Cathy Yonek, Chocolate for Christmas

In this episode of Indie Filmmaking Truth and Reality, Cathy Yonek, a first-time feature filmmaker, discusses her debut independent film Chocolate for Christmas. Cathy shares her journey from making short films to tackling her first feature, emphasizing the challenges of production and the advice that led her to create a Christmas movie. The story centers around a woman who returns to her family's chocolate business to save it from financial collapse. Cathy details her organized approach to the film's seven-day shoot, with a supportive crew, including director of photography/editor Josh, and praised her calm and collaborative atmosphere on set. Lead actors Angela Cole and Joel Berg later join the conversation, offering insights into their characters and the themes of family, love, and Christmas. Cathy also opens up about the financial struggles of making a "no-budget" film, using credit cards and various side jobs to fund it. The episode concludes with Cathy discussing the film's distribution and a potential sequel, Marry Me in Greece, starring the same lead actors. The episode highlights the resilience and creativity needed for independent filmmaking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices