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All Episodes

The BraveMaker Podcast — 300 episodes

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Title
1

301: BraveMaker Film Fest 2025 Recap with Filmmaker Sasha Timan

2

300: BraveMaker Film Festival 2025 - Special

3

299: BraveMaker Film Fest 2025 - Seleted Filmmakers

4

298: Film Fest 2025 update and BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

5

297: EXPLORING PRESSING SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES & CRAFTING NUANCED PERFORMANCES

6

296: BREAK IN & LEVEL UP with special guest Joey Tuccio (Roadmap Writers)

7

295: WRITE , DIRECT & FILM with special guest Kim “Kimmie P” Callaway

8

294: Strategically Building Your Brand & Acting Career

9

293: Real Talk About Feature Filmmaking - The Brutally Honest Truth

10

292: What It Really Takes to Write for Hollywood with Hilliard Guess

11

291: Acting Without Limits — The Many Stages of Kathryn Smith-McGlynn

12

290: Talking Screenwriting with Jacob Krueger

13

289: Casting, production and best practices for actors with casting director Jane Flowers

14

288: Micro-budget Filmmaking with Noam Kroll

15

287: How Traci Hays Directs Female-Centric Feature Films

16

286: Making MAN GOES ON RANT with Peter Pardini

17

285: Making short films, VIRGIN and STEADY

18

284: The State of Production and Entertainment Industries with Patrick Caligiuri

19

283: Making the Feature RICKY: A Conversation with Ramfis Myrthil

20

282: SUNDANCE 2025: Personal Reflections and Industry Insights

21

281: Producing team of Sundance film: THIRD ACT

22

280: Making the Sundance 2025 Selected Drama: Omaha

23

279: Making the Sundance Selected, episodic project: CHASERS

24

278: Headed to Sundance 2025 and Making the Most of It

25

277: Setting and Achieving Creative Goals in 2025

26

276: Making Napa Valley StreamFest with founders Juliana Folk and Fearon DeWeese

27

275: Making Web Series, BIG GIRL BLUES with Christopher Cobbs

28

274: Making Movies Is Hard with Award-Winning Filmmaker Alrik Bursell

29

273: Raising Funds For Your First Short Film

30

272: 10 Gift Ideas For The Creative People In Your Life

31

271: Succubus & Beyond: Brendan Bradley on Acting, VR Theater, and Storytelling

32

270: Meet the Editors of Sundance Audience Award Winner ‘Your Monster’

33

269: Writing & Filmmaking outside of LA WITH ANDY COMPTON

34

268: Making of Award Winning ‘THE DEVIL AIN’T PIUS’

35

267: Making the series ‘Reckless Behavior’

36

266: HALLOWEEN EDITION with the Hollywood Actor and Comedian Willie Macc

37

265: Music and filmmaking with Aadip Desai

38

264: Conversation with the filmmaker of NO RIGHT WAY Chelsea Bo

39

263: Making a horror film about dating featuring special guest Award-Winning Filmmaker R.J. Daniel Hanna

40

262: Directing features and working with Netflix with Shaun Paul Piccinino

41

261: Surveillance Society: A Filmmaker’s Journey to Unmask AI’s Dark Side with special guest Nidhi Sinha

42

260: Building your audience on social media with Conrad Cheeks

43

259: Everything you need to know to be successful as an indie filmmaker with Michelle A. Daniel

44

258: Creativity, passion, and intentionality in filmmaking with Niema Jordan

45

257: What is a DCP (Digital Cinema Package) and why do filmmakers need one?

46

256: Acting with Impact with author/acting coach Kimberly Jentzen

47

255: Why I created a weekly support and accountability group for creatives by Tony Gapastione

48

254: 4 things actors can do in auditions to get cast

49

253: 5 Ways to get meetings and avoid saying "Can I pick your brain?"

