The Art of Film Funding

Send us Fan MailCarole Dean interviews her daughter, Carole Joyce — a two-time Telly Award–winning producer and Vice President of From The Heart Productions. With decades of experience helping filmmakers develop, finance, and promote independent films, Carole Joyce has guided countless projects from idea to screen and has become a respected mentor within the independent film community.Together, they explore how filmmakers can create intimate, inspiring fundraising events that not only raise money, but also build relationships, generate momentum, attract new supporters, and help bring important stories to life.Join our new educational platform From the Heart THRIVE and get free classes on film funding: https://fromtheheartproductions.thrivecart.com/from-the-heart-thrive/

Send us Fan MailJon has been at the forefront of independent film for decades. Today, we’re diving deep into what it really takes to get your film seen—and how to survive and succeed in a very challenging distribution landscape.Jon Reiss is a filmmaker, author and media strategist who wrote the book Think Outside the Box Office. His company, 8 Above, creates custom audience-building strategies, theatrical experiences and digital release campaigns for independent feature and documentary films. Reiss has consulted with hundreds of filmmakers and film organizations throughout the world including The Gotham, IDA, Screen Australia, Film Independent, Creative Scotland. Current clients include The Librarians, Among Neighbors, Death and Taxes, 1800 On Her Own, Sabbath Queen, Food & Country, The Ride Ahead and The Body Politic.He has conducted workshops on six continents and helped create and run the IFP/Gotham Filmmaker Lab for ten years. In 2023 he created the 8 Above Distribution Lab to teach filmmakers how to distribute and market their films. He writes about distribution and marketing on his 8 Above Substack.Last year he co-founded the Future Film Coalition a new organization to research and advocate for the economic sustainability of independent film.  Jon got his start in filmmaking and distribution at the infamous San Francisco documentary collective Target Video. He not only shot seminal bands such as Black Flag, Iggy Pop, Throbbing Gristle, The Cramps but was one of the first – if not the first person to conceptualize and execute video tours throughout Europe, carting 500 lbs. of video deck and projector in a VW Bus across 15,000 miles.8 ABOVE is a theatrical distributor and rights management partner dedicated to connecting award-winning independent films with audiences. Working in close partnership with filmmakers, 8 Above develops strategies that build community and social impact around unique theatrical experiences. Founded by distribution pioneer Jon Reiss, 8 Above has developed bespoke audience-building strategies and theatrical campaigns for independent films, specialty films, and documentaries, including The Librarians, Among Neighbors, 1800 On Her Own, Sabbath Queen, Food & Country, The Ride Ahead, The Body Politic, Sam Now, Two Gods, My Love Affair with Marriage, Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise, and Hooligan Sparrow.8 [email protected] our new educational platform From the Heart THRIVE and get free classes on film funding: https://fromtheheartproductions.thrivecart.com/from-the-heart-thrive/

Send us Fan MailImagine being able to understand your audience before you even shoot your first scene… to test your story, evaluate casting choices, and anticipate market performance—all from your script. That’s no longer science fiction. It’s happening now.Benjamin Schnau is a multilingual actor, producer, host, book author and public speaker native in English and German plus conversational French who also built a successful career as a business development and account executive in the tech industry working for companies like Splunk and Nasdaq. He is now overseeing client accounts globally within the film & streaming division of AI tech company Largo, THE platform that turns creative intuition into strategic impact through audience predictions, AI-powered content tests, and simulated focus groups. Combining his tech background with his experience as an actor working on feature films and TV-shows himself, he is now leveraging his experience to support producers, directors and filmmakers taking the next step in getting their project off the ground with the assistance of AI.Benjamin is widely known for his role 'Minion' in the Academy-Award Winning movie ‘Mank’ alongside Academy-Award Winner Gary Oldman, directed by David Fincher, produced and released by Netflix, for 'The Current War' playing opposite protagonist George Westinghouse portrayed by actor Michael Shannon and for his lead role 'Jupp Klein' 'Megastructures' produced by National Geographic available on Netflix.His book 'The Reality of Hollywood' was released worldwide to educate and guide upcoming actors to establish themselves in the film industry in Hollywood long-term.https://www.amazon.com/Reality-Hollywood-Success-Through-Actors-ebook/dp/B09WQD71YF/https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-reality-of-hollywoodBenjamin just wrapped the action feature film ‘Citizen Vigilante’ starring in critical role Jack opposite actor Armie Hammer and in the movie ‘Sweet Nothings’ where he plays the lead role Ethan, which both being scheduled for release in Fall 2026.  Benjamin Schnauhttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm4250622/https://www.instagram.com/benjaminschnau/Join our new educational platform From the Heart THRIVE and get free classes on film funding: https://fromtheheartproductions.thrivecart.com/from-the-heart-thrive/

Send us Fan MailThis is a revolution to budget making. If you want to learn how to budget your film with the newest program that will save you hours and be accurate, listen to these two brilliant, intelligent line producers Stephen Marinaccio & Matthew Cuny, Co-Founders of Cinematic Apps who took years to create and share this new way to budget your film.Learn More! Line Budgeter: linebudgeter.com LinePM: line.pm Art of Film Funding listeners can use code filmfunding10 for 10% off.Join our new educational platform From the Heart THRIVE and get free classes on film funding: https://fromtheheartproductions.thrivecart.com/from-the-heart-thrive/

