Mission Matters Business Podcast with Adam Torres

In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Aleksandar Adzic, Writer, Director & Producer at Sunlight Productions, about his first American Film Market experience and his approach to building creative momentum. Aleksandar discusses writing 11 feature screenplays, his documentary The Lions Within (now on Amazon Prime), and his mission to champion powerful stories that deserve wider r...

In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Lena Jenkins-Smith, Executive Producer & President of Goldstrand Media, about her first AFM experience and the power of purpose-driven storytelling. Lena explains how Goldstrand creates wholesome, legacy-minded content while expanding representation—especially for women and youth—and shares upcoming projects across vertical dramas, educati...

In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Daniel Talbott, Screenwriter, Director, Producer & Film Curator at Orphan Andy Films, about his AFM experience and why filmmakers should engage the business side of Hollywood. Daniel shares his mission to elevate untold queer American stories—especially from underrepresented communities—while building sustainable, micro-budget models that...

As part of our official DealFlow Discovery Conference Interview Series, produced by Mission Matters, along with our partner DealFlow Events, we’re showcasing the innovative companies presenting at the DealFlow Discovery Conference and the executives behind them. --- In this episode, Adam Torres interviews Obie Strickler, Founder & CEO of Grown Rogue, ahead of the Deal Flow Discovery Conference (Ja...

In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Jason Dallas, Producer & Director at 3KM Productions, about leveraging the American Film Market to build long-term industry relationships rather than chase funding. Jason shares lessons from 25 years in filmmaking, his collaborative directing philosophy, and his mission to create meaningful, true-story-driven films that inspire audiences w...

In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Andrew de Burgh, Founder & Filmmaker at Sacred Ember Films, about his AFM experience, his upcoming feature The Demons, and how he’s building a boutique production company while developing new projects for 2026. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule...

In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Christine Lozano, Creator, Producer & Writer at CLO Productions, as part of the American Film Market series. Christine shares her journey into writing, her move into vertical dramas, and her mission to create bold, character-driven stories designed for today’s mobile-first audiences. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/as...

In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Choice Skinner, CEO / Director / Producer at Darkan Entertainment. Choice recaps his AFM 2025 experience, shares how his feature “A New Life” earned 6M+ views and an NAACP Image Award nomination for directing, and explains why he’s focused on storytelling with redemptive themes. The conversation also covers the importance of marketing, his...

In this episode, ⁠Adam Torres⁠ interviews ⁠Bobby Alexis⁠, Founder of Mindful Media Foundation, about transforming screen time into a tool for family connection and healing. Bobby shares how his background in entertainment and tech—and his personal mental health experience during the pandemic—led him to build a 501(c)(3) focused on ethical, research-backed media designed for co-viewing and co-regul...

In this episode of Mission Matters, ⁠Adam Torres⁠ interviews ⁠Stephen David Brooks⁠, an independent Director & Screenwriter, about the real-world process of taking a film from idea to finished feature. Stephen shares how AFM 2025 reflected a resurgence of energy in the indie film world, discusses the importance of theme and vision in directing, and breaks down what producers and financiers actuall...

As part of our official DealFlow Discovery Conference Interview Series, produced by Mission Matters, along with our partner DealFlow Events, we’re showcasing the innovative companies presenting at the DealFlow Discovery Conference and the executives behind them. Today’s spotlight features Robert Bitterman, CEO & President of Phio Pharmaceuticals, who discusses how the company’s INTASYL™ RNA platfo...

In this episode, ⁠Adam Torres⁠ interviews ⁠Dr. Tracy Gapin⁠, CEO & Founder of Peak Launch and the Gapin Institute, about how high-performing leaders can reclaim their edge through data-driven health optimization. Dr. Tracy explains why traditional medicine often fails executives and entrepreneurs, and how advanced diagnostics, genetics, and metrics like HRV and sleep stages can transform energy, f...

In this episode of Mission Matters, ⁠Adam Torres⁠ interviews ⁠Casey Newel⁠, Writer & Producer at 1CultureTV, about his first experience attending the American Film Market (AFM). Casey shares insights from pitching his Bigfoot horror feature, learning directly from industry experts, and connecting with creators from around the world. He breaks down how 1CultureTV leverages AI to reimagine classic c...