50

252: Surviving the LOWS of filmmaking with Tony Gapastione

51

251: TV Director Ken Whittingham | No Film School Crossover

52

250: LIVE from our 6th FILM FEST with Nadine Crocker, Olivia Allen, Avril Speaks, Ken Whittingham, Lauren Wells and Leah Knauer

53

249: Tony Talks to himself about the film fest

54

248: Jesse Kuba made a film about Black love

55

247: Filmmaker Roundtable part 3

56

246: DAUGHTERS won Sundance and is going to NETFLIX

57

245: Giving and taking in filmmaking

58

244: Best Practices for filmmakers submitting to FILM FESTS

59

243: Selected 2024 Filmmakers Roundtable 2

60

242: Meet some 2024 selected filmmakers from Michigan to California

61

241: They made MY DEAREST ELIZABETH, & horror, Christmas RomComs & Grey's Anatomy

62

240: When should you say NO to a creative project?

63

239: Collaborating as actors & directors. Tony Gapastione & Darryl Merquillo

64

238: Cylla Senii made her series debut on BET

65

237: Producer Avril Z. Speaks was in the top ten on Netflix & podcasts on distribution

66

233: The DO's and DON'Ts of speaking on FILM FEST PANELS

67

236: Let's talk intimacy with Brooke M. Haney

68

235: Giovannie Espirtu is an actor, director and P.G.A member

69

234: LaNisa Frederick is truly HASHTAG BOOKED

70

232: Tiffani Marie is an academic turned filmmaker making music

71

231: Matthew S. Robinson writes/directs (and line produces) horror

72

230: Best practices on set & SUBMITTING TO FILM FESTS

73

229: Scott Wickman writes/produces film and is a Sundance winner

74

228: Sam Bempong inspires CHANGE through the East Bay Film Collective

75

227: Anthony Frazier knows how to book gigs

76

226: Writer/Director Dana Kippel advocates for Neurodivergence/ Mental Health

77

225: Accent Coach Jack Wallace goes viral with wife Danielle Pinnock

78

224: Belgica Rodriguez is acting and on Youtube FULL TIME

79

223: Regina Hoyles is writing for Disney and elevating Black stories

80

222: Sundance Film Fest 2024 Recap

81

221: Latavious Flournoy gets millions of views on Youtube

82

220: Sundance Survival Tips with Tony Gapastione

83

219: Why start a nonprofit organization? with Tony Gapastione

84

218: Filmmaker Ashley-Lauren Elrod advocates for survivors because she is one

85

217: Filmmaker Liz Sargent cast her (non-actor) sister in her Sundance film

86

216: Screenwriter Lauren Wells knows how to slay Dracula

87

215: Director Oren Kaplan and Actor Kara Luiz can teach you a few things

88

214: FROM LA to NYC to SF: Nick Musleh is an actor coaching actors

89

213: Producer/Production Supervisor Beatriz Chahin got support from Andy Sandberg

90

212: Theresa Donahoe is coming out...as a BORN AGAIN in Berkeley

91

211: Tony Gapastione has 4 thoughts on COLLABORATION best practices

92

210: Comedian and Musician LEAH KNAUER does a great Jennifer Coolidge impression

93

209: Kevin Ung made his film WORK LIFE for his USC thesis project

94

208: Director Nadine Crocker's 2nd feature film is Desperation Road

95

207: Emmy Nominated Designer Salvador Perez

96

206: Filmmaker Ran Li, Til Love Do Us Part (feature film)

97

205: All improv feature film with director Chelsea Bo & actor Ava Acres

98

204: All the odds were against actor Phillip Andre Botello

99

203: Shelley Dennis : from modeling to stand-up comedy to screenwriting

100

202: Producer Yolanda T. Cochran is on HBO's Project Greenlight Season 5

101

201: 5TH Annual Film Fest Recap

102

200: Episode 200 RECORDED LIVE at our 5th annual film fest

103

199: Director Theo Brown and actor/director Yen Dinh

104

198: Filmmakers Emily Alpren + Abby Wathen of TRYING

105

197: Director Alison O'Daniel has something to say about film CAPTIONS

106

196: Filmmakers that expose GUN VIOLENCE: Kyra Knox & Tara Westwood

107

195: Punk Kids Director MIKE HEFF and actor WYNTON ODD

108

194: Feminist Filmmaker Brandi Nicole

109

193: Actor Solomon Hughes from HBO's WINNING TIME (plays Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)

110

192: Actor and disabled advocate KURT YAEGER

111

191: Actress Elisa Donovan is on her way to directing her feature film

112

190: Stunt Performer OZ KAYNAN lights on fire at Universal Studios Waterworld Show