Send us Fan MailFrom PBS broadcasts to grassroots theatrical screenings, Mike has built a career defined by independence, impact, and a deep belief in cinema as a communal experience. He has worked across productions that have been screened at major festivals including Sundance, Tribeca, Cannes, and Toronto, and has been a driving force behind the independent film movement in upstate New York.What makes Mike’s journey so powerful is not just what he’s created—but how he’s done it: with courage, clarity, and a commitment to bringing audiences together.Learn More:www.brownwhitestory.com  www.videosforchange.com Join our new educational platform From the Heart THRIVE and get free classes on film funding: https://fromtheheartproductions.thrivecart.com/from-the-heart-thrive/

Send us Fan MailDanielle Guilbot is an Austin-based actress and film-tech entrepreneur.  She is the founder of TexasFilmScene.com: the Texas Movie Operating System. TFS is a clearinghouse connecting producers, crews, and talent with everything they need to bring productions to Texas — from firsthand producer insights and crew resources to a full breakdown of the state's film incentive programs.Join our new educational platform From the Heart THRIVE and get free classes on film funding: https://fromtheheartproductions.thrivecart.com/from-the-heart-thrive/

Send us Fan MailAI is no longer something on the horizon. It’s already here, quietly reshaping how films are developed, produced, edited, and even distributed. But with that power comes critical questions—about ethics, authorship, and the future of creative work itself.  In this episode, we’re not just talking about what AI can do—we’re exploring what it should do, and how filmmakers can stay aligned with their creative voice while navigating a rapidly evolving industry.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we’re diving into one of the most powerful opportunities emerging right now—branded content.What if your film could be funded not by waiting for a studio or investor… but by aligning your story with a brand that shares your message and your audience?What if branding wasn’t a compromise—but a creative partnership?Our guest, Johann Garcia, founder of BrandedStreams, is at the forefront of this movement. He works with filmmakers and creators to help them understand how to position their projects as valuable storytelling opportunities for brands—opening new doors for financing, marketing, and distribution.

Send us Fan MailJonathon Smith is a writer, director, and producer whose work spans independent film development and forward-looking conversations about the evolving film industry.Known for his thoughtful approach to storytelling and production, Jonathon has been actively exploring how emerging technologies, shifting studio structures, and new distribution models are reshaping opportunities for filmmakers.As both a creative and a strategist, he brings a valuable perspective on how filmmakers can adapt to industry disruption while staying true to their artistic voice.Jonathon is especially interested in how independent filmmakers can use new tools—including artificial intelligence and evolving digital platforms—to develop projects, reach audiences, and build sustainable careers in filmmaking.

Send us Fan MailAnabelle Munro is an award-winning writer, producer, director, and singer and owner of Blue Boots Productions whose creative work spans film and music with a deep commitment to socially conscious storytelling.She is the creator and manager of the Ethos Film Festival, a festival designed to celebrate films that embody integrity, purpose, and artistic excellence. Through Ethos, Anabelle has built a space where independent filmmakers can showcase their work in an environment that values meaningful cinema, thoughtful dialogue, and creative collaboration.Her leadership reflects both artistic passion and entrepreneurial spirit — qualities every independent filmmaker must cultivate.

Send us Fan MailKinema is a technology-driven global screening and streaming platform designed to democratize film distribution and empower independent filmmakers. Before launching Kinema, Rish was a Principal at Human Ventures, where he supported and invested in early-stage startups across a range of industries. Prior to that, he worked in fintech, leading strategic projects at Transactis ahead of its 2019 acquisition by Mastercard. At Kinema, he champions community-led screenings, virtual events, direct audience relationships, and, most recently, partnered with Show&Tell Films to expand resources and education for filmmakers within the Kinema ecosystem.

Send us Fan MailMark Elias is a Los Angeles-based writer, actor, and independent filmmaker focused on grounded, commercial indie films with bold concepts and strong character work. He is the producer of We Could Be Heroes, a comedy-crime heist rooted in gaming culture. Mark is currently raising the film through WeFunder, allowing the public to invest and follow the project’s real-time journey from campaign to production. His work blends entrepreneurial execution with story-driven filmmaking, with a mission to build audience-first entertainment that can break out commercially.

Send us Fan MailChristopher Riley is a screenwriter, director, and author with a career spanning award-winning international cinema and major studio assignments. His groundbreaking 1999 German-language courtroom thriller After the Truth earned multiple awards, and his screenwriting work includes projects for Disney’s Touchstone Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Sean Connery’s Fountainbridge Films, Mandalay Television Pictures, and the Fox television network.Chris is also the author of The Hollywood Standard, the definitive script format manual celebrating 20 years as a best-selling reference for screenwriters worldwide, as well as The Defining Moment: How Writers and Actors Build Characters. He has taught screenwriting at the graduate and undergraduate levels for more than 20 years, shaping the next generation of storytellers.

Send us Fan MailTHE CROWDFUNDING QUEEN™ is a fundraising expert and innovator, as well as a multi-award-winning European-American film and theater director and producer. She has garnered over 37 awards and accolades and was once an Oscar contender in the “Best Documentary” category for her acclaimed feature-length film, Torn from the Flag. She is also known for her Cannes-award-winning short Brown Paper Bag.  THE CROWDFUNDING QUEEN™ is recognized worldwide as acrowdfunding consultant. She engineered the FROM ZERO TO A MILLION IN 90 DAYS™ fundraising course and major crowdsourcing campaigns — including raising $1.7 million forTorn from the Flag — and now teaches filmmakers and entrepreneurs how to use fundraising techniques, crowdfunding, and strategic donor engagement to power their projects forward. She splits her time between Hollywood and Hungary, works internationally as a director and fundraising educator.

