tremendous fear to shine and let herself be seen she came to realize there are key factors that are specific to wome...

Michelle is passionate about helping women connect to their authentic selves, get past their perceived limitations and shine in their lives and careers. Having overcome tremendous obstacles herself, including severe anxiety, self-doubt, recurring negative mind loops and ultimately a tremendous fear to shine and let herself be seen she came to realize there are key factors that are specific to wome...