113

189: 1+1=Tuna Fish with screenwriter/producer Craig T. Williams

114

188: Josie Rodriguez PAINTS faces (and heads) as a make-up ARTIST

115

187: Screenwriting on The Punisher with Zimran Jacob

116

186: Comic Sans. It's not just a font. It's a short film by Don Sill and Tony Walker

117

185: Producer Kyra Knox has a documentary about Gun Violence

118

184: Legendary Casting Director John Frank Levey

119

183: Allison Ewing, Cameron James Matthews and Tony Gapastione discuss LAST CHANCE CHARLENE

120

182: Keena Ferguson: Actor + Filmmaker + Dancer + more

121

181: Rex Wheeler AKA Lady Camden from S14 of Rupaul's Drag Race

122

180: Screenwriter + Director: Eric Haywood

123

179: Writer and Producer Cindy Begel

124

178: Screenwriter Suhashaini Krishnan

125

177: Evy's Wish: The making of a short film

126

176: 4 steps to start achieving your creative goals in 2023

127

175: Making a Christmas Movie the INDIE way with cast/crew from "See You Next Christmas" on PEACOCK

128

174: Mike Blizzard, Richard Linklater's Producer, Animation Team and adult actor of Apollo 10 1/2

129

173: Richard Linklater's YOUNG ACTOR cast of Apollo 10 1/2

130

172: Holiday Gift ideas (2022) for the filmmakers, actors and creative people in your life

131

171: Documentaries are Sexy. CLEAN SLATE with Jared and Jonathan

132

170: Keith Enty tells us how to ask good questions on mental health/veteran care

133

169: Director and Writer: Catherine Vouvray

134

168: Tina D'Elia : SF actor, teacher and one woman show writer/performer

135

167: Award Winning Filmmaker Tom Procida

136

166: Actor Brian D. Cohen

137

165: Tony Taylor: It's QWERE

138

164: Casting Director SALLY FORCIER

139

163: Actor Julie Dove voices JESSICA FROM ACCOUNTING on BIRD GIRL

140

162: Actor/Filmmaker + Cult Survivor Giovannie Espiritu

141

161: J.J. Soria of NETFLIX'S GENTEFIED and HBO Max's THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT

142

160: Intimacy Coordinator JEAN FRANZBLAU

143

159: Broadway Musician Zak Sandler

144

158: Film Critic Marco Cerritos of The Movie Lens

145

157: Actor/Model Priscilla Lam

146

156: Filmmaker Sassy Mohen of HOW TO HACK BIRTH CONTROL

147

155: 2022 BraveMaker Film Fest Recap with filmmakers

148

154: Mama Bears documentary filmmaker Daresha Kyi

149

153: Doing the film fest circuit successfully with filmmaker Dan Mirvish

150

152: Filmmakers of Being Michelle (Documentary)

151

151: Tony + Krystina chat about Patreon and filmmaking

152

150: Writer, Showrunner + Author: Niceole Levy

153

149: Actor Ari Rossen

154

148: Bebe Zahara Benet

155

147: Author + Activist: Luticha André Doucette

156

146: Last Chance Charlene interview with Tony Gapastione

157

145: Oscars Recap 2022 + FIRST PATREON PODCAST with Krystina + Tony is FREE

158

144: Director/Actor Howard Campbell + Producer Misha Zvagilskiy

159

143: Director Lindsey Ryan of Seasick

160

142: Director Amy Glazer

161

141: Publicist Gardenia Zuniga

162

140: Sujata Day writer/director/actor of Netflix's Definition Please & actor on HBO's Insecure

163

139: Sundance 2022 filmmakers with guest co-host Jim Cummings

164

138: Emmy Winner and disability Advocate: Keith Jones

165

137: Director Nicholas Bruckman + Producer Amanda Roddy of NOT GOING QUIETLY

166

136: Actor + Producer Samantha Labrecque

167

135: Director Fawzia Mirza + Actor/Writer/producer Kausar Mohammed

168

134: Aura Casting Director: Taylor Lambert

169

133: Christmas Gifts (12 ideas) for filmmakers, actors and Hollywood hopefuls

170

132: Disability activist + author Emily Ladau

171

131: Girl in Golden Gate Park (a film by Coffee and Language)