Send us Fan MailHelen Hall is an award-winning producer, director, and composer whose work explores the intersection of art, science, and energy. With more than 30 years of experience, she creates films that combine original research with cinematic storytelling to explore complex and unusual subjectsShe is currently completing the feature documentary Pictures of Infinity, based on more than two decades of research into Nikola Tesla’s long-hidden blueprint for a sustainable energy future. The film has received major honors, including the Roy W. Dean Award and the Carole Dorothy Joyce Award for Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking.

Send us Fan MailChristine La Monte, producer/director/writer and former film marketing executive at Universal, Disney, and Orion is the founder/president of La Monte Productions where current projects include VIVA VERDI! the feature documentary Shortlisted for Best Song, where she serves as producer, writer and executive producer. Also on the awards circuit, AI WEIWEI’S TURANDOT, a co-production with Italy’s Incipit Film and La Monte Productions

Send us Fan MailScott Billups is an award-winning cinematographer and visual effects creator who has worked on over fifty motion pictures. As a world leader in the creation of virtual characters for movies and games, Scott went back to school in his forties to study AI as a way to breathe life into his inanimate creations. Armed with an entirely new tool set, Scott was Apple’s first evangelist to Hollywood, co-founder of the AFI Media Lab, CTO of the game industry’s leading supplier of AI (Rival Theory, which became a subsidiary of Google), founder of an AI healthcare company that created the first personified virtual clinician on the IBM Watson health platform, and developer of an AI-robotic eldercare pilot program for the National Institutes of Health. Billups currently resides in Port Hueneme, California.

Send us Fan MailOur special guest this week is the award-winning filmmaker Ondi Timoner. Timoner founded Interloper Films and is known for movies about visionaries challenging the status quo and personal documentaries that reveal the bittersweet side of facing seemingly impossible challenges. She is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures and the Television Academy and chairs the Nonfiction Subcommittee for Special Projects at the DGA. Timoner is the only director to win Sundance's Grand Jury Prize twice—for DIG! and WE LIVE IN PUBLIC. Both films are in MoMA's permanent collection. Her numerous credits include her 2022 documentary LAST FLIGHT HOME, about her father's end-of-life journey. It was Oscar-shortlisted, Emmy-nominated, and earned her the Visionary Award for Observational Filmmaking as well as the Humanitas Prize. Today we’ll discuss her recent documentary, ALL THE WALLS CAME DOWN, about the historic LA fires that took her home and town of Altadena. The film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival.

Send us Fan MailSpade Robinson is an award- winning screenwriter and director, with experience that spans feature film, documentary, television, commercial and theater.  Spade is the owner of full service production company, Spade Ink Media, producing and developing a slate of film, television and podcast projects.  Spade is also the owner of Atlanta Film Project, a screenplay and documentary consulting firm, helping storytellers and companies to tell the most compelling version of their stories.

Send us Fan MailDescription:  We’re joined by Bri Castellini, one of the top crowdfunding experts in the indie film world. While at Seed&Spark, Bri helped filmmakers raise over $25 million—achieving an incredible 85% success rate. Bri is an independent film and screenwriting consultant and a subject matter expert in arts crowdfunding, indie filmmaking, film festivals, podcasting, romance novels, and the USA television show Burn Notice. As a filmmaker herself she's known for her short film Ace and Anxious (writer/director, 160k+ views on YouTube) and for her podcast Breaking Out of Breaking In. She personally helped launch over $25 million dollars in crowdfunding campaigns with an 85% success rate while she was the Manager of Creator Success at the artist crowdfunding platform Seed&Spark, and she’s spoken at over 200 events and festivals virtually and in person on the subjects previously mentioned. Her full work history can be found on her website BriCastellini.com. And find her at https://www.instagram.com/castellinifilmschool/.In this powerful conversation, Bri reveals what most filmmakers get wrong about crowdfunding, why going viral is not the goal, and how to fund your film by simply telling your story with heart.

Send us Fan MailA master storyteller shares decades of lessons and his newest book.Description - : Paul Chitlik has written for all the major networks and studios in English and in Spanish.  He was story editor for MGM/UA'S "The New Twilight Zone," and staff writer for Showtime's sitcom "Brothers."  He directed episodes and was coordinating producer for “Real Stories of the Highway Patrol” and “U.S. Customs Classified.”  He wrote and produced “Alien Abduction” for UPN.  He wrote, produced, and directed “Ringling Brothers Revealed” a special for The Travel Channel.  (He had been a roustabout for Circus Vargas years earlier.)  He wrote, produced and directed “The Wedding Dress,” for Amazon Prime.  He received a Writers Guild of America award nomination for "The Twilight Zone" and a GLAAD Media Award nomination for "Los Beltrán,” for Telemundo.  He won a Genesis Award for a Showtime Family movie. He taught in the MFA programs of UCLA, and many prestigious universities around the world.  His book, “Rewrite,” is available in English, Chinese, and Korean.  His latest novel is “Lies, All Lies.”  His latest screenwriting book is “The Screenwriting Sensei.” And we will cover that book today.

Send us Fan MailOur special guest this week is the award-winning documentary filmmaker Jeremy Workman, whose work has been Emmy Nominated and Oscar short-listed. His films include LILY TOPPLES THE WORLD (Discovery), DECIDING VOTE (The New Yorker), THE WORLD BEFORE YOUR FEET (Greenwich Entertainment / Kino Lorber), MAGICAL UNIVERSE (IFC Films), and most recently SECRET MALL APARTMENT. Secret Mall Apartment premiered at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival and went on to win 9 major film festival awards. It was released theatrically in over 250 cities in March 2025, becoming the fourth-highest grossing documentary since 2020 (excluding music concert films). Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, Secret Mall Apartment was even parodied on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Executive Produced by actor Jesse Eisenberg, the film is now being developed as both a stage play and a scripted movie. Today we’ll discuss the film and Jeremy’s success making movies that take us deep inside extraordinary worlds.

