Talking ‘Trading Races’ and a New Era of Texas Filmmaking with Director Noah Mortel

In this week’s Tash Talks Film episode, Natasha sits down with writer/director Noah Mortel of Genesis Entertainment. They discuss his new genre-bending film Trading Races and his time interning and working in LA at New Line Cinema. We discuss the movie's influences, how the idea came to life, and what it reveals about race, identity and society. Noah and I also chat about how his internship in Los Angeles at New Line Cinema was the launching pad for his directing career.Noah also shares the stories behind handing Will Smith his resume and an unforgettable encounter with Chris Tucker!Timestamps:01:18 Big News in Texas Film Industry: Senate Bill 2204:44 The Impact of AI on the Film Industry10:16 Noah's Journey: From Baylor to New Line Cinema16:27 Experiences in LA and Returning to Houston19:01 Creating in Houston vs. Los Angeles25:00 Trading Races35:46 Rapid Fire Q&A starts45:18 Tash Talks Talent🎬 Stay up-to-date and follow Trading Races on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tradingracesfilm/For more on Noah be sure to follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noahmortel/Check out Natasha's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tashtalksfilm/Note: This episode was recorded in May 2025.