172

130: Entreprenuerial spirit required with Krystina Wray Jackson + Tony Gapastione

173

129: Sharon "Rocky" Roggio of 1946 The Movie

174

128: Writer/Director/Producer Evette Vargas

175

127: Filmmaker Kayla Robinson and her film Ball is Ball

176

126: Actor + Solo Performer Theresa Donahoe

177

125: Writer/Director Nicole Reigel of IFC Films: Holler

178

124: Rare Birds Cross-Over Podcast with Peter Fenton

179

123: Cameron James Mathews (Actor)

180

122: Filmmaker and LGBTQ+ advocate DANA "TherActivist" Johnson

181

121: Filmmaker, author and co-founder of SLAMDANCE FILM FEST: Dan Mirvish

182

120: Director Abby Ginzberg on her new film: BARBARA LEE: SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER

183

119: Oscar Nominated Filmmaker DOUG ROLAND of FEELING THROUGH

184

118: Screenwriting and showrunning TV with Angela Harvey + Jeffrey Lieber

185

117: Sundance Filmmaker Jason Park and Actor JohnnyBoy Tellem

186

116: Krystina + Tony talk rejection and putting in the hard work as a creative

187

115: Mortal Kombat Screenwriter Greg Russo

188

114: Multi-hyphenate Media Maven Lydia-Renee Darling

189

113: Mihoko Imai translator for filmmakers and actors in Japan

190

112: Beast Beast director Danny Madden and actor Jose Angeles

191

111: The Pat Morita Documentary: More Than Miyagi (Chat with producers)

192

110: If Anything Happens I Love You: The Oscar Nominated, Short Animated Film on Netflix

193

109: Actor, influencer and SURVIVOR: Woo Hwang

194

108: Design Strategist Christopher Hibma

195

107: Sundance Film: Tears Teacher: Director, DP and Composer

196

106: Accent Coach Jack Wallace

197

105: Screenwriters/Producers Jeremy Valdez + Tony Gapastione talk writing scripts

198

104: Filmmaker Marquette Jones with special appearance from actor Lodric Collins

199

103: Tony's 2 Cents on Screenwriting

200

102: Actor/Director/Choreographer Gary Stanford

201

101: Actor/Filmmaker Nicole Evans + Writer/Director Shaina Ghuraya

202

100: Tony's 2 Cents: Creatively steal

203

99: Finding Yingying documentary filmmakers Diane Quon and Jenny Shi

204

98: Resident Film Critic: Markus Robinson

205

96: Christopher Morrison Filmmaker currently living in Paris, France

206

95: Director Jen McGowan of Netflix's Rust Creek

207

94: Craig Sim Webb the dream analyst

208

93: Tony's 2 Cents: Over, Under and Through

209

92: Producer Richard J. Bosner

210

91: Celebrity Makeup Artist Kirin Bhatty

211

90: Tobey Lynn's LA Film School Story

212

89: Zoey Lytle's New York Story (part 2)

213

88: Script Doctor Cody Smart

214

87: Mr. Michigan Hollis Morrissette

215

86: Filmmaker Ben Duffy

216

85: Miguel Angel Caballero of ACUITZERAMO

217

84: Filmmaker Justin Robinson

218

83: Actor Telvin Griffin

219

82: Filmmaker and Designer Parker Jesse Chase

220

81: Emmy Award winning producer Lisa L. Wilson

221

80: Hollywood Editor Francy Kachler

222

79: Variety's Awards Editor Clayton Davis

223

78: Comedian Irene Tu

224

77: Scare Me's writer, director and actor: JOSH RUBEN

225

76: A check-in with IRVING RUAN: Comedy writer and BraveMaker podcast host

226

75: Documentary crew and stories from THE PRISON WITHIN

227

74: Filmmaker Darious Britt

228

73: Documentary Filmmaker Jason Hanasik wants to save LGBTQ+ lives

229

72: Hollywood Teen Actresses Izabella Alvarez + Talia Jackson

230

71: Charles Yu: Sci-Fi Novelist and TV Writer for Westworld

231

70: Kyra Jones, artist, activist, actor in Chicago

232

69: Summer Love with Becky Alex

233

68: Légère Creative with Minna Rogers

234

67: Mitchell Street Pictures: The Cortez Family's short film: THE LOST

235

66: WONDER on HBO by Gabriel Furman + Javier Molina

236

65: Oscar Nominated filmmaker LAURA NIX and her documentary WALK RUN CHA CHA

237

64: Agent Tiauna Jackson

238

63: So you want to get into VOICEOVER? With Michael Schwalbé.