Send us Fan MailToday our special guests are Elliot Kirschner and Heather Kinlaw Lofthouse. Elliot Kirschner is a New York Times best-selling author and an Emmy Award-winning news and documentary producer. Elliot began his career at CBS News, reporting and producing for 60 Minutes, Sunday Morning, and The Evening News. Elliot now authors the Through the Fog newsletter. Heather Kinlaw Lofthouse is the Executive Director of Inequality Media and Inequality Media Civic Action and the founder of CoffeeKlatch Productions. She is also the co-host of “The Coffee Klatch,” a conversational podcast about the news of the week, with her longtime collaborator Robert Reich. Today we’ll discuss The Last Class, a documentary feature produced by Heather and directed by Elliot about Former Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich.

Send us Fan MailCarole Dean is Founder and President of From the Heart Productions Inc, a 501(c)3 Non-Profit. From the Heart’s mission is to help indie filmmakers and creatives, with unique projects that contribute to society, get funding.  From the Heart accomplishes this through five Roy W. Dean Film Grants a year, fiscal sponsorship, education, mentorship, and free resources.  Since 1993, From the Heart has assisted thousands of documentaries, features, short films, and web series in getting their films funded. From the Heart has helped filmmakers raise over $70,000,000 for their films.

Send us Fan MailMark is currently directing The Baristas vs The Billionaire and Executive Producing, Exiled From Hollywood, Orson Welles’ Lost Masterpiece. His first film, Building Bombs, was an Academy Award nominee, Best Documentary Feature some of his other notable projects include: Kent State, The Day the War Came Home, Emmy Award, News and Current Affairs; Blood Ties the Life and Work of Sally Mann, Academy Award nominee, Best Documentary Short Film; The Fire This Time, Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize nominee and Writers Guild of America TV Currents Affairs Award nomination.

Send us Fan Mail“Inside Ukraine’s war zone, a filmmaker captures courage, chaos, and the cost of truth.”Xackery is a New York–based director and producer, drawn to stories that unfold in times of crisis, where resilience and identity intersect. His debut documentary, American Chain Gang, exposed controversial forced-labor prison programs in the U.S. His follow-up, Nothing Without You, explored memory, loss, and obsession.And now, with his latest film, Brace for Oblivion, he brings us an immersive chronicle from the Ukrainian frontlines, filmed over three years, following seven citizen-soldiers through the cycles of combat and rare moments of homecoming.Beyond his films, Xackery co-chairs the Producers Guild of America’s Employment Committee and actively supports the international indie film community.In our conversation, we’ll cover the power of pivoting as a producer, trusting your storytelling instincts, navigating today’s marketplace, and building strong creative teams. And of course, we’ll dive into the craft of writing, shooting, and editing documentaries under extraordinary circumstances.

Send us Fan MailOur special guest today is documentary filmmaker Jonathan Berman, who began his career as a stock footage researcher and assistant editor. He is director and producer of The Shvitz, a film about the last traditional steambaths in New York. His film My Friend Paul, about his relationship to his bipolar best friend, was produced for public television. Calling All Earthlings is an exploration of Joshua Tree and the area’s UFO-inspired dome, The Integratron. Berman co-wrote the story for On The Run, featuring Michael Imperioli and John Ventimiglia, and produced the NYC music documentary Sabbath in Paradise, which featured Harvey Pekar and John Zorn. Today we’ll discuss his film Commune, which is being rereleased 20 years after it was made.

Send us Fan MailOur special guest this week is Lisa D’Apolito, an Emmy nominated producer and director who is also a dual citizen of the United States and Italy. She started as an actress in film, theater and television, and her roles included a part in “Goodfellas.”  She went on to producing and directing in advertising. Lisa’s documentary, “Love, Gilda,” was nominated for 2 creative Emmys. Lisa was named one of Variety’s 10 Documentarians to Watch in 2018 and SHOOT Magazines New Directors’ Showcase 2019.  Her recent films include Albert Pyun: King of Cult Movies which premiered at Comic Con and Shari and Lamb Chop, which is being theatrically released in 2025. Curently, she is working on a documentary about singer/songwriter Laura Nyro. 

Send us Fan MailEmily Best is the founder and CEO of Seed&Spark, a platform that makes entertainment more diverse, inclusive, connected and essential. Seed&Spark’s platform and national education program have helped thousands of bold storytellers raise millions to bring to life entirely new stories, and Seed&Spark delivers those stories into workplaces for employee training, engagement, and intelligence through an enterprise SaaS platform Film Forward. In 2023, CNBC named Seed&Spark one of the top 200 fintech companies in the world.  She serves on the Advisory Board for a variety of early stages startups and the Board of Film Impact Georgia. In 2024, alongside Christie Marchese at Kinema, Emily spearheaded an effort to launch The Distribution Playbook, a free and open- sourced field guide for independent filmmakers to succeed in distribution. She has produced films, VR, shorts and series that have premiered at Sundance, SXSW, Slamdance, Tribeca and more. She is currently touring with a feature documentary she produced called RATIFIED about the 100+ year struggle for the Equal Rights Amendment.

