Markian Tarasiuk on Hunting Matthew Nichols, Indie Film, & Making People Care

In this episode of From Vision to Creation, Alexander sits down with actor, writer, director, and filmmaker Markian Tarasiuk for an honest and inspiring conversation about acting, indie filmmaking, creative resilience, self-distribution, and the making of his true crime horror film Hunting Matthew Nichols. Markian shares how his creative journey began in Winnipeg, Manitoba, from acting classes as a kid to landing a life-changing theater role at 14 years old. He reflects on the early lesson that shaped his career: even if you don’t get the role you want, you can still make the most of the role you have. That mindset would follow him throughout his career as an actor, writer, director, and independent filmmaker. We talk about the highs and lows of pursuing a creative career, including rejection, comparison, self-doubt, criticism, and the importance of celebrating small wins along the way. Markian opens up about what it really takes to stay grounded in an industry where so much is outside of your control, and why surrounding yourself with the right people can help you manage both success and disappointment. Markian also takes us behind the scenes of Hunting Matthew Nichols, his feature directorial debut, and shares how the film was inspired by true crime documentaries, found footage horror, The Blair Witch Project, Paranormal Activity, and the eerie atmosphere of Vancouver Island. He breaks down the long creative process behind building the story, developing the script, directing while acting, and creating a believable true crime mockumentary with a horror twist. This conversation also dives deep into the business side of independent film. Markian explains the challenges of pitching an unconventional movie, why production companies struggled to categorize Hunting Matthew Nichols, and how that eventually led him and his team to make and distribute the film themselves. From getting the movie into theaters to competing for audience attention against major studio releases, Markian shares the reality of what it takes to self-distribute an indie film. We also discuss the film’s unique social media marketing campaign, including fake controversy, rage bait, immersive storytelling, the fictional town of Port Rupert, and the interactive online investigation experience created for Hunting Matthew Nichols. Markian explains how his team used creativity, world-building, and unconventional marketing to generate millions of impressions and get people talking. At the heart of this episode is Markian’s powerful mantra: “Nobody cares. Make them care.” This conversation is a must-watch for actors, filmmakers, writers, directors, creators, and anyone trying to build something meaningful without waiting for permission. 🎙️ Hosted by Alexander Schmieding In this interview, you’ll learn: How Markian Tarasiuk first discovered acting as a kid Why a small theater role became a turning point in his life How to handle rejection, comparison, and creative setbacks Why “comparison is the thief of joy” is especially true for artists How actors can manage the highs and lows of the entertainment industry What it takes to memorize large amounts of dialogue Why Markian transitioned from acting into writing and directing How Hunting Matthew Nichols was inspired by true crime documentaries Why found footage and mockumentary films are difficult to pitch The biggest challenges of making an independent horror film What Markian learned from self-distributing a movie in theaters How indie filmmakers can think differently about marketing Why the Hunting Matthew Nichols campaign used fake controversy and immersive world-building How social media rage bait can drive engagement and visibility What it’s like to direct while acting in your own film Why preparation and instinct are both essential for directors How Markian learned to trust his creative vision Why creative success can be joyful, stressful, and overwhelming at the same time The biggest lesson Markian has learned: nobody cares, so make them care Why staying the course matters when building a creative life Episode Resources: https://www.instagram.com/marktaras https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation https://www.tiktok.com/@fromvisiontocreation https://www.instagram.com/alexschmieding Subscribe for more conversations with visionaries turning ideas into reality. This podcast is brought to you by Proper Placement — a full-service marketing agency helping businesses grow through social media, paid advertising, website design, email campaigns, and more. Learn more at www.properplacement.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices