Creator's Cafe

Paula Deming is an actor and creator based in Los Angeles.  Paula Deming makes board game comedy videos on Youtube in her series "Things Get Dicey". Her Youtube Channel also features playthroughs, silly strategy videos, and the occasional Top 10 List. You can also find her streaming board games on her Twitch channel, being a cast member of the Golden Geek winning podcast "This Game...

Ashley Quach is a playwright and radio dramatist based in Los Angeles. She is best known for her award-winning romcom podcast “Deck the Halls (with Matrimony!)”, featured in 2020 as one of the New York Times’ Fiction Podcasts to Get Lost In. Quach has written original romance for Audible and recently completed a crime serial titled Chinook with executive producer Doug Liman and Realm, released by...

My guest Brian Abraham is an accomplished actor who has worked across Southern CA in film, TV, and Theatre, and is about to take on his third role on Broadway! Brian is an incredible acting teacher who is passionate about the process of breaking down a script and rehearsing moments to perfection. But he really shines as an actor embodying the work.  I’ve been lucky enough to act with Brian in a si...

Gabrielle and I dish on how to be a sneaky creator and get the wheel of creativity moving so much it feels inevitable.  My guest, Gabrielle Thomas, is a Director and Producer based in LA. She works across film, TV, commercials, and music videos as a digital specialist. She was the Creative Director at Alienware and an executive at Skybound Entertainment. Gabrielle directed the beautiful and dark s...

Megan reveals how she stays committed to her craft through the tough times and creates stories of people rising above their situation.  My guest Megan Green is an award-winning screenwriter based in Los Angeles.  Megan's work has been recognized by the Austin Film Festival, Screencraft, Stowe Story Labs, Sundance Labs, and the Coverfly/Act Two mentorship program. ONLY HUMANS, the indie drama...

Jerome lets the spark of the story start a composition.  JEROME KURTENBACH   WRITER | DIRECTOR | COMPOSER Jerome Kurtenbach loves to tell stories! He has directed and written several films in conjunction with his web series Someone, Thomas, Mark, and Hope (YouTube), including the psycho/thrillers Ready or No t and The Misconception Trilogy , the comedies Dümscrolt and Anything But Normal , and co-...

Clara Griffith My guest Clara Griffith is a visual artist based in Austin, Texas.  She is also my sister-in-law!   Coming from classical training in music and art, she now works across mediums, from painting and photography to sculpture and textiles. Clara’s signature triangle series is an original invention where she uses her decade as a software developer to build a program that kaleidoscopes pi...

TV writer Marshall Knight and I connect on the need to create or explode, and on crafting a career that fits his indoor cat personality.  My guest Marshall Knight is a Hollywood TV writer.  Most recently, he and his writing partner Rob LaMorgese were executive story editors on Suits LA.  This was a natural continuation of their success in the writing room of the original hit show Suits, which was...

Rachel Lee and I dig into finding yourself to bravely embody your own brand.  My guest, Rachel Lee, is an artist, designer, and co-founder of Neo Genesis, a personal branding agency for creatives and misfit entrepreneurs who are ready to own their weird and finally, rocket online. Rachel believes that there's no better way of marketing yourself than actually being yourself. Rachel's taki...

The always delightful Jacob Smith and I chew on how to take your craft seriously and yourself silly-ly.  My guest is Jacob Smith, an audio expert who lives in Las Vegas and hails from Louisiana. Jacob is a dear friend, but we'll get into that in a second. If you've been to Vegas, there's a very good chance that you've heard a space that Jacob has set up the audio for, or might...

Makeup artist Fern Madden encourages us to find our signature look that allows our natural beauty to shine through. Follow: https://www.fernmaddenmakeup.com/ IG: @fernmaddenmakeup Represented by Jk Artists Los Angeles Work with Jessica: On-Camera Coaching Create on-camera confidence by learning techniques from Hollywood Acting Coach Jessica Payne. Learn more here. Creator's Challenge: Style I...

Comedian Tehran and I dig into "freedom of speech, pushing thoughs, pushing the envelope, broadening horizons to absurdity and bringing everyone together." Follow: @iamtehran https://www.iamtehran.com/ IMDB Work with Jessica: On-Camera Coaching Create on-camera and in-person confidence by learning techniques from Hollywood Acting Coach Jessica Payne. Learn more here. Creator's Chall...

Filmmaker Amy Kersten and I discuss the importance of learning the skills to take your project from concept to the finish line. Follow: IG @AmyKersten Film IG: @AWomanAbroadFilm Work with Jessica: On-Camera Coaching Create on-camera and in-person confidence by learning techniques from Hollywood Acting Coach Jessica Payne. Learn more here. Creator's Challenge: Mini Movie Edit Record someone te...

Olympics Swimming Host John Mason and I talk about the art of hosting and how to be present when the stakes are high. Follow: IG: @officialjohnmason John's IMDB Work with Jessica: On-Camera Coaching Create on-camera and in-person confidence by learning techniques from Hollywood Acting Coach Jessica Payne. Learn more here. Creator's Challenge: Self-Love List Write down 5 things that you t...

Director Sergine Dumais and I explore her journey from Montreal to LA and owning her calling as a director. Follow: @serginedumais | Sergine's Website | @slapkiss_film Work with Jessica: On-Camera Coaching Create on-camera and in-person confidence by learning techniques from Hollywood Acting Coach Jessica Payne. Learn more here. Creator's Challenge: Play with Action Verbs Write 10 action...

Producing CEO Jonathan Unger and I bond over refusing to stay in one lane and the importance of choosing your collaborators purposefully. Follow: Unger Media IG @jonathanaunger Work with Jessica: On-Camera Coaching Create on-camera and in-person confidence by learning techniques from Hollywood Acting Coach Jessica Payne. Learn more here. Creator's Challenge: Gratitude List Spend 10 minutes an...

Recording Artist Maggie Szabo and I talk about writing songs for Eurovision and TV Follow: IG: @officialmaggieszabo Maggie's Website Work with Jessica: On-Camera Coaching Create on-camera and in-person confidence by learning techniques from Hollywood Acting Coach Jessica Payne. Learn more here. Creator's Challenge: Fastest Song Ever Write the full chorus to a song, and as much of the res...

Creative Executive Thomas Stockwell encourages us to create weirder and more innovative worlds for emerging VR capabilities. Follow: @onthelam84 Forbes Article Current: Head of Unscripted and Specials, Meta Former: VP, Alternative Programming and Development, Universal Television Alternative Studio/NBCUniversal Work with Jessica: On-Camera Coaching Create on-camera and in-person confidence by lear...

Actress Suzanne Schmidt and I dive into how she aims for loving what she's doing 80% of the time. Follow: Suzanne on IG: @suzannejschmidt Suzanne's Website Suzanne on IMDB Hey You, It's Me Work with Jessica: On-Camera Coaching Create on-camera and in-person confidence by learning techniques from Hollywood Acting Coach Jessica Payne. Learn more here. Creator's Challenge: Flip th...

Filmmaker Robin Nyström reveals how his art is inspired by the team he builds. Follow: Personal website: https://www.robinnystrom.com/ Nicolife: https://www.nicolife.net/ Tracy Buckles: https://www.tracybuckles.com/ Work with Jessica: On-Camera Coaching Create on-camera and in-person confidence by learning techniques from Hollywood Acting Coach Jessica Payne. Learn more here. Creator's Challe...

25. Jess Paul: It's Not Cake Filmmaker and actor Jess Paul and I dish on indie films and the dark side of the industry while she is wearing a croissant on her head. It makes sense. Follow: IG: ThisisJessPaul Jess's Filmmaking/Acting Website: JessPaul.net YouTube Fake Food Etsy Shop - https://www.etsy.com/shop/JessPaulArt IG for Art and Fake Food: @jesspaulart Onscreen purse construction...

Country music singer/songwriter Brandon Stansell and I dig into the raw truths from trailblazing queer rights in country music to enjoying a more intimate present story. Follow: @brandonstansell BrandonStansell.com Work with Jessica: On-Camera Coaching Create on-camera and in-person confidence by learning techniques from Hollywood Acting Coach Jessica Payne.  Learn more here. Creator's Challe...

Filmmaker Carolina Alvarez and I dish on finishing post on her first feature film! Follow: Carolina's IG: @lafemmecarolina Femme Regard Website: femmeregard.com Femme Regard IG: femmeregard Sync on IG: @syncthemovie tiktok: @femmeregardtv Carolina's personal website: https://carolinaalvarez.co/ Work with Jessica: On-Camera Coaching Create on-camera and in-person confidence by learning te...

TV Writer Ian Weinreich and I talk about the writer's balancing act between individual contribution and group collaboration. Follow: IG: ianweinreich Ian Weinreich at IMDB Creator's Challenge: Create an Audio Book Find a short story you love and record an audio book of it to see how pacing and tone translate. Bio & Intro Ian Weinreich is a writer and producer. He was a writer on The...

Candace Jade Lewis and I dig in the sandbox of finding great work through play.   On-Camera Coaching with Jessica Follow: IG: @candacejlewis | Website: Candacejadelewis.com  |  IMDB  |  Vimeo Creator's Challenge: 3 Panel Comic Create a 3 panel comic that shows a mini story with a beginning, middle, and end that has change! Bio & Intro Candace Jade Lewis is a Producer, Writer, Director, an...