Send us Fan MailJeff Annison is the co-founder and President of Legion M, the world's first fan-owned media company that is using new equity crowdfunding laws enabled by the JOBS Act to create a film and television company built from the ground up to be owned by fans.He was also the co-founder and CEO of Underground Labs, a product development studio that built mobile apps, websites, and enterprise products for clients including AT&T, Sprint, NFL, SEC, ACC, Universal Music, Warner Music, Sony Music, Diet Coke, Paramount Pictures, and more. Underground Labs also created the New York Rock Exchange, a first-of-its-kind marketplace that allowed fans to own a piece of a song.Prior to Legion M, Jeff was a cofounder of MobiTV, one of the world’s first live mobile television services. Jeff led engineering and product development as the company scaled from 3 co-founders to over 300 employees, won an Emmy Award for Innovation in Television, and grew to over 25MM paying subscribers. Jeff started his career designing toys for Hasbro and theme park ride effects for Universal Studios. He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA. To connect with Jeff visit www.LegionM.com.

Send us Fan MailOur special guest today is the award-winning documentary filmmaker, Philip Shane. A few of his career highlights include co-directing, writing, and editing BEING ELMO, which won the Special Jury Prize at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. For his editing work on DANCING IN JAFFA, which had its World Premiere at the TriBeCa Film Festival, Shane won the Best Editing Award at Israel's DocAviv Film Festival. He worked at ABC News for nearly a decade and edited many distinguished long form programs including Ted Kopple's Iraq War documentary, TIP OF THE SPEAR, which won the DuPont Columbia Award for Broadcast Journalism and MARTIN LUTHER KING: Searching For The Promised Land, which won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Historical Program. Beyond filmmaking, Shane also produces and hosts the long-running podcast, WHAT THE IF. Each week he invites scientists, science historians, and journalists to show us how they would use real science to explore extraordinary imaginary scenarios. Shane has also become a regular speaker and consultant on the use of Artificial Intelligence in documentary filmmaking and beyond. Currently he is directing and producing a feature documentary, THE WORLD I WANT TO LIVE IN, about Myst, a video game currently in The Museum of Modern of Art in New York. Recently he directed and produced JADE DOSKOW: PHOTOGRAPHER OF LOST UTOPIAS, which we’ll discuss today.

Send us Fan MailJilann Spitzmiller is a veteran filmmaker with over 20 awards for her documentary and multi-media work. For more than three decades, she has honed a mastery in long-range, character-driven, cinema verité storytelling, supported multiple times by funders such as Sundance Institute, ITVS and George Soros’ Open Society Institute.  She has been a Sundance Documentary fellow and was selected for the Stowe Narrative Lab in 2024. Jilann’s most notable films include MEOW WOLF: ORIGIN STORY, which premiered at SXSW and played in over 600 theaters and is now on AppleTV, Amazon and other platforms. She produced the cult favorite, SHAKESPEARE BEHIND BARS which premiered at Sundance and won 11 awards and went onto US theatrical and worldwide television distribution. She directed the award-winning features STILL DREAMING and HOMELAND which both aired nationally on PBS. Spitzmiller directed and wrote episodic documentary for Discovery’s MEDICAL DIARY and NBC’s LIFE MOMENTS,Jilann also has many cinematography credits, shooting on nonfiction episodic for NETFLIX, CNN, PBS, DISCOVERY, NBC, and Bravo. Jilann is currently teaching film funding in her Doc Funding Hubhttps://courses.desktop-documentaries.com/memberships/doc-funding-hub

Send us Fan MailToday’s episode is especially important because I’m sharing the opening chapters of my new book, Creating your Future: The Difference between normal and genius is your connection to the field. I’ve written to empower filmmakers—not just with funding tools—but with access to the quantum field. I want to hear what resonates with you. Your feedback will help shape the rest of this book. So please email me at [email protected] with your thoughts, ideas, or stories of how you connect to the field.”A talented filmmaker, photographer, and producer, Carole Joyce is Vice-President and Director of the 501(c)3 non-profit From the Heart Productions and the Roy W. Dean Grant, which she has been an integral part of for 30 years. From the Heart Productions has provided Fiscal Sponsorship for thousands of films, including the Emmy Award winning documentaries "I Am Evidence" and "Belly of the Beast," the renowned Central American film "Cadejo Blanco," and the 2022 HBO documentary "A Tree of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting."A graduate of Brooks Institute of Photography, Carole is an award-winning filmmaker for her documentary, "Survivors." She produced the TV series "Heathstyles" as well as "Filmmakers", which is now in the national archives. While with Garamella/Fitzgerald Advertising Agency, Carole developed projects for young filmmakers David Fincher, Jessie Dylan and Mark Romanek. Recently, she served as Executive Producer for the award-winning short film "Stairway to the Stars" starring Sean Young and as LA Line Producer for "Wheels of Heaven" with Mickey Rourke.Carole is the CEO of Authentic Vision Consulting, Inc., a management consulting firm for start-ups and early-stage companies. Carole's professional team assists CEOs and their companies with strategic planning and sustained financial progress.

Send us Fan MailChance McClain is a creative powerhouse, blending a rich background in filmmaking, radio, and theater with a passion for storytelling. As the founder of Heritage Films, Chance has created more than 800 feature-length documentaries, celebrating family stories and life legacies. His work has connected generations, preserving the essence of individuals and families through visually stunning films.A proud Army veteran and a pioneer in narrative innovation, Chance’s career spans sports radio, Broadway musicals, and entrepreneurial filmmaking. From directing a Streamy-nominated film to writing and producing an off-Broadway musical while running a sports station, his versatility and dedication shine through.Today, Chance leads his team at Heritage Films with a heartfelt commitment to authenticity, merging technical expertise with an artistic touch. Whether inspiring others to embrace their past or discussing the art of storytelling, he captivates audiences and helps them see the value in preserving their own legacies.