239

62: Update from Tony Gapastione + Krystina Jackson. Conversation on racial justice

240

61: Shooting Heroin: A film that provokes conversation on America's Opioid epidemic

241

60: Childhood on Fire (Documentary by Jason Hanasik)

242

59: Beyoncé Mass Founder: Rev. Yolanda Norton

243

58: Writer Mia Mercado

244

57: American Actress + Voiceover Artist: Keren Southall

245

56: Jeff Lieber: Screenwriter, creator + TV Showrunner

246

55: Filmmaker Rajiv Shah

247

54: Krystina Jackson: a brave story in a wheelchair

248

53: Writer/Director Danish Renzu + Actor Suraj Sharma

249

52: Morely: The Los Angeles Street Artist

250

51: Response from Tony on COVID-19 and Burden Film

251

50: Henry Alford on writing humor for The New Yorker and the art of interviewing

252

49: Director Andrew Heckler + Producer Robbie Brenner of BURDEN

253

48: Rick Negrón is SF's King George in HAMILTON

254

47: SF's Hamilton Actor: Brandon Louis Armstrong

255

46: Actress + Master Creative: Kathyrn Smith-McGlynn

256

45: The podcast about underwear with Abby Sugar

257

44: Emmy/Oscar nominated producer Diane Quon from Sundance

258

43: From Sundance with filmmaker Jim Cummings

259

42: The SNL writer + Peabody award winning Claire Friedman

260

41: Joy Hoover + The Cupcake Girls in LAS VEGAS

261

40: Writer Caitlin Kunkel

262

39: Actor Niles Fitch

263

38: Director R.J. Daniel Hanna (of Miss Virginia)

264

37: Comedian Gianmarco Soresi (from NYC to LA)

265

36: Mark Willis was in BLACK PANTHER

266

35: Actor Sullivan Jones is on Broadway

267

34: Actor Adam Campbell

268

33: Actress Loretta Devine

269

32: Actress Izabella Alvarez

270

31: Filmmaker Liz Manashil

271

30: Filmmaker Avril Speaks

272

29: Tony's digitial comedy series: Church Biz

273

28: Artist + Cartoonist: Jeremy Nguyen

274

27: The Edge of Success (A film about teen mental health + suicide)

275

26: Filmmaker Daniel Karslake (Living in Berlin Germany)

276

25: Actor Jesse Garcia

277

24: Our very own Evan Ajuria + his new platform: Grindstone

278

23: Bay Area's Austin Scott is on Broadway!

279

22: KVON: The most famous HALF PERSIAN Comedian

280

21: Tony's Feature Film: THE THORNS WE LIVE WITH

281

20: Irving Ruan: Writer

282

19: River Gallo: Actor + Filmmaker + LGBTQ+ Advocate

283

18: Filmmaker Nick Borenstein

284

17: Jeremy Ray Valdez : actor/writer/producer/photographer

285

16: Katya Constantine: YouTuber & Content Creator

286

15: Singer/Songwriter Becky Alex

287

14: FEST RECAP witih Rebekah + Tony

288

13: Alex Ferrari of INDIE FILM HUSTLE

289

12: Kevin O'Brien AT THE END OF THE DAY

290

11: Tricia Russo: Miracle Cancer Survivor, Filmmaker + Mom.

291

10: THE GUY + Jon Fusco

292

9: The sky turned green and the grass turned blue

293

8: Bias conversations with filmmaker Robin Hauser + justice advocates

294

7: Andre Henry the anti-racist instigator

295

6: The power of connection & collaboration with DIPTEE THAPA

296

5: Brave LGBTQ+ stories in film, music & photography

297

4: In Spain with fashion designer Sheena Karegi

298

3: I'll Push You : Filmmaker Terry Parish

299

2: Get to know BraveMakers: Tony & Rebekah

300

1: Richard Levien and his film: COLLISIONS