Rewriting Hollywood

Jared Milrad interviews award-winning writer Maggie Cohn, who was co-showrunner on HBO Max's limited series, THE STAIRCASE, starring Colin Firth and Toni Collette. Previously, Cohen was a Co-EP on NARCOS and won a Golden Globe for her work on AMERICAN CRIME STORY: VERSACE, on which she was a writer and producer. Maggie opens up about her process for developing THE STAIRCASE, which explores th...

Jared Milrad sits down with filmmaker Eitan Pitigliani about his award-winning short film, SISSY, which tells the moving story of how a son's love for his deceased mother surpasses everything - even time and space. Eitan opens up about what inspired him to tell such a personal story, how SISSY explores themes of love, grief, and loss, and what defines his approach to filmmaking.  We depend on...

Jared Milrad interviews rising comedian Robin Tran about her upcoming performance at the NETFLIX IS A JOKE Comedy Festival and her unique journey as a person and performer. Named one of Just For Laugh’s New Faces of 2021, Robin opens up about her experience coming out as transgender, struggling with depression and bipolar II, navigating sensitive topics in comedy, and finding balance in her life a...

Jared Milrad chats with producer Jessica Godinez about her award-winning documentary, THE SONG OF THE SEA. which follows four Latinos across the United States as they explore their relationship to the ocean and their culture - and their role in preserving both. Jessica opens up about her work at the Hispanic Access Foundation on ocean conservation and cultural preservation, why she decided to shar...

Jared Milrad chats with award-winning filmmaker Michelle Jones about her personal short film, UNCLE, which tells the tragic true story of Michelle's uncle, Kenneth Severin, who was killed in prison in 1995 while struggling with severe mental illness. Michelle reflects on how the tragic death of her uncle at age 14 affected her life, how criminal justice issues intersect with mental health, an...

Jared Milrad interviews filmmaker Nathalie Kantaris Diaz about her award-winning documentary, THE TRUST CRISIS, which explores whether declining trust in politics may be one of the most threatening crises we face today that may imperil the future of democracy itself. Nathalie also opens up about her journey in filmmaking and how democratic societies can rebuild trust in their leaders and governmen...

Jared Milrad sits down with award-winning filmmaker Phumi Morare about her Oscar-shortlisted film, WHEN THE SUN SETS, which tells the true story of a Black nurse who tries to protect her family during apartheid in South Africa. Phumi opens up about her South African roots, how her mother's experience living in apartheid South Africa inspired this film, and steps we can all take to make Hollyw...

Jared Milrad chats with filmmakers Luis Villegas and Francisco Acosta about their award-winning documentary, EXPEDITION TRIBUGA, which documents a citizen movement in Colombia that seeks to protect a biodiverse region in the country, Tribuga, and other endangered places worldwide. Luis and Francisco share how they're working to save precious ecosystems and preserve indigenous cultures, why th...

Jared Milrad interviews award-winning actor Aunjanue Ellis, who recently earned an Oscar nomination for her role as Miss Oracine Price opposite Will Smith in KING RICHARD, which tells the story of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams and their parents, Richard and Oracine. Aunjanue opens up about her roots in Mississippi, her approach to acting and building a lasting career, and the importa...

Jared Milrad chats with Academy Award-winning filmmaker Martin Strange-Hansen about his Oscar-nominated short film, ON MY MIND, which shares the story of a man who desperately wants to sing a song for his dying wife. Inspired by the painful experience of losing his daughter, Martin opens up about the process of making such a personal film about family, grief, and love - and the impact he hopes it...

Jared Milrad sits down with award-winning filmmaker Annie St-Pierre about her Oscar-eligible short film, LIKE THE ONES I USED TO KNOW, which confronts the harsh realities of separated families during the holidays. After its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, the film has won four Oscar-qualifying awards and screened at festivals globally. Jared and Annie discuss the challenges of growin...

Jared Milrad interviews Karin Shiel and Sean "Dino" Johnson about their award-winning short documentary, BEHIND THESE WALLS, which explores how the arts can heal, rehabilitate, and empower incarcerated individuals. Karin opens up about why she produced this impactful project, and Dino walks us through his experience with the Rehabilitation Through The Arts program while incarcerated at S...

Jared Milrad interviews award-winning filmmaker Cesar Martinez Barba about his Oscar-eligible short documentary, DIAL HOME, which tells the true story of deported call center agents in Mexico who make phone calls into the United States. Cesar opens up about what draws him to stories about representation and the relationship between the United States and Mexico, how people who are deported to Mexic...

Jared Milrad interviews award-winning filmmaker Mitch Kalisa about his Oscar-eligible short film PLAY IT SAFE, which addresses prejudice in the classroom. Mitch shares his own experience with unconscious bias and racism in drama school, his upbringing in Uganda and the UK, and how we can confront various forms of systemic oppression in any space. We depend on your generous support of Rewriting Hol...

Jared Milrad chats with actor Justin Cunningham about his lead role in GRAND CREW, a new comedy series on Peacock about a group of Black friends who unpack the ups and downs of life and love at a wine bar. Justin also opens up about his upbringing in an Arkansas farming family, his training at Julliard, and how he views issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in Hollywood. We depend on your gen...

Jared Milrad sits down with Oscar-nominated filmmaker Tadeusz Lysiak about his award-winning film THE DRESS, which is nominated for the 2022 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. Tadeusz opens up about his powerful film, which tells the story of a short-statured woman who is trying to find love on the outskirts of society. Tadeusz opens up about why he's drawn to telling stories abou...

Jared Milrad interviews award-winning filmmaker Nicolaj Kopernikus about his Oscar-shortlisted film, STENOFONEN, which tells the story of a young boy whose love of music is stifled by his father's rejection. Nicolaj shares how his touching film is based on his father's own experiences as a Danish boy in the 1950s. Jared and Nicolaj discuss how this personal story was brought to life on f...

Jared Milrad sits down with award-winning filmmaker Murad Abu Eisheh about his Oscar-shortlisted film, TALA'VISION, which tells the story of a young girl, Tala, who tries to watch TV after ISIS banned televisions in Syria in 2014. Winner of the Gold Student Academy Award, this powerful film shares Tala’s struggle as she tries to experience her childhood in a war zone. Murad opens up about his...

Jared Milrad chats with Academy Award-winning filmmaker Anders Walter about his Oscar-eligible short film, CHILD OF MINE, which focuses on a new mother trying to overcome her own childhood trauma. Anders walks us through his fascinating journey as a graphic novelist-turned-filmmaker, from winning the Academy Award in 2014 for his short film HELIUM to making CHILD OF MINE and learning important les...

Jared Milrad interviews award-winning filmmaker Maya Sanbar about her Oscar-eligible animated short film, FOOTSTEPS ON THE WIND, which tells the story of two siblings who go on a mysterious journey after tragically losing their parents. Maya opens up about collaborating with Sting on the project, and shares how the film is being used to help traumatized refugee children and raise awareness of the...

Jared Milrad chats with award-winning filmmakers Leo Berne and Raphael Rodriguez about their Oscar-shortlisted film, CENSOR OF DREAMS, which is a dark sci-fi comedy about a team of people who try to block their host’s painful dreams and memories. Leo and Raphael share their collaborative style and beginnings in filmmaking, how people can overcome past traumas, and what steps can be taken to make H...

Jared Milrad interviews four members of the Fab Five from Netflix's QUEER EYE who share how they found joy during the pandemic, what was special about Season 6's Heroes in Austin, Texas, and the advice they would give to their younger selves. PLUS: JVN reminds kids not to do meth, hilariously claims that he was a surrogate for Tan's child, and also massages Tan's ears for awhil...

Jared Milrad sits down with award-winning filmmaker Farbod Ardebili about his Oscar-eligible short film, FORBIDDEN TO SEE US SCREAM IN TEHRAN, which focuses on a female Iranian singer who organizes an underground concert to challenge the government's ban on women performing music in public. Farbod opens up about his own background as a musician in Iran, and Iran's ban on western music, w...

Jared Milrad interviews award-winning filmmaker Javier Marco about his Oscar-eligible short film, A LA CARA (FACE TO FACE), which shares the story of a woman who confronts a social media troll in person. A LA CARA has screened at over 90 film festivals. Javier discusses the impact of social media on mental health, and the importance of having empathy for those who we disagree with online. Javier a...

Jared Milrad interviews Emmanuel Tenenbaum about his Oscar-eligible short film, FREE FALL, which focuses on a Wall Street day trader who tries to exploit the financial benefits of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and ends up losing a lot more than money. This award-winning film explores corporate greed, capitalism, and human nature, all of which Jared and Emmanuel discuss at length. Emmanuel also opens...