Send us Fan MailOur special guests today are the award-winning filmmakers Sabine Krayenbühl and Zeva Oelbaum. Sabine and Zeva co-directed the NEH supported documentary Letters from Baghdad, which was edited by Sabine and produced by Zeva. Letters from Baghdad screened in the US in over 70 venues and was broadcast on PBS, ARTE and the BBC. Sabine’s numerous editing credits also include the Oscar and Independent Spirit Award nominated My Architect, for which she received an American Cinema Editor’s Eddie Award nomination and the Emmy-winning The Hunt for Planet B. In addition to producing Letters from Bagdad, Zeva also produced Ahead of Time, a feature length documentary about journalist Ruth Gruber, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival before garnering six Best Documentary awards. She comes to film from a career in still photography and her work has been published in periodicals such as The New York Times Magazine. Her photographs are also in collections such as the Bibliothèque nationale de France, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and The Brooklyn Museum. Today we will discuss Obsessed with Light, a documentary about Loïe Fuller, co-directed and co-produced by Sabine and Zeva.

Send us Fan MailWith Guest Erik Gordon from FilmHedgeFILM & TV FINANCING, DONE BETTERStreamlined financing platform that provides filmmakers with the funds they need to bring their creative visions to life—quickly and reliably.At FilmHedge, we're revolutionizing the way stories are brought to life by reshaping the film and television financing landscape. As a trusted partner, we provide senior debt financing for productions with budgets ranging from $3 million to $50 million. Our proprietary database, the largest of its kind, offers unparalleled insights into production financial data and credit history, empowering smarter decisions for all stakeholders.’

Send us Fan MailOur special guest today is Nicholas Tabarrok. Nicholas is a prolific film and television producer whose company, Darius Films, has offices in Los Angeles and Toronto. His company has produced over 40 feature films which have premiered at the top film festivals and sold around the world. Nicholas is also active in television and has sold his productions to companies such as ABC, BBC America, and Hulu. He has worked with many notable actors such as Ethan Hawke, Kurt Russell, Snoop Dogg, Susan Sarandon, Sandra Oh. His company has a diverse and exciting slate of projects in development for both the large and small screen. In addition to his producing work, Nicholas was hired by the Shanghai University to build and teach a course on film producing. He is a proud member of the Producer’s Guild of America, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, and the Atelier du Cinema European. Today we’ll discuss his career and some of his films including: THE RETIREMENT PLAN, starring Nicolas Cage; THE DEFENDOR, starring Woody Harrelson, and IRENA’S VOW, starring Sophie Nélisse.

Send us Fan MailMarc Iserlis is the Head of Film at Republic, an investment platform that lets everyone –both accredited and non-accredited investors–invest in private market opportunities like startups, films, sports, gaming, real estate, and beyond, and share in the financial upside. Republic boasts a community of nearly 3 million members, and has deployed over $2.6 billion through its investment platforms, funds, and firms. Marc leads Republic's newly-launched film financing vertical, Republic Film, which enables fans to invest directly in their favorite filmmakers' new projects, and share in their success. Success stories from Republic Film include Skybound Entertainment (The Walking Dead, Invincible), Pressman Film (American Psycho, Wall Street), and Robert Rodriguez's Brass Knuckle Films, which have raised tens of millions of dollars from their global fanbases. Marc is also a film and TV producer whose credits include Hotel Mumbai, Gone in the Night, Late Bloomers, Daliland, and About a Hero.

Send us Fan MailOur special guest today is Jason Perlman. Named #4 in LA Weekly's "Top 10 Entertainment Professionals to Watch in 2023," Jason is an accomplished screenwriter, director, producer and editor. He has worked with major television outlets and studios like Warner Bros, Sony, and Lionsgate. His material has screened at prestigious festivals such as Sundance and SXSW. As a WGA screenwriter, Jason's work in both features and TV is always high-concept and about superheroes, but not in the way you think. When consistently adapting IP, or in his prolific original work— Perlman focuses on grounded characters forced to challenge their human capacity and reach for the profound. In a word, Inspiration, our true superpower. Today we’ll discuss his new Sci Fi thriller, SITE, which is his second feature film as both screenwriter and director.

Send us Fan MailBreianne Pryse has been a coach, writer, inventor, healer, investor, spiritual advisor and guide in the physical and spiritual healing arts for 23+ years. She has recently moved into business coaching and leadership roles in her job as a startup investor. She has had training in energetic modalities including Theta Healing, Pyranic Healing, energy psychology, animal healing, holistic allergy removal, and others even becoming a teacher in Divine Intervention, Light Language and other practices.

