The DMF With Justin Younts

Welcome to the DMF! I’m Justin Younts , and in this episode, Christine La Monte shares an extraordinary creative journey that began in Rome in 2012 . That pivotal moment marked her introduction to a gifted young filmmaker, Maxime Derevenko , who would later emerge as an influential voice in the worlds of opera and film. Christine reflects on how their collaboration grew through shared curiosity, m...

Welcome to the DMF! I'm Justin Younts , and today I’m thrilled to introduce Christine La Monte , who shares her inspiring journey through the film industry. Growing up in Buffalo, New York , Christine was surrounded by art, culture, and cinema, which sparked her lifelong passion for storytelling and filmmaking. From her early memories of watching films in theaters to working with major studios lik...

Welcome to the DMF! I'm Justin Younts, and today I had the pleasure of speaking with Kris Keppeler, an audiobook narrator, voice actress, and writer. Kris shared her fascinating journey from growing up in the snowy Midwest to exploring the arts and finding her passion in acting and voiceover work. She opened up about her experiences moving from Ohio to Michigan and then to Washington State, wh...

Welcome to the DMF! I'm Justin Younts , and today we're diving into the world of YouTube monetization. Is there something you want to accomplish on YouTube that you haven’t done yet? Many creators feel that way — including Kris Keppeler , who joins me to share her own goals and experiences in content creation. Kris talks about expanding her platform through writing a book, growing her podc...

Welcome to the DMF! I'm Justin Younts , and today I'm diving into the creative world of Kris Keppeler , the voice actress, narrator, and podcaster behind Does This Happen to You? Kris shares how her podcast was born from her love of comedy and storytelling. She first considered writing her own comedic material but quickly realized there were countless amazing stories already out there. Tha...

Welcome to the DMF! I'm  Justin Younts , and today I'm diving into my journey into voice acting with the incredible  Kris Keppeler . It all started when I was searching for more acting opportunities in Seattle, and someone suggested I try voiceover. I never considered it before, but once I found a coach, I discovered how much I loved combining my singing and acting skills. Voice acting has...

Welcome to the DMF! I'm Justin Younts, and today I have the pleasure of introducing Kris Keppeler , an incredible audiobook narrator, voice actress, and writer. Kris shares her fascinating journey from the snowy winters of Michigan to the sunny deserts of Washington, and how each move shaped her love for the arts. She talks about her early experiences with singing, the challenges she faced, an...

Welcome to the DMF. I'm Justin Younts, and today I’m speaking with filmmaker  Sara Alessandrini  about her powerful and controversial documentary,  This Is What New Yorkers Say . Sara created the film out of frustration with how the media portrayed Andrew Cuomo and what she saw as a lack of due process in the public discourse surrounding him. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:07 - Guest Introducti...

Welcome to the DMF! I’m Justin Younts, and in this episode, Sara Alessandrini opens up about the chaotic and often brutal world of documentary filmmaking. Sara walks us through the challenges she faced while creating her documentary — challenges that went far beyond the expected hurdles of production. She dealt with legal threats , bullying , and intense pushback from some of the very people she i...

Welcome to the DMF. I’m Justin Younts, and in this episode,  Sara Alessandrini  takes us inside the reckless, bold decisions that pushed her to create her documentary. For Sara, the journey began in 2020, at the height of her growing frustration with the film industry — particularly the way safety protocols were handled as theaters attempted to reopen during the pandemic. Watching parts of the ind...

Welcome to the DMF. I'm Justin Younts, and in this episode I sit down with  Sara Alessandrini , who dives deep into the hierarchy of film production and the often misunderstood roles of directors and producers. Sara has met her fair share of people who love calling themselves “director” but shy away from the responsibilities that come with it — and she’s not afraid to talk about it. With exper...

Welcome to the DMF! I'm Justin Younts, and today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Sara Alessandrini, an Italian filmmaker who has just released a captivating miniseries on Apple TV titled 'This is What New Yorkers Say.' This series offers a unique perspective on Andrew Cuomo through the eyes of everyday New Yorkers, and it's comprised of five thought-provoking episodes. Sa...

Welcome to the DMF! I'm Justin Younts, and today I have the pleasure of speaking with Tommy Burke, an assistant director with 30 years of experience in the film industry. Tommy has written a captivating book titled 'Not Just Sunglasses and Autographs,' where he shares his incredible journey through Hollywood. From his early days in Boston to working on major productions, Tommy's st...

