Alex Schmider is an Emmy, Peabody, and Critics Choice Award recognized film producer and the Director of Transgender Representation at GLAAD, the nation’s leading LGBTQ media advocacy organization. His producing credits include CHANGING THE GAME (Hulu), DISCLOSURE (Netflix), FRAMING AGNES (Kino Lorber), STAY ON BOARD: THE LEO BAKER STORY (Netflix) and upcoming CHASING CHASING AMY. He is an active member of the Producers Guild of America, the Television Academy, and board member for The 19th News...
Mar 07, 2023•46 min
David Stump brings over 25 years of experience as a Producer, Director, Director of Photography, Visual Effects Director of Photography, Visual Effects Supervisor and Effects Cameraman. He has extensive experience in high definition film and video photography, content creation, CGI and visual effects production. He has won an Emmy Award and an Academy Award for Scientific and Technical Acheivement. He is a full member of the American Society of Cinematographers, where he currently serves as Chai...
Feb 28, 2023•48 min
Kevin is the founder and CEO of Screen Engine/ASI , a research and data analytics company that prioritizes maximizing market potential while evaluating risk for clients in the media and entertainment sectors. SE/ASI works with entertainment clients to uncover the critical ‘WHY’ behind the choices people make in deciding what, where, when, and how they choose to watch content. Throughout his career, Kevin has produced twelve television movies. He is also the author of Audience-ology a book that c...
Feb 21, 2023•57 min
Max Muscato is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer and philanthropist. As a rock artist he brings electrifying performances to every show. Over the last several years Max has gained an extensive following and has toured and opened for: Citizen Cope, Theory of a Deadman, Aaron Carter, Finger Eleven, Eric Gales, Ripe, The Allman Betts Bandn and more. He is currently working on his next singles Valarie and Toxic & Poison due out in 2022. In addition to his music career, Max i...
Feb 14, 2023•38 min
Alan D'Escragnolle is a Brazilian-American, currently building the future of film distribution for producers, sales agents and distributors. Prior to this, I've spent time wearing many hats building product, growth, and operations teams across many different verticals and stages of companies. From turnaround to high-growth companies, there's always a great learning experience.
Feb 07, 2023•39 min
With her extraordinarily deep and varied background in managing and marketing film and cultural ventures on both sides of the Atlantic, Eleonora brings a global network of artistic and business alliances to her endeavors as a producer, film festival programmer, and international PR, marketing and distribution consultant. As an Executive: As a film production and acquisitions executive, Eleonora has worked as Vice President and head of the film co- productions and acquisitions division at Turner ...
Jan 31, 2023•48 min
Sadhvi Siddhali Shree is the first North American Jain monk, a US Army Iraq-war combat veteran, a TEDx speaker, an activist, and an award-winning filmmaker. Driven by her deep-seated devotion to humanity, she uses her talents and skills to raise awareness about non-violence, personal and spiritual transformation, and social issues. Since 2008, she has served as the Spiritual Director of Siddhayatan Tirth & Spiritual Retreat, a 250-acre retreat, ashram, monastery, and meditation park based ne...
Jan 24, 2023•33 min
Join Leslie for this very special episode directly from LaFemme International Film Festival. Moderated by Debeorah Gilels from LA Media Consultants this is part 2 of a panel titled Independent Financing: From Bridge to Gap to Raising Capital.
Jan 17, 2023•59 min
Join Leslie for this very special episode directly from LaFemme International Film Festival. Moderated by Debeorah Gilels from LA Media Consultants this is part 1 of a panel titled Independent Financing: From Bridge to Gap to Raising Capital.
Jan 10, 2023•51 min
Sadie is an actress, writer, producer and documentarian with an award named in her honor (AMDOC'S Sadie Katz Award for Hustle.) She spent the last two decades balancing being a single mom and a scream queen genre actress and recently opened her own production company "See You Next Tuesday Films" with the goal of telling female focused stories that don't involve sexed-up super villains or girls running through the woods.
Jan 03, 2023•44 min
In this astonishing episode, Leslie breaks down the steps it takes to design your life as a filmmaker. This is the perfect episode if you want to start off 2023 in a major way.
Dec 27, 2022•28 min
Bob Nickman is a comedian, actor, writer and producer who has worked on some of the most iconic sit-coms like Mad About You and Rosanne. In this episode Leslie talks with Bob about what it's like to work on these shows and how to transition from one to the other. Bob Nickman is an American comedian, actor, television producer, and television writer. As a television producer/writer, his credits include Mad About You , Freaks and Geeks , Danny , According to Jim , Big Day , Rita Rocks and Roseanne...
Dec 20, 2022•43 min
Human trafficking is one of the most frightening and misunderstood realities of the world... and this blight is right here in the US. In this episode, Leslie speaks with actor and filmmaker Christina Zorich. about her new Docummentary the New Abolitionists.
Dec 13, 2022•40 min
Have you ever wished you could get free advice from a Public Relations and Marketing guru to promote your independent film? Leslie sits down with AJ Adelman the Chief Innovation Officer at Infinity Films who drops golden nuggets on how to get your film out into the world. AJ Adelman A.J. Adelman brings more than 30 years of corporate account management, sales/sponsorships, producer/development executive, consultancy, training/teaching and market research experience to the team. His award-winning...
Dec 06, 2022•43 min
Should you start a production company if you're a filmmaker. Almost definitely. In this episode, Leslie talks about why you should think about setting up a corporation and how you should set up your corporation. You'll learn everything from finding the right legal fictitious name to tax benefits and corporate protections. Don't miss this episode.