Send us Fan MailBeth Basa Pielert is a Producer, Director, and writer of television and documentary films. She co-produced and co-directed Scha'nexw Elhtal'nexw Salmon People: Preserving a Way of Life with Darrell Hillaire, Executive Director of the Lummi media company Children of the Setting Sun Productions and Vision Maker Media. The film is now airing on PBS through WORLD Local U.S.A. Pielert formed Good Film Works in 2001 while writing and directing Out of the Poison Tree, a documentary that explores truth and reconciliation for survivors of the Cambodian Genocide. Under Good Film Works, Pielert produced documentary shorts for Apple Inc., IDEO|bedsider.org, and Bay Area nonprofits that help provide transitional housing and services for the unhoused.Her documentary credits include: The Corporation, winner of over 24 International awards including the Sundance Audience Award in 2004, Claiming the Title: Gay Olympics on Trial, winner of 6 awards including best documentary at Palm Springs International Short Fest 2009.Salmon People: Preserving a Way of Life can be seen Streaming on YouTube World Channelhttps://www.YOUTUBE.com/watch?v=soJ-De4osic

Send us Fan MailIrina Chernikina is a filmmaker with over two decades of experience in producing, directing, writing, and editing. She has led multiple projects from development through post-production, focusing on narrative filmmaking.Her recent work includes directing and producing the comedy series Being Bossy (2021) and an ongoing anthology series Bedtime Stories (2020-), where she also served as writer and editor. In 2024 Irina produced two feature films - a thriller Smile Maker and a horror Legado. She is currently developing a comedy feature Bum Next Door, which has a pre-sale offer from Glass House Distribution, along with Knockout, a female-driven action film, and Circulus Initium, a sci-fi action series.In addition to narrative projects, Irina has worked on commercials, music videos, and educational content. Her experience across multiple aspects of production allows her to efficiently manage and execute projects while maintaining a clear creative vision. She currently manages the Film Funding Group with her partners Matt Chassin and Randy Fabert.

Send us Fan MailRachel Antell has worked in documentary film production for over two decades but found her true passion in archival producing. In 2014 she co-founded Sub-Basement Archival, where she’s had the honor of being archival producer on dozens of documentaries that have screened worldwide, and garnered FOCAL Awards and an Emmy nomination for research and use of archival footage. In 2023, Rachel co-founded the Archival Producers Alliance (APA) with Jen Petrucelli and Steph Jenkins. The APA was created to organize archival producers, educate the film community about the craft, and advocate to make archival materials accessible and affordable to independent filmmakers. The APA's first initiative addresses Generative AI’s impact on documentary film and archival work. Last year, the APA published the first industry-wide guidelines, Best Practices for Use of Generative AI in Documentaries, with endorsements from over 50 organizations, foundations, production companies, and film festivals, as well as dozens of filmmakers.

Send us Fan MailTony Panaccio is a 36-year media veteran, having started his career in the 1980s as a newspaper journalist for The Clearwater Sun, The Tampa Tribune and others. He later shifted his career into public relations with video game producer Capstone, where he also scripted many of their games, including William Shatner’s TekWar. During that period, he was also Shatner’s publicist for his various video game projects. Today, he is the CEO of Victory Comics, a startup in the contract publishing space.Victory’s COO, Jan Utstein is an internationally award-winning Producer and Editor-in-Chief of Hurricane Entertainment. She has produced numerous comic books and graphic novels through Image Comics, IDW Publishing and CrossGen Entertainment, boasting over 2.3 million dollars in sales worldwide.Utstein was Editor-in-Chief of all of Hurricane’s titles, including “Violent Messiahs”, which earned nominations for every major award in the comics industry including the Harvey Award, Wizard Fan Award, and the Eisner’s Russ Manning Award. While at Hurricane, she also partnered with entertainment luminaries such as 4 time Academy Award winner Star War’s Ben Burtt on their title “Chassis” and Kurt Russell, Debra Hill and John Carpenter on the title “Snake Plissken Chronicles”. She spent 8 years at Marvel Studios with Production Accounting credits on all productions including but not limited to - Film: Avengers Infinity War & Endgame, Black Panther 1&2, Black Widow, Thor: Ragnarök, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol II & III, Doctor Strange 1&2 - TV: Wanda Vision, Loki, Moon Knight, Hawkeye, Werewolf at Night and Animation: What If…?, and I am Groot. Her other studio credits include Warner Bros.’ Demolition Man, Columbia Picture’s Green Hornet, and DreamWorks Studios’ Cowboys & Aliens, as well as Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln. Utstein also worked in the DreamWorks Production Finance department. Educationally, Utstein earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater from Binghamton University. She was granted a full scholarship towards a Master of Fine Arts from UCLA School of Theater, Film, Television & Animation. Born into a family of Accountants finance is in her blood. Utstein's dedication to the entertainment industry is evident through a track record of successful projects and a commitment to continuous learning and growth.As a Producer, she has developed both film and TV series with Madonna's Maverick Entertainment, The Jim Henson Company, and The Pitt Group. Her producing credits include the Internet TV series Payday, based on hit video game"Payday 2"; 35 Days of Kevin Eastman a documentary on the co-creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; the multi-award-winning Cinemascope feature film Valhalla; and as a partner in 88 Tranzmedia - Agent 88, which garnered worldwide press, including the front page of the LA Times.

Send us Fan MailSarah Moshman is an Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker and TEDx speaker whose work has been featured on Netflix, PBS, Upworthy, Marie Claire, CNN, and Good Morning America. Sarah has directed and produced 3 feature-length documentaries: The Empowerment Project: Ordinary Women Doing Extraordinary Things (2014), Losing Sight of Shore (2017) and NEVERTHELESS (2020)Sarah is an inspiring public speaker, author, and a teacher in documentary film, passionate about empowering the next generation of storytellers. In 2024 Sarah launched her own program to support women filmmakers over 30 called Look What SHE's Doing! which she intends to continue as part of her legacy for years. Her book Empowered Filmmaking is highly regarded as an excellent textbook.

Send us Fan MailAuthor/Grant Writer Morrie Warshawski shares his funding expertise info on creating successful funding parties. To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com.    