In this episode of Mission Matters, ⁠Adam Torres⁠ interviews ⁠Paul Santoli⁠, Executive at A 516 Productions, to talk about his journey from standup comedy and sketch videos to building a production company in Los Angeles. Paul shares how his Christian faith helped him navigate an unpredictable, non-linear path in the film industry and why creating his own projects became the way forward. He also i...

In this episode of Mission Matters, ⁠Adam Torres⁠ interviews ⁠Attila Korosi⁠, Founder of Move Mountains Pictures, about his mission to create films that go beyond entertainment and truly touch people’s hearts. Attila shares how growing up during the Yugoslavian war shaped his desire to make hopeful cinema, and walks through the journey of “Live and Die in East LA,” a crime thriller shot with both...

In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Shane Collins, Head of Production at Forced Perspective, about the company’s transition from a production services provider to a fully integrated indie studio raising capital for its own slate of seven features. Shane explains how Forced Perspective develops, packages, casts, and produces in-house while staying focused on its mission as a...

In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Sheldon Woodson, Producer & Director at Woodson’s World Studios, about his mission-driven approach to independent filmmaking. A military veteran, novelist, and creator of three feature films, Sheldon shares how he uses his AHA Initiative (Artists Helping Artists) to barter time, skills, and resources to get movies made without excuses. He...

In this episode of Mission Matters, ⁠Adam Torres⁠ interviews ⁠Blair Avery⁠, writer and director at BlairAvery.com, about his mission to make films that truly matter. Blair shares how a childhood experience with a Chronicles of Narnia adaptation sparked his calling to direct, why he believes modern entertainment has lost much of its emotional and spiritual substance, and how he’s approaching the Am...

In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Timothy Chizmar, President of SpookyNinjaKitty Media, about his journey from feeling like an outsider at the American Film Market to screening his feature film, “Naked As Created: The Pastor Jim Moore Story.” Tim shares how a real-life story of a nudist pastor inspired a bold, faith-centered film, what it took to complete production during...

In this episode of Mission Matters, ⁠Adam Torres⁠ sits down with ⁠Tim Levy⁠, Founder & CEO of TWYN, and ⁠Philip Alberstat⁠, Emmy-winning producer, entertainment lawyer, and author. Together, they explore how AI is transforming film development, talent economics, digital avatars, and the creator economy. The conversation highlights how creators can adapt, harness AI tools, and protect their long-te...

In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Abraam Mikhael, Co-Founder, Artistic Director & Filmmaker at the Hollywood Arab Film Festival. Abraam talks about his journey from pharmacy and clinical work to film school and festival leadership, and how his Arab, Christian, immigrant background shapes his storytelling. He also shares the mission behind the festival—to bring authentic, h...

On this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Henry Yoshida, Co-founder of Rocket Dollar, about his mission to improve financial literacy and make private market investing accessible to everyday investors. Henry shares how his family’s experience as immigrants fueled his career in financial services, why he built Rocket Dollar to help people use IRAs and 401(k)s for alternative invest...

In this episode, ⁠Adam Torres⁠ interviews ⁠Chinmoy Baruah⁠, Founder and CEO of CHIPX GLOBAL. Chinmoy explains how his company is tackling AI efficiency at the semiconductor level through advanced wafer design, compound semiconductors, and sustainable Gigafactory plans. He also shares his mission to reduce carbon footprint and energy consumption across the chip lifecycle while enabling high-perform...

In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Hungyu Kuo, Founder, Producer, Writer & Director of Angels Near Death. Hungyu shares the story behind his debut feature, which follows six strangers in Los Angeles as they each face a near-death experience that transforms their lives. He explains how the film reflects his own fears and hopes as a newcomer to Hollywood, how he financed and...

In this episode of Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Cynthia Hudson, Founder & President of HI Media Partners (Hudson International Media, LLC.). Cynthia shares her journey from reporter and producer at WLTV to senior leadership roles at Telemundo, Hearst, and CNN en Español, where she helped launch channels, rebrand networks, and champion documentaries. Now building her own company—and coll...