Producer's Cut

In the latest episode of our podcast, we had the pleasure of speaking with accomplished author J.R. Blomberg about his new novella, "Navajoland." This captivating story not only engages readers with a thrilling adventure but also offers profound insights into the heritage and spirituality of the Navajo Nation. Blomberg’s unique storytelling approach and personal connection to the land ma...

Introduction: In a world where obstacles can often feel insurmountable, the story of Ben Kjar shines as a beacon of hope and resilience. Born with a rare condition that could have easily defined him, Ben chose instead to rise above his challenges and become a world champion wrestler. In this blog post, we delve into the fascinating journey of how this powerful story came to life, as discussed in a...

Introduction: In the ever-changing world of Hollywood, casting has become a dynamic field that continuously adapts to new trends and technologies. In this insightful podcast episode, casting expert Paisley Baker shares her journey from theater to the heart of Hollywood casting, offering valuable insights into the importance of guilds, the impact of COVID-19 on the casting process, and what casting...

Introduction: In a world where stories often reflect the complexities of human experience, Allie’s journey from screenwriter to director is a testament to resilience and creativity. Following a life-altering stroke, she found a new passion in filmmaking, nurturing her voice and vision through the lens of trauma and transformation. This blog post dives into her inspiring story, her approach to film...

In this conversation, Erin Ziccarelli and Daren Smith discuss the evolution of indie film production through the lens of the Producer Fund. Daren shares insights on creating a sustainable ecosystem for indie films, focusing on investor engagement, audience targeting, and innovative marketing strategies. He emphasizes the importance of community and alignment with investors, as well as the structur...

My interview with Paul Zeidman is now live! Paul breaks down his background in writing, podcasting, and producing short films. Check out his interview for a behind-the-scenes look at the Creative Writing Life podcast and his latest short film, Shecky! Click here to support Paul's Shecky post-production crowdfunding tier: https://lnkd.in/gQGzTyvy. Shecky is 73% funded - check out his reward tie...

My second interview with Israel Brooks is now live! It was a pleasure to have him back for another chat about international production and Fast Fire Films 2.0. Check out his interview for ways to incorporate technology into your production process and more on: ·       Securing sponsorship/product placement ·       Direct-to-consumer release for your film ·       Production company scaling ·      ...

My interview with Rene Estes is now live! She is the founder of the Video Mentor and shares her perspective on media strategy and entrepreneurship. Check out her interview for more on the intersection of media and technology, including: ·       Mission and vision behind the Video Mentor ·       Trends in social media marketing ·       Identifying your audience ·       Filmmaking for emerging artis...

Stephanie Moore’s second interview is now live! It was a pleasure having her back for another chat about entrepreneurship and the current “indie film renaissance.” She’s made some incredible strides with Gemini Crown Tech in the last year, particularly focusing on emerging artists and filmmakers. Check out her interview for more on:   ·       Shifts in the CA and TX film industries ·       Explori...

My interview with Teresa Catherine is now live! She breaks down her theatrical background and career journey in production, highlighting the need for making your own work and adopting an entrepreneurial mindset in the film industry. Check out her interview for more on: ·       Creating your production company teaser ·       Building your online presence as a creator ·       Tax credits and hiring...

My interview with Mar Della Greca is now live! Mar has years of experience in the entertainment industry, particularly in marketing and PR strategy, balancing creative vision with marketability and profitability. Check out her interview for more on: ·       Traditional distribution to digital platforms ·       Building your project’s visibility early on ·       Sales agents’ role in distribution ·...

My interview with Owen Palmiotti is now live! Owen joins me for an in-depth discussion of producing short films, from creating your film’s LLC to building out your core team to festival distribution. This is a detailed breakdown of the business of producing a film, specifically focusing on the legal and accounting angles of creating your short films. Check out his interview for more on: ·       Un...