Nov 29, 2022•32 min
What are the laws of attraction in the universe and can you learn how to use them to attract everything you've ever wanted? Well, sure! In this episode Leslie talks with J Cynthia Brooks who teaches her techniques to attract what you want in your life. These techniques are fantastic for actors and any other industry professionals who have to pitch their projects.
Nov 22, 2022•52 min
Do you need to raise money for your film? Maybe you 're looking to attract a production company to your pilot or film script? In this episode Leslie speaks with Literary Agent and Producer John Beach about how to develop projects and what stands out when he's looking for a script John has worked in the entertainment industry for over 20 years – starting as a literary agent at Paradigm and later with ACME Talent & Literary, where he was instrumental in the sale of Oliver Stone’s WORLD TRADE C...
Nov 15, 2022•47 min
Frank Kelly went from working in Corporate America to becoming a self-taught filmmaker and Leslie learns the story and the nuggets of lessons he's learned on the way. Frank Kelly is the founder and creative director of Reel City Films, a film & video production company dedicated to creating content for brands and agencies. Through his company, Frank writes and directs the majority of the work he and his team produce. Current and past clients include Bacardi, Princess Cruise Lines, the Biltmo...
Nov 08, 2022•32 min
In today's episode Leslie talks with Director Drew Ann Rosenberg about her time on Broadway and her move toward directing films. Drew grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, later graduating from Brown University. She found her love of the arts through her years of study as a classically trained singer, performing in Boston and NYC. After graduation, Drew began working behind the scenes in New York's off-Broadway Theatres- Playwright's Horizons and American Place, before transitioning to film. She beg...
Nov 01, 2022•32 min
How do you break in, produce and have a career in Hollywood? Today Leslie talks with Tony Boldi with over 25 years of practical experience in the film industry about the brutality and fun of working in Hollywood. More About Tony Tony is the Founder and CEO of Lifeforce Foundations which is a For-Cause Organization focused upon Global and Local Social Concerns. Tony has received numerous honors and awards such as the Official People's Mayor of Hollywood and a honorary PhD from his former learning...
Oct 25, 2022•44 min
Today Leslie sits down with Irina Maleeva to discuss her fascinating career in TV and Film, what it was like to be discovered by Fellini and much more. More about Irina: Star of stage, screen, television, cabaret and the world of music, Irina Maleeva is a true multifaceted international sensation. The daughter of a famed Bulgarian stage actress and an aristocratic Italian statesman, Maleeva first established herself as a child performer in her native Bulgaria -- and from there her career and tal...
Oct 18, 2022•31 min
Do you want to know what networks are looking for directly from an executive who is also a show runner? Enter Cindy Villarreal who sits down with Leslie and breaks down everything form story to script to analytics. Do not miss this one! More about Cindy: Cindy Villarreal is a versatile, network executive producer and show-runner with 30 years of entertainment experience in new media, episodic TV, and feature films overseeing projects for many broadcasting networks including the CW, Viacom, Veriz...
Oct 11, 2022•32 min
Rivkah Reyes (they/she, but mostly they) is a queer Filipinx-Jewish actor, musician, comedian, producer and writer from Chicago. They have been performing since the age of 4 when they picked up a guitar for the first time. In the 4th grade, Rivkah performed on the NPR show From the Top, which eventually led to them being discovered and cast in the 2003 film School of Rock. Since their movie debut, Riv has been a prominent force in the comedy and theater scenes of Chicago, Los Angeles, and New Yo...
Oct 04, 2022•41 min
In this episode Leslie talks to Actor/Producer Tara Shayne about filming in Chicago. They discuss everything from casting to location scouting to funding and all aspects of Independent Film in between. Don't miss it.
Sep 27, 2022•31 min
Praised by American Record Guide as, "Energetic and exciting...", American composer Maria Newman has been commended and recognized by the U.S. Congress for her work in the field of original music composition, live performance, and recording. Newman’s compositions have been performed and screened in such elite venues as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the U.S. Capitol Building on Capitol Hill, the National Archives in Washington D.C., Hearst Castle Private Theater, the President’s Own Marine B...
Sep 20, 2022•45 min
Do you want to be a networking master at AFM? Do you have a finished film that you want to sell at AFM? In this episode Leslie gives amazing advice and tips on how to navigate the coctail hours and pitch meetings like a pro.
Sep 13, 2022•28 min
How do you navigate a career in Hollywood from actor to writer to producer and even director? Leslie sits down with James Michael Cummings and talks about setting up a great team, finding funding, location scouting, casting, expanding your role, finding the right projects and much more. From City on a Hill to casting Jamie Fox, this is an amazing episode with valuable stories and advice.
Sep 06, 2022•46 min
Ko Mori produces anime and live action by telling stories that show his Japanese culture and nobody does it better. In this episode, Leslie and Ko discuss new projects and creative partners, hybrid festivals, distribution and much more...
Aug 30, 2022•42 min
At a time when women were rarely in positions of power on a set, Marty Elcan was an Assistant Director on iconic shows like Hill Street Blues, Six Feet Under, Picket Fences and many, many more. In this episode, Leslie and Mary break down her career and the job of an assistant director on set.
Aug 23, 2022•41 min
Bring your notebooks, today Leslie gives a class on all the different ways to get financing for your independent film and also how to avoid getting screwed in the process. She discusses things like Gap financing, bridge financing, equity investing with private money, different loans, how and why to choose a sales agent, how to get distribution, resale agreements and much more. This is a MUST LISTEN!
Aug 16, 2022•36 min