Welcome to the DMF! I'm Justin Younts, and in this episode, I sit down with  Tommy Burke , who dives deep into the world of acting, storytelling, and the unexpected connections that shaped his career. Tommy shares a fascinating story about how  Sean Astin  — beloved from  The Goonies  and  The Lord of the Rings  — intersects with his journey on the film  Kimberley . Tommy reflects on the reali...

Welcome to the DMF with Justin Younts! In this episode, Justin sits down with Tommy Burke , a veteran of the film industry whose career has been defined by grit, adventure, and resilience. Tommy shares his unforgettable experiences working on demanding productions — including the chaos of filming in the jungle, where crocodiles, scorpions, and unpredictable conditions were part of the job. From na...

Welcome to the DMF! I'm Justin Younts, and today I have the pleasure of introducing Tommy Burke, an assistant director with 30 years of experience in the film industry. In this episode, we dive deep into Tommy's incredible journey, which he chronicles in his book, 'Not Just Sunglasses and Autographs.' From his humble beginnings in Boston to his rise in Hollywood, Tommy shares the u...

Welcome to the DMF with Justin Younts! This is the  300th episode  of the DMF, and to mark this milestone, we’re bringing you something truly special —  the complete Alan Katz experience . This episode features  all of Alan Katz’s appearances  on the show, merged into one in-depth conversation celebrating creativity, storytelling, and the darkly humorous legacy of  Tales from the Crypt . Alan Katz...

Welcome to the DMF! I’m Justin Younts, and today we’re exploring how Alan Katz starts his day — and how his routines have transformed his life. Alan begins each morning with intention, sketching out his schedule on paper — everything from podcast interviews to sound editing and writing his deeply personal book, How to Live B *****t Free.* The book was born from his struggles with mental health and...

Welcome to the DMF! I’m Justin Younts, and in this episode, we explore Alan Katz’s unforgettable experiences filming in England. Alan described the entire journey as a dream come true—from shooting in breathtaking castles to immersing himself in the country’s vibrant culture. But it wasn’t all glamour and ease. Behind the stunning backdrops were challenges that tested his patience and professional...

Welcome to the DMF! I’m Justin Younts, and today we’re exploring the fascinating world of casting through the perspective of Alan Katz. Alan delved into the complexities of casting  Superman , particularly focusing on Christopher Reeve. He explained that casting Superman is unlike any other role—it’s not just about acting, but about embodying a character that becomes a part of who you are. Alan re...

Welcome to the DMF! I’m Justin Younts, and today we’re exploring the fascinating world of filmmaking through the experiences of Alan Katz. Alan recalled the immense challenges of working with Tim Curry on a project that pushed everyone involved to their limits. The creative process was daunting, especially when Tim was tasked with playing three different roles in a single story. It terrified him—a...

Welcome to the DMF! I’m Justin Younts, and today I’m diving into the fascinating world of You Murderer through the eyes of Alan Katz. This episode was a unique challenge, as it was shot entirely from the perspective of a dead man—a bold concept that director Bob had envisioned from the start. Alan described the experience as unlike anything else, requiring incredible creativity and collaboration f...

Welcome to the DMF! I’m Justin Younts, and today I want to share an incredible story about Alan Katz. While researching the world of donor conception, Alan connected with Donna Hall, a woman who discovered at 40 that she was donor conceived. This revelation was earth-shattering for her, and her journey is nothing short of remarkable. Donna grew up in a lower-tier crime family outside of Philadelph...

When Alan Katz turned 45, he realized he had been keeping a secret from himself for far too long. It was a dark truth that had haunted him since he was 14, when he was sexually molested by someone he trusted. For decades, Alan carried the weight of self-loathing and blame, convinced it had been his fault. But the moment he confronted the secret, everything changed. He came to understand that it’s...

Welcome to the DMF. I'm Justin Younts, and today we’re diving deep into the dark side of Hollywood through the story of Alan Katz. There was an ulterior motive behind hiring Angie, a supermodel with no acting experience, and it led to a series of unfortunate events that almost derailed Alan’s career. Having worked with many actors, Alan believes the best performances come from being raw and re...