Indiewood

Where does the “real” edit start? Join us once again for a chat with Gedaly Guberek, a multi-hyphenate filmmaker who directs, acts, crafts his own VFX and is also a DaVinci Resolve Master Trainer teaching at AFI. We explore technical tips and tricks for the edit, as well as how post-production can inform you writing and work as a director. Sharpen your workflow or challenge a habit, share the Indi...

Swashbucklers aren’t dead—they’ve just been hiding in plain sight. In our second episode with multi-hyphenate filmmaker Gedaly Guberek, we dig into how his short, The Flower of Battle, was brought to life. Gedaly breaks down how he used character, tone, and choreography to bring story into his fight scenes, as well as how historical roots and comedic timing shaped the film’s identity by channeling...

What if the best way to find your filmmaking voice is to learn about everything you can touch? We sit down with a true multi‑hyphenate, Gedaly Guberek, a writer, director, actor, editor, producer, VFX artist, and stunt performer to explore how curiosity can build a durable indie filmmaking career. In our first episode with Gedaly, we dig into the practical craft of filmmaking, compare the freedom...

Breaking into the film industry as a screenwriter shouldn’t feel like decoding a riddle. We invited producer and development executive Andrew Lang to lay out the paths that writers can take to get ahead in their careers. From how reps filter the chaos to which competitions actually signal quality, we map the routes that move a script from inbox to meeting. If you’re a writer outside the industry h...

Notes can make your script sing or send it off key. We sit down with producer and creative development exec Andrew Lang (Dark Horse, Paramount, Montecito) to unpack how feedback actually works inside the industry. What helps, what harms, and how writers can use notes to sharpen intention, clarify stakes, and protect the heart of their story. If you’re a screenwriter learning to navigate feedback o...

Our candid, fast-moving conversation with producer and Creative executive Andrew Lang reveals what it means to break into the film industry in 2025. As a veteran of indie films and big budget productions, Andrew shares with us his experience from his time at Paramount Players, Montecito Pictures, and Dark Horse Entertainment. We unpack the turbulent waves of the industry, why legacy IP keeps reboo...

The conventional wisdom that creative careers and steady jobs are mutually exclusive gets thoroughly debunked in this illuminating conversation with Julia Steyer, a multi-hyphenate talent making waves in independent film. As an actor, producer, playwright, screenwriter, and head of development at Cold Iron Pictures (the production company behind indie darlings like "Swiss Army Man"), Jul...

What happens when the words on the page become both prison and playground? Julia Stier, an actor, writer, and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in Hollywood and Entertainment, takes us deep into the creative tension between acting and writing, revealing how each craft fundamentally transforms the other. For creators facing similar struggles, this discussion offers practical wisdom about writing for oppor...

What does it really take to forge a successful path in independent filmmaking when there's no ladder to climb? In this captivating conversation with Julia Steyer – actor, producer, screenwriter, playwright, and recent Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree – we discover how creative persistence can evolve into industry recognition. Whether you're just starting your filmmaking journey or looking to d...

Film School Pros and Cons: An Inside Look From Student and Professor Is film school worth thousands of dollars and two years of your life? Screenwriter, director, and UCLA professor George Huang doesn't have a simple answer – but he does have some hard-earned wisdom worth hearing. Drawing from his experiences as both a graduate of USC's prestigious Peter Stark Program and a seven-year ve...

In this episode of the Indiewood podcast, host Yaroslav Altunin welcomes back writer/director George Huang for a conversation about unconventional creative storytelling techniques. From how physical objects can transform boring scenes into compelling story moments to using "scaffolding writing,” to build original stories by studying successful structures, we explore different ways to stand ou...

Explore the fascinating evolution of independent filmmaking with veteran writer/director George Huang as he shares insider stories from his 30+ year career. From shooting his first film, Swimming With Sharks, to his most recent work, Weekend in Taipei, our conversation reveals how the business of making movies has undergone a dramatic transformation. Learn how corporate takeovers have changed stud...