Send us Fan MailOur special guest today is Julie Rubio. Julie is an award-winning film producer, writer, director, and actor. As President of Women in Film San Francisco Bay Area and founder of East Meets West Productions, she produced the acclaimed “East Side Sushi,” which has enjoyed both domestic and international distribution via the Samuel Goldwyn Company, Sony Home Pictures, HBO North America, and Netflix. Rubio is the writer, director, and producer of the comedy “Too Perfect,” which found its audience domestically on Amazon Prime and through Osiris Entertainment. She was also the writer, director, and producer for "Six Sex Scenes and a Murder," available on Netflix and Apple TV. Other cinematic ventures Rubio has helmed include "Soledad is Gone Forever" for Haiku Films, "Oakland B Mine," the comedic "Del Cielo," "Everything is Temporary," and "Impression." Her films have graced numerous domestic and international festivals. Rubio’s latest work, "The True Story of Tamara de Lempicka & The Art of Survival," marks her debut as a feature documentary writer, director, and producer. For years, the enigmatic allure of Tamara de Lempicka's paintings and life story have captivated Rubio and we are thrilled to discuss the film with her today.

Send us Fan MailJoin Carole Dean and Kelly Mason and learn how to:Break Into CinematographyTransition from Cinematographer to Producing Cinematographer andBecome a Film Consultant & Create Impact Through FilmmakingKelly Mason(Mom |Entrepreneur | Healer | Filmmaker | Cinematographer)Kelly Mason’s priority is to make a lasting difference in the world for generations to come. A mother, entrepreneur, filmmaker, and intuitive healer, Kelly’s mission spans storytelling, advocacy, and transformational work. As an independent producer, her focus lies in creating stories that champion social justice, environmental protection, and well-being awareness. Kelly shattered barriers in 1997 as the first female cinematographer in IATSE (ICG 669). Over her 30-year career, she has collaborated with Tier 1 crews, A-list celebrities, and world-class directors for major companies like Netflix, Warner Bros., Disney, Apple TV, and the Berlanti Group. Her cinematography expertise extends across film, digital, green screens, LED environments, and virtual production alongside cutting-edge VFX teams. Notable projects include The Night Agent (Netflix) and Travelers (Netflix). She has worked with legendary producers such as Greg Berlanti, Shawn Ryan, and Seth Gordon, and Academy Award-winning filmmakers Ismail Merchant and James Ivory. Her career as an "A" camera operator has been shaped by mentorship from cinematographic masters like Vilmos Zsigmond ASC and Dante Spinatti ASC, contributing to over 200 productions. Kelly’s cinematic vision has also earned her acclaim in the impact filmmaking space, with 18 laurels for her feature documentary Pave the Road, including Best Documentary Feature at the 2021 Chelsea Film Festival.In 2024, Kelly earned the Altitude Award recognizing her achievements in the industry through Women in Media. She is an Executive Producer and the Cinematographer for the docu-series The Frequency of Miracles, currently in post-production. She is also collaborating with Academy Award-winning producer Mimi Polk Gitlin (Thelma and Louise, The Breadwinner) to adapt Pave the Road into a narrative feature film.Through the power of impact filmmaking, Kelly influenced environmental legislation in Costa Rica to mandate the use of plastic waste in road construction, triggering an investigation that led to incarcerating 72 corrupt government officials.  Beyond filmmaking, Kelly established the Trinidad and Tobago Film Commission, and created impactful educational programs for the American and Canadian Societies of Cinematographers. Her curated motion pictures with Getty Images has generated over seven figures in royalties and continues to enrich productions worldwide.Through her extensive work in film, healing, and environmental advocacy, Kelly Mason exemplifies the power of storytelling to inspire, transform, and create a better future.

Send us Fan MailOur special guest is Julie Hebért. Julie was born in south Louisiana. She has written and directed dozens of plays for some of the most daring theaters in the country including Steppenwolf, LaMaMa, the Magic Theater, Los Angeles Theater Center and many more. Her plays have received many accolades including two PEN Awards for Drama. After her musical drama Ruby’s Bucket of Blood was optioned by Showtime and Whoopi Goldberg, Julie wrote the screenplay, which was made into a film starring Angela Bassett. It was the first of many scripts Julie has written for film and television. She has written and directed for several hit television shows including Nashville, The Good Wife, Boss, Blue Bloods, The West Wing, ER, Numb3rs and most recently the Emmy Award-winning American Crime, where she is an Executive Producer. Julie has received grants from the NEA, TCG, AT&T New Plays, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Alexander Gerbode Foundation, and the California Arts Commission for writing, directing, and inter-disciplinary arts. Julie is also an activist who founded “Look What SHE Did!”, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that creates short films and events featuring female storytellers celebrating women who inspire them. Today we’ll discuss “Look What She Did” and how Julie is helping to bring to light stories of remarkable women who have changed the world. 

Send us Fan MailMichael Holstein is a co-founder and executive producer at Mesmeric Media. He began his career writing for HBO’s The Wire and marketing major films like The Rock and Independence Day. After earning a law degree, Michael became VP of Business Affairs at WETA-TV in Washington, DC, where he produced numerous shows, including In Performance at the White House and PBS NewsHour. He later launched The Content Farm, where he created award-winning content across unscripted genres and platforms. His honors include being the only 3x winner of Real Screen’s "Summit Showdown" competition, being a 2017 Producer’s Guild Award nominee, and receiving the 2019 Washington, DC Mayor’s Arts Award for Excellence in Media Arts. Holstein has produced several series and won multiple awards, including Emmy and Telly accolades. Michael is a member of the Producer’s Guild of America and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.