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PODCAST

Focal Point

Conversations with artists across all industries, taking a deep dive into the nuances, techniques, and philosophies of society"s talent.

arts visual arts

All Episodes

53:12

Fake Green Screens and Real Tears #60 ACTRESS Sofia...

Focal Point ·

2026/01/10

Actress Sophia Castelanos joins us to break down the shift from stage to screen. She shares how she prepares emotionally demanding roles using Meisner-based techniques, how she releases heavy scenes without carrying them home, and what green screen work really requires when you’re reacting to threats that don’t exist yet. We also dig into the side of acting most people never see: researching casting calls, vetting projects, shaping a reel with intention, and knowing when to say no. Sophia ref...

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59:24

Why I Wish I Started Sooner #59 Filmmaker Jamison Braly

Focal Point ·

2026/01/03

What if the stick-figure family on the back of a minivan is actually a body count? In this episode, we sit down with Jameson Brawley, a filmmaker whose path from wedding videography to viral horror shorts proves that smart constraints beat big budgets. Jameson breaks down how one-room setups, small casts, and borrowed locations can elevate story and performance, why his 23-minute short struggled while tighter work thrived, and how weddings quietly trained him to move fast, adapt, and tr...

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87:15

Inside SAG Pay, Residuals, And The Hustle #58...

Focal Point ·

2025/12/27

How do you build a creative career that actually pays? Actor-model Maureo Ruffin breaks down the real money behind acting and modeling—SAG pay, residuals, clean bookings vs. scams, and the mistakes that cost new actors time and cash. We cover practical acting tools that work on camera, self-tape errors that kill auditions, industry red flags to avoid, and how to stay mentally steady through near-miss roles. We also talk AI in entertainment, SAG-AFTRA protections, and navigating union vs. non-...

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75:32

The Experimentalist #57 w/ Director Max Kaplan

Focal Point ·

2025/12/13

Director Max Kaplan joins us to reflect on how a childhood spent devouring DVD special features shaped his unique filmmaking voice. Growing up in Ohio’s festival scene taught him the value of community, long-term collaborators, and building stories with visual precision rather than easy explanations. As he developed Looker and Death of a Bible Salesman, Max learned to trust pre-production, lean into bold stylistic choices, and let the audience complete the puzzle. Max also opens up about the ...

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75:37

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Filmmaker Turns INDIE #56 w/...

Focal Point ·

2025/11/08

What if the best film school is a 15×22 basement? Former NationWriter-director Chris Maes breaks down how he turned a tiny room into a soundstage, shot two features with lean crews, and resourceful filmmaking. We dig into Hemisphere and AirShift, the genre twist that saved a stalled script, and the Nat Geo lessons that taught him to prep hard and stay lean. Chris shares candid night-shoot challenges, smart pre-lighting tactics, and why actor chemistry and small details make low-budget films f...

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68:06

What If Songs Spoke Like People Do? #55 w/ Grammy...

Focal Point ·

2025/11/01

Grammy-nominated songwriter Sandy Knox, known for her work with artists such as Reba McEntire, Dionne Warwick, Neil Diamond, Patti LaBelle, Liza Minnelli, and Donna Summer opens up about how heartbreak, reinvention, and an unshakable love of words shaped her life’s work. From being fired as a receptionist to writing timeless hits like “Does He Love You,” she shares what it means to stay true to your craft when the world changes around you. We talk about grief, empathy, and the magic of melody...

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85:14

How to find work in the Industry 2025 #54 w/ Composer...

Focal Point ·

2025/10/25

Composer Josh Andrus joins us to share how he carved a real career path from EDM tours to scoring films and video games in today’s AI-driven industry. He reveals how a single DM opened doors, why a Juilliard certificate gave him an edge, and how he balanced income with acoustic sample packs while building real-to-picture credits. Josh breaks down the craft of scoring—spotting scenes, shaping a sonic palette like a color grade, and using silence as design—while explaining how small live elemen...

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70:01

Ethics and AI in Cinema #53 w/ Producer Marq Williams

Focal Point ·

2025/09/28

How is AI changing the future of filmmaking? Producer Marq Williams shares his perspective on the promises and risks of tools like Runway and Midjourney, exploring how artificial intelligence could empower indie creators while also threatening the human connection that makes cinema resonate. This conversation dives into ethical frameworks, the decentralization of Hollywood, and why emotionally powerful storytelling must remain at the heart of technology’s evolution in film.

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61:49

Trust Bridges Oceans #52 w/ Filmmaker John Smith Jr

Focal Point ·

2025/09/21

Nigerian filmmaker John Smith Jr. shares how he built international relationships through honesty, cultural pride, and digital collaboration. From voicing characters in American horror-comedies to championing his native language in global projects, John reveals the power of integrity and cross-continental networking.

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65:43

Every CRY is Different #51 w/ Actor Mikah Fikes

Focal Point ·

2025/09/14

When the pandemic disrupted his college plans in 2020, Mikah Fikes rediscovered a childhood passion for filmmaking. With no connections, he dove in by taking local actor classes, eventually landing roles that connected him to the Midwest film community. In our candid conversation, Mikah shares how acting has shaped both his craft of acting and long term goals of directing. He opens up about the psychological challenges of accessing genuine emotions on set, recalling an intense crying scene in...

