How This Actor Took an Indie Film to Cannes | JB Chen

Actor and producer JB Chen joins The Actor’s Instrument to discuss how independent films create new opportunities for actors—and why creatives shouldn’t wait for permission to build momentum in their careers. JB shares how he became an associate producer on the indie feature The President’s Cake, which premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in the Directors’ Fortnight section and won the Audience Award. He also reflects on the experience of bringing an independent film to one of the world’s most prestigious festivals and what actors can learn from stepping into producing. This conversation explores initiative, collaboration, and the long-term mindset required to build a sustainable acting career beyond the audition room. Note: This episode was recorded in November 2025 and released later at the request of the film’s publicity team during its awards campaign. Follow JB Chen: Instagram: @joebchen Follow the Podcast: Instagram: @actorsinstrumentpodcast Follow Hassiem Muhammad: Instagram: @HassiemMuhammad 🎵 Theme Music: Elijah by Isaac Fox🎙 Produced in partnership with Next Chapter Podcasts 📩 [email protected]🌐 https://www.nextchapterpodcasts.com/the-actors-instrument