Join us for an intimate conversation with writer, directer, and producer (and UCLA Professor) George Huang as he shares his remarkable journey from being a studio assistant to directing his own films and writing for some of the biggest producers in the industry. From a chance encounter with Star Wars at age nine that sparked a passion for filmmaking, to strategically navigating Hollywood's co...

Join us for our final episode with with actor, writer, and teacher Wayne T. Carr as he shares valuable lessons from his creative journey. Whether you're an aspiring performer or filmmaker, this episode offers practical advice on maintaining motivation, mastering your craft, and finding success in the entertainment industry. Wayne discusses the importance of celebrating your achievements rathe...

What happens when an established actor adds "writer" to their creative arsenal? Wayne T. Carr, whom you might recognize from his powerful performances on stage and screen, joins us to explore the exhilarating and sometimes intimidating journey of expanding one's artistic toolkit beyond acting. Whether you're considering expanding your creative toolkit or need inspiration to rel...

In the continuation of our conversation with actor Wayne T. Carr, we explore what happens when artistic skills are applied beyond traditional creative spaces. Wayne shares how his theater training is helping professionals in the corporate world strengthen their communication, presence, and leadership. He reflects on a pivotal experience in Europe that reshaped how he views the value of artists—and...

On this episode of the Indiewood Podcast, we unpack the creative journey of actor Wayne T. Carr. From the college football field to Zack Snyder's driveway, we explore unexpected creative paths and find fulfillment in the unpredictable journey of an independent artist's life. Through candid reflection on post-pandemic industry changes, discussions on how actors must adapt to an increasing...

Every creative career has its ebb and flow, but what happens when your momentum is repeatedly interrupted by forces beyond your control? Actor, producer, and writer Sarah Randall Hunt, currently appearing in the hit series 1923, joins the Indiewood Podcast to share hard-won wisdom about maintaining creative resilience in an industry that's weathered a pandemic, multiple strikes, and devastati...

In our series with TV actor, producer, and writer Sarah Randall Hunt (1923), we explore her wealth of experience on the delicate art of communication between directors and actors. How can directors can give more effective notes that will enhance performances rather than confuse actors? Sarah reveals her most powerful direction, how to help actors connect to what truly matters to their character, a...

Creative partnerships can make or break a project, but what happens when your creative partner is also your partner in life? Join us for our second episode with actor and producer Sarah Randall Hunt (1923, Chicago Fire) as we unpack the delicate dynamics of collaboration in filmmaking. We'll explore how to create a foundation for successful creative partnerships, learn from Sarah's exper...

What does it truly mean to be a creative multi-hyphenate in today's entertainment landscape? Actor, producer, and writer Sarah Randall Hunt joins us to share her decade-plus journey from opera student to actor and producer, to now starring in Taylor Sheridan's hit series 1923. In this episode we explore how to defy conventional career development, unpack the realities of producing indepe...

In our final episode with actor, producer, and screenwriter JJ Hawkins, we explore how momentum can affect your creative journey and how to pick yourself back up again once you lose it. This episode explores the balance between passion and practicality in artistic careers where we reflect on redefining success and maintaining self-worth beyond external achievements. If you’re struggling to reignit...

On this episode of the Indiewood Podcast, we return with JJ Hawkins, a multifaceted actor, producer, and writer, where we talk about all things screenwriting. From writing short films to feature-length movies, we unpack the intricacies of balancing narratives, writing with imperfection, the transformative power of deadlines, and the significance of embracing collaboration. JJ and Yaro will also di...

What happens when an actor decides to take control of their own narrative? Join us as we sit down with the actor, producer, and writer JJ Hawkins. On this episode we discuss facing the challenges of limited trans roles in Hollywood and realizing the power of creating their own content. We explore the importance of self-advocacy and how stepping into the roles of producer and writer can help indie...

Join us as we chat with writer, producer, and TV actor JJ Hawkins, as we learn how to navigate a career in television, overcome career obstacles, and share our adventures creating the web series "Stupid Cupid" in the bustling streets of New York City. We spotlight JJ's journey as a trans actor moving from humble theater beginnings to breaking barriers with a role in CBS's &quot...