My interview with Maria Capp is now live! Maria is the founder and CEO of Cappricielli productions and she gives us an in-depth breakdown on professional collaborations and project funding through sponsorships and in-kind donations. Check out her interview for more on:  • Building an audience through “knowing, liking, and trusting”  • Production on union projects  • Production sponsorships for fun...

My interview with Anthony Sturmas is now live! Anthony is a super talented storyboard artist and the founder and CEO of Asturmas Produtions. During our chat he shared his insights on developing his craft and described his artistic inspiration for projects including the Redstorm (2013). Check out his interview for more on: ·      Storyboarding as “conducting” for your film ·      Collaboration with...

My interview with Juliana Guedes is now live! She is an experienced production designer, and we had an amazing time chatting about her background in architecture and latest developments in technology for her role. Check out her interview for more on: Character backgrounds and set design Initiatives to reuse sets and reduce waste Set design from script to screen Short films and overseas production

My interview with Stephen Meier is now live! His latest project, Debutantes, is a union project with a $5.5 million dollar budget. Stephen wrote this feature fourteen years ago and now it's happening! We had a great time chatting about all things production, especially tax credits in southern states and marketing/distribution strategies. Check out his interview for more on: Alabama tax rebates...

My interview with publicist and media director Marie Lemelle is now live! Marie started her career in sports PR and has since acquired years of experience in public relations and talent management. She is the founder of several media and production companies including Platinum Star Public Relations and Eyedeal Image. Check out her interview for more on: PR as “crisis communication” Going global wi...

It was a pleasure to host Elizabeth Stuelke on Producer’s Cut this week! Our interview is now live. Elizabeth gives in an in-depth analysis of her short film, Her Lover, as well as the business decisions she made to pitch and finance the project! Check out her interview for more on: Crowdfunding for short films Largo. Ai platform for pitching Designing your pitch based on your audience Proof of co...

My interview with Sean Rappleyea is live! Sean breaks down his career stages, including production assistant jobs on shows including American Odyssey, Limitless, and the Blacklist. More recently, he founded Rapp Consulting, focused on film development, investment, and strategy. Check out his interview for more on: TV shows made for network v. streamers Tribeca Film Festival Executive producing on...

My interview with Eliza Huberth is now live! She is a Juilliard grad and the writer, producer, and director of the short film, Milquetoast. Eliza walks us through her project’s production process, including casting, crowdfunding, and making the most of film festivals. Check out her interview for more on: Building your production team Casting for your project’s genre Networking strategies for festi...

My interview with Lucinda Bruce is now live! Lucinda is an international producer and the CEO and owner of Lady of the Light Productions. We talked about equity financing, grant application strategies, utilizing tax credits, and approaching brands for sponsorship. Check out her interview for more on: Overseas indie film hubs Tax incentives for each stage of production Utilizing festivals for peer...

Koura Linda recently completed The List (2025), a short film for the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge! The short stars Daniel Mione, Sarah Penn, and Stevie Collins. Koura directed and produced this project and with a talented cast and crew of volunteers. Congratulations to the whole team! Check out her interview for more on: Securing sponsorships for your shorts Filming a short in two days Ma...

My interview with Richard Zelniker is now live! Richard is the founder and CEO of Lucid Pictures and most recently wrote and directed the feature film, the Vortex (2025). Check out his interview for more on: Directing short films Ensemble casting Profit-sharing theatrical release model Film financing with talent attached

Curtis Boggs’ interview is now live! He’s the founder and CEO of Curtis Boggs LLC. In his interview he details his experience in the business from his engineering background and early job on Sydney Pollack’s "The Firm" to developing his storytelling talent and photography and cinematography crafts. Check out his interview for more on: Storytelling through documentaries Shifts in streamin...

My interview with Michael Brown is now live! Michael is a director and producer, and the CEO of Burning Sound Pictures. In addition to producing Hayseed and Lose You to Love Me, he specializes in creating mobile-first content and branded content. Check out his interview for more on: Marketing for indie filmmakers Utilizing data analytics to analyze social media reach Branded content v. content mar...