Catch A Break Podcast

This episode is where we meet Emily Ferry, a property master, and Mark Byers, a special effects supervisor. We learn about their position, their go to kits, crews, budget, specialties in their field and so much more.

Welcome to EP 302 of Catch A Break where we will meet Wynn Thomas, a production designer, Thomas Scott Stanton, a director of photography, and Virgina Johnson, a costume designer. In this episode we will learn about what each of their job entails, budgeting, diversity, inclusion in the industry, and their job's relation to one another and other positions in their crews.

This season is going to be all about how the different departments work together to make a film or a series. For example, how does the director work with the director of photography and art departments to set the look? How do props and special effects work together? How do grips and gaffers collaborate? We'll get to all of these questions this season. But, as we always do, let's start at the begin...

This is the final episode in The Way Back Series - how entertainment and production will navigate getting back to work while living with COVID-19. In this episode, we want to talk about how we will ensure we keep moving forward with diversity, inclusion and representation, and not lose any ground due to the recent work stoppage and the scarcity it created. To do this, we have assembled an amazing...

We often hear about incentives and how pivotal they are to making content.  However, how often are the terms confusing or do we think people are speaking a different language? Our panelists will help translate what is the difference between rebates, refundable credits, transferable credits, and non-transferable credits? How can you monetize your state credit? What is a state credit? How do you cho...

This is the fourth in our series about working in the age of COVID-19, and we're talking about what kinds of productions might be dipping their toes in first. What genres might have an easier time? Can reality and indie films pivot more quickly with smaller crews? And a big part of all of this is now that we know the protocols, how do you actually make them happen on the ground? The panel: Dwight...

This episode is called "Buying and Selling, Part 2" and our guest panelists, Sherryl Clark and Peter Van Steemburg pick up the mantle from Adam Kolbrenner's Buying and Selling, Part 1 podcast and add their nuanced and experienced thoughts. Sherryl Clark – President of Production, The H Collective Peter Van Steemburg – Vice President of Acquisitions & Production at the Universal Pictures Content Gr...

Several states have declared they are open for business, so why aren't we shooting yet? Let's talk about the pieces still holding us back. Our panel includes: Steve Berman, EVP of Production, Film Finances Liz Jenkins, CFO, Hello Sunshine Nicole Papincak, Attorney, Reder & Feig Adrian Ward, Senior Director, Banc of California Brian Kingman, Managing Director, Gallagher Entertainment

Our panelists share how vendors are positioned and pivoting to work differently during the age of COVID. Panel: Shawn Gillsepie, CASHet, Sarah McGrail, Picture Shop, Mikel Elliott, Quixote, Kerry LaiFatt, GreenSlate, Hugh Calveley, Moxion.

We interrupt this season to bring you a live speaker series on the pandemic and how we go back to work in the era of Covid-19. COVID-19 changes everything - from on-set protocols to stories. How will productions adapt? We will explore the changes from several angles with experts managing the logistics on the ground. Guests: Jeanette Volturno Malia Arrington Sonya JF Barnett Nancy Nayor

We are thrilled to have Adam Kolbrenner – Founder of Lit Entertainment Group on the podcast. Adam is uniquely qualified to speak about buying and selling in the Hollywood marketplace from his varied background as an agent, manager and producer. Adam also has the distinction of being the top representative (manager or agent) of all Black List screenwriters cumulative in the history of the annual Bl...

This episode is called "Social Media" and for those listeners who want an advanced tutorial into how to make social media work for you, this is a not to be missed episode. Melanie Capacia Johnson – Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Tiny Horse Maggie Glover - Digital Marketing Guru How do you decide which social media goes to which channel?  When do you layout your social media program in order to...

On this episode we are talking about budgeting with Jeanette Volturno, Rick Osako, Jessica Malanaphy, and Shirley Davis, most of the team behind Catch A Break. We'll go line by line and talk about what it all means, and the not so obvious elements you don't want to forget while putting it all together.

For this episode we are talking about independent films with Ray Mansfield and Sean McKittrick. Sean and Ray are producers and two of the founders of QC Entertainment. QC brought us the films Get out and Blackkklansman, just to name two very recent and wildly successful films.

On episode 203 we'll be talking about crowdfunding with Emily Best and Jonah Feingold. First, Emily Best Emily is the founder and CEO of Seed&Spark, an online crowdfunding and subscription streaming platform for content creators and audiences that emphasizes diversity and inclusion. Then, we'll  speak with Jonah Feingold. Jonah's viral Kickstarter backed short film BANGARANG broke the internet tre...

For episode 202 we'll be talking about financing for independent films with Producer and Co-Founder of the company Divide/Conquer, Adam Hendricks. In this episode we dive into the different ways a movie can be financed. Today, financing a movie is so difficult and raising the money is literally a job all unto itself.   A movie can come in different packages; financing in place, partial financing o...

Catch a Break is back for Season Two! And on this episode we are talking about development with Todd and Earl Richey Jones. Todd and Richey Jones began their writing career on the Emmy winning sketch comedy series "In Living Color", and from there they wrote and produced several sitcoms including "The Hughley's" and they were part of the original creative team behind the blockbuster animated hit "...

This is the episode on representation where we're going to talk about agents and managers. What are they? What is the diference? Do you need one? And which one? And how does it all work? We're going to walk you through this from several diferent perspectives and sort it all out. We will talk to producers who hire via agents and managers, and we'll speak to a manager and an agent. Featured guests:...

We invited payroll tax expert, Becky Harshberger, to join us to breakdown some specific payroll tax items - to become a loan-out company or not, 1099 worker vs W2 employee, etc. - and believe it or not, she made it entertaining.

If your dream is to work on set, in production, you are probably going to be working as a freelancer. In this episode, we are going to talk about what that means, and then walk you through some tips on how to set up your life to work as a freelancer in a way that will set you up for success. There are a lot of factors - some of them lifestyle, many of them Financial, and we want you to have the to...

Networking! This is the episode where we take a deep dive into Networking. What does it mean, really? How do you do it? What's the point, anyway? This industry is based on relationships, and we want you to have all the tools you need to make meaningful relationships that will help you in your career. Featured guests: Stephanie Hall Marin – Producer, FALLEN STARS; Alison Haskovec – Executive, Netfl...

In this bonus episode, our panel goes through the production lingo and tells us the meaning of all those words and phrases that you might hear on set.

You're Hired! This is the episode where we talk about what to do once you have been hired. You got the job! Now what? Now, some of this may sound very basic, but if we're talking about it, it's because we've seen it. And we want to make sure you make the best impression possible and that you don't get derailed by doing something easily avoided. Our producing panel breaks it down.

This is the episode where Lasta Drachkovitch walks us through the reports and Call Sheet for Reality or Unscripted production.

This is the episode where we take a look at the Call Sheet and go over all the positions you will find on set. We also touch on other forms you might encounter and provide some samples that you can download from our website to follow along. Featured guests: Denise Anderson Poore – Second Assistant Director, "Legion;" Lasta Drachkovitch – Executive Producer, "Lockup;" James Moran – First Assistant...