Best in Fest

In this episode of Best in Fest , festival director Leslie LaPage sits down with veteran TV writer Michael FX Daley—whose credits include CSI , The X-Files , Reaper , Maniac , and The Leftovers —for a behind-the-scenes look at how the television industry has transformed over the past two decades. Daley shares his journey from being a reluctant TV convert to writing major network finales, dishes on...

In this episode of Best in Fest , Leslie LaPage sits down with acclaimed international actor Ido Samuel, known for his roles in We Were the Lucky Ones , FBI: International , Tehran , and the award-winning short Dirty Bomb . Ido shares his journey from growing up in Israel to breaking into Hollywood, how he landed his powerful role as a conflicted Jewish policeman in Hulu’s Holocaust drama, and the...

Ready to pull back the curtain on reality TV? In this episode of Best in Fest , powerhouse producer Kellie Dancho —the creative force behind hits like FBOY Island , America’s Got Talent , and Rhythm & Flow —shares how today’s unscripted shows are crafted, cast, and edited for maximum drama and laughs. 🎬 Inside the episode: The real (and hilarious) secrets behind producing FBOY Island and F Gi...

What do exploding Zoom speakers, killer mice, and surprise parades have in common? Actress and producer Allison Pittel . In this no-holds-barred episode of Best in Fest , Allison dishes on her rise as a modern scream queen—from indie horror hit Terrifier to the Disney-gone-wrong chaos of Streamboat , where Steamboat Willie gets a slasher makeover. She also reveals what it’s really like producing r...

Struggling to stay on track with your creative or professional goals? Award-winning author and goal strategist Debra Eckerling joins Best in Fest to break down her powerful DEB Method — Determine Your Mission, Explore Your Options, Brainstorm Your Path —to help you set and actually achieve your goals. Whether you're in entertainment, a business professional, or just someone trying to get thei...

What does it take to transition from the U.S. Marine Corps to the big screen? Actress Dee Freeman shares her incredible journey from serving in the military to gracing the stage and screen, including her gripping true-crime solo show, Poison Gun . From breaking barriers as a woman in the USMC to tackling Hollywood’s toughest auditions, Dee’s story is one of resilience, humor, and an unbreakable sp...

In this episode of Best in Fest , host Leslie LaPage sits down with actress and fitness expert Kerstin Schulze to uncover the secrets behind Hollywood’s most sculpted bodies. From training A-list stars like Chris Hemsworth to landing roles in The Righteous Gemstones and American Horror Story , Kerstin shares her journey from competitive sports to the big screen. Discover the truth about Hollywood...

From Bollywood dreams to Hollywood reality, filmmaker and editor Alpesh Patel shares his incredible journey in the entertainment industry. In this episode of Best in Fest , host Leslie LaPage dives into Patel’s career—from writing award-winning screenplays and directing indie films to editing over 30 reality TV shows, including Ghost Hunters and Expedition X . Discover how he navigated the film in...

Award-winning screenwriter Amir Ohebsion joins Best in Fest to share the real journey behind getting an indie film made—from winning Slamdance to self-producing his own features. Discover the highs, the hustle, and the hard truths of Hollywood’s screenplay competitions, financing indie films, and why writing with passion is the key to success. Plus, get the inside scoop on All There Is , premierin...

What does it take to go from modeling to starring in films with Hollywood legends? Actor Blake Boyd joins Best in Fest to share his journey—from off-Broadway stages to leading roles in movies like Cash Collectors . He dishes on audition secrets, working with Michael Madsen, and the power of taking risks in acting. Plus, behind-the-scenes stories from his time on Shameless , Rocketman , and more! T...

What happens when a media strategist and startup expert turns his passion into an animated series with a mission? In this episode of Best in Fest , host Leslie LaPage sits down with Nimrod May, the visionary behind God’s Gang , a groundbreaking animated series where love, unity, and compassion become superpowers. Discover how Nimrod transitioned from launching media startups to creating an interfa...

Chelsea is currently the casting director for "Love on the Spectrum, but when she was little, Chelsea would spend her time imitating characters and singing songs. This is all in spite of the fact that she was diagnosed with Autism and had to work harder than most at communicating her thoughts and feelings. All of that work paid off and she became a communication major at California Lutheran U...

Jijo Reed, recognized by LA WEEKLY and NEW YORK POST as "Top Trendsetter in 2023" is an Emmy Winning Producer, 16 time Telly Award Winner, and Executive Producer of over 80 feature films and/or series. Latest feature films include Crescent City starring Alec Baldwin and Terrence Howard, THE BLACKENING directed by Tim Story for MRC, Village Roadshow's CINNAMON, and MENDING THE LINE s...

With over 25 years in the entertainment industry, Stacy Halbach has honed her craft across a wide spectrum of genres, including biographies, documentaries, crime dramas, competition shows, reality TV, and an array of promotions and pilot projects. No matter the format, Stacy brings an unwavering focus on storytelling, leveraging her finely tuned instincts to craft narratives that resonate. “I appr...

Farah White is an Actress, Producer, Director and Writer but does whatever needs to be done depending on the day! Her love for the entire filmmaking process is obvious by the wide spectrum of genres in her resume which spans over 25 years. She has produced over 30 feature films, shorts and TV pilots in addition to acting in over 50 films, MISS CONGENIALITY being one of her first. She has been on t...

Rashaana Shah , a Serial Entrepreneur and actor works in the Film, Music & Art space. She is a producer with Mulberry Films, a books-to-film TV and film development company, and a former actress. Born in India, Ms. Shah earned a degree in computer engineering from a prominent Indian university before moving to Mumbai to pursue a career in acting.  Between 2005 and 2012, Ms. Shah starred in mul...

Nadia Davari is an entertainment attorney with extensive experience across a spectrum of fields including film, television (both scripted and unscripted), documentaries, music, influencer branding, technology, fashion, and startups. She is known for her dynamic legal counsel and has also expanded her portfolio by executive producing and producing several notable projects. Some of her credits inclu...

With over 40 years of experience in theater, film, television, and prose, Bart’s career began in theater, where he has had eight plays produced around the world. The film rights to his play, RELAY, were bought by Warner Bros., leading him into screenwriting. He has had two feature films and 14 movies for television produced, including the BRIDE trilogy for CBS, LOVE AND SUNSHINE for Hallmark, and...

In this episode, we sit down with Will Becton, a creative force who’s charted an inspiring path from working with comedy legend Conan O'Brien to launching his own production company , Jett Road Studios . Will shares behind-the-scenes stories from his time in the entertainment industry, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and how he transitioned his passion for storytelling into building a...

Hailing from Ukraine, Vadim Govorov is a professional deep sea diver who has plunged into every ocean on the planet. He recently moved from his longtime NYC harbor base to the swamps of Florida, in and around which, he works full-time. His underwater missions have covered the full range of human/maritime interaction. Crime scene search, rescue, and recovery; oil rig exploration and repair; pipelin...

In this special "Best Of" episode, we’re rolling the credits on some of the most insightful, inspiring, and entertaining moments from past episodes. Whether you're a filmmaker, producer, or just a cinephile at heart, relive expert tips, behind-the-scenes stories, and industry secrets shared by our incredible guests. From navigating the indie film circuit to mastering blockbuster bud...

Rob Kutner has won 5 Emmys, a Peabody, a TCA, and a Grammy writing for such shows as TBS’ “CONAN” and “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and co-created the fact-based comedy TV show “ Gander .” Rob’s other TV writing includes “Teen Titans Go!” “Ben10” “Angry Birds: Summer Madness” and HBO’s “Dennis Miller Live.” He has also written material for the Oscars, Emmys, Writers’ Guild Awards, MTV Movie Aw...

Grace Fraga  is an award winning Latina actress, comedian, writer, podcaster and producer was inducted into the National Comedy Hall of Fame in 2020. Grace has appeared on national television on NBC, A&E, CBS, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, VH-1, Court TV, Univision, Galavision and Telemundo. Some of her guest star roles include, "The Steve Harvey Show", "Gene Simmons Family...

David Fuhrer [1] is an American inventor and entrepreneur . David Fuhrer has licensed more than 300 toys, games and household products including toys such as Aqua Doodle, Nerf Vortex Football, and Twisty Petz. He is the recipient of numerous toy industry awards. Brand Week Magazine (February 2009) refers to Fuhrer as "one of the more successful rainmakers in the toy industry" in an artic...

Chaitra Vedullapalli is a renowned entrepreneur and a Go-To-Market (GTM) expert, revered for her proficiency in coaching tech founders. Her skills have guided hundreds of tech companies to leverage cloud market places that have built million-dollar practices. She is the mastermind behind the 4P Cosell GTM Method, a groundbreaking framework designed to develop strategic GTM plans with Microsoft and...