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79:57

Get to KNOW Your Community #50 w/ Podcaster Robyn Nelson

Focal Point ·

2025/09/06

The craft of horror filmmaking reveals itself through the passionate voices behind the camera—where personal trauma transforms into powerful storytelling, and authenticity trumps high budgets every time. In this captivating conversation with Robyn, host of Horror Pop After Midnight podcast, we journey through the shadows of independent horror filmmaking and explore the unexpected parallels between podcasting and creating cinema. Robyn shares his evolution from a wrestling podcast host...

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68:09

Small Communities Matter! #49 w/ Filmmaker Jake Ryan...

Focal Point ·

2025/08/18

"Nobody makes your movies, you have to make them." His upcoming psychological thriller "The Part" follows a struggling actress who wakes up after a car crash to find strangers claiming to be her family. The film explores identity and reality through an unsettling premise Baker describes as "what's it like to need someone to love you so badly, and then what happens when someone answers that call in the most fucked up way possible?" What makes the headaches and heartbreaks of filmma...

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61:40

Challenges of Art Department #48 w/ Production...

Focal Point ·

2025/08/02

Production designer Stephonika Kaye shares how she transforms empty spaces into story-driven environments, drawing on her 15-year journey from community theater actor to filmmaking. She reveals the often-invisible work behind film sets—like painting props between takes, navigating shifting director demands, and designing full spaces even when only one angle is promised. Through on-set chaos, interdepartmental collaboration, and creative improvisation, Stephonika offers a rare look into the wo...

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56:33

Why I Came Back to Filmmaking #47 w/ Filmmaker...

Focal Point ·

2025/07/19

After three failed feature attempts, a halted production due to the pandemic, and personal battles during Covid, indie filmmaker Richard Russel found himself at a crossroads. Eventually he channeled his frustrations into his latest production Shadow of Thulis—a revenge thriller inspired by Mike Leigh’s Naked. What started as a story of brutal violence evolved into something deeper: a character-driven exploration of pain, forgiveness, and the cost of vengeance. In this episode, we dive into Ri...

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62:57

Dreams VS Reality #46 w/ Filmmaker Malakai Bisel

Focal Point ·

2025/07/05

Filmmaker Malakai Beisel takes us on an authentic journey from his childhood experiments with a borrowed VHS camera to his current work developing a feature film. Aspiring filmmakers will find particular value in Malakai's candid insights about the business realities of independent production. From navigating festival submissions with a 40-minute film to understanding SAG requirements and complex attachment agreements, he doesn't shy away from the nitty-gritty details that can make or break a...

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61:32

The Art of Freedom in Creativity #45 w/ Musician...

Focal Point ·

2025/06/28

Chase from Soft Stone Hearts takes us on a journey through the winding paths of creativity, from recovering from a serious knee injury to finding his artistic voice. The discussion also tackles practical challenges facing independent musicians, from content creation strategies to finding your place in local music scenes. Chase's insights into collaboration, particularly with his bandmate Jess, highlight how creative partnerships can provide essential external filters that help elevate the wor...

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102:39

Killin’ Jimmy Kelly #44 w/ Cinematographer Jason...

Focal Point ·

2025/06/21

From psychology student to storyteller, Jason Johnston reveals how his background in psychological analysis became the foundation for his unique approach to visual composition. His recent work on the Western film "Killing Jimmy Kelly" becomes a case study as he unpacks the delicate balance between technical constraints and creative vision, while shooting in the punishing Texas heat with limited equipment. His career philosophy echoes in his parting wisdom: "Don't be afraid to challenge your...

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71:51

Comedy Meets Cinema #43 w/ ARTIST Eric Boso

Focal Point ·

2025/06/08

Eric's path to stand-up comedy began unexpectedly following a medical crisis that left him physically injured. Rather than hide from the attention his appearance would draw, he embraced the spotlight, transforming vulnerability into art. "I'm a big guy with a cane and cast – people are going to stare anyway" His short film "Maps" exemplifies this philosophy, exploring grief through two sisters who represent different facets of Basso's own personality – the solitary artist versus the so...

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67:13

HARD Topics and Situations #42 w/ FILMMAKER Samantha...

Focal Point ·

2025/05/31

Meet Samantha, a filmmaker who after graduating from Full Sail University in 2014 with a degree in filmmaking, Samantha took a nine-year break before rediscovering her creative voice. She shares stories from the set of "Grease Monkey" where she served as first AD, Samantha reveals the behind-the-scenes problem-solving that makes productions successful—from managing angry neighbors to maintaining positive crew dynamics. Her practical wisdom about effective leadership shines through as she disc...

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66:45

ROCKY WAKE - A passion project #41 w/ FILMMAKER Dylan...

Focal Point ·

2025/05/25

Short films are the proper place to experiment with the craft. Having done so Dylan is gearing up for his second feature film Rocky Wake, a story that integrates personal tragedy in the background of horror and suspense in a disturbing way.

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60 results

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