The Tracksuit Podcast

Jessica Russo — Sales Agent, Producer, Hat Assassin Jessica Russo (VMI Worldwide / Vantage Media) joins the tracksuit table for a genuinely rare perspective: the sales and distribution side of indie filmmaking. She and James have collaborated on a string of films — including Darkness of Man (starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, currently on Hulu) — and BJ just wrapped The Night Driver with her. So the war stories are real, the industry takes are sharp, and yes, the dolphin kidnapping story is discussed at length. ### Key Topics How the indie market has shifted — quality over quantity, the death of easy pre-sales, and why the financial model for indie films has fundamentally changed post-strikes The Van Damme hat story — how Jess saved the *Darkness of Man* poster on day one of filming by killing James's fedoraLibrary acquisitions & consolidation — Netflix/Paramount, Gravitas/Shout, Chicken Soup for the Soul/Redbox/Screen Media, and what it all means for indie filmmakersAVOD vs. SVOD — why ads came full circle and what Tubi's rise means for the marketWhat actually gets greenlit — script, team, name, and financials that make sense in today's landscapeDelivery schedules — the unglamorous paperwork mountain that filmmakers are never taught about in film schoolFilm school vs. real-world training — why internships and networking beat most curriculaThe Sex Pistols documentary — Billy Idol cameos, Glenn Matlock, and a Netflix sale Jess's first producing credit — Awake (Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Francesca Eastwood), shot in Oklahoma during tornado seasonCrystals, tarot, D&D, and Harry Potter — the full nerd profile of the most organized person at VMIAliens, Mayan temples, elongated heads, and one architect allegedly kidnapped by dolphins (James later discovers it was an April Fools story — BJ chooses to believe it anyway)Advice for aspiring filmmakers — read a delivery schedule, do an internship, go to networking events, be a good person > Want a delivery schedule? Reach out to Jess and tell her you're coming from the Tracksuit Pod.

Today’s guest is our good friend, the incredibly talented actor, singer, and artist, Justin Cornwell!  If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to hit that SUBSCRIBE button and leave a comment below! Justin sits down to share wild stories from his decade-long run working consecutively in network and studio television. He talks about his nerve-wracking audition process for Spike Lee's Chi-Raq, improvising a scene with Dave Chappelle and Wesley Snipes, and acting alongside Tom Hardy in the upcoming Netflix film Havoc. He also reflects on starring in Training Day with the late Bill Paxton and surviving intense 16-hour days on set.  Plus, we dive into Justin's hidden talents—from his killer karaoke skills and spot-on impressions to his jaw-dropping portrait art. We also discuss his new indie film Million Dollar Bet (releasing on April 30th), the crazy world of prediction gambling apps like Polymarket and Kalshi, and his dream of starring in a triumphant biopic. 

Welcome to the Tracksuit Podcast! Hosts James Cullen Bressack and BJ Hendricks kick off episode one with actor Jesse Kove - son of Karate Kid legend Martin Kove - who showed up late, sans tracksuit, and immediately made himself at home. They cover Jesse's career in action films, working alongside Jon Voight and Kelsey Grammer in The Last Firefighter, his playable character in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, the upcoming Boris Is Dead, peptide therapy, men's health, ditching his smartphone for a flip phone, and his work with Wings of Rescue - flying hundreds of dogs to no-kill shelters across the country.Click here to view the episode transcript. Creators & Guests James Cullen Bressack - Host BJ Hendricks - Host James Rundquist - Producer 🐾 Support Wings of Rescue: wingsofrescue.org 📸 Follow Jesse Kove: @jessekove📲 Follow us: @thetracksuitpodcast